Rising singer and songwriter Sanna Martinez’s ‘I Like It’ might be the first real summe anthem of the year. With its perfected mix of electro-pop and R&B, this song is certain to leave you feeling like you’re on top of the world.
The track was written alongside fellow songwriters Maria Marcus and Tobias Näslund, who are already renowned for their work on some of K-Pop’s biggest artists.
While still a young musician, Martinez has already accomplished some very impressive feats. She’s already co-written and performed songs that have ended up in national selections for Eurovision, seen her music featured on primetime shows like Love Island USA, and has even written a track for K-Pop icons Everglow.
American duo Drugstore Cowboy (aka Mr. Carter Davis and Grant Thompson) are back today with a charming slice of alternative pop through their new single, ‘Big House’.
The song is lyrically inspired by the time in our lives when we finish school or college, and are trying to understand how best to navigate this first stage of adulthood.
“We wrote the song separately in different rooms. Grant was in his bedroom studio working on a totally different beat and I was in the kitchen hanging out. There was something about barely hearing an abstract melody and unintelligible beat through the walls that spurred on a new idea. The melody and lyrics came to me instantly. I made a voice memo and we dropped our plans for the night to chase the idea. We made the song within an hour or so and we immediately agreed it was our favourite song we’ve ever done together.
I imagine two friends are hanging out for the first time in months. The friend that is visiting is about to graduate, while the other has dropped out to work and is living on their own. This is their first apartment. There’s barely any furniture, except an old leather couch and a glass coffee table. The type of apartment that we’ve all been to, with a balcony, worn out carpet, and a kitchen floor plan that bleeds into the living room. It’s small and It smells of previous tenets and weed. I imagine these two friends on that leather couch having beers/ smoking and being exhausted from their day. They catch up, and it’s awkward at first but as the night goes on they find common ground in their shared past. They tell old stories, talk about exes and what everyone is doing now. Eventually the move on to their dreams and their desires for the future. They both realise they’ve recently grown up a lot but no matter what happens, you can’t change where you’re from and who you grew up with. Their paths may be different but their destination is the same. Happy, healthy, wealthy and surrounded by their closest friends.”
To date, Drugstore Cowboy have amassed more than 100k career streams, and currently command close to 15k monthly listeners on Spotify. With their momentum on the rise, we think its safe to say that these chaps are worth watching this year.
One of London’s most interesting newcomers in recent times has been alt-pop starlet MOLTENO.
Today’s release of ‘Stars’ continues to showcase the artist’s stunning approach to music, which blends together elements of dreamy pop with trip hop and mellow indie. This is a sound that is ethereal and transcendent in character, and elegantly timeless in style.
“‘Stars’ invites us to look up, and remember we’re a tiny dot on a spinning rock. I started writing the song in my teens, inspired to explore the contrasting ways life’s challenges can be perceived. Can we learn to trust the next step on the tightrope?”
‘Stars’ is lifted from the artist’s upcoming ‘Element 2’ EP, which is part of a wider collection of works that are inspired by our connection to nature. You can experience the first instalment, ‘Element 1’ here.
Praised by tastemakers as respected as BBC Radio 6, Earmilk, Clash and Notion magazines, MOLTENO has proven herself to not only be a rising talent but also a critic’s favourite.
Nottingham outfit Blondes have had quite the career since their formation back in 2017. With more than 17 million catalogue streams to date, as well as 200k monthly listeners on Spotify and over 1.7 billion TikTok views, it’s safe to say that these lads have become one of the UK’s hottest indie stars.
Melodic new single ‘Beautiful World’ is lifted from the group’s forthcoming ‘In Separation’ EP (out 14th July), and presents listeners with an immersive fusion of indie and alt-pop.
“’Beautiful World’ feels like our first proper pop song. It’s my favourite that we’ve written so far. It’s about our relationship with our environment and each other. We wrote it to speak not just for ourselves but to anyone that finds themselves looking around at our world and wondering just how we’ve become so disconnected from one another and the planet. We hope you like it.” – Alex, Blondes
Fans can catch the band performing live across the UK in June, supporting Inhaler and Mt Joy. Dates and tickets can be found below.
