Category: Music

Lawson Hull – Strange

Photo / Ashley Cooper

Australian indie-folk star Lawson Hull unveils a new single today, which was written while the world was still on lockdown.

‘Strange’ is a reflective track that focuses on themes like reinvention, personal growth and being fearful of failure.

Through its highly relatable lyricism, this song is sure to touch many hearts and minds who feel lost and uncertain of where life is leading them.

“The song came from the blur of songs written during COVID. Sometimes I wonder if the COVID songs will ever end. They’re like breakup songs from relationships from forever ago. ‘Strange’ is still eerily relevant and gets more so all the time.

During the height of the pandemic, I remember thinking this is as good a time as any to reinvent myself, do something else with my life, maybe take up new hobbies. Everyone was kind of neutralised and put on the same level in some ways. But by the time the world started opening up again, I felt like I wasn’t ready to be the ‘new’ me I was supposedly going to become. I hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary yet. What if I get out there and everything falls apart?”

“The song has shifted meaning personally since that time. Sometimes if you’re lucky as a songwriter, you find yourself going through periods of time between meaningless casual jobs where you have solid blocks of time to write. If you’re unlucky during this time, sometimes the universe decides to not allow a single strand of creative DNA to grow inside your brain (don’t ask me about the science of this). When you don’t put your time to good use, you can get in a rut easily, watching YouTube and scrolling social media. You think, ‘I’ve got all this time’, but it creeps away on you. You eventually get into the habit of not wanting to leave the house or even hang out with friends. The thing is when you snap out of that frozen mind-frame and force yourself out the door, things feel normal again.”

Hull’s music has garnered support from heavyweight tastemakers like The Luna Collective, Ear To The Ground, MILKY and The Indie Machine. The artist currently commands more than 170k monthly listeners on Spotify, and has amassed more than 25 million career streams to date.

Lawson Hull

New Music: Eva Rose King

Photo / Alex Bozzy

If you’re in the mood for some mellow, soulful pop to end the week with then we’ve got the perfect song for you.

The first thing that stands when you play an Eva Rose King track is her distinctive vocal delivery, and new single ‘Complex Feelings’ showcases this beautifully.

Serving as the perfect ‘end of summer’ song, this melodic piece of music takes listeners on a nostalgic journey that looks at how life makes us lose touch with our childhood friends.

With such a gorgeous approach to songwriting, Eva Rose King might end up becoming one of Colorado’s most promising pop exports this year.

Eva Rose King

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist 

Dune Moss – Eyes Inside My Walls

US-based musician and self-proclaimed sun faery Dune Moss unveils a sublime piece of cinematic pop today, titled ‘Eyes Inside My Walls’.

If you’re a fan of artists like AURORA and Skott, then chances are high that you’ll also connect strongly with this single.

Both epic and haunting in its tone, the track showcases a production that is not only expertly constructed, but also deeply captivating and emotive to experience. Elaborating on the song’s lyrical inspiration, Moss explains:

“‘Eyes Inside My Walls’ is a song that reflects one of my deepest scars. I grew up in a religion that pinned me down and restricted many aspects of who I am. In my community, when you turned 8, you were baptised and told that you were at the ‘age of accountability’ with the responsibility to repent of all your sins. I was obligated to repent for being a normal, sexually curious teenager. All the men I confessed my sins to were older and compelled me to describe intimate details about what I did sexually. I was made to recount specifics about all encounters, including merely kissing boys. They twisted my innocence and turned it into shame. ‘Eyes Inside My Walls’, though, is not about shaming myself. Instead, it’s the raw feeling of anger and sadness for all the years I spent faithfully following their all-male leadership. My childhood and teenage years were spent with the patriarchy’s eyes watching every move I made. Here I am at 22, only now realising what was done. The patriarchal system within my church imprisoned my soul and influenced every decision I made. As an adult, I am finally on the journey to build myself sexually and spiritually as the woman I want to be from the ground up.”

Dune’s unique style of sound has resonated with a significant number of listeners from all over the world, resulting in her music being streamed more than a million times to date on Spotify alone.

Dune Moss

CHARLIE – Friends

https://open.spotify.com/track/2vQICu1xIC33ghSD6VYBMF?si=ad96d1be13b342ee

Cambridge-based singer, songwriter and producer CHARLIE returns today with a nostalgic new single called ‘Friends’.

The track reminisces of the bygone days of our childhoods, when life was easier and we had less to worry about.

