Category: Listen

Kamora – Careful

Having met in 2016, writing and playing together intermittently, Glaswegian group Kamora officially formed in 2019.

Since then this outfit have been creating anthemic rock sounds that have already received praise from the likes of Existential Mag and Right Chord Music. On new single ‘Careful’, lead singer Max Murphy says:

“‘Careful’ illustrates a dark story concerning a young man that is heading down a dreary path due to his reckless behaviour. Blinded by temptation and poor judgement, the story essentially focuses on a person going off the rails and becoming a stranger to their former self.”

Kamora headline Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh on 13th May, with support from Falkirk-locals Primes and Newcastle’s alt rock trio Ten Eighty Trees.

Kamora

Ronna Riva – Au Revoir

Romanian pop starlet Ronna Riva releases a melancholic and melodic bop in the form of new single ‘Au Revoir’. A radio-friendly anthem, the track is sure to pick up traction across Europe in the coming weeks.

Riva was performing on stage since her early childhood, and at 13-years of age she was already touring across Romania with the Viva band. She returned to music after finishing her studies, amassing an ever-growing fanbase that is close to 100k followers on Instagram alone.

Ronna Riva

flyckt – Jonny Boy

If you’re a fan of Swedish outfit Urban Cone then you’ll already recognise singer flyckt.

Today sees the release of his cover of Nordic indie classic ‘Jonny Boy’, and it is without a doubt one of the catchiest pop anthems you’re likely to experience all week.

“‘Jonny Boy’ is a song written by the band Kite and is somewhat of a cult classic in Sweden. The song really resonates with me. I can relate to going out to escape everyday life and I felt like the song got another dimension with the pandemic. Like a lot of people are going out to numb the pain and all of a sudden they couldn’t do that anymore. To me going out with Jonny Boy means that all the bad emotions are turned off, and that you are in a headspace where no one can touch you. Hope you will like it.”

flyckt

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Tamu Massif – Old Times

After spending the last few years experimenting with different creative techniques, Bristol-based songwriter and producer Tamu Massif returns with some new material that has been well worth the wait.

“For a long time, I would compose a heavily layered instrumental and then add vocals afterwards. Recently, I’ve been trying to do it the other way round: writing the song on guitar first and then having fun with the production – adding things to compliment and embellish the original idea. I’ve consciously made an effort to change my process and have been really enjoying playing acoustic guitar again. I feel like the best songs tend to work in a stripped back form – so starting from that point leaves you with something a bit more raw and vulnerable.”

Beautifully deep, vulnerable and nostalgic in tone, Massif’s single ‘Old Times’ has enough emotional pull to carry any listener through the week:

“‘Old Times’ is a song about being nostalgic for the past. It came together as a song pretty quickly; I wrote it in one sitting on my acoustic guitar. I leaned into the sad on this one.”

Tamu Massif

Ships Have Sailed – Can’t Go Back

Acclaimed American pop-rock outfit Ships Have Sailed announce the release of their new album ‘Ages’ today, and with it comes atmospheric new single ‘Can’t Go Back’.

“Lyrically and sonically, ‘Ages’ represents a life arc. It addresses an exploration of our humanity, our egos, and our instincts. It’s about how we change over time and are shaped by particular journeys and experiences because while I was shaping this album, my life was also shaping me.” – Will Carpenter, Ships Have Sailed

‘Ages’ is out now.

Ships Have Sailed

Blonde Diamond – Strange Times

Photo / Brandon Fletcher

Canadian outfit Blonde Diamond create an irresistibly dreamy style of synth-pop that is impossible not to be charmed by. Speaking on their new single ‘Strange Times’, frontwoman Alexis Young says:

“Lyrically, the song ‘Strange Times’ takes place in a fantastical parallel universe, so it only made sense that the video should represent that. We chose to use a bright and dreamy palette to provide a luxurious backdrop for our characters to obliviously dance away on. As it becomes clear through elements of foreshadowing that there is a clear impending doom, we ignore the signs and carry on. In the background as we see chaos and destruction unfold, we try to keep the dream alive until we become swallowed and it reveals that the universe goes on without us, unaffected. Strange times indeed.”

To date, this Vancouver-based group have graced stages across Canada, Europe, Australia, the US and India – sharing bills with the likes of Portugal. The Man, Bishop Briggs and Chromeo.

Blonde Diamond

Restless Modern – How Do I Do with You?

Wisconsin artist Restless Modern is back today with another outstanding alt-pop release in the shape of new single ‘How Do I Do with You?’.

