Category: Listen

Kimani – Lose You

One of the most powerful songs released this week comes courtesy of emerging London artist Kimani (aka Stefan Morgan).

Despite its minimal and stripped-back sound, ‘Lose You’ is a gripping and deeply emotive piece of melancholic R&B. Alongside its haunting production, the track’s raw lyricism defines the feelings of anxiety and insecurity that occur when we become attached to someone.

“I, just don’t know what to say to you
I, find it so hard, just replacing you 
And I, I just don’t know where I’d rather be 
‘Cause when I lost you, I lost the you in me”

Kimani’s momentum has been on a steady rise for quite some time. With support from the likes of BBC Introducing, as well as several features on flagship Spotify playlists, this is one British-based artist to keep on your radars.

Kimani

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

boyhood. – Winner

Acclaimed LA-based singer, songwriter and producer boyhood. has just unveiled a new song, and it deserves your immediate attention!

‘Winner’ was inspired by the feelings and emotions that we experience when we first meet a new person, as the artist explains:

“The track blends energetic drum & bass percussion, hyperpop glitch, and sprawling synths to depict the jitters, excitement, and embarrassment of meeting someone new and making a fool of yourself.”

boyhood. continues to grow in popularity with each release. Aside from countless seals of approval from tastemakers all across the globe, the musician has also found his music featured on prominent Spotify and Apple Music playlists (including New in Alternative and Wildflower).

An upcoming sophomore EP is out soon. In the meantime, listeners can experience boyhood.’s previous singles here.

boyhood.

Dance Yourself Clean – Baby Don’t Hold Back

Dance Yourself Clean might just be one of the hardest working groups out there. Aside from releasing countless indietronica anthems (and amassing millions of streams in the process), this iconic outfit are also responsible for some of the biggest parties in America.

They return today with a beautifully melodic new single, called ‘Baby Don’t Hold Back’. The song is taken from the duo’s ‘Summertime Madness’ EP (out now), and deserves to be on everyone’s playlists this season.

Dance Yourself Clean will be hosting their infamous events all across the country this summer – more details can be found here.

Dance Yourself Clean

Kwesi Foraes – Detroit (The Thread)

California-based singer and songwriter Kwesi Foraes is back after a 7-year hiatus, and we have to say… it’s been worth the wait.

‘Detroit (The Thread)’ is taken from Kwesi’s first instalment of his‘Trinity’ project (out now), and showcases a powerfully emotive blend of soul, indie and alternative R&B. The sound is intense, distinct, and instantly captivating to experience.

“June 2021 I recorded the demo for ‘Detroit’, January 2022 I was fortunate enough to get together with some amazing musicians and people to record the final version at Sargent Recorders. Now June 2023 I’m happy to finally share this.”

“I had to accept the memory of you and let go of the idea of forever.”

As a tastemaker’s favourite, Kwesi’s work has received praise from the likes of NPR, Fader Magazine and Vice, as well as Amy Winehouse’s manager, Ray Colbert.

Kwesi Foraes

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Ethel – Andromeda

Video Still / TROISIXZERO

Track of the week. French singer and songwriter Ethel has completely mesmerised us with her latest release, entitled ‘Andromeda’.

The lyricism for the song was inspired after the artist came across a reading that asked, ‘where does the white go when the snow melts?’

Sonically, the track delights listeners with a trip-hop infused style of R&B. Elaborating further on the single, Ethel says:

“I made it about growing, and sitting with the discomfort that comes along with it, accepting that parts of yourself disappear with time in order to become who you are now.”

With only three singles to date, Ethel has picked up more than a 1.2 million streams on Spotify, solidifying her name as one of France’s most exciting prospects.

The artist will be performing some July dates in Paris and London – details here.

Ethel

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IDMAN – Still

Photo / Khufu Najee

Rising Somali-Canadian R&B musician IDMAN returns with their first new music of the year.

‘Still’ is taken from the artist’s forthcoming ‘Risk’ EP (pre-save here), and is inspired by the emotions associated with heartbreak.

“‘Still’ is the song I think would hook me if I wasn’t me. I think of it as my undignified heartbreak song because with it I decided to put down my toxic, ‘too cool to care’ facade and opted to sit in the genuine pain of what I was still very much moving through in a real and deep way… no matter who’s looking.”

