Hailing from Stuttgart in Germany, indie-rock outfit Rikas create a kind of colourful sound that is bursting with character, charm and personality.
It’s no wonder that they’ve already seen themselves opening for the likes of Bilderbuch, The Lemon Twigs, Parcels, AnnnenMay Kantereit, and Von Wegen Lisbeth.
An intensely captivating release from Hastings singer songwriter Tom Williams, who celebrates ten years since his breakthrough debut album ‘Too Slow’.
Lyrically, ‘Heads Down’ nods to dystopian modern life. Williams uses a fictional city of the future to describe a people who have become so disconnected by a fear of human interaction, that they would rather keep their heads down than help each other in their hour of need.
“’Heads Down’ is a late-night walk through a city on its knees. Crime runs rampant, the sea has frozen over, no help or law enforcement to be found. No one looks out for each other; everybody keeps their heads down and keeps on walking.”
Taken from the upcoming album ‘Follow The Leader’ which is out 30th July via Wire Boat Recordings.
One of my favourite Scandinavian talents of the year, Dear Sara returns today with the beautiful ‘Stupid Things’, finely balancing elements of electronic pop with an essence of melancholy.
The song contemplates Dear Sara’s idea of love, while also opening up about her innermost thoughts, wishes and dreams.
“I hope that the listener can relate to the song no matter if they’re newly in love, just got dumped, single, married or just completely heartbroken.”
The new EP ‘I’m Not That Sad:)’ is out now.
Here’s comes your official weekend banger, in the form of Jafunk’s new release ‘You Got Me’.
Inspired by funk and disco from the 70s and 80s, the song thrives with an electronic and modern twist, all with the help of singer Dana Williams and rapper Nic Hanson.
“Sometimes the best strategy in life is to not take things too seriously, let your hair down and just do what feels good, and this was exactly the approach we took when making this track.”
Another week, another hugely promising talent from Sweden! This time it’s the turn of Rallie, who’s debut song ‘Too Good’ delivers a refreshing twist on pop music.
Minimal yet eccentric, the production feels sultry and devilishly sexy, while the seductive lyrics look at all the exciting ways of connecting when two people meet.
Following on from his sensational appearance at Swedish Melodifestivalen (the country’s most watched music series), Patrick Jean returns today with a shimmering and captivating slice of synth-pop; taking you on an intergalactic journey of emotions.
“‘Gravitate’ is a tribute to that person you will always orbit around. With this song I went very conceptual and I let my mind run free with metaphors to describe that love you can’t stay away from.”
A gorgeously balanced fusion of dream pop, indie and shoegaze from Danish artist Klaptrae.
This is a sound that feels intimate and delicate, and lyrically sets the tone for upcoming EP ‘Changes’, where the songs looks inward; questioning the paths of life and the doubts that may lie in it.
New single ‘Space, Changed’ is an emotional piece about moving away from the familiar and chasing a dream, to suddenly realise that ‘everything has changed.’
The new EP ‘Changes’ will be released on 25th June 25 2021.
A rousing and anthemic release from Sydney-based indie dream rock outfit Crystal Cities. Interestingly, this is the band’s seventh single to be lifted from their upcoming album.
“‘Hold Me Close Hold Me Tight’ is about the love and truth that exists within all of us. It’s about trying to latch on to those healing frequencies when you find yourself in an emotional attachment that is unserving. This song is related to a point in my life when I felt trapped in an unhealthy pattern of behaviour. My addiction was beginning to affect not just myself, but the people close to me. I knew that if I was going to heal I needed to find my way back to vibrations of love and truth; the true essence of our being. It was that sensation of being held close and tight by the energy of unconditional love that saved me.” – Geoff Rana, Crystal Cities
Once the release of each single from the album is complete, the band will re-package each song as one full body of work that will be their sophomore record, ‘Hold Me Close Hold Me Tight’.
Crystal Cities
Consisting of Songwriter Zach DeGaetano and Music Director Carter Vaughan, goth gf create a kind of bedroom pop that is impossible not to fall head over heels in love with. A charmingly subdued production sets the scene for captivating vocals and a wildly infectious melody.
