New Music: Good Hugg

Newcomers like Good Hugg are one of the reasons why this website continues to champion emerging artists after so many years.

This promising UK talent creates a style of sound that blends retro-inspired pop with a dreamy indie twist. The new single ‘talk more’ was a passion project by the artist, taking a year to construct with every detail meticulously considered.

“Written, produced and performed entirely by me, I was obsessed with using ‘bad’ vintage gear to say something new, layering sonic references to uncanny-valley 80s/ 90s nostalgia. I love the sound of shifting vocals between foreground and background to make it feel like a weird dream.”

While we still don’t know much about Good Hugg, his approach to songwriting makes him stand out in a way that has already made us big fans.

Good Hugg | Ones To Watch Playlist

NYNE – Heaven Sent

Australian pop artist NYNE has been on our radars for quite some time, so it’s very exciting to be sharing with you another brilliant single from this massively talented musician.

‘Heaven Sent’ is a taste of NYNE’s newest project and treats listeners to an acoustic-driven punk-pop sound, reminiscent of the MySpace era of music from the early 00’s.

Impressively, NYNE currently attracts more than 90k monthly listeners on Spotify, where she has also amassed over 6 million career streams to date.

NYNE | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Kohla

Despite being a relatively new talent, UK singer and songwriter Kohla is already gaining traction across the globe thanks to her distinctive (almost ethereal) vocals and enchanting pop productions.

‘You Took The World’ is a nostalgia-tinged track that is sonically inspired by the works of FKA Twigs and James Blake, and speaks of the joy that comes from falling in love. The production is stripped-back yet also feels cinematic in tone, allowing for Kohla’s stunning vocals to shine through.

“‘You Took The World’ was lyrically inspired by Scottish poet Jackie Kay’s ‘Late Love’, where the invincibility of falling in love feels as though you own the world. As the darkness of my disability (endometriosis) gradually took over my life, I often found myself reminiscing on my first love – the happiest time in my life – imagining our final conversation if the worst came.”

Kohla has earned praise from the likes of BBC6 Music, Wonderland Magazine, and The Scotsman.

Kohla | Ones To Watch Playlist

Laura Ampersand – Middle

Photo / Caitriona Muireann

SONG OF THE WEEK

Laura Ampersand (aka Laura Ryder) is undeniably becoming one of Ireland’s most promising alternative projects, already winning support from outlets as prominent as RTE Radio 1, Pure Magazine, and The Beat.

‘Middle’ is the artist’s latest single and shows why this rising starlet is hyped so much. The song is chamber-pop at its best. The production is meticulously crafted, perfectly balancing elements of tension and drama with emotional fragility.

The lyrics are inspired by life’s inevitable transitions: when we’re scared to let go of a past version of ourselves but also scared of what lies in the future. In those times, we seek comfort in ‘the middle’, and that’s what this song is all about.

The track was created with the help of Alex Borwick (production & mixing) and mastered by Pete Maher.

Laura Ampersand | Ones To Watch Playlist

néomí – I Wish I Never Met You

Photo / Liz van den Akker

néomí has been on our radars for a good few years now, and with each single we fall in love even more.

‘I Wish I Never Met You’ is a beautifully sincere and moving indie-folk song, written about the regret we feel after a toxic relationship. Elaborating on this introspective song, néomí says:

“It’s about that one person you wish you’d never met, not necessarily because you dislike them, but because you dislike who you became with them, how you treated them, or how they treated you. It’s a question mark aimed at love itself and why it always gets so complicated. Nobody wanted to hurt anyone, but what’s done is done. So you try to move on and sometimes still wish you’d never met them.”

The song is taken from the artist’s ‘Crunchy, Sad and Strangely Happy’ EP, which is out now. Fans in Europe can also catch néomí performing live across several cities, with stops in Rotterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, and more.

néomí | Ones To Watch Playlist

néomí Live Dates 2026

  • 03.10.26 – De Vegafabriek, Nijeveen – tickets
  • 08.10.26 – Patronaat, Haarlem – tickets
  • 10.10.26 – EKKO, Utrecht – tickets
  • 16.10.26 – Hall of Fame, Tilburg – tickets
  • 17.10.26 – Rotown, Utrecht – tickets
  • 18.10.26 – Doornroosje, Nijmegen – tickets
  • 22.10.26 – Trix, Antwerp – tickets
  • 24.10.26 – Prachtwerk, Berlin – tickets

Catie Turner – Who Am I

Photo / Emmy Bridgeman

Indie-pop powerhouse Catie Turner is back today with a beautiful new song that we’re quite certain will stay in your heads all weekend.

