Category: Listen

Christopher – Fall So Hard

A long-established beacon in the Danish pop scene, wildly popular Christopher returns today with a summery slice of optimism; a song about how something (or someone) can step into your world and change your focus in life for the better.

To date, every single he’s released has been certified as Gold or Platinum, with ‘Fall So Hard’ looking set to join that illustrious record in a matter of time.

“‘Fall So Hard’ is a song of optimism and change. About how all of a sudden, something or someone can step into your life and make it fundamentally different. But the thing about this cliché is that it’s really true. I recently became a dad for the very first time and from one single moment I was a subsidiary person in my own life. Everything is turned upside down. It’s just a brand new and overriding dimension which is indescribable.”

Christopher

Retro Video Club – Checkmate

Scottish rockers Retro Video Club have been winning fans ever since bursting onto the scene back in 2017.

With their trademark blend of indie-rock and pop, this 4-piece outfit create a refreshingly energising style of music; and as is the case with ‘Checkmate’, a sound of pure indie joy.

“’Checkmate’ is a song about reflecting on your high school days & how the passing of time changes everything. It’s facing reality, realising you need to start growing up because life is starting to get serious. It’s ultimately life putting you in Checkmate, but you refusing to accept the game is over.” Liam Allison (Lead Vocal & Rhythm Guitar), Retro Video Club

Retro Video Club

Sŵnami – Uno, Cydio, Tanio

A totally mesmerising release from Welsh indie-pop band Sŵnami. Translating to ‘Unite, Embrace, Ignite’, their new single is proof that you can fall in love with a song despite not speaking the native tongue.

With previous accomplishments such as having their own BBC Maida Vale session and winning Welsh Language Album Of The Year, Sŵnami are delivering a blissful slice of Wales to the rest of the world, and I am here for it!

Sŵnami

Dan Caplen – Love Keeps Falling Down

Undoubtedly one of my favourite tracks this week, today sees the triumphant return of Dan Caplen (after two long years!) with the release of ‘Love Keeps Falling Down’.

British music talent at it’s finest, the Ivor Novello recipient is not only an established solo artist in his own right, but also a sought-after writer who’s work has been featured for the likes of Stormzy.

“I can’t believe it’s already been two years since my last solo single, but I couldn’t be happier or more excited to be finally sharing ‘Love Keeps Falling Down’. I feel the song reflects what has always been my passion and coming full circle back to the roots of strings. Being able to merge that with what I’ve been building in pop and RnB is really what makes this new music special to me.”

Dan Caplen

BUNGALOW – Make It Right

The much loved Amsterdam alt-electro duo return today with one of those songs that reminds you summer is just around the corner.

‘Make It Right’ is a shimmering poolside track to soundtrack that first drink of the night at sunset, and the hazy walk to bed after the ocean sunrise.

“We wanted to write a track where we never played anything on the first beat. The track was originally called ‘Beat One’ until we took the lyrics from the bridge of another track and threw them in here where they stuck.”

BUNGALOW

Annika Grace – Psychopath

California-based poet and musician Annika Grace has unleashed a gloriously fun slice of pop for “anyone who has a bad dating history so they are skeptical when something good comes along.“

If you enjoyed the lyricism on ‘Psychopath’ as much as I have, then you can also look forward to Grace’s upcoming poetry book ‘Remedies’ which is out later this year.

Annika Grace

emawk – ACOUSCOUS

There’s really not much to say about emawk’s new release other than to sit back and listen to the beauty of ‘ACOUSCOUS’.

From the gentle sway of the melody to the heart-warming lyrics, this is one of the finest songs I have had the joy of listening to so far this month.

here’s a free pass, just sit back

close your eyes and just

be

emawk

Genevieve Stokes – Parking Lot

A dreamy and understated approach to alt-pop from Portland’s finest, Genevieve Stokes.

Do you remember that drive together?

The seats were hot, black leather

The summer felt so much better when I was with you

And though I never knew you deeply, I thought someday I could

There was something so familiar about you in the dark where we stood

Genevieve Stokes

Ola Village – Love To Cry

Norwegian wonder kid Ola Village returns today with a song that’s mesmerisingly beautiful in it’s own uniquely charming way.

‘Love To Cry’ is a poignant and heartfelt study of emotions, sketched over a canvas of joyous indie-pop balladry.

It’s really no wonder that this talent has already garnered recognition from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit, EARMILK and Clash Magazine since his debut last year.

“I generally don’t like sharing too much about my songs, which I think becomes obvious if you listen to the lyrics. So by saying that I guess you can imagine what this song is about. You might think: me, an emotional being with the lack of will to show those emotions to others, would be a bad fit. But I have to say that I like it that way. In a time where all of our lives are so public, it’s nice to have something that is just mine.”

