Category: Listen

Peyton McMahon – Before You Go

Louisianian singer and songwriter Peyton McMahon is one of those artists who is completely unafraid of sharing his emotions through music.

‘Before You Go’ was written just before lockdown in 2020, and looks at the notion that every end – no matter how painful it can be, is the start of a new beginning.

“I wrote ‘Before You Go’ a few years ago when a few things were changing in my life, and I started reflecting on how hard it can be to say goodbye to something or someone you love, or change in general. It’s about those situations where you know something has to end, and you know that initial goodbye is going to be tough. You’ll move on eventually, but you want one last golden moment to remember it before it’s over. “

Sonically, the track draws its inspiration from the likes of James Bay and Jeff Buckley, by weaving elements of pop with indie and soft rock in a thoughtfully balanced way.

Peyton’s big break initially came from YouTube, where his renditions of pop classics would amass tens of thousands of views, resulting in praise from global names as iconic as OneRepublic, Shakira and Kelly Clarkson.

Peyton McMahon

Pa Sheehy – These Days

Rising Irish aritst Pa Sheehy is back today with his much-anticipated new EP, ‘Lost In A ‘90s Arcade’ (out now).

One of the songs featured on the record is ‘These Days’, which also serves as Sheehy’s third single. As with Pa’s other releases, the track not only presents us with a gorgeously constructed production, but also features his heartfelt and sincere lyricism.

Sheehy continues to be one of Ireland’s most prominent singer-songwriters, and currently commands more than 60k monthly listeners on Spotify alone. You can catch the artist on a short ‘in-store tour’ across the country from today – more details can be found here.

Pa Sheehy

Cade Hoppe – Fool’s Gold

New York based musician Cade Hoppe unveils a beautiful new single today, entitled ‘Fool’s Gold’.

Unlike Cade’s previous releases (which were typically energising and playful in tone), ‘Fool’s Gold’ presents listeners with a more pensive and introspective style of sound.

The production fuses elements of folk, indie and rock together to set the scene for Hoppe’s honest lyricism to shine through:

“This song is about uncertainty, inevitability, and where those two things overlap. It’s this fear of striving for some sort of meaningful immortality, but ultimately fading into oblivion.”

Since launching his career in 2021, Cade has amassed more than 250k catalogue streams on Spotify. We predict big things for this kid – be sure to keep him on your radars!

Cade Hoppe

Christopha – Throwback

Acclaimed London rapper and writer Christopha returns with the next single from his ’26 Miles and Running’ project, called ‘Throwback’.

The track showcases a playful production that effortlessly fuses nostalgic soul with alternative hip hop. It’s a classic and uplifting bop that deserves to be on everyone’s summer playlists this year.

“This is a fun feel good track about meeting someone and having such a strong connection that it feels like you’ve known each other for years and been together before.”

If you’re in love with ‘Throwback’ as much as we are, then you can catch up on all of Christopha’s songs (he’s releasing a new track every two weeks this year) here.

Christopha

Flora Summers – Sweet Summer Feels

We only featured Swedish talent Flora Summers (aka Ida Johansson) last month, but she’s already back with another showstopping release that deserves your attention.

‘Sweet Summer Feels’ delights us with an intoxicating mix of shimmering alt-pop and hazy indie. To us, the production feels reminiscent of Lana Del Rey’s early work, and perfectly balances a classic and vintage style of sound with something contemporary and fresh.

“‘Sweet Summer Feels’ is about that kind of chemistry that’s burning with the heat of a summer day. It’s flirty, carefree and totally sun soaked. It’s the soundtrack of an endless summer. I hope you’ll love it as much as I do.”

The song was written and produced by Summers herself, and follows on her well-received debut single ‘Obsessions’ (listen here). An upcoming EP is on the way, so be sure to keep an eye on this talent!

Flora Summers

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ill peach – BLAH BLAH BLAH

We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve featured ill peach – but to be quite frank, we just can’t get enough of their punchy alt-rock sound!