Aside from being hugely catchy, ‘Who Am I’ is a masterclass in pop. Produced and written alongside Carobae, this song looks at the way we see ourselves and the toxic habit of comparing ourselves to others.

The track is lifted from an upcoming album called ‘Blue Alchemy’, which is out soon. In the meantime, you can check out more of Turner’s fantastic work here.

Catie Turner | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Zeon

While we still don’t know much about US-based Australian artist Zeon, we are already quite charmed by his work.

This ambitious newcomer is building momentum across social media with his breezy vocals and finessed R&B productions. ‘How Can I’ is a glistening piece of music that reminds us of that classic 90’s R&B-pop sound which we all know and love.

“I moved to New York to become the best. These are the start of my ideas.”

Despite being a relatively new talent, Zeon has already picked up more than 100k streams to date from the release of just three songs. One to watch!

Zeon | Ones To Watch Playlist

STVN – Side By Side

STVN’s music always feels like a breath of fresh air, and new single ‘Side By Side’ is no exception. This track doesn’t try to be anything too different: it’s indie-pop at its best.

Blending elements of lo-fi pop and alternative R&B into the mix, this track immediately grips your attention. The melody is catchy, the vocals are sleek, and the lyrics are massively relatable.

“Wrote this song with my friend Holden about having a good time with your friends and really just enjoying the moment as much as possible!”

STVN’s work has amassed more than two million streams to date, while also attracting 15k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.

STVN | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Miss Wednesday

If you enjoy Nordic folk-pop, then we’ve got a very special new artist from Norway to share with you today, going by the name of Miss Wednesday.

‘Golden Trash’ is a mesmerising song that carries the same vein of sounds by Simon & Garfunkel and speaks of capitalism and the importance of recycling. While the lyrics are meaningful and thoughtful, the production really stands out with its refreshingly organic and airy essence.

“Written after a clean-up campaign, it explores capitalist consumption and how part of the solution to the climate crisis can be reusing what we already have.”

The track mirrors Miss Wednesday’s approach to her art, which at its core is self-described as ‘eco-folk-pop’. Miss Wednesday often uses instruments from upcycled items and incorporates her passion for sustainability in her stage performances as well.

Miss Wednesday | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: Heavy in Pocket

Heavy in Pocket is an emerging artist hailing from the US, who crafts an indie sound that is instantly likeable.

New single ‘Itchy Boo’ is refreshingly raw in its production. Inspired by the idea that no matter how well you feel you have your life under control, there are always people who will find a benefit from you.

“It explores the realization that while you might think you have a great handle on your life or a brilliant independent idea, there is always someone further ‘upstream’ running a master plan – someone who actively benefits from your belief that you are the one in control.”

The song mirrors Heavy in Pocket’s approach to songwriting, which features themes from despair to desire.

Heavy in Pocket was born in Texas but travels all over America, performing in venues across the country. An album is on the way!

Heavy in Pocket | Ones To Watch Playlist

Ruby Waters – GET A GRIP

Photo / Lissyelle Laricchia

Juno-nominated Canadian starlet Ruby Waters returns with one of our favourite releases of the autumn, ‘GET A GRIP’.

The track showcases the acclaimed singer and songwriter’s genre-bending style of work. The song fuses lo-fi pop with a dreamy indie edge. The emotionally charged vocals also add character to the song. On the visuals, Ruby says:

“The video for ‘GET A GRIP’ was a pretty loose program of me just doing my thang. Adit [Director] is a legend and always captures the magic. I love playing around in the mountains and I love kicking it with friends – two of the many things I’m very thankful for.”

Ruby’s recent ‘WET T-SHIRT’ release ended up amassing more than 11 million streams alone, growing to become one of Canada’s biggest alternative hits of the year.

Ruby Waters | Ones To Watch Playlist

Tadpoles – Something Sparkly (Smoky Mix)

There’s something about psychedelic-inspired music that feels quite timeless, so it’s always interesting when we get sent something in the genre.

This ‘Smoky Mix’ of Tadpoles‘ 2025 song ‘Something Sparkly’ treats listeners to a nostalgic style of sound that could have easily come from the 1960s. Through its 7-minute journey, the track immerses you into a hazy, almost hedonistic soundscape that is really quite mesmerising.

The track is lifted from a wider project of other ‘Smoky’ remixes, called ‘Make Believe’, which you can explore here.

Tadpoles | Ones To Watch Playlist

Dylan Dunlap – You Owe It to Yourself

Dylan Dunlap has long been an Alfitude favourite, so we’re chuffed to see that he’s back again today with a stunning new single called ‘You Owe It to Yourself’.

