Fans of Daft Punk may well have a new artist to obsess over, going by the name of Jean-Baptiste Beltra, aka Welcome John.
The French-born, Canada-based producer, composer, and songwriter has unveiled a fabulous new single called ‘Never’, which serves as a taster for his upcoming debut EP, which is suitably titled ‘Debut’.
Impressively, all the instruments on the record were played by the artist himself, with the help of Alex Dodier on saxophone.
‘Debut’ is scheduled for release on the 25th October 2024. In the meantime, listeners can enjoy more of Welcome John’s music on Spotify right here.
WHO SHOT SCOTT is the widely acclaimed musical project of New Zealand-based artist Zaidoon Nasir.
The Iraqi-born talent has been gaining traction for quite some time now, thanks to his powerful and highly original productions. His new single is called ‘LIL BIT OF HOT’, and is a refreshingly bold and high-octane blend of alternative hip-hop, punk, and rap.
The song was inspired by an emotional connection with a person in Nasir’s life who was ‘extremely sweet, kind, and sincere’. Sonically, the track makes an immediate impact and will likely stay with you all day long.
“At the time, I had just gotten out of what I considered to be an extremely toxic relationship and was still weirdly attached to the false ideas and habits that had been ingrained in my psyche as a result.”
WHO SHOT SCOTT has amassed more than five million streams on Spotify alone and attracts over 65k monthly listeners on the platform. He’s been featured by outlets such as MTV and shared stages with the likes of Snoop Dogg and Yung Gravy.
Track of the week. One of New York’s brightest pop prospects in recent years has been Kentö. A singer since the age of six, this talent’s work has not only grown in popularity across social media but has also amassed significant praise globally from tastemakers as noted as MTV, BBC Music, and Paper Magazine.
New single ‘Everything’ treats listeners to a retro-inspired style of sound that infuses 60’s surf rock into a modern alt-pop production. The track is heady, almost psychedelic in nature, and is impossible not to fall in love with.
“I wanted to make a moody pop track that combines a modern feel with the nostalgia of the 60s.”
After listening to this song, it may not come as a surprise to learn that one of Kentö’s biggest musical influences are The Beach Boys, whom he has loved all his life. You can explore more of the artist’s music on Spotify.
You really can’t beat a slice of classic soul music, and today’s release of ‘Be Your Own Shelter’ by acclaimed singer, songwriter, and producer Kelly Finnigan hits the spot perfectly.
The track has been unveiled as a taster to Finnigan’s upcoming ‘A Lover Born’ album, which is due on the 19th of October via Colemine Records (pre-order here).
The song itself is really quite perfect in its approach to the genre. The production is classic and nostalgic in style, with Finnigan’s vocals emanating powerful emotions.
“There’s nothing like making records. It feels like that’s my purpose—the reason I was put on this earth.”
If you’re in the States, then you can catch Kelly performing some live shows, with stops in California, New York, and New Hampshire. Dates and tickets can be found here!
If this is your first time hearing of Lento Rodríguez then let’s fill you in on some history. Based in the US and led by a Peruvian composer called Gustavo Rizo-Patron, this musical project creates a very special kind of dreamy, atmospheric pop.
It’s near impossible not to feel some kind of connection with the outfit’s music, and their latest release, titled ‘Palermo’ is one of our favourite songs from their catalogue. The sound is hazy, intriguing, and utterly captivating to experience.
Debut album ‘New New Wave’ is out right now now, and features collaborations from Hugo Lee and Daniel Sadownick. Definitely worth exploring!
This weekend’s indie bop comes courtesy of acclaimed Swedish four-piece outfit Girl Scout and their new release ‘Honey’.
The track’s retro-tinged style of production treats listeners to a sense of charm that is rare to come by in today’s indie landscape. On the lyrics, the band’s guitarist and vocalist Emma says:
“’Honey’ is about the bittersweet experience of close friends growing apart, heartache and the inevitability to keep everyone in your life at the same time. The lyrics delve into the complex emotions of frustration, concern, and helplessness while witnessing the imbalance of that relationship. It was originally written as an acoustic number, but we discovered that it was better suited as our interpretation of a 2010s indie rock song.” – Emma Jansson, Girl Scout
Girl Scout currently command more than 55k monthly listeners on Spotify, and has garnered critic’s support from heavyweights like BBC Radio 1, NME, and The Line of Best Fit.
The group will embark on a UK-wide tour from February and hit the rest of Europe shortly after. You can check out all the stops and get tickets right here.
Track of the week. Eden Rain is back with a stunning new single called ‘Crashmat’. Co-written by fellow rising starletSOFY,this track looks at how some people will care so much for others that they end up neglecting their own needs and feelings.
Aside from its thoughtful lyricism, this song’s production really showcases some of the best of what the UK alt-pop scene offers right now. Elaborating on the inspiration behind ‘Crashmat’, Eden says:
“I think it really hits on that feeling of being stretched too thin, right? It’s like you’re always on call, trying to be everything for everyone, and somewhere along the way, you forget to take care of yourself. Its about how you can love someone and want to help but also not really knowing how to.”
