Track of the week. Danish newcomer GUZO (aka August Fogh) has just unveiled his debut single ‘Radical’, and it’s a spectacular piece of music from a very promising artist.
By fusing elements of indie with pop, the song invites listeners into a soundscape that feels bold and rich in sonic textures.
Alongside its cinematic style of production, the track also features soulful vocals that tell of the ‘wild, unfiltered emotional turmoil that arises from radical love.’
I wrote it as a confidence booster at a time in my life where I really needed that. I hope you will feel a little stronger, taller and braver listening to ‘Radical’
When he’s not developing his own music, GUZO is also a well-known songwriter who has worked with established Danish names like ArtigeArdit x Lamin, Goss, Jada, Saint Clara and Phlake.
Hailing from the US is promising newcomer Natalina, who has just released one of the catchiest pop bops of the season so far.
‘Need Some Friends’ is a bold, punchy and confident type of song. Inspired by that one ex who just won’t move on, the track hits on a messy relationship dilemma that is often overlooked – and one that is sure to resonate with many listeners.
“Ask me if I met someone new Don’t you got better things to do? Why do I always have to prove That it’s not about you Stop asking me stupid ass questions Are we really over? Yes we’re really over It’s bleeding me dry trying to give you closure You’re making me feel guilty for moving on Like I’m not the only one“
Natalina cites modern-day icons like Julia Michaels, Gracie Abrams and Phoebe Bridgers as her inspirations. With such a natural flair for songwriting, we won’t be surprised if this artist hits the mainstream very soon!
It’s been a big year for Rochdale-born singer and songwriter Morgan Harper-Jones. After her music was featured on Netflix’s hit show ‘Love At First Sight’, this talent has seen her work gain global traction at a very speedy pace.
New single ‘Boombox’ treats listeners to a rousing fusion of indie and pop, while the lyrics focus on the complications of being in a ‘situationship’. The artist explains:
“‘Boombox’ is an ultimatum. I was terrified of giving ultimatums because I thought that if I was honest and told someone what I needed they might say ‘No I can’t give you that’ and there’d be no going back. So I found myself in situationships a lot, trying to prove my worth and patiently waiting for them to notice me and choose me. But eventually you realise that life is too short to wait for someone like that.”
Morgan releases her debut album, ‘Up To The Glass’ on the 23rd February 2024. In the meantime, you can catch the artist performing live at select UK cities – details listed below.
It’s been a hot minute since we featured top-rate Scandinavian electronica, but that dry spell is well and truly over with the introduction of Norwegian artist Mörmaid.
‘Manicfest’ is a banger and an anthem in equal measures. This is a bop that reminds you the weekend is just around the corner, and deserves to be on everyone’s playlists!
“‘Manicfest’ is a reflection piece on the increasing trend of manifesting, and how I feel like it’s mostly a trend amongst people who already have a lot but still want more. It’s not really a criticism of the practice, but rather a question mark. The song also touches on the themes of overconsumption and the ambition to always climb higher, never being fully content even when you reach your goals.”
Alongside her own compositions, Mörmaid has also worked with the likes of Ben Alexander, Tobi Duchampe, Jenny Alien and Brand New Moon. We think this is one Scandi talent whose momentum will continue to grow over the coming months… one to watch!
If there’s one pop-rock song you’ll likely have on repeat all weekend, it’ll be ‘Haunted’ by American trio Movie Night.
The song’s energising production drives through an anthemic melody (with an epic chorus), while the lyrics tell of how important it is to find closure after a relationship ends.
“You broke up. It was messy. No one’s over it. Or getting over it. ‘Haunted’ is the insatiable need for closure, the draw back to that hometown bar where this toxic duo first met. A tongue-in-cheek verse one cycles through small talk before going absolutely critical and detonating into a Queen-like cry for acknowledgment that neither party saw coming.”
