One of the most interesting releases this weekend also happens to be one of the mellowest.
‘Hold On’ finds rising Manchester-based producer and DJ TURNA joining forces with Canadian singer Gillian Mapp on a melodic song that thoughtfully blends elements of alternative R&B with essences of soul and UK garage.
“’Hold On’ is about an internal state of being stuck on someone.” – Gillian Mapp
With a finessed style of music-making that feels future-forward yet understated in tone, TURNA’s work has already garnered attention from the likes of BBC 6Music, 1Xtra, Rinse FM and Kiss FM.
New Zealand rockers Tablefox return today with an anthemic new single entitled ‘Give It All’.
Through its bold production and empowering lyrics, the song reminds us to not succumb to our inner voices of doubt, and encourages us to move forward in life.
“The song is about someone dealing with their ‘inner voice’, their inner critic’ that is trying to hold them back… but their positive voice is saying “screw that!” – Clinton Bell, Tablefox
The track serves as Tablefox’s first new music since the release of their 2021 ‘Battles‘ album, and features the talents of the group’s new drummer, Henrik Rylev.
Danish musician eif is back today with a soulful fusion of R&B and mellow pop through the release of her new single ‘Grown’.
Inspired by the realisation of our true worth, the song looks at the power of personal growth and self-love.
eif is currently collaborating alongside acclaimed platinum-selling producer Rasmus Gregersen, and is due to release another new track next month. In the meantime, check out eif’s ‘Teal’ EP here.
Rising talent Grant Knoche returns with one of his most honest and emotive releases to date in the form of his new single ‘FIRST HELLO’.
Through it’s beautifully arranged production and candid lyricism, Knoche has created a song that truly has the power to connect with so many listeners. Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, he says:
“I recently came out as bisexual to my friends and family and the last person to tell was my dad… so I wrote him FIRST HELLO :) It’s a special and life-changing song. Really hoping to change many lives with this one.”
This is emerging pop music at it’s most impressive – and if there’s time for you to listen to just one song today, let it be this one.
While only 20-years of age, Knoche continues to prove himself as one of America’s most promising artists – commanding a loyal army of over 250k Instagram followers and more than 68k monthly listeners on Spotify.
If you’re looking for an uplifting song to get you into the weekend mood then ‘All Over This Party’ from London-based Sans Soucis is your bop.
The track finds the Italian-Congolese songwriter, artist and producer deliver an anthem of self-empowerment that encourages people to celebrate their identities.
“This song is a way for me to reclaim my power in an environment that very often misgenders, abuses and stigmatises femme presenting people. I’m non-binary and my gender identity is fluid. I wanted to celebrate this awareness by literally summoning my friends who have been such an inspiration for me in this journey.”
Sans Soucis has already received widespread acclaim from noted outlets such as The Guardian, Fader, Trench and The Forty-Five, while the artist currently commands over 125k monthly listeners on Spotify.
London five-piece Beach for Tiger are back today with a gorgeous slice of bliss through the release of their new single ‘Craving’.
Melodic and dreamy in tone, the song treats listeners to a psychedelic fusion of mellow pop and indie, and serves as a taster to the band’s forthcoming EP.
“This is a dreamy romantic jam that reflects on the excitement of new love.”
If you’re in London then be sure to catch the group perform live at The Victoria Dalston on 29th September – tickets can be found here.
Acclaimed British indie outfit The Big Pink unveil their latest single today, entitled ‘Safe and Sound’.
The song is lifted from the group’s forthcoming third album, ‘The Love That’s Ours’, which also happens to be their first release since 2012’s‘Future This’. Speaking on the track, frontman Robbie Furze says:
“Dancing with these vultures in my fugitive apartment”, “Angels with their wings clipped gunning for the love that’s ours”.
“These lines sum up the record perfectly. I moved to L.A. to find my record and I found it, but at a price. I was chased by every temptation known to mankind. I was promised love. I was promised wealth. I was promised the world. Drugs, women, stardom, all the cliches hounding me and biting at my heels. I got caught up in it. I was strung out and I got lost. I can now put my hands up and admit that. For a while I lost my wife. I lost my family and friends and mostly, I lost my mind.”
“This song, ‘Safe & Sound’, came from a moment of pure clarity when I realised I had to turn my life around and just deliver this record. I was held up in my fugitive apartment and these people were not angels at all, they were gunning to take away everything I loved!”
Crafting sounds for well over a decade, The Big Pink have received praise from the likes of The Times, Rolling Stone, NME, CLASH, The Line of Best Fit, DORK, DIY and more.
