Category: New Music

New Music: southpaw

The Bay Area has long been known as the home of some of America’s most interesting hip hop outfits (think Hieroglyphics, 415, and Luniz). This rich heritage still continues to this day with newcomers like southpaw, who recently came across our radars.

This artist creates lo-fi hip hop that, despite sounding mellow and stripped-back, still carries a tonne of impact. New single ‘? Myself’ is a refreshingly original collaboration with fellow emerging talent Era 51 and shows us the finest of what the area’s underground scene has to offer right now.

southpaw is currently working on a new record, but in the meantime you can explore more of their music (including the 2024 EP ‘Pugilists Anonymous’) right here.

southpaw | Era 51 | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: ARNAU

Originally from Barcelona, ARNAU is a promising newcomer who recently caught our attention with his impressive songwriting skills. Currently based in London, this talent crafts thoughtful pop songs that are both melodically and lyrically engaging.

‘How Can You Love Me?’ is a song that addresses the disconnect between what society perceives love to be, versus the reality of being in a relationship. The message is all the more pertinent in this age of dating apps, when we are sold an idea of love that is often too simplistic.

“Its central message revolves around the illusion of idealised love and the inevitable disappointment that comes from chasing a perfect, film-like version of romance that doesn’t exist. It explores how people can fall in love with fantasies (especially in a world shaped by dating apps) loving the idea of someone more than who they truly are. The song reflects on the fragility of these instant connections, the emotional turbulence that arises when reality replaces fantasy, and the realisation that a love built on projection and idealisation is ultimately unsustainable.”

More singles are scheduled for release this year, but in the meantime be sure to explore more of ARNAU’s work here.

ARNAU | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Jena Teba

We’re starting the week with a soulful slice of French R&B from Parisian musician Jena Teba.

Crafted in collaboration with the equally talented Nigerian artist Tucee, ‘Sur ma peau’ delights listeners with a minimal yet sultry production that oozes finesse. What’s even more impressive is that the track incorporates elements of Afro-soul for some added sonic texture, resulting in quite the mesmerising sound.

“‘Sur ma peau’ is about capturing the feeling that words can’t express – the intimacy, desire, and emotion that linger between two people. Every note, every nuance is meant to be felt as much as heard.” – Jena Teba

Despite the song being produced across two different nations: France and Nigeria, it feels cohesive and flows with a natural flair. While Teba is still a fresh talent with only two singles on Spotify to date, we think she has tonnes of potential to hit her country’s mainstream very soon!

Jena Teba Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Victor Longato

Victor Longato is an interesting newcomer to have come across our radars this week, who we’re quite excited to be sharing with you.

Longato is a South American–British talent with a style of work that fuses Jersey Club beats with electronic pop and R&B. The music is multi-dimensional and unexpected, with plenty of intriguing sonic textures.

‘Freaked’ is the artist’s debut single and is inspired by ‘the chaotic spiral of being ghosted’. In the short time since its release, it has raised Longato’s awareness over social media significantly, amassing thousands of views and plays across TikTok and Instagram.

An upcoming EP titled ‘Sensory Overload’ is on the way. Until then, be sure to follow this promising artist on his social channels!

Victor Longato | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Town Flesh

East x West is a new independent label with a focus on showcasing British-Estonian alternative artists. Despite only launching this year, they’ve already signed some interesting talents – one of which is a 5-piece outfit from Tallinn called Town Flesh.

‘There’s a Last Time for Everything’ (a spin on the classic saying ‘there’s a first time for everything’) is the band’s new single – and the label’s inaugural release.

The track presents listeners with a refreshingly original indie-rock sound that carries with it the rawness of 90s Britpop and the playfulness of 60s pop. The result is a song that is not only sonically unique but also unexpectedly charming – despite its pessimistic title!

East x West was started by Issy Hughes, who is known for their work with the BBC, and Sander Varusk from Estonia’s Raadio 2.

Town Flesh (East x West Records) | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: MUSYS

French outfit MUSYS is so new that we really struggled to find out much about who they are, but that hasn’t stopped us from wanting to feature them on the site.

It seems that ‘Sitting in the dark’ is their first single, and it’s really quite wonderful. Melancholic, sincere and pensive, this song presents us with a thoughtful production that fuses electronic pop with soft indie tones.

The intention is for the track to feel like ‘a tired heartbeat that still refuses to give up’, and we can absolutely feel that essence. For anyone who is experiencing loneliness from a broken heart, this song is your new comfort.

MUSYS | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Natalie Reigo

Photo / Kitty Lingmerth Kopia

Natalie Reigo is a hugely promising newcomer from Sweden, who has already won us over with her charming style of R&B-pop.

‘Til The Moment’s Gone’ is Natalie’s anthemic new single and is inspired by the pressures of not missing out on life… and experiencing that all-too-familiar FOMO feeling.

“When I wrote it, it helped me through the feeling of FOMO and feeling like I should be somewhere else just because other people are!”

