Author: ALFITUDE

New Music: Natalie Reigo

Photo / Kitty Lingmerth Kopia

Natalie Reigo is a hugely promising newcomer from Sweden, who has already won us over with her charming style of R&B-pop.

‘Til The Moment’s Gone’ is Natalie’s anthemic new single and is inspired by the pressures of not missing out on life… and experiencing that all-too-familiar FOMO feeling.

“When I wrote it, it helped me through the feeling of FOMO and feeling like I should be somewhere else just because other people are!”

Natalie’s vocals are beautifully expressive and soulful, while the production is polished and sleek. Still only 19-years old and already amassing more than 1.5 million career streams on Spotify, it’s clear that this is a Nordic talent to keep an eye on.

Natalie Reigo | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Arlo Parks – 2SIDED

Photo / Joshua Gordon

TRACK OF THE WEEK

“At its core ‘2SIDED’ is about yearning and tension. It’s about being struck by a bolt of desire and building up the courage to put language to that feeling, to make it real.”

Arlo Parks

Arlo Parks UK Store Dates April 2026

  • 2nd April – Rough Trade x fabric, London
  • 4th April – Crash x Wardrobe, Leeds
  • 6th April – Rough Trade Nottingham x Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
  • 8th April – Banquet x Circuit, London
  • 9th April – Resident x CHALK, Brighton
  • 11th April – Truck x O2 Academy, Oxford
  • 12th April – Vinilo x The 1865, Southampton

Tiwayo – Up For Soul

We’ve always expressed a love for classic soul, so today’s release of ‘Up For Soul’ by emerging Parisian outfit Tiwayo has really set us up for a good day.

The song offers a glimpse of what fans can expect from the upcoming album ‘Outsider’ (produced by Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas fame) and treats us to an uplifting fusion of indie R&B and retro-inspired soul.

“The lyrics play with my everyday reality as a musician. It’s about the highs and lows, the constant self-stimulation, the fragile nature of this work – all wrapped in 70s soul clichés that really fit.”

Tiwayo’s music has garnered praise from global names like Norah Jones and Marcus Miller. He currently commands close to 90k listeners on Spotify and has amassed more than ten million career streams to date.

Tiwayo | Ones To Watch Playlist

RIVER – Infected mind

Photo / John Scarisbrick Kopia

Stockholm-based starlet RIVER returns today with a bold new release titled ‘Infected mind’, and it’s really quite something.

Alongside its refreshingly raw production, which blends dreamy pop with shoegaze, the song’s introspective and honest lyrics are likely to resonate with us all and inspire us to look at our younger selves in a different light.

“‘Infected mind’ is my attempt to recognize and engage in a dialogue with my younger, deceived self. It’s a passage between past and present, where forgiveness and separation can finally take place, simply by bearing witness to and understanding the harm I inflicted on myself out of ignorance. It reflects not only on the trauma of the past but also on the painful process of admitting how I’ve been deceiving myself – and ultimately surrendering to that deception in order to heal.”

Over the space of only a couple of years, RIVER has grown to become one of Sweden’s most promising indie prospects; her debut EP, ‘STILL IN LOVE’, has been streamed more than 1m times on Spotify alone so far.

RIVER | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: Liso Tee

“I was in my bedroom listening to YouTube instrumentals and the chorus came instantly then I immediately booked a session with my producer. I’ve only released 1 song but I feel I’ve developed a sound especially around using live instrumentation, my debut single opened with a violin and we got a session musician to play the bass which was the heartbeat of the track. This time round we got a musician to play the guitar, which is the prominent sound throughout the whole track. I hope to one day release a full track with just live instrumentation. I have such a respect and reverence for real instruments in music and feel they really add another layer, bringing music to life. This track is quite moody and angsty and showcases how love can turn us back into those brooding teenagers we once were demanding for someone to love us back.”

Liso Tee | Ones To Watch Playlist

Loviet – PLUSH

Acclaimed Canadian singer and songwriter Loviet returns with an anthemic new single called ‘PLUSH’.

The song’s lyrics tell of the feelings of self-doubt and the insecurities that might arise when we fall in love, while the production treats listeners to a bold and energising blend of indie rock and alternative pop. Elaborating on the track’s inspiration, Loviet says:

“I wrote this song about the frenzy of falling in love and my own experiences and insecurities that being soft is inherently more attractive as a woman. The narrative is a battle of yearning and self-awareness; Figuring out what lengths you’re willing to take while trying to stay true to yourself despite the emotional chaos of wanting someone.”

Loviet has built a solid reputation across North America over the past six years, winning over fans and music critics alike. To date, she has amassed more than 500k career streams and won awards like Nova Scotia’s ‘Rock Recording of the Year 2024’ and East Coast Music Awards’ ‘Breakthrough Artist of the Year’.

