Saint Blonde – smooth talkin’

Despite being around since 2018, we’ve rarely come across the Texan group Saint Blonde’s work… and we’re wondering why it took us so long to wake up to just how brilliant they really are.

‘smooth talking’ is one of those songs that exudes confidence; it’s bold and punchy without trying hard. The production seamlessly fuses indie with psychedelica, gritty rock, and dreamy pop. It’s a blend of sounds that shouldn’t work together, but somehow they do here. And fantastically so at that.

If you enjoy these guys as much as we now do, then be sure to explore their back catalogue on Spotify here.

Saint Blonde | Ones To Watch Playlist

K La – Cold

There’s something very powerful when an artist reinvents themselves. As listeners, we get to explore new sounds, perspectives, and ways of expression when musicians shift, as is the case with Atlanta’s Kayla Williams and her rebrand, K La.

‘Cold’ is immediately captivating. With its intense, dark, and cinematic style of pop, this release makes a bold and powerful statement – an announcement of a new dawn for an already hugely gifted artist.

“K La is the voice that had been whispering beneath everything I’d released before. The songs were always honest, but they were still careful. K La isn’t a different person, she’s the version of me that stopped apologising for taking up space and granted herself permission to be louder, bolder, and more expressive”. ‘Cold’ is just the first of many soundtracks finally breaking that sound.”

We’re so excited with this new work from Williams and can’t wait to see what is next on the horizon.

K La | Ones To Watch Playlist

Dan Croll – Most of All

Photo / Hanifah Mohammad

Acclaimed artist Dan Croll has graced our pages for well over a decade and still continues to pleasantly surprise us.

His new single, ‘Most Of All’, is a magnificent blend of indie, pop and folk. The beauty of this song lies in its simplicity. The production is thoughtfully balanced, the melody is simple, and the lyrics are easy to connect with.

The track was inspired by a road trip that Croll embarked on while in the US and reminds us that the charm of these adventures lies in the people we meet and less about the places themselves.

“During my final month in Los Angeles, I had this urge to leave nothing undone. I borrowed a friend’s car and set off on a series of road trips to see everything that had been sitting on my list.”

“‘Most of All’ came from that realisation. It is a reflection on that journey, but more importantly on what it led me to understand. The song moves through those images of travel and discovery, but always comes back to the same conclusion… ‘I’d miss you most of all’ is the truth that grounds it.”

A new album, titled ‘Winning Streak’, is out on the 9th October 2026.

Dan Croll | Ones To Watch Playlist

muuk – starfish

Photo / Victor Stokholm

SONG OF THE WEEK

Danish artist muuk returns today with her third single, and it really is something quite special.

‘starfish’ is many things sonically. This is dreamy pop with elements of lo-fi indie and shoegaze.

The production builds a soundscape that feels somewhat joyful and optimistic but juxtaposes heavily against lyrics which speak of toxic love in an unbalanced relationship she went through.

“I was so miserable in this period of my life, yet I truly believed this was the love of my life.”

“With ‘starfish’ I finally feel ready to let go of all the pain that has followed me throughout all these years. I want to move forward.”

An upcoming EP is on the way. In the meantime, be sure to check out Muuk’s other two equally stunning singles here.

muuk | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

ROREY – Binary Thinking

We’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve featured NY talent ROREY, so it won’t come as a surprise that we’re loving their new single, ‘Binary Thinking’.

The production presents listeners with a summer-tinged indie pop production that feels nostalgic in tone. The song’s melancholic essence mirrors the lyrics, which are inspired by the thoughts that cross your mind when you stop communicating with someone you used to be with.

“This chorus is my favorite because, I think we all want to stand on the belief that the other person will regret losing us but, I also wondered if I even mattered enough to be felt as a loss. I wondered a lot if my absence was more of a relief. I feel like the song highlights that cyclical ‘Binary Thinking’ when you’re left speculating. While this song was written over a year ago it could have been written yesterday. Silence is open to interpretation and the intention behind it doesn’t change the impact.” 

ROREY has amassed more than 550k streams to date and continues to win praise from tastemakers like OnesToWatch and Atwood Magazine.

ROREY | Ones To Watch Playlist

Pool Girl – Crab

Musician, producer and DJ Pool Girl returns with a shimmering new single today, called ‘Crab’.

This sun-drenched, warm track is lifted from the artist’s upcoming ‘Melancholic Beach Town’ album (out on 18th September) and showcases an interesting mix of indie and surf-inspired pop.

Pool Girl’s work has been featured on Spotify playlists like Fresh Finds Indie and All New Indie. The artist will perform headline gigs in LA and New York soon before embarking on a support tour in the autumn.

