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.
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.
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.”
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.”
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
While acclaimed Vancouver singer and songwriter Alexandria Maillot prepares for the release of her next album, ‘Cryptomnesia’, fans can enjoy a stunning new single, out today, called ‘Cherry Pit’.
Refreshingly dark, the song’s production fuses a range of genres together into a haunting and mysterious sound that is impactful and boldly confident.
The track draws listeners into a soundscape that is full of rich sonic texture, further affirming Maillot’s status as one of her nation’s most interesting and exciting indie talents.
Eli Paperboy Reed has to be one of the most consistent artists that we’ve ever come across. This much-loved soul artist has maintained a high standard of work for quite some time, and new single ‘Getting There is no exception.
Lifted from a forthcoming LP of the same name (out on the 11th September), the track serves as a heartfelt ode to the ever-changing stages of a person’s life.
The lyrics remind listeners that a fulfilled life is one that appreciates the journey and not the end goal. The song represents one of the core ideas of the new album – that of enduring love.
“There’s plenty of music out there about falling in love. I wanted to write about staying in love. I wanted to get to the heart of what it takes to go the distance, of what it means for two people to walk side by side, through good times and bad, and still choose each other every single day.”
“i feel it is such a real representation of how the world feels when your crashing down, you enter survival mode and then by chance you meet someone who takes the weight of your shoulder, i really wanted to embody that feeling into a song. Angry girl is about accepting the world has hurt you and you have crashed down but also acknowledging that somewhere along the lines love came along and reshaped your hurt.”
Margate-based artist and producer Jaime Rosso will release a new EP soon, titled ‘Keep Stepping!’, from which ‘Walk’ is lifted.
“I started ‘Keep Stepping!’ spurred on by the simple tonics of everyday life: walking, talking, dancing and dreaming. Over time the EP became an ode to these daily rituals, the sources of optimism that keep us moving through turbulent times.”
There’s not much known about Cora Flux (the musical project of Danish artist Jonathan Schultz), but from what we’ve heard so far, this talent will go far.
Melancholic single ‘haunted’ showcases a slowcore-inspired sound, with its stripped-back production blending indie, rock and pop. The song is minimal and raw, but moody and emotionally impactful.
Cora Flux has only released a handful of songs to date and has already gained traction through prominent Spotify playlists like Indie Nights and No More Good Girls.
One of the biggest releases of the month comes courtesy of self-taught Iranian-Canadian singer, producer and filmaker Afta Hill.
‘Most Wanted’ is an immediately arresting song that blends 00’s alternative R&B – think Timbaland’s collaborations with Justin Timberlake – with dark pop.
The sound is confident, emotionally charged and very intense. Lyrically, the track speaks of the troubles that await when you fall in love with someone who you know is bad for you.
To date, Afta Hill’s projects have amassed more than 17 million career streams and received attention from outlets like Casey Neistat and CloudKid.
néomí is back with yet another showstopper of a single, called ‘Close’. As we’ve come to expect from this talent, the song is a masterclass in pop, with its beautifully constructed production and memorable melody.
The song was inspired by the relatable dilemma of struggling to let go of someone you love very much after a relationship ends.
“‘Close’ is a song that is actually very much about an unhealthy form of love. The push and pull relationship where you don’t want to be together but also don’t want to let go. It is about desperately holding on, going back and forth with each other’s emotions. Think about avoidant/ anxious attachment styles, bound to be together. Love can feel like a drug when it is felt like that, as if you can’t live without each other so that’s the reason why you have to stay close.”
“I’d advise you to let go instead of holding on but, love is a powerful thing, and the heart wants what it wants I suppose… luckily we have songwriting to cope with that haha. I hope, but also don’t hope you connect to the song.”
An upcoming EP, intriguingly titled ‘Crunchy, Sad and Strangely Happy’, is out on the 18th September. Praise for néomí continues, with recent support from the likes of Wonderland Magazine, Under The Radar, and the Sunday Times.
Hailing from Teesside in north-eastern England is James Witham, who is already building significant momentum across the region.
This artist has the rare ability to completely expose his feelings in his songs. New single ‘George III’ is a perfect example of this singer-songwriter’s work and speaks of toxicity that arises from going out too much.
“‘George III’ is a track I wrote about how the going out culture has ruined people around me. It depicts the feeling of drug induced highs and their crashes, leaving friends in f***** up states. The repetitive chorus aims to portray how the action is habitual for many people despite the negative consequences. Being surrounded by this culture I find it hard to express the way I feel and I think this song does that for me. I just think people destroy themselves all for a night out and it seems really sad to me. Maybe this song is a way of getting this whole feeling out there.”
Witham sites artists like Sam Fender as his inspiration, and if he carries on releasing songs like ‘George III’, then he might well become one of the UK’s new solo stars.
Short and sweet is the message of the day from UK indie outfit The Danphes, who return today with a summery new single that, despite only running for two minutes, packs a tonne of energy and charm.
‘Distance’ is a guitar-driven track that blends nostalgic, 80s-inspired indie with subtle hints of shoegaze and dream pop, mirroring the hazy emotions we go through when we are young and in love.
“‘Distance’ taps into the rush of young love and the feeling of getting lost in someone.”
To date, the Norwich newcomers have released two other singles, cumulatively amassing thousands of streams.
