New Music - New Music

New Music: Retrograde88

Before pressing play on Retrograde88, the band suggest (as do we) that you plug in some headphones so you can enjoy the dreamy bliss that is ‘Falling’ in its full glory.

A truly luxurious audible experience, the song presents listeners with an atmospheric soundscape that incorporates psychedelic indie-pop with airy vocals, resulting in a piece of music that really is out of this world.

“This song, ‘Falling’ explores the emotion/ experience being scared of falling in love. We give this experience to the listener by creating an atmospheric environment with heavy emphasis on the vocal harmonies, synth presence, and heavy groove from bass/ drums. This is the first song we wrote and recorded together, but definitely not the last!”

Created as a collaborative project between a group of talented musicians, each member of Boston-based Retrograde88 took part in the writing and arranging process for ‘Falling’.

Retrograde88

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New Music: Isla June

American singer and songwriter Isla June (aka Jenna Maranga) might not be a name you are yet familiar with, but you’ve probably already heard their music at some point.

That’s because Isla’s work has been favoured by many hit TV shows, with songs finding their way on to seasons of The L Word: Generation Q, Riverdale, Grey’s Anatomy and Selling Sunset (among others).

Self-produced new single ‘Dangerous’ is a bold and punchy mix of indie-rock and pop, and reminds us all to take some risks and live life to the full.

“Songwriting is having the freedom to be fluid and explore.”

Anthemic, inspirational and energising in tone, ‘Dangerous’ serves as an impressive taster to a new project that sees Isla releasing a fresh song every month this year.

Isla June

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New Music: Meg Chandler

We’re starting the day with a superb new talent emerging from the small English town of Shropshire.

Meg Chandler is a 22-year old singer and songwriter who has seemingly already mastered the art of creating perfected indie bops.

Inspired by the people in our lives who make things harder than they need to be, melodic new single ‘Bury You’ expertly fuses elements of alternative pop with indie and rock, resulting in a sound that is near impossible not to enjoy.

“This song was a super fun one to write! It’s basically a full three minutes venting about the kind of people that make existing that little bit trickier, reflecting also on how sometimes it can feel like the whole world is against you. The aim was to write a song that anyone can play really loudly and shout the words as a kind of therapy, whether it be after a long day of work or an experience with a particular person that has left them wishing it was possible to forget they exist… bury the thought of them if you will (or literally bury them). It acts as a message to all the people out there that don’t make the tiny bit of effort needed to treat other people with kindness!”

Through ‘Bury You’, Chandler showcases her skills in not only writing relatable songs, but also in constructing vibrant productions. This is most definitely one artist to watch!

Meg Chandler

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New Music: Sumaroo

Canadian indie-pop newcomer Sumaroo unveils an emotive new single today, entitled ‘No One Likes The Kid’.

Written as an ode to those of us who stood out and never fit in with our surroundings, the song sincere lyricism serves as a source of comfort for listeners who feel connected to its message.

If you’ve enjoyed Sumaroo’s style of sound then you’ll be pleased to know that his next single, ‘Piggyback’, comes out on the 24th February.

Sumaroo

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New Music: Kharis

Genre-bending newcomer Kharis has to be one of the most exciting discoveries to have surfaced so far this month.

Refreshingly distinctive in its character, new single ‘Pressure’ is a sonically complex piece of work that becomes more intriguing the more times you listen to it.

“The song was a release of all the friction I faced trying to come up in the world. It speaks about being under constant pressure and fear of failure, getting distracted by women and vices. Not knowing if this overwhelmingly powerless feeling will go away if I give up. But I carry on anyway.”

While we still know little about who this UK-based up-and-coming talent is, we are confident that his work will begin to pick up traction over the coming weeks and months.

Kharis

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New Music: Personal Igloo

Hailing from Auckland is Personal Igloo (aka Hamish Nixon), who has just released a bold new single entitled ‘Fool Moon’.

Through its anthemic fusion of alternative rock and indie-pop, the track presents listeners with a sound that is as mesmerising as it is intriguing.

“We all get a little crazy when the full moon rises…‘Fool Moon’ oozes lustful lunacy with an animalistic energy that’s impossible to deny.”

Having already garnered more than 600k cumulative streams on Spotify alone, Personal Igloo is rapidly marking his name as one of New Zealand’s most promising newcomers.

Personal Igloo

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New Music: James Crowley

Emerging from London is singer and songwriter James Crowley. Through a considered and thoughtfully constructed mix of acoustic indie, pop and folk, Crowley creates sounds that feel organic, sincere and emotive in tone.

