Category: Music

New Music: J Duran

Photo / Kate Lamendola

Nashville artist J Duran is one of those rare musicians who has a natural ability to mix classic rock with modern indie-pop in a way that feels timeless yet relevant.

The singer and songwriter has just unveiled a brand new project (produced by Cage the Elephant’s Brad Shultz) called ‘Introspect’, from which ‘Keep It Real’ is lifted. The track is instantly memorable, and deserves to be on everyone’s playlists this weekend. Speaking on the album, the artist says:

“’Introspect’ is an unintentional concept album that explores perspective just as well as it explores sonic possibilities. I think it has a unique character and charm that differentiates it from other music that I’ve heard coming out recently. I think its honesty and confessional writing style can be easy to relate to and its melodies can often sneak into your ears and attach themselves.”

J Duran’s music has been featured by noted outlets likes of Beats Per Minute and UpToHear. You can stay up to date with the artist across several platforms here.

J Duran

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Tom Boy – Sorry For Myself

If you’ve yet to experience Canadian musician Tom Boy’s music, then brace yourselves for a wonderful sonic experience!

Also known as Nate Daniels, this Toronto-based singer and songwriter has been a noted figure within Canada’s music scene for quite some time, performing under different projects through the years.

Introspective new single ‘Sorry For Myself’ serves listeners with refreshingly honest lyricism, presented through a pop production that is polished and well-considered.

“Everyone makes mistakes. But are you the type to forgive and forget?”

Daniels has played shows all across the world, from the UK and Germany through to the United States. In addition, his music has been featured on TV programmes like MTV’s ‘Catfish’ and the Netflix series ‘Tiny Pretty Things’.

Tom Boy

Greyson Chance – Rearview Mirror

Fans of Oklahoma-born Greyson Chance will be happy to learn that the acclaimed artist has just released a beautiful new single called ‘Rearview Mirror’.

The track treats listeners to a stripped-back pop sound that is both sincere and moving. It’s a song that proves sometimes the most powerful pieces of music can also be the simplest. On the lyrics, Greyson says:

“Writing ‘Rearview Mirror’ has ultimately been a study in patience. I’ve made a lot of music in the past year, trying as an artist to make something that felt bigger than me, and I pushed myself a lot. It took a while to trust the process and to believe I could do it. Rearview Mirror is the first song to come of a very inward chapter in my career, and I am grateful now to have taken the time to make something I’m very proud of.”

Greyson currently commands almost 700k monthly listeners on Spotify, while his catalogue of releases has amassed more than 200 million streams to date. You can explore more of the artist’s music here.

Greyson Chance 

New Music: Hawke The Band

London-based Irish rockers Hawke The Band are one of the most exciting discoveries of the week.

The outfit has already shown themselves as masters of indie pop and rock, with their impressive new single ‘Doctor’ sure to become a hit this summer. Elaborating on the track’s lyrics, they explain:

“In this case, the doctor being the lover and the patient is continuously crying out for this person to tend to them, but in the end the doctor doesn’t truly care if this patient will come back or not as he has plenty more, and the reality is it’s a good sign for the doctor if the patient doesn’t return. 

The ‘doctor’ is a metaphor for a dangerous lover who while we know the consequences and potential heartbreak associated, we can’t help but be intrigued and want more. The uplifting chorus portrays the high of the drug being prescribed (love) while the lyrics talk about the harsh reality and underlying worry felt by the patient.“

The band has been listed as one of NME’s Top 100 Artists, and also graced Glastonbury’s legendary Main Stage last year. Keep these chaps on your radars!

Hawke The Band

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New Music: Vilhelm Buchaus

Photo / Sandra Thorsson

We’ve got a fantastic new talent from Scandinavia to share with you today, who goes by the name of Vilhelm Buchaus.

While still only 22 years old, this rising singer-songwriter is already winning listeners across Europe thanks to his bold style of sound, which is both heartfelt and rousing.

The new single ‘Snow In The Summer’ shows listeners Vilhelm’s more vulnerable side, and treats us to a raw fusion of indie and rock that could easily get a stadium crowd on their feet.

