The Starships are an independent music collective consisting of five artists who embody a synergy that is really quite unique to experience.
Their aim is to try and heal the world through music, and if ‘Living Water’ is anything to go by, they’re doing a pretty good job of it.
Be sure to also check out the video, which was filmed on 57 acres of black-owned and woman-owned land in Alabama.
Washington D.C. native VICU is not only a performer with a finessed vocal tone, but he’s also a self-taught producer, audio engineer, and songwriter.
And listening to ‘Focused On You’ shows just how talented this up and coming talent is; this is a sleek and stripped-back RnB affair which is so easy on the ears that you’ll be playing it on loop for a good while.
Born and raised just outside of Toronto, Cooper Bloom has been performing since the age of two. Growing up through to his teenage years also saw Bloom take part in the world of competitive dance, so it seems only natural that we now have the formations of a promising new pop star.
‘Drinkin Alone’ is a magnificent electro-pop bop that’s all about being honest with yourself and speaking your truth.
“Ultimately, I want to create music that forms a community. For people to be authentically themselves – free of judgment, and to know they are not alone. I want to encourage people to go after what they want and not let anything get in the way.”
With support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, DUMMY, WONDERLAND, NOTION, and EARMILK (plus flagship Spotify playlists), it’s only a matter of time before fast-rising bedroom pop artist girlhouse (aka Lauren Luiz) takes over the world.
Today she’s one step closer to that happening, with the release of fantastic debut collection ‘the girlhouse ep’ and new single ‘pretty girl in la’. The song pays homage to her time in the infamous city, focusing on the anxiety-inducing aura that it has around it.
“This one is very nostalgic of my West Hollywood days, wanting to be an actress and letting people destroy my confidence daily for the sake of the ‘craft’. I have so many memories of being out at bars/ clubs in LA having a lovely time, when out of the blue some stranger would come up to me and tell me that I’m ‘kind of pretty, but not LA pretty.’ Drilling deeper saying that ‘in my hometown I might be a 7 or 8 but in LA I’m merely a 4.’ This happened so many times that I really started to take it to heart, I was 23 and it kind of destroyed me! I would hold my breath going through tunnels just wishing that I could be an LA 8, thinking that would fix all my problems.”
Taken from ‘the girlhouse ep’ which is out now.
Extraordinarily, the song you are listening to is being performed by a talent who is still only 13-years old.
Canadian singer and songwriter Mia Baron’s voice shows signs of a fearless and focused starlet in the making.
‘Hide and Seek’ serves as her debut single, and is a moody pop song that tells the story of feeling unseen and invisible.
The best way to describe Cleveland-based artist Peachcurls is to let him do it himself:
“I draw from my, Black American traditions to portray my life experiences as vignettes using drum machines, synthesizers, and live instruments. My work blurs genre lines and often blatantly oversteps them. Life has a wide dynamic range, and I believe my work reflects that.”
And listening to ‘King Vitamin’ is exactly that; a slice of indescribable bliss that takes you to another place, with a beautifully melodic rhythm and captivating lyricism.
“This song, my most honest work, tells a story about helplessness, redemption, and love. It’s the embodiment of the Black tradition of innovating in art and turning pain into beauty forever – not just to survive but to, despite the pain, create joy.”
Hailing from Aarhus in Denmark, duo Soon have created one of the catchiest Scandinavian bops that you will likely listen to all weekend. ‘Soda’ is an infectiously feel-good track that reminds you to stop, smile and appreciate life for a moment or two.
“‘Soda’ is all about letting go of your worries. It came together after a long writers’ block and is a reminder of the importance of naivety and immediacy in life. It’s charming, persuasive and youthful – and we hope ‘Soda’ will make you let go of your worries and inspire you to go after what you really want in life!”
I am really excited to introduce new Danish duo AICK ( Helene Hoier and Eik Petterson).
‘Only’ is an upbeat blend of alt-pop and RnB, with lyricism that looks at finding the inner strength and courage to stand up, break free, and move forward despite the odds.
Tommy Ashby returns today with the gorgeously melodic ‘Whiplash’, featuring the vocals of Lydia Clowes.
Every aspect of this song has been meticulously constructed; the detail of the recording and mixing were paramount in achieving that trademark essence of intimacy.
“This song is about two people who were around each other growing up but were very different and never quite had the chance get together. As they grow up, they find themselves always looking for each other in a crowd, imagining what a certain situation would be like if they were there. As they grow up and struggle through various things, they lean on each other for support, creating a little bubble that they can live in.”
Taken from the new EP ‘Lay Low’ which is out now.
Having already garnered attention from the likes of Complex, BBC Introducing and Rinse FM, Daniel Adé is well on his way to making an impact on the UK music scene.
The 25-year-old rapper is part of a new generation of DIY musicians, also being a self-taught producer who records most of his music from his bedroom.
‘Sakho’ features the talents of West London musician, rapper and producer Xadi.
