Dutch newcomer Daniel Nolet was initially working his way to becoming a professional footballer before deciding to dedicate himself to being a musician.
Inspired by icons like The Beatles, The Police and BB King, Nolet creates a classic yet impactful style of pop-rock. This is a sound that feels punchy, raw and bold – while still maintaining some pop sensibilities.
Powerful new single ‘Hannah’ was inspired by grief, and is dedicated to a friend who decided to end their own life:
“Hannah took her own life around two years ago and it sounds strange, but for her it might have been the best or even only option. The pain and sorrow but also the resilience of her surroundings kept me intrigued for months.”
“The lyrics revolve around the suicide note she left and how such a beautiful human being could be in this pain.”
Nolet hopes that the song will increase people’s awareness on mental health issues and suicide prevention.
Today marks the debut for an exciting new British creative collective, led by singer and songwriter Joanna Wolfe.
With a style of music-making that blends elements of dreamy pop with mellow shoegaze, Blue Lupin create sounds that feel timelessly classic and utterly mesmerising to experience. Speaking on their first release, Wolfe explains:
“‘Soak’ is a song born out of letting go of my grasp of the creative process. It came from a sense of letting go, taking the pressure off and diving into the playful side of creativity.” – Joanna Wolfe, Blue Lupin
The song precedes a debut four-track EP from the collective, which is out soon. In the meantime, listeners can look forward to more releases from Blue Lupin between this November and next March.
Emerging London talent doesn’t get much more impressive than rising artist VX Duse, who’s style of fusing British alternative R&B with Latin American sounds has already seen him garner early praise from the likes of Wonderland and Complex.
Growing up in the capital’s south to a family steeped in Colombian heritage, VX Duse crafts songs that feel sleek and future-forward, while still maintaining strong essences of emotion and passion. Speaking on his new single, he says:
“‘Spinnin’ is a love story where the love is undeniable. It holds all the power between you and another – the type of love that drives you crazy with thoughts and desires and is so pure when you’re with that person. Regardless of any external situations and temptations, the only thing real to you is the way you feel about each other. It’s an exploration on the ideas of the foundation of love and its strength for the right person, that even if there is conflict or some separation at times, there’s only that one person who is on your mind.”
Alongside his solo work, VX Duse is also part of a hip hop and multi-media collective called VXMOB, who are set to play a series of dates this month across the UK.
Yoyo Comay’s ‘Sufferin Mall’ project continues to evolve with the release of his new single, ‘Crushed’.
Inspired by the feelings of having a crush on someone, the track continues to showcase Comay’s unique style of sonic artistry through its experimental and fearlessly bold production
“In the Sufferin Mall world as a whole, I’m always playing and drawing attention to these conjunctions of pleasure and pain, and how they mix with our desire.”
Alongside his music work, Comay will also release his first poetry collection next year, entitled ‘States of Emergency’ via Vehicule Press.
You’ll struggle to find anyone who doesn’t enjoy Tai Verdes’ charming style of mellow and playful pop.
New single ‘how deep?’ is taken from the artist’s upcoming ‘HDTV’ album (out 16th September), and looks at the conflicting feelings that love can make us endure.
“‘how deep?’ is a song that I made about not knowing anything. And I hope that when people hear it, they feel lost, but also found, but also lost. Love has a tendency to make you feel like that.”
In the space of only two years, Verdes as amassed over a billion cumulative streams and more than 20 billion social views – officially making him one of the world’s newest superstars.
Emerging from North London is singer and songwriter Stella Angelika, who unveils her new single ‘Maybe’ today.
Through her honest lyricism and skilful blends of melodic R&B, soul and soft pop, Angelika creates universally likeable sounds that are easy to connect with. Speaking on her new release, she says:
“‘Maybe’ is about the early stages of relationships, full of optimism and promise, but also uncertainty, and it’s that uncertainty part that is often skirted over in love songs and rom coms. Love and relationships are messy and annoying and beautiful and painful and scary and ‘Maybe’ is made up of all of that. It’s about really letting yourself love someone, fully letting them into your life and being open to the idea that maybe they’re the person you could spend your life with.”
With support from heavyweight tastemakers like The Line of Best Fit and Earmilk already under her belt, this rising artist may well be one to watch. Upcoming EP ‘That Girl I Hate’ is scheduled for release in October 2022.
It’s a busy time for American alt-pop outfit The Happy Fits, who are not only back with a new record, but are also readying themselves for a huge tour in the autumn.
Lifted from their third album ‘Under The Shade of Green’ (out now), new single ‘Little One’ is dedicated to the band’s future children, and encourages listeners to embrace their vulnerabilities.
