Category: Music

New Music: Molly Annelle

Hailing from Vancouver is promising starlet Molly Annelle, who has blown us away with her new single, ‘trophy wife’.

The track was produced by Parker Bossley, who is known for his work with noted outfits like Fur Trade and Hot Hot Heat. The sound is seductive, mellow, and utterly charming in character, thanks to its mellow fusion of retro-inspired pop and soulful R&B. It’s a playful piece of music that also maintains a romantic essence, and we’re obsessed, to say the least!

Annelle is currently working on an LP, which will be released soon via 604 Records. In the meantime, you can enjoy more of the musician’s work on Spotify, where she’s already racked up more than a million catalogue streams to date.

Molly Annelle

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Noshows – Meant It

Acclaimed New York artist Noshows (aka Max Satow) continues to showcase his unique style of sound with the unveiling of a cinematic new single that deserves your attention.

‘Meant It’ is a bold piece of alternative pop that is both epic and dramatic in character. The track forms part of the artist’s freshly-released ‘Wants and Needs’ EP, of which he says:

“This EP is about my relationship with romance and escapism, sometimes blending the 2 concepts together. There are a lot of emotions and thoughts I have surrounding this topic that I explore throughout the songs on the EP. Generally the vibe of this collection of songs is upbeat and fun indie rock music with a modern edge”

Alongside his work as a musician, Satow is also a mental health advocate who is involved with The Jed Foundation (which was founded by his family) as well as his own initiative, called Magnify the Mind.

You can catch Noshows performing live in Brooklyn on the 10th July – details and tickets can be found here.

Noshows

New Music: Tessa Dalton

This weekend’s pop bop comes courtesy of 19-year-old singer and songwriter Tessa Dalton, with her fabulous new song ‘Overkill’.

As far as pop goes, this is a pretty brilliant track. Pulsing beats, a memorable melody, beautiful vocals, and relatable lyrics mean that this is likely to become a summer hit for the rising artist, who is not only a budding musician but also a student at Belmont University. On the song, Tessa says:

“It’s about taking chances in a relationship that’s about to end, because you think there’s nothing to lose. That is, until that chance starts to feel like something you never want to lose. In this song, I tried to capture the feeling of summer approaching and having a fun, casual thing turn into something more – unexpectedly. The lyrics toggle between denial and self-realization; what seemed like the end turned into the beginning.”

Dalton unveiled her debut single in April this year, called ‘One More Night’ (listen here), which was followed by a couple more impressive releases. A very promising talent, and one to watch!

Tessa Dalton

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Animal Scream – Sandinista Smile

Track of the week. If you’re in a nostalgic type of mood today, then we’ve got the perfect song to share with you, courtesy of American outfit Animal Scream.

‘Sandinista Smile’ was created in collaboration with Ames Harding & the Mirage and presents us with a mesmerising mix of alt-pop and indie.

This uplifting track encapsulates the essence of summer perfectly; it’s pure joy, and will be on loop all weekend on our playlist.

“The song leans into the euphoric feeling of dancing, moving, loving and living in true romantic bliss with the one you love.”

If you’re yet to be acquainted with Animal Scream, this Pittsburgh duo consists of musicians Chad Monticue and Josh Sickels. Together, they’ve released two albums, of which ‘Heartbreak Motel’ is the most recent – check it out here!

Animal Scream

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The Young Man – Makeshift Lullabies

American rockers The Young Man have unleashed a massive new single today, and it’s called ‘Makeshift Lullabies’.

Lyrically, the track tells of ‘a relationship going from phone calls all night to all but over’, while the production showcases an energising blend of stadium-style rock and alternative pop.

Listening to the song, it comes as no surprise to learn that this emerging outfit already commands a hefty legion of fans. They have more than 60k monthly listeners on Spotify, while their catalogue of releases has racked up millions of streams to date.

The Young Man

New Music: Negative Shawdy

Hyperpop can be very hit-or-miss. Sometimes it’s brilliant, sometimes it’s awful, but we can safely confirm that US newcomer Negative Shawdy has been one of the best artists tackling the genre in some time.

‘Same Room’ flips a sample from the iconic ‘Tom’s Diner’ by Suzanne Vega, and delivers a refreshingly uplifting sound that is rapid and playful but also quite soulful.

The track serves as a taster for the artist’s upcoming debut album, which is out soon, and will feature more of Negative Shawdy’s intelligent style of music-making.

Interestingly enough, the original by Vega is said to be the ‘Mother of the MP3’, since it was used to test the music format during its inception.

Negative Shawdy

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IAMJJ – Extra Spicy Noodles

Photo / Søren Roenholt

We’re starting the week with a massive banger from Copenhagen musician IAMJJ and his new single ‘Extra Spicy Noodles’.

