Valentine’s week kicks off in style thanks to this stunning new collaboration between Sunkissed Child and Otis Mensah.
With it’s finessed fusion of classic R&B and hip hop, ‘Love N Attention’ treats listeners to a smooth and gorgeously dreamy sound, while the lyrics detail our need to be desired by the people whom we are attracted to.
The song continues to showcase Sunkissed Child’s impressive musical versatility. To date, this rising artist and vocalist has garnered praise from the likes of Purple Melon and LOCK Magazine. She plays London’s Grand Junction on the 9th March – tickets can be found here.
One of the most hyped outfits to emerge from the UK over the last year have been London-based group Dolores Forever (aka Hannah Wilson and Julia Fabrin).
They launch into 2023 with a catchy new single, entitled ‘When I Say So’. With its dreamy fusion of indie and pop, the track serves as an ode to those of us who struggle to grasp with the idea of growing up.
“’When I Say So’ is about reluctantly growing up. A song for the curious who want more than they are supposed to expect. There’s the moment when you’re suddenly not the ingénue in the room anymore and everything around you is changing. You’re not sure you’re on the same ride as everyone else.”
To date, Dolores Forever have received praise from the likes of BBC Introducing and Radio 1, as well as NME, i-D, Rolling Stone and Dork magazines. The duo perform at Omeara London on the 15th February – tickets can be found here.
We’ve found the perfect weekend banger for you on this beautiful Saturday morning, courtesy of rising German starlet Amilli.
Melodic new single ‘Stuck in My Head’ layers a catchy drum n bass beat over a charming pop production, resulting in a sound that is uplifting and energising in tone.
“‘Stuck In My Head’ lives from the thought that I just wanted to make songs that make you feel good and radiate self-confidence. One has no desire for commitment and wants to be independent, but this one person arouses more interest than intended. The person pulls you under its spell and you just can’t get them out of your head.”
Amilli’s momentum has risen at a meteoric pace since her debut release four years ago. Currently commanding more than 200k monthly Spotify listeners while also garnering praise form outlets as iconic as The Line of Best Fit and Schön! Magazine, Amilli has undoubtedly become one of Germany’s biggest new musical exports.
Reading four-piece Only The Poets have been on our radar for several years now, so it’s exciting to see that they’ve just launched a debut single with EMI.
Representing the very best in emerging British indie-rock, ‘Even Hell’ was created alongside acclaimed producer Charlie Hugall, and presents listeners with an electrifying sound that will most certainly propel this outfit into the mainstream.
“‘Even Hell’ is our love letter to music. We just wanted to show our appreciation for music and how it can help you out and give you that escape in scenarios that would normally make you feel stressed and uneasy. Sonically it leans into our Britpop influences with the energy of it, and the fans seemed to have really connected with it.” – Tommy Longhurst, Only The Poets
The band shortly embark on a European tour that will hit several major cities, culminating in London’s iconic Shepherd’s Bush Empire in May.
Tickets and dates can be found here; be sure to catch these lads before they start selling out stadiums!
Acclaimed singer and songwriter Varas begins his year with anthemic new single, ‘Hell No’.
Through its raw and bold production, Varas addresses the mundane nature of life, and the desire to escape from it all.
“You know the feeling when it’s Friday and you’ve just survived another week full of snow storms and hurtful ingrown toenails. Your body is hurting, not because you worked out or anything but because you walked home with groceries and un-ergonomically only brought one bag.
After walking in a leaning matter you come home. A dear friend hits you up: ‘care for a beer?’. You care a lot actually. Anything to make you think about something else than this cycle of habits around work. You wanna talk about literally anything else. Your friend’s THINKING about CONSIDERING possibly getting a cat? Soon? No, in four years? Ah, still, you’d rather think about your friend considering possibly getting a cat in four years. Anyway, you change your clothes and head into town. Finally you manage to get to a bar with some friends. It’s cheap and smelly, just like you. Now it’s time to have a pleasant time of distraction. But before you even take the first sip it happens, someone at the table innocently asks you about next week’s work and duties. Right there, that moment you have to keep yourself from telling your dear friend to shut the f up, was our state of mind when we wrote ‘Hell No’.”
With his refreshingly original and distinct approach to music-making, Varas is rapidly becoming one of Sweden’s most hotly-tipped newcomers. Fans can look forward to a new EP, scheduled for release later this year.
One of Canada’s biggest musical exports to have emerged in recent years has been Vancouver-based alt-pop artist Jade LeMac.
After accumulating more than 30 million streams to date, LeMac finally unveils her debut EP today, entitled ‘Constellations’ (out now).
“I’m very excited to be releasing my first EP. It’s named after ‘Constellations’, the first song I had released. It’s the song that started this whole journey and I wouldn’t be here without it. I have learned so much about myself, my song writing, and storytelling through this EP. The process has made me explore my own creativity and imagination, and brought me to these places and stories that never would have existed if I hadn’t written it. Overall, I’m hyped about being able to share this first piece of me. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in my own story, and I can’t wait for what’s to come and to continue doing what I love.”
