SUUNCAAT – the wash

SUUNCAAT always comes up with the most unexpected releases, and the new single ‘the wash’ is no exception.

As the title suggests, this song is about… laundry. Not in the literal sense, but more so as a representation of the passage of time. It brings to light our tendencies of getting caught up in the trivial and mundane things around us, all the while the world is changing rapidly.

“I wanted to write about the idea that repetition of these ordinary moments acts as a vortex through time because the world moves forward, but you’re still there doing laundry, though you can never do it twice as the same person.”

SUUNCAAT’s music has recently picked up support from outlets like Spotify (where her song landed spots on playlists like Fresh Finds Canada and Evolver), as well as Popdust and Exclaim!

SUUNCAAT | Ones To Watch Playlist

Paris WYA – Crashing With You

This week’s pop banger comes from Paris WYA and her anthemic new single ‘Crashing With You’.

This is the kind of song that instantly wins you over and stays in your head all day. The track serves as somewhat of an ode to youth and the fearlessness of living our best lives without worrying about the future.

“I wanted ‘Crashing With You’ to capture the feeling of being young, reckless, and completely alive. It’s about letting go of control and embracing spontaneity without worrying about where it might lead. Sonically, I was inspired by euphoric, emotional dance-pop and artists like Robyn, where something can feel exhilarating and vulnerable at the same time. ‘Crashing’ became a metaphor for surrendering to that feeling and choosing to live fully in the moment.”

Alongside her work as a superstar in the making, Paris is also collaborating with some leading names in fashion and visual art (like Domen & Van De Velde) to create fully immersive projects that bring new perspectives to her sounds.

Paris WYA | Ones To Watch Playlist

Montell2099 – ME&YOU

Auckland producer Montell2099 has been filling dance floors from as early as 2017, and still delivers massive sounds to this day.

New single ‘ME&YOU’ is part of a double release (alongside ‘BACKAGAIN‘) and presents listeners with a finessed mix of electronica and future garage. The track feels emotive and introspective, while still carrying Montell2099’s unmistakable club sound.

Montell2099 currently attracts more than 103k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, making him one of New Zealand’s most prominent electronic producers.

Montell2099 | Ones To Watch Playlist

Brice Blanco – Warm Skin / Kin Swarm

Rising LA artist Brice Blanco returns with a two-part release called ‘Warm Skin / Kin Swarm’, and it’s really quite the beauty.

Created alongside by Groove and Dav, this song serves as a celebration of cultural identity and heritage. It looks at themes of ancestry and community and treats listeners to another perspective on Brice’s sonic artistry.

Debut album ‘AFRO URF‘ is also out today, which you can play here. If you love artists like Toro y Moi and Earl Sweatshirt, then Brice’s record might just be your new favourite this autumn.

Brice Blanco | Ones To Watch Playlist

murdermart – LOSER

Boston-based music collective murdermart is a collective of multi-disciplinary artists who have a holistic approach to their craft. Sounds, visuals, and artwork are all made by the collective themselves, giving us a level of artistic authenticity we rarely come across.

‘LOSER’ fuses alternative rock with pop and takes listeners through a musical journey that begins with minimal instrumentation, gradually evolving into a loud, rousing finale.

“We wrote ‘LOSER’ over the course of a few months. The first and the last verse (the beginning of the song and the end) were tracked during a time where a lot was changing. The world felt extremely heavy and each member of the band was dealing with their own changes. Nothing felt like it was lining up, things were started and left unfinished, there was a general disconnect. Something happened during that session though; the creation of this song seemed to burst that dam and was the first moment in a while where everything felt like it was supposed to. When moments like this hit the band, we capitalize off of the energy and start as many ideas as we can.”

murdermart’s music currently attracts almost 30k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, while their online fanbase grows with each release. Ones to watch!

murdermart | Ones To Watch Playlist

RXRXBBIT – notmyproblem

One of the standout releases of the week comes courtesy of US artist RXRXBBIT and her captivating new single, ‘notmyproblem’.