Rising talents YAOUNDÉBOXINGCLUB and tmdistant have joined forces to create one of the most impressive collaborations that we’ve seen so far this month.
Through an upbeat production that fuses elements of indie and alternative pop, ‘Did It My Way’ highlights to listeners the importance of embracing our self-worth. Elaborating further on the inspiration behind the track’s empowering message, YAOUNDÉBOXINGCLUB explains:
“I guess I’m a nice person who always tries to help others out when I can and even when I can’t sometimes, and that really hasn’t worked out in my favour. People tend to take advantage of that and I know it. I used to let it slide, until recently, when I realised that I wouldn’t get where I want in life if I didn’t put myself first. This song is about that realisation.” – YAOUNDÉBOXINGCLUB.
Aside from the fact that both YAOUNDÉBOXINGCLUB and tmdistant have already picked up widespread tastemaker praise over a relatively short space time, these two musicians have also grown significant fan bases – with each artist amassing more than 250k career streams to date.
If you’re a frequent social media user then chances are high that you’ll have come across Durry’s ‘Who’s Laughing Now’ at some point over the last two years.
Initially unveiled on TikTok by the sibling duo back in 2021, the track picked up huge levels of traction and went viral – despite being a demo. Now it’s finally been released in full form, and it’s just as anthemic as you’d hope for.
Written for all the people who are tired of living a mundane and unfulfilling life, the song’s relatable lyricism is paired with a powerful production that fuses indie with rock and pop.
“‘Who’s Laughing Now’ went viral before it was even finished being written. What started as a cynical outlook on life was flipped on its head overnight, as it rocketed to popularity. The next morning I left for the studio to try and capture this once in a lifetime viral moment. I realised the song I had written was wrong, and there was still hope left in the world. On the drive to the studio I rewrote it, inspired by the success and excitement of the public. This song is literally written about the success of its own demo.” – Austin Durry
The song is taken from the band’s upcoming self-released album, ‘Suburban Legend’ (out in September), which you can preorder here.
After steadily growing in momentum over the last few months, Dublin music collective Bricknasty have just secured a deal with much-respected record label FAMM.
New single ‘ducks ina row’ is taken from the group’s upcoming ‘INA CRUELER’ EP (scheduled for release this June), and presents listeners with a refreshingly captivating yet intriguing production that blends so many genres together that its almost impossible to define.
Bricknasty currently command more than 14k monthly listeners on Spotify, and have already received praise from respected tastemakers as noted as The Face and Clash magazine, as well as The Line of Best Fit.
There’s a brief spell of sunshine across London this afternoon, so what better way to enjoy this rare delight than with one of the capital’s sweetest R&B starlets, Essosa.
While ‘LEMONADE’ was initially unveiled back in 2021, it’s currently making a resurgence thanks to its newly-released ‘Sped Up’ version, which is just as fantastic as the original edit.
Seamlessly fusing funky R&B with disco and pop, ‘LEMONADE’ is not only a sonic piece of bliss but also the perfect song to soundtrack the upcoming summery days and nights.
With support from the likes of Dummy Mag and Fashionably Early already under her belt, the future looks bright for this promising artist.
Acclaimed British artist Sweets continues to impress with his latest genre-bending masterpiece, ‘Bitter’.
Through its electrifying production, captivating lyricism and powerful vocals, the song makes an immediate statement from the moment you press play.
The track showcases the Manchester-based musician’s unmistakably bold and distinct style of at sound – and further affirms him as one of England’s hottest music prospects.
To date, Sweets has receives support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, Clash, Notion and NME magazines, while also amassing more than 120k streams on Spotify alone from the release of just four songs.
What better way to start the new week than with a funky and soulful slice of alternative pop, courtesy of American up-and-coming wonderkid Native Son.
As we’ve come to expect from this talent, ‘Pretty Wing – Demo’ serves listeners with an experimental fusion of genres that is boldly unconventional and utterly mesmerising to experience.
Inspired by our occasional tendencies to fall in love with someone who is not good for us, the song’s relatable lyricism contrasts nicely with its sonically distinct production.
“Native Son muses on the liminal spaces we occupy when we develop feelings for people that we can’t, or shouldn’t, have feelings for. ‘Pretty Wing’ is a record for the person pining after their best friend, or hanging-on to the words of a toxic ex.”