Movie Night (previously known as Running Lights) consists of brothers Mike and Nick Squillante, and Steve Ranellone. Aside from their work in the band, the Squillante brothers have also produced and mixed records for artists as prominent as Hozier, Akon, and The Night Game.
Despite being a relatively new name to the Australian hip hop scene, OX4ORD is a talent who has already picked up seals of approval from iconic tastemakers like Complex, Acclaim and Purple Sneakers.
New single ‘VISIONS’ showcases a finessed style of sound that pushes the boundaries of the hip hop, and presents listeners with a reflective piece of music that features thoughtful lyricism and a heartfelt vocal delivery.
“With ‘VISIONS’, I wanted to take a step away from the dance-centric sound that I’ve put out recently. It was an opportunity for me to give people a glimpse behind the mask; it’s honest, it’s raw, and it’s a sound that you’re going to get more of from me moving forward.”
To date, OX4ORD has amassed more than 150k streams on Spotify alone, while his previous single ‘OKOK’ (listen here) charted at number 1 on Vevo’s Hip-Hop/Rap Playlists, marking his status as one of Australia’s most exciting rising stars.
Iconic Swedish pop star Loreen unveils her first new single since her triumphant Eurovision win at Liverpool this year.
‘Is It Love’ is sonically inspired by Loreen’s Moroccan Berber roots, while the elevated vocals provide listeners with style of ‘spiritual pop’ that is really quite phenomenal to experience.
“‘Is It Love’ was born from a place of seeking clarity, it’s a song describing and contemplating a love thats so deep but at the same time filled with confusion. It’s about realising that to create a deeper understanding of yourself you need to accept the duality of life, that distortion and clarity goes hand in hand and are equally as important. And to experience the depth of true love, both to the self as well as to others, you have to accept and experience the depth of pain.”
The song was written by some of the industry’s biggest names, including MTHR, Dag Lundberg and Maia Wright, while production personnel includes Albin Nedler and Josh Gudwin.
Loreen shortly embarks on a tour across the UK and Europe, with all dates sold out. If you were lucky enough to get some tickets then we’re very jelaous!
Sofie Mathiasen is an emerging American-Danish singer and songwriter who is currently building considerable traction across social media – particularly on Tik Tok where she’s already amassed more than 50k followers.
‘Smile’ is a captivating dark-pop song that was lyrically inspired by the effects of social media on people and society. Mathiasen explains:
‘Smile’ is a song about that discrepancy. The fable of a clown, but also a mirror to society in the age of social media.
Alongside her growing presence online, the artist has also garnered thousands of streams from the release of just four singles. This is one talent to keep on your radars in 2024.
One of the most distinctive songs to have been released this week comes courtesy of Michigan artist and musician Jaye Rsvd.
‘Curious Adventures’ presents listeners with an eccentric yet effortlessly cool blend of alternative soul, old-school hip hop and R&B. The sound is sleek yet punchy, and the clever lyricism leaves a lasting impression.
Listeners can enjoy more of this promising newcomer’s music through his 2023 EP ‘From Summer Skies’, which can be heard here.
Rising alt-R&B starlet frex has returned with one of her most honest and intimate singles to date.
‘Postcards’ looks at the emotions associated with a fading romance, and the dilemmas that one can face in deciding whether to try and rescue the relationship, or give it all up.
“I wanted to keep being vulnerable during my process. Before you decide to move on, you’re deciding whether or not to give up all hope. Even though it’s a bad situation, you’re reminiscing.”
frex has received praise from outlets as iconic as Billboard and Wordplay magazines, and currently commands more than 300k monthly Spotify listeners.
Track of the week. The high calibre of fresh Canadian talent never ceases to amaze us. ELLES is a newcomer whose style of sound is so beautifully emotive that her new single ‘i do’ is already one of our favourites of the season.
