Arizonian talent Zac Greer is back with infectiously catchy indie-pop bop ‘melatonin‘; the perfect anthem for the summer months ahead.
Zac Greer – melatonin
Category: Listen
Alex Porat – dimension
I have to admit that I’ve had ‘dimension’ playing on loop since I first heard it earlier; Toronto-based singer-songwriter Alex Porat has created one of the sexiest pieces of disco-pop so far this year. This is a sleek yet understated bop that you will instantly fall in love with.
“’dimension’ is about being tormented by the idea of wanting someone you can’t have. No matter how hard you try to get this person out of your head you just can’t seem to get rid of them. This song is an acceptance speech acknowledging that some relationships aren’t meant to be, but imagining a world where it could work out.”
Indigo Eyes – Where Were You
London-based producer Indigo Eyes consistently exceeds expectations with every release.
‘Where Were You’ is a beautifully melodic song that explores deep house elements through an entrancing soundscape that feels spellbindingly hypnotic.
“Over the winter period this year I got really into deep house, likely because I was missing clubbing, but also because it weirdly helped me study for my exams, which definitely inspired this track a huge amount. I had it in an almost finished state for months with the feeling it needed just one more thing but I couldn’t put my finger on it, then one day I went to my piano and played the melody you hear half way through the track in one take and I knew that’s what I was looking for!”
Alfie Templeman – Wait, I Lied
Putting aside the fact that we both have the best name in the world (jokes…) Alfie Templeman’s new release ‘Wait, I Lied’ is a blissful fusion of indie-pop and disco that feels understated and cool, but still forces you to get off your chair and dance a little.
Mini album ‘Forever Isn’t Long Enough’ is out now.
Leïti Sène – T-Rex
Hailing from Barcelona, Leïti Sène is a rapper, creative and acclaimed actor who is emerging to become one of Spain’s leading artists this year. And with support from Vogue, i-D, VICE, El Pais and more, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world wakes up to this extraordinary talent.
“Releasing this first single from my next album makes me feel very excited, as it’s what I’ve been working on for the last year and it means a big step in so many ways, as well as a change of paradigm for my musical career; it’s something I needed to do and I think it’s a new direction that my audience still doesn’t know about.”
Haquin x Vaughan – This Feeling
A beautifully emotive and melodic collaboration featuring experimental producer Haquin and indie artist Vaughan.
‘This Feeling’ is largely a piano-based composition that seamlessly fuses elements of indie, downtempo and electronica together to create a luscious sound that feels both melancholic and euphoric in equal measures.
The song itself is about finding a place of peace within something that is suffocating you on the surface level of reality; but ultimately has the capacity to be rehabilitating.
MNDR – Hell To Be You Baby
Co-produced by the legendary Mark Ronson, MNDR releases the fantastically danceable ‘Hell To Be You Baby’ in anticipation of her upcoming album (with the same name).
The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and producer’s new album marks her long-awaited return (after almost a decade!) with a grandiose take on the obsession with click-bait culture.
Ashe – Me Without You
“’Me Without You’ is my follow up to ‘Moral Of The Story.’ It’s saying you thought that I needed you to be who I am. There is my past relationship… I had multiple people… You know, assumed that I needed them in my life to feel confident or to be me and ‘Me Without You’ is just this record that’s like, ‘Ooh, I am so good on my own.’”
Taken from the forthcoming debut album ‘Ashlyn’ which is out on 7th May 2021 out on Mom + Pop Music.
19&YOU – ADRENALINE
One of the most exciting pop outfits of late, 19&YOU return with fantastic new single ‘ADRENALINE’. The group have already garnered support from industry heavyweights including Zane Lowe at Beats 1, MTV, CLASH, AltPress, Ones to Watch, Lyrical Lemonade and The Line of Best Fit.
Taken from their self-titled debut EP, which is out now.
quickly, quickly – Feel
quickly, quickly’s new release is a perfect blend of disco and indie. ‘Feel’ is the kind of song that makes you want to get up and dance your worries away – which is pretty ideal in these strange times we live in.
Yoke Lore – Seeds
One of the most moving songs of the week comes from the hugely talented Brooklyn-based artist Yoke Lore. ‘Seeds’ will be heard on the critically acclaimed film ‘Pink Skies Ahead’ (premiering 8th May 2021 via MTV at 9pm ET).
‘Pink Skies Ahead’ sheds a light on the challenges of living with anxiety, and so this song evokes an exploratory voyage inward; reflecting the themes presented throughout the film.
“It’s about the struggle of trying to be there for someone who can’t be there for themselves and how that makes love complicated.”
Kyoto Black – Last Time (feat. Soshake)
Blurring the lines between hyperpop and emo-rap, this collaboration between Kyoto Black and Soshake brings two exciting emerging genres together in a perfectly balanced way.
