We’re suckers for classic soul, and it doesn’t get any sweeter than Stefan Mahendra’s new single, ‘Too Late.’
The track blends old-school, nostalgic soul tones with R&B, jazz, and pop, resulting in a sound that feels familiar and warm but with a sharp emotional edge that comes from its lyricism.
“Now you’re in my rear view mirror / Begging me to reconsider… I’m already on the freeway…”
“It’s too late / To turn around and change your mind”
Shaan Ramaprasad, who has worked with the likes of Jungle and Teddy Swims, collaborated alongside Mahendra in the development of the sound, adding to its beautiful sonic textures.
Fans can look forward to a new EP, due for release later this year.
Vau is an artist and producer emerging from Malmö in Sweden who recently caught our attention with a gorgeous song called ‘Bird You Want To Save’.
The track’s production is a masterclass in lo-fi pop. Despite its dreamy and enchanting soft style of sound, the track speaks of unrequited love, which offers an interesting juxtaposition between the music and the lyrics.
“A song about wanting to be held but not being able to receive it. About looking put-together on the outside while feeling like a broken mess on the inside. The song almost didn’t make the album – until I found a tiny frozen wren outside my studio and nursed it back to health overnight in a pot. The next morning it flew away.”
An upcoming album is scheduled for release later in the summer. Vau’s music has amassed over two million streams to date, which is an impressive feat for a relatively new talent.
We first featured Canadian talent Christian Sean back in 2024, and we’re delighted to see that he’s still creating some really great pop sounds.
It’s near impossible not to be won over by ‘Saint Loreto’. The track presents listeners with a playful and experimental blend of synth, alternative pop, and indie. The sound reminds us of Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation’ era yet still feels fresh and new.
“I was reading Kelefa Sanneh’s book Major Labels: A History of Popular Music, and thinking about the nature of pop and how it didn’t really exist as its own genre until the 1980s, when it was pioneered by a handful of producers using synths and primitive drum machines. I wanted to pay respect to that organic electronic approach in the studio, and make my own version of a pure pop song with an updated vision.”
Christian’s music has won praise from outlets as noted as EARMILK and Under The Radar, and if you’re lucky enough to be in Barcelona next month for Primavera Sound, then be sure to catch him performing there live.
Montreal’s SUUNCAAT has just unveiled a new single, and it’s really quite something.
‘bite’ is a distinctive song that blends dark pop with hypnotic beats, layered over an electronic production that is sparse but high impact.
A phonk-inspired look at nightlife, ‘bite’ was created after a trip to one of London’s most iconic (and notorious) night spots.
“I wrote ‘bite’ after going to Fabric London alone out of boredom. It’s about being in that environment and not giving in to it, just taking the high from the music and keeping your distance from everything else, being invisible in a crowd.”
With her flair for experimentation, SUUNCAAT’s work is anything but predictable. Each song we’ve come across by this artist has been a refreshing and unexpected sonic experience, and we’re excited to see what comes next.
First-generation Canadian-American Kojo Kay first started his journey as a music artist back in 2021 – but stopped a year later to focus on perfecting his sound and style of artistry.
A few years later and he’s now readying the release of his self-produced debut mixtape, titled ‘TONEBOW’, and with it, a taster for the record called ‘THE HUMMINGBIRD TOLD ME IT’S ALL GONNA BE ALRIGHT SO I GUESS IT REALLY WILL BE SO…’.
The song is refreshingly experimental and delivers an approach to hip hop that is alternative and highly unique in character. On its creation, the artist explains:
“My goal on this single was to experiment with the sonic boundaries of melodic hip hop, but also my boundaries as an artist as well to create a piece of work that was truly an accurate reflection of my thoughts in a very dark moment. This moment is one unfamiliar to nearly none, the feeling of the worlds problems combined with your own individual ones weighing on you to the point of near collapse.
“I conveyed this universal emotion with a chaotic yet fully controlled production scene with drums that intentionally sound like they have fallen from a universe we haven’t visited yet (far beyond the reach of Artemis), synths and vocal effects (the main synth is actually my voice) to further amplify this emotion and then finally the introspective/reflective lyrics that ground you back on earth allowing the whole piece to somehow feel like a memory that never occurred, future-nostalgia.”
