Citing the likes of Jeremy Zucker and Brakence as influences, Nottingham-based artist and producer TruePilot has a type of sound that feels melancholic and moving, while also easy to form a connection with.
New Music: TruePilot
Category: Music
James Vickery – Finally
Produced by the legend that is SG Lewis, South London’s finest James Vickery returns today with the sensational ‘Finally’.
“‘Finally’ (almost ironically) always felt like the missing piece in my album. For the longest time I was missing this anthemic sounding song on the record, something that took me back to my electronic based roots of making music. I picture this being blasted full volume in a festival in the desert, one day, it will happen.”
James has also announced a special live performance at London’s Lafayette on Thursday 7th October. Tickets go on sale this Friday 9th July at 10am here.
New Music: Agi
A hugely promising talent hailing from the UK, Leeds-based pop artist Agi’s style of music occupies a space between Jeremy Zucker, Lauv and Julia Michaels, yet still feels characteristically unique.
As has been the case with so many great bops lately, new single ‘Lonely’ was written during lockdown while Agi was living alone. Although the song highlights the hardship of isolation, it also offers us a sense of freedom and optimism.
“The thought of being alone for more than two or three days used to scare me and made me really uncomfortable. The bizarre experience of being stuck inside taught me to be okay with being by myself. It made me realise even when I’m feeling lonely, I’m never truly alone. Especially in lockdown, in a weird way, I felt more connected to people by the fact we all felt lonely.”
New Music: Aida Lae
A massively promising new talent hailing from Sweden, Aida Lee is blending RnB with pop in all the right ways. ’90’s Baby’ is a sleek, finessed and polished vibe that is ready to invade the charts at any moment.
Finn Harry – FALLOUT
As a talent who consistently pushes the boundaries of popular music, Finn Harry’s ‘FALLOUT’ is a bold and confident blend of RnB and alternative rock that is refreshingly original and highly captivating.
Tora – Call On Me
Australian band Tora return with new single ‘Call On Me’, showcasing a richly layered and exquisitely unique mix of electro pop and indietronica.
“‘Call On Me’ ‘is a study of fictional characters pursuing each other whilst trapped within a town or place that feels hostile. The looping of days becoming nights with little to break the monotony, still not able to connect despite the time to do so. The chorus is the release of this feeling, exploring the dichotomy between feeling trapped in a mood or place and then having your location or freedom liberate you. New places, people and landscapes providing perspective to a cloudy mind.”
Taken from the upcoming album ‘A Force Majeure’ which is out 3rd September 2021.
New Music: PinkPantheress
With over 280k followers on TikTok alone and 40 million streams across her Spotify catalogue, 20-year old Londoner PinkPantheress is already garnering significant traction thanks to her distinctive approach of creating sounds that have a nostalgic yet future-forward flair to them.
Nonô – HONEST
No matter what Nonô seems to release these days, I am absolutely hooked on. She’s back again with another perfected slice of pop that further solidifies her position as one artist to watch out for.
“‘Honest’ is about feeling controlled in a relationship and then confronting the person that is making you feel this way. It’s about the feeling of not being able to do anything without the other person feeling jealous, which leads to a lack of honesty just to avoid having an argument. The song is about taking your power and your freedom back.”
Taken from the debut EP ‘Midnight Mimosas’ which is out now.
Dasha – Nervous
Californian songstress Dasha releases a gorgeously intimate piece of pop with new single ‘Nervous’, featuring minimalistic but powerful drums alongside hazy synths and vulnerable lyrics.
“‘Nervous’ is about my first intimate experience, letting my guard down for the first time and letting someone know me better than I’ve ever let anyone.”
New Music: Just Stef
This may be the debut release from Argentinian-American vocal dynamo Just Stef, but this talent has already successfully built an audience of millions across social media and garnered streams in the hundreds of millions.
After dominating TikTok, she’s primed for stardom this year; so make sure you don’t ‘miss’ her in 2021!
Kay Young – White Teeth
Track of the week. Captivating lyricism takes centre stage on Kay Young’s latest release, ‘White Teeth’. This Londoner is not only a rapper and singer but also a producer, and in my view one of the UK’s most promising up and coming talents.
Hauskey – One Minute (feat. Hope Tala)
This is Hauskey’s first collaborative effort, and it’s a good one! ‘Fake Friends’ calls out all the so-called ‘new friends’ who are caught making false promises, and jumping clear before they’ve barely managed to introduce themselves.
“Fake, fair-weather friends. Seems to be plenty, especially in the music industry. Being from a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, I don’t handle bullshit all that well, and can’t stand people who aren’t genuine. This song wrote itself, but I’m pretty proud of the ‘friend to finished in one minute’ line. It says everything.” – Hauskey
New Music: Paige Garabito
A gorgeously dreamy fusion of pop and alt-RnB, with finessed vocals and a smooth melodic flow.
New Music: Robert Taira Wilson
Tokyo-based Robert Taira Wilson is an English singer and songwriter whose style of music-making brings a modern approach to folk. Emotive soundscapes and thoughtful lyricism come together to create a sound that is as timeless as it is beautiful. On the production of the video to ‘Blackbird’ he says:
“When lockdown came around last year, I sat down at my desk and started drawing. Then I couldn’t stop. Hours and hours each day I drew, and the pictures stacked up. Finally, after a year, I had made enough pictures to make a 3 minute animation.”
Evil – Wrecked
Undoubtedly one of country music’s new trailblazers, Evil does not hold back in their approach to the genre.
Latest release ‘Wrecked’ comes across as a raw indie sound, yet still carries a nostalgic essence of soul, fused with some country tones. It’s pure genius, and really quite beautiful to experience.
New Music: Shai Skye
The almighty re-emergence of punk-pop continues! It seems that the genre is on it’s way to making a comeback in epic fashion, and if Shai Skye’s approach is anything to go by, then I am here for it!
Shakota – District Love
If you’re from London then you’ll instantly recognise the sample from this track. Shakota has taken a mundane voiceover from the Tube and turned it into a beautifully sweet track that is impossible not to enjoy.
New Music: Shaolinn
On the surface, this song comes across as a sweet and nostalgic blend of soul and RnB. But listen closely to Shaolinn’s voice and you’ll discover deeply moving lyricism that looks into the fears and insecurities that many young people experience.
The 20-year-old Virginia Beach-based singer-songwriter creates music that is clearly beyond her years; these are songs that are smart, observant and powerful.
Mattis – Enough Of My Love
A story familiar to many of us, Danish artist Mattis never knew how to show or tell his feelings as a young man. His new single ‘Enough Of My Love’ marks the turning point in his life when he discovered the importance of being true to to his authentic self; and it’s a brilliantly rousing piece of Scandinavian power pop!
“‘Enough Of My Love’ is a love song that I feel I just now am ready to release. I have had a hard time expressing my feelings through life and lately I have taken some big steps towards becoming more authentic and brave enough to say ‘I love you’ to those I love. And what a perfect timing to release such a song going into the summer and with corona as a hopefully almost finished chapter in Denmark – and the World.”
If you loved the song then be sure to check out Mattis’ beautiful cover of ‘Everywhere‘ by Fleetwood Mac.
New Music: Ben Again
A fantastically chilled slice of summery pop from LA-based artist Ben Again. ‘My Baby Likes it! (On The Weekend)’ is the kind of track that is all about doing less, but still getting more from life. Perfect for the weekend ahead!
“This is all about doing less and getting more from life. I wrote this during the pandemic, while at home with my partner and 3 daughters (they are on the track too!).”