Icelandic singer-songwriter VALDIS returns with a beautifully emotive and melodic piece of pop through her new single ‘story for you’.
Stripped-back and minimal in tone, this classic love song was written by Isa Tengblad and Rasmus Ladefoged Lampon.
With features on notable Scandinavian tastemaker sites like Scandipop and POPMUZIK, VALDIS is marking herself as one of the most promising new pop starlets to emerge from Iceland in recent years.
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Following on from his successful run on NBC’s American Song Contest earlier this year (placing 4th place in the grand final), Grant Knoche unveils summery new single ‘ICARUS’.
Having recently come out as part of the LGBTQ+ community, the lyrics utilise the mythological story of Icarus as way to reflect on Knoche’s sexuality – as well as his desires to fall deeply in love without fear.
As per Knoche’s usual high standards in music-making, ‘ICARUS’ is yet another polished and well-constructed slice of pop perfection that serves as a taster to his upcoming second EP (out later this year).
Acclaimed London-based rapper HEN$HAW returns with one of his most powerful and emotive releases to date.
Featuring production from goodbyechase, new single ‘NOBODY’ is lifted from HEN$HAW’S upcoming ‘SITTIN’ IN THE DARK’ debut EP (out later this year), and looks into feelings of loneliness and isolation.
“‘NOBODY’ was written about feeling alone, even in the company of your close friends / family, it touches on what it’s like for me to feel like a forgettable face and not feel like the confident person I can be. Picture yourself at a party, it’s coming to end of the night and you feel like you are the only one who knows you’re there, to me, this song perfectly captures this moment.”
To date, this rising 21-year old talent has picked up praise from the likes of GRM Daily, Dummy Mag and Mixtape Madness. HEN$HAW plays London’s Colours Hoxton on 10th August 2022 – tickets here.
Tora-i really does showcase the best of new British R&B. Here is a talent who effortlessly crafts timelessly classic and beautifully melodic sounds, filled with clever lyricism and moving vocals.
Following on from the release of ‘Lounging’ back in May, this gifted musician now unveils the visuals to the song. Sharing her thoughts on the video, Tora-i says:
“Exploring the intricacies of relationships, the video follows the intimate moments between real couples in their day to day lives. When we discuss romantic love, it’s often dramatised or sometimes misses the authenticity behind it, probably as we’re still figuring out what it exactly is or how we navigate it , this is my contribution to that question.”
Tora-i recently completed a tour with the iconic Snoh Aalegra, and will be joining superstar Omar Apollo on his forthcoming UK and US tour. You can catch Tora-i live at All Points East next month.
London-based newcomer Ray Laurél has been one of the most exciting finds of the week so far.
Already garnering significant traction with his recent run of releases, Laurél constructs sounds that not only blur the lines between genres, but also present a refreshingly experimental approach to music-making that feels unique and eccentric – yet still relatable.
Taken from the forthcoming debut EP ‘MANIC PIXIE DREAM BOY’ (out 15th July, pre-order here), Laurél’s new single ‘COCONUT PERFUME’ beautifully balances dreamy and playful pop with darker indie tones.
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Rising LA-based starlet Emei returns with an energising fusion of alternative pop and rock through the release of her new single ‘That Girl’.
Thanks to its catchy melody, this immensely enjoyable song details the all-too-relatable struggles we encounter when trying to motivate ourselves.
“[The song was] written on a whim after weeks of trying to keep a habit checklist and failing miserably. The pop rock inspired anthem encapsulates the energy of wanting so badly to be that girl who wakes up at 6am, goes on walks every morning, and drinks coffee black but never getting to that unattainable goal.”
Emei currently commands over 200k monthly listeners on Spotify, and has collaborated with the likes of Gnash, KiNG MALA and Jordan Lewis.
Already commanding more than 600k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, newcomers 49th & Main are rapidly marking a name for themselves as one of Ireland’s biggest prospects.
Taken from the duo’s upcoming ‘Must Be Nice’ EP (out 22 July 2022), melodic new single ‘Up To Something’ showcases this outfit’s immensely charming style of indie-pop, with lyrics that focus on the long nights out that sometimes yield regrettable feelings the following day.
“This is a long night, forgotten conversations and empty wallets kinda tune that you just can’t help dance to.”
To date, 49th & Main have accumulated over 18 million catalogue streams. Catch the duo live at the Indiependence Festival later this month in Cork.
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Today marks the release of New York pop artist Ayla D’lyla’s latest single, entitled ‘Anywhere But Here’.
Dreamy and summery in character, the song was inspired by a yearning for escapism, and reminds city-dwelling listeners that life is all about balance:
“‘Anywhere But Here’ embodies the feeling of leaving the smoggy city and finding satisfaction in the simplicity of nature.”
To date, D’lyla’s work has picked up the attention of notable tastemaker publications like Paper and V magazines, while her work attracts more than 90k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.