The track was made alongside frequent collaborator and Juno Award-winning engineer Jamie Kuse. ‘TONEBOW’ is out soon, but in the meantime you can listen to more teasers here.
LA-based artist Sara Marie Barron’s new single, ‘Killer (Moon Interlude)’ is one of the most creative releases of the week. The Detroit-raised singer and songwriter has been steadily building traction lately, with her beautiful production that fuses genres together in balanced and harmonious ways.
‘Killer(Moon Interlude)’ is an ambient piece which, despite its minimalism, feels unnerving and slightly haunting. The song was inspired by the damaging effects of late-stage capitalism, with the rhythm of the synth loop reflecting the monotony of 9-5 work.
Sara is currently readying the release of her next EP, titled ‘Heaven’s Right Here’, which is out soon. In the meantime, you can explore more of her work right here.
Julia DeTomaso is not a newcomer in the usual sense. Her vocals are already recognisable by millions, having been featured on some prominent dance records like Da Hool’s ‘Dancing In The Rain’.
Aside from her work as a featured artist, Julia’s own music is really quite sensational. Her songs are written with warmth and vulnerability and are deeply personal.
‘Goodbye, Goodnight, Good Seeing You’ is the perfect introduction to anyone who hasn’t experienced her solo work, showcasing a polished and beautifully constructed fusion of indie and alternative pop. A gorgeous release from a talent who very clearly has a gift for songwriting.
Texas-based Virginian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alissa Feudo is here with your weekend pop anthem, ‘Something in the Water’.
This is a bold, dark, almost sinister-sounding track that highlights the emotions that we experience when deciding to throw ourselves into love.
“‘Something in the Water’ is a cinematic, industrial dark pop song with an ethereal vocal about choosing to risk the danger of going all in on love.”
The lyrics take their inspiration from The Odyssey, with lines like ‘I feel the sirens pull me from the mast’ demonstrating the intensity between two people who are attracted to each other.
Fuedo has collaborated with the likes of Myon, Seven Lions, and Andy Moor. Her work has amassed millions of streams to date, and she’s also achieved a #1 ranking on Beatport’s charts.
Can we ever get tired of MUANH? Short answer… no! The rising German newcomer has frequented our pages since last year, and she’s back again today with yet another impressive new song called ‘already know’.
The track serves as a taster to the artist’s upcoming LP and presents listeners with a nostalgia-laced pop production that harks back to the sounds of the 80s and 90s.
“For introspective listeners drawn to nostalgic late-night cinema, prioritising atmosphere and emotional texture over polished pop production.”
The soundscape is dreamy and immersive and only further proves why this is an artist to watch.
Fans of Daniel Caesar will have a new name to add to their playlists, and that man is Daniel Barrett. This Wilmington NC talent caught our attention with his sublime style of R&B, so much so that we’ve had his new single, ‘COOL,’ on rotation all day.
“This song is the quintessential coming of age love story. Inspired by ambiguity in my relationships, I felt compelled to make an R&B song that highlights the ‘talking’ phase.”
Barrett is already an accomplished producer who has worked with the likes of Chase Shakur, Joony, and ASTN, and you can hear the attention to detail come through on this new single. The sound flows like a dream – airy, light, melodic, and really quite stunning.
It’s always wonderful to see producers step out from the mixing desks and in front of a mic… it’s a brave move and one that is always so welcome.
“I wrote ‘Ugly’ after watching a documentary on Netflix called Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy, which looks at where ‘away’ actually is when we throw things out. The song centres around this almost religious compulsion we have towards consumerism. Our ads are full of commandments, ‘buy now’, ‘don’t miss out’, and we’re promised heaven in the form of status and wealth if we follow the right path.”
“I frantically list products and capitalist tokens throughout the song to mirror the never-ending frenzy of the world we live in. I wanted it to feel chaotic, with a big sense of release in the chorus, something people can throw their hands up to and let go of at shows.”
For lovers of Amy Winehouse and Adele, Australian singer and songwriter jael (Jael Wena) will be a welcome newcomer.
New single ‘DUI’ was made alongside the legendary Eg White, and that in itself speaks volumes as to how talented this artist is. A global name in the making, no doubt about that.
