Music - New Music

Chloe Lilac – 19

Brooklyn-based starlet Chloe Lilac returns today with the beautifully raw ’19’. This pop-rock song is an acutely aware scrutiny of the alarming state of the world today.

“I wrote ’19’ about how scary everything’s gotten in the last two years. I really sat and thought about the state of the world and how weird and out of control everything’s become since the pandemic. I want to stress how grateful I am for my physical health and my family’s health, I’ve been very blessed throughout the pandemic thus far. There’s just so much loss that’s been happening and still happening. It’s really intense, especially being witness to all the tragedy at what seems like the beginning of my adult life.”

The track is the latest to be taken from Chloe’s upcoming mixtape, which is due out on 19th November 2021.

Chloe Lilac

New Music: Graham Lake

Emerging from Sweden is Graham Lake, is a Stockholm-born singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who is still just 20-years old.

Today sees his debut, and boy is it something to behold! Released via EMI Sweden, ‘Focus’ was co-produced by mentor Linus Eklöw of the iconic duo Galantis.

A flawless fusion of rap and electronic pop compliments Graham’s distinctive vocals over the instantly memorable hook, ‘I’m gonna keep focusing on me.’

Graham Lake

New Music: HEAD BALLET

Formed whilst living together in Manchester during lockdown, HEAD BALLET are a self-produced duo made up of Kiera Court and Danny Casio.

Their style of music fuses elements of indie, electronica and pop to create sounds that carry a sense of nostalgia while still maintaining a fresh and current feel.

“Real Life’s aim was to capture the end of an era, the transitional period between two distinct and antithetical stages of being. The end of a pursuit, a honeymoon, a romance or friendship. The title was born out of a sustained disbelief in a wilted emotion and an attempt to water it back into existence.”

Already garnering support from the likes of BBC Introducing, this pair of talented artists could be one of the next new acts to emerge from the North.

HEAD BALLET

Cousin Kula – Now That You’re Gone

A flawless blend of dream pop and psychedelic indie from Bristol-based band Cousin Kula.

Musing on the slower-paced life of isolation, ‘Now That You’re Gone’ glides elegantly between hushed synth-led movements and expansive jazz-inflected psychedelia, as singer Elliot Ellison ponders on a troubling period of time.

“This one started life deep into lockdown. I would set keyboards up outside Elliot’s bedroom window so we could still play together without me coming in the house. I guess the tune’s simplicity is, in some way, a reflection of the slower pace of life we’d gotten used to.” – Will Wells, Cousin Kula

December 2021 UK tour (tickets here):

4th December BRISTOL – Strange Brew
7th December FALMOUTH – Cornish Bank
8th December BRIGHTON – Prince Albert
9th December LONDON – Jazz Café

Cousin Kula

New Music: The Lagoons

The Lagoons are the DIY musical project of Southern California-raised, jazz-trained, multi-instrumentalist brothers Ryan and Joey Selan.

Their eclectic new single ‘Madness’ serves us with a nostalgic twist on indie rock, and was inspired by all of the craziness happening across the globe over the past year.

The Lagoons

The Landing – No Such Thing as Normal

With over five million collective streams to date, it’s safe to say that The Landing has come to grow a vast and loyal fanbase over the years.

Today he returns with a cosmic slice of indie and funk in the form of new single ‘No Such Thing as Normal’. With it’s infectiously catchy melody, this track is sure to win The Landing a whole new legion of followers.

“I wrote this last Halloween season, at nearly the height of the pandemic, with the intention of turning fear into funk. Using hidden subliminal sounds from some of my favourite horror movies I attempted to brew pop sensibilities with discordant progressions and optimistic lyrics with gothic harmonies.”

The Landing

Falana – Energy

Emerging starlet Falana releases her sophomore EP ‘Rising’ today, themed around women’s empowerment.

New single ‘Energy’ is taken from the record, and is a perfected fusion of soul and R&B that continues to cement this Canadian Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer as one to watch.

