Jack Dean – Tears Won’t Save You

“‘Tears Won’t Save You’ is the closing statement to a long and drawn-out saga of disappointing situations in my failing relationship. The song reflects on a time when I was in a cycle of forgiving any and all mistreatments I received from my partner until I had finally had enough – her tears would no longer be a fair price for my forgiveness.”

Jack Dean
 

Nicklas Sahl – Love of My Life

“‘Love of My Life’ is about the dream of finding true love – and just as much about how exhausting, painful, and endlessly lonely the search for it can be. That feeling of knowing she must be out there somewhere, yet having no idea where to look. Hinge dates, endless nights out, and solo bike rides home through Copenhagen started to feel more and more meaningless. I wrote this song mostly as a way of letting go of the pressure to find ‘the one’ – with the quiet hope that sometimes, it’s only when you let go, that you actually find what you’ve been searching for.”

Nicklas Sahl

No Love For The Middle Child – Broken Wings

Alt-pop artist No Love For The Middle Child tackles the subject of pessimism with his new single, ‘Broken Wings’.

For anyone out there who always seems to look at life with the glass half empty, this song might add some perspective to your ways of thinking. The lyrics remind us that as we live this life, we have to do our best to make the most of it. As the artist explains:

“The concept of the song started with a random image in my head – an angel sitting on a park bench, smoking a cigarette, bored while living in heaven. Everything is glowing and white, but their wings are rusty and there’s rain cloud over their head. As if heaven has the same monotony real life does. ‘Broken Wings’ is about a pessimist never being happy with what they have or for what they’ve already earned. As soon as they get what they want, they’re on to the next. I think it speaks to a part of everyone, a part that is fueled by the pace of the world we live in. If we can’t be happy and enjoy the ride, what’s the point of it all?”

No Love For The Middle Child is a US-based musician who is not only a singer and songwriter but also a producer and multi-instrumentalist. His work has so far amassed more than 20 million cumulative streams on Spotify alone, while also commanding over 88k monthly listeners on the platform.

No Love For The Middle Child

MUANH – The Truth

MUANH has yet again managed to impress us with her gorgeous indie-pop sounds. This hugely talented newcomer has returned today with a lovely new single called ‘The Truth’, and it’s one of our favourite songs of the autumn so far.

The song somehow feels dreamy, nostalgic and hazy in tone, while also maintaining a sense of emotional rawness that is further amplified through the heartfelt lyricism.

“Sit back, hit play, and let yourself sink into the most soothing heartbreak drama.”

If this is the first time you’ve experienced MUANH’s music, then be sure to explore more of her work on Spotify, where, despite only releasing four other songs, she’s already racked up thousands of streams.

MUANH

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ANT ENOCH – 9INE to 5IVE

Photo / Shari Annabell Marks

Acclaimed Berlin-based artist ANT ENOCH is back this week with an impressive new piece of experimental pop that really is quite spectacular.

Mixed by T.J. Allen (known for his work with the likes of Portishead and Bat for Lashes), 9INE to 5IVE is a track full of unexpected surprises and is rich in sonic textures.

The soundscape evolves the further along you listen, enticing you to continue listening to the song right up until its climax.

With praise from outlets such as Atwood Magazine, Rolling Stone Australia, BBC Introducing, and even Vogue France, ANT ENOCH has managed to win over not only listeners but also some of the world’s most influential music outlets.

ANT ENOCH

ORA – LIMBO

Photo / Olivia Krüger

“It’s about accepting that when you’re living with ADHD – which both my brother and I do – you may never experience life in a ‘normal’ middle ground. And that’s okay. We wrote this as a celebration of that difference” – Lea, ORA

Taken from the new album, ‘:(:’, which is out now.

ORA

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Nep – Biketoberfest

Photo / Ibe Van Bouchaute

Is it odd that Nep’s latest single, ‘Biketoberfest’, reminds us of Janet Jackson’s iconic ‘Someone to Call My Lover’?

In any case, this is a brilliant new release from the hugely popular American indie-pop starlet. The track’s unusual title is inspired by an event that takes place in Nep’s hometown, as she explains:

“There’s a motorcycle rally in my hometown called Biketoberfest—I didn’t like living there, and getting blocked and made late by bikers on my way into the city for school is so niche and weird that I just had to write a song about it!”

Nep’s rise has been meteoric, to say the least. In recent times her music has gone viral on TikTok, leading to countless sell-out shows all across the US.

Her songs have since been featured on some of the most prominent playlists out there – including New Music Friday, Lorem, and Fresh Folk. And on top of all of that, she’s also supported the likes of Grant Perez and mxmtoon on tour.

Nep

Cheska Moore – Disassociated

Can we ever get enough of London musician Cheska Moore? It doesn’t seem so, because today’s release of ‘Disassociated’ has left us wanting even more from this hugely talented artist.

Through its catchy melody, quirky pop production and intriguing vocal elements, this track has to be one of our favourite Cheska bops. Impressively, it took the artist almost two years to complete this piece.

“At its core, ‘Disassociated’ thrives on contrast. The verses build layer by layer, unsettling intervals, tense vocal lines, and rising pressure, pulling the listener towards what feels like an inevitable explosion. But when the chorus hits, everything falls away. This song is more than a sonic experience, it’s a portrayal of disconnection as a toxic coping mechanism. Of retreating so far into yourself that reality becomes distorted.”

If you enjoy Moore’s style of sound, then be sure to check out the rest of her catalogue, which is just as enjoyable to listen to. You can explore her work on Spotify here.

