Category: Music

ellie d. – Let Me Be F*ing Sad

With a profile that has continued to grow ever since the release of her viral ‘Passionfruit’ collaboration with Rando, rising artist ellie d. unveils a new track today.

Showcasing her unique brand of vulnerable pop, new single ‘Let Me Be F*ing Sad’ is a heartbreak song that looks into the immediate aftermath of a relationship ending – when all you want to do is feel your emotions.

“Almost a year ago, I had just experienced a really bad breakup and had gotten out of a very toxic relationship. I was in NY, and was only supposed to be there three days but ended up staying three weeks. I had a writing session with EMIA where we just vented about boys and relationships and suddenly we had the beginnings of my first EP. It was a very sad chapter in my life but I am also grateful it happened because it gave me so much great music! ‘Let me be f*ing sad” is the first stage after a breakup, you don’t want to reflect yet, you just want to be sad and in your feels.”

Garnering more than two million catalogue streams to date on Spotify alone, this California-based newcomer’s approach to music-making offers a refreshing alternative within the pop world.

ellie d.

Grace Kay – Open

Emerging from California is LA-based pop starlet Grace Kay. You may already recognise Kay’s voice from the song ‘Here’, which was recently featured on ABC’s hit show ‘A Million Little Things’.

Kay’s new single ‘Open’ is a perfect track for the summer season. A shimmering slice of uplifting electronic pop, the song’s hopeful lyricism offers listeners an inspirational message:

“I started writing this song to encourage a close friend of mine to be more open to life experiences like travel, trying new careers, and just giving herself a chance… at life! The beautiful thing about this song is before I even finished writing it, she accomplished what I’d hoped for her and more. She had already been accepted into graduate school to study a whole new craft, she took up ice skating, and just transformed before my eyes into the amazing badass woman I already knew she was; but, I could tell she now believed she was THAT woman too.”

Already compared to modern pop masters like MUNA and Caroline Polachek, Kay has garnered attention from the likes of Atwood Magazine while also being selected for flagship Spotify playlists like Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds: Pop.

Grace Kay

New Music: Mike Baretz

A master of many talents, Mike Baretz is not only an emerging singer but also an established songwriter and producer who has worked alongside the likes of Kota the Friend and Croosh.

Today marks the release of his first single, entitled ‘Take It That Way’. Inspired by relationships where lovers stay together and intentionally ignore the warning signs, the song presents listeners with a dreamy yet melancholic fusion of R&B, soul and indie-pop.

“I think we’ve all felt at times that we can cling to the things we are close to even when we can see the flaws and shortcomings staring right back at us. ‘Take It That Way’ is about trying to hold on to that person despite seeing all the cracks in the foundation. It can be so easy to ignore all of the downsides and just latch on to the familiarity and comfort of someone you care about, even when it may not be working.”

A self-taught musician who ended up at the world-renowned Juilliard School, Baretz has also collaborated with acclaimed producers like Lars Stalfors and Swagg R’Celius.

Mike Baretz

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Watch: The Beaches – Grow Up Tomorrow

Photo / Becca Hamel

Canadian rockers The Beaches unveil visuals for their anthemic new single ‘Grow Up Tomorrow’.

By perfectly encompassing the essence of carefree youth, the song feels relatable to both younger and older listeners, and serves as a summer banger for the weeks ahead. Speaking on the video (directed by Ievy Stamatov), The Beaches said:

“Since the song is such a fun bop we wanted to represent it in the only way we know how: by throwing a house party with all of our closest friends. I’ve recently come into my own in the queer community (Leandra), who have welcomed me with open arms, so I wanted to make sure we represented this new, big part of my life in the video.”

To date, The Beaches have accumulated over 52 million catalogue streams, and opened shows for the likes of The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Avril Lavigne and Alanis Morisette.

The Beaches

The Beaches North American Tour 2022

  • July 30th – Niagara on the Lake, ON @ Jackson Triggs
  • August 5th – Toronto, ON @ History
  • August 6th – Toronto, ON @ History
  • August 9th – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere Rooftop
  • August 10th & 11th – Nantucket, MA @ The Gaslight 
  • August 13th – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
  • August 14th – Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest
  • October 7th – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
  • October 8th – Ringold, GA @ Rabbit Valley Festival
  • October 9th – Nashville, TN @ The Basement
  • October 11th – Washington, DC @ Pearl Street Warehouse
  • October 12th – Philadelphia, PA @ Dolphin Tavern
  • October 21st – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
  • October 22nd – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
  • October 23rd – Detroit, MI @ The Underground

Lana Lubany – SOLD

Photo / Erea

Following on from the release of her viral hit ‘THE SNAKE’, rising UK-based Palestinian/American alt-pop talent Lana Lubany returns with another sensational song.

