New Music: Luke Armstrong

Photo / Zachary Gray

This week’s indie-pop gem comes courtesy of rising LA-based newcomer Luke Armstrong.

Luke was born to American parents and raised in Beirut before moving to California to play college basketball. He’s bilingual in English and Arabic and has used music as a channel for expressing his identity from as early as his childhood.

“I was an intense child. Music has always helped me process that intensity.”

“There’s an opportunity to face fear with art, to surrender to what scares you, process it, and come through.”

‘2000’ was recorded with acclaimed producer Daniel James, who has also worked with the likes of Hayley Williams, David Byrne, and Efterklang. The track rewinds listeners back to the millennium and sees that era from a fictional perspective created by Armstrong, and looks at the chaotic ways of the world.

“I want to be honest about human suffering, and to make a statement about what a better world can look like.”

Luke Armstrong | Ones To Watch Playlist

muuk – into you

Photo / Antonia Steiner

muuk, the musical moniker of artist Ines Roervig Lewkovitch, first came across our radars earlier this year with her sensational debut ‘i’m no soldier’.

The hugely talented Danish starlet returns today with a powerful single called ‘into you’. This introspective and emotionally charged song was inspired by the artist’s difficult childhood, transporting listeners to her bedroom in her father’s apartment.

“I’m really not good at writing songs where I point fingers at others, but for so many years I’ve wanted to hug my younger self and tell her that it is not her fault what happened back then. This song is justice for her.”

“I don’t think my father ever experienced real love… so how could he possibly pass it on to me? Either way, it was really hard for me growing up, never knowing what unconditional love felt like. I always felt like I had to fight for my parents’ acceptance.”

The track was created alongside fellow songwriter Victor Stokholm and producer Morten Bergholt, and was completed in only four hours. It’s rare to come across a musician who is bold and brave enough to expose their innermost thoughts and vulnerabilities in the same way that muuk has, and that’s something incredibly special.

muuk | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: Lonnie Gunn

Photo / Nicole Ngai

“’Good Girls Go to Heaven’ reflects the eerie, painful realities of forcing yourself to be a stranger to someone you once knew intimately and being unable to let go. The song swallows all that frustration, yearning, and emotional repression and vomits it back out into a white-hot fuzz. The title itself is sort of an ironic remark about behaving in accordance with the ‘social guidelines’ instead of addressing the elephant in the room: the fact that this other person and I were once in love and can never unknow that feeling. Good Girls is a reveal of the subtext in the strained small talk and resisted eye contact. The final verses of the song act as a reluctant goodbye to the part of ourselves we once had with each other, or before each other, and will never have again.”

Lonnie Gunn | Ones To Watch Playlist

JJerome87 – Track and Field

JJerome87 is the solo project of alt-J frontman and songwriter Joe Newman. As part of the band, Newman managed to help create one of the UK’s most influential indie outfits from the past decade.

‘Track and Field’ is Newman’s latest single and showcases a summery pop sound that features hints of indie, Americana and gospel. The song is warm and nostalgic in tone, and further affirms Newman’s status as a top-tier songwriter.

A debut album titled ‘The Canyon’ is scheduled for release on the 26th of June.

JJerome87 | Ones To Watch Playlist

Subterranean Street Society – Kindness

Photo / Edward Freije

Subterranean Street Society is a Dutch-Danish trio currently based in Amsterdam who craft a style of folk-grunge that really is quite something spectacular to experience.

Vocalist and guitarist Louis Puggaard-Müller wrote the band’s latest offering, ‘Kindness’, during a trip through Malin Head in Ireland with a friend.

“I originally wrote it as a traditional folk song, pretty much campfire style. But when I brought it to the band, we turned it into something bigger: an alternative folk grunge track that keeps the emotional core intact while giving it weight and movement. To me, it feels like the ultimate road trip song. Raw and cinematic. The kind you will blast while driving through wild, beautiful scenery, preferably Irish, but any view will do.”

The song’s lyrics were inspired by that journey, encompassing the landscapes, the talks with strangers along the way, and the clarity that sometimes comes from embracing the unknown.

