Category: Music

Lucy McWilliams – Plastic

Lucy McWilliams has undeniably become one of Ireland’s newest global stars. While still only 23-years of age, this talent has already racked up more than 16 million career streams – with new single ‘Plastic’ likely to push that number even higher.

Serving as a masterclass in alt-pop, the track invites listeners into an atmospheric soundscape that is somehow both vibrant yet haunting. Explaining the song further, McWilliams says:

“I wrote this song coming from a place where I was upset with myself for allowing a version of me to take over that I wasn’t comfortable with, wanting to be loved. I realised how easy it is to downplay your emotions to fit into a version of yourself that you think is more loveable. It’s exploring the desperation of love, and the anger you can have towards someone who holds it.”

There’s no doubt in our minds that McWilliams’ momentum will continue to grow in 2024… and deservedly so!

Lucy McWilliams

Joy Downer – Alright

Photo / francescapoly

Multi-faceted DIY artist Joy Downer is back today with one our favourite indie releases of the month.

‘Alright’ is an infectiously catchy bop that you’ll find yourselves humming along to all weekend. Cheerful in tone, this is the kind of indie that brings a smile to our faces. Explaining the song, Downer simply says…

“It’s alright.”

Downer has been a fan favourite since the release of her 2017 EP, ‘Radio Dreamer’. Over the years, she’s gone on to acquire millions of streams and thousands of followers across social media. You can explore more of Downer’s music here.

Joy Downer

New Music: Proph

Track of the week. Hailing from South London is 20-year old artist Proph. Already a favourite with tastemakers as noted as Clash and GRM Daily, this rising star looks set to hit the mainstream in the coming months.

Melodic new single ‘Trust Fall’ showcases Proph’s musical versatility by blending elements of UK hip hop with R&B in an understated yet finessed way. The track is not only sonically beautiful, but lyrically impactful.

Proph performs at Clash’s Next Up Showcase on the 30th November – you can find more details here. In the meantime, check out the artist’s debut ‘Lost In Translation’ EP here.

Proph

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

Michael Simon Armstrong – Truth & Dagger

After spending the last four years working on his new collection of songs, American artist Michael Simon Armstrong finally releases his new LP today, called ‘Be Vibrant, Michael Simon’ (listen here).

Among its ten beautifully written tracks is ‘Truth & Dagger’, which serves as an artistic ‘depiction of a relationship gone stale’. The song is thoughtful and melancholic in tone, showcasing Armstrong’s natural flair for crafting emotive pieces of music.

Alongside his work as a musician, Armstrong also runs a prominent studio (which has hosted the likes of Maggie Rogers and Medium Build) with Michael Blasky, who is known for his work with Haim and Rostam Batmanglij.

Michael Simon Armstrong

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

Tee Krispil – Big Loss

Running at just under two minutes in length, Tee Krispil’s ‘Big Loss’ is one of the shortest songs we’ve featured in quite some time.

Having said that, this is a superb example of alternative R&B done well. The track is intriguing as it is mesmerising, while its finessed production treats listeners to a sound that is rich in sonic textures. In summary, this is one of our favourite singles of the week.

Listeners can look forward to more releases from Krispil in the coming months, leading up to a new EP that will be out in the summer of 2024.

Tee Krispil

Rum Jungle – Make It Ez

Australian outfit Rum Jungle are back with a hazy slice of sonic bliss for us all to obsess over.

‘Make It EZ’ is lifted from the band’s freshly released ‘Hold Me In The Water’ EP (out now) and delights listeners with a melodic fusion of dreamy pop and indie.

Rum Jungle are preparing to boost their global presence in 2024, with upcoming shows planned in the UK (including a slot at iconic festival The Great Escape), as well as more releases. We’ve said it before, but we really believe that these lads could be one of Australia’s biggest indie groups.

Rum Jungle

New Music: Rómchie

If you’re in the mood for some melancholic soul-pop then we’ve got the perfect song for you.

Rómchie (pronounced Rome-chee) is an emerging artist artist hailing from New York City, who has already amassed more than 150k career streams through only a handful of releases.

Melodic new single ‘Your Touch’ is yet another impressive track by the artist, and serves as an anthem for anyone suffering from a broken heart. Rómchie explains:

‘I open up about being abandoned by my lover in the moment of crisis.”

With a distinctive vocal tone and a natural flair for writing refreshingly honest and heartfelt songs, it’s no surprise that this talent is gaining so much momentum. One to watch!

Rómchie

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

Jaya Bremer – Apartment 4

One of the most charming releases of the week comes courtesy of Canadian starlet Jaya Bremer, with her new single ‘Apartment 4’.

Co-produced by Austin Tufts from Braids, the track presents us with a cozy and dreamy mix of electronic indie and pop. Lyrically, the song was inspired by an emotional evening that the artist experienced while she was preparing to leave a home that she loved dearly.