“It’s funny how things fall together slowly and then all at once. I feel like I’ve really found my voice. And I think once an artist finds their voice, they become unstoppable. I am really excited about the artist I am becoming, and I never want to stop evolving.”

Falana

The Collection – Get Lost

The Collection return today with a gorgeous blend of indie and alternative pop in the form of new single ‘Get Lost’. This is a song with deeply meaningful lyricism, emotive vocals and a beautifully constructed melody.

“I’ve learned the most about who I am in the times I’ve gotten ‘lost’ from my path and the expectations of others, and given attention and presence to whatever things come up. There have been many times in my life, whether around substance, getting divorced, or coming out, where folks have told me that I’ve, ‘lost my way’ ’and they hope that I will, ‘find my way back.’ So the song is really about that experience of those interactions – a kind of response for anyone who’s ever been scolded for discovering their own expression.” – David Wimbish, The Collection

The Collection

Devan – Orchid

I’ve lost count of the number of times that I have featured Devan at this point. This Canadian singer-songwriter is crafting some of the sweetest indie bops to emerge from the country, and new single ‘Orchid’ is no exception.

Taken from her ‘Liquid Sunshine’ EP, the song is all about feeling under-appreciated in a relationship. Orchids are naturally resilient flowers that are low maintenance; they die and grow back with little care. Devan ponders if that’s why a lot of people have them – they sit there and look pretty yet you don’t need to show them much love.

Devan

New Music: Bota Butterfly

Newcomer Bota Butterfly crafts a distinctly unique style of melodic electro pop that pushes the boundaries of what is expected from the genre.

This is a sound that is boldly future-forward, yet still carries an essence of timelessness to it. All this makes for ‘Somebody Else’ as one of the strongest pop releases of the week.

“’Somebody Else’ is a song that is very close to my heart. I felt a very strong desire to write it right after my break up. In this song I am addressing my inner self trying to find the answers, the answers of how to find the strength to let go whilst you still have feelings for them. What do you do when you find out that the person you were getting to know and was falling in love with is in a relationship with somebody else? I wrote about my mixed feelings, the conflict between mind and heart, which I feel like most people experience after the breakup. It’s about ‘rescuing’ my heart and making it mine again.”

Bota Butterfly

New Music: The Trusted

UK-based indie rock outfit The Trusted cite some of their musical heroes as Catfish and the Bottlemen, The 1975, The Clash and Elvis Costello to name but a few.

The sound they construct is full of charm and character, yet carries an essence of intensity that is gripping to listeners. Their new single ‘Vellichor’ encapsulates the sense of the passing of time, and dissatisfaction with the trajectory of one’s life.

“This is a song about nostalgia. It’s about using the past as a drug to combat the pains of today. The word ‘Vellichor’ means ‘the smell of old bookshops.’ This song has nothing to do with the meaning of the actual word but more with the feeling it creates. Vellichor in this context represents ‘the smell of old emotions and the passing of time.’ The protagonist is unhappy and distraught with the way in which their life has turned out. They are horrified at the new world and long for a different time or a previous life.’ Another of the many songs written during lockdown, and with the world seemingly changed in many ways forever, Vellichor represents a sense of seeking solace in the past.” – Tom Cunningham, The Trusted

The Trusted

Arliston – Centre

An immensely powerful blend of indie, pop and alternative rock from London outfit Arliston. This is experimental music at it’s finest; captivating listeners both mentally and emotionally through powerful lyrics and moving melodies.

“Before ‘Centre’ we’d never worked with another producer; having to explain ourselves had an unexpected effect on what came out. The identity of the ‘Centre’ is still very much ‘Arliston’ at its core, but the fresh approach and bold textures took the project to an entirely new place that we were surprised and delighted to arrive at. ‘Centre’ is a song about getting your priorities wrong and subsequently having to sacrifice something precious”.

Arliston have already gained support from the likes of Clash Magazine, Wonderland, The 405 and KaltBlut, as well as editorial Spotify support.

