Category: Listen

Natalie – Guilty Pleasures

Houston transplant (by way of Chicago), Natalie is back today with a luxuriously dark fusion of alt-RnB and pop.

New single ‘Guilty Pleasures’ sees this massively gifted talent croon about the guilt of being gay and cheating, all the while utilising vocal pitch manipulation to make the lyrics sound as masculine as possible. This is to contrast the way the world views her as a feminine-presenting lesbian.

“Because I appear ‘straight’, or don’t fit the stereotype of how a gay woman should present, some people invalidate my experiences and sexuality. I wanted to make sure that there was no wavering in my presentation with ‘Guilty Pleasures’.”

Natalie

Prinze George – Off My Ass

Alt-pop outfit Prince George return today with a melancholic slice of indie-pop which is so beautifully emotive and intense, yet still feels refreshingly easy to listen to and connect with.

“‘Off My Ass’ is really the first hug I have ever given myself through my work. I am a deep feeling person and become very angry/explosive when I am hurting. I make mistakes. I don’t know how to lie about how I feel. No matter how awful I’ve been to other people in moments of weakness, I have always been, without a shadow of a doubt, the absolute hardest on myself.” – Naomi, Prinze George

Prinze George

Lhasa Petik – Here and Gone

Multi-talented artist Lhasa Petik not only performed the vocals on new single ‘Here and Gone’ but also wrote, recorded and produced the song herself.

To date she’s accumulated well over a million streams with previous releases, and it’s clear why the world feels connected with this future star; her style of music is uniquely eclectic and totally captivating.

“When I was writing ‘Here and Gone’, there was a point where all of my insecurities and fears were coming true. As someone who always needs change and excitement, routine is one of my biggest fears, but being stuck at home has forced me to sit with my thoughts. I’ve had to take a step back and appreciate life and relationships for what they are without all the crazy parties and travelling. Instead of avoiding the lows or turning to vices to cope I’ve been forced to appreciate them for what they are.”

Lhasa Petik

Ulrik Munther – Stay Awake

I first featured Swedish artist Ulrik Munther back in 2011, when the then-teenager was just starting out on what has ultimately became quite the career.

Having achieved viral fame with his cover of Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ and competing at Melodifestivalen, Munther released three albums that all charted top-five in his native homeland.

Now he’s back with the beautifully sincere ‘Stay Awake’, a subtle fusion of indie and pop that feels deeply emotive and endearing.

“What I want to say most with this music is probably, be yourself and be honest. To think about things a little more.”

Taken from the album ‘Put Your Self Out There’ which is out now.

Ulrik Munther

Leif Coffield – Just Wanna Be Strange

The Glaswegian alt-pop wonder-kid that is Leif Coffield returns today with the refreshingly eccentric ‘Just Wanna Be Strange’.

This is a deliciously dark and twisted (almost sinister release), with lyricism that looks at obsession, infallibility, and idolisation.

In an age where we are so driven by the idolisation of celebrity status, ‘Just Wanna Be Strange’ aims to portray the perspective of the obsessor. Often times we idolise those we see ourselves in, or see ourselves with, and it’s not difficult to think of someone with fame or celebrity that we haven’t adored simply because they seem ‘quirky’ or ‘weird’, and that it’s a travesty-debt owed to the universe that they haven’t become friends or lovers. This song represents that. All of that.”

Leif Coffield

Austen – North South East West

Australian indie-pop doesn’t get much more emotive than with this release from hugely talented artist Austen.

‘North South East West’ is a stripped-back and understated song that still packs a punch. Clever lyricism and beautifully distinctive vocals glide over a beautiful melody to create something that’s really quite special.

“The song was born from a super fun co-writing session with my friends Evan Klar (Berlin) and Hailey Collier (LA). It’s love letter to the honeymoon period. Ironically stemming from a dark place, I went into that studio session having just found out ten minutes earlier that a person really close to me had been telling me loads of lies – which is where the first verse started from: wondering what makes someone feel the need to lie? We took that, tried to laugh at it, and went on to spin it into something positive, imagining the flip side of the situation where things are easy breezy, simple, and comfortable.“

Austen

Call Me Karizma – Vacuum Boy

Never afraid to experiment with his sounds, alt-rapper, producer and songwriter Call Me Karizma is back today with a song that is truly like none other.

Hugely infectious and indescribably unique, ‘Vacuum Boy’ is just the kind of sound that reminds you why independent artists should be protected at all costs.

“In January 2020 I went and played park shows all across Europe for my international fans. I had a stop in Oslo, Norway, and a fan of mine (who later became an artist friend) asked me to stop by his studio after the event. We ended up making ‘Vacuum Boy’ and nearly 1.5 years later I am releasing it 100% independently.”

Oh… and while you’re here, head on over to his Instagram/ Twitter and wish him a happy birthday!

Call Me Karizma

Jordan McGraw – HER

Co-written with Joe and Nick Jonas, Ross Golan, and The Space Primates, Jordan McGraw’s new single is an infectiously catchy slice of funky retro-pop that will stay in your head all day.