“The title ‘Kindness’ comes from the fact that we were completely dependent on strangers. Every mile we travelled was given to us. It made the world feel fragile but generous at the same time.”

Alongside Louis, Subterranean Street Society also includes Ivo Johan Schot on bass and choir and Joost Koevoets on drums, percussion, and vocals.

The band recently supported Laura Cox on tour and have a full year ahead with new releases for their fans to enjoy. In the meantime, you can explore more of their music on Spotify, where they currently attract more than 13k monthly listeners.

Subterranean Street Society | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: seegz

seegz is a UK-based singer, songwriter, producer and mix engineer. His new single Gloria was released this week, and it’s an immediately captivating song that caught our attention. This is a style of alternative pop that is distinctively unique in tone, with a lot of sonic texture. If you like the sound, then you’ll be happy to learn that an upcoming EP is on the way.

seegz’s music has already landed on prominent Spotify editorials like Fresh Finds Indie, as well as being featured on BBC Introducing. If you’re based in London and you’re free tomorrow (13th April), then you can catch seegz supporting Serena Sun at the legendary Old Blue Last. Grab a ticket here.

seegz | Ones To Watch Playlist

Katie Belle – People Pleaser

We might still only be in April, but it’s already been a busy year for American talent Katie Belle. The singer, songwriter, model and actor spent the start of 2026 in LA preparing her new records while also performing around Hollywood.

In a sign of what’s to come, she’s released a catchy electronic-pop bop, created alongside Fabio Campedelli, called ‘People Pleaser’.

As its title suggests, the track speaks of the tension that comes from trying to keep everyone around you happy and the liberation of breaking free from having that mindset.

No more
People pleaser
Sweet demeanor 
I’m gonna save me all for my self
Pretty creature
Time to grieve her 
I break the curse
I’m no longer bound

The track is lifted from a 5-song EP of the same name which is also out now (listen here), that serves as an ‘analogy of Katie coming into her own’.

Impressively, the record has already gained considerable momentum, with its songs currently amassing more than 700k cumulative streams on Spotify alone.

Belle is an artist on the way up, and we’re very excited to see what she releases as the rest of the year unfolds!

Katie Belle | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: dramaclub

TRACK OF THE WEEK

dramaclub is the most exciting discovery of the week, and once you press play on their new single ‘love in the darkness’, you’ll see why.

This Floridian quartet craft a style of indie pop that is refreshingly original. Their productions balance experimentation with playfulness and nostalgia, resulting in sounds that are unexpected and intriguing.

‘love in the darkness’ sonically carries hints of M83 and Capital Cities, while the lyrics speak of the metaphoric ‘tug of war’ that comes with caring for someone.

The track is lifted from the group’s forthcoming ‘for every room’ LP, which is out soon. In the meantime, you can explore more of their music right here.

dramaclub | Ones To Watch Playlist

Sungaze – I’m No Longer Afraid of Heights

Photo / Rikki Austin

For those unfamiliar with Sungaze, this emerging six-piece outfit are from the city of Cincinnati in Ohio. Their sound has particularly impressed us this week, and we’re quite excited to be sharing their new single with you.

‘I’m No Longer Afraid of Heights’ is a beautifully atmospheric emo song that fuses alternative rock with dreamy pop and shoegaze. The production is sonically complex, evolving in intensity as the track progresses. It’s powerful, moving, and almost cinematic in its tone.

Lyrically, the song looks at our hopes and aspirations as children, and how they eventually begin to conflict with the realities of adulthood. Elaborating on the single’s accompanying music video, lead vocalist Ivory Snow says:

“It was important to us to film the video in the real life settings that inspired it. We filmed over the course of three days. Day one was mostly spent working with our kid actors, and filming the office-attire scenes. Day two was filming the outdoor performance and narrator scenes which involved sneaking into a gravel pit yard and walking the streets of the small town where I grew up. The corner store in the video is the very same that is mentioned in the first verse. The third day was the live show, which was shot at Madison Live in Covington, KY, across the river from Cincinnati. To get the slow motion effect, we had to perform the song at 2x speed, which made for a humorous experience. I think we were all thankful that we play relatively slow music.”