‘BLAH BLAH BLAH’ is the kind of song that makes an immediate impact from the moment you press play. Refreshingly colourful and unashamedly chaotic in tone, this is one track that needs to be on everyone’s playlists this weekend.

It’s been a big year for the duo, who have just completed a successful tour across the US and Canada with none other than global superstar Hayley Kiyoko.

ill peach will play The Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles on the 13th July – tickets can be found here.

ill peach

Loose Buttons – 99 Secrets

Photo / Cobey Arner

It’s been a good while (two years, to be exact), but New York indie-rockers Loose Buttons return with a bold new single called ’99 Secrets’.

In equal parts, the song feels energising and uplifting – but it’s was created during a particularly poignant time for the band.

The track was written and recorded while frontman Eric Nizgretsky, who is a first-generation Ukrainian-American, was organising a series of shows to help the country’s injured and displaced.

Lyrically, ’99 Secrets’ reminds us that we can confront our personal struggles if we open up to others, and allow them to help us.

While this is the band’s first single since 2021, Loose Buttons have not been resting on their laurels. Over the last couple of years, they have been performing live all across the country – even selling out the iconic Webster Hall.

Loose Buttons

Olivia Reid – Central Park West

Photo / Eden Mili

American singer-songwriter Olivia Reid has become a regular fixture on these pages, and for good reason.

In our opinion, this rising talent is behind some of the most beautiful indie releases to have come out of New York this year – and today’s unveiling of ‘Central Park West’ further proves this.

Written as a dedication to her late aunt and uncle (who lived in the area), the song presents listeners with a sparse yet thoughtfully constructed production that allows for Reid’s incredibly emotive vocals and heartfelt lyricism to shine through.

“This a song for anyone mourning the loss of someone or something, where the mix of joyful memories coexist with grief. They both battled heaviness, in health and hardship, and it’s been hard to let them go. But this song is my lasting memory of them, standing by the pond in Central Park, warm and smiling, always.”

Fans can catch Olivia playing Chicago’s Golden Dagger on the 11th June – tickets can be found here.

Olivia Reid

Rare Monk – Missing Forever

Portland’s Rare Monk have been a prominent fixture within Oregon’s indie scene for almost a decade, and still continue to impress us with their distinct approach to music making.

Inspired by feelings of exhaustion due to being overworked, ‘Missing Forever’ is the kind of song that rewards you the longer you listen – with the production evolving into a cinematic climax that is really quite awesome to experience.

“Tethered to work and bills in a society that increasingly idolises ‘grinding’. What if we just quit everything and disappeared into the wilderness instead.”

The track serves as a taster to the band’s forthcoming ‘Coronation’ EP (out soon), which will consist of songs that were written just before lockdown – when the general mood across the country was that of anxiety and uncertainty.

If you have yet to experience Rare Monk’s collection of works then be sure to check out their previous records – ‘Never Really Over’, ‘A Future’ and ‘Death by Proxy’ (all available here).

Rare Monk

NYNE – Dangerous

Electro-pop starlet NYNE is back with a deliciously dark and sultry new single, called ‘Dangerous’.

Mixed and mastered by the iconic Mike Snell (famous for his work with Kanye West and 070 Shake), the track offers listeners a glimpse into NYNE’s upcoming ‘Season 2’ EP, which is out at the end of the month.

“‘Dangerous’ is about wanting someone you shouldn’t! This is my favourite track off the next EP! It also features some sneaky vocals at the end by my little sister juju so it was special too have her on it.”

As an accomplished singer and songwriter, this Melbourne artist has amassed more than three million career streams to date and picked up praise from outlets as respected as BBC Radio 1, Triple J and Acid Stag. Her most recent EP, entitled ‘Season One’ can be found here.

NYNE

Rum Jungle – All The Way Round and Back

It’s safe to say that Australian group Rum Jungle have had a stellar year. With millions of streams under their belt and more than 200k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, this four-piece are well on their way to becoming global stars.

They return today with a powerful new indie-rock anthem called ‘All The Way Round and Back’, which is lyrically inspired by the people in our lives who are cluelessly selfish with their actions.