“I went through a long drawn out reno-viction and was forced to leave an apartment that I had lived in and loved for four years. I wrote this song on my last night there, as a love letter and a goodbye. I wrote the song to the apartment as though it were a living being, which in a way, my grief around the loss of it felt akin to. I felt acutely aware that it was the end of an era, and I was already mourning it. It’s a tribute to an apartment that felt like a living entity.”

Bremer has long been associated with the music scene in Victoria, British Columbia. Aside from her work as a soloist, Jaya has also been involved in various other outfits that include local indie-rock heroes Wise Child.

Jaya Bremer

New Music: Red Ocean

Photo / Sebastian Schuetze

Red Ocean is a new musical project headed by Berlin singer and composer Bernhard. Latest single ‘Gotta Go’ could well be the outfit’s breakout single. The track not only features catchy lyrics, but also showcases a polished production that perfectly balances pop with indie.

The track somehow feels both classic yet fresh, and is sure to resonate with a large swathe of listeners. Unsurprisingly, Red Ocean is already gaining momentum, with placements landing on more than twenty significant Spotify playlists, as well as thousands of views on TikTok.

Red Ocean

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

Rob Giles – Some Stars

 Grammy-award winning singer and songwriter Rob Giles returns today with a meaningful new single called ‘Some Stars’.

The track serves as a comeback for the highly acclaimed artist, who has just released his fifth album, ‘Meditation Drive-Thru’ (listen here).

The song’s beauty lies in its simplicity. The melody flows with ease, while the lyrics focus on themes like humility and unity, reminding us of the importance of accepting one other – no matter our differences.

With more than 750k catalogue streams to date, it’s clear that listeners feel a connection to Giles’ work. It’s good to have you back, Rob!

Rob Giles

New Music: Lockyer Boys

This weekend’s pop bop is by Canadian duo Lockyer Boys (aka brothers Will and Charlie Lockyer), who have just unveiled a retro-tinged banger called ‘DRIVE!’

Alongside it’s synth-inspired production, the song’s lyrics serve as a motivator for us to push our limits and take some risks in life. We’re certain you won’t forget this track’s chorus for a long time.

“‘DRIVE!’ is about taking your shot, much like we are doing with our career. It’s about being confident, brave, and giving 100%. We think it ties into our overarching theme of spreading positivity and inspiration, but it can also be interpreted as a love song.”

With more than 320k career streams under their belt, these brothers may well become of Canada’s newest pop exports – and are worth keeping on your radars.

Lockyer Boys

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

[PREMIERE] Watch HunBjørn’s visuals for latest single ‘In The Eye’

Photo / Julie Montauk

We are so excited to be sharing with you a first glimpse of Scandinavian artist HunBjørn’s new music video, ‘In The Eye’.

Marking the return of this much-acclaimed Danish indie starlet, the visuals represent HunBjørn’s new style of sound, and serve as a taster to her upcoming suite of releases.

If you’ve yet to listen to the song itself, it’s a beautifully atmospheric piece of electronica that also incorporates other genres like dance and alt-pop, while the lyrics take their inspiration from the concept of ‘forbidden desire’.

“It’s that moment you didn’t see coming, but suddenly find yourself in, where the rush of temptation really threatens to overthrow all reason, and it takes serious strength not to give in.”

For listeners who are new to HunBjørn, this rising talent is not only a singer but also a songwriter, producer and arranger, and a key originator of industry community WeProduce.

HunBjørn

🎵 Follow the Scandinavia Sound Playlist

Kayla Thompson – Matter (feat. Nate Diaz)

Acclaimed American starlet Kayla Thompson returns with a sublime new single called ‘Matter’.

Created alongside fellow artist Nate Diaz, the song introduces listeners to Thompson’s more vulnerable side. Through its sincere lyricism and thoughtful alt-pop production, we think it’s one of Thompson’s most impressive releases yet.

With tastemaker support from the likes of Ones to Watch already under her belt, Thompson looks likely to hit the mainstream very soon – so be sure to keep this artist on your radars.

‘Matter’ is lifted from the Kayla’s ‘A Shot In The Dark’ debut EP, which is out now (listen here).

Kayla Thompson

teasea – What If, Could Be

If you’re in the mood for some soft shoegaze then we’ve got a talent to introduce to you who we’re sure you’ll absolutely fall in love with.

teasea is the musical project of Brooklyn artist Tom Criblez. Impressively, Criblez has already released five albums in three years – with his most recent collection of songs being ‘Methods Of Motion’, which was unveiled earlier this year.

‘What If, Could Be’ is teasea’s latest single, and treats listeners to a thoughtful composition that features a beautifully written melody and meaningful lyrics.

“This track is a wake up call to us humans and a reminder of how much we can lift each others spirits in more ways than we realise. It was the last track written for the upcoming album and came out of an idea I had while showering and trying to manifest a strong final track to complete the record. Most of the parts are one take to evoke a sense of raw liveliness and all tracked in my home studio in Brooklyn.”

