Shaina Hayes – Steady

Photo / Charline Clavier

SONG OF THE WEEK

Shaina Hayes has released one of the month’s best songs, so much so that it’s been on our minds all week.

‘Steady’ is lifted from the acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter’s third album, ‘Take the Case of a Rose’, and draws listeners into a song that’s all about the dilemma of uncertainty that we sometimes face in life.

The production is minimal yet thoughtfully constructed, while Shania’s vocals present a sense of vulnerability that is endearing to listen to.

Fans in the UK can catch Shaina performing a series of dates across the country next year, with stops in London, Brighton, Manchester, and Glasgow.

Shaina Hayes | Ones To Watch Playlist

Shaina Hayes – UK Tour 2027

  • 28 February – Green Note, London
  • 2 March – The Folklore Rooms, Brighton
  • 3 March – The Rat and The Pigeon, Manchester
  • 5 March – The Hug and Pint, Glasgow

Nervous Bride – We Had a Dream About The Ocean

Nervous Bride, the musical project of Austin artist Bruce William Ewing, has been active from as early as 2020, although we’ve only just come across this talent’s work a few days ago.

New single ‘We Had a Dream About The Ocean’ is Nervous Bride’s most ambitious release to date and reminds us of early works by musicians like Active Child and James Blake. Sonically, the production presents listeners with an atmospheric fusion of dark pop, synth, and chill-wave.

“This time there’s no joke, just someone alone in a hotel room, wide-awake, remembering a dream they used to share.”

This is a sincere, heartfelt, and emotional song. Entirely written, recorded, produced, and mixed by Bruce himself, the track serves as a testament to his artistry.

“I make music for myself. I’m blown away when someone tells me it means something to them.”

Nervous Bride | Ones To Watch Playlist

mel denisse – underneath the world

US artist mel denisse has tapped into one of our favourite genres – 90’s trip hop – and delivered a sensational new single called ‘underneath the world’.

Inspired by the work of groups like Portishead and Blonde Redhead, this track contrasts a melancholic production with lyrics that speak of escaping reality with someone special.

“It’s about feeling like you’re in another dimension with someone, away from the noise of the world.”

We’ve made no secret of our love for this rising Nashville starlet, and we’re not alone in the fan club. mel currently attracts over 5k monthly listeners and has amassed more than 150k streams from just a handful of releases.

mel denisse | Ones To Watch Playlist

Van Chamberlain – Room Service

Photo / Rory Shamlian

Brooklyn’s Van Chamberlain are back today with a new album, and alongside it, a single called ‘Room Service’.

This is an anthem for all the solitude-loving hermits out there. Through its dreamy, lo-fi blend of indie and rock, the song looks at the conflicting feelings of wanting to be alone but also experiencing loneliness at the same time.

“Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is check into a hotel room, order in and disappear for a while. ‘Room Service’ lives in that space between wanting to shut the world out and wanting to feel something more – especially to be with someone.”

The group’s album, ‘As Far As the Eye Can See’, is their second LP release to date and will feature a ‘waterfall’ of releases that include ten singles released across ten months.

If you’re an old-school soul, you’ll be happy to know the album is also on cassette!

Van Chamberlain | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: merric

English artist merric is a Worcester-based newcomer who recently launched his very first single, ‘Tv’. We haven’t come across a track that sounds like this in quite some time, so we’re sharing it with you today!

If you appreciate lo-fi pop, then chances are that you’ll also enjoy this release. Entirely crafted in merric’s bedroom studio – from the vocals to production, his genre-bending style of work is authentically DIY in character. It’s an entirely human-made sound that is organic, warm, and intriguing to experience.

“I’ve recorded produced and written ‘Tv’ in my home recording studio (my bedroom) it’s amazing getting to roll out of bed and just start creating. The track contains a lot of my vocals that have been heavily modified with FX and it helps the track have that indie feel.”