Taken off of the new EP ‘A Likeness Complicit’, the song continues to showcase this American talent’s refreshingly unique approach perspective on the world, and in turn his music-making.

“We live in a broken world, and collective self-examination yields that all of us are complicit in this to some degree. It is comfortable to place blame outside of ourselves, but it is difficult to look in the mirror and objectively apply those same standards. It is a Biblical concept that we were all made in the ‘likeness’ of God, but this is a standard that we have failed to live up to. It raises questions about which pieces inherent to us represent this “likeness.” What does this distortion imply about our nature, or about the nature of the source from which we were derived? Thus, ‘A Likeness Complicit.’ This EP is meant to evince self-responsibility and an uncomfortable self-awareness.”

Restless Modern

Oliver Keane – Fixing a Broken Heart

Rising UK artist Oliver Keane returns with a stellar new single, along with the news that his debut EP ‘16mm dream sequence’ will be set for release later in the spring.

Honest and vulnerable in its lyricism, ‘Fixing a Broken Heart’ navigates the pain of a missed opportunity:

“‘Fixing a Broken Heart‘ was about a friend of mine. We’d both been flirting back and forth but neither had the courage to make a move. She started talking to another guy and as her friend I had to sit there and accept that.”

‘16mm dream sequence’ is out on 22 April 2022.

Oliver Keane

Annika Wells – Modern Art

Photo / Ariana Dixon

Rising pop singer/songwriter Annika Wells offers listeners a glimpse into her upcoming debut project, through the release of her emotional and poignant new single ‘Modern Art’.

The track serves as a piece of commentary on heartbreak in the digital age, as Wells explains:

“[The song] explores the aftermath in the modern age where our relationships are no longer just interpersonal experiences, but digital galleries in which we can curate, arrange, and erase carefully constructed identities. It walks you through the world that’s left after the real break up – the physical evidence, but also the online remnants that are increasingly inescapable in this day and age.”

No stranger to the industry, Wells has already penned tracks for the likes of Jonas Brothers, BTS, PRETTYMUCH, and Steve Aoki. Her impressive vocals and songwriting have also been featured on collaborations with Illenium’s ‘Nightlight’ and Midnight Kids’ ‘Run It.’

Annika Wells

Kah-Lo – Drag Me Out

One of the stand-out electro bops of the month comes from New York based singer and Grammy nominated artist Kah-Lo.

Drawing on influences from living in Lagos, London and New York, ‘Drag Me Out’ expertly blends groovy house basslines with punchy drum kicks and infectious lyrics – treating listeners to the ultimate pre-party anthem.

“I’m usually the last one standing at a great party, so ‘Drag Me Out’ is an actual account of how nights like those typically go for me. It’s my very own recklessness anthem.”

Kah-Lo

Tove Styrke – Hardcore

Forward-thinking musical starlet Tove Styrke consistently pushes the boundaries of pop, and new single ‘Hardcore’ is no exception.

Taken from the upcoming album ‘HARD’ (out 3rd June), this dramatic yet playful song was produced and co-written by Max Martin’s young protégé Elvira Anderfjärd (Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran) and Jakob Jerlström (Tove Lo, Lorde).

“‘Hardcore’ is definitely one of my favourite tracks on the album. It’s about wanting someone hardcore. I took the term from gaming, if you die you die but it’s all in. I also wanted to make the track sound drunk, like when you’re lost in a person. That’s why we made the temposhifts before each chorus. The production is so good on this one, it blows my mind.”

Tove Styrke

Tove supports MARINA on tour in May:

  • 9 May – Copenhagen, Denmark (Vega)
  • 12 May – The Hague, Netherlands (Amare)
  • 14 May – Brussels, Belgium (La Madeleine)
  • 15 May – Paris, France (Bataclan)
  • 17 May – Edinburgh (Corn Exchange)
  • 20 May – Manchester (O2 Apollo)
  • 21 May  – Leeds (Refectory)
  • 22 May – London (O2 Brixton Academy)
  • 25 May – Dublin (Olympia Theatre) 

Tim Lyre – Present

Critically acclaimed rising Nigerian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Tim Lyre releases his debut album ‘Worry <‘, and with it comes superb new single ‘Present’.

The Afro-fusion track is all about living in the moment, and sees Lyre explore different genres spanning Afrobeats, alté and neo-soul.

‘Worry <‘ is out now.

Tim Lyre

merci, mercy – Sick To My Stomach

Photo / Maybelle Thieu

Sydney-based talent merci, mercy returns with a gorgeously effervescent and honest pop gem.