Native Son continues to make waves across tastemaker circles, and has become a regular fixture on some of the world’s most prominent playlists. This is one emerging New Yorker that should be on everyone’s radars!
If you’re looking for a cheeky slice of Scandinavian pop to bounce along to today then you’ve come to the right place.
As the title implies, ‘jealous af’ is all about jealousy – and the times when we realise that we can’t hide our envy no matter how hard we try. The track is the latest release from rising Swedish singer and songwriter Claudia Kelley, and is sure to put a smile on your faces.
Interestingly, ‘jealous af’ is part of a series which sees Kelley unveiling music that she wrote, but never ended up in the recording studio:
“As a songwriter you write a lot of songs for pitch, with other words; for other people, labels. A lot of the time they get stuck with the label saying: we love this, the artist wants it. One year goes by, you ask if they still want it, they say: yes we love it don’t give it to anyone else and then one more year goes by and so on. So I decided to release all the songs that are stuck in limbo under my project called: songs that nobody wants. With no specific artist project, no red thread. Just some songs that I still like after all this time.”
To date, Kelley has amassed more than 170k cumulative streams on Spotify from the release of just three singles, making her one Scandi pop talent to keep on your radars.
In recent years, Santino Le Saint has firmly marked his name as one of South London’s hottest emerging artists.
Today’s unveiling of his new single ‘whisky & wine’ continues to impress, with its stripped-back fusion of alternative R&B, indie and and soulful pop. The production feels sparse and minimal, allowing for Santino’s powerfully moving vocals to shine through.
An upcoming EP is scheduled for release soon. In the meantime, fans can catch Santino performing live at London’s Cloud X Festival this August – tickets can be found here.
LA-based musician Maty Noyes is one of those rare talents who is able to not only sustain a successful career as a soloist, but also as a highly sought-after songwriter who has worked with the likes of Kygo and Celine Dion.
After amassing more than 120 million career streams from her own releases, Maty returns today with a brand new single. ‘Lighter Thief’ is the first track to be lifted from upcoming project ‘Rainbow Syndrome’, and showcases a cinematic style of sound that blends elements of indie-pop with folk. Elaborating on the lyrical concept behind the song, Noyes explains:
“This song is about loving the anti-hero. He’s the bad boy in the movie that gives you just enough hope that he could turn good. You almost want him to win (over the classic good guy). The whole situation feels like home – sometimes you run away but you always come back to it. It’s that feeling when the future is so uncertain, and nothing is safe or guaranteed but you accept it because it makes you feel alive. You do what you can to bring light and happiness, but that’s not always the way love goes.”
Aside from her huge fanbase, Maty has also won over critical praise from outlets as respected as Rolling Stone, Billboard, Nylon, PAPER, V Magazine and The New York Times. It’s going to be a big year for this talent – be sure to keep her on your radars!
We’ve lost count as to how many times we’ve featured Olivia Grace, but we still can’t get enough of of this charming American alt-pop starlet.
On new single ‘Sundays’, Olivia pines for a simple life with simple pleasures, and was written during a time in the artist’s life when she was physically and emotionally drained from having to undergo dialysis treatment three times a week.
Produced by Parisian duo Her Demon, the track serves as a taster to Grace’s forthcoming debut album, which is scheduled for release on the 10th November 2023.
To date, this rising talent has received praise from the likes of BBC Radio, The Line of Best Fit and Newsweek, while also achieving more than 950k career streams on Spotify alone.
The Puddleducks might not be a name you are yet familiar with, but this group of four friends (Joseph, Wade, Allen and Weston) are already well on their way to becoming one of South Carolina’s hottest new exports.
Since releasing their first music just last year, this indie-rock outfit has already amassed more than 800k catalogue streams, thanks in part to their viral hit single ‘MILF Song’.
Today’s release of ‘Body High’ continues to highlight the band’s immense potential. Fusing high-energy punk rock with pop and indie, the song treats listeners to an uplifting yet refreshingly raw style of sound.
“‘Body High’ is like two shots of tequila and a Marlboro red all given to a musician by hyped up fans who just want to party with the band.”
