Just in time for the summer season, UK talent Barny Fletcher is back with brand new single ‘Click’. This is an infectious alt-pop bop that’s all about that moment when you and a potential partner just ‘Click’.
“We wrote this in mid-2020 at Josef Page’s place down in Peckham Rye. I wanted to make something in the same vein as ‘Hey Ya’ or ‘Feel Good Inc’ – something upbeat, that sounds like summertime.”
Hailing from Canada, alt-rock outfit The Effens are a true definition of the DIY band. Not only do they record and produce their own tracks, but their music videos are self-made, the merch is designed and made by the members, and friends orchestrate on-stage visuals for live performances.
Unsurprisingly, each Effens release thus far has been put out on LootBag Records, which is their own label. It’s that sense of creative ownership that gives this band a strikingly unique sound; one that feels bold and confident, yet playful and nostalgic.
“The more we do on our own, the more everything has our fingerprint on it.”
Taken from the upcoming EP ‘Eventually’ which is out soon.
Creator of some of the finest soul to emerge from the UK right now, Nia Wyn returns today with a shimmering slice of bliss in the shape of ‘What Did You Expect’.
Produced and mixed by Shuko (who’s also worked with the likes of Anderson .Paak, Timberland and Talib Kweli), the song looks at Nia processing the end of a friendship.
‘I wrote this song about a friendship that broke down… It’s been years and has taken time to process what happened, but I needed to express the sense of loss and disappointment I was feeling.’
Singer and songwriter murloe is an up and coming UK artist who has already garnered support form the likes of BBC Introducing. With her uniquely distinctive brand of ‘wonky pop’, this talent tackles the nuances of life and relationships through her music.
“I don’t like to define what something is or put a label on it, I just do what feels right. I’d like to think all my people who feel the same will put this track on in their kitchen and vibe like nobody’s watching.”
Nashville-based Peruvian-American artist Lizzy Cruz has a refreshingly original approach to indie-pop that feels current, while still blending in hints of nostalgia for some fabulous added character.
“I began writing songs at 14, around the same time my dad bought a guitar… which I then stole and took as my own. I fell in love with performing because I loved watching people’s reaction to the song and the lyrics especially.”
Already achieving over 100 million streams independently and earning acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, Ones To Watch and more, rising St. Louis-born singer-songwriter Anthony Russo returns today with new summer bop ‘Morning’.
Infectiously catchy, the bright production glimmers as his voice flutters between vivid verses and a hypnotic high register. Urging his significant other to ‘sleep on it’ instead of fighting further, he pleads on the hook, ‘Let’s see how we feel in the morning.’
“‘Morning’ was birthed out of the idea that sometimes you need to step away from the problem, or sleep on it, to get a better perspective. When you’re close to somebody and spend a lot of time with them sometimes, it’s hard to zoom out in the moment. A lot of times, the problem is not that deep, and you just need a simple reset. Some people don’t like to go to bed angry, and I understand that. But you’d be surprised at how different things feel in the morning when you just let it go and sleep on it.”
Manchester-based singer Jessica Luise crafts a kind of indie-pop that is so seamlessly balanced and captivating that it’s near impossible not to enjoy this artist’s sound.
‘a.m.’ is a melancholic piece, written as a sanguine ode to flings, and the emotional battle between falling in love with someone in one night and then never hearing from them in the morning.
Taken from the debut EP ‘Going In Blind’ which is out on Friday 9th July 2021.
A tremendously finessed and sleek fusion of RnB, funk, soul and indie. This is an effortlessly cool kind of sound that is just so blissfully beautiful to listen to.
Born and raised in LA, Nikolai Berk is an artist who’s always been surrounded by creatives; his mother is a jewellery maker while his father is a fashion designer. With a life-long passion for music, this talent is delivering some of the finest American indie-pop that I have had the pleasure of discovering so far this month.
‘Sunshine & Sex’ came about by complete accident. I was working with my producer to create the saddest, darkest song off an upcoming project and what he first gave back to me was completely wrong for the song. It was bright, sunny, joyful, it more resembled Disneyland than the dismal despair I’d hoped for. But, I had to be in the studio the next night, so something had to get done. By some modern creative magic outside of myself, ‘Sunshine & Sex’ was made and a very happy accident it became.
One of the catchiest indie-pop songs you’ll likely come across this week, multi-instrumentalist songwriter, producer and artist OSKAR O.’s ‘roll it out’ is a gritty and dark piece that is not only easy to bop along to, but refreshingly original in it’s concept.
Taken from the new project ‘1v1’ which is out now.
American talent Mcclendon crafts a gorgeous and thoughtful blend of folk, indie and alt-rock into songs that are deeply emotive and relatable. This young artist creates his work by honing in on observing and questioning himself, and the surrounding world.
‘What I’ve become’ is all about evaluating one’s failures, relationships, hurdles, and changes; both good and bad, that come with metamorphosing towards your true self.