‘I’m No Longer Afraid of Heights’ is taken from the band’s album of the same name, which is scheduled for release on 22 May 2026 – preorder here.

Sungaze | Ones To Watch Playlist

Diverse – Haunted

Diverse has to be one of the most interesting artists that we’ve come across this week. Hailing from Switzerland, this musician creates a very distinctive electronic sound that is instantly captivating.

‘Haunted’ is taken from the artist’s newly released EP of the same name (listen here) and presents listeners with a UK Garage-style of production that builds an immersive soundscape full of interesting textures.

Diverse has been active since 2022, crafting productions that mix genres as diverse as dubstep, drum & bass and house. The ‘Haunted’ EP is his first release with experimental indie label Androids Dungeon Radio.

Diverse | Ones To Watch Playlist

Iona Luke – Existential

Photo / Daisy Dickinson

Rising UK starlet Iona Luke is back today with a bold new single called ‘Existential’.

This track makes an instant impact from the start. The production fuses alternative rock with indie-pop, resulting in a sound that is intense, raw and dramatic. Lyrically, the song’s introspective lyrics speak of personal identity and doubting yourself when you’re an artist.

“In a madly oversaturated music space, figuring out where you stand and what you have to say is scary stuff. When I had to decide whether I’d be ‘Iona’ or ‘Iona Luke,’ I repeated my name in my head too many times and had the mini existential collapse we all get when a word suddenly looks a bit funny.”

“This song is about identity, overthinking, and wondering if what you do actually matters. It was almost impossible to write… snapped a lot of pencils.”

Iona was carving a career as a musician while also studying English Literature at Cambridge University. She’s gained attention from icons like Lana Del Rey and has amassed over two million career streams to date.

Iona Luke | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Oslo Green

Oslo Green is a master of many talents. He’s not only a singer, songwriter, producer and violinist, but also a co-founder of creative collective NYADO.

‘MaYbe’ caught our attention this week for its refreshingly original sound. The track, which features vocals from Adina Shine, serves as an introduction to Oslo’s new album, ‘No Strings Attached’ (listen here), and presents listeners with a beautifully balanced fusion of alternative R&B, hip hop, and pop.

On top of that, we’re also treated to some strings that give the track a sense of soulful nostalgia that is mesmerising to experience. Elaborating on the album’s concept, Oslo Green says:

“‘No Strings Attached’ – a promise I clearly couldn’t keep – both in relationships but also when it comes to the amount of strings I recorded for this album. This album covers a few good years of travelling around the globe – following relationships, music and big dreams. Growing up as a classical violinist, I could never imagine that one day I would put together something like this. While listening you might notice many flavors and languages. Writing and producing this album on the go, I blended in what I picked up from different places – NYC, Nairobi, Milan, Tel Aviv, Berlin, London and more.” 

The album follows on from Oslo’s well-received debut EP ‘The Oslo Green Express’, which featured an equally eclectic style of sound. You can explore more of the artist’s work on Spotify here.

Oslo Green | Adina Shine | Ones To Watch Playlist

Interview: Quickfire with Hanne Leland

Norwegian star Hanne Leland has been on our radars for more than a decade, and we’re still fans after all this time. The acclaimed singer and songwriter has had a varied career in music, immersing herself in Nashville’s scene in her early years before shifting to the electronic pop sound that she is so well known for now.

Leland returns today with a brilliant new Scandi pop banger called ‘Call You Mine’. It’s the perfect song to add to your weekend playlists, and in our view, it is likely to gain even more traction over the upcoming summer months. It’s catchy, fun, and lyrically relatable to anyone who’s ever fallen in love.

To celebrate its release, we managed to get the chance to have a catch-up with the artist, where she speaks on the creative hustle, her inspirations when making music, and what the future holds.

