New Music: Mind Tides

Every now and again we come across an outfit that is so unique that it reminds us just why we love discovering new talent so much.

This is the case for Norwegian trio Mind Tides, who caught our attention with their mesmerising blend of psychedlic rock, lo-fi indie and dreamy pop. It’s a heady sound that really is quite unique in style.

Sonically, the new single ‘Intertwined’ is refreshingly unpredictable. In one moment it’s a hazy, tropical affair; then it’s playful, then haunting.

On its concept, the band explain that it ‘reflects on humanity’s impact on the natural world. Balancing wonder and concern, the song serves as both a celebration of life and a reminder that everything on earth is connected’.

Mind Tides | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Felix Hien + GINGE – Choirs

Berlin-based producer and composer Felix Hien has just released a collaboration with Dutch singer GINGE called ‘Choirs’, and it’s a work of beauty.

The production treats us to a melodic fusion of alternative R&B, neo-soul, and mellow dance-pop. With its charming, sexy, and playful style of sound, it’s near impossible not to fall in love with this track.

In a sign of his ever-growing popularity, Hien currently attracts more than 280k monthly Spotify listeners and has over 8 million career streams on the platform.

Felix Hien | GINGE | Ones To Watch Playlist

Iris King – I Did, I Will, I Do

Rising UK artist Iris King is back today with yet another impressive release, called ‘I Did, I Will, I Do’.

Recorded in LA, this Blonder-produced song fuses indie with folk, pop, and a little country, giving the production a textured feel which, despite its minimalism, is packed with emotion.

Lyrically, the song centres around “themes of falling in love and embracing stability and comfort, rather than the volatility of chaotic relationships”.

To date, King has amassed more than half a million career streams, with no signs of momentum slowing down. This is a UK talent to keep on your radar.

Iris King | Ones To Watch Playlist

Player Dave – Paradise

This weekend’s anthem comes from San Diego’s Player Dave (aka Charles Sahm).

‘Paradise’ is a melodic blend of electronica, old-school house music, and classic UK garage. This is a classic style of dance music that is nostalgic but still sonically creative and edgy.

US-based listeners can catch Player Dave performing in Washington DC on the 17th of July and at the Shambhala Music Festival on the 26th of July.

Player Dave | Ones To Watch Playlist

Adam Jensen – All My Friends

It’s only been a month since his last release, but Adam Jensen is already back today with a new single called ‘All My Friends’, and it’s epic.

Written and produced in Jensen’s garage, this track is raw, bold, and distinctive. The aggressively charged sound reflects the intensity of the lyricism, which Jensen explains:

“The song is about not having any friends because they’re all dead or in jail or make believe. It’s essentially about living by the sword and dying by the sword.”

The song is lifted from Jensen’s forthcoming album, ‘Hymns for the Damned’, which is out soon.

Adam Jensen | Ones To Watch Playlist

Emma Castellino – Keep walking

Independent singer, songwriter and producer Emma Castellino has been releasing music from as early as 2023, but we only came across her work just this week.

If you like outfits like The 1975, Sam Fender, and Holly Humberstone, then you’ll most likely fall in love with Emma’s work too.

‘Keep Walking’ is a nicely constructed song that fuses elements of 80s synth with soft pop and indie rock. The result is a production that feels nostalgic and familiar, but also current and upbeat. One of the standout releases of the week!

Emma Castellino | Ones To Watch Playlist

Ruti – Flowers

Ruti’s ‘Flowers’ is one of our favourite releases of the summer so far. The UK-based starlet continues to win fans globally with her distinctive vocals and finessed style of sound, and this new single will only propel momentum even further.

The song was written with Theo Hutchcraft (Måneskin, Aurora) and produced by Will Bloomfield (Glass Animals, The Vaccines) and treats us to a shimmering fusion of alternative pop and soul.

Ruto will share stages with the likes of Teddy Swims, Hemlocke Springs and Alanis Morissette in the coming weeks, so if you’re around then, be sure to catch this artist!