Natalie’s vocals are beautifully expressive and soulful, while the production is polished and sleek. Still only 19-years old and already amassing more than 1.5 million career streams on Spotify, it’s clear that this is a Nordic talent to keep an eye on.

Natalie Reigo | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: Liso Tee

“I was in my bedroom listening to YouTube instrumentals and the chorus came instantly then I immediately booked a session with my producer. I’ve only released 1 song but I feel I’ve developed a sound especially around using live instrumentation, my debut single opened with a violin and we got a session musician to play the bass which was the heartbeat of the track. This time round we got a musician to play the guitar, which is the prominent sound throughout the whole track. I hope to one day release a full track with just live instrumentation. I have such a respect and reverence for real instruments in music and feel they really add another layer, bringing music to life. This track is quite moody and angsty and showcases how love can turn us back into those brooding teenagers we once were demanding for someone to love us back.”

Liso Tee | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Molly Mogul

Photo / Jordi Santos

One of the standout debuts of the week has to be ‘Run’ by German-born artist Molly Mogul.

A master of many talents, Mogul is not only a singer but also a songwriter and multidisciplinary performance artist who crafts experimental pop pieces inspired by their life experiences and travels. On the creation of ‘Run’, she says:

“One of the first demos written on my own out of my camper van in Bristol, the song is a reminder that you can’t outrun your fears and eventually the things you don’t look at will catch up on you. Whether it’s in relationship to yourself or other. At the end what’s left is yourself. Minimalistic demo turned into a more energetic track with the second verse going more into a club scenario / frantic atmosphere of escapism.”

Mogul has already won the seal of approval from respected tastemaker outlets like 1883 Magazine and COLORS, confirming her to be a talent worth keeping on your radars. More songs are scheduled for release throughout the spring, culminating in an album in April.

Molly Mogul | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: muuk

Photo / Antonia Steiner

We’ve got a new and exciting Danish musical project to share with you today, going by the name of muuk – the solo project of artist Ines Roervig Lewkovitch.

‘i’m no soldier’ is muuk’s debut single. It presents listeners with a thoughtfully constructed alt-pop production that builds intensity as the song evolves, while also showcasing Lewkovitch’s captivating vocals.

“‘i’m no soldier’ relates to loneliness creeping in on life and the realization and acceptance of needing support from your loved ones.”

The track was created alongside close friend Andreas Jaaks, who also served as the producer.

“‘i’m no soldier’ went very smoothly at first, until we suddenly got stuck to a point where we almost left it in drawer. I think that’s kind of funny, because that sums up the song pretty well. Feeling stuck in life, getting real low, and losing every hope of finding joy.”

Despite this still being muuk’s first release, we’re very excited to see how the project evolves over the coming year.

muuk | Ones To Watch Playlist | Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: Faint Tape

We’re starting the new year with a hypnotic anthem from rising American talent Faint Tape.

This outfit’s style of work (according to their own words) is ‘somewhere between cassette soul, soft chaos, and TikTok heartbreaks. We write songs for the part of you that never hits send.‘

‘BITE’, though, is somewhat of a divergence from Faint Tape’s usual style. This is a dark yet deviously playful electronic pop song that fuses pulsing beats with an airy vocal, resulting in a sound that is both intriguing and infectious.

The track follows on from their ‘Ghost B-Sides’ EP, which was released last year and can be heard here.

Faint Tape | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: U V A R O V

U V A R O V is a Ukrainian-born, independent artist based in London, who has been working on his music since the age of 13. This talent draws from a wide range of musical genres to create his own distinctive sound – from hip hop to electronica.

‘[Autr0]’ is the closing track from U V A R O V’s latest album, ‘Raznoobrazie’ (listen here), and showcases an impressive fusion of drum & bass and UK garage.

“It serves as a reflective ending, leaving space and emotion after the album’s intensity.”

With its hypnotic beat and mesmerising soundscape, we can imagine that this track will find its way into many playlists over the coming weeks.

U V A R O V | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: sevyz

We came across a really interesting (and mysterious) artist today, and we’re blown away by their work.

sevyz is a producer, songwriter and remix artist who crafts some of the most compelling electronic pop that we’ve experienced in quite some time.

‘Love Letter’ presents the listener with a production that starts off somewhat controlled, gradually adding instrumentation that increases in intensity.

“A warm, intimate track that doesn’t rush. ‘Love Letter’ unfolds slowly.”

It’s a beautifully constructed style of work that showcases this musician’s flair for producing sounds that are meticulously crafted yet deeply emotive. You can explore more of sevyz’s work on their Spotify.

sevyz | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Ella Conder

UK-based newcomer Ella Conder is a promising electronic artist who is not only a singer but also a songwriter and producer. We came across this 22-year-old talent today and had to share her work with you.

Inspired by the likes of Billie Eilish and Kate Bush, Conder crafts a style of sound that carries an undertone of melancholy. New single ‘How Does It Feel?‘ is a perfect introduction for listeners yet to discover her work. This thought-provoking track was inspired by the effects of bullying, and makes a powerful statement against those who hurt others.