Eden’s music has been streamed more than 700k times since April this year and has received praise from the likes of FLEX and Far Out. You can catch the artist performing at London’s Moth Club on the 12th November—tickets here.
Every now and then we come across a talent who instantly stands out, just like New York’s Germano.
From listening to his songs, you get a sense that this singer, songwriter, and producer possesses something truly unique in his artistry. And we’re not the only ones who think so – Germano’s momentum is already on the rise thanks to the thousands of online followers he’s recently won over.
‘panic!’ presents us with a haunting alternative pop production that is both refreshingly experimental and intriguing in character, while the song’s lyrics address the artist’s self-imposed pressures to succeed in the music industry.
“I used to put so much pressure on myself to succeed that when my plans didn’t turn out exactly the way I hoped, I’d get terrible anxiety to the point that it was paralyzing – I didn’t know how to continue moving forward. It can be hard keeping the spark on in a career like this especially when you’re not yet where you want to be. So now I create music and art for my inner child and for my liking only, which brings me content and confidence in my work. This song is a reminder to myself that I have what it takes to accomplish my goals. I stumbled upon this blatantly self-assured character while writing this song and it has helped me deal with self-doubt in a lot of ways. That’s what this song represents to me – it’s a reminder to myself that I have what it takes to accomplish my goals and become the artist I’ve always dreamed of being.”
Germano’s work has received the seal of approval from the likes of EARMILK, PopDust, and LeFutureWave, and his catalogue of songs (of which there are only three so far) has achieved more than 200k streams.
Summer might be over in Natalie Clark’s native Scotland, but it’s always sunny in LA where the much-hyped newcomer has just landed an exciting record deal.
Playing her blissful new single ‘Iced Tea’ will give you warm vibes wherever you are in the world. This shimmering slice of melodic pop exudes finesse, and proves why this rising starlet is garnering so much attention across the industry.
“I wrote the song as summer was approaching, and I wanted to create a dreamy, summery world for people to escape to when they listened to the song. I wanted the listener to feel that soothing, comforting, warm feeling on a summer’s day – laying on a beach or by a pool, sipping cold iced tea. Even if you can’t physically experience that, I wanted the song to still offer that feeling to you! To bring you some sunshine!’
Clark’s induction into the world of music began as a result of a spontaneous singing request from none other than Sir Richard Branson, who chose her to perform while she was at the BBC Radio 1 Academy.
Since moving Stateside, her work has caught the attention of global names like Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton, marking her status as an artist to watch.
Hailing from the city of Boca Raton in Florida is 22-year-old singer, songwriter, and health advocate Sophia Gonzon.
This artist has caught our attention thanks to her captivating voice as well as memorable melodies and interesting productions. The new single ‘A1A’ is stripped-back in its style of sound but is still highly charged emotionally.
Gonzon’s work has achieved streams of over 4 million on Spotify while also garnering the top spot on ReverbNation’s regional pop rankings.
Alongside her music career, Sophia is also a passionate advocate for people who suffer from invisible illnesses, contributing to causes like the Association of Migraine Disorders and Music Beats Cancer.
Two of the UK’s brightest alt talents have teamed up to create one of the autumn’s biggest bangers, and we’re excited to be sharing it with you today.
‘Sad’ is a collaborative effort between Antoni Franco and Gorran, who initially crossed paths as classmates at the world-famous BRIT school. They’ve been working together since 2019 while also developing their own solo careers, respectively.
‘Sad’ is bold, captivating, and beautifully raw. And we’re not the only ones who love it, as the song has already surpassed 10k streams on Spotify.
“The track is about what happens when you can’t speak up about your mental health, and the long term negative effects of suppressing your thoughts and feelings. The idea that you may put your faith in certain people to help you feel less sad, but the sadness comes from such a deep place that they can’t necessarily fix the problem.”
There’s no doubt in our minds that both of these artists will hit the UK mainstream over the next year, so be sure to keep them on your radars!
Track of the week. UK singer Ruti possesses one of the most distinctive vocals of any artist that we’ve come across for many years.
The acclaimed singer and songwriter returns today with one of their most heartfelt releases, titled ‘Break My Own Heart’. The soundscape is rich in texture, while the relatable lyrics are certain to strike a chord with many listeners.
The song focusses on the destructiveness that comes from overthinking. The musician elaborates:
“It’s a conversation with myself. Giving myself grace but also confronting myself about my tendencies to think too far in the future and not live in the present. I’m the kind of person that just gets either too excited or too anxious about things that haven’t even happened and it leads to me spiralling. It can lead to disappointment but most importantly it takes me out of the moment.”
This single follows on from Ruti’s incredible ‘Lungs‘ EP, which garnered widespread praise globally and has so far amassed more than 700k collective streams on Spotify.
Canadian starlet margø is back with a huge new single called ‘love me ugly’, and it really is a sonic experience that deserves your attention.
Aside from it’s anthemic melody and punchy chorus, this track is deliciously dark in its approach to alternative pop.
