“‘PLM’ is about holding love and fear in the same breath. I wrote it during pregnancy, a time rarely represented in the music I grew up with. It’s a song about becoming – not disappearing – as a woman, an artist, and a mother.”
LALA HAYDEN | Ones To Watch Playlist
Worricka is a talent who deserves all the acclaim he gets. Supported by outlets as influential as The Guardian, Wonderland Magazine, and BBC Radio 1, this artist’s dedication to creating future-forward soul music is both recognised and praised.
Following on from a recent collaboration with pop icon Boy George (who has praised Worricka as a ‘Jazz Goddess’), the artist returns with a bold new single called ‘You’. The track’s production blends soulful tones with a raw, indie twist that is very compelling to experience.
“The song’s lyrics are flickering between the moments of pain that can cause you, to then switching and basking in that amazing, warm and drugged-up feeling it can give you. This is completely autobiographical and is about my last heartbreak. Singing and songwriting are mystical to me. Music, I find to be the most pliable art form as it can accompany you in almost every part of your life. It can accentuate the beautiful moments, help you through heartbreak and pull you out of despair.”
Worricka’s songs have amassed more than 150k streams on Spotify so far. Check out his previous releases here.
British-Filipino artist Troy Javelona returns with one of our favourite songs of the week, called ‘WHAT’S A GUY GOTTA DO’.
The track was recorded between Troy’s bedroom and a professional London studio, giving it a distinctive feel that is somehow both ‘DIY’ and polished. This adds to the raw emotion that the lyrics deliver, of which Troy explains:
“When my girlfriend and I broke up we lived a couple doors down from each other, so some of the lyrics touch upon that. I poured my guts into that song.”
Since last featuring Troy on Alfitude back in 2023, he’s gone on to build a huge global fanbase, amassing more than 30 million career streams and commanding more than 589k monthly listeners on Spotify.
Irish hip hop artist Malaki is no stranger to these pages. This acclaimed talent has won the hearts of fans and critics alike in recent years, and the quality of his work never fails to impress.
New single ‘Saoirse’ (a popular girl’s name in Ireland that translates to ‘freedom’) was produced by mixing engineer John Foyle, who is also known for his collaborations with the likes of Kali Uchis, Gorillaz, Mark Ronson, and FKA Twigs.
The song’s lyrics are inspired by Malaki’s time growing up in Dublin and capture the thoughts and sentiments that come with being young and restless.
Malaki’s music has landed placements on flagship playlists like Spotify’s New Music Friday UK, Alternative Ireland, and Apple Music’s Irish Hip Hop. You can catch the artist performing in Dublin and London soon, with dates and venues listed below.
Malaki | Ones To Watch Playlist
Malaki Live Dates – Spring 2026
If you’re in need of a tonic to soothe your midweek blues, then we have the perfect song for you, courtesy of US-based singer and songwriter Celina Savage.
As a student at the iconic Berklee College of Music, we could safely assume that this 19-year-old talent already has a bright future ahead of her, especially if we consider her new single, ‘Baby Names’.
This is a charming indie-folk song that carries its beauty in its simplicity. Listeners can enjoy sincere storytelling, soft vocals, and a comforting style of sound. On the track, Celina explains:
“‘Baby Names’ is a hopeful song about growing old and simultaneously closer with someone. An idealized future image I’ve held since I was young. I’ve had a dream baby name for as long as I can remember. This song was written when I met someone of that same name and couldn’t help but imagine what my future could have in store for me.”
The song is lifted from Celina’s debut album of the same name, which you can stream here.
Stream Izzy’s new ‘Sunny in London (Acoustic)’ EP right here.
Izzy Escobar | Ones To Watch Playlist
‘Sunny In London’ EU/ UK 2026 Dates:
North London’s Bad Patterns is back with one of the week’s biggest dance releases, ‘DANGER’.
Created in collaboration with Justin Joseph, this hypnotic track treats listeners to a UK garage-inspired production. The sound is classic and recognisable but also carries a fresh and modern twist.
Bad Patterns is no stranger to experimenting with his sound and is sonically inspired by a diverse spectrum of talents – from Chris Lorenzo and Camelphat to Jax Jones and Gorgon City.
Villő is a type of artist that we rarely have the pleasure of discovering, so we’re very excited to be sharing her work with you today. Cited as the ‘Aurora of Hungary’, this promising 23-year-old singer and songwriter is already receiving acclaim in both her home nation and across Europe.
