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

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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

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New Music: Paige Kei

If romantic indie-pop is your kind of music, then you might have a new artist to fall in love with, going by the name of Paige Kei.

This 21-year-old Japanese/Chinese American musician is not only a singer but also a songwriter, who, as you’ll see from her new single ‘lake’, has a natural flair for writing emotive pop sounds that are fragile in tone but also deliver a raw edge.

Kei released her debut EP earlier in the summer, called ‘the comedown’ (listen here), which garnered more than 30k streams in its first month. This is a promising artist, so be sure to keep her on your radars!

Paige Kei

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New Music: The WU

The WU are a promising 3-piece outfit hailing from the Irish capital of Dublin, crafting indie-rock songs that are not only sonically captivating but also lyrically engaging.

New single ‘Off My Head’ was inspired by people who feel that they stand out from the crowd and those who can’t fit in. It encourages us all to accept our quirks and to feel comfortable with our true selves.

“The song explores loneliness and insecurity while quickly accepting that sometimes you’re better off going it alone.”

The WU is made up of Daniel Brady, Ciaran White, and Daniel Kearns. Forming the band as school friends under the name Weather Underground, this trio has since built solid hype around Ireland, with appearances at prominent shows like Electric Picnic and features on TV.

The WU

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New Music: Kewl Haze

Fans of Tame Impala and Beck might just have a new band to add to their playlists, going by the name of Kewl Haze.

Hailing from Philadelphia, this duo (consisting of musicians Dan Scott Forreal and Derek Sheehan) create some of the most charming psychedelic rock-pop to come out of the US right now.

New single ‘Used To Have It All’ is a perfect taster for listeners. The track fuses indie with shoegaze and psychedelica in a way that’s playful and light-hearted.

“We would have a couple of beers before studio sessions, talk about life, and that led to an openness in the studio. A lot of life happened in the span of making the record, some hectic and difficult situations, but we laughed our asses off. We took a lighthearted outlook on everything we wrote about.”

Kewl Haze will release their debut LP, ‘Suburban Sherpa’, soon. In the meantime, be sure to follow this promising outfit on their socials and on Spotify.

Kewl Haze
Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Thomas DaVinci

Thomas DaVinci (aka Thomas Gentry) is an interesting artist who recently came across our radars. Based in Chicago, Thomas is a master of many talents – he’s a rapper, singer, performer, producer and engineer.

His latest release, ‘Never Hold Me Back’, was created by Thomas in its entirety and showcases an experimental style of hip hop which also blends elements of electronica and indie into the mix. Speaking on the song, he says:

“‘Never Hold Me Back’ is a groove you can vibe you to in multiple ways. The context is introspective and is about new found love. Something we all long for. Whether it be in relationships with someone outside of you or with the person within you.”

You can explore more of the artist’s music on Spotify right here, where Thomas has already amassed thousands of streams to date.

Thomas DaVinci

Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: avalon

TRACK OF THE WEEK

While still only 20 years of age, US singer and songwriter avalon has already won our hearts. We can’t express how much we’ve fallen in love with this artist’s work, and her new single, ‘how to lie’, is sure to add even more hype for the talented starlet.

The track encapsulates the devastating pain that we suffer from broken relationships. The song projects intensity and rawness but also feels vulnerable and fragile. avalon explains:

“‘how to lie’ was written almost two years ago. I was talking to someone that I really liked. One day I was in a session and got a call from that person. I went to the bathroom and as the conversation went on, I began to realize I was getting dumped. When I am upset I write poetry and so during the phone call I went to my notes app and started to write these poems. I went back into the session and sang the poems I had written literally 2 minutes prior, with tears in my eyes and a runny nose. It was so real and raw.

Obviously that situation sucks but I am so happy the song was recorded in that painful moment. During the period of sadness from that situitionship ending, I would listen to the song and feel so seen and understood. It really got me through that hard time. When I tease ‘how to lie’ on social media I get comments saying ‘I can feel the emotion wow’ and it gives me goosebumps every time because I was literally crying in the take we used.

I hope this song can bring comfort to people who don’t feel enough or who don’t feel seen. The song is about giving a whole plate and constantly getting a crumb in return- it is not about a breakup, my experience just happened to be in that form. So I dedicate this song to people who love hard and love fast in any situation. It is very draining and lonely sometimes. You are not alone, I see you, I hear you and I wrote this song for you.”

avalon’s authentic approach to songwriting tells us that this is an artist who is certain to pick up momentum in 2026. This is a talent unafraid to share her truest emotions with the world, and that’s something incredibly refreshing to experience.

avalon

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New Music: Infinite Coles

Infinite Coles might not be a mainstream name yet, but this NYC-born talent is already causing a tonne of traction across the internet, receiving praise along the way from established tastemakers like NME, Mixmag, and The Line of Best Fit.

Recent viral releases, ‘SweetFaceKillah’/‘Dad & I’, inspired by the complicated relationship Infinite has with his father – Ghostface Killah of Wu Tang Clan – picked up the attention of music icons like 50 Cent, Diplo, and A$AP Ferg.