New single ‘By You’ was inspired by our self-inflicted struggles with accepting peace, as Crowley explains:

“‘By You’ talks about the difficulty of being at ease with happiness. I tend to catastrophise when everything seems like it’s going well, waiting for the ‘gotcha’ moment where it all unravels. This song helped me resolve some of that tension and see the beauty in not knowing.”

Having already gained support from the likes of Earmilk, while also selling out shows in iconic spaces like London’s Servant Jazz Quarters, Crowley’s work is clearly beginning to pick up traction.

James Crowley

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New Music: HANS

Emerging from the States is exciting new talent HANS, who has just unveiled a taster for his upcoming debut EP.

‘Gone’ is an exceptionally charming and beautifully melodic piece of pop that was born out of an incredible project which saw HANS writing a different song for each day of 2022.

“I love this song so f*cking much!! The whole journey of creating the world around it was one of the most fun experiences I’ve had on this earth!”

While still a relative newcomer, HANS has already accumulated more than 70k streams on Spotify from only a handful of singles.

HANS

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New Music: Van Common

Berlin-based talent Van Common (aka Sebastiaan van Ravenhorst) is a Dutch singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer.

Today’s release of ‘Olympia’ serves as a taster to van Ravenhorst’s upcoming debut album (out 12th May), which was written, produced and mixed by the artist himself.

The song, along with it its striking visuals, showcases a musician who is successfully capable of crafting indie-pop sounds that carry with them mainstream appeal – while still also feeling individualistic and unique in character.

“Some mornings I involuntarily raise my eyes and have a hard time deciding whether I woke up to witness the end of the world or watch it be reduced to one giant ass meme. Reality has never been more unreal, and I’m not sure what to do about it. But I did make this song, so here goes nothing: Olympia.”

Van Common

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New Music: Noah Henderson

Californian bedroom-pop artist and producer Noah Henderson unveils his brand new single today, ‘i think you loved me’.

With its beautifully vulnerable and fragile lyricism, the song showcases a style of melancholic pop that is not only relatable, but also immensely moving.

“This song is about having a deep emotional connection to someone but they aren’t in it anymore, they want to give up. Relationships often have their give and take moments, that’s what makes a relationship special, finding a middle ground or compromise. In some cases, the only option your partner feels is to leave, without thinking about how it might impact the other person.”

A talent already receiving considerable attention (in part due to his songs picking up momentum through TikTok), Henderson’s style of music-making has seen him receive praise from tastemakers as noted as Fashionably Early, among others.

Noah Henderson

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New Music: Tobias Arbo

Fans of Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens will most likely fall in love with Swedish musician Tobias Arbo (aka Tobias Ekelund), who has just unveiled his latest single, ‘Within’.

In its quintessential Nordic style of sound, the song presents listeners with a production that is sparse, simple and minimal – yet somehow still feels warm, thoughtful and beautifully contemplative.

“A few years ago, I found a box of video cassettes that my dad had recorded throughout my childhood. I started watching them and was reminded of the cheerful and vibrant child I was. But at the same time, it made me experience a kind of sadness, as memories of the shy and sensitive person that I’d also been clouded the image. During my childhood, I experienced a lot of anxiety, at times having trouble being in school and hanging out with friends. I was five years old at the time my sister was born and it wasn’t until I’d grown up that I started to reflect on how it might have affected her – having an older brother who periodically pulled away.”

The track is taken from Tobias’ upcoming ‘Powerlines’ debut EP, which will be released on 31st March 2023.

“The EP is a contemplation on the self and its different parts, voices, and moods. It’s about listening to the noise of these voices’ endless dialogue and trying to connect with the many parts of oneself that want to be heard. For example, facing the inner child, whose early experiences shape us so much more than we tend to believe, or struggling with the inner critic, who raises self-doubt and prevents us from getting where we want to go.”

Tobias Arbo

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New Music: Jack Harris

Hailing from Cleveland in Ohio is promising newcomer Jack Harris.

A singer and songwriter currently attending university, Harris creates thoughtful yet understated indie-pop sounds that are instantly captivating.

‘Somewhere in My Dreams’ is a beautifully simple song that captures the hopes and feelings of being in love.

With an ever-growing army of fans and more than 100k catalogue streams to date, Harris is might well be one of Ohio’s most exciting new talents.

Jack Harris

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New Music: RYL0

The year has barely begun and we’ve already seen a huge number of promising Californian talents emerging. Adding to the list today is singer, songwriter and future popstar RYL0.

