Nashville-based artist Grace Smiles caught our attention this week, thanks to her bold yet heartfelt approach to alt-pop.
New single ‘Fever Dream’ is dark, intense and captivating in tone. It encapsulates the true essence of a love lost, and serves as an ideal anthem for those currently nursing a broken heart.
“‘Fever Dream’ is not your average indie pop breakup song. It encapsulates the rawness and unsettling nature that occurs with mourning the loss of love.”
In a sign of her growing popularity, Grace’s music has been playlisted by curators like Mellifluous and more. An upcoming EP called ‘Just A Dream’ is scheduled for release on the 19th April,so be sure to follow her on Spotify here.
It might still be Thursday but Danish trio Takykardia have already unleashed the week’s biggest banger.
‘You Got Me Feeling Bad’ is sonically reminiscent to the breakbeat productions that took over radio stations all across Europe in the late 90s, and treats today’s listeners to the full Y2K experience.
“There is an urge between the three of us to channel out unexplored energies. The only limit is our imagination, and as an act, we strive to evolve and to stay curious about the past, the now and the future. ‘You Got Me Feeling Bad’ is a celebration of being single rather than being with someone who makes me feel bad and insecure about myself!” – Luna Matz, Takykardia
Takykardia are steadily marking themselves as one of Denmark’s hottest prospects, and have found praise from the likes of Earmilk, Kaltblut, DMY and VICE, as well as BBC Radio and Rinse FM.
NY-based Bostonian artist brooke might just be one of our favourite newcomers. At only 20-years of age, this promising musician is already impressing us with her bold and punchy style of alt-pop.
Energising new single ‘All I Ever Wanted’ serves as a taster to the singer’s upcoming debut ‘Away Today’ EP, which is out later in the summer. Elaborating on the song’s message, brooke says:
“This single is for artists that don’t fit the mold of industry expectations, but knowing that we never wanted what they did in the first place. We were never them. That’s a scary realization at first, going against the grain and charting your own path, but this single tackles that in a really playful way. It makes me realize a lot of the ‘career advice’ I’ve been given isn’t relevant to my goals as an artist at all. So I’m like, why tf am I even listening to you right now? And so making this single was about toying with that. Knowing that you have something really valuable, acknowledging that other people don’t see it yet, but not waiting for them to catch up. And that’s something I think a lot of Gen-Z artists can relate to.”
In a testament to her talents, the song was written, arranged and produced entirely by brook herself. Listeners can enjoy more releases from the artist on Spotify here.
Track of the week. Welsh indie-rockers Public Order are back with one of their biggest releases to date. If you’re craving some raw, powerful sounds then we’ve got a treat in store for you.
‘HELLO’ is almost cinematic in style, and showcases the band’s immense potential. With each release, Public Order seem to be one step closer to becoming a global name. On their new single, they say:
“It’s been a while but we’re buzzing to be back with new music! The last 18-months have been a bit of a roller coaster for us but we took some time out to work on new music and even managed to sign a new record deal. ‘HELLO’, produced by fellow Welsh residents Damon Minchella and Tom Manning, is the first track to be taken from a forthcoming EP. It’s a pulsing, guitar driven indie banger which we love and have been champing at the bit to get out into the world.”
Since 2022, Public Order have gone from strength to strength. Their music has been featured on the FIFA 22 soundtrack, and has also been hyped on prominent outlets like BBC Radio 1.
At this point, we’ve lost of the number of times that we’ve featured American artist Madeline – but the simple truth is that we just can’t get enough!
The musician is back today with a sublime new single called ‘Lie Back’, which tastefully fuses alternative pop with indie in a style that is reminiscent to modern-day icons like MUNA and Caroline Polachek.
“I spent the end of last year experimenting with my sound and I found some things I’m really excited about. Since I’m gonna poke around a bit this year, I wanted to start this string of releases with a song that felt like a true progression from the sound of my first and second project.”
The track follows on from Madeline’s critically acclaimed ‘Gut Tag’ EP, which was praised by outlets as noted as The Line of Best Fit, MTV, NYLON, and Paper Magazine. Madeline has also picked up support through countless Spotify flagship playlists, as well as prominent TikTok playlisters like Ari Elkins .
BOKO might be a new name for most, but this artist is already a seasoned musician who has been practicing the drums from the age of 9.
Inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan, Jack Johnson and Ed Sheeran, the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has an ability to create songs that have mainstream appeal while also maintaining a sincere and soulful essence.
Inspiring new single ‘HUH?’ centres around BOKO’s views on his artistry, and encourages fellow musicians to follow their true creative visions.
“This new single not only symbolizes the necessity of staying true to your art but also the importance of allowing it to lead the way and not the other way around.”
To date, BOKO’s music has garnered more than 500k cumulative streams, while also landing features on prominent platforms like Cloudkid’s YouTube channel.
One of our favourite Norwegian artists of late has been Fig Tape, who returns today with a new single called ‘Holy Ponies’.
As we’ve come to expect from this talent, the song presents listeners with a euphoric and polished fusion of techno and alternative pop. This is a sound that makes you crave for a night out in a sweaty underground club, and we’re living for it.
Living in Berlin heavily inspired me musically. I made a lot of up-tempo, techno-inspired music when living there. It was a good feeling to go back last year and visit your old hometown. I had such a great time there, and it was so nice to meet up with BAUGRUPPE90 and do the session we did when we made ‘Holy Ponies’.
In a nod to his ever-growing popularity, Fig Tape’s music was recently featured on the iconic Netflix series ‘Young Royals’. Fans can expect more singles to be released in the coming months.
If you’ve yet to come across Ghanaian-American talent Queen Drie then get prepared to fall in love with a very special new artist.
By blending elements of poetry with hip hop, alt-R&B and Afrobeats, this musician creates music that is not only lyrically intelligent, but also sonically captivating.
New single ‘WOMAN’ serves as an empowering anthem for women worldwide, and inspires its listeners to embrace their inner strengths – and be confident in who they are.
Alongside her work as a rising musician, Queen Drie is also a Psychology student at the University of Chicago. You can explore her previous singles on Spotify here.
The first thing that caught our attention when we played June’s ‘Not The Guy Of My Dreams’ was the sheer elegance of the artist’s vocal.
Hailing from Houston in Texas, this rising starlet’s distinctive style sound has already seen her amass a committed and ever-growing fanbase across Spotify and social media.
The music is heartfelt, pure and sincere in tone, allowing for the artist’s beautiful vocals and lyrics to shine through. On her new single, June says:
“‘Not The Guy Of My Dreams’ crafts a hazy, dreamy atmosphere that can really transport listeners on a journey. That was my goal creating this record, to showcase my vulnerability through my lyrics/ vocals.”
We’re very excited to be sharing with you a bright new indie talent from Sweden called john hugo.
This promising singer and songwriter creates an impressive pop-rock sound that feels classic yet fresh in style – which makes sense when we learn that his work is influenced by the likes of The 1975 and Alexander 23, as well as Fleetwood Mac and even Prince.
Anthemic new single ‘Friends’ has just been released, and showcases the artist’s brilliant potential. Speaking on the track, hugo explains:
‘Friends’ is a deeply personal song about the uncertainty and confusion that develops when a relationship ends and you lie to yourself and to the other person that ‘we can still be friends’.
While still early in his career (hugo has only released two other singles on Spotify), we think this is a talent to watch for. More music can be found here.
EEVAH are back with an energising new single that deserves your immediate attention.
‘Heartbeat Is Missing’ treats listeners to a bold mix of indie, rock and pop, while the lyrics address moments in our lives when we feel the need to become people-pleasers.
“It’s about pleasing people, changing yourself to fit in and losing who you really are. Becoming desensitised to peoples apparent lack of boundaries or empathy, weaving together negative attention into a protective armour that keeps away the darkness but also blocks out the light, realising that then lashing out”. – Nicole Smith, EEVAH
EEVAH’s music has picked up praise from national outlets as respected as BBC Radio 1, 6Music and Radio X. Their songs have amassed more than 400k streams on Spotify alone, with that figure certain to spike up even more as their momentum grows.
An upcoming EP titled ‘Simply Life’ is scheduled for release soon. You can catch the band live on tour across the UK soon – dates can be found here.
Acclaimed LA-based producer A/S/L returns today with a sublime fusion of electronica and retro-inspired disco.
‘Candy’ brims with nostalgic charm, and is certain to bring a smile to any listener’s face. Alongside its polished production, the track continues to showcase A/S/L’s extraordinary skills at crafting finessed sounds.