“Here’s the thing, when you’re younger you don’t realise how good life was. It was so simple, so exciting and part of me misses it so much. I wrote ‘Friends’ inspired by the close knit group of mates I had growing up and how much time we spent together before growing up, moving out of our hometowns and going from seeing each other every day to a few times a year. Yes, this is a personal story to me, but it’s a story shared by every single person and I can’t wait for people to connect with it.”

Alongside its thoughtful lyricism, ‘Friends’ also treats listeners to an energising production that fuses elements of pop with rock.

To date, CHARLIE’s songs and collaborations have found their way onto outlets as noted as BBC Introducing. This talent could well be one of the UK’s new up and comers!

CHARLIE

Grant Knoche – APRIL 10TH

Grant Knoche returns with one of his most captivating singles to date. ‘APRIL 10TH’ is a powerful slice of dark pop that showcases the artist’s natural flair for crafting anthemic sounds that are not only sonically impressive, but also lyrically compelling.

Fans will be excited to learn that Knoche’s next EP, called ‘I COULD DIE JUST THINKING OF US’ is scheduled for release on the 20th October. You can pre-save the record here.

We’ve made no secret in the past of just how obsessed we are with this American talent, but we’ll say it again… keep this kid on your radars!

Grant Knoche

New Music: Morning Silk

Inspired by the likes of Mac Demarco and Connan Mockasin, rising outfit Morning Silk (led by Frank Corr) create a very special kind of sound that instantly transports you to a beautiful place.

Melodic new single ‘Nightlife’ was written as a ‘sonic journey through the streets of New York City after dark’, and is so dreamy and mesmerising in tone that we think you might fall in love with Morning Silk after just one listen.

An upcoming EP called ‘Dark City Silence’ is scheduled for release soon. And if any of the other songs on the record sound like ‘Nightlife’, then we might be looking at one of indie’s biggest prospects of the year.

Morning Silk

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

Sydney Ross Mitchell – The Edge

If you’re struggling through this Wednesday then we’ve got the perfect sonic tonic for you.

‘The Edge’ is American musician Sydney Ross Mitchell’s latest offering, and presents listeners with a heady fusion of mellow pop, indie and folk. Charming and emotive in character, we think it’s one of the finest releases of the week.

Having amassed more than 750k career streams on Spotify alone, it’s clear to see that Sydney’s ascent to stardom is already happening. You can stream more of the emerging artist’s work here. Keep this kid on your radars, she’s one to watch!

Sydney Ross Mitchell

Rangleklods – Your House

If you miss Daft Punk as much as we do, then playing ‘Your House’ by Danish electronic powerhouse Rangleklods should put a smile on your face.

The song blends that classic, timeless French disco sound with hints of indie and pop, resulting in a piece of music that feels familiar but also very fresh at the same time.

Complimenting the release of the track, Rangleklods has also unveiled some spellbinding visuals that feature footage from a show which was filmed at the Avernax Festival.

Fans in Europe can catch Rangleklods live on tour across several countries, beginning later this month at Panoptikon in Vridsløselille Fængsel. Dates and venues listed below.

Rangleklods

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Rangleklods European Tour 2023-24

  • Fri, Sep 15, 2023: Panoptikon, Vridsløselille Fængsel, DK
  • Sat, Mar 9, 2023: Platform K, Horsens – DK
  • Fri, Mar 15, 2024: Pumpehuset, Copenhagen – DK 
  • Fri, Mar 22, 2024: Studenterhus, Aalborg – DK 
  • Sat, Mar 23, 2024: Århus Volume (volume village), Aarhus – DK
  • Thu, Mar 28, 2024: X-Tra Musikcafé, Zûrich – CH
  • Wed, Apr 3, 2024 Melkweg Amsterdam – NL
  • Fri, Apr 5, 2024: Uebel & Gefährlich (Turmzimmer) – Hamburg – DE 
  • Sat, Apr 6, 2024: Badehaus – Berlin – DE 
  • Thu, Apr 11, 2024: Rote Bar – Vienna – AT

New Music: ZUBIN

Track of the week. Showcasing some of the very best in emerging South African music artistry is rising singer, songwriter and producer ZUBIN.

‘letter for you’ is the opening track to the artist’s freshly-released solo debut EP of the same name (listen here), and treats listeners to a beautifully stripped-back mix of alternative pop and indie.

Prior to this release, ZUBIN was noted for his work with Yung Beathoven and their collaborative ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ project (listen here), which received global attention and amassed hundreds of thousands of streams.

ZUBIN’s music has so far landed placements on editorials as noted as Spotify’s ‘New Music Friday’ and Apple Music’s ‘Breaking Pop’.