“Through my music, I want to share what I’m going through in a way that others can relate to – the same way that artists before me have done the same for me. I also need to write about things I think about constantly. And as long as I am true to myself in what I write about, I hope others can recognize themselves in my songs.”

The track serves as a taster for the artist’s forthcoming debut EP, which is out soon via iconic Swedish label TEN Music.

Vilhelm Buchaus

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New Music: MADI LEEDS

Track of the week. MADI LEEDS is a new prospect emerging from Australia, whose new single ‘Long Distant Memory’ has totally mesmerised us.

The track is in essence indie-pop music, yet somehow it still infuses an essence of summery nostalgia which is utterly charming to experience. Alongside its memorable melody, Madi’s vocals also captivate listeners as she sings about memories of the past.

“Wrote this a while back about being in a time I knew I’d feel future me would be nostalgic about … so this feels meta now. All about grief and trying to hold onto fading memories and feelings that come with that. Hope you like it and can connect with it in your own way.”

In addition to her talents as a recording artist, Leeds is also a performer who has been featured at noted events like the Melbourne Music Festival and Sydney Fringe.

MADI LEEDS

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New Music: Kathy Katouzi

Hailing from Toronto is a hugely interesting new musician who goes by the name of Kathy Katouzi.

This artist cites her Iranian roots as a source of creative inspiration, and crafts her work in a way that defies the nation’s intolerance of creativity.

“In my country creativity was taken from women, not provided.”

The new single ‘AFTERPARTY!’ is a bold and refreshingly raw piece of music that fuses indie with alt-pop in a bright and energising way.

The sound is like nothing else we’ve heard in a long time, and it makes us believe that Katouzi could well be one of Canada’s most promising emerging stars.

Kathy Katouzi

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KAWALA – Time Slipping Away

London has been experiencing a rare (and likely short-lived) heatwave this week, and as luck would have it, UK outfit KAWALA return with a sun-drizzled new single that fits the warm weather brilliantly.

‘Time Slipping Away’ is a perfected slice of indie-pop that is melodically memorable and lyrically uplifting. The track was inspired by overcoming hardships and seeing the positive when life gets tough. The band explains:

“We’ve had many setbacks, and it’s always easy to get a bit negative and find things difficult. ‘Time Slipping Away’ has a positive sonic – it’s exciting, punchy, and self-motivating for us, while still being relatable for other people. Things might not be okay, but at the end of the day, there’s always a flip side to the coin.” – KAWALA

KAWALA have carved themselves out as one of the country’s biggest prospects. To date, they’ve accumulated more than 75 million catalogue streams and picked up praise from tastemakers like Jack Saunders and Clara Amfo.

KAWALA

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adan diaz – jerk x2

Rising Mexican-American singer and songwriter adan diaz is back with one of the biggest indie-pop bops of the week.

‘jerk x2’ presents listeners with a gutsy yet playful production, while the anthemic melody will stick with you all day.

The song was inspired by the moments in adan’s life when he behaved badly, and the regret that came with it.

“it’s about the times where you not only come off as a jerk, but you come off as a jerk x2.”

adan currently commands more than 430k monthly listeners on Spotify, and has also garnered more than 27 million streams on the platform. Impressive stuff for someone who’s not even turned 20 yet!

adan diaz

New Music: Finn Doherty

Track of the week. We have a sensational newcomer to share with you today, who goes by the name of Finn Doherty.

This London-based artist has already been making waves across the UK scene for some time, with support from outlets like BBC Introducing under his belt.

His latest release, taken from the new EP ‘if you’re bored of this city’ (listen here), is called ‘Your Love Won’t Take Me Home‘. The song treats listeners to a powerful indie-pop sound that is sincere and emotive in tone. Explaining the lyrics, Finn says:

“‘Your Love Won’t Take Me Home’ serves as the acceptance, the realisation that some love remains unrequited beyond the realms of simple pleasure. Falling for someone who will never reciprocate is one of the most universal experiences as a queer individual, and this song speaks directly to that feeling. It feels like a long car ride home. A walk in the rain under soft orange street lights.”