Despite making music since the age of 15, ‘Tv’ is our only taster so far from this very interesting talent. An EP is in the works, so stay tuned!

merric | Ones To Watch Playlist

Summers Sons & C.Tappin – The Boogie

SONG OF THE WEEK

South London trio Summers Sons & C.Tappin have been a fixture in the UK’s jazz and hip hop scenes for close to a decade, crafting some of the most interesting sonic fusions to emerge from the country.

‘The Boogie’ is the focus track from their new album, ‘Lightworks’, which took eight years to complete. The record showcases the outfit’s evolved approach to music – prioritising live instrumentation over samples, while their lyrics touch on themes like family, friendship, and perseverance.

Since their formation, Summers Sons have amassed well over 35 million streams on Spotify. Check out more of their work here.

Summers Sons | Ones To Watch Playlist

colby! – Machine

Photo / Siena Saba

Texas-bred singer and songwriter colby! returns today with a bold new single called ‘Machine’, and we’re obsessed.

This track explores the hypocrisy of having fake friends who despise seeing you achieve but somehow come back into the scene again when you reach success. The artist explains:

“This is an empowerment song, but it’s about something really specific. When people see you growing, they want to hate on you. Then when they see you achieve what you’ve tried so hard for, suddenly they want to come back into your life. So it’s a very passive aggressive song, and we love that. I was going for kind of an M.I.A. vibe, and it leans more into the punk sound I’ve been wanting to explore for a while.”

Impressively, colby’s music has picked up attention from tastemaker outlets like Ones to Watch, Ladygunn, and Atwood magazines, while also commanding more than 550k monthly listeners on Spotify.

colby! | Ones To Watch Playlist

Abra Taylor – Choke

Canadian starlet Abra Taylor returns today with a sublime new single called ‘Choke’, and it’s well worth your attention.

An atmospheric and deeply captivating blend of alternative R&B and cinematic pop, this song is all about the dark side of love. When you give someone your all, only to realise that it isn’t enough. Abra elaborates:

“It lives moodily in the tension between vulnerability and resentment; giving someone your lips, your trust, only to feel them reaching for your throat instead.”

Taylor first came across our radars back in 2021 and has steadily built a solid fanbase since that time: to date, she has impressively amassed well over 2.5 million streams on Spotify.

Abra Taylor | Ones To Watch Playlist

Sarapata x Lor – What’s Most Likely

Sarapata are a Kraków-based outfit who craft both sonic and visual artforms. Today sees the release of their latest EP, ‘Hear the Silence’, which features a collaboration with fellow Polish indie-folk band Lor called ‘What’s Most Likely’.

This is an unapologetically experimental banger that bounces between being playfully sweet and painfully raw. The vocals initially seem dreamy and innocent – before turning almost primal in tone. The production is full of juxtapositions that keep listeners hooked throughout its duration, showcasing Sarapata’s flair for being bold.

Sarapata has been at the forefront of the indietronica scene in Poland for some time now and currently attract more than 30k monthly listeners on Spotify.

Sarapata | Lor | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: SCAM

It’s been a hot minute since we featured an Icelandic outfit, so we’re really excited to share with you SCAM – the musical collaboration of artists Herdís Stefánsdóttir and Salka Valsdóttir.

‘Pleasure’ is the duo’s third single and features fellow Icelandic talent BRÍET. Sonically, this track is a tour de force, blending dark pop with indie and electronica. The lyrics speak of the heightened emotions that arise when we face crossroads in our life.

“I think ‘Pleasure’ has a very specific electric quality to it that resembles the butterflies you feel in your stomach as you embark on a new journey in life. We were constantly getting goosebumps when we were writing it, which doesn’t sound very humble but it’s true!” – SCAM

Alongside the single, the band have also released some captivating visuals directed by Ágústa Ýr. You can catch both SCAM and BRÍET at Iceland Airwaves on 6 November.

SCAM | BRÍET | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: Kaleia

Hailing from Canada, Kaleia is an emerging musician who caught our attention this week with her finessed R&B style of sound.