Alongside the release of the EP is new single ‘Car Accident’. A beautifully powerful and emotive ballad, the song looks into the dynamics of a complex relationship.
“This is the first time I have ever written from the perspective of two people and I love how subtle but how impactful the changes are. I was actually writing the lyrics on the bus and as I was coming up with this story in my head I was seeing myself inside of these characters and feeling all of these feelings of two people who have both lost something, and I ended up just crying the whole way. It’s probably one of my favourite songs on the EP.”
Rising London-based starlet Aistè is back today with a gorgeously captivating new single that deserves your attention!
In what might be the finest piece of soul-pop that you’ll listen to all weekend, ‘You’ve Got The Feeling’ revolves around the concept of break-ups – and their consequent emotions.
“Now I feel that the learning phase is over, I’m ready to deliver the goods.”
The song is taken from the Lithuanian-born talent’s ‘The Theory of Everything’ album, which is scheduled for release this May.
Aistè is also an accomplished film director, whose work on‘Money is Life’ consequently led to the artist picking up a Best Director nomination at the 2020 KlipVid Awards.
Rising starlet Cherry Angel (aka Alycia Lancey) returns today with a beautifully melancholic slice of dreamy indie-pop through her new single, ‘Cherry Dream’.
The song tells the story of a girl who pines for a type of romance that she can only dream of. Elaborating further on the lyricism, Lancey explains:
“This concept, although somewhat dangerous to one’s mental health, is a reality so many people face when love is lost. We re-rack the brain and dissect the what-ifs. This song is really about depression. She yearns to stay asleep to be with this absent person. Since she can’t go back and she can’t move forward, she is staying still, reliving her memories.”
The track follows on from the LA-based singer-songwriter’s acclaimed debut‘Caffeinated’, which was released last fall. Cherry Angel plans to release more singles later the year.
Rising artist Joshua Thew celebrates the launch of his new LP today, entitled ‘Turn Me To Water’.
Within the ten-track record (out now) is this stunning little number called ‘Never Be’. Inspired by the French film ‘Climax’, the track’s production flirts between alternative R&B, indie and electronic pop.
The resulting sound is one that is future-forward and experimental, while still feeling classic and timeless.
“‘Never Be’ is a song for everyone that sometimes needs the release of the dance floor. To let go of the struggles or fears of life. To unite and be individual and celebrate it.”
LA-based singer and songwriter Ella Rosa is one talent that we predict will take 2023 by storm.
‘ruin my lyf’ is taken from Rosa’s freshly-released ‘anxious attachment style’ EP (out now), and continues to showcase this British-born artist’s dynamic style of sound. Remarking on her new collection of songs, Rosa says:
“This body of work came together naturally after I began to let go of my people pleasing tendencies and started to lean towards full transparency. The title came to me when I realized that all of the music I had been writing was fully saturated in themes that link to having an anxious attachment style. Instead of trying to get rid of it I enhanced it and poured it into this project. The first genre I landed on was drum and bass, hence all the speedy drums in all of these songs. I want this project to give people the space to be fun, spontaneous and wear their heart on their sleeve.”
With more than 650k career streams to date on Spotify alone, Rosa is one artist that should be on everyone’s radar over the coming months.
After a busy year recording music and joining acclaimed duo Icarus on their sold-out UK tour, Lenn returns with a sensational new single to remind you of her extraordinary talent.
With its finessed fusion of alternative R&B and ambient pop, ‘dreams are a nightmare’ links the emotions that are triggered from dreams with the introspective thoughts many of us experienced during lockdown.
“I wrote ‘dreams are a nightmare’ about the struggle of chasing after what you truly want. So often in life the things that offer the most joy also leave us at our most vulnerable and expose us to anxiety, heartache and deferred hope.”
Written and recorded by Lenn at her home-studio in Bristol, the song serves as a taster to the artist’s forthcoming debut EP (out later this year).
Tycho Jones has been gracing our pages since 2019, thanks to their charismatic and refreshing approach to indie-pop.
After a short hiatus from creating music, this rising talent is back with melodic new single ‘Risk To My Reward’. Inspired by the risks we take in order to achieve good things, the song’s relatable lyricism is both intelligent and meaningful.
“‘Risk To My Reward’ is about the thrill of the chase – the pursuit of a dream, a lover, a friendship. Taking the risks necessary in order to progress and grow.”
Since the release of their much-acclaimed debut ‘Tychonaut’ mixtape, Tycho Jones has gone on to acquire praise from publications as iconic as CLASH, Notion and BRICKS magazines.
Acclaimed Dutch pop outfit City Park mark their comeback today with the release of new single ‘Competition’.
While the production flirts between dreamy pop and the band’s trademark ‘fuzzy R&B’ sound, song’s lyrics encapsulate the charm, sweetness and tension between two people as they try to impress one another.
The song serves a reminder of the Amsterdam trio’s superb style of music-making, which has already earned them well over six million career streams to date.