Fans can look forward to a new EP, which is scheduled for release this summer.
Swedish starlet JÁNA (aka Johanna Andrén) is back today with a soulful slice of R&B-pop to brighten up our mornings.
Created alongside producer Isac Hördegård, melodic new single ‘Gia’ was inspired by the story of iconic American supermodel Gia Carangi, and looks at the human desire of wanting to feel loved unconditionally.
“It is definitely a homage to Gia Carangi. I was so touched by the movie and went deeper into Gia’s life story after seeing the movie like ten times. This song is reflecting on unconditional, real love and the search for it. About living life to the fullest. It’s also about seeing beyond beauty. I think the scariest thing for a woman is to be ugly and I think that it is both very sad and very interesting.”
A talent on the rise, JÁNA has been steadily building momentum thanks to her unique style of music-making, which seamlessly blends alternative pop with soul and R&B.
JÁNA’s catalogue of releases have already amassed more than two million career streams to date, and the artist has picked up support from tastemakers as noted as BBC Radio 1, Lyrical Lemonade, Fader Magazine and COLORS.
Harvey Jay Dodgson is back today to remind you why he’s (deservedly) become one of the UK’s most hyped indie newcomers.
‘Alligator’ is taken from the artist’s new EP of the same name (out now), and showcases a bold and cinematic indie-rock sound that is immediately arresting from the moment you press play. In one word, this record is simply epic, and deserves a listen.
The release of the EP marks the start of a busy season for Harvey, who has just announced that he will be performing at the iconic Glastonbury Festival in June.
Dodgson has received praise from industry heavyweights as respected as BBC Radio 1, Notion, Wonderland and Clash magazines, while also garnering more than 250k catalogue streams to date on Spotify alone.
American outfit The Eiffels have to be one of pop-rock’s hardest working bands. Fresh off a tour across Southern California, the group have just announced that they will be unveiling some new music in due course.
In the meantime, we’d like to share with you their 2021 release, ‘Collide’. Still a popular choice amongst their fans, the song treats listeners to an energising mix of punchy pop and indie-rock.
“‘Collide’ is a love letter to the nights we lose ourselves on the dance floor. It’s a song about the moments in life when there’s a room filled with complete strangers, different in so many ways, but they’re all singing the same lyrics and dancing to the same rhythm.”
Amassing more than three million career streams to date, and garnering praise from heavyweight tastemakers like Pitchfork, Alternative Press, LA’s KROQ and MTV, it’s clear to see that The Eiffels’ music resonates with a large and diverse audience.
New York’s Native Son (aka singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist Ano Chrispin) has been winning over fans ever since the release of his 2020 debut, ‘Metro Dread’ (listen here).
Creatively inspired by the ‘need to narrate the everyday’, Chrispin’s distinct style of music-making has seen him become one of the state’s most exciting emerging newcomers.
New single ‘Meryl’ presents listeners with a refreshingly eccentric and future-forward sound that blends elements of lo-fi rock with indie and dreamy pop. Elaborating further on the song, Chrispin explains:
“I wrote this song as an ‘ode to the mobile’. It’s a record about traveling to get to someone you care for- whether that entails biking to get a drink with a partner, or taking the train to meet a new hookup. Leaving at sundown and arriving at midnight. ‘Meryl’ is a fuzzed out and almost sensual track written for the moments we share with the people we love; all after the long journeys we take to get to them.”
Native Son has so far garnered tastemaker praise from respected outlets like Complex, NME Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan and Dummy Mag. The project’s songs have also been featured on countless prominent playlists such as Spotify’s Fresh Finds and Today’s Indie Rock.
We’ve featured rising US-based artist Evenson a good few times on Alfitude, and if you’ve ever experienced the sonic joys of playing his music then you’ll understand why.
Melodic new single ‘IF I EVER FEEL BETTER’ further affirms Evenson’s natural flair for constructing flawless fusions of alt-R&B and indie-pop.
Conceptually, the song’s heartbreaking lyricism is juxtaposed with a production that feels charming and playful – resulting in a sound that is both interesting and captivating to listen to.
With more than 1.6 million career streams already under his belt, this could be the year that Evenson finally breaks into the mainstream and becomes one of the US’s hottest new musical exports.