You can catch Finn performing some shows through the spring and summer, with dates and locations listed below.

Finn Doherty

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Finn Doherty Live Shows 2024

  • 10th May 2024 – Release Party, London. 
  • 21st June 2024 – Albion Nights Gig, South Norfolk. 
  • 22nd June 2024 – First Light Festival (Sunlight Stage) 

Frankie Bird – Unstuck

US singer and songwriter Frankie Bird crafts a special style of sound which is immediately likeable. Today’s release of ‘Unstuck’ is one such example of the artist’s fantastic work.

Through its charming blend of acoustic pop and indie, the song tells of the hardships that she faced in her 20s and the ways in which they allowed her to become empowered.

The track is taken from Bird’s upcoming ‘Twenty Something’ debut LP (out 6th June), of which she says:

“This entire album is about the decade of my twenties. I wrote this album when I was 29 about to enter my thirties and was nowhere CLOSE to where I imagined myself being. Relatable, I hope. It was the most transformational year of my life and this album was born from all realizations I had and lessons learned. The first half of the album is about everything that happened to me… my ‘why me?!’phase. The second half of the album is me realizing that this all happened for me… my ‘thank you’ phase.”

Frankie’s music has been featured in publications as noted as NYLON and Atwood magazines. The artist is also a noted live performer who has toured with modern-day icons like Troye Sivan and Dua Lipa.

Frankie Bird

New Music: Frances Whitney

Frances Whitney is a California-born newcomer who has been gaining steady momentum in recent months, thanks to her captivating take on alt-pop music.

New single ‘Holding On’ is one of the catchiest pieces of music that you’ll likely come across this weekend. Sonically, the track feels nostalgic while also maintaining a modern indie edge. On the lyrics, Frances says:

“I wrote ‘Holding On’ about dating a fellow creative — which was profound, inspiring, and completely unsustainable. In the song, there’s an interpolation of Don Henley’s lyric about his romance with Stevie Nicks — “I was either standing in your shadow or blocking your light” — which summed up well how I felt in the aftermath. Ultimately, ‘Holding On’ is about connecting deeply with someone for a season, knowing it won’t last.” 

The song follows on from Whitney’s debut single ‘Easy Street’ (listen here), which has accumulated close to 100k streams on Spotify to date. This is an artist to watch!

Frances Whitney

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JEFFE – Closure

Acclaimed Australian starlet JEFFE returns today with an interesting new pop single called ‘Closure’.

This introspective song was inspired by the artist’s innermost thoughts, at a time in her life when she had to reassure herself that things would work out. Elaborating further, JEFFE says:

“I was lying in bed one morning, staring at the ceiling, deep in thought about where I was at in life. I was kind of having a chat to the hurt little girl inside me and saying, ‘hey we got this, it’s going to be okay’. It was an eye-opening moment for me and made me see that I really do have myself to lean on. I began to be grateful for everything I’ve been through, leading me to this moment. I wrote ‘Closure’ in honour of that girl who went through so much and came out stronger at the other end.”

JEFFE currently commands more than 70k monthly listeners on Spotify. She has also amassed more than six million cumulative streams to date and recently achieved an extra boost in momentum status thanks to her cover of Milky Chance’s global hit, ‘Down by The River’.

JEFFE

New Music: IS U IS U

Photo / Jasmine Safaeian

American DJ duo IS U IS U is one of the most impressive outfits to come across our radars this week.

Consisting of artists Kito and Chrome Sparks, IS U IS U’s productions treat us to a transcendent style of indie-electronica which really is quite enchanting.

New single ‘Melter’ is both energising and ethereal at the same time, and invites listeners into a soundscape that is pleasantly full of unexpected twists and turns.

The duo will shortly release a debut EP. In the meantime, be sure to check out their brilliant Spotify playlist, Kito & Chrome Sparks present IS U IS U here.

IS U IS U

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Gurba – Here Right Now

Photo / queenelizabitchh

We first featured US-based artist Gurba back in 2021, and we’re delighted to see that he’s still out there releasing some very powerful sounds.