Arliston

TARYN – Edgehill

A sublimely dreamy and haunting fusion of alt-R&B and pop from Atlanta-based singer-songwriter TARYN.

New single ‘Edgehill’ continues to showcase this artist’s immense talent through it’s finessed production and captivating lyricism.

“‘Edgehill’ is the feeling that ensues when you realise lust is a more influential emotion than love.”

TARYN

Finn Foxell – Slow Kisses

One of West London’s finest (and from the same neighbourhood as yours truly), Finn Foxell blends soulful dance music with his distinctive vocals in creating new single ‘Slow Kisses’. Produced by P-rallel, this song is impossible not to make some kind of connection with.

Taken from the upcoming EP ‘Alright Sunshine’ which drops on 20th October 2021.

Finn Foxell

Isa Reyes – Bels

New York City multimedia artist and songwriter Isa Reyes releases her exquisite new EP today, and with it comes intimate new single ‘Bels’. The song sees Isa attempting to make peace with her childhood through a beautiful blend of sultry alt-R&B and dream pop.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the EP (which is also called ‘BELS’), she says:

“Thematically, ‘BELS’ takes you on a journey of vulnerability, nostalgia, love, belonging, grief, depression, heritage, generational trauma, and coming to terms with the past. Each song is like a location and time in my life that I’m reflecting on or paying homage to. It is also an embodiment of processing for me. ‘BELS’ is the culmination of that journey, one that we are all on, one of the processes of self-growth and acceptance. For me, each track is a step into that process.”

Listen to EP here.

Isa Reyes

Watch: Orion Sun – Concrete

Critically acclaimed singer, songwriter and producer Orion Sun returns today with her striking new song ‘Concrete’.

The accompanying visuals (directed by Morian Thomas) are equally beautiful as they capture the artist while she toils on a California farm, and in doing so honouring her ancestors and lineage which “is long filled with strength and knowledge, overflowing with resilience and beauty”.

Orion Sun

New Music: Joy Anonymous

As the name would suggest, this is music designed to bring happiness into your homes.

What started as two producers sharing dance music by London’s South Bank during lockdown has now turned into a full-blown phenomenon.

The new album ‘Human Again’ is out now.

Joy Anonymous

Miko – In My Dreams

Canadian talent Miko returns today with a superb fusion of indie and pop in the form of new single ‘In My Dreams’. The song sees the artist wrestle with the temptation of lust rather than true desire:

“This song’s about internet infatuation. It takes you with me on a date with someone I’ve never met. I wrote this one at the beginning of the pandemic and got to collaborate remotely with producer Julian Cruz and good friend of mine Yuki Dreams Again. It’s the first time I ever heard strings on one of my songs and I’m so happy with the result.”

Miko

New Music: Nora Lilith

Majestic Casual signee Nora Lilith crafts an intriguing yet beautifully sophisticated blend of lo-fi pop, alt-R&B and jazz.

Her new single ‘Wake’ is taken from the debut EP ‘Daysof8’, which is a collection of unusual, alluring and utterly unique songs that are sure to captivate any listener.

“This EP to me feels like an assortment of sonic experiments and inner world reflections. I feel like the energetic range of these tracks is a direct outcome of the varying timelines these tracks were created on, some very old and some newer, and some written on the same day. Over all, these songs lyrically all share an element of malaise, while instrumentally express both a sanguine yet broody attitude. That juxtaposition feels connected to what I’ve mentioned in my bio; the symbol of Lilith and how it, to me, represents a regaining of strength in what would otherwise be considered darkness…”

Nora Lilith

Just Stef – Liar Liar

Based on a real relationship, Argentinian-American vocal dynamo Just Stef reveals her fabulous new disco-infused pop single ‘Liar Liar’.

Initially teasing the track on TikTok over the summer, she set the platform ablaze with over 3 million views and 377k ‘likes’ to date.

Just Stef

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