Cheska Moore

Gaby K – Momma Told Me

TRACK OF THE WEEK

While we tend to focus on future-forward sounds on this site, sometimes we can’t resist premium, top-grade classic soul. For those unfamiliar with Gaby K, this rising UK talent is, in our opinion, one of the UK’s most exciting prospects.

‘Momma Told Me’ is the singer-songwriter’s latest release, and it’s a gorgeous slice of soulful pop that is sure to win any listener’s heart. The song looks at coping with loneliness and reminds us to love ourselves first and foremost.

“I wrote ‘Momma Told Me’ on the stage in life where you are single; it’s about managing ‘loneliness’, receiving advice from friends and family about dating and just trying to navigate the single life. Being single is such an important part of your life, learning to love yourself, growing alone and being able to enjoy your own company. I think we sometimes forget that it’s a time we should embrace and enjoy and not look for the next partner.”

We’ve loved Gaby K’s work for quite some time, and we really can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.

Gaby K

Melody’s Echo Chamber + El Michels Affair – Daisy

Photo /  Diane Sagnier

“’Daisy’ started as a daydream while listening to Leon’s finest music. I reached out to him, and we instantly created this sweet overlapping zone—like an invisible playground between our worlds. It’s a privilege to have made this one together!” – Melody

Melody’s Echo Chamber | El Michels Affair

Sam Wills – Voicenotes

Sam Wills is one of the finest singer-songwriters to emerge from the UK in recent years (in our humble opinion). This is an artist who has consistently impressed us with his natural flair for crafting deeply personal and emotive lyrics.

New single ‘Voicenotes’ is relatable to anyone who’s been through a breakup. The song is inspired by the memories that cross our minds as we try to move on from a relationship. The sadness that we feel when we look back at what once was and the realisation that it is no longer there.

“‘Voicenotes’ is about missing someone you’ve parted ways with, lying awake at night lit by the blue light of a phone listening to old voice messages from them”.

The track is lifted from Sam’s next LP, titled ‘Speak’, which is out soon (pre-save here). And if you’re a European fan, be sure to catch this hugely gifted artist on tour in November – full dates and cities are here.

Sam Wills

Avenoir – Lady

Canadian artist Avenoir is back with a new song that we’re sure you’ll immediately fall in love with.

‘Lady’ is taken from the highly acclaimed musician’s ‘Mirage’ project, which is available now to stream here. The track presents Avenoir’s stunning vocals over a melodic R&B production that feels nostalgic in tone. If you love your classic 90s sounds, then this is the song for you.

We’re quite confident at this point that Avenoir is taking prime position within the next generation of Canadian artists to take over the global mainstream.

Avenoir

Temptress – UNDER MY SKIN

We’ve been fans of Temptress from as early as 2016. And yet, as they say, good things come to those who wait, because this amazing UK-based duo have finally released their debut album.

And we’re so glad they took their time in crafting this record, which you can stream in full here. Each song is crafted with finesse and presents the outfit’s unique R&B sound in its best light.

“We started these songs almost ten years ago, when we didn’t have the tools to finish them – or even fully understand what we were trying to say. This album is us reaching back to those feelings, giving them space, and finally saying what we couldn’t back then. And now we’re telling that story visually too – through our own lens.”

The title track, ‘UNDER MY SKIN’, is one of our favourite releases of the season and presents listeners with a melodic soundscape that feels both cinematic and soulful.

Impressively, the duo have picked up praise from the likes of BBC 1Xtra, DIY, VIBE Mag, FADER, i-D, Complex and Earmilk. We can’t wait to see what the future now holds for Temptress…

Temptress

Sports – Nice 2 Meet Myself (Bang Bang Bang)

Oklahoma’s Sports make a return today with an eccentric alt-pop anthem called ‘Nice 2 Meet Myself (Bang Bang Bang)’.

This track feels both 90s nostalgic and refreshingly experimental at the same time. Inspired by the concept of writing songs to suit the venues in which they would be performed in, we can absolutely imagine this banger being played in a big stadium somewhere in the world.

“This song was built around the sample heard at the very beginning -“bang bang bang.” Inspired by a chapter in David Byrne’s How Music Works, which explores how artists often (consciously or not) write music that suits the venues they imagine themselves playing in, we set out to intentionally create a song that would sound great in a stadium or arena.”

“Lyrically, the song’s title and concept were inspired by How To Meet Yourself by Dr. Nicole LePera. It imagines a version of yourself that’s free from fear, free from judgment, and ultimately free from yourself.”

“The lyric “I just want to fly, but all I ever do is shoot me down” speaks to the way we often keep ourselves trapped – how we long for freedom but are held back by our own mental prisons. In the end, it’s only you standing in your way.”

Sports have been releasing music for over a decade and yet always find ways to surprise us with their innovative blend of indie and alternative pop. And with more than 320 million career streams amassed so far, we know that many of you love these chaps just as much as we do!

Sports

Tamar Berk – ocd

Tamar Berk has been on our radar for a couple of years now, and we’re glad to be sharing with you another beautiful new single from her today.

With its intricate fusion of indie, rock, and alternative pop, ‘ocd’ is a song that is rich in sonic textures. The introspective track is lifted from Berk’s new album of the same name (listen here) and lyrically reflects on the artist’s own internal struggles.

“It’s about the chaos I live with internally — the constant loop of anxiety, memory, control, regrets, and perfectionism. But it’s also about trying to find the humor and beauty in it, too.”

Tamar currently attracts more than 5k monthly listeners on Spotify. And if you’re lucky enough to be in Chicago on the 27th September, then you can watch her performing at the Schubas Tavern – tickets can be bought here.

Tamar Berk

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