The track serves as a taster to the artist’s freshly-released mini EP of the same name, which you can enjoy here.
A/S/L’s music has been featured on playlists as prominent as Spotify’s Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds Dance. Fans can expect more new music later in the year, in the form of an upcoming project titled ‘Live From Selby’.
With praise from the likes of Conan Gray already under her belt, it’s safe to assume that American singer-songwriter Jessiqa Jones will become a household name in the near future.
Haunting new single ‘it’s milk, DON’T CRY!’ showcases a style of alternative pop that is bold and confident in tone, while still maintaining an essence of vulnerability. Explaining the song’s meaning, Jones says:
“The track ‘it’s milk, DON’T CRY!’ emphasizes on the feeling of adolescence and consoling oneself by minimizing and downplaying the conflicts one faces in life. This song was one of the most meaningful songs I’ve ever written and most seemingly effortless to write. Going through so many changes in the time I wrote this, switching jobs, moving, and leaving everything that felt comfortable to me, I ended up writing a song in a genre I had grown up loving, but always felt dismissive of creating in. It wasn’t ‘comfortable’ for me. Always hearing the phrase ‘Don’t cry over spilt milk.’ has made it a super interesting quote to me just because I cry over everything, but also the Importance of turning your cheek to things that aren’t worth your time. But on the other side of things, it’s incredibly easy to do the same and substitute or push past roadblocks in life to keep moving forward. This song helped me learn a lot about myself and deal with things of the past, head on. To also make a song that I feel represents so much insecurity, it’s just brought a lot of sense of self.”
To date, this rising starlet has amassed more than 8 million TikTok views, and also landed placements on prestigious playlists as noted as Spotify’s ‘Young and Free’ and Apple Music’s ‘New In Pop’.
We’re not quite sure how she managed it, but singer-songwriter and Columbia University student Kacey Fifield has found the time to release a new EP (‘Nostalgia Haunts Me’, listen here), as well as a fresh single called ‘Left Behind’.
The track presents listeners with a powerful and energising blend of electronica, synth and pop. Explaining the song’s inspiration, Kacey says:
“I came up with the idea for this song when I was in the thick of receiving my college decisions. It was the end of the year, all of my relationships felt like they were falling apart, and I was terrified of the future. Since ‘Nostalgia Haunts Me’ I felt terrified of ‘living in the past my whole life’ and getting ‘left behind’ by those around me. This darker lyrical theme is juxtaposed with an upbeat, danceable instrumental. This pairing is meant to express the catharsis of finally letting go of my fears and recognizing that my worries are out of my control.”
“This EP serves as a diary entry, a confession, and a goodbye letter to my high school experience along with all the bittersweet memories it brought about. I’m an incredibly nostalgic person, to the point where I become addicted to scrolling through old photos, messages, and posts, always yearning for this past. As a project, ‘Nostalgia Haunts Me’ confronts this feeling of being stuck in the past, facing it with a unique blend of haunting melodies, danceable production, and vulnerable lyrics.”
There’s no doubt in our minds that Kacey will become a global name in a short matter of time, so keep her on your radars!
We’ve been big fans of American artist PawPaw Rod for several years, so we’re delighted to be sharing with you another fabulous new single from the talent.
‘Hello Dear’ is a charming song that fuses elements of alternative R&B with indie and bedroom pop. Alongside PawPaw’s unique vocals, the track’s melody will stick with you all day.
The musician recently performed on first headline tour in the US, while his music has amassed more than 100 million cumulative streams on Spotify alone.
Australian newcomer Holly Wild is a name to watch for in 2024. With a natural flair for crafting supreme alt-pop songs, this artist has already proven herself as one of the nation’s most promising starlets.
New single ‘Cuts Me Up’ is taken from the musician’s debut ‘Fire’ album (listen here). The song seamlessly fuses pop and rock with electronica, and tells of the inner conflicts we experience when we are ‘cut up’ over a situation, even when it’s the result of our own actions.
The track showcases Wild’s ability to craft sounds that are not only melodically memorable, but also lyrically intelligent. On her songwriting process, she explains:
“I’ve been into personal growth for as long as I can remember. I want to be the best version of myself, and I want to inspire people around me to be the best versions of themselves, too.”