A wildly infectious electro-pop bop from Canadian-born, Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and artist BXB LOVE. With clever lyricism and one of the catchiest melodies of the week, what’s there not to love? (Pun intended…)
“’Losers’ is my claim that we are all really just losers trying to fit in. I believe, if we really committed to being who we are, and loving that unconditionally, we might all feel a little more free and a little less anxious about the potential perception of us that others may have.”
There truly are very few people who are pushing the boundaries of alternative music as ambitiously as LA-based artist Christian Blue.
‘Frontside (rough)’ is a glorious fusion of psychedelic funk, hip hop and RnB that showcases Christian’s penchant for melding off-kilter soundscapes and instrumentation with face scrunching bass-lines and sultry vocal harmonies
“Frontside is the bay area experience into a song. Dramatic, funky, racey nights of youth. Hopping in and out of cars with that person or group of people you genuinely love and feel the best around. it’s about the Flirtatious, playful and intimate turn up of the 510.”
A beautifully dreamy sound from London-based artist Brave James. With captivating vocals and a mesmerising melody, ‘Soldier’ blends electro-pop grooves with a militaristic marching beat in the most charming way imaginable.
“‘Soldier’ speaks to me as an anthem for what my debut album is about, and it set the direction for the record. I knew that I wanted to integrate vocal harmonies with electronic atmospheres over this marching, militant groove. I was also experimenting at the time with cassette looping and a bunch of fun stuff. It all just kind of bled its way into the track. I felt like I wanted to write something about navigating lingering memories and feelings from past relationships.”
Brooklyn-based duo Boyish create the most moving blends of indie and pop, intertwined with haunting yet captivating vocals; all set within a dreamy soundscape.
Orlando native Talii returns today with a song that defines the essence of soulful youth with unmistakable authenticity. ‘Pointless Numbers’ is a brooding, dark RnB sound that is beautifully atmospheric and totally mesmerising.
“I wrote ‘Pointless Numbers’ during a particularly heavy depressive state I was in at the time. When those moments hit, I shut myself off from everyone and tend to suffer in silence even though I know I need help… I pick up my phone over and over to reach out to someone but even though I have hundreds of numbers, I don’t feel like I can text or call a soul. I know I’m not the only one who has felt like this. Creating this song has been a release for me and helped me share my struggle with mental health when it was hard for me to express it before. I hope it’s also a release for others. Something they can cry to… Something that gives their pain a voice when they struggle to find the right words. Something that helps other people feel less alone.”
Taken from the forthcoming EP, due out summer 2021.
Born and raised in Dublin, singer and songwriter Marcus creates the kind of sound that immediately draws you in thanks to it’s unique sense of character. Fusing elements of indie with RnB and hip hop, this artist takes you on a musical journey like none other.
Recorded at the famous Grouse Lodge studios with Alex Borwick, ‘The Juice’ reflects upon the time in his life when hip hop was his true passion. On the song, he says:
“I arrived in Grouse Lodge a day late, I had to take a Covid test a couple of days prior and wasn’t allowed down until I got my result. When I got there Alex had pretty much made the beat already. Sometimes I’m fussy in the studio and it can take some time to get a beat together, but when I heard this one I knew that it was perfect for the song and all we had to do was drop some vocals on it.”
Current Danish RnB really doesn’t get much better than Elias Boussnina. New single ‘bread+butter’ takes a more conceptual approach to the genre, all the while still sounding gorgeously sleek.
One of London’s most exciting talents of late, dexter returns with an infectiously charming alt-pop release in the form of ‘Blue Skies’.
A cheeky but punchy mix of electro-pop and rock from Vancouver-based artist JESSIA.
If you enjoyed this song then be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming debut EP, which is set to be released in later in the summer.
Operating out of the legendary Ealing Studios in West London, Billen Ted are a production-writing duo who made the unlikely transition from death metal bands to the world of dance music.
They’ve already worked with the likes of 220 Kid, MNEK and Sleepwalkers – and now they’re turning their attention to their own musical project.
‘When You’re Out’ is a reworking of a 90’s RnB classic, and features the vocals of Alfitude favourite, Mae Muller.
Milwaukee-based singer-songwriter, musician and producer Micah Emrich has come up with one of the catchiest bops of the week. ‘caffeine’ is an effortlessly cool mix of bedroom pop and alt-RnB, and features lyricism that leaves you hopeful about everyday anxieties.
“‘caffeine’ is about living a life following your passion and although it’s not always easy you find yourself being deeply fulfilled.