Dylan Dunlap – Serotonin
LA-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Dylan Dunlap is back today with the beautiful ‘Serotonin’.
This is talent who I have featured in the past and still never tire of. Dunlap bravely wears his heart on his sleeve to create lyricism that is refreshingly honest, making his songs relatable and a source of comfort to absolutely everyone.
“‘Serotonin’ is a conversation about the realities of living with depression. It feels like a turning point for me as a writer because I’ve finally found the words to express it with confidence. The worst thing you can tell somebody is ‘you’re fine’. This song is a reminder to listen more to those in our life that could be hurting and hiding it. It’s liberating to talk this openly about learning to love my brain despite the insecurities.
Gun Boi Kaz + XINCLAIR – JAWS!
A short, sweet, and totally infectious collaboration between artists Gun Boi Kaz and XINCLAIR.
This is one of those tracks that has a ton of potential to go viral; it’s a fun and fresh approach to hip hop that is so easy to vibe along with.
Rightfield – Birthday Party
Rightfield describe their songs as ‘intimate bangers’, and I for one think that’s a perfect definition of what you can expect to hear from this Arkansas pop-rock duo.
These two friends create a style music that is born from a wide range of tastes. Reed (Hoelscher) is a fan of late 80’s hair metal bands like Poison and Whitesnake, while Jack (Blocker) names The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons as his first loves, with Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, and Tyler the Creator not far behind.
“The idea for the song took shape after sitting in my living room messing around with an ENGL e765 retro tube, and recording my old, beat up Seagull acoustic through my iPhone. The two paired really well together to give this familiar, clean vintage sound, with a modern retro touch. The track is insanely cool and I’m really proud of how it turned out. It was definitely outside my comfort zone in the best way.” Reed Hoelscher, Rightfield
Taken from ‘Rightfield, One (Deluxe)’ which is out now.
CHEL – View From Down There
CHEL, the powerhouse vocalist and body positivity model returns today with new single ‘View From Down There’. This artist has had a truly meteoric rise to fame, garnering over a million followers on Facebook and a tribe of over 100,000 on Instagram to date.
Initially dismissed and told she didn’t have the looks or the body type to succeed in music, CHEL never gave up. Fast forward to 2021 and the results speak for themselves; her music videos alone have amassed around 30 million views. So watch out for this kid – she’s set on global world domination!
“This song is about someone who has fought really hard to achieve their goals and has now achieved a lot of them. Through this process, they had support from close family and friends, but not from everyone. Fast forward to now, when this person is doing well, all the people who neglected to support them in the past, are now trying to be a part of the momentum.”
RoseeLu – F*** With My Feelings
There’s no doubt that Danish talent RoseeLu is shaping up to become one of the biggest pop exports to emerge from the Scandinavian nation. Previous release ‘Playing Alone’ ended up getting featured on more than 20 big tastemaker sites worldwide, including Billboard themselves.
Now she’s back with an equally fantastic follow-up, showcasing a style of music that blends alt-pop with hip hop, while adding a little 90’s nostalgia in there too for some extra goodness.
“‘F*** with my Feelings’ is about the insane state of mind you are in when you are in love – but also the addiction which I know way too well from past relationships
Chrissie Huntley – Supposed to Be
From her first live show in 2018, through to headlining the O2 Academy in her hometown of Bristol and being handpicked by Michael Eavis to play Glastonbury Festival, Chrissie Huntley has been making significant impact in a very quick space of time.
Even during lockdown, she transformed her closet into a home studio and began collaborating with musicians from across the globe. The result is a new collection of songs, one of which is the sensational ‘Supposed to Be’.
“‘Supposed to Be’ is one of the first songs I ever wrote when I was a teenager and I just got dumped by the guy who I thought was supposed to be ‘the one’. I think we’ve all been in that position where you know that it’s over, but you just want to hold on and pretend just a little while longer…”
Whales & This Lake – You Don’t Calm Me Down Anymore
The world may not yet be familiar with Norwegian outfit Whales & This Lake, but this group are one of the most popular electronic indie bands in their native homeland.
And after listening to ‘You Don’t Calm Me Down Anymore’ you too could very well become a fan; this is an emotional ballad which feels almost cosmic and transcendental in it’s style.
“‘You Don’t Calm Me Down Anymore’ is a song about being paranoid in a relationship. Being at a good place in life, but constantly fearing for it to end, for things to change. The mellow sonic mood, mixed with chaotic and desperate musical elements is trying to illustrate this emotional turbulence.”
Taken from their upcoming EP which is set for release on 28th May 2021.
KINDER – Gently
As the title suggests, ‘Gently’ is a delicately balanced piece of music that incorporates orchestral elements into a pop setting; forming a song that is exquisitely produced and ever so moving.