Now, I know what you’re thinking… Denmark? Spicy noodles? Yes, but also no. In what might be the weirdest coincidence in music history, this song actually focuses on the flaws of togetherness.

”When love gets complicated and frustrating we tend to try and spice things up with a ‘romantic’ trip to Paris or buying that sofa you never needed. It’s like noodles: it doesn’t taste of much but if you spice it up with chilli you might be able to enjoy it or at least numb your senses for a minute. If you accept that life has got you in a deadlock maybe it’s time to move on.”

IAMJJ is one of Denmark’s most prolific musicians, with more than 25 million career streams to date. He’s released three albums, toured his home nation several times, and played on some of Scandinavia’s most prolific festival stages.

IAMJJ

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist 

St. Lundi – Say So

Photo / Tom Knibbs 

Acclaimed singer and songwriter St. Lundi is back with one of his most impressive singles to date, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

‘Say So’ is a powerful ballad that reiterates this musician’s incredible artistry. Heartfelt vocals and sincere lyrics complement a finessed pop-rock production that makes an instant impact from the moment you press play.

“I wrote ‘Say So’ about my relationship with my father. We’d not spoken for nearly five years after falling out and no matter what I tried to do, nothing could replace our relationship. One day I realised maybe he’s not so good at talking because he never really had a father. So I reached out… and ever since we’ve been closer than ever. This song is there to encourage people to tell the ones they love that they love them.”

The track is lifted from the artist’s upcoming debut album, called ‘The Island’, which is out on the 20th September (pre-order here). St. Lundi is currently on tour with Take That and will then embark on a series of dates across the globe through the autumn. Dates and cities are listed down below.

St. Lundi

St. Lundi Live Dates 2024 – tickets here.

JUNE

  • 21st – Dublin, Malahide Castle (with Take That)
  • 22nd – Belfast, Belsonic (with Take That)

AUGUST – POP-UP TOUR

  • 6th – Somerville, MA @ The Rockwell
  • 7th – Exeter, NH @ The Word Barn
  • 9th – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
  • 11th – Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head on Stage
  • 27th – Paris
  • 28th – Brussels
  • 29th – Amsterdam
  • 30th – Cologne
  • 31st – Hamburg

SEPTEMBER – POP-UP TOUR

  • 1st – Berlin
  • 3rd – Munich
  • 4th – Stuttgart
  • 5th – Zurich
  • 7th – Manchester
  • 8th – Glasgow
  • 9th – Edinburgh
  • 10th – Belfast
  • 11th – Dublin
  • 12th – Cork
  • 14th – London
  • 15th – Portsmouth

New Music: Bradley Jago

While Bradley Jago might be a new name to us here at Alfitude, we feel that his approach to soul music is simply timeless in style.

Sonically, ‘Keep On’ carries with it hints of classic Motown, while the lyrics delve into the artist’s mind as he navigates his way through the insecurities that he experiences while in his first queer relationship.

Jago’s work has been featured by the likes of BBC Introducing, as well as Radio 6 and Express FM. The musician currently commands more than 12k monthly Spotify listeners, while his songs have amassed more than 350k total streams to date.

Bradley Jago

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Oli Barton – You Just Played My Mind

UK artist Oli Barton has come a long way since busking on the streets in his teens. In recent years, this talent has found himself building a loyal fanbase and garnering thousands of streams thanks to his infectious pop-rock sounds.

Barton returns today with an energising track called ‘You Just Played My Mind’, which is melodically anthemic while also maintaining a certain essence of playfulness.

“Inspired by doomed romances and extreme incompatibility, it delves into the complex emotions of two people who just don’t work together.”

The song serves as the B-side to Barton’s vinyl release of ‘It’s Over Now’, which is available for pre-order here. Fans can look forward to some more singles this summer, as well as a live show at London’s Signature Brew Haggerston on the 16th August (tickets here).

Oli Barton

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Lexie Carroll – we never made it to glasgow

Photo / Olivia Sofia Ferrara

If you’re looking for a pop bop to shake the midweek blues away to, then we’ve got the perfect song to share with you today, courtesy of British musician Lexie Carroll.

As the title would suggest, ‘we never made it to glasgow’ gathers its inspiration from a time when Lexie was unable to visit Scotland after a portion of her tour with James Marriott was cancelled for unexpected reasons. In that time, the artist explains:

“I went to my good friend and collaborator Jack’s place and wrote this song! Though the line stemmed from the tour, the song is more so about being a bit stupid on an adventure with somebody. I think it feels like snippets of a confusing, slightly awkward but very fun drunken memory.”

Lexie’s rise in popularity has been impressive. The artist currently garners more than 125k monthly listeners on Spotify, while her songs have so far amassed over four million streams.