‘Léleklények’, which translates to ‘Soul Beings’, is a sublime piece of music that showcases some of the finest dream-pop that we’ve heard so far this year. The sound is ethereal in character and elevates the listener to an almost transcendent state. Lyrically, the track centres around the idea that as humans, we simply exist as spiritual beings, encased in a body of flesh.
The song is lifted from Villő’s forthcoming debut LP, ‘Madárlány’, which is scheduled for release on the 13th March 2026. In the meantime, you can listen to more of this artist’s work right here.
We’re starting the week with a charming pop banger from American talents Jaime Deraz and Bad Boyfriend, called ‘Supercut’.
The track was inspired by a relationship that, despite ending a decade ago, still reappears in the Deraz’s memories even to this day. Complementing the melancholic lyrics, the production serves listeners with a UK garage beat, adding to the song’s sense of nostalgia.
“As everyone started reflecting on 2016, I wrote this as a way of revisiting decade-old memories that still feel painfully current.”
Impressively, the song adds to Deraz’s catalogue of over 150 songs that she has already released. This artist has garnered more than 17 million career streams and also landed placements on flagship playlists like Dance Rising and several regional New Music Fridays.
BruceBan$hee is one of the most original newcomers to emerge from Maryland in quite some time. This genre-bending musician creates music that truly crosses boundaries, thanks in part to his diverse and eclectic taste in music.
What makes this artist really interesting, though, is his experimental way of working. Known for recording his productions in unusual places like childhood haunts and playgrounds, his sound is distinctive and has a sense of character that is rarely experienced in alternative music.
BruceBan$hee cites the likes of Neon Trees, Deftones, and Nirvana as some of his inspirations, and you can hear this come through on his powerful new single, ‘$trawberry Blues’.
To coincide with the release of the song, we had the opportunity to ask this rising talent some questions to get to know them better…
Your influences range from heavy rock to emo pop. For someone who has never heard your music before, how would you describe the sound that you’re creating right now?
My sound lives somewhere between a mosh pit, nature, and a late-night drive. I make emotional alternative music for people who feel too much or not enough. It’s heavy teenage dream energy with pop memory.
You record your songs in unusual spots like old childhood hangouts; how did being in those types of places help you capture the raw feeling of your new single?
I don’t like recording where it feels recommended – I like recording where it feels pure. If the environment makes me angsty, the emotion usually comes out real.
You describe your sound as ‘controlling the chaos as a one-man band’. How do you balance the heavy energy of influences like Turnstile with the catchy chorus appeal of bands like Neon Trees?
It’s chaos with a melody you can sing back & learn to make friends with your demons. I want the hook to stay in your head, but the feeling to stay trapped, choking in between your sternum.
‘$trawberry Blues’ is a tribute to a late best friend. How has writing your music lately helped you process that loss and come to terms with mortality?
Nostalgia and pain live in the same places for me, and that shows up in the vocals.
What can fans expect from your live performances that they might not get just by listening to the studio recordings?
I try to capture moments/energy, not performances.
You can stream more of BruceBan$hee’s music on Spotify, and make sure you check out his most recent EP, ‘TEENAGEANGST’.
US outfit Crab are rapidly gaining traction across their home state of New York, thanks to their refreshing blend of alt-rock and post-punk.
New single ‘Unlimited’ is a collaboration with Vitruvian Sound’s Stephen Kurpis and instantly gets your heart rate racing. It’s a loud and atmospheric song that fuses post-rock with elements of art rock and shoegaze.
As you might gauge from their sound, Crab’s work is likely best experienced live. You can catch them performing at Main Drag’s Winter Madness on the 13th February.
“‘Never Do’ is about being really into someone and how that kind of feeling starts to change your life, your habits, and the way you act. That’s how you know it actually means something. The song we sampled, ‘I’m Sprung,’ has a funny, lighthearted vibe that makes love feel fun and easy, and it fits perfectly with everything I’m feeling in ‘Never Do.’ I’m sprung — what can I say?”
“I’m in my hoe era and I wanna celebrate that! Seeing what works, what feels good and what doesn’t is a fun process. I hate this whole aversion to casual sex, how about we just enjoy the moment rather than overthinking stuff – everything is temporary anyway!”
Without a doubt, Cameron Dallas has grown to become one of the world’s most recognisable social media talents. His Instagram alone currently stands at over 26 million followers.