ZUBIN

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist 

Jade LeMac – Got Me Obsessed

Photo / Zachary Vague

Canadian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jade LeMac continues on her quest for global pop dominance with the release of new single ‘Got Me Obsessed’.

Despite its dark (and almost haunting) production, the track focuses on the thrill and excitement that comes with being in love, and showcases LeMac’s natural flair for crafting sounds that are bold yet relatable.

“‘Got Me Obsessed’ is about the excitement of beginning a new relationship, and all the intense emotions that come along with it. Every single thought is consumed by them and there isn’t anything or anyone you crave more. I wrote this in that time of a new relationship and it felt so overwhelming and exciting I wanted to convey that intensity in a song.” 

With support from the likes of Ones To Watch, Popdust and Teen Vogue already under her belt, we anticipate that Jade LeMac will become a household name very soon.

Jade LeMac

New Music: NOEL

Photo / Fredrik Andersson

We’ve got a phenomenal new Scandinavian talent to share with you today, who is almost certain to hit the global mainstream very soon.

Hailing from Stockholm, NOEL is a Norwegian-Swedish singer and songwriter who transitioned into the world of music after a knee injury halted his progress into becoming a footballer.

‘When You’re Not Mine’ serves as a powerful anthem for the broken-hearted, and is sure to resonate with huge swathes of listeners across the world.

“‘When You’re Not Mine’ was one of the first songs I wrote on my songwriting journey, and it has sort of progressed over time, just like me. It started as a break-up song, but it didn’t feel honest since I haven’t really been in love before. After rewriting the lyrics, it evolved into a personal story about longing for a special someone. Now, over a year later and after many late nights, I think we finally got it right, and I’m very proud of it. This song is for my future person.“

The song was written alongside prominent songwriters Johan Lindbrandt and Freddy Alexander, as well as Alfitude favourite Clara Mae.

NOEL

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Sophia Alexa – Hall Pass

Rising starlet Sophia Alexa returns with a sensational new single called ‘Hall Pass’.

Sonically, the track fuses indie and alt-pop with essences of folk, while the lyrics focus on those moments in life when we wonder if things are too good to be true.

“I wrote ‘Hall Pass’ because I wanted to capture the feeling of self-sabotage. I’ve always had this fear that when something is going too well I’m just waiting for it to fall apart. It’s almost a form of protection and being okay with someone leaving before you get hurt, which is why I loved the title hall pass, it’s giving someone an out.”

Alexa’s momentum has been on a steady rise for some time now. The artist currently commands more than 50k monthly listeners on Spotify, while her music has been streamed more than three million times to date. There’s no doubt in our minds that this talent is destined for great things.

Sophia Alexa

Astrid Cordes – Surrender

Photo / Mads Fisker

Danish artist Astrid Cordes is back with a shimmering new single for us all to enjoy.

Despite originally being written on a harp, ‘Surrender’ serves listeners with a vivid alt-pop production that is rich in sonic texture and character. Conceptually, the song contrasts a vivid and euphoric style of sound with lyricism that tells of someone entering your life and turning it upside down.

“’Surrender’ is about living your life instead of longing for another. If you lose yourself to dreaming, you wont go anywhere in reality. On the other hand, I believe that if you surrender to reality, no matter how unfair or chaotic it may seem, you’ll find, that there’s an actual possibility to grow, play and live – and for dreams to come true.”

Fans can look forward to an upcoming EP called ‘Baby’s Still Asleep’, which is scheduled for release on the 13th September. Cordes will also embark on a nationwide tour across Denmark this autumn – dates will be announced soon.

Astrid Cordes

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Maida Rose – Phoenix

Photo / philinevandenhul

For those of you who have yet to experience Maida Rose’s music, ‘Phoenix’ should serve as a perfect introduction to this talented Dutch duo’s work.

Since releasing their debut album ‘Tales of Adolescence’ last year (listen here), these two friends and musicians have gone on to build a loyal legion of fans – thanks to their gorgeously distinctive approach to dream-pop.

‘Phoenix’ was lyrically inspired by the poems of Rumi, and centres around themes of growing up and accepting responsibility for your actions. The song is lifted from the duo’s forthcoming ‘Philia’ EP, which is out soon.

Maida Rose

AMFM – The Winner

Acclaimed indie-rock project AMFM unveil one of the most beautiful singles of the week.

Through its captivating mix of indie, dream-pop and rock, ‘The Winner’ takes listeners on a melodic journey that is as enchanting as it is mesmerising.

This is the kind of song that lets you forget the realities of life for a brief moment, and deserves to be on everyone’s playlists for the weekend ahead.

