Just in time for the peak summer heat, Toronto-born singer, songwriter and actor Johnny Orlando is back with a blissful slice of uptempo pop, self described as having ‘an ever so slightly 80s vibe with a 2021 edge and feel’.
“My goal with this track was to make a good song and have a good time while doing it. I just want to be able to make whatever type of music I’m feeling. I love all genres, and I also love the flexibility of doing whatever moves me musically.”
Kaz of J-Pop group INTERSECTION has just released a solo single and it’s the most sublime piece of music you’ll experience all day. This is a dreamy, conceptual and experimental sound that is really like nothing else I have heard so far this week.
‘Drown’ features vocals from Hikari Mitsushima and focuses on that feeling of being in a relationship, drowning in love.
“We expressed being drowned in the emotions as a message of this song. Depending on the listener, this may seem like a song that is about the romance of being in love with someone or a song about your own internal feelings that only you know about. It’s best to just listen and understand the way to be drowned by the wave of the emotions in your way, not to be fully explained by someone”. – Kazuma Mitchell
One of the finest bedroom-pop releases I have encountered in a good while, ‘Jonah’ by multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Orlando is a charming slice of lo-fi that describes that feeling of being out of place and wanting to leave.
The track was written and recorded by Orlando himself and mixed by JMAC (who’s worked alongside the likes of Luz, Matilda Mann & Rosie Carney), and is the first single to be taken from a forthcoming collection/mixtape.
Rising British RnB talent Olivia Nelson returns with a gorgeously expressive and soulful release in the form of new single ‘Oblivion’.
With critical acclaim already garnered from the likes of BBC R1 Xtra, NOTION and METAL MAGAZINE, this really is an artist who deserves to be on your musical radar.
“Oblivion is about a love lost and using different vices to help yourself cope with that feeling. It’s about being numb and free.”
Track of the week. With more than 1.7 million followers, mega-talented Australian girl group H3rizon are taking over the TikTok pop scene by storm.
And it’s little wonder why; their style of blending 90’s style RnB with dance is not only fresh but completely mesmerising. This is a sound that brings a smile to your face with it’s ode to nostalgia.
As far as electro-pop bangers go, you wont find many that hit as hard as Dasha’s new track ‘TALK’.
The song seamlessly captures the back and forth of a new relationship riddled with games, while shutting down the person who expects her to drop everything for their attention.
“‘TALK’ is all about taking back the power and about the karma around ‘you get what you give.’ It’s the perfect finale for ‘hot girl summer.’ Maybe it’s because I’m 21, bored, and resilient as hell but I only talk to guys when there’s some type of game involved. It’s not fun if it’s easy…”
A hugely catchy release from Charlie Powers, his new single ‘Crying Pt. 2’ is a perfect mix of lo-fi pop and RnB that feels nostalgic and future-forward in equal measures.
One of the most interesting discoveries of the week, UK-based talent Biyi is already a successful professional rugby player with one of the country’s biggest teams.
He’s also an artist crafting some of the sleekest fusions of British hip hop and dance that I have yet to come across so far this year; ‘Blame Game’ is a bop that deserves to be on everyone’s summer playlists. This is a track that is not only rich in character, but just makes you want to go out and dance!
An outstanding debut from Irish alt singer-songwriter Levi Evans. With a distinctive vocal, intelligent lyricism and melancholic melodies, this artist crafts a sound that is not only refreshingly unique but also relatable.
‘Back In My Head Again’ was written, recorded, and mixed by Levi in his home studio along with platinum producer Power.
With over 500k followers on Instagram alone, it’s safe to say that Andrew Lambrou is already somewhat of a social media star in his native Australia, partly in thanks to his take on classic hits.
Now he’s venturing into his own solo material; and if the sultry and dark pop tones of ‘Lemonade’ are anything to go by, this talent may well become one of Australia’s most promising exports.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Tony Bops is a queer artist crafting a sound that somehow feels dreamy and ethereal yet hyper and full of energy.
With a style of music that blends genres together into new concepts, this is one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the West Coast this week.
