Rising newcomer and BRIT School alumni Chanel Loren is currently crafting some of the most impressive fresh cuts of R&B and pop.
Since her debut single‘Playlist’earlier this year (which has accumulated over 200k streams alone so far), the Sydney-based Londoner has already picked up attention from heavyweight tastemakers like GRM Daily, CLASH and Dork magazines.
Serving as an uplifting anthem for the heartbroken, new single ‘Some Other Time’ was inspired by the effects caused from toxic relationships.
Sydney’s Ashli might well become one of your favourite new R&B starlets to emerge from Down Under.
Already praised and featured by the likes of triple j and MTV, Ashli has studied under the mentorships of Sampa the Great and Gretta Ray; marking herself as an artist to watch.
New single ‘Dance Again’ is reminiscent of Janet Jackson’s iconic collaborations with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis from the early 00’s, and fuses soulful pop with soft dance tones to create a sound that is truly charming.
As one of the UK’s most exciting emerging talents, Watford’s Kayla Grace showcases her immense potential with the release of new single ‘Nobody Loves Me‘.
The refreshingly honest track finds the 21-year old artist and songwriter contemplating her feelings of paranoia and insecurity, and encapsulates the thoughts that some of us may have while we are young and trying to figure out who we are.
“’Nobody Loves Me’ is basically the embodiment of the intrusive thoughts I have from my unhealed inner child. I had a complicated childhood and found a lot of my needs were ignored so I always believed that everyone hated me. Things are better now, but I think I dragged that cloud with me into teenage years/ adulthood and can’t shake it off.”
While still early in her career, Grace has already picked up attention from BBC Introducing and Clash, as well as being featured on flagship playlists like Spotify’s New Music Friday UK.
Hailing from the pop mecca that is New Zealand comes rising Auckland-based artist Theo Sawyer.
Drawing inspiration from the likes of Queen, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and the sounds of Motown, this 22-year old talent creates radio-friendly pop anthems that are impossible not to enjoy.
Debut single ‘Forget Your Ex’ was entirely written, recorded and produced by Sawyer in his flat, and encourages listeners to move on from failed romances – and look forward to the future.
“‘Forget Your Ex’ is a song dedicated to those hesitant to take the leap back into the sometimes-scary world of dating; coupled with the thrill and excitement of meeting someone new. It is for those who want to dive back in, experience new things, and have no fear of living your best life.”
Emerging from Dallas in Texas is promising newcomer Olivia Kuper Harris. Not only is this artist a singer and performer, but also a songwriter and producer.
Drawing influences from genres as diverse as R&B to soul and jazz, this talent creates beautifully finessed sounds that feel melodic and organic in character.
With its empowering lyricism and sleek production, new single ‘Chains’ serves a perfect introduction to listeners who are yet to discover this promising musician.
“‘Chains’ is about breaking free from mental chains. I hope it’s relatable and that you enjoy the track!”
Emerging from London’s creative hub of Brixton is hotly-tipped newcomer ESS_WEST.
Already a critic’s favourite (with praise from heavyweight tastemakers like Wonderland, Dummy and GRM Daily), this talent crafts refreshingly unique and emotive fusions of UK rap and indie.
Inspired by the action of putting yourself first, melodic new single ‘You’ showcases the artist’s work perfectly. With its summer-tinged production and thoughtful lyricism, the song presents itself as one of the most impressive releases of the month.
Colombian artist VALÉ has to be one of the most interesting pop newcomers to emerge from Latin America so far this year.
Through its sleek blend of electro pop and R&B, relatable new single ‘red lights’ looks at the uncertainties of life, and the anxieties that come with not knowing what the future holds.
“‘red lights’ is such a raw song and is about what it really feels like to not know where you’re headed in life. I think this is a universal feeling; everyone can relate to feeling lost, anxious, and uncertain about one’s life.”