Created alongside collaborator and producer Ben Thomson, new single ‘SOLD’ is refreshingly original in character and immediately gripping.

Presenting listeners with a perfected blend of Middle Eastern and Western musical styles, the track sounds like nothing else you will have heard before. Speaking on the song, Lubany says:

“’SOLD’ is about falling prey to that persuasive voice in your head that stops you from making the right decisions. It tempts you into creating a ruthless cycle of repetition and regret, where your comfort zone is your safety, but your safety is your danger zone. You’ve had a taste of luck in the past, and it was comfortable, so you try different shortcuts and start losing and doubting yourself in the process.”

Lana Lubany

dvsn – If I Get Caught

It’s taken seven months for dvsn to release their first song of the year, but the wait was definitely worth it.

‘If I Get Caught’ samples Jay-Z’s 2001 hit ‘Song Cry’, and cleverly incorporates elements of the blues with nostalgic hip hop and R&B, delivering a sound that feels classic yet current in equal measures.

Since their debut in 2015, dvsn have grown to become one of Canada’s most prominent R&B exports, and have worked alongside the likes of Drake, Future and Ty Dolla $ign.

dvsn

New Music: Natalie Carr

If you’re on the hunt for some new electro-pop talent today, you won’t find anyone much better than North Carolina-based artist Natalie Carr.

Inspired by the likes of Tove Lo, Dua Lipa, Lauv and Rihanna, Carr fuses R&B with pop to create songs which are not only infectiously catchy, but also carry meaningful lyrics.

“I wrote ‘Wasted Potential’ about no longer caring about living up to society’s expectations through the lens of a dysfunctional relationship. In the hook I write, ‘we’ll always be broke and we’ll always be late, I’m a piece of s*** without a 401k.’ It’s a playful take on making people upset whose opinions probably shouldn’t matter in the first place (i.e. people you knew ten years ago, your ex-boyfriend’s mom, etc.). I’ve had an unconventional life and path and one of the things I’ve always believed is that you’ll never have the time back to take risks and chances. This song is my ‘don’t play it safe’ anthem. I want people in their twenties to hear this song and feel validated if they don’t have their s*** together.”

Supported by industry heavyweights including MTV, Spotify and Billboard, Carr looks set to become one of the most promising rising starlets from the US this year.

Natalie Carr

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New Music: Pace

Hailing from Chicago comes promising new talent Pace. Not defined by any single genre, this artist creates songs that carry a distinctly unique character.

New single ‘Concrete Walls’ presents listeners with a playful yet understated mix of indie and funk – resulting in a sound that feels current and fresh while also maintaining a tastefully nostalgic essence.

Pace has already been picking up traction over this last year, with songs like ‘Living Backwards’ achieving almost 400k streams to date.

Pace

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New Music: Forest Claudette

One of the most impressive debuts this month has been from American-Australian talent Forest Claudette – and when you press play on ‘Creaming Soda’ you’ll understand why.

Stylistically, the track showcases a sound that perfectly blends elements of R&B with indie, soul and hip hop.

Lyrically, the song was inspired by the self-inflicted pressures that come with setting up personal goals, and reminds us to not get stuck in our own heads.

“Simply repeat the phrase ‘f*ck it, I’m 19’ and proceed to walk away from whatever you can’t be bothered dealing with.”

Forest Claudette

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Jordan Nash – Fear and Loathing

Photo / Gabby Drew

Track of the week. Already a critic’s favourite, rising West London singer and producer Jordan Nash unveils stunning new single ‘Fear and Loathing’.

A summery fusion of psychedelic indie and dreamy pop, this melodic song treats listeners to a sound that is refreshingly unique and utterly entrancing to experience.

Following the release of his debut single ‘Nightmares’ last year, Nash has since picked up support from influential tastemakers like of Notion, The Line of Best Fit, Fader and The Last Bus.