Loviet | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Molly Mogul

Photo / Jordi Santos

One of the standout debuts of the week has to be ‘Run’ by German-born artist Molly Mogul.

A master of many talents, Mogul is not only a singer but also a songwriter and multidisciplinary performance artist who crafts experimental pop pieces inspired by their life experiences and travels. On the creation of ‘Run’, she says:

“One of the first demos written on my own out of my camper van in Bristol, the song is a reminder that you can’t outrun your fears and eventually the things you don’t look at will catch up on you. Whether it’s in relationship to yourself or other. At the end what’s left is yourself. Minimalistic demo turned into a more energetic track with the second verse going more into a club scenario / frantic atmosphere of escapism.”

Mogul has already won the seal of approval from respected tastemaker outlets like 1883 Magazine and COLORS, confirming her to be a talent worth keeping on your radars. More songs are scheduled for release throughout the spring, culminating in an album in April.

Molly Mogul | Ones To Watch Playlist

brooke – LOVE AGAIN

TRACK OF THE WEEK

American starlet brooke continues to impress with the release of her latest masterpiece, ‘LOVE AGAIN’.

This is as ambitious as it gets for alternative pop. The track features three beat switches and three key changes, building a soundscape that is like none other. It’s cinematic and makes an instant impact and, impressively, was created by brooke entirely by herself.

“‘LOVE AGAIN’ is the centerpiece to my new project ‘CARDINAL’ [listen here]. Built around three beat switches that grow from dark harmonies with 070 Shake/Billie tension, to an exploding Igor and Brockhampton level finale. I built it alone at 2AM in my Brooklyn bedroom, stacking vocals and designing every synth.”

brooke has garnered more than 350k streams since 2024 and picked up attention from tastemakers like DMY, Fashionably Early, and Kings of A&R.

brooke | Ones To Watch Playlist

Gobe – SOFTLY

For those unfamiliar with Floridian artist Gobe, his new single ‘SOFTLY’ could be a good introduction. Created with London-based producer Flourish, this track is quite the showstopper.

Gobe is a producer, songwriter, and DJ who is well on his way to becoming a global name, already amassing more than three million career streams to date. His style of emotionally charged alternative pop is both bold and experimental, and ‘SOFTLY’ is no exception.

“Written during a studio session in London, the track blends intimate storytelling with real drums, airy synths, and subtle dance energy – emotional first, vibey second.”

Alongside his music career, Gobe is also an established tattoo artist with a solid following across social media.

Gobe | Ones To Watch Playlist

Calby – Deeper Love

Photo / Petra Kleis

If you love soul and see yourself as a hopeless romantic, then you’ll most likely appreciate Calby’s latest offering, ‘Deeper Love’.

Serving as a taster to the artist’s next album, this track showcases a charming blend of soul, pop, and R&B and was written purely as an ode to relationships. It’s a simple message, but one that is relatable to anyone who has ever been in love.

“‘Deeper Love’ is a song I wrote for the love of my life. It’s my tribute to everything we share. It’s about what we’ve been through together – how I can see myself in her scars, and how she carries them more gracefully than I ever could. It’s a declaration of love – honest, unfiltered, and without reservation.”

Calby is an acclaimed and well-established Danish singer-songwriter based in Copenhagen, who has already released two albums to date – 2021’s ‘Burnout’ and 2023’s ‘Inner Critic’s Choice Awards’. You can listen to both records here.

Calby | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: muuk

Photo / Antonia Steiner

We’ve got a new and exciting Danish musical project to share with you today, going by the name of muuk – the solo project of artist Ines Roervig Lewkovitch.

‘i’m no soldier’ is muuk’s debut single. It presents listeners with a thoughtfully constructed alt-pop production that builds intensity as the song evolves, while also showcasing Lewkovitch’s captivating vocals.

“‘i’m no soldier’ relates to loneliness creeping in on life and the realization and acceptance of needing support from your loved ones.”

The track was created alongside close friend Andreas Jaaks, who also served as the producer.

“‘i’m no soldier’ went very smoothly at first, until we suddenly got stuck to a point where we almost left it in drawer. I think that’s kind of funny, because that sums up the song pretty well. Feeling stuck in life, getting real low, and losing every hope of finding joy.”

Despite this still being muuk’s first release, we’re very excited to see how the project evolves over the coming year.

muuk | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

Emmalee Rainbow – I’ve Had Some Wine

Photo / Molly Jackson

California-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Emmalee Rainbow has been steadily building traction recently thanks to her distinctive approach to indie rock.

‘I’ve Had Some Wine’ is an anthemic track that was written by the artist on her Notes app while celebrating her 21st birthday in Las Vegas. Elaborating on the song’s meaning, she says:

“Vegas, oddly enough, really inspired me for this song. The idea that we only get one life is such a cliché, but I feel like all of us are longing for an experience that doesn’t exist. Vegas represents that perfectly for me.”

