New Music - New Music

New Music: Tommy Saint

With his distinctively raw and powerful voice, it’s not easy to ignore the work of rising London rapper Tommy Saint. Immersive, bold, dark and cinematic in tone, this is music that is immediately captivating.

Having originally trained as a dancer, this emerging talent has now transitioned into the world of British hip hop, consequently crafting some of the most interesting new rap sounds to emerge from the UK.

With critical praise from the likes CLASH, Complex UK and Wordplay, as well as more than 650k cumulative streams on Spotify alone, Tommy Saint is one artist to keep on your radars.

Tommy Saint

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New Music: Hugo Basclain

Emerging from Sydney is hugely promising singer and songwriter Hugo Basclain. With a style of music that incorporates elements of pop with with R&B and soul, this talent is crafting some of the most beautiful new sounds to emerge from Australia.

Songs like ‘One Step’ perfectly demonstrate Basclain’s stunning sonic artistry – and with praise from the likes of NME already under his belt, this newcomer is most certainly one to watch.

Hugo Basclain

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New Music: RAPTUM

Showcasing some of the finest new talent to emerge from East London is rising artist RAPTUM.

With an innovative take on British hip hop, this exciting newcomer delivers a sound that is not only refreshingly future-forward and unique in tone, but also carries a sense of relatability that is sure to resonate with many listeners.

Having already garnered praise from noted tastemakers like Earmilk, Magnetic Magazine and Wordplay, RAPTUM is one artist destined to hit the mainstream very soon.

RAPTUM

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New Music: Kai Kwasi

Track of the week. Hailing from South-East London is acclaimed singer, songwriter and producer Kai Kwasi. Already a critic’s favourite, this rising artist creates a captivating sound that fuses essences of R&B, grime and soul with dark pop.

New single ‘Jugular’ was co-written alongside Dom Valentino, and presents listeners with a gorgeously arresting and atmospheric piece of music.

“‘Jugular’ is one of the first tracks I wrote outside of my own bedroom – making music had been a really insular practice up until then. I was itching to work with other musicians, but had to get over this kinda barrier of learning to write and perform in front of people, which is kinda like learning to be vulnerable out loud. I was at Dom Valentino’s old bedroom studio in Brockley and he made it feel really easy to get out of my head and take the session in whichever direction I wanted. This was the winter after Lockdown, a lot going on internally and externally sometimes you kinda get numb to it. It starts off quite heavy and dark and I wanted to lose some of that cynicism by the end. I think pessimism is symptomatic of things being shit, it’s a feeling that’s easy to arrive at and hard to shake off. Sometimes I need a person or a practice to drag me out of that and at that time music became that for me. I think the second verse is a reflection of that.”

To date, Kwasi has garnered praise from tastemakers as noted as The Line of Best Fit, Sunday Times Culture and NME, while also achieving airplay from national stations like BBC Radio 1 and 6Music.

Kai Kwasi

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New Music: beachtown

Freshly signed to the Young Poet label, London-based lo-fi pop outfit beachtown unveil their new single ‘Spin’.

Showcasing the duo’s originality in their approach to music-making, the song presents listeners with an emotive blend of indie and alternative pop.

“’Spin’ came around a time where I was very frustrated with myself, people and things I couldn’t control. Because of the angsty kind of mood that the song had I just went along with it. The name ‘Spin’ also resonated with us as it describes that feeling of falling into vortexes in your own mind that never Stop spinning.”

Since crossing paths in a queue for a Rex Orange County gig in Kingston, Zaine Masoliver and Fred Cowan have been working on a style of sound that has already found its way onto notable playlists like Spotify’s Fresh Finds, New Music Friday UK and Hot New Bands.

beachtown

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New Music: Anna-Rose Clayton

Already gaining significant traction across the Netherlands, Dutch-British artist Anna-Rose Clayton looks set to become one of pop’s most exciting emerging talents for 2023.

Melodic new single ‘OUCH!’ serves listeners with an idiosyncratic mix of punchy electronic pop and indie, and is just about one of the catchiest bops that we’ve come across this month.

“In my youth, I always felt like an outsider and always felt that I had to make compromises. I didn’t have the “normal” childhood that others always talked about. Now I no longer apologise for who I am, and I am even very proud of my weird self”.

Clayton will perform a series of dates in the Netherlands this November, with the final show taking place at the iconic Paradiso in Amsterdam. Tickets can be found here.

Anna-Rose Clayton

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New Music: Ernest Gladwell

Sometimes, the story of a musician is not necessarily one that is easy to comprehend. This can be said of Ernest Gladwell, who is seemingly a character from a cancelled 1980’s film called ‘Violet Heights’. Supposedly, the soundtrack from the movie was only recently uncovered, leading to the release of it’s songs.