“‘All The Way Round and Back’ is from the perspective of someone who is a bit of a drop-kick. The kind of person that needs help but when given it abuses it and takes without giving back. Sometimes you try to get away from something and you go so far, you end up coming back to it.” – Benny, Rum Jungle

The track is complimented by a B-Side called ‘The Exchange’, which treats listeners with an alternative style of sound that is more stripped-back and chilled, but equally captivating to experience.  Frazer and Josh from the band explain that ‘it’s a story of someone traveling away to find themselves and when they get home realising their relationship can’t go on and coming to terms with that.”

“This release (All The Way Round and Back & The Exchange) is us wanting to tell a cohesive story that I hope people can follow. We have some songs that follow a story but more often than not are about the emotion and the feeling rather than an actual narrative. This one feels like a cohesive one where both tracks match and I think we’ve really upped our arrangements in the music and storytelling in the lyrics. So hopefully some lords can connect with and enjoy both of these ones.” – Benny, Rum Jungle

Rum Jungle

Elliot Moss – Lazy

Photo / Jeff Vespa

American singer, songwriter and producer Elliot Moss is back today with one of the most beautiful releases of the week.

Through its deeply honest lyricism, ‘Lazy’ finds the artist addressing his weaknesses head-on. Sonically, the track fuses melodic tones of electronica with indie, resulting in a sound that feels sombre yet warm.

“The lyrics are listing the ways I distract myself from the reasons for my uncertainties or failures – which can be uncomfortable to admit, so it made sense for the instrumentation to take on that same uneasiness. ‘Lazy’ explores how individuals often resort to avoidance and externalisation when faced with emotional pain.”

Alongside the release of the song, Moss has also unveiled some stunning visuals, of which he says:

“The artificial hand mirrors the ‘rubber hand experiment’ and its illustration of misattributing sensations to external objects. ‘Lazy’ underscores the significance of confronting past experiences for genuine personal development and healing, and the self-deception inherent in inventing ways to ignore them.”

Moss is undoubtedly one of New York’s most prominent indie-electronic talents, with more than 140 million career streams under his belt, and acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork, Billboard, Spin and Atwood magazines.

Elliot Moss

Housewife – King of Wands

It’s been a busy year for Toronto’s Housewife, who have just completed a North American tour alongside global icon Paolo Nutini.

New single ‘King of Wands’ was created with noted songwriters Gabe Simon and JT Foley, and treats listeners to a well-constructed mix of indie, rock and pop. Elaborating on the song’s inspiration, they explain:

“‘King of Wands’ is a song about the Patriarchal attempts to diminish women’s confidence in their own intuition. Women’s intuition, spirituality, and solidarity are things that keep us safe and thriving – I wanted to write a song about reclaiming that.”

To date, this rising Canadian outfit has picked up praise from the likes of Flood and Flaunt magazines, as well as established tastemakers BrooklynVegan.

Housewife were also founding members of Music Declares Emergency’s Canadian chapter, of which you can find more information here.

Housewife

Hoorsees – Charming City Life

France has always served as a hotbed for emerging artists. But while its reputation for disco and hip hop music is globally renowned, the nation’s indie scene is not as prominently known.

That might all change with the rising popularity of Parisian four-piece Hoorsees, who are building momentum as one of their country’s most promising new indie-rock outfits.

‘Charming City Life’ is inspired by band’s home, and features bassist Zoé on vocals as the lead singer for the first time.

Explaining the single further, the band call it a ‘disillusioned and auto-tuned melody paying homage to the underclass of the city of light’.

Hoorsees have released a new album annually since 2021 (discover them here), with more new music on the way.

Hoorsees

Kaleah Lee – All At Once

Track of the week. Canadian singer-songwriter Kaleah Lee has been gaining steady traction since releasing her debut single ‘Heavy Handed’ last year (listen here).

Lee’s music has gone on to amass more than half a million streams on Spotify, and found its way into outlets as prominent as MTV, Lyrical Lemonade and Atwood Magazine.

The artist’s latest song, entitled ‘All At Once’, continues to showcase Lee’s natural flair for crafting stripped-back yet emotive pieces of music.

