Category: Music

Ulrik Munther – Stay Awake

I first featured Swedish artist Ulrik Munther back in 2011, when the then-teenager was just starting out on what has ultimately became quite the career.

Having achieved viral fame with his cover of Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ and competing at Melodifestivalen, Munther released three albums that all charted top-five in his native homeland.

Now he’s back with the beautifully sincere ‘Stay Awake’, a subtle fusion of indie and pop that feels deeply emotive and endearing.

“What I want to say most with this music is probably, be yourself and be honest. To think about things a little more.”

Taken from the album ‘Put Your Self Out There’ which is out now.

Ulrik Munther

Leif Coffield – Just Wanna Be Strange

The Glaswegian alt-pop wonder-kid that is Leif Coffield returns today with the refreshingly eccentric ‘Just Wanna Be Strange’.

This is a deliciously dark and twisted (almost sinister release), with lyricism that looks at obsession, infallibility, and idolisation.

In an age where we are so driven by the idolisation of celebrity status, ‘Just Wanna Be Strange’ aims to portray the perspective of the obsessor. Often times we idolise those we see ourselves in, or see ourselves with, and it’s not difficult to think of someone with fame or celebrity that we haven’t adored simply because they seem ‘quirky’ or ‘weird’, and that it’s a travesty-debt owed to the universe that they haven’t become friends or lovers. This song represents that. All of that.”

Leif Coffield

New Music: Split The Dealer

A fundamentally honest approach to music-making from British talent Split The Dealer. On ‘Dreamstate’ we experience a light-hearted and fun sound that very quickly uncovers a darker and deeper lyrical context.

“I think over the years of social media growing, it’s sucked most of us in at one point or another where we’ve compared ourselves to how someone else looks, or how they are living. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind in life, when you compare your day to day life to somebody’s highlight reel, and it can plunge you into a rabbit hole of scrolling through other peoples best bits.”

Split The Dealer

New Music: Bethany Ferrie

Scottish talent Bethany Ferrie crafts the kind of rousing pop that is instantly loveable. The 23-year old singer/songwriter from Glasgow was shortlisted for the BBC Radio Scotland Singer/Songwriter Award 2019, and signed her first music publishing contract with EMI in 2020.

“This song is all about reminiscing, letting go and opening up: to allow yourself to feel the things you’ve been running from.”

Bethany Ferrie

New Music: Hugo Andersson

Sweden really is delivering some outstanding pop artists so far this year, with Hugo Andersson being another fantastic talent to emerge from the Nordic nation. A power-pop anthem with an infectiously catchy chorus, ‘Easier’ is all about that terrible feeling that comes to you after a breakup; when the person you’re used to talking to about everything isn’t that person anymore.

“I received a DM on Instagram from the songwriter and producer Isac Halldin after my debut release ‘Eleven’. Isac invited me and my companion, Rasmus Gustafsson, to come to his studio to write with him. Weeks after that we all met up and wrote ‘Easier’ that day, and after just one day it felt like we’ve known each other for years.”

Hugo Andersson

New Music: Julia Alfrida

It’s already been a busy year for Stockholm talent Julia Alfrida, having just recently competed at this year’s Melodifestivalen (Sweden’s biggest music competition) with the equally impressive song ‘Rich‘.

‘GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS’ is a Scandinavian pop banger in every sense; this is the kind of track that commands you to get up and dance your ass off!

Julia Alfrida

New Music: Jill Blutt

American talent Jill Blutt’s airy vocals glide over a perfectly balanced mix of synth-pop and indie on ‘Breathing in Manual’.

The result is a song that flirts between nostalgia and a more future-forward sound which is tremendously exciting to listen to.

“I make music for crying at the club/ on your way to the club/ in your bathroom when you were getting ready to go to the club but couldn’t quite make it out the house.”

Jill Blutt

New Music: Wuwon

Hailing from Seattle is new 29-year old talent Wuwon, who’s song ‘I Like It’ is a wildly catchy bop that blends elements of pop, rock and indie together in perfect measures. This is a song that will stay in your head all day – be warned!

Wuwon

New Music: Lu Wright

London based singer- songwriter Lu Wright has the kind of voice that immediately draws you in and keeps you hooked. A beautifully stripped-back fusion of soul, RnB and funk, her new release ‘Lovely’ shimmers like the soundtrack to a balmy summer’s day.

“‘Lovely’ represents a more positive me, looking back through my life. It’s far too easy to dwell on past mistakes and bad life choices, it’s much harder yet far more rewarding to acknowledge your growth and proudly move forward. ‘Lovely’ is less of a song about overcoming hurdles and more of a change in perspective. Whilst the lessons I have learnt are now the foundations of me, I can’t help but sympathise with those going through similar struggles without the benefit of hindsight.”

Taken from the debut EP ‘Notes To Self’ which is out on 27th May 2021.