Dunlap’s lyricism always centres around the fragilities of being human in the modern age, reminding us to listen to ourselves and acknowledge our thoughts, feelings, and anxieties. This track looks at the moments in life when we get overwhelmed, as Dylan explains:

“This is a reminder for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed, carried more than they could hold, or forgotten to make space for themselves. It’s about releasing what we can’t control and learning to offer ourselves the same compassion we so freely give to others. I hope listeners (especially my neurodivergent friends) feel seen and validated in knowing that self-care isn’t something you have to earn; it’s something you deserve. You owe it to yourself.”

Dylan’s most recent album, ‘TROUBADOUR’, was released earlier this summer. You can check it out here.

Dylan Dunlap | Ones To Watch Playlist

XO – Stacey (Take You Higher)

Photo / Nathan Okan

If you haven’t yet come across UK newcomers XO then now is the perfect time to be introduced! This five-piece group features the talents of singers Emmy, Reanna, Shali, Summer, and Zoe. With their playful take on pop, we’re quite sure they’ll be all over your favourite playlists very soon.

XO

New Music: Ella Aslin

American singer and songwriter Ella Aslin is a new artist who we’re very excited to be sharing with you today.

A graduate from Berklee College of Music, this artist has been building traction for a short while now, with just two singles released.

‘Ruin me!’ is a taster for Ella’s upcoming debut album, ‘For the Life of Me’, and showcases a charming mix of indie rock and pop. Speaking on the lyrics, the artist explains:

“‘Ruin me!’ explores the frustration of loving someone and not being able to tell them how you feel. I wrote it after falling in love with a close friend of mine who was in a relationship at the time. The song reflects the feeling of longing I had for her and the guilt I felt for thinking of her in that way- knowing that she might’ve felt sad or uncomfortable if she found out. It’s mostly an ode to the anger I felt towards myself for holding out hope for something that would never happen!”

‘For the Life of Me’ is due for release later this month. You can catch Ella performing at JUNO Albuquerque on the 20th of September – tickets here.

Ella Aslin | Ones To Watch Playlist

Iona Luke – From Dust

Photo / Daisy Dickinson

Iona Luke returns today with a new single, called ‘From Dust’, which also marks the final release from her debut EP of the same name.

With its existentially driven lyrics, the track not only serves as the EP’s closing statement but also encourages us to think about how we fit into this world.

“From Dust’ is the title track and finale of the EP. The song explores our relationship with the world around us, and how life can feel both overwhelming and unsatisfying at the same time. It captures the wonder and fear of being truly seen by another person beyond the dust we are all made of, while reflecting on the human tendency to rewrite, inherit, and interpret our own identities, histories, and flaws. It’s all dust and dirt, material and imaginary, a parade of who we are and who we try to be.”

In recent months, Luke has picked up praise from outlets like Radio 1, 6Music, and Radio X. Iona headlines London’s Paper Dress Vintage with Berenice on the 8th September – get your tickets here.

Iona Luke | Ones To Watch Playlist

Leftwich – Run Baby (Down For Me)

SONG OF THE WEEK

Nashville duo Leftwich have been on our radars for a few years, and to this day we’re still big of fans of their very unique work.

‘Run Baby (Down For Me)’ is their latest single and is a track full of unexpected twists and turns. The production is bold and experimental, with its mix of alternative rock, pop, and electronica. With that said, the song also carries a sense of rebelliousness that harks back to indie-rock from the 90s, which is a really interesting experience to listen to.

“Lex [Leftwich] focused the lyrics on a romantic fixation witnessing someone’s unutilized brilliance turn admiration into resentment as they run from who they could be.”

Leftwich | Ones To Watch Playlist

Flauschig + Rona Ray – Say My Name

German electronic outfit Flauschig have teamed up with songstress Rona Ray on a fabulous new single, ‘Say My Name’.

This is the kind of song that puts you in the weekend mood instantly. Through its polished production, this melodic track seamlessly blends classic house beats with tribal house, resulting in a sound that is infectiously uplifting.

Flauschig, the musical project of artists of Stephan Spieker and Jason Durrant, has been crafting house music from as early as 2005, while Rona Ray is an accomplished vocalist who has featured on songs with the likes of Husky and Dave Mayer.

Flauschig | Rona Ray | Ones To Watch Playlist

SMOKIN POTIONS (BAINBRIDGE & High Zombie) – Tell Me

SMOKIN POTIONS is the collaborative project of acclaimed electronic music producers Bainbridge and High Zombie.

Released through the BREAK ROOM label, ‘Tell Me’ is nothing short of epic. This is a cinematic blend of trap and dubstep that creates an immersive soundscape that is immediately gripping. It’s intense, gritty, and sets your heart racing in the best possible way…

SMOKIN POTIONS | BAINBRIDGE | High Zombie | Ones To Watch Playlist