The production on this track is like nothing you’ll have heard before. It’s dark, tense, and uncomfortable, but rather than being slow and dramatic in character, it’s relentlessly fast-paced.

The lyrics are inspired by toxic partnerships. It looks at the times when you’re aware of the damage being done, but still allow yourself to be in the cycle.

“I wanted to explore what it means to be the mechanism through which someone engages in self-destructive behavior. You can be genuinely harmed by what someone is doing and still be participating in it. You can see yourself as the victim, recognize your contribution to the cycle, and somehow still convince yourself that it isn’t your problem.”

RXRXBBIT’s creativity in songwriting has not gone by unnoticed. This LA-based artist has gained almost two million career streams to date and picked up coverage from tastemakers like Iggy Magazine and Joy of Violent Movement.

RXRXBBIT | Ones To Watch Playlist

Engebret – Stjerneskudd

Despite being sung entirely in Norwegian, acclaimed musician Engebret’s newest single, ‘Stjerneskudd’, still finds a way to connect with us.

This track chronicles a phone call between friends and looks at how we express ourselves in unspoken ways. Sonically, the production balances raw indie tones with alternative pop, resulting in a piece of music that somehow feels both happy and sad.

“‘Stjerneskudd’ was born in the aftermath of a phone conversation with someone important. The song captures everything that was said, everything left unsaid, and all the meaning that lingered between the lines – along with the things you wish you had said.”

Hailing from Bergen, Engebret (Jørgen Engebret) is a genre-bending artist who has been releasing songs since 2020. A new album called ‘Vi gale har rett’ is out soon.

Engebret | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: Good Hugg

Newcomers like Good Hugg are one of the reasons why this website continues to champion emerging artists after so many years.

This promising UK talent creates a style of sound that blends retro-inspired pop with a dreamy indie twist. The new single ‘talk more’ was a passion project by the artist, taking a year to construct with every detail meticulously considered.

“Written, produced and performed entirely by me, I was obsessed with using ‘bad’ vintage gear to say something new, layering sonic references to uncanny-valley 80s/ 90s nostalgia. I love the sound of shifting vocals between foreground and background to make it feel like a weird dream.”

While we still don’t know much about Good Hugg, his approach to songwriting makes him stand out in a way that has already made us big fans.

Good Hugg | Ones To Watch Playlist

NYNE – Heaven Sent

Australian pop artist NYNE has been on our radars for quite some time, so it’s very exciting to be sharing with you another brilliant single from this massively talented musician.

‘Heaven Sent’ is a taste of NYNE’s newest project and treats listeners to an acoustic-driven punk-pop sound, reminiscent of the MySpace era of music from the early 00’s.

Impressively, NYNE currently attracts more than 90k monthly listeners on Spotify, where she has also amassed over 6 million career streams to date.

NYNE | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Kohla

Despite being a relatively new talent, UK singer and songwriter Kohla is already gaining traction across the globe thanks to her distinctive (almost ethereal) vocals and enchanting pop productions.

‘You Took The World’ is a nostalgia-tinged track that is sonically inspired by the works of FKA Twigs and James Blake, and speaks of the joy that comes from falling in love. The production is stripped-back yet also feels cinematic in tone, allowing for Kohla’s stunning vocals to shine through.

“‘You Took The World’ was lyrically inspired by Scottish poet Jackie Kay’s ‘Late Love’, where the invincibility of falling in love feels as though you own the world. As the darkness of my disability (endometriosis) gradually took over my life, I often found myself reminiscing on my first love – the happiest time in my life – imagining our final conversation if the worst came.”

Kohla has earned praise from the likes of BBC6 Music, Wonderland Magazine, and The Scotsman.

