New Music: LXSTBØY

LXSTBØY has to be one of the UK’s most exciting music prospects right now. With support from heavyweight tastemakers like BBC Radio 1 already under his belt, it’s clear that this talent will hit the mainstream at some point in the near future.

Fusing alternative rock with punk, grime and hip hop, LXSTBØY’s sound certainly makes an impact from the moment you press play.

New single ‘JACKAL’ is refreshingly raw and unashamedly bold in tone. The track’s lyrics touch on themes of anxiety and mental health, as the artist explains:

“‘JACKAL’ explores the feeling of fear felt when being pursued by dark thoughts and anxiety.”

You can catch LXSTBØY performing live at London’s iconic Old Blue Last later this year – tickets can be found here.

LXSTBØY

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New Music: OWZA

We’re really excited to be sharing with you an emerging talent from Scandinavia called OWZA.

Born in Iceland and now based in Sweden, this gifted singer, songwriter and producer creates beautifully melodic pieces of alt-pop music that feel almost ethereal in tone.

Hypnotic new single single ‘hush hush’ thoughtfully presents listeners with melancholic sounds and vulnerable lyricism. Elaborating further, the artist explains:

“I wrote ‘hush hush’ alone in bed, and later co-produced it with a friend. It’s a sonic embrace with a melancholic blend of synths and drums, perfect for road trips or moments on a bus/ train. ‘hush hush’ is more than a melody; it’s my personal reassurance. The lyrics echo a conversation with myself during tough times, urging the strength to persevere.”

You can experience more of OWZA’s music on her Spotify here.

OWZA

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New Music: GIRLBAND!

Photo / Rachael Halaburda

Track of the week. We’ve got a very exciting group emerging from the UK to share with you today called GIRLBAND!

Hailing from the English city of Nottingham, this promising trio craft an energising style of music which seamlessly fuses punk-rock with alternative pop.

Anthemic new single ‘Not Like The Rest’ encapsulates the essence of youth through its lyricism and playful production. For anyone who feels like they’re growing up in a community that is too small for their dreams – this is the song for you.

The band will go on tour across the UK soon – dates and tickets can be found here.

GIRLBAND!

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New Music: Cara Hart

You’ll realise something very special about LA-based newcomer Cara Hart from the moment you start to play ‘Hypelist’.

This is a loud, confident and utterly captivating piece of alt-pop that is lyrically inspired by our tendencies to obsess over the things we like.

The track was written and produced by the artist herself, and created in collaboration with a new app that shares the song’s name. Hart explains:

“In its essence, ‘Hypelist’ is a song about your obsessions, but not in a negative way. We all have obsessions, it’s a natural thing. We just treat it like something we are sometimes ashamed of. And I say ‘no’ to that. You should never be embarrassed of the things that make you quirky in your own unique way. That’s why when Alfonso (Cobo, the Creator of the Hypelist app and platform) told me about this idea and asked me to take part in it, I didn’t hesitate for a second.”

Having already garnered support from heavyweight tastemakers like Notion and Wonderland, it seems inevitable that Hart’s name will be propelled into the mainstream over the next year. And we’re here for it!

Cara Hart

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New Music: bikethrasher

For when life feels like it’s getting a bit too much, you can thank bands like Boston’s bikethrasher for their music.

On their energising alt-rock anthem ‘Hillside’, the group explain that it was written to ‘make you feel the joy of starting a new chapter, and the pain of closing a good one.’ Alongside its sincere vocal delivery, the track treats listeners to a style of sound that is bold, powerful and sonically daring.

There’s no doubt in our minds that this outfit are crafting some of the most genuine new rock music to come out of the US, and they are most certainly ones to watch in 2024. You can explore more of bikethrasher’s work on Spotify here.

bikethrasher

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New Music: Isla de Luca

Hailing from NYC is rising alt-pop talent Isla de Luca, who has just released a huge banger for us to enjoy.

If you’re a fan of Gwen Stefani, Paramore, or MARINA then chances are you’ll also fall in love with this artist’s sound. It’s refreshingly loud, confident and arresting in tone, and serves as the perfect anthem for the weekend ahead.

New single ‘I Already Am One’ was sonically inspired by Y2K rock-pop, while the lyrics focus on themes of femininity and unconventional relationships. Speaking on her artistry, Isla says:

In all of my songs, I play the persona of a hedonistic, ultra-confident, maybe-evil siren type– she’s having fun, and you should be too! This song is also inspired by an interview with Cher in which she shares how her mother told her she needed to marry a rich man, and she responded, ‘Mom, I am a rich man.’

Isla de Luca

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New Music: OTHERS

We’ve got some fresh new UK talent for you today, in the form of Pontypridd trio OTHERS.

Consisting of Grammy nominated songwriter Danny, award-winning director Lewys, and professional guitarist Mark, this promising outfit create a style of alt-pop that is both future-forward and bold in character.