“When I wrote the first draft lyrics, it had the line, ‘with the millions like us dear, may they give you what you need.’ I had this idea in my head that if anything were to happen to me and I wouldn’t be able to speak to my children, the single thing I would want them to know is that they belong, and there are so many people out there willing to help others.” Langman – The Happy Fits
With praise from the likes of NPR, Atwood Magazine, PopMatters and Teen Vogue, The Happy Fits are firmly marking themselves as one of New Jersey’s most impressive indie exports in recent years.
The band hit the road from this October, beginning with shows in Scotland, England and Germany before progressing to the US.
Australian-based musician KYE unveils her first new music since last year’s critically acclaimed debut EP, ‘Good Company’.
With its energising and playful twist on old-school UK garage, ‘Bossin’ serves as a nod to KYE’s upbringing in Britain, and was produced by pop masters Styalz Fuego and Rudy Sandapa.
“‘Bossin’ is hailing in a new era for me. This past year I’ve really wanted to focus on fun, freedom and community and this new sound encapsulates that. This one is for my girl bosses, wringing out every last cent of your paycheque so you can let loose!”
KYE relocated from Zimbabwe to the UK as a child, before deciding to settle in Australia. Since that time, this talented artist has received praise from noted outlets such as The Guardian, NME and Rolling Stone, while also working with the likes of Bipolar Sunshine, Genesis Owusu, Ruel, Meg Mac and others.
Acclaimed Derby-based artist Sfven returns with yet another spectacular slice of bedroom pop through the release of his intimate new single, ‘love you’.
With it’s honest and personal lyricism, the song tells of the unspoken language that two lovers can share with one another.
“’love you’ was the last song I wrote for the mixtape. It’s about a moment after a difficult conversation with someone you love where nothing needs to be said. And being grateful for what was, and beautiful moments shared.”
The track serves as the latest taster from Sfven’s ‘you, green’ EP, which is gradually releasing all its songs between now and next summer.
Support for the project comes from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and Radio X, as well as Spotify placements across several flagship playlists like New Pop UK and New Music Friday UK.
Hailing from Sweden are newcomers Euro Cowboy, who unveil their melodic debut single ‘420@hotmale.com’ today.
Through its refreshingly original mix of bedroom pop and alternative R&B, the song feels tastefully understated in tone – while also maintaining a strong sense of individuality and character.
The track is lifted from Euro Cowboy’s forthcoming EP, which is scheduled for release later in the year. In the meantime, be sure to follow this eccentric and loveable Scandinavian outfit on social media here.
LA-based singer & songwriter John K returns with a beautifully timeless piece of pop through the release of new single, ‘something worth working on’.
Written as one of his most personal songs to date, the track came to life in the aftermath of an argument that John K had with his partner:
“I was heading to a writing camp, and I was leaving my wife and newborn son for the first time. We got into an argument before I left which continued via text, but before I landed, she threw me a lifeline and waved the white flag – even though I probably should’ve been the one to. Noticing her grace in that moment, I told her I loved her and said, ‘We have something worth working on’. I told the story to my co-writers. In no time, we fully explored what ‘something worth working on’ meant. So often we are told that fighting is a sign of an unhealthy relationship – and though sometimes that’s true – I really believe that sometimes the fight is what makes the relationship real.”
Since John K’s debut in 2017, this platinum-achieving musician has amassed over 860 million catalogue streams and received critical praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, Flaunt and Idolator.
Inspired by musical legends like The Strokes, Cage The Elephant and Fontaines D.C., Liverpudlian outfit Bandit create a style of British indie-rock that is energising, raw and utterly captivating to experience.
With its lyrics that tell of a modern love story, anthemic new single ‘Vagabond’ is spectacularly epic and bold in its production. Speaking on the song, Bandit say:
“It was one of those rainy overcast evenings in a bar in Liverpool and there we were, as brazen as ever. Stood within the midst of a smoking area on a night out trying to convince yourself that this familiar feeling isn’t that L word that we’re all scared of. It’s evident that we’re a bad idea, we both know that, but who doesn’t enjoy a slight catastrophe. Imagine the sass of Mia Wallace embodied in a girl, I stood no chance, love was always going to be on the table. ‘Vagabond’ is quintessentially a tale of romance between two friends and trying to fight yet confess feelings and riding a night out together within the confines of secluded courtyard slowly filling up with smoke, the great beginnings of a romance novel if you ask me.”
To date, Bandit have achieved praise from noted outlets like DIY, Clout and Dork, while also picking up placements on BBC Radio 1 and Spotify’s New Music Friday.
Much-hyped musical prodigy Moko unveils two impressive singles, and in doing so further solidifies his name as one of London’s biggest new prospects.