Ruti

Kelly Finnigan – The Hurting Truth

Photo / Mitch LaGrow

Acclaimed singer, songwriter, and producer Kelly Finnigan returns with a sublime new piece of soul music that continues to affirm his status as one of the genre’s most respected US talents.

‘The Hurting Truth’ is taken from Finnigan’s next project, ‘B-Sides, Singles & Forgotten Gems’ (out 14th August), which shines a light on some of the works he’s done in the past but never managed to make it to the outside world.

The track was recorded and produced in Finnigan’s Cincinnati studio alongside Jimmy James of Parlor Greens and treats listeners to a timeless slice of soul that is beautifully emotive.

“‘The Hurting Truth’ came together fast. Jimmy’s always down… he played the bass, then the guitar, and I finished the words and melodies.”

Kelly Finnigan | Ones To Watch Playlist

KhakiKid – Easy Does It (feat. Chameleon)

Photo / Rickinzi

SONG OF THE WEEK

Over the past couple of years, KhakiKid has grown to become one of Ireland’s rising hip hop stars, and the momentum is only getting stronger.

The new single ‘Easy Does It’ was produced by frequent collaborator Chameleon, who also shows up on vocals.

“It’s about being a mess and knowing you don’t deserve someone’s love or affection, but still hoping they’ll give you some. It’s also about coming to terms with the fact that you can’t just fix everything overnight and expect everything to be okay from then on.” – KhakiKid

The accompanying music video, directed by Moses O’Halloran, features KhakiKid with his friends, enjoying life and embracing the unpredictabilities that come with it.

KhakiKid | Chameleon

Supafly + Declan Knapp + WoodCamp – Another Dimension (feat. EVA + Ca$h X)

Your weekend banger comes courtesy of dance legends Supafly and their new collaborative release, “Another Dimension”.

If the track sounds familiar, then you might recognise elements from The Prodigy’s iconic 1992 ‘Out of Space’. This release mixes UK garage with electronica, resulting in a nostalgic sound that is pure euphoria.

It’s bold, loud, and utterly brilliant… A garage anthem that deserves to be on your playlists.

Supafly | Declan Knapp | WoodCamp | EVA | Ca$h X | Ones To Watch Playlist

avramkeleh – Belly Up

avramkeleh (fka a.graff) is an artist who only just recently appeared on our radars. This US-based artist caught our attention with his charming new single, so here we are sharing it with you!

‘Belly Up’ treats listeners to a wonderfully organic blend of indie, folk and pop. Think José González, but with a more playful twist. Elaborating on the song’s lyrics, the artist says:

“‘Belly Up’ is a love song through a dog’s eyes. Played live, it’s a warm track with coffee bean percussion, plunky bass, swirling guitars, and creamy rhodes with a close intimate vocal.”

avramkeleh’s music gives us feelings of sincerity and warmth. The work is heartfelt, thoughtful, and really quite easy to form emotional connections with.

avramkeleh | Ones To Watch Playlist

FKJ – Changes Rising

French artist FKJ is no stranger to the Alfitude pages, and he’s back again today with another standout release from his upcoming album ‘Tyber’.

‘Changes Rising’ is a dreamy track that fuses neo-soul with alternative R&B, soul, and even a little funk. The production is tastefully eccentric, while the melody flows beautifully.

Lyrically, this introspective song looks at themes of personal growth – renewing oneself and looking forward to a happy future.

The new album will be released this autumn, and additional dates for FKJ’s upcoming tour will also be announced.

FKJ | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Micah Sol

Micah Sol is a London-based artist who recently came across our radars and caught our attention thanks to his distinctive alt-pop sound.

Impressively, Sol writes, produces, and mixes all of his work. Despite studying music tech, he went into the corporate world, with music becoming a way to express his emotional observations.

‘Let Me Know’ was originally crafted back in 2019 and speaks of the insecurity that arises from dating someone who doesn’t make you feel like you’re the one. The lyrics are powerful and raw, while the production showcases a sound that blends indie with glitch pop and R&B.

“I never knew if it was her not giving enough or me needing too much I wrote it because I genuinely didn’t know. The song isn’t an accusation. It’s a question.”