The group have also announced details of an official album release party on 5th October in London – tickets here.
Representing some of the most exciting R&B-pop to currently emerge from the UK is artist and songwriter Bethia.
Inspired by the likes of Ariana Grande, Kiana Ledé and Sinead Harnett, this promising starlet creates finessed and sleek sounds that not only have mainstream appeal, but are also captivating and emotive in tone. Speaking on her new single, Bethia says:
“I created this song for anyone who has ever felt cheated of their own emotions in whatever situation that best resonates; especially if you find it hard to open up emotionally in the first place.”
Bethia first gained traction through the release of her song ‘Should I Know Better’, which went viral across social media and picked up over 880k streams on Spotify alone.
Critic’s favourite Evenson returns with yet another impressive slice of indie through release of his new single, ‘LUNGS’.
Lifted from the forthcoming debut EP ‘SADLY, I STILL LOVE YOU’, the song serves as a beautifully honest and raw piece that continues to prove this talent’s impressive skills at music-making.
“I wrote ‘LUNGS’ a month after my grandmother passed away. I found myself at odds with time/ age and most importantly the idea of living. We wanted to make something that felt singular, we asked how would psychedelic rock sound if it were made in Haiti (my home)?”
To date, Evenson’s songs have not only picked up praise from noted tastemakers across the globe, but also command almost 40k monthly listeners on Spotify.
LA-based artist Bryce Drew returns with a gorgeous fusion of alternative pop and soul through her new single, ‘Still Recovering’.
Co-written by legendary producer Greg Wells, the track marks somewhat of a comeback for Drew, who last released music back in 2020. Speaking on the song, Drew says:
“It’s about the boundaries of compassion and the emotional tradeoff of being a sensitive soul. For me, it’s a reminder that it’s OK to set boundaries for yourself, and that the message of self care I expressed in ‘Love Life’ has its harder moments too, especially over the last two years when the whole world has been overwhelmed.”
Drew’s catalogue of work has accumulated over one million streams to date, while the artist has received support from the likes PopMatters, American Songwriter and Parade.
If you’re craving for some fresh indie rock, then emerging four-piece outfit S.C.A.B. might well be one of your new favourite groups.
Today’s release of new single ‘Tuesday’ showcases some of the finest work from this rising Brooklyn-based band.
Emotive, pensive and melancholic in tone, the track looks into the struggles of forming meaningful connections:
“Tuesday” is a song about disillusionment with trying to form meaningful connections, and searching aimlessly for something worthwhile. There’s a scene from Seinfeld where Newman says ‘Tuesday has no feel. Monday has a feel, Friday has a feel…’ and that type of unspecific, hard to pinpoint vibe is what I wanted to express with the lyrics… you’re trying to get through the week, find any ounce of happiness to cling on to (sitting in the sun, feeling it burning your skin), looking for something but not finding it.” – Sean Camargo, S.C.A.B.
S.C.A.B.’s debut project,‘Beauty & Balance’ was released in 2019, while a sophomore LP is scheduled for release soon.
LA-based starlets Alé Araya and aisu’s collaboration on new single ‘Citrine’ presents listeners with a sound that is rich in energising and experimental sonic textures.
For those unfamiliar with these two artists, Alé Araya is a singer, songwriter and producer who has been featured by the likes of Lyrical Lemonade and Early Rising, while her breakout hit ‘Orange Juice’has accumulated over 580k streams on Spotify alone.
Turkish-born artist aisu impressively commands more than 350k monthly listeners on Spotify, thanks to her bold pop productions and infectiously catchy future-forward bops like‘bal gibi’.
Some songs put a love spell on you from the moment you press play, and planet girl’s collaboration with RYCE does exactly that.
‘lets stay the same?’ is in its purest form, just a lovely song. Whimsical and playful yet melancholic and soulful, this is likely to be the prettiest slice of pop you’ll enjoy today.
Already garnering appreciation from the likes of BBC Introducing as well as achieving placements on some of Spotify’s most iconic playlists (including New Music Friday, Our Generation and Fresh Finds), this is one artist you should all have on your radars.
Another week, another impressive pop release from Norway. This time it’s the turn of newcomer JOP, who’s name initially came to prominence after going viral on TikTok, consequently accumulating over 15 million views on the platform.
With production from Aside and Hitimpulse, new single ‘What If’ is a beautifully emotive song that features an anthemic melody and powerful vocals.
Already becoming a noted name in his home nation, it seems imminent that JOP will hit the rest of Europe in a big way very soon.