The track serves as a taster to Rainbow’s upcoming ‘IHSW’ EP, which is out soon. In the meantime, you can catch Rainbow performing live at LA’s Molly Malone’s on the 9th January.

Emmalee Rainbow | Ones To Watch Playlist

Silver Liz – Trixie’s Crying

Brooklyn husband-and-wife outfit Silver Liz (aka Carrie and Matt Wagner) return today with a really interesting new single called ‘Trixie’s Crying’.

Lifted from their upcoming ‘III’ album (out 30th January), this track blends glitch pop with trip hop and shoegaze. The resulting sound is somehow both energising and dreamy at the same time; it’s euphoric, playful and charmingly sweet.

Silver Liz’s music has picked up praise from notable outlets like Pitchfork and Under the Radar Magazine, while their catalogue of releases has so far amassed more than 170k streams on Spotify alone.

Silver Liz | Ones To Watch Playlist

Alexander Wolfe – Everythinglessness

Alexander Wolfe has become somewhat of a fixture on these pages, and for good reason. The recent releases teasing his upcoming ‘Everythinglessness’ album (out 16th January) have all been sensational, both sonically and lyrically.

Wolfe today shares with us the titular song from the album, and as we’ve come to expect, it’s a flawless piece of indie music. Despite its minimalism, the track expresses some powerful emotions, as it details the moments when you first recognise your mind fracturing.

“The first time something breaks. Your body goes off, your brain can’t keep up… ‘Am I dying”‘ ‘Is this a heart attack”‘ I remember that moment so clearly. Realising I wasn’t the same as everyone else.”

There are still some tickets left for Wolfe’s album launch on the 24th of this month at Christ Church St Leonards – get your tickets here.

Alexander Wolfe

New Music: januaryy.

Newcomer januaryy., who hails from Toronto in Canada, only came across our radars this week with his new single, ‘HERCULES’.

Inspired by themes of escapism and insecurity, the song showcases a melancholic fusion of indie and dreamy pop. The track is alternative and raw but still maintains a sense of vulnerability, which makes it feel relatable to listeners.

“‘HERCULES’ lives in a numb, reflective space. The narrator recognizes his own behavior without fully confronting it yet, judging others while repeating the same patterns. The chorus leans into irony, using the image of Hercules to represent a temporary, fragile sense of power created through validation and distraction.”

Despite releasing only two songs to date, we’re intrigued by januaryy.’s refreshingly original sound. This could well be one of Canada’s next new talents to look out for!

januaryy. | Ones To Watch Playlist

Sara Diana – Is That Blood?

We only came across American artist Sara Diana today, and we’re really impressed with what we’ve heard.

‘Is That Blood’ is a beautifully haunting piece of cinematic pop that is doused with drama. It’s dark, intense, and utterly spellbinding to experience.

“‘Is That Blood?’ tells the story of a love that is dark, special, and hidden from the world.”

Diana currently draws in more than 40k monthly listeners on Spotify and has amassed over three million career streams on the platform, proving that this is a talent worth keeping on your radars. It’s going to be an exciting year ahead for this artist!

Sara Diana | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Faint Tape

We’re starting the new year with a hypnotic anthem from rising American talent Faint Tape.

This outfit’s style of work (according to their own words) is ‘somewhere between cassette soul, soft chaos, and TikTok heartbreaks. We write songs for the part of you that never hits send.‘

‘BITE’, though, is somewhat of a divergence from Faint Tape’s usual style. This is a dark yet deviously playful electronic pop song that fuses pulsing beats with an airy vocal, resulting in a sound that is both intriguing and infectious.

The track follows on from their ‘Ghost B-Sides’ EP, which was released last year and can be heard here.

Faint Tape | Ones To Watch Playlist

Sametime – Is This The End?

“This song is the most personal song we have. It’s about when we first moved to the other side of the world, away from everything we’ve ever known. he song is more of a diary entry of everything going through our heads. It’s about coming to terms with sacrificing time with our friends and family, knowing it was potentially that it could be the last time we’d see some of them.” – Tim Aitken, Sametime

Taken from the upcoming EP ‘Get Out Whilst You Can’, out next month.

Sametime | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: U V A R O V

U V A R O V is a Ukrainian-born, independent artist based in London, who has been working on his music since the age of 13. This talent draws from a wide range of musical genres to create his own distinctive sound – from hip hop to electronica.

‘[Autr0]’ is the closing track from U V A R O V’s latest album, ‘Raznoobrazie’ (listen here), and showcases an impressive fusion of drum & bass and UK garage.

“It serves as a reflective ending, leaving space and emotion after the album’s intensity.”

With its hypnotic beat and mesmerising soundscape, we can imagine that this track will find its way into many playlists over the coming weeks.

U V A R O V | Ones To Watch Playlist