Jordan Nash

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New Music: Mad Kelly

Photo / VXL – True Ground

Hailing from South Florida comes rising artist and producer Mad Kelly. Through a perfectly balanced fusion of rock and emo-pop, this talent creates sounds that feel nostalgic yet raw and future-forward in equal measures.

Anthemic new single ‘Stuck’ addresses the monotony of life, and the lack of motivation we sometimes encounter – even when we need to change things for the better.

“This song is about being stuck in a cycle of everyday human events, we just sit around and waste our time on bullshit. If we are unhappy with ourselves and the world around us, we do nothing about it. Most my songs have been pretty clear on feeling trapped and feeling like I’m a hostage, but this song is about having enough and finally breaking away from everything holding you in your comfortable, boring, lazy state of not giving a f*ck.”

With over a million catalogue streams to date and praise from the likes of Flaunt, Spindle and NYOTA Magazine, Mad Kelly is well on his way to becoming one of Florida’s most interesting newcomers.

Mad Kelly

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New Music: Wax

Lifted from his freshly-released debut EP ‘Hunger or Greed’, ‘True Talk Melodies’ solidifies London artist Wax as one of the most promising new creatives to emerge from the Capital.

With a highly skilled approach to music-making that applies intelligent lyricism over a polished fusion of UK hip hop and drill, Wax has already garnered praise from the likes of Dummy Mag, BBC Radio 1 and Capital Xtra.

Showcasing a multi-faceted approach to his art, Wax has also unveiled a short film inspired by the EP that tells of an eventful night in London.

Wax

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New Music: THILO

One of the most exciting discoveries of the week has been Berlin newcomer THILO. A performer since the age of six, this promising talent carries a soulful voice that glides perfectly over songs which seamlessly fuse elements of pop with R&B, indie and dance.

Infectious new single ‘FLIGHT RISK’ is all about those moments in life when we ignore our problems instead of tackling them. Concurrently, the song also serves as somewhat of a self-empowerment anthem that dismisses the people in our lives who think they know best.

‘FLIGHT RISK’ is taken from THILO’s forthcoming EP, entitled ‘RUN RUN’ (out 12th August 2022).

THILO

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New Music: Davey Legend

Hailing from Redding in California is promising artist Davey Legend. With a refreshingly eccentric approach to music-making, this talent is constructing some of the most original new sounds to emerge from the US.

‘GOLIATH’ is a song that is full of unexpected twists and turns. This captivating and unique track radiates with a tense and raw energy, while also featuring elements of dreamy, alternative pop.

While still a relative newcomer, Legend has already showcased his potential for creating songs that feel relatable to listeners while also pushing the boundaries of the pop genre.

Davey Legend

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New Music: Klaverson

https://open.spotify.com/track/2noWz92XhxqIsclrDME9Vg?si=f23565c0c0dd45a2

Another hugely exciting British debut today comes courtesy of 25-year old Kent-based artist Jack Lintorn, who goes by the alias of Klaverson.

A master of many talents, Lintorn is not only a singer, songwriter and producer, but also a visual artist who developed the Klaverson project while working at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.

Dreamy new single ‘I’m Coming Home’ incorporates elements of alternative R&B with downtempo, creating a sound that feels hazy, soulful, and almost ethereal in tone.

Through the release of this single, Klaverson has managed to present himself as one of the most interesting new alternative artists to emerge from Southern England so far this year.

Klaverson

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Charlotte Sands – Rollercoaster

Photo / Nickalaus Stafford

Rising pop-rock starlet Charlotte Sands returns with a track that perfectly encapsulates the trials and tribulations of being stuck in a toxic relationship.

New single ‘Rollercoaster’ continues to prove Sands’ unrivalled abilities in creating songs that are honest, vulnerable and raw, yet still relatable and easy for listeners to form connections with.

“’Rollercoaster’ is a song about a relationship that’s stuck in a toxic cycle. It’s about being addicted to the highs and lows and the inability to leave someone because you’ve already survived so much together. This song was written about moments in my life and my own relationships and I hope it allows other people to feel less alone while struggling with similar situations and emotions.”

After spending her early days as an opening act for the likes of My Chemical Romance, YUNGBLUD and The Maine, Sands will embark on her first North American headline tour this September.