His latest single, ‘Here Right Now’ presents listeners with a shimmering fusion of acoustic pop and indie. The song feels hazy and mellow while still maintaining a strong emotional essence.

It really is quite a gorgeous piece of music, and we hope you’ll love it as much as we do!

Gurba

New Music: Maria Diebolt

If you’re in the mood for some mellow R&B-pop, then we’ve got the perfect song to share with you, courtesy of rising American musician Maria Diebolt.

‘Temptations’ is a charming track that gives us hints of the iconic sounds of Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande. In equal measures, the sound is classic but also treats us to a certain kind of freshness which is wonderful to experience.

This singer and songwriter has already amassed almost 200k streams on Spotify from her catalogue of songs, which you can explore here.

Maria Diebolt

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New Music: Kortnee Simmons

New York’s Kortnee Simmons is a multi-talented creative who can sing, produce, and act. Having garnered thousands of streams online, it’s no wonder that this artist is gaining solid momentum.

‘Vibes’ is a soulful R&B song that is instantly memorable. Aside from its catchy melody, the track also showcases Kortnee’s captivating voice, which glides smoothly over the polished production.

You can check out more of Kortnee’s music over on Spotify.

Kortnee Simmons

New Music: Tarian

Sometimes you come across a song that is so mesmerising that it stops you right in your tracks. This was the case when we first played ‘Half Of Mine (Alizé)’ by Welsh newcomer Tarian.

There really are no words to describe how captivating this sound is. The production is sparse and minimal, but the lyrics and vocal delivery are sincere and emotive.

If the song sounds familiar, then you may recognise it from Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn’s track of the same name, which amassed more than a million streams upon release. Speaking on the collaboration, Tarian says:

“They are from this school of UK Hop Hop that is introspective, melancholy and melodic. It’s also quite emotional and I was always drawn to that. I thought ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’ and I emailed them two or three demos, one of them being ‘Half of Mine’. A few days later they mailed back saying they loved the demo and they wanted to work on it during their next writing camp. That email validated that the demo was good and it was a real spark of hope for me. And then, within a few weeks, they sent me their demo and told me that they wanted it to be their next single.”

“Ever since I was a kid, even when I was low and in a horrible space, I felt deep down that I was going to be a musician and that it would have meant something; that it will connect with people in a way that makes them feel that they are not alone in what they might be going through.”

There’s no doubt in our minds that Tarian will become a prominent emerging name in the UK over the next few months. This kid is one to watch, trust us.

Tarian

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New Music: Lucky Lou

Track of the week. It’s been a little while since we shared with you some premium Scandinavian pop, so we’re delighted to introduce you to Swedish starlet Louise Lindberg, aka Lucky Lou.

Already an accomplished songwriter who has worked with the likes of Zara Larsson and Astrid S, ‘Space’ marks the artist’s first foray as a soloist. And as to be expected, the track is a pop masterpiece.

Lifted from an upcoming debut EP (out in June), the song was inspired by the demise of a cherished friendship. The artist explains:

“Throughout making the EP, I had quite a few fallouts with people in my surroundings, and I felt overstimulated and taken for granted. The song is about the sorrow of breaking up with someone close to you, whom you love and have known for a very long time.”

It won’t come as a surprise to know that the track was written and produced by Lindberg herself. We’re excited to see what comes next!

Lucky Lou

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Dune Moss – Mud

One of the most powerful and hard-hitting singles of the week is by American singer and songwriter Dune Moss.

‘Mud’ addresses the very serious topic of physical abuse, and challenges society’s opinions on how being “‘clean’ meant to be untouched by a man”. The artist elaborates:

“I saw time and time again that perpetrators could hurt others and then walk away perfectly clean and blameless. I wrote ‘Mud’ in response to those who feel they can hurt others without consequence.”

The song’s lyrics are beautifully reflected in the production, which has a moody, dramatic, and sombre tone. If you’re moved by Dune’s music as much as we are, then we recommend you head on over to Spotify and check out their stunning new EP ‘Faedom’, which is out now.

Dune Moss