I’ve had my attention on Madrid-based duo Moanday for some time now, and it’s so great to see them continue building momentum for themselves.
This indie-funk outfit have already garnered over a million streams online, and after listening to ‘Blue Ceiling’ you’ll understand why they’re so loveable.
With a sound that feels eccentric yet dreamy, Minneapolis talent C∆IRNS has released one of the most original songs of the week.
Featuring Runo Plum, ‘Claw Printz‘ is a wonderfully atmospheric slice of lo-fi pop… and it’s all about being friends with a werewolf!
Taken from the album ‘Exothermia’ which is out now.
Born in New York City and currently residing in South Florida, multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter emmanuelle creates a powerful and self-assured style of music that blends elements of pop with alternative rock to form something that is truly quite impressive to listen to.
New single ‘relapse’ looks at the uncontrollable feeling that you have for that one person, even though you know that the relationship is toxic.
“Every time something not-so-great happens in life, I just think to myself, ‘It’s okay, I’ll write a song about it.’ Songwriting is my therapy. It helps me release any emotions I don’t know how to express just by speaking. That’s why my songs are so dark. It’s the side of myself that I don’t often show to other people. I’m an open book, but I don’t let everyone read the chapters.”
Hailing from Stuttgart in Germany, indie-rock outfit Rikas create a kind of colourful sound that is bursting with character, charm and personality.
It’s no wonder that they’ve already seen themselves opening for the likes of Bilderbuch, The Lemon Twigs, Parcels, AnnnenMay Kantereit, and Von Wegen Lisbeth.
Another week, another hugely promising talent from Sweden! This time it’s the turn of Rallie, who’s debut song ‘Too Good’ delivers a refreshing twist on pop music.
Minimal yet eccentric, the production feels sultry and devilishly sexy, while the seductive lyrics look at all the exciting ways of connecting when two people meet.
Consisting of Songwriter Zach DeGaetano and Music Director Carter Vaughan, goth gf create a kind of bedroom pop that is impossible not to fall head over heels in love with. A charmingly subdued production sets the scene for captivating vocals and a wildly infectious melody.
A wildly infectious electro-pop bop from Canadian-born, Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and artist BXB LOVE. With clever lyricism and one of the catchiest melodies of the week, what’s there not to love? (Pun intended…)
“’Losers’ is my claim that we are all really just losers trying to fit in. I believe, if we really committed to being who we are, and loving that unconditionally, we might all feel a little more free and a little less anxious about the potential perception of us that others may have.”
A beautifully dreamy sound from London-based artist Brave James. With captivating vocals and a mesmerising melody, ‘Soldier’ blends electro-pop grooves with a militaristic marching beat in the most charming way imaginable.
“‘Soldier’ speaks to me as an anthem for what my debut album is about, and it set the direction for the record. I knew that I wanted to integrate vocal harmonies with electronic atmospheres over this marching, militant groove. I was also experimenting at the time with cassette looping and a bunch of fun stuff. It all just kind of bled its way into the track. I felt like I wanted to write something about navigating lingering memories and feelings from past relationships.”
Brooklyn-based duo Boyish create the most moving blends of indie and pop, intertwined with haunting yet captivating vocals; all set within a dreamy soundscape.
Born and raised in Dublin, singer and songwriter Marcus creates the kind of sound that immediately draws you in thanks to it’s unique sense of character. Fusing elements of indie with RnB and hip hop, this artist takes you on a musical journey like none other.
Recorded at the famous Grouse Lodge studios with Alex Borwick, ‘The Juice’ reflects upon the time in his life when hip hop was his true passion. On the song, he says:
“I arrived in Grouse Lodge a day late, I had to take a Covid test a couple of days prior and wasn’t allowed down until I got my result. When I got there Alex had pretty much made the beat already. Sometimes I’m fussy in the studio and it can take some time to get a beat together, but when I heard this one I knew that it was perfect for the song and all we had to do was drop some vocals on it.”
Operating out of the legendary Ealing Studios in West London, Billen Ted are a production-writing duo who made the unlikely transition from death metal bands to the world of dance music.
They’ve already worked with the likes of 220 Kid, MNEK and Sleepwalkers – and now they’re turning their attention to their own musical project.