A new EP has also just been released, called ‘you look lovely when you’re living’, which you can stream here. Lexie will embark on her own headline tour later in the year, with dates and venues listed below.

Lexie Carroll

Live Dates UK 2024

  • 26/07 – STEVENTON Truck Festival
  • 01/08 – PIKEHALL Y Not Festival
  • 25/08 – PORTSMOUTH Victorious Festival
  • 29/11 – LONDON Lafayette
  • 30/11 – MANCHESTER The Lodge at the Deaf Institute SOLD OUT
  • 01/12 – GLASGOW Poetry Club
  • 06/12 – LEEDS Hyde Park Book Club
  • 07/12 – BRISTOL The Louisiana
  • 08/12 – BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds

Paige Bea – Worth It

Photo / Chloe Karnezis

Track of the week. Rising UK starlet Paige Bea is back with some of her most beautiful work to date (in our humble opinion, at least).

‘Worth It’ is a captivating release that treats listeners to a distinctive production which fuses electronic pop with alternative R&B in a way that is refreshingly unique. On the lyrics and inspiration behind the song, Paige says:

“The lyrics for ‘Worth It’ came shortly after a date I’d just been on. I was already just so anxious about when I was going to get the text back and how much longer we were going to have to do this silly dance before we just gave in to falling in love and seeing what happens. It felt like we were both coming into the start of it with a lot of trepidation given past relationships we’d been in, and we were trying to be adults by taking it slow, but it also felt like that was sucking the fun, spontaneous joy of starting something new out of it? I was also thinking about expectations of women in relationships, the peacemaker, the homemaker, the PA, the mother (I’m not here to convince and coerce / Make things nice then give birth / I’m a difficult person) and I wanted to make a statement that I probably won’t fit into the idea of who you think I am and I want to make that clear, but I’m also up for just leaning into this new feeling and taking a leap of faith if you are? I think our generation has this tendency to think that because they are grown and therapised, it means we can micro-manage all our relationships and behaviours and I’m far too impulsive for that. I’m much more about throwing myself in the deep-end and seeing where it takes me.”

The track serves as a taster for the singer and songwriter’s forthcoming ‘Flutters’ EP (out 17th July), which is released via DMY Artists and in collaboration with Help Musicians. Fans in London can also catch Paige performing a headline show at The Lower Third on the 13th November – more details can be found here.

Paige Bea

New Music: Southey

We don’t feature indie folk as much as we’d like on this site, so we’re thrilled to be sharing with you a wonderful new musician from Australia called Southey.

Originally working as a mechanical engineer, this emerging talent has started to gain traction for his distinctive vocals and beautifully sincere approach to songwriting. The artist’s latest single is called ‘Into The Sea’, and is inspired by the idea of being disconnected.

“This song was written and produced, mixed and mastered by myself in my studio. It came from the feeling of wanting to throw my phone into the ocean, a feeling I think a-lot of people can relate to these days. I hope you like it.”

To date, Southey has amassed almost 1.5 million cumulative streams from just four singles, commanding 23k monthly listeners on Spotify alone. We can’t wait to hear what comes next from this hugely promising songwriter.

Southey
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Apricot Ink – Two Souls

Australian group Apricot Ink return with a luscious new single that reminds us why they’re one of the continent’s most promising indie outfits.

‘Two Souls’ is a melodic track that fuses indie with R&B in a way that is stripped back but also a little bit haunting. In equal measure, the sound is melancholic yet sultry in tone.

“When I wrote ‘Two Souls’, we were walking through the National museum, and found ourselves holding and channeling tension between us and the art around us. Some of the art challenged us and made us feel a way, but there was also a strong fascination. We were intrigued by the concept of vulnerability and allure, and wanted to explore the sexy dynamics of attraction and fear. The recurring line “I’ll attract yours, if you attract mine” hints at the mutual exchange of hidden depths and secrets. We tried to capture the fragile balance between purity and temptation, wondering which side will ultimately prevail.” – Angus, Apricot Ink

Apricot Ink have been growing in prominence recently. They have performed at notable festivals like Tasmania’s Party in the Paddock, and also played alongside the likes of Boo Seeka and The Moving Stills on tour. Be sure to keep these kids on your radars!

Apricot Ink

New Music: Salty Licorice

Photo / Alfred Johansson

Track of the week. Despite being a relative newcomer, Swedish project Salty Licorice has already caused quite a stir. The visuals of her recent release of ‘Yemanya (p.19)’ went viral on TikTok (amassing more than 8.6 million views), and the song itself has also been streamed over 300k times.

New single ‘North Sea Siren (p.78)’ is yet another impressive piece of sonic artistry. Lifted from the artist’s forthcoming ‘The Sunrise Cried’ EP (out later this year), this introspective song focuses on the humans’ natural tendency to desire change.