Infinite’s new single, ‘DMs’, keeps the momentum up with its bold and experimental style of sound, courtesy of producer Zach Witness (who is also known for his work with Doechii, Frank Ocean, and Erykah Badu). On the track’s lyrics, the artist explains:

“‘DMs’ is me telling all the haters in my actual DMs to SHUT UP!!! People think they can hurt me with words when they’re not even close. I get at least 5 negative messages a day with people saying kill yourself, or that my dad doesn’t love me etc, so I turned how I felt into this song and I’m so happy with how it turned out.”

The song is taken from Infinite’s upcoming debut album, ‘SweetFace Killah’, which is scheduled for release on the 5th December 2025 – presave here.

Infinite Coles

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New Music: Hutch

Photo / Ted Clarke

“‘‘Never Like The First Time’ is about chasing a sense of relief and purpose that I used to find in turbulent things, places and people. It’s a song reminiscing on the idea of my past self, and the reasons I was always on the hunt for something more intense or destructive. This song is brutally honest and tells some uncomfortable truths but it all stems from a time when I was not feeling seen or heard for who I truly was. I felt defined by a lifestyle I couldn’t escape. Realising at the core of what I was chasing was connection, unity and positive relationships. I just didn’t know what that looked like at the time.”

Hutch | Ones To Watch Playlist

New Music: Kiogo

Ukrainian creative talent Kiogo is a newcomer who, despite releasing only two singles, has already won us over with his very unique work.

‘On My Back’ is a powerful electronic track that immediately captivates. It’s unashamedly bold and confident in its production, mirrored by the lyrics, which inspire us to follow our instincts and act on our ambitions.

“This track is for the moment when you stop wasting time on doubt. You just do it—and that’s it. No extra words.” 

Alongside his music project, Kiogo is also behind the creative studio WHVR Group, which allows him to fully showcase his sounds through visuals like his impressive music video. We’re excited to see what this artist comes up with next!

Kiogo

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New Music: The Awaikened

The Awaikened is an interesting project created by Conscious Ventures that weaves sound into the human experience and taps into our emotions and thoughts. This is more than just music – it’s a way for the artist to reach out to his listeners in a more human and organic way.

‘The Still Point’ is a perfect introduction to The Awaikened’s work. Through its simple melody and soft pop production, the song inspires us to embrace stillness:

“‘The Still Point’ explores the delicate balance between chaos and calm — the silent centre within movement, the space between thoughts, where everything and nothing exist together. It’s a song about presence, surrender, and awakening — a reminder that in the stillness, we find ourselves.”

More music will be released this coming Thursday as part of Theo Johnson’s BBC Introducing. In the meantime, you can explore more of The Awaikened over on Spotify.

The Awaikened

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New Music: OK Alva

This weekend’s alt-pop banger comes courtesy of Sweden-based newcomer OK Alva and her brilliant new single, ‘Yet’.

Starting minimal, the production evolves with intensity to mirror the song’s heart-wrenching lyrics that tell of the moments when we struggle with emotional closure. It’s never easy to let go of someone you love, and this track perfectly encapsulates those emotions.

“‘Yet’ is about leaving everything unsaid, hoping that means it isn’t really over. Trying to move on with one foot in the door seems easier but us humans were never made like that, we need closure. This song almost wrote itself during a time when I was experiencing a situation like that. Kind of proves my point, trying to not think of something, someone, ultimately leads to thinking about them even more.”

We still don’t know much about this promising artist, but if their upcoming releases are as finessed as ‘Yet’, then we’ll have a new Scandi favourite to fall in love with!

OK Alva

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New Music: Longing Louisa

Photo / Anu Leppäharju

Longing Louisa is a new musical project created by Finnish artist Reetta Hotti. ‘Hatchet’ only came across our radars a few days ago, but we were instantly captivated by its ethereal tones. It delivers an indie production that is intriguing and distinctive, yet easy to listen to. On the song, Hotti says:

“The production is quite fun and light, but actually the lyrics are far from fun. There’s a big contrast between the two, and for me that’s ‘The Thing’ with this song. Even though the title is Hatchet, the song serves also as an apology. Especially the end part breaks my heart a bit every time I listen to it.”

The track is taken from Hotti’s new ‘Waterphile’ EP, which is out today. The collection of songs was created by the musician as an ‘ode to water’ and, as you’d expect, is full of organic, soft sounds that draw you into a soundscape that reminds you of nature.

“I’ve always been prone to the feeling of longing. I think I’ve spent most of my life living someplace else than the present. I’ve longed for the past, the future or an alternative reality. It’s probably a way to escape anything uneasy happening in real life. Melancholic feeling, or the Japanese idiom ‘mono no aware’ to be more precise, is what Longing Louisa is about. The music has all the shades of blue, there’s fog, blurriness, some city lights, hollow and dull-like sounds, but also slowly growing intensity, small changes that every now and then lead to a massive gathering of clouds.”

Longing Louisa

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New Music: Soane

There’s a really exciting newcomer emerging from France going by the name of Soane, and we can’t wait to share her work with you.

Sultry new single ‘Fountains’ treats listeners to a perfected R&B sound that is crafted meticulously. The production feels classic and luxurious, while Soane’s soulful vocals draw you into her innermost thoughts.

“Can you feel the rush, keeping you awake, longing for my touch, addicted to the taste.”

The song highlights the sheer talent that this French and Moroccan musician has to show, and we can’t wait to see how her career evolves over the next twelve months.

Soane

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