Kaleia cites artists like Tame Impala, Ravyn Lenae, and Dua Lipa as her inspirations, and that can certainly be heard in her melodic new single, ‘ROSE’.

Written on the Vancouver SkyTrain, this song is a treat to experience. Breezy vocals glide over a dreamy, groove-driven production that feels both nostalgic and current at the same time. The lyrics, the artist explains, use roses as a ‘shorthand for the emotional effort missing from a relationship’.

To date, Kaleia has amassed more than 500k career streams on Spotify. One to watch!

Kaleia | Ones To Watch Playlist

Blond in Car – Shaky Day (feat. Jay Som)

Blond in Car, the musical project of social media star Robin Schorr, has had quite the year. After going viral performing her song ‘My High Gummygirl’ on an Omnichord in her kitchen, the self-proclaimed ‘groovy aunt of dream-pop’ has gone on to catch the attention of artists like SZA, Rosalía, and Lily Allen.

‘Shaky Day’, featuring Jay Som, is a thoughtfully crafted pop song that was inspired by the artist’s sister, who has always managed to be a source of source and comfort to her sibling.

“If you are lucky, you have that person in your life who will talk you down when you’re crashing out. For me, that person is most often my older sister Lynn, who knows me and my ups and downs. She knows just how to remind me that whatever mood is running rampant is nothing we haven’t seen before. And just knowing I can get her on the phone, gives me immediate peace and perspective – she’s my rescue remedy.” – Blond in Car

The track is lifted from Schorr’s new album, ‘GLIDER’, which is also out now. The record featured collabs with Mannequin Pussy, Jack Newsom, and Yumi Zouma, so be sure to check it out!

Blond in Car | Jay Som | Ones To Watch Playlist

Jak Bannon – Hold Still, Please

Atlanta native, Paris-based Jak Bannon returns after a 6-year hiatus, and it’s safe to say it’s been worth the wait. This Emmy Award-winning director, editor and musician seems to have an obsession with perfection, as you can see from his new release, ‘Hold Still, Please’.

The track serves as a taster for his new album, ‘Time, Full Speed’, and treats us to a heady fusion of cinematic pop and indie music. Alongside the impressive production, the visuals (directed by Bannon himself) showcase Paris in an unusual light – with people playing a city-wide game of tag. Elaborating on his new album, he says:

“‘Time, Full Speed’ is an album I made to process my relationship with time. I juggle with the reality that I can’t go back, go forward, slow time down, or stop it. Over time, I discovered that the feelings around love and grief don’t disappear, they change shape as we move through time at full speed. I don’t want it explained much. I’d like it to highlight what people may already carry with them, so they can resonate in their own way.”

The self-released record will be accompanied by 40 short films (made by animators and filmmakers from across the world), which will be released over the next year. To date Bannon’s music has garnered more than 3.5 million cumulative streams. We’re glad he’s back!

Jak Bannon | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Elf Jaw

SONG OF THE WEEK

Emerging from Carlisle, Elf Jaw are behind our Song of the Week, ‘Suspiria’. Released just in time for Halloween, this is a track that immediately commands your attention.

Inspired by a crabcore style of production, the sound is raw, dark, and utterly captivating. Blending fuzzy rock with electronica, the song keeps listeners on edge with its sinister and haunting tones.

Elf Jaw are already gaining traction across the UK, having recently been featured on the BBC Radio 6 Mixtape, and also playing Kendal Calling earlier this year.

Elf Jaw | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Kaitlyn Fox

Nashville singer and songwriter Kaitlyn Fox’s ‘Sucker Punch’ is out today, and if you love cinematic indie sounds, then you’ll love this.

The track presents us with a production that fuses folk, pop, and indie into a textured sound that beautifully compliments Fox’s airy vocals. The song evolves in intensity as it continues, mirroring the pain that comes with unsettled feelings.

“The song moves through grief, anger, and the uneasy space between wanting closure and wanting one more reason to stay. At its core, it’s about discovering that some wounds don’t disappear just because you’ve decided to leave.”