Zed, The Dreamer is the solo project of Portuguese singer-songwriter Zé Pedro Viveiros. The sound itself is a stunning blend of indie, folk and pop that feels understated yet intimate.
With soulful vocals gliding over emotive and melodic instrumentation, this talent’s music will win your heart over in an instant.
“I wrote this song after I moved from Portugal to London. It encaptures the feeling of isolation, loss and longing that came from that decision. It is a song about self-discovery and finding peace with the past.”
Newcomer Superlate is a 21-year-old producer based in the Liverpool. Already achieving support from BBC Introducing, this talent is showing some hugely promising signs with his effortless ease at creating energy-filled pop bops.
With Daft Punk as an inspiration, ‘Diamonds’ encapsulates that classic energy of disco and French house; perfect for the summer season ahead!
London-based independent RnB singer songwriter Saint Joshua is a 25-year old talent with a flair for creating sounds that are sleek yet charmingly mesmerising.
This is an artist creating music that explores themes of love, romance and existentialism that take on new meanings thanks to his uniquely rich vocal tones and captivating lyricism.
“The song is about the meaning of love which can mean something different for us all. It sits on the thought of love can be anything you want it to be.”
London-based talent Zac Pajac is back today with the infectious ‘Midnight’. This is a buoyant, beat-driven, feel-good bop that is impossible not to enjoy.
“‘Midnight’ is about being apart from someone you love and longing to be with them. For whatever reason, the world is telling you to let go, but you know that what you’ve found is too good to give up and turn your back on.”
Taken from the new ‘Midnight’ EP, which is out now.
Berlin-based Irish artist ORIAN has the kind of voice that immediately warms your heart, allowing you to connect with the music on a deeper and more emotional level. ‘Jewellery Box’ was created in collaboration with Grammy award winner Erik Alcock, who’s worked with the likes of Eminem, Celine Dion, and Pink! to name a few.
Centred around his mother’s jewellery box which he remembered from childhood, ORIAN crafts the song around the concept of personal history spanning generations, and the significance of passing things down to the ones we love. Through the object, he considers how people and love change, and how they stay the same.
“The idea for the song came about when I was in a bar one night with my girlfriend who asked me if I could place my heart physically anywhere, where would that be, and I immediately said ‘My mothers jewellery box’. Luckily, she remembered this the next day, and I thought it was a cool idea to form a song around.”
Some of the most blissful RnB and soul tones you will likely hear today come from Chicago-based talent Apollo Mighty, who’s new single ‘Smile’ is nothing short of being utterly sublime.
The song explores the initial feelings of finding happiness and love in someone else, and the excitement that comes with those moments.
“When I wrote the song I pictured a girl waking up the morning after she had a great first date with someone. She’s recalling all the little moments that made her heart race. I really enjoyed the imagery of her catching herself smiling throughout the day. There’s something really sweet and innocent about that kind of excitement. And it feels good to give yourself permission to be excited about something. Nowadays I think we all need something that sparks our joy and making this song was that for me.”
A refreshingly raw and captivating release from Melbourne-based experimental rap artist glu.
‘TOKYO’ brings a dark, atmospheric and intriguing approach to hip hop that blurs the boundaries of what to expect from the genre. The result is a sound that is hugely exciting to listen to.
“Reflective of the hollow serotonin-less void of a comedown, the lyrics flow smoothly with a slow, fragile cadence.”
I first featured Canadian indie talent Jonah Zed earlier this year when his fantastic debut ‘tired’ was unveiled.
Now he’s back with follow-up single ‘Horizons’ and it’s every part of perfection that I was hoping for. This is the kind of sound that is truly timeless in it’s style; it’s a mellow, hazy and sleek affair that is impossible not to feel moved by.
Hailing from Asbury Park, joe p releases his latest single ‘Off My Mind’ today as the newest signing to hugely iconic label Neon Gold Records (of Matt Maeson, Charli XCX, HAIM, and The Knocks fame).
“This is the happiest sad song I have ever written I think. When I started coming up with the line ‘now you’re off my mind’ I loved how just saying that out loud contradicts the very thing it is trying to prove.”
Taken from the debut EP ‘Crown Vic’ which will be released on 25th June 2021.
A tremendously catchy pop bop from Canadian talent Titus Bank. This artist had previously made waves with an ambitious project called the 365 Songwriting Challenge, during which he wrote, recorded and released an incredible 185 songs in the span of a year.
Now he’s back with the next chapter of his music career with the unveiling of ‘I Do Yeah’. The song is somewhat of a testament to sticking to your artistic vision, even if it takes years of hard work before you get it right.
“When we initially wrote [I Do Yeah’], the idea was about trying to better yourself as a person, and proving everyone who doubts you wrong. But when we wrote the bridge, it also became about letting go of expectations to be this perfect person. It’s a tug-of-war between self-betterment and letting go of social pressure.”