“The best feeling ever is being unapologetically yourself in spite of it all.”
This is a sound that is both intriguing and arresting at the same time, and leaves the listener wanting more.
It won’t come as a surprise to learn that margø’s quest for global domination has continued to strengthen over the past year, with the artist amassing more than 2.5 million streams from her recent ‘love me ugly’ collection of songs (listen here).
Award-winning Icelandic singer Luthersson returns with an interesting new single to celebrate the end of his recent successful tour.
‘Reel In’ is one of the artists’s most honest releases and presents listeners with a haunting fusion of R&B and alternative pop.
Despite its sparse and eerie style of sound, the track flows in melancholy through it’s introspective and raw lyricism.
“This deeply personal track explores the theme of detachment as a defensive response to a breakup.”
If this is your first time hearing of Luthersson then you can enjoy another song that he released earlier this year called ‘I Can Always Picture You’—listenhere.
One of our favourite newcomers this year is Negative Shawdy, and today’s release of ‘Heartbeat’ only further adds to our obsession with this rising starlet (who, by the way, happens to be none other than Janelle Monáe’s cousin).
Inspired by the age-old dilemma of unrequited love, this song fuses drum and bass with hyperpop and R&B to create a piece of music that is both emotive yet energising. It’s fresh and intriguing, while still managing to feel human and relatable.
The artist’s upcoming album, titled ‘Dancing with the Lights Out’ is due on the 18th of October. Keep this talent on your radars; we think she’s going to take 2025 by storm!
Rising Australian trio PEPTALK have teamed up with pop legend Montaigne to create one of the biggest bops of the week – and we’re so excited to be sharing it with you.
‘Your World’ is both nostalgic and current in its style of sound. It’s a finessed piece of indie-pop perfection, with captivating lyrics and an anthemic melody.
And despite its melancholic lyrics, which were inspired by ‘the pointlessness of trying to please someone who isn’t listening’, the song still treats listeners to some playful sensibilities.
Interestingly, PEPTALK and Montaigne collaborated on the song as a result of their involvement in a Pride songwriting camp, which was curated by Troye Sivan.
London has a promising new R&B-pop star in the making, and he goes by the name of July.
Already an emerging talent with more than a million streams under his belt (and that’s just on Spotify), we feel as though it won’t be long before this singer and songwriter hits the mainstream.
July has developed a name for himself as an artist who is unafraid to experiment with different styles of sound, thanks to his diverse tastes in music and an open mind to genres. He cites icons like P. Diddy, Lionel Richie, and Phil Collins as some of his influences.
Melodic new single ‘Trip’ treats listeners to a finessed blend of alternative R&B and electronic pop, and is matched beautifully by July’s soulful vocals and honest lyrics.
“I hope it connects with listeners on a profound level.”
We are excited to share with you one of the most original and unique talents to come across our radars in quite some time.
Lisa Sereno is a rising Portuguese talent who creates cinematic pieces of indie-pop that are not only sonically interesting – but also tell a story.
The musician’s new single is called ‘Mystery’, and it really is something to behold. The song’s production reflects Lisa’s artistic background, which is rooted in classical music and folk.
In the space of just two days, the video to this track has already amassed almost 7k views on YouTube alone. Fans in Portugal can watch Sereno performing live on tour next month, with stops in Leiria, Coimbra, Porto, and Lisbon.
Jordan Massey is a promising Canadian-American talent who is not only picking up considerable traction through Spotify but is also winning awards along the way. As well as being a singer, Massey is a songwriter, actor, and artist.
New single ‘Heartless (NSA)’ was released recently and treats listeners to a melancholic blend of pop and R&B, while the lyrics were inspired by hurtful romances and heartbreaks.
“The inspiration for this track stemmed from a desire to continue the journey begun with my first EP, Human, which explored the complexities of new emotions and how they shape our lives. This second chapter delves deeper, focusing on how some people can take advantage of those vulnerabilities. I wanted this EP to have a more upbeat and fun vibe while still conveying these deeper themes. Thankfully, I was able to strike that balance, continuing the story in a way that feels both authentic and engaging.”
Massey’s work has been streamed well over a million times to date, with that number set to increase over the next year. You can check out more of the artist’s music right here.
Track of the week. Rising Manchester artist Dan Fable returns with an impressive new single that has blown us away.
Through its unique drum and bass production, ‘Sideways’ is both emotive and energising in equal measures. The sound is melancholic and almost pensive in tone, yet somehow still manages to inject an essence of euphoria. On the song, Dan says:
“‘Sideways’ is a song about putting up walls. Being scared to let your guard down and allow feelings to grow due to previous bad relationships. Saying you’ll never fall in love can often make you miss something special right in front of you leaving you unprepared for new feelings and what that can do to you. I wrote the song just me and my guitar but felt it needed some additional flavour to tap into the euphoric and tense feelings associated with falling in love.”
With 300k monthly listeners on Spotify and more than fifty million streams already under his belt (thanks to his acclaimed collaboration with Venbee), it’s safe to say that Dan Fable has proven himself as one of the UK’s biggest newcomers.