Kristo (aka Kristiaan Deruytter) is an up and coming singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist emerging from Belgium.
Born into a musical family (he is the son of famed saxophonist Frank Deruytter, while his mother is a musical teacher), this talent has a gift for songwriting which shines through on songs like ‘Morning Blues’.
The track is lifted from the artist’s freshly-released ‘Childhood’ EP, and delivers an emotive piece of music that is beautifully stripped-back and melodic in character.
Other songs on the EP include ‘Do I Miss You More’, which explores his vulnerabilities in having a long-distance relationship, and ‘I Am Not Enough’, which centres around his father.
“Although my father wishes for my freedom above all else, my deep admiration for him unintentionally adds to the sense of expectation.”
Melbourne’s Cmplxtra (pronounced complextra) is one of the most interesting artists to come across our radars this week.
At only 21-years of age, this musician creates a distinctive style of alt-pop that somehow feels cutting edge yet also timeless in style.
The music is refreshingly raw and heartfelt, which comes down to the fact that this talent writes, records and produces all of their work.
Cmplxtra succinctly describes their new single ‘inertia’ as a ‘melancholy ballad that builds to an explosive break’. The song is bold, intense, and utterly gripping. You can follow the artist on Spotify here.
Track of the week. If you’re in the mood for some mischievous electronic punk-pop then we’ve got the perfect anthem to share with you today.
‘DIRT’ is the huge new single from rising newcomer Zoe Ko, and was inspired by the artist’s ties to New York City. She explains:
“I’m from NYC baby!! Raised there my whole life. I wouldn’t be the crazy bad bitch I am without it. NYC is often looked down upon for its grit, intense hustle and bustle, garbage on the street, rats, pigeons, cockroaches, scary subways, etc. But to me, though sometimes admittedly not the most wonderful things to endure, those elements of the city were fun, real and influenced me into becoming an adaptable and adventurous person.
When I moved to LA I missed all the grit and dirt NYC had. I missed its rawness and the people in it. Though this is an exaggeration, I found myself surrounded by more girlies in lululemon outfits and drinking Hailey Beiber smoothies in their snazzy cars than ever before. There was a fakeness and showiness to this city that I wasn’t used to.
So a few weeks into living here I walked into Jonny’s (prod and co writer) studio and started ranting about how much I miss NYC and it’s “dirt” and how I didn’t understand where LA was hiding theirs. I loved the word DIRT so much I decided it needed to be turned into a gritty dance track I would hear in one of my favorite clubs in NYC, so I could bring some of NYC’s dirt to the city of angels.
I’d like to say, now living in LA for 7 months I actually love it here lol. And when I wrote this song I was being a bit insane, dramatic, and homesick HAHAAH.”
Written in collaboration with Jonny Shorr, the track showcases Ko’s phenomenal talent. She’s just been signed to Big Loud Rock, and looks set to take on her biggest year to date.
If you’ve not yet experienced Ko’s work then be sure to check out her 2023 EP ‘Baby Teeth’ (listen here), which landed placements on flagship playlists like Spotify’s New Music Friday and Apple’s New in Pop.
Ahead of the weekend comes one of the catchiest bops to grace us here at Alfitude in quite some time, courtesy of London-based trio Husky Loops.
‘Again Replay’ is lifted from the critically acclaimed band’s freshly released ‘ultrarama’ EP (listen here), and treats listeners to an energising blend of indie and electronic pop.
“When I pause for a second and think about all the reasons why I started making music in the first place, ‘ultrarama’ is what being in Husky Loops should feel like. It’s not about pleasing others or fitting to a format: I am writing music that satisfies the need inside me of expressing something real, without overthinking it. We are making the art we want to listen to, the music that can fill the gap between our imagination and what comes out of the speakers. And if no one cares… we do, and that’s the point. We value caring, free flow, curiosity. No social media will change this mindset as our inspiration makes us confident and able to become what we desire to be.” – Danio Forni, Husky Loops
Husky Loops have already picked up praise from the likes of BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac (garnering Hottest Record and Tune of The Week on her show), and have toured with global outfits as noted as The Kills, Placebo and David Byrne. They currently command close to 30k listeners on Spotify, while their songs have amassed more than 6 million streams to date.