Beyond the shiny exterior of new single ‘Sick To My Stomach’ hides some serious subject matter, detailing the artist’s on-going struggle with addiction – namely to alcohol and cigarettes. 

“‘Sick To My Stomach’ is about my addiction with alcohol and cigarettes and how it may seem like old news to some people because it’s what I always sing about. Right now in my life I am not struggling with heartbreak for another, but for myself. When I wrote this song I felt like anyone I told about my addiction would question it because it wasn’t life threatening in their eyes. This song will take you on a journey of me and my self-worth. It is really showing you that I have come to a realisation where I begin to understand what is truly going on with myself and that it really is an issue people should start worrying about.”

merci, mercy

Khalid – Last Call

Khalid returns with a sublime fusion of soul, R&B and pop through his latest release, ‘Last Call’.

Dreamy and emotive in tone, this is just about one of the most beautiful songs I have experienced so far this month.

Khalid

Devon Again – All My Fault

Tik Tok starlet Devon Again is back today with an anthem to self -sabotage through her new single ‘All My Fault’.

“I had a super super annoying realisation that I was in charge of my own life and most of the hurt I was feeling was no ones fault but my own. Now more than ever I am trying to re-train my brain into treating myself better and doing what I can to not fall back into old patterns. It’s so hard to keep growing and not resort to what’s comfortable, and ‘all my fault’ is what came out of my little cyclical panic about whether or not i will just continue to sabotage myself”.

The track is a vibrant offering from an artist who already commands an ever-growing legion of online fans, while also being chosen by Spotify to front a Fresh Finds campaign.

Devon Again

nic violets – Bleu!

With an approach to music-making that avoids fitting into any one particular genre, US talent nic violets never fails to surprise and delight with his releases.

Latest release ‘Bleu!’ sees violets draw inspiration from indie, alt-pop and drum & bass patterns while the chorus takes a minimal approach – allowing the atmosphere to speak.

“‘Bleu!” is my narrative on having too much of a good thing, and taking it for granted”.

nic violets

Robert Grace – Need You Back

One of Ireland’s most exciting pop prospects to emerge of late, singer and songwriter Robert Grace releases a weekend-ready bop in the shape of new single ‘Need You Back’.

While lyrically the song is about losing someone you should have fought harder to keep (and the feelings of regret that come with that), the production boasts an uplifting and optimistic sound that leaves you feeling more encouraged than ever.

“I would describe it as a hopeful uplifting pop ballad. You won’t know whether to smile or cry after listening to this track!” 

Taken from the new EP ‘XXVII’ which is out now.

Robert Grace

Lyves – How Would It Feel

It’s been just over two years since Lyves last released a single, so today’s release of ‘How Would It Feel’ marks a welcome return for this London-based artist, songwriter and producer.

The track serves as an alt-R&B masterclass, with elements of 70’s soul, UK jazz music and 00’s R&B sprinkled throughout – delivering listeners with an enthralling and gripping experience from start to finish.

“Lyrically, it feels like a letter to myself from the subconscious – I very rarely plan what I’m writing about before I improvise or put pen to paper. It feels like a stream of consciousness, where I allow my intuition to take the lead. Listening back today, I suppose it’s about loving someone but not wanting to acknowledge that you’re in it alone – you can sense the other person slowly slipping away and therefore you try harder, but the harder you try, the faster they eventually disappear”.

Taken from the forthcoming EP ‘Change’, co-produced by Dave Okumu (Adele, Arlo Parks, Jessie Ware, Amy Winehouse).

Lyves

Jelly Crystal – Happy Ending (feat. Alice Boman)

Swedish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jelly Crystal collaborates with Alice Boman on hypnotising new single ‘Happy Ending’.

Timeless in style while also reflective of the contemporary underground scene in Scandinavia, the song is a bombastic declaration of a love story that never existed.

“A love story with no happy ending… about a person that only exists in your head and a relationship coming to an end, even though you’ve never met her. It’s a live recording from the studio in Stockholm, that has many flaws and hasn’t been polished but still has a luxurious sound”. – Jelly Crystal

Jelly Crystal | Alice Boman

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Taylor Piggott – In A Different World

Australian artist Taylor Piggott is back with another sublime slice of dreamy indie-pop.

Mesmerising and captivating in equal measures, ‘In A Different World’ is a beautifully emotive and honest piece of music.

“‘In A Different World’ is both an incredibly vulnerable song for me and an exciting new chapter in my music. This is a very heartfelt and personal song, we’ve all been in a relationship where you love someone but the universe has another plan in store, so you hope that somewhere out there in a different world there is a version of you both where you can be together.”

Taylor Piggott