You’ve made a fascinating transition from the Nashville singer-songwriter scene to becoming one of Oslo’s most exciting independent pop forces. For those just joining the journey, how would you describe the Hanne Leland sound in 2026?

I’d say my sound is very much rooted in pop, with a touch of electro-pop. I like to experiment, so my sound has shifted a bit between indie pop and electro-pop over time, but at its core, it’s always been pop. This year, I’m really leaning into a more polished, playful electro-pop sound.

Your career is a masterclass in DIY hustle – from pitching sponsors to recording with Taylor Swift’s session musicians in Tennessee. Looking back at those early days, what is the core motivation that keeps you building this international career entirely on your own terms?

I think a lot of indie/ DIY artists are naturally very entrepreneurial, and that’s something I’ve always identified with. I have a strong work ethic and I love making things happen, but ultimately, it’s my love for music and songwriting that has kept me going.

Whether it’s your previous singles or your 2025 Christmas album, there’s always a distinct emotional thread in your writing. Where do you typically find yourself most inspired to create? Is it in the quiet moments of reflection or the chaos of real life experiences?

I’d say it’s a bit of both! I often write about my own life, whether that’s the big, chaotic moments, like a breakup, or the quieter, everyday experiences. For example, my 2025 song ‘Nothing At All’ is about the simple, everyday life with your partner, and how that ordinary routine can be everything you want.

Your new single ‘Call You Mine’ is an anthem that captures that agonisingly exciting ‘are we/ aren’t we’ phase of a new romance. Since you wrote this a couple of years ago, what was it about this specific track that made it feel like the perfect spark to kick off your 2026 releases?

I think it’s the perfect track for spring! It’s flirty, fun, and full of anticipation. It feels great to release something upbeat and playful just as the sun starts peeking out and summer is on the horizon.

With over 17 million streams under your belt and a fresh team behind you in both Norway and the UK, the momentum is clearly building. What does the rest of the year look like for you?

I’m thrilled to be playing my own headline show in Oslo this year! I also have more singles planned, in the same playful, upbeat vibe as ‘Call You Mine.’

Hanne Leland | Nordic Sound Playlist | Ones To Watch Playlist

Master Peace x Thomas Day – Love Hate

Two of the brightest musical talents have joined forces to create one of the summer’s biggest songs… even though we’re still in April!

Pairing acclaimed wordsmith Master Peace and rising singer-songwriter Thomas Day is quite the genius move. ‘Love Hate’ playfully weaves dreamy indie with alternative pop, building a shimmering soundscape that contrasts nicely with both artists’ distinctive vocals.

If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out Master Peace’s latest EP, ‘Stupid Kids‘, and if you’re in London, then you can catch him performing live at Heaven on the 28th October.

Master Peace | Thomas Day | Ones To Watch Playlist

Yellow House – Bound & Covered

Photo / Andile Phewa

Yellow House is the musical project of South African singer and songwriter Emile van Dango. With more than 100 million career streams already racked up on Spotify, Emile has already established himself as one of his nation’s most promising rising stars.

New single ‘Bound & Covered’ is a finessed dream-pop song that reminds us of the work by artists like Tame Impala and Washed Out. Hazy, mysterious, and utterly mesmerising, this track speaks of the intensities of being in love.

“‘Bound & Covered’ is a declaration of devotion and passion. Two lovers existing in complete belonging to one another across space and time.”

An upcoming ‘soft-concept’ album, called ‘Gateways & Trains‘, is scheduled for release soon, which will focus on the story of a mystic lover who leaves heaven to search for love.

Yellow House | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Stella Lovell

Stella Lovell is a promising newcomer hailing from Seattle, and we think you might enjoy her impressive sound.

Stella blends indie with rock, pop and folk to create sounds that have mainstream appeal while still maintaining a sense of raw authenticity.

New single ‘Get Away’ took a while to come to life – it was written four years ago in the artist’s childhood bedroom, and perfectly encapsulates Lovell’s style of work.

If you like the song then you’ll be pleased to learn that there’s an EP scheduled for release on the 8th of May. In the meantime, be sure to follow Stella on Spotify!