‘Lose It’ is the band’s latest single, and was lyrically inspired by the raw emotions that can arise from losing your composure.

“’Lose It’ felt like the culmination of years of searching for our sound. The moment we wrote it, I knew it had to lead as the debut single. It captures that sensation of losing grip on reality, when every attempt at calm evaporates, and you cross the threshold of no return.” – Danny Lafrombe, OTHERS

Despite only releasing a handful of songs to date, OTHERS have already gained more than 350k cumulative streams on Spotify.

OTHERS

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New Music: Maina Doe

Australian starlet Maina Doe is here with a sensational new single called ‘Witness’. Serving as a taster to the artist’s upcoming EP, the track delights its listeners with a finessed fusion of alternative R&B and stripped-back pop.

Doe’s music has been streamed more than a million times on Spotify. In addition to her ever-growing base of followers, the artist has also picked up support from the likes of Triple J, Notion Magazine, BBC Radio 1xtra and Rinse FM.

Maina Doe

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New Music: Daisybox

Hailing from the US is promising newcomer Daisybox (aka Taylor Hottenstein). With each single that this musician releases, he finds his fan base growing – thanks to his captivating style of sound which can be described as melancholic pop rock.

Hottenstein began writing music following the death of his brother. The artist realised that songwriting was a meaningful way for him to process his emotions, and facilitate his healing.

‘Someone Else’ is the singer’s latest release, and tells the story of two lovers who are starting to drift way from one another. Hottenstein explains:

“This song is about a couple who love each other, but have lost their spark. The verses refer to their relationship real time while the chorus is a hypothetical situation where the main character sees their lover out in public with someone else. It’s meant to be about holding on to love.”

Daisybox

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New Music: Gaby K

Photo / Amy Lauffer Neff

If you’ve yet to experience Gaby K’s music then get ready to fall in love with this rising UK singer.

Inspired by modern-day icons like Amy Winehouse, Jessie Reyez and Amber Mark, this musician crafts a distinctive style of R&B-pop that has already picked up praise from tastemakers as respected as Wonderland and Earmilk.

Melodic new single ‘Call Me’ is lifted from the artist’s freshly released ‘Get to Love You’ EP (listen here), of which she says:

“Although the journey starts with falling in love with someone, this is just the beginning of how I grew to be the person I am now; alone, happy and I have finally found love for myself as an individual. I still have me and I am enough. I hope others will resonate with this too and that it helps them not only heal from any pain, but also reminds them not to sacrifice their well-being for others. It is a journey of losing someone but also finding yourself again. I believe that the most important love is self-love and putting your own health and happiness at the forefront.”

Gaby K is also a skilled live performer, and has supported Olivia Dean and Pip Millett on the respective tours. As far as emerging UK talent goes, this is one artist to watch for in 2024.

Gaby K

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New Music: Amelie Lucille

At only 15-years of age, New York’s Amelie Lucille has to be one of the youngest singer-songwriters that we have ever featured on Alfitude.

And once you play her new single ‘See me’ you’ll understand why. This is a beautifully intense, sombre and heartfelt piece of music that focuses on toxic relationships. Elaborating on the lyrics, Lucille says:

“I wrote ‘See me’ as a way to reach out to people that are in a toxic relationships, whether it is with a partner, friend, or family. The song is written as a ‘cry for help’. My goal is to always be sincere in my lyrics and therefore hopefully relatable to the listeners.”

“‘See me’ was a release, and I hope it feels like that for others too.”

Fans in NY can catch this artist at The Bitter End, where she often performs as part of their Urban Garage series. Otherwise, listeners can stream more music by Lucille on Spotify here.

Amelie Lucille

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New Music: Leona Rue

Leona Rue is a rising UK-based newcomer who has just released her third single, called ‘Graceful’.

This song showcases the 19-year old artist’s impressive songwriting skills. Alongside its haunting production, the sincere lyrics address topics of self-identity and family dynamics.

“‘Graceful’ is about the complicated relationship you have with yourself growing up, and also that with your parents. Finding reasons to blame them for why you turned out the way you did ; for me in this song it’s more literal, about feeling messy, clumsy and ungraceful as well as struggling to say the things I really mean.”

With support from Apple Music, BBC Introducing and Radio 1 already under her belt, it’ll only be a short matter of time before Rue picks up mainstream appeal.

Leona Rue

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New Music: Wild Horse

Wild Horse is a UK-based trio consisting of brothers Jack and Henry Baldwin, along with childhood friend Ed Barnes.

‘Wednesday Night Distractions’ is an energising song that blends pop with rock in a way that is universally enjoyable – marking this promising outfit as one of the country’s most exciting newcomers.

To date, the band have amassed more than 200k catalogue streams on Spotify, and have been praised by the likes of BBC Introducing, as well as prominent radio stations such as X, Caroline and Amazing.