“Working on this track with my best mate Ben was one of the most inspiring days we’ve had in the studio. We wanted to build a little sound world that felt dark and moody, but still held a softness that lets you sink into a more introspective place. We produced it in a completely different way than we normally do, using instruments we don’t usually reach for, and it gave the song a raw, new energy that really excited us. Lyrically, it’s really about those moments where I take on feelings from how people interact with me, and reminding myself I don’t have to carry the weight of their actions.”

The song was recently featured by BBC Introducing as their ‘Track of the Day’, showing that this is an artist worth keeping on your radars.

Ella Conder | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Chase

Photo / Jorge Castro

“As I’ve watched the world change, I’m struck by the way that history tends to deal in broad strokes. It can mark moments, but it can’t hold the pain or the real human cost. That weight lives on in people- in families, in communities- long after, in ways no record can capture. That truth sits heavy on my heart, and it’s something I can’t overlook. I think even beyond that, the song comes from the interconnectedness I see in the sense that our private pain also lives inside a collective struggle. I feel that if we can share in grieving, we can also share in healing, and I’m stubbornly hopeful in that. I think “History” is a quiet prayer longing for courage, and it’s my refusal to give in to the temptation of despair.”

Chase | Ones To Watch Playlist

malaya – man gone, better

We’re starting the week with a refreshing alt-pop singer & songwriter from Florida, going by the name of malaya (pronounced‘muh-lie-uh’).

This talent has a unique approach to music-making that tastefully blends elements of pop with funk, R&B, and jazz. New single ‘man gone, better’ is an impressive track that feels both finessed and eccentric at the same time.

“‘man gone, better’ is a soundtrack meant for a James Bond action movie. A cinematic, heart-racing dance club anthem initially disguised as a break up song. This is the song you listen to before a job interview, at the gym, or even when in need of a good old cry.”

malaya has amassed more than 190k streams from only a handful of songs, which is no easy feat. Judging from what we’ve heard from this artist, we think she might well become one of Florida’s most exciting pop exports in 2026.

malaya | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Dolder

TRACK OF THE WEEK

Dolder are a rising UK-based outfit consisting of identical twins Dani and Zara. We’re absolutely mesmerised with their new single, ‘The Motive’, which has just been released alongside their debut EP of the same name (listen here).

This Newcastle duo’s style of sound fuses indie and alternative pop and treats listeners to melodic songs that are easy to listen to while also being loaded with thoughtful lyrics.

Dolder have so far garnered praise from outlets as prominent as Rolling Stone, Wonderland, NME and Dork magazines. Not bad going for these two very gifted siblings!

Dolder | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Hana Bushara

Bermudian singer and songwriter Hana Bushara only appeared on our radars earlier this week, and we’re so excited to be sharing her work with you.

‘5 Year Plan’ is a delightfully eccentric alt-pop song that showcases not only Bushara’s distinctive vocals but also her very distinct style of songwriting. The track was inspired by the artist’s recent move to London and encourages listeners to welcome the unpredictable nature of life.

“It’s a playful take on what it means to follow your dreams, have a plan (and not), and go for it anyway.”

Despite only releasing a handful of singles to date, we’re already impressed with Bushara’s artistry. You can explore more of her work over on Spotify.

Hana Bushara | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: ALBA

TRACK OF THE WEEK

ALBA is the new musical project from Stockholm-based singer and songwriter Amanda Kongshaug.

Inspired by genres as diverse as electronica, alternative pop and indie, this musician crafts productions that feel unique in character while still maintaining a sense of sonic familiarity.

‘Runrunrunrun’ is a taster to the artist’s upcoming debut album and presents listeners with a melodic fusion of downtempo and dreamy pop. Speaking on the song’s lyrics, ALBA explains:

“The song is reflecting on commitment in relationships and the desire to feel free yet struggling with the guilt to not live up to expectations. It’s reflecting on the often times hard part of dating where people want to make sense out of things that are still very new and long before it’s yet ready to be put into a box. It’s written as a self reflective conversation to the other person admitting one’s own flaws while also asking for understanding that this might just be for the better.”

Aside from her solo work, Kongshaug has also written songs for the likes of Zara Larsson, Afrojack, Icona Pop andRudimental, so we’re very excited to see how 2026 shapes up for her ALBA project!

ALBA

▶ Ones To Watch Playlist ▶ Nordic Sound Playlist

New Music: LIV AVA

Hailing from Switzerland, LIL AVA is an interesting newcomer that recently crossed our radars who we’re quite excited to be sharing with you.

‘Yer Blues’ follows on from LIL AVA’s debut single, ‘Lonely Again’, which picked up tonnes of traction as well as radio airplay and placements on playlists like Spotify’s Fresh Finds GSA.

With his bold and energising approach to pop, we’re quite sure that this talent’s momentum will continue throughout 2026, and we’re excited to see what they come up with next!

LIV AVA

▶ Ones To Watch Playlist