It’s been a busy few months for the emerging talent, who has just completed a US tour alongside iconic Zambian artist Sampa the Great.

Tastemaker support for IDMAN continues from outlets as noted as Fader and V magazines.

IDMAN

Ananya Birla – Caught Up

For those unacquainted with Ananya Birla, this immensely talented musician and entrepreneur is establishing herself as one of India’s most popular and successful English-singing artists.

New single ‘Caught Up’ looks set to propel Birla’s name even further into the global mainstream – thanks to its infectiously memorable melody and sleek production, which effortlessly mixes alternative R&B with pop.

With more than 500 million career streams to date, and an ever-growing army of fans across social media and Spotify (where she commands more than 200k monthly listeners), this is one talent to watch for.

Ananya Birla

Forest Claudette – Violence

Forest Claudette returns to our pages with a breathtaking piece of new music that is both sonically and lyrically captivating.

‘Violence’ is taken from the artist’s sophomore ‘Everything Was Green’ EP (out now), and is inspired by his feelings, thoughts and observations on the subject of racism.

“The themes are something I’ve been trying to capture since I started making music but I never felt I was coming at it from the right angle. I wanted to create something that spoke to the constant and pervasive nature of racism, the unavoidableness of being Black and just how often we are reminded that this society doesn’t value us equally if at all. Writing ‘Violence’ with lophiile was a healing experience. It dawned on me during our session that I wanted the track to reflect that. The purpose became to create something that would address trauma sonically and stylistically. Holding space for community to breathe and grieve or a moment to process these last few years.”

Forest performs across Australia on select dates in July – venues and tickets can be found here. If this is the first time you have come across this hugely promising talent, then be sure to check out his 2022 debut ‘The Year of February’ here.

Forest Claudette

Mise en Scene – Reality Bites

It’s near impossible not to find enjoyment in Mise en Scene’s music. This Canadian outfit (consisting of artists Stefanie Blondal-Johnson and Jodi Dunlop) has been delighting fans for over a decade, thanks to their inimitable fusions of alt-pop and indie rock.

The band has just released a brand new EP, entitled ‘Reality Bites’ (available here), along with an accompanying single called ‘Beautiful People’. In equal measures, the song feels dreamy, nostalgic and utterly mesmerising to experience.

Aside from their status as a tastemaker’s favourite (with praise from the likes of NPR and Paste), the duo are also renowned for their live shows, and have performed on stages as iconic as at SXSW, Reeperbahn and The Great Escape.

Mise en Scene

You can experience Mise en Scene’s back catalogue here.

Almost Barely – GET DOWN

Today is a big day for Bay Area artist Almost Barely (aka Ty Cassutt), who has just released a fabulous new project called ‘CANDY’ (listen here).

‘GET DOWN’ is the first song on the record, and is one of the most interesting tracks that we’ve come across so far this week. The production doesn’t necessarily fit into any specific genre, but rather fuses a multitude of sonic styles together, resulting in a piece of music that is refreshingly original.

Elaborating further on his new collection of songs, Ty says:

“The idea behind this project was to disregard songwriting and production ‘rules’ and just make the songs that sound like candy for your ears. The project covers many different genres and I believe there’s something for everyone. I’m not a musician, I just make songs.”

To date, Almost Barely has garnered more than 140k cumulative streams on Spotify alone. If you’ve only just come across this artist, then be sure to check out his 2022 album ‘Rare Fantasia, Vol. 1’ here.

Almost Barely

Maisie May x Virtualbl0nde – Nevermind

Maisie May

American musicians Maisie May and Virtualbl0nde join forces on their melancholic new single ‘Nevermind’.

The artists (and flatmates!) wrote the song together in their Silver Lake apartment one night, while contemplating men’s relationships with past lovers.

Through its distinct fusion of lo-fi pop and indie, the song tells of the emotions that some of us might experience when we realise that we are being used as a rebound.

“The song’s lyrics delve into the universal experience of feeling like the second choice. ‘Nevermind’ is an anthem for anyone who’s struggled with being someone’s rebound.”

Maisie’s work has already amassed thousands of streams on Spotify alone (you can listen to previous releases here), while Virtualbl0nde (aka Fiona Flynn) is not only a musician but, also film maker and director.