Cameron’s music is also just as popular, and on Spotify he’s accumulated more than 55 million streams from previous releases. His most recent project is called ‘CATCH!’ (listen to the deluxe version here), from which ‘Sinking’ is lifted.
Described by Dallas as a ‘bit of a lyrical puzzle’, the song treats us to his very distinctive type of alt-pop. It’s fun, quirky and also really quite anthemic.
Dallas Murrae is an emerging multi-genre talent based in Nashville who has been building some solid momentum lately, particularly over social media. His sound is distinct but still feels accessible and relatable.
New single ‘I Don’t Smoke’ blends hip hop with melodic pop and is inspired by the difficulty of moving on from certain situations, like the aftermath of a break-up.
Dallas has already amassed more than 770k career streams to date across digital platforms and had a viral moment on Instagram last year with his Mark Battles ‘Shasta‘ collaboration.
I Project is one of our favourite discoveries of the week, and his new single ‘INSTEAD’ has really caught our attention.
Written in the artist’s bedroom, this is a beautifully constructed alt-pop song that encapsulates human emotion in a way rarely shown in this genre of music. The track takes some of its inspiration from Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ era, which adds even more character to the sound.
I Project is currently working on his debut album, with a release date sometime in the summer later this year. In the meantime, you can explore more of this talent’s work over on his Spotify.
LA-based No Love For The Middle Child is back with a powerful new single today called ‘Ash on the Floor’, and it’s one of our favourite tracks of the week.
The song looks at the denial that we sometimes allow ourselves to experience when a relationship is clearly ending. The lyrics also speak of the clarity that comes when we finally accept that someone isn’t right for us, and the closure that comes with it. Speaking on the production, the artist explains:
“I’ve been obsessing over production lately, especially within the confines of my own music. I find that I’m most comfortable writing lyrics in my room with an acoustic guitar and that’s often where my favorite stuff comes from. I mainly listen to energetic music though, and always want energy when I think about the live show. It’s been a fun experiment writing these acoustic songs and taking them as if they’re samples and remixing them to be quicker, transposed, or completely reproduced. I find that if the bones of the song are good, the production can be anything, and that’s what I found when making ash on the floor.”
Alongside his own solo work. No Love For The Middle Child has also recently collaborated behind the scenes with global names as notable as Machine Gun Kelly, Jelly Roll, Jessie Reyez, Juice WRLD, and TXT.
American artist Shaky has long been a figure in Pennsylvania’s underground indie scene, working with the likes of Cold Fronts and Killer Bangs before branching out as an artist in his own right.
Now the owner of his own Shaky Records, this talent is releasing some of the most interesting rock sounds to emerge from his state. New single ‘In a Heartbeat’ serves as a taster to his next album, ‘Kinda Wild II’, and treats us to a fuzzy, charming, and nostalgic approach to garage rock.
“‘In a Heartbeat’ is the feeling of nostalgia. For me, it’s a look back at life in my early 20s, living in Philly and running the Rathaus. As I get older and the world gets stranger, I find comfort in my memories of the past – when times were simpler. I hope this track resonates with anybody who has a moment or two they’d like to relive.”
The track also comes with a B-side titled ‘Bait’, which is just as anthemic and captivating. Impressively, Shaky not only performs, but he also writes, records, produces and masters his music alone. You can listen to his debut record, ‘Kinda Wild’, right here.
Amelie Lucille is really quite a star in the making. We first featured this New Yorker back in 2024, when she was only 15 years of age.
Listening to her new single ‘Foolove’, you wouldn’t know that this is still a teen artist. The song is a thoughtfully crafted piece of indie folk that is sincere and moving, and is inspired by the emotions we experience when we fall in love.
“The song is a testament to how little control is felt when you are in love.”
As a sign of her ever-growing popularity, Amelie has amassed more than 500k career streams to date. The artist will perform at NYC’s Mercury Lounge on the 11th February, alongside Stella Prince and Susie McCollum. You can grab a ticket here.
Bobo Dos Blotos is a singer and songwriter currently based out of Los Angeles. While we still don’t know much about this talent, we are impressed with their work.
‘Before You Save Me’ is an emotionally charged slice of R&B-pop that treats its listeners to a cinematic style of production. It’s frantic and intense, but also feels fragile and vulnerable.
“This is a song about a kid who is lost and lonely but is hopeful for a better day and still believes in a dream and his chance to really live.”
In addition to his own project, Bobo Dos Blotos has also co-written songs for fellow rising talents like Zxena and Corrj.