Both as beautiful as one another, ‘Shameless’ and ‘Dance With The Devil’ display a style of finessed R&B that is emotive and meaningful, while also being future-forward and tastefully experimental in tone.
This rising talent currently commands over 480k monthly listeners on Spotify, while his previous singles ‘Back2Roadz, ‘1 Time’ and ‘Eighteen’ have each achieved more than two million streams alone. Moko has also received critical praise from the likes of TRENCH, Complex and Viper magazines.
Australian indie darlings The Moving Stills are back with a charming blend of synth, pop and rock through the release of shimmering new single, ‘Volcano’.
Beautifully melodic and dreamy in tone, the song showcases a sound that is both emotive and playful in equal measures.
“‘Volcano’ is the journey of a relationship with highs and lows. It’s about that feeling like you’re not right for your partner. The doubts and the head noise that you can’t shake. Much like hiking, it’s hard work and you need to put effort in to make it work and enjoyable. But just remember, if you ever climb a volcano, they can explode.” – Mike, The Moving Stills
Since the release of their debut album ‘Sunshine Corner’ in January, this rising outfit have gone on to play alongside the likes of Spacey Jane, Great Gable and The Vanns, sold out their own series of shows, and also managed to go viral with a cover of ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World’. Fans can catch the group live across Australia from next month.
If you’re looking for an energising slice of indie-rock and pop to start your week with a bang, then Chloe George’s ‘Runaway Blue’ should be the natural choice.
The LA-based singer and songwriter has continued to grow momentum ever since ‘ghost town (voice memo)’ went viral on TikTok (consequently reaching over 63 million streams to date).
Now garnering close to a million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, George looks set to take on her biggest year yet.
Track of the week. As a nation rich in pop heritage, Norwegian musical talent has come to be known as some of the best in the world.
Newcomer Maggie continues with this tradition, and as you press play to ‘Paralyzed’ you’ll quickly understand why this artist is so impressive.
Written, performed and produced in its entirety by Maggie, this anthemic release is an exceptionally strong piece of music that feels powerfully moving – and serves as a perfect example of Scandinavian alt-pop at its very finest.
“It’s about a bad trip. Although you can interpret it in different ways. It could be about when you have an expectation about something and it doesn’t work out for you.”
Singer, writer and producer Charlotte Plank has been one of the most exciting new discoveries of the week.
Fusing the distinctive sounds of drum and bass with elements of pop and indie-rock, Plank creates songs that feel fresh and new, while still maintaining essences of old-school nostalgia.
With early support from the likes of A1234 and The Line of Best Fit, Plank could well be one British talent to watch out for this year.
Kay Nambiar may not be a name familiar to you, but this Dutch talent is widely known across his home country as a noted photographer, model and presenter.
Today sees Nambiar’s debut as a solo artist, with the release of his gorgeously melodic new single ‘Speaking In Tongues’.
Through its beautifully emotive and delicate fusion of stripped-back indie and pop, the song’s contemplative lyrics tell of Nambiar’s feelings of paranoia and anxiety after attending a party.
Formed during lockdown over FaceTime, British indie rockers Sleeping Together unleash their sound to the world today with the release of debut single ‘Summer Girl’.
“’Summer Girl’ was inspired by a short and sweet summer romance. At the end of summer, the couple agreed to go their separate ways. Like the romance, Summer Girl is short, bright and sweet, capturing the highs of a British summer in its emphatic chorus. However, much like the British summer, this romance was rained off too soon. These fleeting glimpses of a love, destined for rapidly approaching heartbreak, are conveyed perfectly through Summer Girl’s climbing vocals.” – Alexander Lloyd-Jones, Sleeping Together
Hailing from the North West of England, this hugely promising four-piece create indie anthems that are inspired by a wide range of topics – from love and heartbreak, through to toxic masculinity and nights out.
Sleeping Together have already received support from the likes of Amazing Radio, and are scheduled for further airplay on XS Manchester and Radio X. Fans can look forward to five further releases between now and the spring months of next year.
One of the most exciting debuts to emerge from the UK this week comes courtesy of British rapper ANTICALM.
Fearlessly blending elements of hip hop with electronica, grime and punk, this talent creates energising sounds that are distinctly unique in character and tone. Speaking on his future-forward release ‘Bobs n’ Bits’, he says:
“I walked past a discount shop called bits n bobs when I was living in Manny! Walked home, flipped the chorus and recorded the track that day. Everyone talks about doing bits round here, me, I don’t do bits, I do bobs and bits. Simple!”
Through his mould-breaking style of music-making, there is no doubt in our minds that ANTICALM will make a significant mark on the UK rap scene within the next year.