Micah Sol | Ones To Watch Playlist

namesbliss – run it

MOBO-nominated rapper namesbliss returns this week with a collaborative release called ‘run it’, featuring Paul Stephan.

The track was produced by t.o, and fuses stripped-down grime beats with jazz and alternative hip hop. It’s a sound that feels nostalgic but also refreshingly experimental at the same time.

To date, namesbliss has amassed more than ten million career streams on Spotify alone. The artist plays London’s Jazz Cafe Festival in August – grab your tickets here.

namesbliss | Paul Stephan | Ones To Watch Playlist

Evan James – Radar

Canadian artist Evan James returns with a powerful new song that is sure to relate with anyone who finds themselves feeling a ‘certain type of way’ with a friend.

The atmospheric ‘Radar’ mixes dark pop with drum ‘n’ bass, resulting in a sound that is full of tension and mystery. The production mirrors the lyrics, which speak of desires and doubts after realising that you have feelings for someone.

“Written from the perspective of queer desire and intuition, the song captures the experience of sensing a connection that remains unspoken, questioning whether someone feels the same while navigating secrecy, tension, and late-night vulnerability.”

Evan James | Ones To Watch Playlist

Atura + demotapes – without U

‘without U’ is one of those songs that instantly brings joy. Created by Atura and demotapes, this track gives us a taste of that iconic French Disco style of work (think Stardust or Daft Punk), mixed with shimmering pop tones and beautifully soulful vocals.

Atura is a Boston-based producer and songwriter who has been gaining a lot of traction in recent years. He’s due to play the final show of his tour on the 27th of June at Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington. If you’re in the state then be sure to grab tickets here.

Atura | demotapes | Ones To Watch Playlist

Cees – Only We Know (feat. solaene)

Rising producer Cees collaborates with solaene on a gorgeous new single called ‘Only We Know’, out today via Interstellar Recordings.

solaene’s ethereal vocals glide over an electronic production that beginds with restraint and minimalism, slowly building up to a euphoric climax.

Everything about this song feels intentional and thought-through, and the result is a progressive house song that is pretty much close to perfection.

Cees | solaene | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: bothsxdes

SONG OF THE WEEK

Your summer bop of the week comes courtesy of emerging London and Paris based artist bothsxdes.

The (deservedly) much-hyped French singer and songwriter has just unveiled a new EP called ‘wholehearted’ (listen here) and, along with it, ‘saysorry’. This melodic song treats listeners to a luxurious and heady fusion of psychedlic-inspired indie, pop and R&B.

Impressively, the entire EP was self-made – from the writing and producing through to the recording, mixing and mastering.

bothsxdes headlines London’s Folklore Hoxton on the 25th June, with support from dréa szn – get your tickets here.

bothsxdes | Ones To Watch Playlist

Jordan Barone – Alone In LA

NYC artist Jordan Barone’s ‘Alone In LA’ is one of those pop songs that immediately locks you in with its sheer intensity.

The production is dark, tense, and cinematic, while still feeling accessible and easy to connect with. Lyrically, the track looks at the hopes and insecurities that come with living in a place like LA.

“It’s about choosing to move forward over emotional compromise, wiping away temptation and refusing to get lost in the things that pull you off course.”

Aside from his solo work, Barone is also a sought-after engineer and producer who has worked with the likes of Kehlani, Tory Lanez, H.E.R. and the late Mac Miller.

Jordan Barone | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Brice Blanco

LA-based artist Brice Blanco is one of our favourite discoveries of the week, and once you play the new single ‘B Here’ you’ll know why.

Originally hailing from Houston, this musician crafts a distinctive sound that confidently blends alternative R&B with indie and psychedlic pop. This track is both playful and light-hearted, without losing its finesse.

It’s hard to make upbeat music that is both experimental and fun at the same time, yet Blanco does so with ease. We’re excited to see the evolution of this talent. Debut album ‘AFRO URF’ is out soon.

Brice Blanco | Ones To Watch Playlist