A debut EP is due for release in Autumn 2021.

Ola Village

Tamaraebi – Brown Angel

A beautifully luxurious blend of indie and RnB from London-based musician Tamaraebi. This is a finessed sound which is too gorgeous not to experience.

“‘Brown Angel’ is a modern-day psychedelic blues song with hip hop and RnB undertones. It’s been described as a stoner’s love song.”

Taken from the forthcoming EP ‘Spectrum’, which will be released on 19th May via Believe.

Tamaraebi

Drew Elliott – Missing You Now

Sometimes an artist creates a piece of dream pop that is just so beautifully emotive that it genuinely moves me in an unexpected way. Drew Elliott’s new release, ‘Missing You Now’ is exactly that.

A song that looks at the awkward small talk when you run into an old ex, this song is delicate piece of music that feels delightfully relatable.

“Last summer, I attempted to rekindle a friendship that ended after a breakup a few years ago. I tend to go silent immediately after a relationship ends, to allow space for healing and create a chance to move on, but even after years passed, it felt like a piece of my life was always missing. Not to sound pessimistic, but usually that process of rediscovering a friendship fails, because things can get complicated so easily, so you end up missing your best friend and wondering if they’re missing you. In this case, I’m happy to say she’s a part of my life again. But ‘Missing You Now’ was a result of a first attempt at trying to rekindle that friendship on what felt like a lurking possibility of slipping back into something reminiscent of the past.”

Drew Elliott

Au/Ra – Dead Girl!

Five years after first featuring Au/Ra and I am still blown away by the songs coming out of this talent.

Written at Au/Ra’s home in Antigua, ‘Dead Girl!‘ is fresh take on alt-pop with a haunting and playful melody and lyrics that remind us all that it’s okay to feel different and not judge ourselves for it.

“I wrote Dead Girl! when I was feeling especially out of place when I came back home. Being away for a while left me feeling disconnected from a lot of people. I think of myself as a pretty introverted, sometimes anxious person – feeling out of place isn’t new. I was so done with judging myself and feeling judged. I felt that especially during high school, so I really channelled all that ‘grrrr’ energy into the song. So, it’s about being okay with feeling different, unapologetically, and feeling, in a sense, ‘dead’ to the people that don’t understand you.”

Au/Ra

Clinton Kane – CHICKEN TENDIES

Collin Black

Talk about a meteoric rise to the top; Norwegian-Filipino singer and songwriter Clinton Kane amassed more than 218 million global streams and gained over half a million followers on TikTok in the space of just four months.

It’s easy to see why. The 21-year old multi-instrumentalist creates an understated yet emotive pop sound that is so full of soul and emotion that anyone can feel connected with it.

“When I wrote ‘Chicken Tendies’ I didn’t know what it was about, but a week ago I realised this song has so much more meaning to me than any other song; I’m SO KEEN to have this out in the world.”

Taken from the forthcoming EP ‘what am I doing wrong?’ which is due this spring.

Clinton Kane

Òlah Bliss – Sinner (Good Girl)

Òlah Bliss returns with a sensational pop release that’s set to solidify this London-based talent as one to watch for 2021.

“I’m only human, I make mistakes, I learn from them, sometimes I don’t, but I’m always on a mission to become the best version of me I can possibly be. If my music resonates with you that’s already a huge success, if it doesn’t, I’m still grateful you spent your valuable time listening to my creation.”

Òlah Bliss

AJA – Red Button

A pop banger in every sense of the word, Canadian teen talent AJA is back with a showstopper of a song that takes those stellar vocals and lays them over a tremendously vibrant production.

“When someone breaks your heart, I mean really breaks your heart, it’s easy to hit the Red Button and decline their call.”

AJA

RENÉ – Better U

Finessed fusions of dark-pop and RnB from the sublimely talented RENÉ. With inspirations ranging from Aaliyah to Timbaland, you can hear that distinctive 90’s sound come through beautifully on ‘Better U’.

“’Better U’ describes the feeling of when you have invested so much of yourself and time in a relationship, sticking around with the false hope that they will change for the better – but they never do! Only to find when you’ve finally moved on, they have too, becoming the very person you always hoped they would be…but with someone else.”

RENÉ

Tate McRae – slower

There’s really no stopping Canadian superstar Tate McRae. To date, she has amassed over 1.4 billion career streams with over 3.2 million subscribers and over 450 million video views on YouTube.

Taken from the new EP ‘too young to be sad’ which is out on 26th March 2021 via Ministry of Sound.

Tate McRae