Wild Horse

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New Music: dom champ

Track of the week. dom champ is a promising rapper, singer and spoken-word artist based in the coastal city of Brighton.

Melancholic new single ‘The Cycle’ presents listeners with a hazy and soulful style of production, while the intricate lyrics tell of the artist’s innermost thoughts and feelings.

Wish I could isolate with nothing but the vinyl
Music is my teacher I’m a fully fledged disciple 
If you’re an artist you’re an idol
I pray that one day, artist is my title

dom champ is planning to release new music every month this year, which is something that we’re very excited about.

If you’d like to experience more of his work, you can check out his catalogue of singles here.

dom champ

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New Music: Grace Lee

Detroit has a new star in the making, and her name is Grace Lee. This talented singer and songwriter creates a style of indie-pop that is distinctly unique, with her new single ‘Dream House’ being no exception.

On the track, listeners can experience Lee’s ethereal vocals glide over a soundscape that is rich in sonic texture and character. On the song’s lyrics, the artist says:

“I wrote this song to process a relationship that had left me feeling violated. It’s about closing off and creating your own space to heal… taking away access. It’s the necessary period of solitude that can end up feeling empowering as well.”

If you love ‘Dream House’ as much as we do, then we strongly recommend you check out more of Lee’s music here. With more than two million career streams to date, this talent is definitely worth watching!

Grace Lee

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New Music: Nessi

Photo / Aurora Torres

Hailing from Norway is promising newcomer Nessi, who has released one of the most powerful pop songs of the week.

‘Lonely in a Crowd’ addresses topics of anxiety and loneliness in a beautifully considered and thoughtful way. Explaining the song in more detail, the artist says:

“‘Lonely in a Crowd’ as a reminder that we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves. For better or worse, everything is temporary. Loneliness and community are key themes in my music. So whether you want to feel or forget, you can lose yourself for a moment in this song.”

Despite being a relatively new name in the Scandinavian pop scene, Nessi is already a talent with momentum. Her previous releases have accumulated more than 150k streams on Spotify alone, and her work has picked up support from heavyweight tastemakers as noted as NRK P3.

Nessi

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New Music: Eleazar

Fans of British R&B and soul should get to know South London newcomer Eleazar, who has just unveiled one of the most impressive songs of the week.

Aside from its polished production and smooth vocals, ‘Deja’ also captivates listeners with its refreshingly honest lyricism. Elaborating further on the track’s inspiration, the artist says:

“‘Deja’ is about a lot of things, it’s about being worn out from the vicious cycle that we all fall into sometimes with people aren’t good for us. But it’s also reminder for self love and taking the time out to breathe and take control.”

Eleazar discovered her talent for songwriting at the age of just 7. You can explore more of this rising musician’s work on her Spotify here.

Eleazar

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New Music: The Mezz

We’ve got a really exciting new indie-pop outfit to share with you today called The Mezz.

This emerging Oxford four-piece have been picking up tremendous levels of traction in recent months, thanks to their energising style of sound that is instantly likeable.

Powerful new single ‘Harbour The Feeling’ addresses the pressures that are inflicted upon us by societal expectations.

“It’s about shedding the burdens that hold you back and embracing what truly matters.” – Ben (Frontman)

The Mezz will be busy touring across the UK from next month, with dates listed below. Be sure to check the group out if you’re near any of these cities before they start selling out arenas!

The Mezz

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The Mezz UK dates 2024 (tickets)

  • Feb 2nd 2024 – Bread Shed, Manchester (This Feeling – Big in 2024)
  • Feb 15th 2024 – Camden Assembly, London 
  • March 8th 2024 – Bullingdon, Oxford (Hometown EP launch party)
  • April 26th 2024 – Classic Grand, Glasgow

New Music: Limandi

Track of the week. Swedish artist Limandi is already one of our favourite Nordic newcomers this year.

As a nominee for the prestigious Denniz Pop Awards, this rising starlet is not only building a fanbase among listeners, but also acclaimed industry professionals.

‘Hopin’ You’ll Be Fine’ is taken from the musician’s latest album, which is called ‘F*CK.IT.’ (listen here).

The song showcases an eccentric style of alt-pop which is beautifully melancholic, but also refreshingly experimental in character. Explaining the lyrics, Limandi says:

“About saying goodbye to someone who’s going down a destructive spiral, and realising the best you can do for them and you is let them go – and wishing them the best on their journey.”

Limandi

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New Music: Toshiki Abe

With the weekend on the horizon, we’ve got some outstanding electronica to share with you from Tokyo.

‘Waiting’ is by Japanese music producer Toshiki Abe, and treats listeners to a melodic piece of music that is as euphoric as it is emotive.

“About some loneliness and hope wishing for someone you love.”

Initially debuting back in 2021 with ‘DAYS’, Abe has since released a handful of singles which have collectively amassed thousands of streams on Spotify alone. We can’t wait to see what this talent comes up with next!

Toshiki Abe

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