MOONWOOD are an emerging indie-rock outfit currently based in Sydney. Their new single ‘Slow Down’ provides listeners with beautifully constructed lyricism that glides over an atmospheric production which is both emotive and captivating in equal measures.
Lola Scott teams up with Evan Klar and Abby Bella May for a charmingly catchy reworking of her single ‘jogging shoes’.
‘Checkmate’ was inspired by ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ and Jena Rose’s lifelong fascination with chess.
You’ll struggle to find anyone who’s crafting soul as finessed as Pale Jay is right now. Songs like ‘Shameful Game’ are immediately infectious, hooking you in and leaving you wanting so much more from this emerging star.
Emerging from Iceland comes una schram, who’s approach to pop is refreshingly playful while still maintaining a certain sense of finesse.
‘Crush’ is a sugar-coated gem that was mined from her hometown of Reykjavík, with some funk tendencies and lyrics that tap into the consciousness of most late teens and early twenty-somethings.
Liverpool’s acclaimed singer songwriter Zuzu is back with an anthemic new track that comes in the form of ‘Lie To Myself’. Written as a song in which someone searches for comfort in ignorance, Zuzu says:
“‘Lie To Myself’ is about the process of coming out of denial, about that fragile state in-between a breakup where you’re strong enough to leave but not quite yet strong enough to face the full truth. The realisation that you’ve been living through a toxic relationship whether that be romantic or even professional and the impact that has on your mental health. It can be emotionally crippling leaving something behind that you’ve leaned on for so many years. It can feel like learning to breathe again. The song is about those times you hear their name or see a picture, whatever it might be that triggers that knot in your stomach. It’s about not wanting to hear the details about what happened, having no control over your emotional reaction to other people’s actions past, present and future. I’m still learning how to set boundaries in life, for myself more than anyone. Trying to stop my anxieties from spiralling out of control and not letting outside influences affect me. Protect your magic, it’s precious!”
Catch Zuzu on her 2021 headline UK tour – tickets here.
Bay Area bred and Los Angeles based singer songwriter Marc E. Bassy returns with sublime new single ‘Bowie’. Upon it’s release, the song was immediately playlisted to Spotify’s New Music Friday in ten countries, as well as other playlists on both Spotify and SoundCloud.
Taken from the upcoming record ‘Little Men‘ which is out on 8th October 2021 via Bassy’s own independent label NEW GOLD MEDAL.
Nashville-based alt-pop project DBMK return today with one of the best tracks of the week so far (in my humble view).
With each new release, this duo continue to push the boundaries of their sound, crafting songs that explore humanity: change, love, loss, joy, misery, triumph, and disappointment – with compassion and curiosity.
“‘Tough’ is a song about feeling utterly stuck in the place you’re at in life and being constantly overlooked by a world that seems to be moving faster and faster around you. This place that you’re stuck in could be school, a job, a relationship, or a state of mine. Do you have the confidence to get up and change your circumstances?”
‘movies in the backyard’ is that kind of indie-pop song that immediately casts a spell on you, leaving you totally mesmerised and in love with it.
Written in Castro’s childhood bedroom, the song is a nostalgic cut that paints romantic vignettes of his life – “every bruise a badge of honour when we’re flying up the trees” – that feel like you’re watching an A24 film.
“‘movies in the backyard’ was written on a challenge from my childhood friends to write a song about growing up together in Ohio. We were always running through the woods, singing around the piano, or shooting YouTube videos in their backyard. They were my escape out of my own world and into one that we made fantastical. Sometimes I feel like I never left that backyard, and I’m still foraging around for that feeling. And so that’s what I ended up writing.”
A hugely exciting debut from Nottingham raised and London based singer songwriter Joey Knight.
With a beautifully sincere approach to music-making, Joey has already found himself collaborating with a close-knit community of other emerging talents (and Alfitude favourites) such as Issey Cross, Tayo Sound, Jalle and Sfven.
‘let u go’ is a subtly emotive piece that all’s about heartbreak, with Joey examining his own mistakes in a relationship and looking back at it with fondness and honesty.
“‘let u go’ is a song coming from a place of heartbreak and the heartache in hindsight. Looking at the breakdown of a relationship and wondering if it would be different had certain things changed, and blaming yourself for not being able to see, or do certain things at the time. It’s really that post-breakup vicious cycle of thoughts that I think most people have experienced at some point in their lives – whether it be through friendships, family or romantic relationships”.