“I’ve woken up countless times thinking, ‘How did I get here?’ Just that realisation of being a long way off who you were – and who you wanted to become – when you began.” – Mcclendon
Taken from the sophomore project, ‘Mcclendon’ which is out now.
One of Canada’s most hyped new hip hop artists (and rightfully so), Nate Husser brings a distinctly unique approach to the genre that feels invigorating and future-forward. ‘Sleep Like a Baby’ also features Jean Deaux, with a powerful yet fun verse.
Taken from the EP ‘Adult Supervision’ which is out on 25th June 2021.
A new outfit hailing from Australia, Rest For The Weekend craft a quirky kind of indie that is intriguing and beguiling in equal measures. It’s a bold, raw and experimental approach to music-making that is really quite exciting to experience.
Unbelievably, it’s been three years since the world was last treated to new music from Swedish mega talent Tove Styrke. And listening to ‘Mood Swings’ shows that the wait was worth it. This is a song that explores the complexity of human identity, and looks at her struggles with mental health and self-acceptance.
“‘Mood Swings’ is insane. It’s paying tribute to my best and worst sides. I really hate myself sometimes. But I’m trying really hard not to. These past three years I’ve been through depression, fell hard in love, survived a Swedish music reality TV-show, I got a car, I got stuck with millennial blues, I feel like an adult sometimes, I feel like I did as a child. I feel kinda free.”
Already a noted producer, drummer and composer for movies and TV, Nother is the solo project of Italian artist Stefano Milella.
With a sound that feels intense and emotive, Nother creates impressive soundscapes that are immediately arresting and rich in texture. Listening to ‘Lines’ is an almost ethereal experience, taking the listener on a journey that is not only captivating but also exhilarating.
“‘Lines’ is one of the most challenging songs I’ve written, trying to find the perfect balance between my own emotions and rhythm. It describes the connection with someone who saved you from apathy, and Moon Leap helped me a lot during the writing process of the lyrics.” Nother
Nother’s new album, ‘Future Is Bright’ is out on 22nd July 2021 via Abyond Music.
Yves Tumor returns with the boldly powerful ‘Jackie’, featuring duelling emotive guitars that evoke the volatile magnetism between lovers, building into a supernormal transference.
Artist, podcaster, and all-around phenomenon Nic D regularly averages over a million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, and the release of ‘Fine Apple’ is only set to amplify his presence even further.
“I wrote this song for and about my wife. I tend to write songs about glorifying my wife because I like to uplift the women in my life. It was written in a moment after we had a conversation about me pursuing music full-time, and she fully hopped on board. I felt really supported by her, which resulted in a feel-good song. When you have people in your corner, it feels good and makes the music feel happier. I write a lot of songs about her, and there will be more because she deserves it. And I like my water with lemon and lime.”
A hugely exciting new face in the world of British pop, Tom King’s vocal is an immediate showstopper. Still only 19-years old, this rising talent is already crafting a deeply soulful and sultry kind of sound that many would take years in the hope of achieving.
“I got to spend a lot of time over these last few lockdowns writing new music, and I’m very excited to put out this first track ‘Honest’. The song was a reaction to being lied to by someone I was in love with, which brought out this vexed and sassy side of me. I guess it’s about being cheated on, but I’ve never been in a proper relationship before, so I don’t know whether I can call it that.”
One of the UK’s most exciting new prospects, Manchester-based singer and songwriter Tim Gallagher is creating some of the finest blends of soul and RnB-pop right now.
While ‘Fool’ was originally written by Tim for another artist, it has since gained a lot of traction from national press, meaning that it’s only a matter of time before this hugely promising talent becomes a household name.
“I’ve always enjoyed writing for other people and five years ago when I was asked to write for a band I jumped at the chance, mainly for the experience… but there was something about this song that I just couldn’t let go of… I found myself going back to it over and over again, and eventually five years later, I finally got it over the line and it just felt like it was my time and the right time to release it.”
Track of the week. Joy Crookes channels an essence of Amy Winehouse on new single ‘Feet Don’t Fail Me Now’. A perfect blend of indie and soul, this is a sound that is sonically captivating and lyrically intelligent.
“This song is one of the most complicated songs I’ve ever written (in a good way). The track carries with it a deep sense of irony, it’s written from the perspective of someone who finds it easier to remain complicit out of a fear of being cancelled. During the social and political turmoil of the last 12 months, performative behaviour has become prevalent alongside cancel culture. These two reactions I think are often intertwined as cancel culture can be a response to half hearted performatism.”
“In some sense you can sympathise with the perspective I’m singing from because cancel culture is scary, as is re-educating yourself and challenging your friends and families. Ultimately I hope the song encourages people to be a bit braver, whilst the themes are clear in my head the chorus is universal – ‘man I guess I was scared, feet don’t fail me now, I got to stand my ground and though I’m down for trying, I am better in denial so I hush don’t make a sound’. Open up a dialogue, speak out, make mistakes – that’s okay and that’s how progress happens.”