Performed, written, recorded, mixed and mastered by Gladwell himself, ‘YOU SAID, I SAID!’ serves as a heartbreak anthem that expertly blends elements of post-punk with indie rock.

Whether the story of Gladwell and ‘Violet Heights’ is true or not, this is one project that is certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Ernest Gladwell

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CC Clarke – On Read

Musician, digital creator and social media star CC Clarke is back today with empowering new single ‘On Read’.

“‘On Read’ is about feeling the pressure to either text everyone back or more specifically feeling the need to reply to that one person who ghosted you and now expects you to instantly run back. NOPE! Liberate yourself, turn the music up and leave them ‘On Read’ is what I say.”

Already an established and highly influential figure within the UK’s fashion, beauty and lifestyle industries, Clarke has now also marked herself as one of the country’s newest pop artists.

To date, Clarke has acquired more than two million Instagram followers and 327k YouTube subscribers, while her music has accumulated well over five million streams.

CC Clarke

New Music: MBG

One of Canada’s most exciting alt-rock prospects to have emerged recently is MBG, who today unveils her new single ‘I’m Not In Luv’.

A multi-talented creative who is not only a singer and performer but also a songwriter and producer, MBG crafts sounds that feel honest and authentic in tone, while still carrying some pop sensibilities.

“‘I’m Not In Luv’ explores little harmless crushes and what it means to be a third wheel, with the artist elaborating that “as a queer person having these feelings for your friends of the same sex while still trying to figure yourself out is a little wild, and scary, and this song is a little bit about that.”

MBG plans on releasing more new music in the near future. In the meantime, you can stream the debut EP ‘Have a Alright Day’ here.

MBG

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New Music: Jealous Nostril

Showcasing some of the finest in fresh British indie rock are newcomers Jealous Nostril. Formed by Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell, this trio also features Jack Flanagan from Mystery Jets fame and ElliS D.

Daring and bold in tone, debut single ‘Phase 6’ serves listeners with a raw and anthemic sound that makes an immediate statement.

“Jealous Nostril, a binary system… One is fulfilled the other isn’t” Is it a drug reference? “the half of my north London friends who still party hear it as cocaine, and the half who have been through rehab, ask me if it’s referencing Pranayama yoga breathing. We’re definitely neither a coke or a yoga band! I actually think I just wanted a name that would help people under-estimate the band.”

The band will play their first live shows at The Horn in St Albans on the 19th October, and Our Black Heart in Camden the following evening.

Jealous Nostril

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New Music: Plushie

Fans of retro-inspired indie rock will be pleased to know of American newcomers Plushie.

Picking inspiration from legendary musical groups like The Beatles, The Monkees and Black Sabbath, this outfit create an uplifting style of sound that feels charmingly nostalgic, while still maintaining a modern edge.

Fans based in Oregon can catch Plushie performing live at the Eugene Saturday Market on the 1st October 2022 – more details can be found here.

Plushie

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New Music: Endie

Emerging from the American state of Louisiana is newcomer Endie (aka Ike Thomas), who’s genre-bending style of music is already gaining considerable attention from both discerning listeners and tastemakers alike.

Latest single ‘love like that’ serves as a lively alt-pop anthem that was inspired by all of the unpredictable feelings associated with being in love.

“‘love like that’ pulls a lot of my current emotions together into one body of work.”

With over 800k catalogue streams to date and more than 18k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, this is one rising artist worth keeping on your radars.

Endie

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New Music: Jenny Newman

LA-based New Yorker Jenny Newman has released one of the most exciting indie bops of the week.

This singer, songwriter and guitarist has already begun to garner momentum as a rising alternative artist to watch, thanks to her witty lyricism and emotive productions.

With its uplifting fusion of indie, rock and pop, Newman’s new single ‘Danish Boy’ reminisces over a teenage romance that she experienced with a Danish exchange student, and serves as a taster to her forthcoming debut ‘Daydream’ EP (out 22nd October).

“I wanted the vibe of ‘Danish Boy’ to make people feel the same genuine happiness and excitement for life that the relationship gave me. It’s kind of a time capsule of young love and blissful naïveté.”

Jenny Newman

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New Music: charlø

Los Angeles-based newcomer charlø (aka Charlotte Reed) is a singer, songwriter and producer – who up until recently was working as a real estate agent.

Following a serious ski accident (which resulted in broken back), Reed decided to shift her priorities in life and began chasing her dream of becoming a musician.