You can experience more of teasea’s work here, or by checking out his Spotify here.

teasea

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KRYSTOF – Built For This

We’ve been following Carinthian singer and songwriter KRYSTOF for quite some time. While still in his early 20’s, this talent has already marked himself as one of Europe’s newest music prospects, amassing more than five million career streams to date.

‘Built For This’ presents us with introspective, yet relatable lyrics. Based on the notion of whether some of us are actually built for love, the words of the song focus on an issue that is not often covered in pop music.

“‘Built For This’ is one of my most personal songs. Love is a hard pill to swallow. When you go through a lot of heartbreaks, you start wondering if it’s ever going to work out or not. This song is a captured moment of me questioning If I was even built for LOVE – Loving myself or another person.”

Despite its recent release, the song has already found its way onto flagship playlists like Spotify’s Fresh Finds, consequently amassing thousands of streams.

KRYSTOF

New Music: ammar

Photo / Abrar Hamed

Track of the week. Hailing from Connecticut is rising musician ammar. New single ‘(nevermind)’ is taken from the artist’s ‘WHAT’S BEHIND BLUE SKIES?’ project, and showcases an experimental fusion of alternative pop and punk.

The sound is bold, confident and rebellious in tone, while the lyrics expose listeners to the inner workings of ammar’s mind.

“‘(nevermind)’ is a puzzling tale of love that’s all in my head,” ammar explains. “I envisioned the song as a love letter that I wrote and instantly threw away. I had no intention of telling this person how I truly felt, as love has been my relentless adversary, challenging me in all its forms, including the love for myself,” he adds. Capturing what ammar describes as his “fear of love “the song’s story concludes with everything falling apart; “I’ve always wanted to believe that magic isn’t hard to find, only to surrender to the inevitable conclusion: nevermind.”

Aside from his work as a solo artist, ammar is also a noted writer and producer who has worked with the likes of 070 Shake, Channel Tres, AUGUST08, Duckwrth and Bipolar Sunshine.

ammar

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

All Day Breakfast Cafe – Adrenaline Rush 

If you’re in the mood for some blissful vibes today then we’ve got the perfect track for you.

‘Adrenaline Rush’ is by South London collective All Day Breakfast Cafe, and it’s probably one of the best disco-inspired singles that we’ve come across so far this year.

The song treats listeners to an energising production that feels uplifting and joyful, while the lyrics encourage us all to try and enjoy life as best as we can.

“‘Adrenaline Rush’ is about that moment of exhilaration. You might feel it when you’re on the dance floor, when you do something new that challenges you or you do anything thrilling. This is your theme tune for that feeling and your reminder to do something that excites you… regularly! The whole EP is a tribute to female friendships and queer joy.” – Jelly Cleaver, All Day Breakfast Cafe

The group’s new EP, called ‘Have You Seen This Queen?’ is out now, and was funded by the PRS Foundation, as well as Ronnie Scott’s Foundation and the band’s very own fans through a GoFundMe campaign.

All Day Breakfast Cafe

NOFUN! – DAYTRIP!

American music collective NOFUN! are back today with a playful indie anthem called ‘DAYTRIP!’

Written as an ‘ode to that feeling of losing the time while finding an adventure with your friends’, the song presents listeners with a style of sound that feels nostalgic and warm, but still maintains a refreshingly experimental edge.

Since featuring NOFUN! earlier in the year, we’ve seen this promising group of artists grow in momentum. To date, they’ve amassed more than 120k Spotify streams from the release of just three singles, making them one of California’s most interesting prospects.

NOFUN!

NOFUN! are Dave Coresh / Levi Evans / Garrett Gloom / Huebline / Louie Lambo / SWANN / WADE08 / Mother Wata  / Zoodeville

New Music: Kitty Mack

Track of the week. Kitty Mack is a rising Norwegian artist who recently caught our attention with her latest single, ‘Movies’.

Contrasting with its charming jazz-pop production, the song’s lyrics tell of a personal circumstance that the artist experienced while she was in a toxic relationship that affected her self-worth.

The sound feels nostalgic yet modern, and is sure to connect with many listeners. It’s been a while since we’ve been this excited about a Scandinavian talent, and we can’t wait to hear what comes next!

Kitty Mack

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist

TUSHAR – Bloodshot Eyes

Photo / Jack Fenby

This isn’t first time that we’ve featured Australian talent TUSHAR, and we’re sure it won’t be the last either.

The artist unveiled his latest release today, called ‘Bloodshot Eyes’. As we’ve come to expect from this rising musician, the song treats listeners to a thoughtfully constructed yet mesmerising mix of pop and rock.

“This song is based on meeting someone at a party that is killing the vibe, and you want to do anything you can to stay away from them.”

We’d love to see TUSHAR perform at next year’s Great Escape festival, so if anyone out there is reading this and can find a way, let’s make it happen!

TUSHAR