Music - New Music

Ninja Kidsoul – Face 2 Face

German-American artist Ninja Kidsoul has firmly marked his name as one of Europe’s leading neo-soul artists, and today’s release of ‘Face 2 Face’ only goes to further prove this.

Lyrically inspired by the concept of ‘existential anxiety’, the song looks at the complexities of trying to survive in the modern age.

“Some people wanna see you fail / so they stare, but we stare back”

Alongside it’s thoughtful wordplay, the track also showcases an intricate and refreshingly future-forward production that is filled with interesting sonic textures.

Ninja Kidsoul has performed on stages as prominent as the Montreux Jazz Festival, and also garnered praise from the likes of COLORS and ARTE Tracks.

Ninja Kidsoul

Chloe Amelia – u already know

Rising UK artist Chloe Amelia is back today with an impressive new single called ‘u already know’.

As we’ve come to expect from this talent, the song serves listeners with a polished pop sound that is not only well-constructed sonically, but also features some captivating and vivid lyricism. Elaborating further on the track, Chloe explains:

“This song was written about meeting somebody at a time when you have been protecting your feelings for so long that you couldn’t imagine falling in love again. You are so adamant that nothing will change that and ultimately end up blindly walking into a situation, or rather a person, that gets you completely hooked. The lyrics attempt to encapsulate the denial of having feelings for someone slowly melting away and the frustration that comes with this.”

The song was co-created alongside writer and producer Lagoon (aka Nicholas Bowen), and is the follow-up to Chloe’s debut release ‘sorry (kinda)’, which you can experience here.

Chloe Amelia

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New Music: Kaiya

Kaiya is an emerging singer, songwriter and dancer who was born in Melbourne and is currently residing in London. This hugely promising starlet is already building a name for herself, thanks to her distinct fusions of melodic soul and UK hip hop.

New single ‘Could Be’ features the talents of acclaimed East London rap artist Outlaw The Artist, and showcases Kaiya’s sound in a beautifully emotive way. The song was produced by J.Ar.J, and solidifies this artist as one to watch.

To date, Kaiya’s music has been praised by the likes of BBC Introducing and PBS, as well as tastemakers Wonderland, Beat and Vent magazines.

Kaiya

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Litvar – Oh My God

Acclaimed indie rockers Litvar return today with an anthemic new release called ‘Oh My God’.

The song delivers a production that is epic, cinematic and really quite bold in tone, while also maintaining an element of playfulness and unpredictability. Bandmate Rex Thurstan elaborates further on the track’s concept:

“A song about confronting ego, trying to improve your cognitive thinking and mental health. It was originally written in the summer of 2020, before our first album had even come out. And we’ve actually played it at every live show we’ve ever played! To us it kind of feels like the most ‘Litvar’ song, does all of the things we like to do, melodic verses, huge choruses, choppy electronic effects.”

Litvar’s next album, ‘Eloquently Aimless’ will be released on the 1st September 2023. Before then, the trio will visit the UK for some shows in August, and then head back to the States in the autumn to perform in their hometown. Dates and venues are below.

Litvar

Upcoming Shows 2023:

23rd August – Brighton, UK | The Brunswick
24th August – Birmingham UK | Dead Wax
26th August – London, UK | The Camden Assembly
9th September – Willimantic, CT | Shaboo Stage (hometown album release show)

Séamus – Lost My Baby

It’s been quite the wait, but California-based pop artist Séamus is finally back with some new music!

‘Lost My Baby’ is the musician’s first project of the year, and follows on from the release of his widely-praised 2022 EP ‘The Whole World’s Burning’ (listen here).

As a refreshingly original alternative to the traditional ‘summer anthem’, the song balances feelings of melancholy with joy through its perfected blend of indie and power-pop.

The track serves as a taster to Séamus’s upcoming ‘The Town Where I Sleep’ EP, which is scheduled for release later in the autumn via Burly Records.

Séamus

Stephano Prunebelli – Forever Lovers

Stephano Prunebelli is a singer, songwriter and music producer who is currently based in Cyprus.

Today he releases his sultry new single, called ‘Forever Lovers’. The song showcases a heady mix of dance and electronic pop, and could be a great addition to your summer playlists for the season ahead.

To date, Stephano has amassed more than 100k career streams on Spotify alone. If you enjoyed listening to this artist’s music, then be sure to check out his 2020 ‘Trouble’ EP here.

Stephano Prunebelli

New Music: Tamar Berk

One of the catchiest bops to be released this the weekend comes courtesy of San Diego’s Tamar Berk, with her new single ‘If U Know, U Know’.

Alongside it’s tremendously memorable melody, the song’s production treats listeners to a nostalgia-tinged mix of 90’s style indie-rock and pop.

This is the kind of sound that is near impossible not to enjoy, and for that we anticipate a bright future for this rising talent.

Berk plays San Diego’s Casbah on the 5th August – tickets can be found here. In the meantime, be sure to pre-save the artist’s forthcoming ‘Tiny Injuries’ album here.

Tamar Berk

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FORAGER – Hello to the Kiddies

If you’re in the mood for something a little different, then we’ve got a great song to share with you.