‘numb’ serves as charlø’s debut single, and looks at the ways in which our memories present themselves to us – particularly after distressing or traumatic experiences.

“’numb’ was written about a vivid memory of a traumatic event that only recently came rushing back to me. I have been reeling trying to figure out if this thing actually happened or not ever since. On one hand, if I let myself believe it was true, I think I’d break down. So I’ve remained in this sort of undecided state of numbness towards the memory. Since it was a memory of something that happened so long ago, I realised I can kind of choose how I want to relate to it moving forward.”

charlø has already worked alongside the likes of Grandson, Banoffee, Josh Rubin and Tabi, and is newly signed to Californian label Future Gods.

charlø

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New Music: Little Guilt

Track of the week. There’s been an abundance of new music emerging from Australia this year, with Perth-based Little Guilt adding to the continent’s ever-growing list of promising future stars.

Lifted from the band’s new EP ‘I Do Everything Around the House’ (out now), ‘On My Mind (all the time)’ showcases an emotive sound that features perfected blends of indie, pop and rock.

If you’re lucky enough to be based in Perth then you can catch the group performing live in October at The Sewing Room – tickets can be found here.

Little Guilt

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New Music: ROYA

It’s been a short while, but Denmark has once again delivered an outstanding new pop prospect to the world.

As the collaborative project of singer & songwriter Line Gade and producer Sebastian Igens, ROYA create a sound that feels melancholic and emotive, while still maintaining some strong pop sensibilities.

Latest single ‘Kinda Sad’ looks into those moments when we are emotionally vulnerable following a break-up, and reminds us that even if we feel alone and sad, that it’s just a part of a process we have to go through.

“It’s written out of the embarrassment of finding yourself drunk and alone, longing for someone you know isn’t good for you anymore. Lyrically, we wanted to dive into those suppressed feelings to give them a life of their own. The song is a reminder to anyone in this messed up situation, that sometimes it’s more than okay to be by yourself and feel kinda sad.”

ROYA

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵 Scandinavia Sound Playlist

New Music: Royal Drue

It wouldn’t be a normal Friday on Alfitude without introducing you to some outstanding new pop talent. This time it’s the turn of Australian singer, songwriter and artist Royal Drue.

Empowering new single ‘Body’ is an anthem for self love, and was written as a way to encourage people (specifically ladies) to appreciate and embrace their moments of self pleasure.

“Society tells women to be demure and polite but ‘Body’ seeks to remove those expectations and normalise loving and exploring your body.”

Drue also serves as the lead singer and vocal director of Gospel/Techno crossover musical project Sunshine and the Disco Faith Choir, who were recently signed to Lonely Lands Agency (one of Australia’s most prominent booking agencies).

Royal Drue | Sunshine and the Disco Faith Choir

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New Music: The Youth Play

Emerging from West London are four-piece alternative band The Youth Play. Formed only last year by frontman Diego Bracho, this group create sublime indie sounds that feel unique in tone, while also carrying relatable and moving lyrics.

Lifted from their new EP of the same name (out now), ‘Closer to the Light’ presents listeners with a beautifully sincere and emotive fusion of dreamy pop and indie rock.

“‘Closer to the Light’ was written at the end of summer 2021, after finally being able to experience the first bits of life after Covid, it’s a song about love, friendship and family.

Be sure to also check out the group’s music videos for other singles, ‘Paracetamol’ and ‘The Years’.

The Youth Play

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New Music: Selbor

London-based singer, songwriter and producer Selbor unveils a dance bop for the weekend ahead that is sure to put you in the mood for partying.

Released through the iconic Kitsune Musique label, new single ‘Lava In The Sky’ presents listeners with an energising and playful fusion of French-inspired disco and funk.

“I wrote ‘Lava In The Sky’ the day that Daft Punk split up as a tribute to them. I’m a big fan of their music and just happened to be in the studio that day when we found out.”

Fans of Selbor’s style of music should also check out his self-titled debut album, which was released earlier this year and can be found here.

Selbor

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New Music: Namelle

One of Sweden’s most promising pop starlets right now has to be singer and songwriter Namelle.

Having already amassed well over four million cumulative streams on Spotify to date (including a successful collaboration with Dutch producer Piece Wise), this rising talent has marked herself as a Scandi artist to watch.

Speaking on the lyrical meaning behind her newly-released single ‘Goodbye Boy’, Namelle says:

“‘Goodbye Boy’ says ‘Thanks, but no thanks,’ to all the Romeos out there who think you’re interested in them just because you’re being nice.”

Fans can look forward to Namelle’s forthcoming EP, ‘Salt’, which is scheduled for release later this year.

Namelle

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist

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