Maisie May | Virtualbl0nde

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Gemma Hayes – High & Low

Mercury Prize nominee Gemma Hayes makes a triumphant return today with her atmospheric new single, ‘High & Low’.

Produced alongside frequent collaborator David Odlum, ‘High & Low’ showcases a finessed fusion of stripped-back folk and pop, while the lyrics address the human’s desire for connection.

“High & Low’ is about feeling disconnected – but desperately wanting to connect. In the song, this idea is placed in the context of grief and longing for a person who is gone, leaving a ghostly feeling of not fully being alive because of their departure. A nice, happy dance floor anthem this is not!”

The track marks a comeback for the acclaimed Irish singer and songwriter, who has not released any new music in nine years.

You can catch Hayes performing tonight at VISUAL Carlow, and tomorrow at Drogheda’s Crescent Concert Hall in Ireland. Tickets can be found here.

Gemma Hayes

Femke – Safe In The Suburbs

Singer, songwriter and producer Femke unveils her new single today, entitled ‘Safe In The Suburbs’.

As we’ve come to expect from this hugely gifted musician, the song treats us to a gorgeously constructed pop sound that is sincere and emotive in tone. Lyrically, the track gathers its inspiration from America’s suburban life in the modern age, as the artist explains:

“I wrote this song when I just moved into the suburbs a little outside of Nashville. There are a lot of Neighbourhoods around here with incredibly big houses but when I walked through this one specific area I never saw anyone outside, no kids playing, people running and it just felt so lonely. I wondered what was going on in these houses and if it was as lonely on the inside as it was on the outside. At the time there was also another big school shooting and I wondered what it would be like for all those kids in those houses, if they ever really felt safe.”

The track continues to showcase Femke’s natural flair for not only writing music that is both contemporary and classic in equal measures, but also features powerful lyricism that is relevant and relatable to most of us.

Femke

Oh Bummer! – Listen Up

Photo / Wes & Alex

LA-based singer-songwriter Oh Bummer! (aka Tanner Houghton) returns today with a fabulous new single that commands your attention.

Produced by The KickDrums, ‘Listen Up’ treats listeners to a melodic fusion of indie, pop and alternative rock. And while the shimmering production feels whimsical and playful, the song’s reflective lyrics gather their inspiration from a particularly personal issue, as Houghton explains:

“‘Listen Up’ an empathetic take on what I know about my late father. He was taken by brain cancer when I was five, and lost the ability to walk long before that. I have memories of him trying with all his might to get up out of his wheelchair and walk, only to hit the ground. He contained multitudes, and seemed to carry so much darkness and light in his heart. Even though he hurt people I love, I stand firm in the belief that love is what heals. This all relates to me and my younger self too – lost, angry, confused. Constantly falling and sinking deeper into that black hole. I needed love and support more than anything, but you can only receive those things if you let them in.”

While still a relative newcomer, Oh Bummer! has already amassed more than 200k cumulative streams to date and shared stages with the likes of Roe Kapara and Bay Ledges.

In addition to his growing popularity, Houghton has also picked up critical acclaim from the likes of Under The Radar, Buzz Bands LA and Stereofox. An upcoming EP is scheduled for release later in the year, along with a new series of shows.

Oh Bummer!

Sam Short – I Wouldn’t Love Me

LA-based singer, songwriter and social media artist Sam Short is back with a powerful and relatable new single called ‘I Wouldn’t Love Me’.

Inspired by the personal struggles we face against ourselves, the track serves as a reminder that we all have moments in life when we feel low and insufficient.

“I wrote this song when I was at my lowest. Despite the fact that I was in a happy, flourishing relationship, I personally had never felt worse. I couldn’t understand how both of these things could be true, and more so, I couldn’t understand why my partner would choose to love someone as difficult and defeated as me. Throughout this songwriting process, I put myself in their shoes, and came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t love me.”

With more than 3.8 million views on TikTok already, this song looks set to become one of Short’s biggest hits yet. The artist is currently readying the release of her full-length debut EP, which will be out later in the summer. In the meantime, you can stream more of Sam’s music here.

Sam Short

Alicia Creti – Strange

There’s really very few artists to have emerged from the US in recent times that have matched the singing capabilities of Alicia Creti.