Amsterdam-based singer songwriter Joya Mooi shares her hypnotising new release ‘You Know Me Well By Now’, reuniting with producer Sim Fane for another supreme cut of modern R&B.
“I think as people we do many things, sending out mixed messages, avoiding difficult questions or having ”off days” – so it only makes sense that most people don’t get to meet the ‘real’ you. Society is changing a lot, and it looks like people are becoming more hesitant to learn something themselves. I don’t know if it’s fear of trying or if it just seems easier to be detached by default. But it is something that has been on my mind lately.”
Consistently serving us with premium pop bangers, London-based artist DYLAN returns with an angsty offering in the form of new single ‘Someone Else’. This song is sure to hit the hearts of listeners who fall for somebody who’s already in love with somebody else.
“’Someone Else’ is very straight to the point song. There are no hidden meanings, it is simply about falling in love with someone that is in love with someone else, which obviously is a tad heartbreaking. The song started way sadder than it is now, and slowly the inner disbelief and anger seemed to take over the lyrics.”
You can catch Dylan at her newly added London headline date on 22nd February 2022.
Hailing from Norway, 21-year old independent artist Ash Olsen has already been picking up attention since the release of her 2020 single ‘KITKAT’, with praise coming from the likes of NRK P3 and P3X.
With a highly unique approach to rap, this artist is one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the Nordic region of late, and well worth keeping an eye out for. On new song ‘VIBE KILLER’ she says:
“My girl killed my vibe right before I hit the studio, so I went in with good inspiration. PS. don’t be a vibe killer.”
UK talent Just George has already picked up attention from heavyweights like BBC Radio 1 thanks to his breakthrough release ‘Blue Maserati’ last year. Now he’s back with new single ‘Remind Me’, which revolves around themes of unrequited love and nostalgia.
Trappy inflections blend with guitar licks to create a sleek backdrop for Just George’s soft falsetto, underlining his status as one of the country’s most exciting new prospects.
“‘Remind Me’ is about a person you desire, but the complexities involved when that person is your type but you’re not theirs.”
Track of the week. It’s hard to get nostalgia right when it comes to producing new music, yet Keiynan Lonsdale has managed to construct one of sharpest blends of pop and R&B that I have come across over the last few days.
“I finally feel in harmony with myself as a man, at peace with both my feminine and my masculine. Sometimes, there are still demons to face, there’s still fear, but… I’ve stopped running, so I can continue growing with strength.”
Keiynan plays his first ever headline show at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre – tickets here.
Rising artist Sody turns sadness into anger through her latest single ‘Bitch (I Said It).’ A relatable and stunning piece of pop brilliance, the track continues to propel this starlet into the mainstream, who’s garnered over 100 million global career streams in the last 12 months alone.
“After years of releasing music about my sadness, ‘Bitch (I Said It)’ takes me into this new, angrier phase. I do see the good in people a lot but there are only so many times you can put up with someone treating you badly. This song has given me new confidence and has enabled me to channel my emotions into a sort of cheeky rage rather than crying into my pillow energy. It’s the realisation that you’re actually better off without them and now you can scream it from the rooftops!”
Sody plays two shows at London’s Omeara on 4th and 5th October 2021 – tickets here.
She’s lethal, I don’t feel safe around her
I heard that she killed a man out in Hollywood
Now we’re holding hands, pray to god she’s good
But she’s evil, that’s all I know about her
South London based artist Sola really is crafting some of the most sensational R&B sounds to emerge from the UK of late.
New single ‘Feels Like a War’ is solid proof of this, featuring her beautifully distinctive vocals flowing over an indulgent production that fuses elements of jazz and soul into the mix masterfully.
Tanisako’s ‘White Skies’ sees a beautifully constructed fusion of genres coming together to form a sound that feels almost timeless in it’s essence. This is a piece of music that feels raw, industrial and intense yet also mysterious and intriguing to listeners.
A deliciously dreamy fusion of alternative R&B and pop from LA based Asian-American recording artist and plus size model Yumi Nu.
‘Bouquets’ is a luxurious sound that is produced with flair and finesse in a way that is really quite exquisite.