Through its thoughtfully constructed fusion of indie and pop, the song tells of the complexities of human relationships:
“‘i do’ is about pure duality and contrast surrounding love in the human experience. i love someone, they hurt me, i should dislike them, i don’t. i made mistakes in this relationship, does that mean i deserve to be hurt like this? is it right that i still wish them the best regardless? love is f*cking weird man and this song was me allowing myself to feel pain, love, longing, and loathing in the same breath. in ‘i do’ i am the victim and the perpetrator. sometimes we are both but assign ourselves one role so we can justify our own or others’ actions. it’s important to be real with yourself, especially in times of high emotions. see the situation from all sides, then heal.”
To date, ELLES has amassed more than 110k streams on Spotify alone from only a handful of releases. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for this hugely gifted singer-songwriter.
One of our favourite releases of the week comes courtesy of Afropop singer and songwriter Adanna Duru.
We honestly can’t tell you how many times we’ve played ‘if i was a boy ;)’ since it went live earlier today, but after endless loops we still can’t get enough of this infectious gem of a bop.
“This song is about letting out all those feelings of being mistreated or being taken for granted by men in my life. I wanted to make a song that was super fun and spoke to feelings that all women go through in relationships (wanting to treat men the way they treat us).”
Duru performs at LA’s Moroccan Lounge on the 12th November and in New York’s iconic Mercury Lounge on the 18th November. An upcoming EP called ‘NAPPY HOUR II‘ is out on the 1st December 2023. A global star in the making? We think so!
Honeysucker is the new musical project of American indie-pop artists Jack Brickner and Sam Wright.
Inspired by the likes of Hall and Oates and Bobby Caldwell, this promising duo construct a distinct style of sound that somehow feels timelessly classic yet also fresh and edgy in tone.
New single ‘Honeydeux’ serves as a perfect introduction to the band’s sound. Self-described as ‘Yacht Rock meets Brit Pop’, this song is likely to become one of your favourite indie anthems of the autumn.
“This song is about Tonya. At least I think her name is Tonya. I never got her name but she looked like a Tonya to me. She had a chocolate brown pixie cut and bright red lipstick with a platinum earring in one ear and a gold one in the other. She was dancing with a leather jacket tied around her waist and a vodka soda nestled in her palm (I’m guessing it was a vodka soda because everyone was drinking those at the time, I still don’t know why, they objectively taste like shit).
I watched her sashay past me, leaving behind a tantalising trace of that instantly recognizable scent, Honeydeux. The unmistakeable French perfume lingered for a few seconds before fusing into the communal musk. She weaved through the crowd, eventually settling into a spot on the dance floor among three or four friends. She swayed gracefully but with intention, translating each note, beat and line into a moving picture without spilling one drop of that preposturous clear concoction they call a cocktail.
And then there was me. Tipsy, coming down off E. I tossed a few fake glances around the room to see if I could catch her glancing my way from the corner of my eye. No dice. Unfortunate but so it goes. I still had a pretty good night all things considered.
Anyway, this song’s about Tonya. I hope she’s doing well.”
Honeysucker are currently working on more new music, while also performing at venues across New York with fellow musicians Zach Kornhauser and Gavi Kutliroff.
Acclaimed UK rockers Corella have just unleashed a powerful new single, called ‘Don’t Stop Me’.
The track was written as a way to inspire listeners to follow their dreams, and reminds us that we are ultimately in control of our own destinies. Elaborating further on the song’s lyrics, they say:
“‘Don’t Stop Me’ is all about escaping from your normal lifestyle and chasing what you’re really passionate about. Being a young person in the UK these days can be a real challenge. It’s easy to fall into a dark place, especially when life feels tough on both an individual and societal level, and it can seem like everything and everyone is working against you and your dreams.”
“We wanted to remind people that even in the darkest moments, there will always be something to make you smile, and to our fans we wanted that something to be this song. When we play this live, we want to see them lose themselves in the music, even for just a moment; to forget all of life’s problems and stresses, as it’s important to immerse yourself in what gives you that buzz.”
You can catch the lads performing across the UK from next week – dates and venues listed below. Tickets are selling fast though, get them while you can!