A master of dreamy R&B-pop, Brandon continues to delight and impress listeners across the world with his effortlessly cool style of music-making.
Latest offering ‘Steady’ carries hints of Daniel Caesar and classic Lenny Kravitz, creating a soulful sonic world that is simply spellbinding to experience.
Aside from being our ‘Track of the Week’ recipient twice (a rare achievement in itself), Brandon has been praised by the likes of Ones To Watch and Rated R&B, while Spotify has featured the artist on noted playlists like Alternative R&B, idk. and Acoustic Soul.
Track of the week. Formerly known as Adrian from the hugely successful Scandinavian duoFOOL,Flavio is a new solo project that is showcasing the very finest in emerging Danish talent.
‘Speeding’ is without doubt one of the most impressive debuts by any newcomer from Denmark this year, and is an intensely gripping fusion of dark pop and hip hop.
To date, this single has garnered over 118k streams on Spotify alone, and paves the way for Flavio to become one of his home nation’s most promising musical exports.
We begin the week with London-based producer & singer Lila Yin’s latest release, entitled ‘All Mine’.
Presenting itself as a luxurious slice of alternative R&B and dark pop, the song’s empowering lyrics remind listeners to stand by their own volitions, and not succumb to the wants of others.
The song continues to showcase Lila Yin as one of capital’s most interesting R&B prospects, and marks the artist as one talent to watch out for.
Continuing to prove herself as one of the UK’s most exciting R&B prospects, Brighton-based artist Kaisha returns with her stunning new single ‘Ego’.
Inspired by the heartbreaks that her friends have had to suffer from at the hands of terrible lovers, the song serves as a call to all the bad men out there to do better:
“This track is about men who pretend to be good guys. I often hear stories of situations where they’re incredibly nice to their friends but completely the opposite when it comes to the person in a relationship with them. Almost like a facade that they keep up for the outside world but when they’re complacent, their true colours shine through. Save us the time and don’t pretend to be something you’re not.”
This is the first single to follow on from Kaisha’s ‘If Not Now Then When’ EP (out now), and serves as a taster for the artist’s next wave of releases
Rising artist Barely Trev has been gaining momentum with his recent run of releases, thanks his charming and universally likeable style of pop music.
Dreamy new single ’75 in December’ presents listeners with a stripped-back fusion of mellow indie and alternative pop, while melancholic lyrics tell of the bittersweet feelings associated with leaving your home town.
“I wrote this song last winter after moving from Minnesota to South Carolina. There was a day in December that hit 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24C), which was a huge change for me having lived in a cold climate my whole life. While the warmth of my new surroundings despite it being the middle of winter seemed like a dream, it came with a realisation that I was no longer near my friends and family. There’s a melancholic feeling that comes with moving away from home, and that idea is what inspired the lyrics for this song.”
To date, this aspiring musician has garnered well over 850k catalogue streams on Spotify alone, making him one artist to watch.
Melbourne-based pop innovator ASHWARYA returns with one of the boldest new releases of the week.
Eccentric, future-forward and experimental in tone, ‘Can’t Relate’ showcases this rising talent’s willingness to push the boundaries of pop in a way that feels fresh and exciting, while still maintaining some mainstream appeal.
“‘Can’t Relate’ was a song that came out of nowhere, which is what I think adds to its unpredictability. I’d just finished touring with The Rubens, and Sam, the legend, invited Stevan and I to come down to his studio in Thirroul, NSW, for a couple days. It reached a point in the session where Steve and I were creating in pure chaotic, unhinged frequencies (in a good way), which manifested itself into this track.”
I think at the core of it, the track speaks to a lot of the frustrations and the inner monologue of wanting to just dissociate from people who infantilise you. With all the crazy shit going on right now in the world (the list is endless) and the added anxieties through social media and the news, it’s got me questioning, ‘what the fuck is going on here?’ ‘Is this really happening?’ Hopefully, it resonates because I can’t seem to relate to a whole lot going on, especially now.”
To date, this genre-bending starlet has received critical acclaim from tastemakers like CLASH, NME, Complex, Dork and i-D. ASHWARYA will perform at BIGSOUND this month, and supports Dua Lipa in October (details below).
Tuesday, September 6 – Prohibition – BIGSOUND, Brisbane
Thursday, September 8 – Ric’s Backyard – BIGSOUND, Brisbane
Sunday, October 30 – The Palais Theatre, St Kilda, VIC – An Exclusive Evening with Dua Lipa – The Melbourne Theatre Show (presented by the Victorian Government, ALWAYS LIVE & Live Nation) – with Sycco, Cat & Calmell