Lu Wright

New Music: Paolo Ruiu

A compelling and intimate indie sound that blends elements of 70’s psychedelica with a hazy and lo-fi modern twist.

Raised in the London suburbs, Paolo Ruiu is a second-generation Sardinian-Brit who is not only singer and songwriter, but also a multi-instrumentalist and producer.

“‘Run and Hide’ is an impassioned, bitter response to the faint-hearted ending of a relationship, circles around an evasive argument – never fully resolving.”

Paolo Ruiu

Austen – North South East West

Australian indie-pop doesn’t get much more emotive than with this release from hugely talented artist Austen.

‘North South East West’ is a stripped-back and understated song that still packs a punch. Clever lyricism and beautifully distinctive vocals glide over a beautiful melody to create something that’s really quite special.

“The song was born from a super fun co-writing session with my friends Evan Klar (Berlin) and Hailey Collier (LA). It’s love letter to the honeymoon period. Ironically stemming from a dark place, I went into that studio session having just found out ten minutes earlier that a person really close to me had been telling me loads of lies – which is where the first verse started from: wondering what makes someone feel the need to lie? We took that, tried to laugh at it, and went on to spin it into something positive, imagining the flip side of the situation where things are easy breezy, simple, and comfortable.“

Austen

Call Me Karizma – Vacuum Boy

Never afraid to experiment with his sounds, alt-rapper, producer and songwriter Call Me Karizma is back today with a song that is truly like none other.

Hugely infectious and indescribably unique, ‘Vacuum Boy’ is just the kind of sound that reminds you why independent artists should be protected at all costs.

“In January 2020 I went and played park shows all across Europe for my international fans. I had a stop in Oslo, Norway, and a fan of mine (who later became an artist friend) asked me to stop by his studio after the event. We ended up making ‘Vacuum Boy’ and nearly 1.5 years later I am releasing it 100% independently.”

Oh… and while you’re here, head on over to his Instagram/ Twitter and wish him a happy birthday!

Call Me Karizma

New Music: margø

Canadian born artist margø brings a confident and sharp approach towards her style of music-making, fusing elements of electro-pop with an almighty epic rock twist. Her latest release ‘fool’ is a powerful song that focuses on empowerment and self worth.

“‘fool’ is about not letting toxic people hold power over you. This song is written from the perspective of facing someone who has continually treated you poorly, and finally finding the courage to cut them out of your life. This song is meant to empower anyone who has ever been in a dynamic where they were taken for granted – and remind them that they are worth more than how that person made them feel.”

margø

Jordan McGraw – HER

Co-written with Joe and Nick Jonas, Ross Golan, and The Space Primates, Jordan McGraw’s new single is an infectiously catchy slice of funky retro-pop that will stay in your head all day.

“During the process of recording the song, I was chasing my now-wife. While I was on tour, I was trying to figure out how to woo her. It was the perfect storm of the song growing with the actual process of she and I growing into what we are now. Everything worked out naturally.”

Jordan McGraw

New Music: Siena Bella

Siena Bella is an 18-year old singer-songwriter from Cleveland in Ohio. Already making significant headway in her career, Bella has already garnered over 600k followers on TikTok in the last three months and 100k on Instagram alone.

And when you play ‘Carousel’ it’s easy to understand why; this is a talent who lays her emotions and vulnerabilities in a way that captivates you and makes you feel a connection almost instantly.

“This song is about battling with feeling stuck, as if life is a ‘Carousel'”.

Siena Bella

Alexander Wesley – TO MYSELF

A beautifully delicate and melancholic pop release from Canadian talent Alexander Wesley. The track moves through a battle with one’s self as Wesley comes to realise that all of his doubts and worries are a result of his own doing.

“This song was written at a time in my life where I felt like I was questioning every step I made. When we first sat down to write it, I was talking about a romantic relationship and how I was overthinking everything about it. Over time, the song took on a double meaning and started to become about the relationship with myself as well.”

Alexander Wesley

Hamzaa – IN BETWEEN (feat. Miraa May)

I have made no secret of just how much of a Hamzaa fan I am. This collaboration with the equally fabulous Miraa May is some of the finest British pop you’ll likely listen to so far this year; bold, powerful, and full of confidence.

“This record is about two powerful women coming together with a firm and unshakeable message. You can either be the peace, or the motion between the chaos and watch me grow cause we’re not stopping or changing for anyone!” – Hamzaa

Hamzaa | Miraa May

Boo Seeka + Golding – Don’t Waste Your Love

One of the best collaborations of the week, Boo Seeka and Golding team up to create a powerful track that propels dark human sadness and holds it up to the light.

“Jay (Golding) and I were hanging out at his house one day and before we knew it, we were getting pretty deep and opening up about a lot of personal stuff that has happened in our separate lives over the last year.  I guess for both of us the best way to deal with that stuff is to write about it – so that’s exactly what we did.  The whole song was written in twenty minutes.” – Ben, Boo Seeka

Boo Seeka | Golding