Kohla | Ones To Watch Playlist

Laura Ampersand – Middle

Photo / Caitriona Muireann

SONG OF THE WEEK

Laura Ampersand (aka Laura Ryder) is undeniably becoming one of Ireland’s most promising alternative projects, already winning support from outlets as prominent as RTE Radio 1, Pure Magazine, and The Beat.

‘Middle’ is the artist’s latest single and shows why this rising starlet is hyped so much. The song is chamber-pop at its best. The production is meticulously crafted, perfectly balancing elements of tension and drama with emotional fragility.

The lyrics are inspired by life’s inevitable transitions: when we’re scared to let go of a past version of ourselves but also scared of what lies in the future. In those times, we seek comfort in ‘the middle’, and that’s what this song is all about.

The track was created with the help of Alex Borwick (production & mixing) and mastered by Pete Maher.

Laura Ampersand | Ones To Watch Playlist

néomí – I Wish I Never Met You

Photo / Liz van den Akker

néomí has been on our radars for a good few years now, and with each single we fall in love even more.

‘I Wish I Never Met You’ is a beautifully sincere and moving indie-folk song, written about the regret we feel after a toxic relationship. Elaborating on this introspective song, néomí says:

“It’s about that one person you wish you’d never met, not necessarily because you dislike them, but because you dislike who you became with them, how you treated them, or how they treated you. It’s a question mark aimed at love itself and why it always gets so complicated. Nobody wanted to hurt anyone, but what’s done is done. So you try to move on and sometimes still wish you’d never met them.”

The song is taken from the artist’s ‘Crunchy, Sad and Strangely Happy’ EP, which is out now. Fans in Europe can also catch néomí performing live across several cities, with stops in Rotterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, and more.

néomí | Ones To Watch Playlist

néomí Live Dates 2026

  • 03.10.26 – De Vegafabriek, Nijeveen – tickets
  • 08.10.26 – Patronaat, Haarlem – tickets
  • 10.10.26 – EKKO, Utrecht – tickets
  • 16.10.26 – Hall of Fame, Tilburg – tickets
  • 17.10.26 – Rotown, Utrecht – tickets
  • 18.10.26 – Doornroosje, Nijmegen – tickets
  • 22.10.26 – Trix, Antwerp – tickets
  • 24.10.26 – Prachtwerk, Berlin – tickets

Catie Turner – Who Am I

Photo / Emmy Bridgeman

Indie-pop powerhouse Catie Turner is back today with a beautiful new song that we’re quite certain will stay in your heads all weekend.

Aside from being hugely catchy, ‘Who Am I’ is a masterclass in pop. Produced and written alongside Carobae, this song looks at the way we see ourselves and the toxic habit of comparing ourselves to others.

The track is lifted from an upcoming album called ‘Blue Alchemy’, which is out soon. In the meantime, you can check out more of Turner’s fantastic work here.

Catie Turner | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Zeon

While we still don’t know much about US-based Australian artist Zeon, we are already quite charmed by his work.

This ambitious newcomer is building momentum across social media with his breezy vocals and finessed R&B productions. ‘How Can I’ is a glistening piece of music that reminds us of that classic 90’s R&B-pop sound which we all know and love.

“I moved to New York to become the best. These are the start of my ideas.”

Despite being a relatively new talent, Zeon has already picked up more than 100k streams to date from the release of just three songs. One to watch!

Zeon | Ones To Watch Playlist

STVN – Side By Side

STVN’s music always feels like a breath of fresh air, and new single ‘Side By Side’ is no exception. This track doesn’t try to be anything too different: it’s indie-pop at its best.

Blending elements of lo-fi pop and alternative R&B into the mix, this track immediately grips your attention. The melody is catchy, the vocals are sleek, and the lyrics are massively relatable.

“Wrote this song with my friend Holden about having a good time with your friends and really just enjoying the moment as much as possible!”

STVN’s work has amassed more than two million streams to date, while also attracting 15k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.