Goldie Vargas unveils a beautifully melancholic slice of indie-folk today with new single ‘Canyon’.
Inspired by songwriting legends like Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell, the song’s sincere and emotive lyrics look at the feelings that one can go through after a breakup.
“‘Canyon’ is about the personal conflict of missing the person you were with and the relationship you once had, but also missing the person you were before you met them. The entire song physically feels, to me at least, like you are running in a field towards yourself trying to get back to your roots. I find it incredibly empowering and self loving, despite being a break up song.”
‘Canyon’ continues to showcase this LA-based artist’s exceptional songwriting skills, and serves as the final single to be lifted from Vargas’ upcoming debut EP.
Following on from her hugely successful work over this past year, London-based Bristolian vocalist & visual artist Willow Kayne unveils her latest release, entitled ‘White City’.
Inspired by the infamous West London district, the song looks at how the area is home to a diverse group of residents – from those struggling to get by day-to-day, through to the ultra wealthy who are drawn to the luxuries that the city offers.
“White City is an interesting place to live. Everyone’s experiences are completely different to one another, like many places in London it seems. Gigantic new buildings appear constantly, old buildings are being destroyed everywhere I look. When I walk down the street here, it is a complete mixture of people. I don’t know any of them and I like it here because they certainly don’t know me. We are simply all out here for ourselves.”
Already garnering praise from the likes of Clash, i-D and The Line of Best Fit, as well as picking up the Ivor Novello Rising Star award, Kayne is rapidly marking herself as one of the UK’s most interesting new pop starlets.
LA-based artist Isabella had her first taste of musical success at the young age of sixteen. Unafraid to push the boundaries of R&B, this artist has consistently released finessed pieces of work that are refreshingly original in style.
With the unveiling of her new 7-track ‘Human’ EP (out now), songs like ‘Everywhere I Go’ continue to showcase this rising singer and songwriter’s approach to creating stunning sounds.
“This is the chapter where I’m stepping into my own skin. It’s about being OK with the different chapters that I’ve had in the past because they’ve all made me who I am today.”
Following on from the release of their critically-acclaimed debut single ‘Loser’ and its follow-up ‘Bike Ride’, emerging indie-rock outfit DUDE, MY DUDE return with ‘Eleanor’s Detour’.
The song was inspired by a scene taken from the film ‘Lucy’, as the band explain:
“One of the characters, Alex begins to open up to escapades, exposing herself to vulnerability and ambisexuality, when she meets the radical and daring Lucy.”
The track then expands on the dynamics between these two characters, and continues to tell their story:
“The pair’s opposing levels of impetuosity and confidence hint at the birth of a mutualistic relationship. As the track progresses, the protagonist, abandoned by their other friends, surrenders to the whims of the chaotic stranger and they find themselves continuing the party out on the street.”
With placements on flagship playlists like New Noise and The Scene, this rising British group now command close to 80k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.
Oklahoma rapper, singer and producer Josh Sallee unveils a new music video for his latest single today, created with director Avitiuh and cinematographer Daniel Vo.
’95’ Jordan’ was inspired by Sallee’s life journey so far – and how the death of his father impacted his feelings on whether he should continue performing. Speaking on the song, Sallee explains:
“It is written in reference to the year Michael Jordan retired from basketball to play baseball after his father passed away. I had a similar experience in my career when I started going full-time into producing music. I was considering walking away from the mic and my solo career.”
Amassing over eight million catalogue streams to date and touring alongside the likes of Tory Lanez, Vic Mensa and G-Eazy, Sallee is marking himself as one of the most prominent hip hop talents to emerge from the state of Oklahoma.
While still a relative newcomer, LA-based artist Max Drazen has rapidly built a strong base of fans recently thanks to his immensely likeable style of pop music.
To date, debut single ‘Let Me Down Slow’ has already picked up over 600k streams on Spotify alone – and it’s easy to understand why once you press play.
A masterclass in modern pop, the track presents polished vocals over an infectiously memorable melody, while the energising production seamlessly fuses pop with indie and rock.
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London singer and songwriter Lexie Carroll continues to prove her potential as one of the UK’s most interesting new pop artists.
Comforting new single ‘if i built my home from paper’ is a beautifully constructed ballad that initially feels delicate in tone, but builds itself up into a cinematic sound that is utterly captivating to experience.
With support from the likes of BBC Introducing, Clash Magazine and Dork, there is no denying that Carroll is one pop talent to keep on your radars.
Track of the week. Based in London by way of Berlin and Cornwall, 20-year old Kai Bosch has been one of the most phenomenal finds of the week.
Inspired by the likes of Lana Del Rey and Lorde, this rising musician and producer fearlessly crafts dramatic sounds that are intensely emotive and utterly captivating to experience.