“During the process of recording the song, I was chasing my now-wife. While I was on tour, I was trying to figure out how to woo her. It was the perfect storm of the song growing with the actual process of she and I growing into what we are now. Everything worked out naturally.”

Jordan McGraw

Alexander Wesley – TO MYSELF

A beautifully delicate and melancholic pop release from Canadian talent Alexander Wesley. The track moves through a battle with one’s self as Wesley comes to realise that all of his doubts and worries are a result of his own doing.

“This song was written at a time in my life where I felt like I was questioning every step I made. When we first sat down to write it, I was talking about a romantic relationship and how I was overthinking everything about it. Over time, the song took on a double meaning and started to become about the relationship with myself as well.”

Alexander Wesley

Hamzaa – IN BETWEEN (feat. Miraa May)

I have made no secret of just how much of a Hamzaa fan I am. This collaboration with the equally fabulous Miraa May is some of the finest British pop you’ll likely listen to so far this year; bold, powerful, and full of confidence.

“This record is about two powerful women coming together with a firm and unshakeable message. You can either be the peace, or the motion between the chaos and watch me grow cause we’re not stopping or changing for anyone!” – Hamzaa

Hamzaa | Miraa May

Boo Seeka + Golding – Don’t Waste Your Love

One of the best collaborations of the week, Boo Seeka and Golding team up to create a powerful track that propels dark human sadness and holds it up to the light.

“Jay (Golding) and I were hanging out at his house one day and before we knew it, we were getting pretty deep and opening up about a lot of personal stuff that has happened in our separate lives over the last year.  I guess for both of us the best way to deal with that stuff is to write about it – so that’s exactly what we did.  The whole song was written in twenty minutes.” – Ben, Boo Seeka

Boo Seeka | Golding

boski – fake flowers

boski’s new release ‘fake flowers’ is one of the best lo-fi pop cuts you’ll hear all week. With his unique spin on the genre, this Tennessee-based talent brings a refreshing approach to music-making that is both charming and relatable in equal measures.

“‘fake flowers’ is about giving love in a relationship that can’t grow.”

boski

Medium Build – Rabbit

Alaskan talent Medium Build returns with a beautifully compelling slice of indie-pop that looks at complex emotional issues which are both compelling and moving.

“Have you ever had a person you can’t seem to forget about? Someone you feel entirely crushed by? ‘Rabbit’ started about someone who made me feel like that but as I wrote about the feeling of being crushed, I found a string running between romantic crushes and the crushing weight of family. This song is for anyone who has ever felt heavy in their own skin.”

Medium Build

Noomi – Free At Least

Sublimely mesmerising and dreamy vibes from Swedish newcomer Noomi. This is the second single to drop from her upcoming debut EP ‘Life Aqua’, which is set for release on 21st May 2021. On the song, Noomi says:

“It’s an emotional tug-of-war between letting in or pushing away, between wanting to but not daring to, of that very first time you really let down your guard for someone and you share those amazingly intense, but somewhat claustrophobic first 24 hours like inside a cocoon breathing the same air in and out until you’re all intertwined. In true self sabotage manner you open windows for your fires just to see how long someone can still breathe inside there or if they’re getting choked by the fumes. It’s not me being scared about getting hurt, but rather that I will be the one who hurts, which always has and still continues to worry me a lot.” 

Noomi

Aziya – Heaven For Me

Track of the week. With a perfect fusion of melodic pop and hazy psychedelic indie-rock, British musician Aziya has crafted one of the most sensational releases that I have heard all month.

Effortlessly cool yet enticing, ‘Heaven For Me’ takes you on a fantastically dreamy and kaleidoscopic journey.

“‘Heaven For Me’ is a romanticised and fantasised version of a very toxic relationship – it relays the story of someone in love with a person plagued by narcissism and inner demons. I’ve tried to depict the ill fate it brings to the one in love with that person. It’s a fairytale description of a very real scenario that happens in front of us everyday.”

Aziya

Collin Selman – bedhead

American talent Collin Selman returns with an eccentric yet chilled take on indie-pop with the release of ‘bedhead’. This is a sentimental piece of music that details the rough patches of being in a long relationship.

“‘bedhead’ is a song I wrote in one sitting after witnessing a fight between my parents. It made me ponder on the course of my parents relationship and how they have stayed together through so much and how perseverance and loyalty is required in a long relationship. It also made me realise the fragility of most relationships and that you should fight for the when they’re special. ‘bedhead’ is written from the point of view of a struggling newly wedded couple that’s in between breaking and persevering.”

Collin Selman

Yuki Dreams Again – Pretty Face

The 23-year-old Montreal-based mega-talent returns with a charming slice of RnB-pop (with hints of old-school soul) on ‘Pretty Face’, a song that serves a narrative about dismissing people who no longer hold purpose in your life.

“‘Pretty Face’ is a very personal song about a relationship I had a couple years ago. I made this song to inspire people to leave anyone that makes you feel bad about yourself. I came to the realisation that when you surround yourself with the right people and you let go of anyone that is toxic for you, you make room for better things to happen in your life.”

Taken from the upcoming debut EP ‘Together Alone’ which is out 23rd June 2021.

Yuki Dreams Again