Having recently secured a successful collaboration with Cuban-American star Kat Dahlia entitled ‘oop’, it seems inevitable VALÉ will hit the global mainstream very soon.
While the name may not (yet) be familiar to most, Sam Short is already an accomplished songwriter who has worked for the likes of Katy Perry, Shakira and NOTD.
So it comes as no surprise that Short’s own solo work is a masterclass in pop. Songs like ‘Naked’ feature punchy lyrics and catchy melodies over sleek electronic productions, giving Short’s music a strong sense of character.
“‘Naked’ is essentially an ode to self-love and sensuality. It encompasses all of what it means to not only be independent, but to be empowered as a female in today’s world. I wrote the song in an effort to help myself recover from a tumultuous break-up, and I hope it helps others do the same.”
While still on her second release, Short has already accumulated a significant fan base, with more than 350k followers on TikTok alone.
London-based artist LOLA unveils a stunning piece of futuristic R&B through the release of her new single ‘Back’.
With production from IGLOOGHOST, the song fearlessly pushes the boundaries of the genre – yet still maintains a beautifully melodic and emotive essence that is reminiscent of the early 00’s R&B sound.
LOLA’s work has picked up praise from established tastemakers like i-D and Wonderland, while her music has been selected for editorial playlists like Spotify’s New Music Friday and Fresh Finds UK.
Track of the week. New Zealand has become a nation synonymous with exceptional musical talent, and the introduction of Will Swinton further proves this.
‘All For You’ fuses a range of genres together in a beautifully subtle and melodic way, providing listeners with a spellbinding sound that feels both timeless and future-forward in equal measures.
With such a natural flair for crafting exceptional songs, there’s no doubt that Swinton will make his way into the mainstream at some point very soon.
A master of many talents, Puerto Rican creative csndra is not only a singer and songwriter, but also an animator and designer.
Running just under two minutes in length, hypnotic new single ‘DMLO’ is a Latin slice of perfection, flirting between playful pop tones and a darker electronic edge.
The track showcases csndra’s willingness to push boundaries, while still maintaining a style of music-making that feels relatable and easy to connect with.
With only two singles released to date, csndra has already picked up attention from noted tastemakers like Ones to Watch, and is certainly one artist to keep on your radars.
Emerging American project Little Jet create beautifully melodic songs that blend indie with essences of dreamy pop and electronica.
New single ‘Give Me Love’ serves as a tasteful reworking of Cerrone’s 1978 classic of the same name, and is a finessed slice of nu-disco that is perfect for the weekend ahead.
To date, this impressive duo’s music has found its way on to prominent outlets like BBC Radio 1, as well as being featured on editorial playlists like Spotify’s Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds Indie.
Self-proclaimed ‘Spanish Cowboy’ HUAN (aka Juan Mallorca) might well be the most exciting indie newcomer to emerge from Florida in some time.
Lifted from his freshly-released debut EP ‘San Juan’, summery new single ‘Not Today’ treats listeners to a hazy fusion of alternative lo-fi pop and indie. And with a beautifully written melody and dreamy vocals to match, the song proves itself to be one of the most impressive releases of the week.
Aside from his own solo work, Mallorca is also part of a duo called Jawberry, who create some seriously anthemic pieces of pop-rock. All in all – it’s safe to say that Mallorca is one artist who looks set to hit the mainstream very soon.
We begin the weekend with a beautifully dreamy slice of electronic pop, courtesy of London-based artist Vorsen.
Created in the aftermath of a broken relationship, melodic new single ‘Real Life’ features Vorsen’s emotive vocals gliding over a production that feels melancholic yet full of interesting sonic textures.
The song is lifted from Vorsen’s forthcoming EP of the same name, which is out this year. In the meantime, fans can enjoy Vorsen’s work as part of indie-folk outfit NIGHT FLIGHT,who play London’sJazz Cafe this September.
Today’s release of ‘The Chase’ marks the unveiling of Canadian musician, poet and writer Yoyo Comay’s multi-disciplinary creative project, Sufferin Mall.