Pool Girl | Ones To Watch Playlist

Hera Lind – Finsbury Park

The first thing that stands out when playing ‘Finsbury Park’ is Hera Lind’s stunning vocals.

This 25-year-old Icelandic singer and songwriter crafts a style of indie-folk that is mesmerising to experience. Having grown up in London, it’s no surprise that the city weaves its way into Hera’s artistry.

‘Finsbury Park’ is a beautifully melancholic piece of music that was inspired by the insecurities and anxieties that come with realising that the person you love is starting to doubt the relationship.

Alongside her own work, Hera has also collaborated with global names like French talent Snny, Northern Ireland’s Weston Loney, and Bartek Turski from Poland.

Hera Lind | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Panama + AMTRAC – Hummingbird (Banyan Remix)

Acclaimed production duo Banyan have delivered one of the standout releases of the week – a very special remix of Panama and AMTRAC’s recent hit ‘Hummingbird‘.

This version builds a soundscape like none other. It’s immersive and utterly captivating, starting minimally and evolving into a spectacular finale.

“After years of being fans of Panama and AMTRAC we had the honour of remixing their new single ‘Hummingbird'”.

Banyan currently attract close to 500k monthly listeners on Spotify and have landed features on tastemaker platforms like BBC Radio 1 Dance and Capital Chill.

“Music helps us transmute the hard times into something more beautiful and the good times into something that we can leave behind and share.”

Panama | AMTRAC | Banyan | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Alicia Clifford

London-based Alicia Clifford is still a new name but is already winning a tonne of fans, including names as noted as Sam Fender and Gigi Perez.

‘Torn’, produced by Song Higginson (tmdistant, YAOUNDÉBOXINGCLUB), is track that will be relatable to anyone who’s witnessed their former lover move on to someone new.

It’s a refreshingly alternative mix of indie, pop, and rock and makes an instant impact from the moment you press play.

We’re excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for this hugely promising singer and songwriter.

Alicia Clifford | Ones To Watch Playlist

Brice Blanco – Cheap Thrills

We’ve made no secret of our love of US newcomer Brice Blanco, so we’re ecstatic to hear that he’s back today with another sensational release.

Produced by Amarah, ‘Cheap Thrills’ is a taster for the artist’s forthcoming ‘AFRO URF’ record and showcases a dreamy fusion of alternative R&B and hip hop. The song’s lyrics touch on the idea that chasing superficiality doesn’t result in true fulfilment.

Blanco’s work has already picked up seals of approval from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, while also landing on some flagship Spotify playlists. One to watch!

Brice Blanco | Ones To Watch Playlist

MAPLO + Ben Thrasher – can’t take this

Salt Lake’s MAPLO have joined forces with Seattle’s Ben Thrasher on a new single, and it’s a banger.

‘cant take this’ treats us to an energising mix of old-school, soulful house music and UK garage. It’s got a nostalgic, 90s club sound but also feels distinctive, joyful, and a little bit cheeky.

Both MAPLO and Ben Thrasher are gaining significant traction across social media with their projects, and this collaboration will only boost their momentum even more.

MAPLO | Ben Thrasher | Ones To Watch Playlist

Tone Ranger – Drive

SONG OF THE WEEK

If you’re in the mood for some dreamy indietronica, then we’ve got a brilliant new song to share with you, courtesy of acclaimed US artist and composer Tone Ranger (aka Alex Simon).

Inspired by Simon’s late grandfather (a mechanic with an impressive classic car collection), ‘Drive’ is somewhat of a love letter to the freedom of being on an open road. Sonically, the production blends nostalgic synths with electronic music, resulting in a sound that feels familiar but also refreshingly original in style.

Simon has been releasing music as Tone Ranger from as early as 2018 and has shared stages with the likes of Orbital and Thievery Corporation.

Tone Ranger | Ones To Watch Playlist

KLP – 2AM

Australian house icon KLP is here with your weekend club anthem, the aptly titled ‘2AM’.

This track is pure euphoria. With its upbeat production and classic house sound, the song reminds listeners theat nothing will ever beat the feeling of being in a club with good company and good music.

KLP currently commands close to a million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, and with releases like ‘2AM’, it’s no wonder why.

KLP | Ones To Watch Playlist

Rachel Ritchie – Father’s Daughter

American singer and songwriter Rachel Ritchie releases one of her most personal singles to date, ‘Father’s Daughter’.

The indie-pop song was inspired by the artist’s late father and serves as a tribute but also a celebration of the special bond that dads have with their daughters. The artist elaborates:

“This song is a tribute to my father, who has passed away and celebrates that I turned out to be strong like he was, and even though he is gone, his memory and lessons live on.”