‘Strange’ treats us to a fusion of gospel-inspired pop and soul, while Creti’s impeccable vocals glide over the song’s luxurious production.

“Thank you for all the love on this song. It’s interesting because I related so heavily to it when I was at my lowest, like how I felt after writing ‘Congratulations’ where I needed to rebuild myself after losing myself in that relationship, and even more so now, where I’m learning to put myself first and am growing everyday. I think it’s telling that growth is hard and uncomfortable, and that’s okay. When I think of the ‘you’ in the outro today, I think of all of you, my family, and myself showing up for me like I wished others had done in the past. I hope that this song can help you heal and offer you some support in the way that it has for me. All of your kind words and heartfelt stories mean the world to me and have touched me beyond words. ‘Strange’ is what feels like the summary of my life and is the prelude to my story…”

Since releasing her debut single ‘Congratulations’ last year (listen here), Creti has received support from heavyweight outlets as noted as Billboard, Rolling Stone and Vents magazines.

Alicia Creti

Cherise – Calling

Photo / Paul Green

Acclaimed UK-based soul artist Cherise is back today with one of our favourite summer releases yet.

‘Calling’ tells of the wonderful and positive things that can happen when you nurture and support your children’s creativity.

“My mum and the rest of the family had the sense that being creative was something I was meant to do. It wasn’t until I became a musician that I realised how uncommon that is, especially for families that moved to this country and would live with the fear that their child wouldn’t find their grounding in the arts.” 

As Cherise’s name continues to gain traction across the British and European soul scenes, this gifted musician has never forgotten her roots – and continues to recognise her heritage and culture through her work.

The artist will perform as part of the futuretense: Windrush Day Special at London’s iconic Southbank Centre on the 22nd June – more details can be found here. Cherise’s debut album ‘Calling’ is out on 7th July 2023 (pre-save here).

Cherise

Austin Dean Ashford – Black Harry Potter

Independent artist Austin Dean Ashford returns today with a superb new release that deserves your attention.

‘Black Harry Potter’ is taken from Austin’s ‘Boujetto’ album (out now), and offers listeners inspirational and empowering lyrics that cover themes as diverse as ‘racial prejudice, societal expectations, and the importance of self-worth’.

Sonically, the track flirts between nostalgic soul & jazz, pop and hip hop – resulting in a summer-friendly anthem that is energising and universally appealing.

“‘Black Harry Potter’ transports listeners through a lyrical journey, delving into the experiences of personal growth, overcoming adversity, and challenging societal norms.”

Dean Ashford’s music has been captivating listeners since 2019. The musician has amassed more than a million career streams, and released three albums to date. You can explore more of Austin’s work here.

Austin Dean Ashford

Nate Brazier – Teasing The Thread

Photo / Joe Howat

This isn’t the first time that we’ve crowned Nate Brazier as our track of the week, so we can safely say that we’ve grown to become huge fans of this UK-based vocalist and producer.

‘Teasing The Thread’ is an immensely powerful and beautifully intense song that presents listeners with a cinematic mix of dark, soulful electronic pop with alternative R&B.

“I wanted it to feel haunting; equal parts vulnerable and confident. You can hear it in the elegant piano versus the knocking beat, which pretty much represents the headspace that I was in at the time of making the song.”

Brazier’s momentum has increased significantly over the past year, with the artist garnering praise from respected tastemakers as noted as Wonderland, NME, Notion, BBC 6 Music, Pigeons & Planes and Clash Magazine. A remix package of Brazier’s debut project ‘YSK’ is available here.

Nate Brazier

Tash – 787

Australian singer and songwriter Tash has graced our pages in the past, thanks to her finessed approach to music-making.

New single ‘787’ is inspired by travel, and features Tash’s unmistakably perfected fusions of soul, pop and alternative R&B.

“I do a lot of travel (back and forth from Australia to USA) and wanted to write about the flight anxiety I experience. I’m not a good flyer and i find it hard travelling by myself and being away from my loved ones and family.”

Alongside her huge following across social media (the artist already commands over 588k fans on TikTok alone), Tash has also released more than 50 singles and 25 music videos to date, amassing 60 million career streams in the process.

Tash