Boldly original in tone, ‘The Chase’ is a refreshingly unique slice of electronic pop that is unafraid to push the boundaries of the genre.
Sufferin Mall will initially begin as a musical project (with an upcoming EP scheduled for release later this year), before evolving into wider body of work which will include books, clothing, and even reading groups (amongst many other things).
Based in Berlin by way of New York City, Swedish-American songwriter Grimson (aka Aiden Berglund) is beginning to gain traction thanks to his beautiful blends of indie, folk and pop.
Alongside his music releases, the Bard College film graduate also creates accompanying animated videos – treating listeners to an audio and visual experience that is like none other. Pieces like ‘Household’ showcase this work perfectly:
With that said, Grimson has chosen to showcase his artistic versatility on new single ‘Set Gently’. Here, the musician presents visuals which follow him across a journey on New York’s subway.
“I thought for a while that I was going to add some animations to it to try to make it more ‘Grimson-eque’ in a way, but decided not to do it. Not just because I was able to edit the footage to look like it matched the video, but also because the song is a bit more personal, in a way.”
The video’s simplicity amplifies the song’s deeply emotive lyrics, which address the feelings we may get when we realise that our partner has lost their love for us.
“It’s the internal monologue of the moment you realise that the person you’ve spent years with no longer loves you, and even though the split hasn’t officially happened, there’s no saving the relationship. Instead, the song attempts to comfort by encouraging acceptance, despite what you’re motivated to do otherwise.”
Norwegian talent looks set to take over the pop world once again – this time with the help of Oslo newcomer Ira Nor.
Freshly signed to noted record label 777 Music (home of boy pablo and Fur), Nor constructs a style of experimental electronic pop that pushes the boundaries of the genre, yet does so in a tastefully balanced way that makes her music relatable to most listeners.
Lifted from Nor’s upcoming ‘Swim Ira‘ EP (out 26th August), new single ‘doomed’ was written alongside Øyvind Glåmen, and is inspired by Nor’s mantra of trying to find the beauty from painful experiences.
“It’s about moving past a relationship that always was doomed; getting the power over yourself back, and letting go of an unhealthy relationship.”
Rising singer and songwriter Zoe Ko might well be your favourite new musical artist to emerge from New York.
This future starlet creates a style of angsty alt-pop that not only makes a statement with its punchy productions, but also through well-constructed and refreshingly raw lyrics.
Latest single (and Gen Z anthem) ‘Til U’ is only Ko’s second release to date, but has already picked up significant attention online. And with more than 50k monthly Spotify listeners already hooked on this artist’s work, it’s clear that Zoe Ko is one to watch.
Hailing from Columbus in Ohio is rising producer and artist Monroe Jordan. As far as emerging alternative R&B talents go, you won’t find someone as exciting as this creative.
‘Jody’ perfectly demonstrates Jordan’s ability to create deeply emotive pieces of music with a delicate kind of subtlety that is rare to come by.
With more than 600k catalogue streams to date as well as support from the likes Before The Data and Fashionably Early, this is one talent to keep on your radars.
Track of the week. Emerging from Bavaria are German-Swedish sisters Josy and Mimi, collectively known as HAVET.
Inspired by the likes of Billie Eilish, Tyler, the Creator and Bruno Major, this promising teen duo create songs that incorporate a multitude of genres together – creating songs that carry mainstream appeal while still maintaining a strong sense of individuality.
New single ‘Toxic’ fuses 90’s inspired indie-rock with current pop sounds, treating listeners to a sonic experience that feels both nostalgic and future-forward in equal measures.
“‘Toxic’ is about getting free from a toxic relationship and finally realising all the ways the other person treated you wrong.”
Listeners can look forward to HAVET’s forthcoming debut EP, entitled ‘Muma’s Lullaby’ which is out on 11th August 2022.