Hailing from London is promising newcomer luke is tired (aka leadmetoland), who has just released a melancholic new single called ‘halloween party’.
Lyrically inspired by a party that no one comes to, the track lays bare the artist’s feelings and emotions in a heartbreaking and moving way. Elaborating further, luke is tired says:
“While the verses focus on some real-world experiences (‘I threw this Halloween party, invited some of my best friends…’, ‘I’ve never been one for drinking, […] does that make me boring?’), the chorus belts out the frustration and disappointment that these experiences evoke: ‘guess I’m not worth showing up for, no, I’m never missed’.
Impressively, luke is tired writes, records and produces all of his music, and self-describes his work as ‘happy sad bops’.
It’s not often that you come across a talent who is so open and honest with his work, and for that we see a bright future ahead for this artist.
Swedish singer and songwriter NOEL is back today with one of the biggest Scandinavian releases of the week.
‘Headed North’ treats listeners to an anthemic fusion of indie and alternative pop. The sound is impassioned and bursting with raw emotion, and continues to mark this hugely gifted 20-year old musician as a superstar of the future.
“Writing ‘Headed North’ was like a therapy session. In the past I’ve found myself leaving a potential relationship before it got too serious, and I never really knew why. It sounds like a cliche, but the conversations in the studio made me realise I might be running away from the possibility of getting hurt. I’m such an over-thinker which often leads me to finding wrongs in everything, even when it might not be there…”
This single follows on from NOEL’s debut release, ‘When You’re Not Mine’ (listen here), which has already amassed more than 10 million views on TikTok alone.
If you’ve never experienced ‘stoner rock’ before then we’ve got a very special treat for you.
Swedish band Repeat have been gaining steady momentum in recent months thanks to their distinct style of sound, which is bold, vivid and energising in character.
Today marks the release of the group’s self-titled debut album, along with a thumping new single called ‘Out of control’. The track is immediately arresting, and sets the sonic tone for the rest of the record.
“The idea behind the album is to provide a short and explosive experience of repetitive aggressive songs. We really prefer the short formats and a direct presence. The mix of stoner rock and alternative rock with loud very fuzzy guitars, rumbling bass and aggressive yet stiff drums, gives its own unique progressive style.”
It wouldn’t be a normal Friday at Alfitude Towers without us sharing a dance anthem, and boy have we got a banger for you today…
‘Best Of My Love’ is a fabulous new collaboration between acclaimed collective Revival Records and UK soul legend Imaani, and presents listeners with a joyful reworking of the 1977 classic by The Emotions.
“Working with the Revival team on ‘Best Of My Love’ has been immense! I love that we’ve managed to bring an all time classic song bang into the future with such an uplifting treatment. I’m sure that alongside the die-hard soul fans, it will bring a whole new raft of music lovers along for the ride… The infectious energy of this track is just impossible to ignore!” – Imaani
So if you’re looking for an instant boost of serotonin to brighten up your day, be sure to press play and enjoy the positive energy that this song exudes!
The Dwarves return today with a cheeky ode to 90’s punk-rock called ‘We Will Dare’, featuring vocals from Madd Lucas (Sik Sik Sicks).
Alongside the single, the band have also unveiled some playful visuals that were directed by Frank Meyer. Fans of cult TV show Jackass will also be pleased to see an appearance on the video by none other than Danger Ehren himself.
The group are currently preparing for the release of their new record, titled ‘Concept Album’, as well as an upcoming tour across the States .
Emerging starlet Jenny Kern seems to do no wrong these days. The Brooklyn-based, Canadian-born musician has just released a new song today that really is quite beautiful to experience.
‘Intoxicate Me’ presents listeners with a heady mix of dreamy pop and indie, while the lyrics look at the powerful emotions that arise when we fall in love.
“It is a really intense song that builds strong with different textures and feelings.”
Fans can catch Kern performing live tonight (5th October) at New York’s iconic Mercury Lounge. Be sure to catch this rising artist before she starts selling out stadiums! Tickets can be found here.