Alongside her work as a musician, Fox is also a published author who released the 2021 book ‘Stay on Beat: Aligning Yourself with Winning Trends in the Music Industry’.

Kaitlyn Fox | Ones To Watch Playlist

Canary Yellow + Teal Teal – Inside Out

Following their recent back-to-back set at Aviator Nation Dreamland, Canary Yellow and Teal Teal have joined forces once again to drop one of the biggest bangers of the weekend, ‘Inside Out’.

The track blends a frantic garage beat with electronica, resulting in a sound that gets your pulse racing in the best possible way. This is melodic dance at its best, affirming both Canary Yellow and Teal Teal as two of electronic music’s most interesting outfits.

Canary Yellow | Teal Teal | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Ilyanna Aziza

UK newcomer Ilyanna Aziza is an exciting discovery for us. Over the span of two years, this artist has dedicated herself to journalling her life – and crafting songs from some of those experiences.

‘Is This What You Want?’ treats listeners to a sublime mix of alternative R&B and 90s-inspired trip-hop. The sound is seductive and alluring, so much so that Aziza was initially apprehensive about releasing the track:

“Very much the type of song you don’t want your parents to hear when you tell them you’ve just put out a new single. So, for a while, I decided it was probably too much and wasn’t going to release it. Eventually, I realised that was kind of the point.”

Elaborating on the lyrics, the artist says:

“On the surface, it’s a seductive song about invitation and temptation. Underneath that, it’s really about being invited into a new version of yourself like an ego death.”

The track serves as the lead single to Aziza’s forthcoming EP, ‘722 Days’, which is out in November. We’re excited to see what’s next for this very interesting talent!

Ilyanna Aziza | Ones To Watch Playlist

OXFLOYD – obsessed w u

Emerging Brooklyn-based artist OXFLOYD is back with one of the week’s most captivating releases, ‘obsessed w u’.

Through its gritty and dark production, the artist sings about the toxicity that comes from being infatuated with someone. When you fall for a person so quickly that you ignore the red flags, leading to a destructive relationship:

“’obsessed w u’ was written about a stranger I had just met. Someone I developed an almost instant obsession for, not knowing at the time that none of it was real. A relationship built on lies.”

OXFLOYD has built a tonne of momentum in a very short space of time. He’s amassed more than half a million catalogue streams and currently attracts 20k listeners on Spotify. Praise from tastemakers comes from outlets like FAULT and House of Solo.

OXFLOYD | Ones To Watch Playlist

NEANDERTHALZ – Feelz Good

Atlanta’s NEANDERTHALZ make noise that commands your immediate attention. And we say that in the best possible way. This rising group craft a distinctive alt sound that is, at its core, human.

Their work fuses post-punk, hip hop, electronica, and rock to create music that steers away from polished perfection and veers more towards raw and impactful productions.

‘Feelz Good’ is a perfect example of their sound and is bound to gain a tonne of traction this weekend. The track is a statement piece, unashamedly raw and bold.

‘Sarcasm and rage fuel this death cry.’

NEANDERTHALZ | Ones To Watch Playlist

Kojo Kay – RIGHT HERE

We first featured Kojo Kay earlier this year, and we’ve been so impressed with the newcomer’s evolution since.

‘RIGHT HERE’ is the artist’s sixth release to date and is lifted from his debut ‘TONEBOW’ mixtape. Like his previous work, the track was created alongside Jamie Kuse and draws listeners into an atmospheric blend of alternative R&B, hip hop, and pop.

“This song was driven by a deep emotional moment of feeling lost yet having the hope that I am also right where I need to be while also still headed where I hope to be. When I produced this track I wanted it to immediately feel like a wave of peace crashing down from the first second.”

Despite running less than two minutes total, this track makes a big impact. Over the past few months, Kojo’s music has been praised by Earmilk, Neon Music, The Word is Bond, and many more tastemakers.

Kojo Kay | Ones To Watch Playlist