Stella Lovell | Ones To Watch Playlist

Navina – Rain (Overcoming Anxiety)

Photo / Lincoln Pictures

Navina is one of the UK’s most interesting indie-folk talents right now, and we’re not the only ones who think so. This rising starlet has picked up praise from outlets like BBC Radio 1 and Spotify, and momentum is certain to continue with the release of her new single, ‘Rain (Overcoming Anxiety)’.

The track showcases Navina’s natural flair for crafting productions that are easy to listen to sonically while also being lyrically raw and deeply personal. This song was inspired by feelings of anxiety, yet still gives listeners a sense of hope.

“This song came from a place of surrender. In the chaos of anxiety, I found that instead of fighting, there is peace in letting go, trusting in something greater than myself. It’s a song about weathering the storm and realising you’re never truly alone. When the sea of anxiousness is overwhelming, trust in something outside of myself shows that the sea is just made up of the rain, and anxiety can be overcome.”

More new music is on the way. In the meantime, you can follow Navina on her Substack, where updates are added every week.

Navina | Ones To Watch Playlist

Bradley Jago – You Let Go

We’ve lost count of the number of times that we’ve featured UK artist Bradley Jago, and for good reason. This talent continues to win fans and critics alike with his distinctive soul sound.

Jago returns today with a new EP called ‘My Inner Vitriol’ (listen here), along with a single called ‘You Let Go’. Blending elements of R&B into the production, the track is reminiscent of sounds by the likes of Amy Winehouse and Sasha Keable.

“It follows the end of the honeymoon phase, with each partner accusing the other of changing the dynamic of the relationship first.”

To celebrate the release of the EP, Bradley will play his first headline show in over a year at London’s Theatreship on the 16th April – grab your tickets here.

Bradley Jago | Ones To Watch Playlist

Sunstone – The Trip (Get Y’ Money Back)

If you’re in the mood for some R&B-soul, then we’ve got a great track to share with you today, courtesy of London-based outfit Sunstone.

‘The Trip (Get Y’ Money Back)’ is a taster to the band’s upcoming ‘Cherry Smack’ album and looks at themes of migration and the challenges of resettling. Alongside the thoughtful lyricism, this song seamlessly fuses neo-soul with classic R&B, concluding with an unexpected but impactful piece of spoken word.

Sunstone won the International Indie Songwriter Contest back in 2018 and have since then been featured by tastemakers like Visual Atelier 8, The Word Is Bond, and Podcart.

Sunstone | Ones To Watch Playlist

Corrj – The Angels Won’t Look Down Again

Australia-based artist Corrj is back today with a personal and powerful new single called ‘The Angels Won’t Look Down Again’.

On the surface, this is a sleek and finessed alternative-R&B song with polished beats and flawless vocals. But dig deeper and you’ll find a song that is brutally raw and honest in its lyrics.

The track was inspired by the legal battles that Corrj had to go through following the death of his father, trying to regain his family’s belongings, and the long-lasting emotional toll that it took. It looks at the complexities of grief and the struggle to move forward, even when you haven’t yet fully healed. Elaborating further, Corrj explains:

“My father died in March 2023 who was a massive influence on me and my music, he taught me piano and guitar. I saw him take his last breath in the hospital. I had my first national tour that was already locked in starting in May 2023. A week before the tour start my fathers’ ‘girlfriend’ who was staying at our family home at the time (while we were out) changed all the locks in the house once she found out she wasn’t in his Will.”

“This song was written in the aftermath of losing my father, the turmoil that followed, and a two-year legal battle that intensified an already overwhelming grief. ‘The angels won’t look down again’ is a metaphor for that absence not a rejection from heaven, but the acceptance of my new reality.”

The artist is currently working on his next project, which will ‘highlight a lot of introspective themes to do with that experience, my mental health and the things I have experienced in love’.

Alongside his own work as a solo artist, Corrj is also a guitarist who has shared stages with the likes of Go-Jo and Hannah Stow.

Corrj | Ones To Watch Playlist