Haunting and atmospheric yet vulnerable in tone, ‘Blood’ feels reminiscent of the cinematic trip hop sounds from the late 90’s and early 00’s. Speaking on the song, Bosch says:
“’Blood’ explores trauma and mental health through the lens of a relationship and how it can affect the people around you. I wrote and produced it from my bedroom at the end of January 2021, at the time I was going through quite a tough time emotionally and I was really reflecting on how my emotions and mechanisms might affect the people I love. I wanted to embody emotional baggage as something quite visceral and gory, landing upon the line “Blood on everything I love.” Though the relationship in Blood was a purely fictional one at the time of writing, there have since been moments in my romantic life where the song manifested into reality – lyrics I had perhaps written before without much context suddenly held huge emotional weight.”
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Maryland artist Lil Seyi unveils an impressive body of work with the release of his new concept EP, entitled ‘A Blue Tesla Story’. Composed and performed by Lil Seyi himself, the EP consists of four songs that collectively tell of a story:
“The nameless main character in a ‘A Blue Tesla Story’ isn’t perfect, far from it actually. The EP even opens up with him going on a joyride, rear ending a car and driving away from the scene (hit and run). This decision leads to a series of events that end in the tragic passing away of his brother at the hands of the highway patrol. The EP continues as we follow the life of this main character as he deals with the public eye of this very public trial seeking justice for his brother. We see him getting support from protestors, but we also see him under heavy scrutiny as his involvement with credit card scamming surfaces. In the end, we find him left with nothing at all as time passes by and neither the supporters nor critics seemed to care about him or his late brother anymore.”
Within the body of work, one of the key songs is ‘On E’ – of which Lil Seyi says:
“After hearing a voicemail from an old friend, we realise time has passed. We are in a future where our main character sounds… different. Not perfect, but he sounds a lot more mature and healthy mentally. We have no idea when and how this growth happens until he tells us his true healing started when he figured out what he truly needed was something bigger than you or me, God. As the music transports us with futuristic arps and wide spacey synths, we arrive at beginning of this transformation. We see him realising and understanding that despite everything else being gone, God still “sticks around”. With nothing else to lose, he accepts Gods offer of grace and love, the best decision of his life. Heaven erupts with joy, and the cheers are heard throughout God’s kingdom “for one soul, for you”.
Through his reworking of classic hip hop sounds and instilling a modern narrative within the lyricism, Lil Seyi’s music could be compared to works by Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West.
Rarely does one come across a new artist with the ability to create work as intensely powerful as that of Floridian singer and songwriter Ari Rabin, who goes by the alias of Alnev.
Reminiscent of the early works by Patrick Wolf, Alnev cites inspirations as varied as Frank Sinatra, Billie Eilish, Radiohead and Panic! At The Disco.
Latest release ‘Van Gogh’ took two years to create, and is a stunningly expressive and raw piece of orchestral pop that feels immense and epic, immediately gripping even the most discerning listener.
“I ran away from home at eighteen. Packed my bags and booked a next-day flight to NYC, pursuing my dream of being an artist. ‘Van Gogh’ is an expression of the tragedies I’ve experienced in my life, resembling the painful life of Vincent Van Gogh.”
Be sure to check out Alnev’s catalogue of other releases, including his breakout hit ‘Cool Kids’ on Spotify.
Social media creator & star Nessa Barrett returns with a powerfully emotive new single entitled ‘die first’.
Expertly fusing dark pop tones with elements of indie, the track presents a sound that is not only universally appealing but also beautifully moving.
The song is dedicated to Barrett’s own mother, as well as her late friend Cooper Noriega:
“this song means more to me than anyone could comprehend. coop said this was his favorite song off the album and im so happy i got to tell him that this song was for him and my mom before he passed. i miss u more than ever my little dove. i can’t believe this is my first release without u. this is ur song cooper. i feel u with me every time i listen.”
FLO return with yet another perfected slice of R&B-pop that is certain to solidify this trio as the UK’s most promising new girl group.
Taken from their freshly released debut EP ‘The Lead’ (out now), new single ‘Immature’ continues the group’s work with mentor MNEK, and once again presents listeners with a sleek production that perfectly blends nostalgic R&B tones with a current pop edge.
“‘Immature’ is about being strong and confident in yourself and we really don’t have time for someone being immature. It’s ok for you to tell a partner, “You’re not giving me what I want and you say you want my body, but you aren’t doing anything about it! It’s our more grown up record and the next phase of the story to Cardboard Box. We had to dump them in ‘Cardboard Box’, but this is about why it was necessary.”
Since the release of their groundbreaking debut single ‘Cardboard Box’ only a few months ago, FLO have accumulated over 385k monthly listeners on Spotify, picked up airplay from national stations like Capital 1XTRA, BBC 1Xtra and Radio 1, and received critical acclaim by the likes of NME, Complex, Daxed, i-D and none other than Missy Elliott.