Elena June is a name that we think you’ll start to hear a lot more of in the coming months. London-based with Scottish roots, this independent starlet has just released her debut, and it’s stunning.
Created with Louis Mattrs, ‘Alone Again’ is an immersive pop song that is beautifully minimal. With hints of folk, the track slowly evolves with more sonic layers, drawing the listener into an atmospheric soundscape that is utterly mesmerising.
“‘Alone Again’ was written at time when I was noticing a pattern where it felt like I had no control over my thoughts – spiralling became second nature to me. The song is a time stamp as it encapsulates that feeling of ruminating and how lonely life can actually be when you push people away.”
“Im really inspired by artists like Maro and Bon Iver as well as timeless singers like Julie London. I knew I wanted my first song to feel both cinematic and tender so we kept the structure simple but added lots of texture. I’m so excited to finally share it.”
Despite being a relative newcomer, June has already shared stages with the likes of Paloma Faith and also performed at London’s Futuretense series with BBC Introducing and Notion.
Melde might be a new name to most, but this creative artist has been crafting music for over twenty years. Starting his career aged just 17, his involvement in music first began in Texas’s electronic metal scene as part of an outfit called Sky Eats Aeroplane, which gained momentum on MySpace back in the day.
“After a few years, my band was dealing with some interpersonal issues as well as differences in expectation with our record label, and at the same time i was learning about lighting design and programming.”
Since then, he’s become a notable figure in lighting design, working with the likes of Billie Eilish, Kim Petras, and Zedd. Now he’s back in the music world, and if his new single ‘AOS’ (Achievement Oriented Society)is anything to go by, then we hope it stays that way for a while!
This is a bold and energising piece of music that instantly grabs the listener’s attention with its hypnotic beat structure and distinctive vocal sampling.
“My friend from Berlin shared her perspective from a transformative mushroom experience about the society we live in through a voice message. I thought this was an important message that I’d like for dance floors to experience in a certain mind state to remind them that their existence has value itself.”
We first featured American newcomer Emily Rose Burnett in March this year, and we’re pleased to see that she’s back with yet another big song that we’re excited to be sharing with you.
‘waiting’ has a sense of drama which is really quite captivating. It blends dark, alternative pop with R&B to form a sultry, cinematic style of sound which mirrors the tension described by the lyrics.
“‘waiting’ is a smooth, R&B-fuelled groove, powered by roomy piano and massive synths, detailing the agony of impatience that comes with being left on read.”
The track further affirms Rose Burnett as one of New York’s most interesting and promising prospects so far this year. One to watch!
SABS was born and raised in Maryland, and aside from being a really gifted singer and songwriter, she also happens to be a mechanical engineer!
We came across this talent’s music a few days ago, and her new single ‘facedown’ has impressed us quite a lot. The track blends indie with pop in a thoughtful and balanced way, while the lyrics take their inspiration from today’s dating scene.
“‘facedown’ explores the cycle of surface-level connection and emotional disconnect in modern dating. it’s about recognising the pattern but still finding yourself in it.”
To date, SABS has accumulated more than 70k career streams on Spotify alone. You can explore more of her work right here.
“‘STATIC SHOCK’ is a positive summer vibe that’s laced with the slight sting that’s left behind from a decision that might have given you some short term fun, but in the long term becomes a harder pill to swallow. It explores the feeling of the ‘Static Shock’ when your mind wanders back to those memories, but the overall sense of fun and happiness you felt while the time was good. It reminds you that you can have that sort of fun again”.
“Falling in and out of feelings. Nothing is fixed, everything is in flux. My new EP, ‘Subject To Change,’ moves through sonic worlds from bright, airy ‘Marmalade’ to the dark, melancholic ‘Multiplicity.’ Nothing ever really stays the same, especially matters of the heart, and I wanted the music to move as fluidly as we do.”
Jet Vesper’s ‘Halfway to Yours’ is one of the most gorgeous releases of the week, and we’re really excited to be sharing it with you.
The track treats us to a mellow mix of neo-soul and dreamy pop, resulting in a hazy, buttery-smooth sound that complements Vesper’s captivating falsetto vocals.
Vesper recently performed at the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival and is due to headline his own European tour this year. It’s going to be a big year for an artist who truly deserves it.