“I was captivated by The Spy and read it several times. I visualized the scenes as if they were a film and began composing music that would suit them. The lyrics are written from Mata Hari’s perspective. I was intrigued by how fearless she comes off in the book. It gave me the freedom to express myself in ways I normally wouldn’t.”

Salty Licorice (aka Soha Akile) has been praised by the likes of The Line of Best Fit, BBC, MTV, and DiscoverNü. It’s not often that we come across a talent who is so unafraid to push the boundaries of pop, so we can’t wait to hear what comes next!

Salty Licorice

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist 

Luca Lowe – Bitter Taste

Rising American singer and songwriter Luca Lowe will be a name to watch in the coming months.

This talented starlet carries with her a highly distinctive vocal, which is on full display on the new single ‘Bitter Taste’. The track was written with a broken heart and presents us with a beautifully melancholic fusion of synth and dream pop. On the lyrics, Luca says:

“This song was written on no sleep, the morning after a breakup. It’s about scrutinizing and rewriting a relationship until you can’t remember the good.”

Luca’s music has been gaining traction over the past year, with the artist landing features on playlists like Renforshort’s heartbroken, as well as indie pop for bored indie kids and Pop Chillout.

Luca Lowe

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sixten – Living Comes With Dying

Photo / Alexander Josefsson

Acclaimed Scandi duo sixten return today with one of their most powerful releases in quite some time.

‘Living Comes With Dying’ was inspired by a friend of sixten’s, who sadly lost their mother to cancer in the past year. The production is sombre in tone, while the lyrics are sincere, heartfelt, and deeply moving.

“We felt we couldn’t write about anything other than what our friends were going through. Other topics like love troubles, which we usually write about, became meaningless in comparison. ‘Living Comes With Dying’ is dedicated to those who have lost their dearest loved ones and serves as a reminder of the importance of continuing to support cancer research.”

The track is taken from the duo’s upcoming ‘Misemotional’ EP, which is out in August via TEN Records.

Since first releasing music in 2016 (under the former name of Strandels), sixten has garnered more than 15 million streams on Spotify, accumulating a string of gold-certified singles along the way.

sixten

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist 

The Ilfords – Snake Groove

Newcastle’s The Ilfords continue their invasion of the UK rock scene with the release of a massive new anthem called ‘Snake Groove’.

This is the kind of song that makes an immediate impact from the moment you press play, with its bold, raw, and dramatic indie production and captivating vocals.

@theilfords

#behindthesong Snake Groove: The Process. Our David on songwriting, taking inspiration from blues, Irish mythology and feeling lost in London and coming up with Snake Groove. Shout out to @DavidKeenanMuso. Snake Groove is out on Friday and you can presave it now. #newmusic #ontour #altrock #altmusic #rock #unsignedartist #lyrics #poetry #london #ireland #irish #mythology #queensofthestoneage #songwriting #theilfords #snakegroove

♬ SNAKE GROOVE VERSE 1 – The Ilfords

Fans will be excited to learn that the outfit plans on releasing more singles throughout the summer, culminating in an EP that is due in 2025. As a sign of what the band’s future might look like, they’ve already sold out headline shows in cities like London and Edinburgh.

To date, The Ilfords have picked up praise from noted national outlets like BBC Introducing, Radio 6, and Radio X. So as far as British indie talent goes, it’s undeniable that these kids are ones to watch.

The Ilfords

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New Music: Fast Money Music

One of the most hyped artists emerging from the UK right now is Fast Money Music, and if you haven’t heard of their sound yet, then today’s release of ‘Space Opera’ will act as a good introduction.

The song treats us to an energising blend of indie and pop in a way that is both nostalgic and current at the same time. Interestingly, it was co-written alongside Tony Hoffer and features The 1975’s George Daniel and John Waugh on the record.

Fast Money Music has garnered praise from heavyweight tastemakers like BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, while also landing placements on playlists as noted as Spotify’s Fresh Finds Indie.

Listeners can look forward to a new EP titled ‘ROUGE’, which is out soon. You can also catch the artist performing live at London’s The George Tavern on the 30th August.

Fast Money Music

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New Music: Chloe Echo

New Zealand has long been the home of really interesting pop, with artists like Chloe Echo continuing to showcase the nation’s rich pool of musical talent.

New single ‘Looking At You’ presents listeners with a finessed alt-pop sound that is melodic, airy, and eccentric in character. Speaking on the track’s sonic inspiration, Chloe explains:

“I was listening to a lot of Frou Frou and Imogen Heap while I was working on this song, and I was very inspired by her use of electronic elements that still felt human and organic.”

The song serves as a taster for the artist’s next album, for which there have already been a handful of singles released. If you love this talent as much as we do, then we recommend you check out her music catalogue on Spotify right now!

Chloe Echo

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