STVN | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Miss Wednesday

If you enjoy Nordic folk-pop, then we’ve got a very special new artist from Norway to share with you today, going by the name of Miss Wednesday.

‘Golden Trash’ is a mesmerising song that carries the same vein of sounds by Simon & Garfunkel and speaks of capitalism and the importance of recycling. While the lyrics are meaningful and thoughtful, the production really stands out with its refreshingly organic and airy essence.

“Written after a clean-up campaign, it explores capitalist consumption and how part of the solution to the climate crisis can be reusing what we already have.”

The track mirrors Miss Wednesday’s approach to her art, which at its core is self-described as ‘eco-folk-pop’. Miss Wednesday often uses instruments from upcycled items and incorporates her passion for sustainability in her stage performances as well.

Miss Wednesday | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: Heavy in Pocket

Heavy in Pocket is an emerging artist hailing from the US, who crafts an indie sound that is instantly likeable.

New single ‘Itchy Boo’ is refreshingly raw in its production. Inspired by the idea that no matter how well you feel you have your life under control, there are always people who will find a benefit from you.

“It explores the realization that while you might think you have a great handle on your life or a brilliant independent idea, there is always someone further ‘upstream’ running a master plan – someone who actively benefits from your belief that you are the one in control.”

The song mirrors Heavy in Pocket’s approach to songwriting, which features themes from despair to desire.

Heavy in Pocket was born in Texas but travels all over America, performing in venues across the country. An album is on the way!

Heavy in Pocket | Ones To Watch Playlist

Ruby Waters – GET A GRIP

Photo / Lissyelle Laricchia

Juno-nominated Canadian starlet Ruby Waters returns with one of our favourite releases of the autumn, ‘GET A GRIP’.

The track showcases the acclaimed singer and songwriter’s genre-bending style of work. The song fuses lo-fi pop with a dreamy indie edge. The emotionally charged vocals also add character to the song. On the visuals, Ruby says:

“The video for ‘GET A GRIP’ was a pretty loose program of me just doing my thang. Adit [Director] is a legend and always captures the magic. I love playing around in the mountains and I love kicking it with friends – two of the many things I’m very thankful for.”

Ruby’s recent ‘WET T-SHIRT’ release ended up amassing more than 11 million streams alone, growing to become one of Canada’s biggest alternative hits of the year.

Ruby Waters | Ones To Watch Playlist

Tadpoles – Something Sparkly (Smoky Mix)

There’s something about psychedelic-inspired music that feels quite timeless, so it’s always interesting when we get sent something in the genre.

This ‘Smoky Mix’ of Tadpoles‘ 2025 song ‘Something Sparkly’ treats listeners to a nostalgic style of sound that could have easily come from the 1960s. Through its 7-minute journey, the track immerses you into a hazy, almost hedonistic soundscape that is really quite mesmerising.

The track is lifted from a wider project of other ‘Smoky’ remixes, called ‘Make Believe’, which you can explore here.

Tadpoles | Ones To Watch Playlist

Dylan Dunlap – You Owe It to Yourself

Dylan Dunlap has long been an Alfitude favourite, so we’re chuffed to see that he’s back again today with a stunning new single called ‘You Owe It to Yourself’.

Dunlap’s lyricism always centres around the fragilities of being human in the modern age, reminding us to listen to ourselves and acknowledge our thoughts, feelings, and anxieties. This track looks at the moments in life when we get overwhelmed, as Dylan explains:

“This is a reminder for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed, carried more than they could hold, or forgotten to make space for themselves. It’s about releasing what we can’t control and learning to offer ourselves the same compassion we so freely give to others. I hope listeners (especially my neurodivergent friends) feel seen and validated in knowing that self-care isn’t something you have to earn; it’s something you deserve. You owe it to yourself.”

Dylan’s most recent album, ‘TROUBADOUR’, was released earlier this summer. You can check it out here.

Dylan Dunlap | Ones To Watch Playlist