Charlotte Sands

Charlotte Sands ‘Love and Other Lies’ Tour 2022

  • 9/6 Louisville, KY – Zanzabar 
  • 9/7 Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe at Old National Centre 
  • 9/12 Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry 
  • 9/13 Milwaukee, WI – The Back Room @ Colectivo 
  • 9/15 Pontiac, MI – The Pike Room 
  • 9/17 Chicago, IL – Riot Fest 
  • 9/20 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge 
  • 9/21 Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell 
  • 9/23 Seattle, WA – Madame Lou’s 
  • 9/24 Portland, OR – Holocene 
  • 9/27 San Francisco, CA – Brick & Mortar 
  • 9/28 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour 
  • 9/30 Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room 
  • 10/1 San Diego, CA – House of Blues Voodoo Room 
  • 10/2 Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar 
  • 10/4 Dallas, TX – Club Dada 
  • 10/5 Houston, TX – White Oak Upstairs 
  • 10/6 San Antonio, TX – VIBES Underground
  • 10/7-10/9 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits 
  • 10/10 Orlando, FL – The Abbey 
  • 10/11 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Purgatory 
  • 10/12 Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre 
  • 10/14 Washington, DC – Songbyrd 
  • 10/15 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge 
  • 10/16 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall 
  • 10/18 Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry 
  • 10/19 Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Music Hall 
  • 10/20 Columbus, OH – The Basement 
  • 11/5 Nashville, TN – Basement East 

Jesse Maxwell – Outspoken

Canadian songwriter, producer and recording artist Jesse Maxwell unveils his latest single today, entitled ‘Outspoken’.

Inspired by the breakdown of a relationship – and the consequent emotions that follow, the song perfectly embodies the essence of melancholy through its finessed mix of alternative R&B and pop.

“My songwriting style is pretty introspective. It’s about breaking down these walls of judgment that I had for myself.”

‘Outspoken’ is lifted from Maxwell’s upcoming ‘LP2’ album, which will be released later this summer. To date, this rising talent has garnered close to 700k cumulative streams on Spotify and received regular radio airplay all across Canada.

Jesse Maxwell

lotusbliss – Nightshade

Canterbury-based indie outfit lotusbliss return with a new single today, and with it further proof of this group’s unparalleled skills at crafting superb experimental sounds.

Lifted from the trio’s upcoming ‘An Aching Sea’ EP (out in September), ‘Nightshade’ is a gorgeously atmospheric and emotive fusion of indie, rock and electronica.

“It’s about being involved with something or someone that is unhealthy, though the unhealthy nature is not immediately visible. Like solanine (the poison found in nightshade plants like potatoes and tomatoes), in small doses it’s too subtle to notice; the corrupting force goes undetected. In larger quantities, though, it can be all consuming and fatal, like with the infamous Deadly Nightshade flower. Its’ scientific name, Atropa Belladonna, comes from Greek mythology – Atropos has the thread of your life in her hands and is poised to cut it”.

With early praise from the likes of BBC Introducing, 6Music, Earmilk and Atwood Magazine, lotusbliss should be firmly placed on your indie radars.

lotusbliss

New Music: Third Party Incidents

East London’s Third Party Incidents introduce themselves to the world today with the release of their first ever single, entitled ‘Chair’.

Showcasing some of the finest alt-rock to emerge from the Capital in some time, this four-piece create sounds that are vivid, invigorating and unashamedly bold in tone.

Songs like ‘Chair’ remind listeners of the unparalleled joy and energy that comes from experiencing rock music live, so if you’re in London on the 23rd July 2022 be sure to catch the group performing at the Fiddler’s Elbow.

Third Party Incidents

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New Music: Maddie Park

If you’re a fan of stripped-back R&B then Korean-American songstress Maddie Park might well be your new favourite artist.

Inspired by the works of modern-day icons like Jhené Aiko, SZA and Ariana Grande, this rising talent constructs sleek fusions of alternative R&B and pop that feel minimal and understated, allowing for her beautifully honest lyrics to shine through.

“‘i’ll call you back’ was born from the lyric ‘I don’t think you understand me anymore.” The song embodies nostalgia for a relationship that hasn’t yet ended, reminiscence amid a personal struggle for clarity in the midst of change.”

With a natural flair for creating songs that focus on human’s hopes, desires, vulnerabilities and fears, Park’s work is sure to resonate with a large audience.

Maddie Park

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