With just the right amount of melancholy, ‘IDMY’ is a charmingly catchy and sentimental slice of sad-pop from Nashville talent Nia Hendricks.
A perfect end-of-summer breakup song, the sound is beautifully emotive in the most subtle way, showcasing this artist’s true skill in songwriting.
An outstanding release from Philadelphia native Greya, who’s musical artistry is really rather phenomenal.
Already garnering more than 1.5 million streams across platforms since her debut last year, this talent’s style of dark electronic pop is clearly striking a chord with a lot of listeners.
She joins forces with Marc E. Bassy on new single ‘Lightning’, which looks at a love that’s falling apart.
“’Lightning’ is a back and forth struggle between two different perspectives on a broken relationship. It’s about loving someone who loves someone else, and the heartbreak that comes from knowing you’d do anything for someone who isn’t sure about you. The flip perspective… being torn between two people.”
A gorgeously melancholic slice of electro-pop from New Yorker ROSIE, a 21-year old singer and songwriter who’s new song ‘Sad Sad Sad’ is probably one of my favourite slow bops of the week.
“The song represents acceptance and how, after a full year of healing and growing, sadness can still creep in. This feeling is a reminder that sometimes there are certain scars that never go away, and when sadness is accepted it can serve as a lesson to never repeat the same mistake twice.”
With a strong ode to 90’s garage rock, UK band sweethearts have a style of music that draws from the likes of Pavement, Weezer and the Pixies and delivers a sound that is both impactful and relatable in equal measures.
“This was written some time last winter after loads of bad things happened in the world, partly inspired by the George Floyd killing and aftermath, and I wanted to write a song not about it, but for it. I focused more on the flowing lyrics, like Bob Dylan, rather than a structured pop song.”
In my humble opinion, Scottish four-piece The Roly Mo are releasing some of the strongest indie-rock from the region presently.
Produced by Christopher Marshall (who’s worked with Gerry Cinnamon, The Dunts, Dead Pony) and Johnny Madden of Baby Strange, the group’s latest release ‘I Miss The Dancing‘ paves the way for the forthcoming EP ‘How It’s Been‘ which is due out on 26th November 2021.
It feels like a matter of time before these chaps hit the mainstream, so catch them live on tour while you can!
Sam Wray crafts a kind of indie-pop that is impossible not to enjoy. Hailing from Milton Keynes in England, this songwriter’s style of music-making feels nostalgic and fun, but also current and fresh at the same time.
‘feeling good’ is the type of song that will charm you over in an instant and leaving you wanting so much more!
A refreshingly original blend of indie, bedroom pop and alt-RnB from British artist and producer Addezine.
Influenced by the likes of Frank Ocean, Blood Orange and James Blake, this is a sound that feels minimal, raw and authentic, allowing for a deeper connection between the musician and listener.
“‘Stairs’ looks to explore the feelings around an intense crush and the emotions that come with it. I was inspired to write the song after meeting a girl at a party and developing really strong feelings for her on the same night.”
A glorious debut from emerging UK singer, songwriter and producer Rufus. ‘One Eye Open’ is a melancholic and sleek fusion of RnB, alt-pop and trap that feels dark yet still easy to connect with. As far as British talent goes, this kid is definitely one to watch.
“Late in 2019, some people I was associated with pulled some weird moves on me, and wrongly or rightly, I felt they took me for granted, it left me feeling confused and pissed off. Shortly after that, I put a melody/ track idea together and wrote the lyric with Jermaine and Justin from Black Saint and ‘One Eye Open’ was born. Even though the song was written from a place of negativity, I turned those negative feelings into a positive as well as a banging song that allowed me to really reclaim my spirit”.
A truly stunning debut release from Norwegian songwriter BUKVE. By thoughtfully fusing elements of indie-pop with alternative pop, this talent creates melodic pieces of music that have an almost ethereal essence to them.
Featuring vocals and steel guitar from Firewoodisland, ‘Let me go Son’ is deeply moving song about letting a father go – not letting his death linger in his life anymore, while also speaking to his son and telling him live his own life.