It just goes to show that sometimes a simple melody, sincere lyrics and smooth vocals are all you need to fall in love with an artist.

Kaleah Lee

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Alex Di Leo – Blue (Acoustic)

We rarely feature acoustic recordings on this site, but Alex Di Leo’s performance of ‘Blue’ is really quite sublime.

In it’s purest form, the song looks at feelings of loss, and how it only ever becomes a more prevalent emotion as we grow older.

“Lately I’ve experienced more loss in my life than I’ve been used to. From my dog, family members, to close friends and past relationships. I’m learning that unfortunately, loss is an inevitable aspect of life. This is for all of you who’ve ever lost someone or something, felt stuck or feel like you’re struggling for a breath of air. no matter how deep or rough the waters may seem at times, it’s important believe that we can always find a way out of the deep Blue.”

Di Leo’s prominence has grown across the country since his 2016 debut release, ‘So We Go’ (listen here). The artist has amassed more than five million career streams to date, and boasts a hugely loyal fanbase across social media.

The original edit of ‘Blue’ is just as beautiful, and we strongly advise you to give it a listen here.

Alex Di Leo

briskin – Love Songs In The Rain

It’s a big day for London-based singer, songwriter and producer briskin, who has just unveiled a new EP, single and music video.

‘Songs In The Rain’ is taken from the artist’s ‘The Circus’ record (out now), and treats listeners to a thoughtfully written piece of music that is not only impressive in its production, but also very catchy. Elaborating on the track’s inspiration, briskin says:

“It’s a tongue and cheek play on the classic rom-com trope of holding a boombox outside a persons house to try and win them back/ win them over. I thought it would be funny to imagine what it would be like if someone did it in real life and I came to the conclusion that the neighbours wouldn’t like it one bit. But in essence the song is about making a fool of yourself to impress someone.”

So far in his career, briskin has picked up tastemaker praise from the likes of Clash Magazine and The Line of Best Fit, supported Nessa Barrett on select tour dates and amassed more than 300k career streams.

If this is the first time you’ve come across briskin then be sure to check out his 2021 debut mixtape, ‘forever was a feeling’ (produced by Jamie Reynolds) here.

briskin

ROREY – Emotional Hangover

One of New York’s most promising starlets of late has been ROREY. Today she unveils her brilliant new single, ‘Emotional Hangover’.

Lyrically inspired by feelings of anxiety, the song’s essence feels honest and raw, but is also somehow uplifting in tone.

Sonically, the track fuses 2000’s-inspired grunge-pop with a more modern indie edge. Overall, this is a piece of music that balances tension with joy in a beautifully symbiotic way.

Having amassed more than 300k total streams from the release of just 4 singles to date, it’s safe to say that ROREY is well on her way to music stardom.

ROREY

Jenny Kern – Move On

Photo / Mara Rothman

Canadian musician Jenny Kern returns today with a powerful slice of dreamy pop in the form of her new single, ‘Move On’.

Written as an anthem for the broken hearted, the track delivers a style of sound that feels melancholic and emotive, but also offers us glimmers of hope for the future. Elaborating further on the song, Kern says:

“I’m so proud of what it became and what we created. I feel like this song not only represents a literal moving on from a past relationship but also a new beginning as an artist.”

To date, this Brooklyn-based artist has amassed more than 1.5 million career streams on Spotify alone. Kern’s music has also found its way onto countless Spotify editorial playlists (including Fresh Finds and New Music Friday), as well as national outlets like MTV, ABC and NPR.

Jenny Kern

Paddy Keyes – Serotonin

Irish pop artist (and future global star) Paddy Keyes returns today with one of the biggest summer anthems of the year.

‘Serotonin’ is, in its purest form, a love song. Written as a ‘love letter to his girlfriend Sarah’, the track showcases a joyful sound that is both uplifting and energising.

While ‘Serotonin’ is still only Paddy’s fifth single, this talent has already amassed half a million catalogue streams so far, and found support from the likes of Spotify, The Irish Independent and Hotpress.

Paddy Keyes

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