Category: Listen

Afgan – if i don’t have your love

Undeniably one of the most successful Indonesian artists to emerge from the nation in years, soul-pop sensation Afgan has amassed over 100 million streams, over 17 million followers across social media and 57 music awards under his belt.

To celebrate of the release of his international debut album ‘Wallflower’ (which is out now via EMPIRE) comes new single ‘if i don’t have your love’. On the album, Afgan says:

“Making this album became a way for me to go back to my roots and the music I grew up listening to, bringing back nostalgic feelings of how I fell in love with music in the first place.”

Afgan

Emilie Adams – Play God

Track of the week. A stunning fusion of cinematic dark pop and electronica that grows in intensity the longer you listen.

A truly sensational piece of music from British-Norwegian talent Emilie Adams, ‘Play God’ could well be one of the finest songs you’ll experience all week.

“My music comes from a dark place, but the creative process is a positive one.”

Emilie Adams

AJ Mitchell – STOP

AJ Mitchell returns with a deliciously dark slice of synth-pop, ahead of his much awaited debut album ‘Skyview’ which is due out later this year.

“When you listen to the album, I want you to feel nostalgic. It really takes me home. At the same time, I want you to know more about who I am. Talking to the camera is unnatural for me. The best way for everybody to understand me is through my songs. I’m still just a kid who lives his life through music. There’s not a single day I don’t think about it or don’t want to run to my guitar, my piano, or my notepad and start writing.” 

AJ Mitchell

Alice Merton – Vertigo

A tremendously epic blend of indie-rock and pop from German talent Alice Merton. This star has really rocketed to fame in recent years, with over 620 cumulative streams across all her music and also serving as a judge on the German edition of ‘The Voice’.

‘Vertigo’ was inspired by a real-life incident where she randomly started to feel dizzy, and had a rush of vertigo while waiting to enter a Berlin nightclub.

“I felt so helpless the next morning. How is it possible to love playing in front of huge audiences, when you feel anxious about being judged by strangers in public? All I could think was, why can’t I let go?”

Alice Merton

Emmit Fenn – Moving On

Truly one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the US over the last year, every song that Emmit Fenn has released to date has had me hooked.

‘Moving On’ is a song that feels almost like a journey, starting off with a sparse and melancholic tone that softly builds momentum, culminating into a beautifully euphoric conclusion.

Taken from the forthcoming debut album ‘Far From Here’ which is out soon.

Emmit Fenn

Dirty Nice – Supreme Ultimate Woman

This British duo consistently deliver some sensational pop gems. The release of ‘Supreme Ultimate Woman’ is a playful take on the concept of completeness through partnership.

“A song for the one who keeps you balanced between the big sky and the Earth below. For the one who keeps moving through the night, fluid and warm like the wax in a lava-lamp, floating and dancing, soaking up the light.” – Charlie Pelling, Dirty Nice

Dirty Nice

SEB – Coney Island

LA-based talent SEB’s style of music-making showcases some of the finest lo-fi indie pop to emerge out of California at the moment. A true multi-disciplinarian, he’s not only a performer but also writes, produces and engineers everything himself.

“I used ‘Coney Island’ as a way to disguise some of my darkest truths. Sonically it gives off a summery nostalgic sound but that’s used to mask my lyrics where I’m exploring my mental health struggles and everything that comes with that.”

SEB

Odeal – Passenger

One of South London’s finest talents to emerge of late, Odeal returns with the sensational ‘Passenger’. This is a finessed fusion of neo-soul and alt-RnB, with a deeply emotive melody and sleek vocals.

Odeal

Terrace Martin – Can’t Let You Go (feat. Nick Grant)

Grammy-nominated artist and producer Terrace Martin joins forces with Nick Grant for his latest song ‘Can’t Let You Go’, which is a finessed blend of soul, alt-RnB and jazz that feels fresh yet timeless in equal parts.

“Can’t let you go is a song that came from the feeling of being in love with someone or something that kills you slowly. Some people are in love with the Internet, or control, or perception, and if you’re not careful those can kill you slowly as well.” – Terrace Martin

Terrace Martin | Nick Grant

Tyler Mann – Truth

I’ve featured Tyler Mann before, albeit as a vocalist with other artists. This is the first time I have truly discovered his own solo material, and it’s damn excellent. ‘Truth’ is a melancholic fusion of indie-soul and dark pop, exploring the dangers and excitement that comes with a new love.

“My dad always says I live a very charmed life and I think in some ways that’s definitely true and I’m very grateful but it absolutely does not apply to my romantic life. So when I sat down with my collaborator nicopop to make this record I was thinking about the fear that comes with a new attraction. I think anybody out there who’s ever been heartbroken and then had to open themselves back up should know what I mean by that and really this song is for all of you.”

Tyler Mann

Valley Boy – Gummi Bear

To mark the release of Valley Boy’s debut EP ‘Thursday Friday’ (which is out now), the ingenious duo have launched ‘Gummi Bear’ as a single to entice us all into their wonderfully unique world of indie rock.

“The songs on this EP cover territory spanning from our personal relationships to our family ones, and even our relationship with each other as friends, and are all shaped through the lens of having grown up together in our beloved San Fernando Valley. We hope you stick around as we continue to unpack more of our childhoods and accumulate more tiny keyboards.”

Valley Boy