Fronted by American musician David Caruso, AMFM’s songs have amassed more than 250k cumulative streams on Spotify alone. Tastemakers have also fallen in love with the project’s work, with outlets as noted as Punch Land, Indie Band Guru and Pure Grain Audio all showing support.

AMFM

New Music: Nectar Woode

Hailing from the creative hub of East London is emerging singer and songwriter Nectar Woode, who has just unveiled an uplifting single titled ‘Good Vibrations’.

If you’re suffering from the midweek blues, then this is the song for you. Co-written and produced by Bad Sounds (who are noted for their work with Arlo Parks and Rose Gray), this beautifully melodic track serves listeners with a charming fusion of soul and pop.

Freshly signed to iconic label Communion Records, we predict that Woode will very quickly become one of the UK’s newest stars. This is one artist to watch!

Nectar Woode

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

Augustus Carroll + Fulton Lee – Baby, Don’t Go Fall in Love

Two rising Nashville talents join forces on one of the week’s most captivating soul releases.

‘Baby, Don’t Go Fall in Love’ features Augustus Carroll and Fulton Lee, and treats listeners to a melodic piece of feel-good music that is refreshingly sweet in tone.

Lyrically, the song looks at people who hop between relationships too quickly in a bid to avoid loneliness… even when their hearts are still broken from old romances.

With that said, the track is written in a way that inspires the listener to embrace self-love, and reminds us that time can be the best healer.

“I wanted to write something that felt encouraging and transparent. Being alone is a difficult thing that no one really wants to experience, but once you’re able to feel empowered on your own, it adds an entirely new dimension to your life and relationships. I think it can be a lot more fulfilling to take time to heal and become whole instead of just doing what’s comfortable. Hopefully this song can inspire us to be patient with ourselves and each other.” – Augustus Carroll

Augustus Carroll | Fulton Lee

sticktype – Drive Safe, Love You

Acclaimed musician and model sticktype returns with a powerful new indie single called ‘Drive Safe, Love You’.

The song was lyrically inspired by the poignant emotions associated with letting go of the people that we love. It’s a feeling many of us will have experienced, and makes this a highly relatable piece of music.

“‘Drive Safe, Love You” is about learning to let go of someone you love, knowing that love for them will persevere regardless of any circumstances. This song came about through the many transient relationships I’ve experienced in all parts of my life. The idea, to love is to let go, is placed in context of parting ways with a loved one battling addictions and wishing them well.”

The track is lifted from the artist’s upcoming debut EP, which is scheduled for release later in the autumn. If this is your first experience of sticktype’s music, then be sure to check out his debut single ‘Hand Me Down‘.

sticktype

New Music: Duskbloom

Duskbloom is an exciting new project from Hertfordshire-based singer, songwriter and producer Jack Osborne.

Genre-bending debut single ‘Glow’ showcases a production that fuses elements of electronica with garage and alternative pop, resulting in a style of sound that feels haunting and dark, but also bold and arresting.

“It’s about my journey from existential crisis, to moments of peace and hope – by shining love and empathy on myself, glowing “If you feel it fading out, know you can glow.”

The track serves as an impressive introduction to a musician who uses his songwriting skills as a way to not only express his thoughts and feelings, but to also uplift and inspire listeners during their darkest moments.

“Many of us have blindly followed other peoples’ advice through life, getting qualifications and jobs that served a different generation and now we’re left absent and apathetic. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels like this. My music is far from perfect, but it’s true to who I am and who I hope to become. I hope that by sharing my journey, I can connect to those on the same journey, and encourage them to nurture their own passions through self-love and empathy – however small, however grand.”

Duskbloom will release three more singles in the upcoming months. Be sure to follow the artist on Spotify here.

Duskbloom

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B00sted – Selfish

Rising Canadian artist B00sted continues on his quest for global pop domination with new single, ‘Selfish’.

Lifted from the artist’s freshly released EP of the same name (out now), the track presents listeners with a well-constructed mix of hip hop, R&B and pop. Explaining the concept behind the visuals for the song, he says:

“Against the backdrop of lush, vibrant forests; the ‘Selfish’ video was inspired by the filming locations of the movie ‘Rambo: First Blood’ in Hope, BC (which is about an hour east of my hometown of Mission, BC). The concept of the video was that an enigmatic character is on a quest to find B00sted, symbolising the inescapable consequences that arise from acting selfishly.”

B00sted already commands more than 35k monthly listeners on Spotify, while his catalogue of releases has amassed millions of streams and views across digital players and YouTube. Keep this kid on your radars… we anticipate big things in his future.

B00sted