New single ‘Thru My Chest’ injects a Y2K sonic aesthetic into a future-forward pop production, resulting in an energising sound that is vibrant, bold and refreshing.

To date, RYL0 has accumulated more than 300k streams on Spotify while also picking up support from the likes of PAPER magazine.

RYL0

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New Music: Epal

Parisian artist Epal is a perfect example of just how universal music can be when it’s crafted with thought and care.

While sung entirely in French, new single ‘Coeur noir’ presents listeners with a stunning fusion of dark, mellow indie and electronic pop.

“J’aime la puissance des mots et le sens caché des éclats de voix.”

If you’re a fan of Billie Eilish, FKA Twigs or BabySolo33, Epal will become your next favourite musician.

A forthcoming EP is scheduled for later this spring. In the meantime, fans can enjoy more of Epal’s music on Spotify here.

Epal

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New Music: pj frantz

Californian triple-threat singer, songwriter and producer pj frantz might well be your favourite new chill-pop artist.

‘leave this party’ showcases a sound that layers feelings of melancholy over a subtly playful production, resulting in a song that somehow feels both emotive and charming in equal measures.

“I wrote & produced this one a few months back in my bedroom. The song comes from a very real and deep place, and it’s so exciting (and a bit scary) to share that with y’all.”

While still a relative newcomer, pj frantz has impressively accumulated more than 500k streams on Spotify from the release of just two songs.

pj frantz

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New Music: NINV

As a rising artist and producer from Norway, NINV (aka Nina Ugland) is responsible for crafting some of the most interesting blends of electronica and pop to emerge from Scandinavia.

Inspired by the notion of just ‘letting go’, experimental new single ‘Only We Know‘ serves as NINV’s first single of the year, and as a taster for more releases scheduled over the coming months.

With support from the likes of Under The Radar and Norwegian national radio NRK P3, NINV will be one Nordic name to watch for in 2023.

NINV

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New Music: Sean Dawson

As a triple-threat talent, Sean Dawson is not only a musician and producer, but also an actor.

A Floridian now based in Los Angeles, Dawson creates melodic sounds that incorporate elements of indie with bedroom-pop.

‘HATE BEING HATED’ serves as a follow-up to Dawson’s well-recieved debut release, ‘Last Night’, and looks at the thoughts that run through our mind when we are unsure of the decisions that we make.

“This is my second song ever. It’s about trying to move on when you’re not sure if you made the right decision and learning to live with that.”

Sean Dawson

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New Music: 4KPHIL.

Track of the week. Emerging from New York is rap talent 4KPHIL., who has just unveiled one of our favourite releases of the year.

‘Truancy’ is lyrically inspired by the artist’s transition into becoming a father, and seamlessly fuses nostalgic soul with a modern hip hop sound.

“A song I wrote a week after finding out my girlfriend miscarried our future child. The lyrics came to me immediately and I had made this beat a year ago for someone else. I went through my computer trying to find it and once I did I knew its purpose.”

Having already seen his work featured on the wildly popular NBA2K22 in-game soundtrack, it looks like 2023 might well be 4KPHIL.’s biggest year yet. Keep an eye out on this kid!

4KPHIL.

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CeCe – Problems

Rising US starlet CeCe wastes no time in her quest for global pop domination, with her first single of the year already released.

A warrior’s anthem of sorts, ‘Problems’ was inspired by all the people who have wronged you in life.

“To my dear friend who we wrote this for… thank you for being brave and letting us tell your story. Let this be a warning… if you *** with my people, I’ll put it in a song so you never forget.”

Sonically rousing as it is lyrically relatable, the song continues to showcase CeCe’s impressive ability to craft epic pop songs that that are both entertaining and captivating in equal measures.

CeCe

New Music: Kuomo

New Jersey native Kuomo is one of the most interesting artists that we have come across this week.

Picking up inspiration form the likes of Dijon, Vampire Weekend, Bon Iver and King Krule, Kuomo constructs a refreshingly alternative style of sound that feels intrinsically unique and beautifully captivating.

Impressively, ‘I’ll Tell You’ is Kuomo’s first ever release, and treats listeners to a melodic yet stripped-back piece of music that was written with a broken heart.

“The song had been in the forge for quite some time. I’d been fresh out of a breakup, moving out, and winter was settling in. ‘Twas a weird time, to say the least. I recorded the first demo in between virtual classes, and then began to build upon it slowly for the next ten months. It’s my baby and I love it. I wanted to keep it as my little secret, but I’m glad to watch the world love it and take care of it.”

Kuomo

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