‘When You’re Out’ is a reworking of a 90’s RnB classic, and features the vocals of Alfitude favourite, Mae Muller.
Milwaukee-based singer-songwriter, musician and producer Micah Emrich has come up with one of the catchiest bops of the week. ‘caffeine’ is an effortlessly cool mix of bedroom pop and alt-RnB, and features lyricism that leaves you hopeful about everyday anxieties.
“‘caffeine’ is about living a life following your passion and although it’s not always easy you find yourself being deeply fulfilled.
Hailing from West London, KiLLOWEN is a 21-year old talent who is not only a vocalist but also a multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter.
His style of music-making feels refreshingly authentic, raw and honest – so much so that it’s already caught attention from the likes of BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Trench and Earmilk.
‘Blood Red’ is about the bad habits we all find ourselves going back to, despite knowing they are harmful.
“It’s almost like a ‘feels so good, but hurts so bad’ situation. In a world where everyone feels like they have to be perfect, I wanted to outline that everyone fights their own battles, and that’s okay, because we’re all just taking it one step at a time.”
Few words can truly summarise how I feel about this talent, but ‘stunning’ comes to mind. A beautiful blend of soul and pop merge into an emotive and melodic sound that not only wins your heart over, but leaves you wanting so much more.
Taken from the new album ‘in defense of my own happiness’ which is out now.
One of the most exciting outfits to emerge from Belgium recently, The Haunted Youth embody a raw and youthful energy through a unique sound that blends hazy indie with undertones of psychedelic rock.
Love Truls is the brainchild of 18 year old Swedish creative Truls Söderman Carlberg. Listening to new single ‘Tell Her’ gives you a glimpse at just how phenomenally talented this artist is.
A true Gen Z songwriter with an innate ability to absorb, filter, and distill various musical expressions, Love Truls also vividly depicts the experiences of a 21st century teenager.
“‘Tell Her’ started with just a nativistic guitar line and vocals; it has transformed and grown ever since it was written in 2018. It definitely has some classical music influences, and I wanted it to be powerful, which Röda Paradise really helped with, being able to take in real strings and shit. Shoutout Röda Paradise!”
Taken from the debut EP ‘Kantande Wanai’ which is out now via This Is Scandinavia.
This year seems to be yielding a whole new generation of rockers, and that’s something I’m pretty OK with. While Toronto-born artist Sophie Powers is still only 16-years old, yet her vocal’s intensity is years ahead.
Her new single ‘Lonely Army’ tackles the feeling of widespread loneliness that so many of us experienced during 2020’s seemingly endless lockdown.
“’Lonely Army’ is an anthemic song. It speaks on behalf of my generation. I want to start a conversation, as it feels adults and people who are not struggling during this time need to understand that almost everyone else is, whether they show it or not.”
Years of enduring closed doors, homophobia, and fighting for artistic integrity led to Amir Brandon to become the artist that he is today.
With a style of songwriting that balances vulnerability with confidence, Brandon’s approach to RnB-pop is immediately captivating and refreshingly honest.
His new single ‘champagne’ was written as an anthem for the introverted and lonely, reflecting on his own personal experiences with depression, and embracing heartache rather than drinking it away.
Hailing from Miami, Latin-American artist Miliano has been writing and playing music for over a decade, with songs in both English and Spanish.
‘Nubes’ (which translates to ‘clouds’ in Spanish) is a track about the unavoidable reminder of past regretful experiences that one can learn and grow from.
This is a beautifully emotive blend of Latin pop, trap and alt-RnB, all complimented with intensely captivating vocals.
Indie-pop with a nostalgic twist from Danish talent Daniel Joy. One of the catchiest bops you’ll likely enjoy all weekend, ‘How to Talk to Girls’ is about an insecure young man in a world that expects you to always be on top of your game. But when the game is love, life’s not always easy!
“‘How to Talk to Girls’ is a tribute to the shy guy. I recall the awkward moments in bars, you know, the moments where one of your friends introduces you to this girl, and you suddenly turn into a silent and uncomfortable shell. It’s just as much about impressing your friends, as it is finding the courage to actually talk to a girl you’ve just met. No one wants to be known as the shy and awkward friend sitting in the corner and I can think of a dozen times where a book for dummies or a tutorial video would have come in handy. I still don’t know what’s going on – so here’s a song about it!” –