“This year, we’ll be doing what City Park is about after all: sharing songs, stories, experiences, and working with visual artists we love. God willing, we’ll even throw parties, play shows and hang out with you.”
Born in South Korea, REBENN is an emerging songwriter and producer who creates a style of sound that expertly fuses elements of alternative pop with electronica.
‘Maybe I’m Psycho’ is a thought-provoking song that was inspired by a heated commotion between REBENN’s parents. Lyrically, the track looks at the ways in which people will find ways to act as victims, when in fact they are often to blame for their own actions.
Complimenting REBENN’s impressive production are vocals from rising artist Deza, whose presence on the song amplifies its depth and emotional intensity.
A former member of the U.N. Peace Keeping Force, REBENN immersed himself into music after leaving the army, and has so far achieved the seal of approval from heavyweight tastemakers as noted as Cloudkid and Cakes & Eclairs,
Emerging genre-bending starlet Alexia Chambi joins forces with long-time collaborator Ralph Taylor on new single, ‘Nothing Happened’.
Based on real-life events, the song tells of a story involving Chambi and a boyfriend who had initiated an open relationship, only to regret his decision shortly after.
“‘Nothing Happened’ is a story based on true events, about a boyfriend who spontaneously requests an open relationship while being abroad but quickly calls back to express his regret.”
The track marks the beginning of a project that will see Chambi unveiling a string of singles throughout the year, eventually culminating in the release of a confessional EP entitled ‘Open Relationship’.
Rising UK artist FJ Law is back today with a beautifully emotive slice of indie-pop that is sure to captivate any listener.
Inspired by the fictional love story between Ross and Rachel from F.R.I.E.N.D.S, new single ‘paperweight’ is a guitar-driven piece of music that looks at the process of trying to save what’s left from a fading relationship.
The track marks an exciting year for FJ Law, who continues to find his work featured across prominent British media outlets and on multiple editorial Spotify playlists.
In recent years Downtown Kayoto has proven himself to be one of the UK’s most promising alternative artists.
Released via London label Other Projects (home to NiNE8 and KhakiKid), new single ‘Run from you’ continues to build momentum for this remarkable talent, and showcases a raw sound that fuses indie-rock with essences of hip hop.
“‘Run from you’ is a song about how I would run away from my problems, I’m pretty sure that everyone goes through a similar thing. Specifically this was about a relationship that I really valued at the time, and when I look back at how I dealt with the end of the relationship I noticed that my behaviour was definitely avoidant. I get really prideful at points so sometimes I’ll just run so that I don’t need to deal with the situation at hand; run with no particular destination in mind, I just run and I when I look back I run fast… This is one thing I really wanna stop doing (lol). It’s not really healthy but without it I guess I wouldn’t have made this song.”
To date, Downtown Kayoto has recieved praise from industry heavyweights as noted as Zane Lowe, Pharrell Williams and Jack Saunders, while also touring alongside the likes of Tkay Maidza and Finn Askew.
LA-based singer and songwriter ellie d. is back today with a refreshingly energising new single.
‘Real Thing’ is a beautifully constructed piece of electro-pop that looks at our need for connection. This is a sound that feels dreamy and reflective, yet still maintains an uplifting sense of joy.
“Both a very vulnerable and unapologetic declaration of wanting connection, romance, all the butteries… A song about putting yourself out there.The sense of there’s a lot of ways to be strong, and the most popular way people think of is being independent and doing everything by yourself but it’s just as meaningful and it shows strength to say that you really want someone in your life and who will love and support you the way you want to be loved.”
As a starlet on the rise, ellie d. begins her year commanding more than 45k monthly Spotify listeners. Meanwhile, her catalogue of songs continue to grow in popularity, with more than 2.5 million cumulative streams to date.
Rising independent musician Mysie is back with an empowering new single… and one which looks set to become her biggest release yet.
Lifted from the artist’s upcoming mixtape, the track gathers its inspiration from a situation when Mysie was ignored by a lover, and serves to remind us of our own self worth.
“‘CTRL’ is about receiving a phone call from an unfaithful ex who aired me for six months after saying BRB. It’s an empowering song letting him know: I won’t be fooled by his attempt to reel me back in.”
Mysie’s list of accomplishments is already impressive, with the UK-based talent picking up a prestigious Ivor Novello Award and being included on BBC Radio 1’s Ones To Watch 2023.
Ever-evolving artist Raven Artson returns with yet another sonic delight in the form of his new single, ‘Rash Of Independence’.
Inspired by the iconic sounds of Corona, Timbaland, Madonna and Sugababes, this nostalgia-tinged song treats listeners to an eccentric yet charming production, while the lyrics tell of Artson’s appreciation for independence and love.
Indeed, it’s the desire for independence that keeps Artson’s work so refreshingly experimental, as he explains:
“Whatever swings my way, I take it on fully. I let down my guard to experience more than I can foresee and embrace the unexpected in my creative process. That’s where the playfulness comes in.”
Artson supports Coco & Clair Clair on their European tour this month – dates and tickets can be found here. Headline shows are coming up later in the spring.