Ritchie’s music has amassed more than 50k career streams to date on Spotify, with support from tastemakers coming from the likes of Lefuturewave and Soulwavez. You can explore more of her songs here.

Rachel Ritchie | Ones To Watch Playlist

Crab – Hair

We first featured US indie-rockers Crab earlier this year, and we’ve been fans since.

They’re back today with a massive new single called ‘Hair’. As we’ve come to expect from this emerging group, the track is loud, full of character, and infectiously catchy. This is indie at its most playful and energetic, and we’re here for it.

Crab play Brooklyn’s Empire Stage on the 24th of July – find out more here.

Crab | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: The Amber Lens

We’ve got an exciting British debut to share with you today – and if you love rock, you’ll absolutely appreciate this outfit.

Hailing from South Wales, The Amber Lens only formed this year, but if their introductory single ‘Spectral Machines’ is anything to go by, we think these guys will go far very quickly.

The track presents listeners with an industrial alt-rock sound that is full of grit and character. It’s bold, confident, and infectiously energising – mirroring the group’s love for bands as iconic as NIN, My Vitriol and Deftones.

The Amber Lens | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: January Blue

New Zealand has long been a hotbed for new talent. January Blue is another artist to emerge from the nation, and her single ‘Midas’ is one you have to hear.

The indie-pop production is simple in its style, allowing for some really quite captivating lyrics to shine through. This is a song that addresses the toxic side to being ambitious – when the quest for success becomes so obsessive that it starts to take a toll on your mental well-being.

“‘Midas’ explores the darker side of ambition. It’s about becoming so consumed by the pursuit of success that you stop questioning what it’s costing you. While society celebrates achievement, status and wealth, we rarely talk about the emotional toll that often comes with them. The song uses symbolism like the white rabbit and the golden ticket to question whether the things we’re taught to chase are worth losing ourselves for. It’s both a personal confession and a broader critique of a culture that mistakes success for fulfilment.”

January Blue still only has a handful of songs released to date, but from what we’ve heard, this talent has everything she needs to go global.

January Blue | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: GRIM

SONG OF THE WEEK

The most powerful song to come across our radar this week has been ‘Moonface’ from UK newcomer GRIM.

This track is truly epic. It’s painfully raw, intense, and deeply personal. The cinematic dark-pop production creates a beautiful soundscape that serves as a perfect setting for GRIM’s honest lyricism. Speaking on its inspiration, GRIM explains:

“‘Moonface’ is about trying to heal from the trauma of losing both of my parents to cancer, and from the nightmares and memories that still follow me. It uses the medical idea of ‘moon face’ and the phases of the moon as a metaphor for illness, grief, and transformation. The song is not about forgetting that pain, but learning to carry it, face it, and turn it into something that can make other people feel less alone.”

We haven’t heard music this grand in scale from a newcomer since Woodkid’s 2013 masterpiece, ‘The Golden Age.’ Impressive work from a very talented emerging artist.

GRIM | Ones To Watch Playlist

Badjokes – Hold On

French producer and artist Badjokes has firmly established himself as one of the world’s current premier names in UK Bass and Garage music, and new single ‘Hold On’ only further affirms it.

The track is reminiscent of the original UK Garage sound that you’d have expected to hear on pirate radio stations across London in the 90s, while also feeling experimental and future-forward.

Badjokes commands more than 57k monthly listeners on Spotify, and has amassed well over 5 million career streams to date.

Badjokes | Ones To Watch Playlist

Girl Next Door – Shotgun

The summer season always brings with it some of the most uplifting electro-pop bangers of the year. If you appreciated the early work of Grimes and are currently enjoying PinkPantheress, then chances are you’ll also enjoy ‘Shotgun’ by acclaimed UK musician and artist Girl Next Door.

Produced by Sarah Carton with James Middleton, this track is pure joy. It was inspired by the hedonism of being young and in love and the overly ambitious feelings of optimism that come with it.

“‘Shotgun’ feels like the soundtrack to a summer holiday you can’t quite remember properly. It’s about that strange feeling of believing one night might change your whole life. I wanted it to sound euphoric, a little chaotic and completely infatuated. ‘Shotgun’ is the first song from a collection of music exploring what it meant to grow up as part of the first generation of girls online, celebrating the freedom and fantasy of that era while reflecting on the emotional complexity that came with it.”

‘Shotgun’ is lifted from the upcoming EP ‘The Internet Belonged To Girls’, which is out soon. Girl Next Door has found praise from tastemaker outlets as noted as BBC Radio 1, Earmilk, and DMY Magazine.

Girl Next Door | Ones To Watch Playlist