Brooklyn-based outfit FORAGER have been carving a name for themselves in recent years as one of the State’s most interesting acts, and their new single highlights their style perfectly.

‘Hello to the Kiddies’ is a refreshingly eccentric and unpredictable piece of music that fuses alternative pop with psychedelic rock in a very special and charming way.

Fans can look forward to the band’s forthcoming ‘Pipedream Firewood’ album, which is out on the 18th August 2023. Having already found praise on outlets as respected as Earmilk, Backseat Mafia and NPR Music, it seems inevitable that FORAGER will hit the mainstream very soon.

FORAGER

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Neighbourly – Does It Matter

Hailing from Vancouver Island is promising four-piece outfit Neighbourly, who have just released their latest single, called ‘Does It Matter’.

Written by the group’s guitarist & vocalist Ollie Sandberg, the track showcases a distinctive style of production that incorporates elements of indie and funk with pop and psychedelica. The sound feels dreamy and mellow in character, but also uplifting and playful in tone.

Alongside the audio release, Neighbourly have also unveiled a mesmerising live version of the song, which was recorded at the Haus Of Owl in Victoria BC.

The track serves as a taster to the band’s upcoming self-titled album, which is scheduled for release in October 2023.

Neighbourly was formed in 2016 under the previous name of SPEAK EASY, and comprises of musicians Oliver Sandberg, Scott Sparrow, Lauren Giorgio and Latham Reader.

Neighbourly

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New Music: Maxwell Varey

Showcasing some of the finest sounds to come out of Northern England is Wigan’s Maxwell Varey, who is rapidly marking his name as one of the UK’s newest pop prospects.

Thanks to his perfected style of work (which fuses power-pop with elements of indie and rock), Varey has already picked up support from heavyweight outlets as noted as BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music, as well as NME and Clash magazines.

Varey’s anthemic new single ‘Sorry’ looks set to propel the musician’s name even further into the spotlight. Explaining the song’s meaning, he says:

“’Sorry’ is a song that on the surface level is written to seem like it’s about relatable and common romantic relationship issues. But, playfully, this is just a facade. I wanted to highlight how all relationships whether it’s family, friends or in a romantic context have very similar patterns. The song is about meaningless apologies but also how repeatedly forgiving someone to avoid conflict can be just as bad.”

The track serves as a follow-up to the artist’s debut release ‘Falling Down’, and was produced and written by Varey himself.

Maxwell Varey

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NAMESAKE – IN DIFFERENT CITIES (feat. Jewel Owusu)

Two of Australia’s brightest starlets have teamed up to create one of the season’s biggest bops.

‘IN DIFFERENT CITIES’ is the shimmering new collaboration between producer NAMESAKE and singer-songwriter Jewel Owusu.

Sonically, the track presents listeners with an energising mix of electronica and alternative pop, while the lyrics encourage us to make the most of life’s opportunities.

“‘IN DIFFERENT CITIES’ is about seizing opportunities that come your way and embracing change whilst recognising that some people may only pass through your life for a while and impermanence can still be a beautiful thing. I realised the ones who are meant to stay and those destined for me will always be there, while those meant for a different path will naturally find their way. It’s also about envisioning what life could’ve been like with those you’ve crossed paths with, but gracefully releasing those ‘what if’s’ and appreciating your current circumstances.” – NAMESAKE

NAMESAKE’S music has been featured on prominent playlists such as Spotify’s New Music Friday, Indie Arrivals and Fresh Finds AU & NZ, while Owusu’s work has been praised by outlets like MTV Australia, Triple J and Complex.

NAMESAKE | Jewel Owusu

DD Walker – WHITE LIES

American singer, songwriter and producer DD Walker is back today with a brand new summer hit called ‘WHITE LIES’.

The track was co-created alongside the legendary Andew Maury (who has worked with the likes of Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Coin and Ra Ra Riot), and delivers to listeners an energising mix of indie, rock and alternative pop. Elaborating on the song further, DD Walker says:

“I iterate forever on new music before it’s released. After a long time of whittling at this pile of demos I accumulated from my first EP onward, this opening lead guitar was something I kept coming back to, playing in my room and meditating on. The way the guitars and motifs cycle around themselves led me to the ruminating lyrics – opening up about fear of losing people and being with myself for better and worse.”

DD Walker has already achieved more than two million cumulative streams to date, and also shared stages with indie outfits as prominent as Bear Hands, Walk The Moon and Foals. You can stream DD Walker’s debut EP ‘Malibu’ here.

DD Walker

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New Music: Tai Marie

Hailing from Dallas in the state of Texas is Tai Marie, who is currently building significant hype thanks to her distinct and finessed style of R&B-pop.

New single ‘OVERTHINKER’ treats listeners to a sound that is polished, sleek and melodic in style.

The track’s dreamy and elevated production creates the perfect soundscape for Marie’s airy vocals to glide through, allowing us to connect with the beautifully written lyricism in a meaningful way.

Having amassed more than 80k career streams to date on Spotify alone, Marie looks set to become one of the genre’s hottest new names.

Tai Marie

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New Music: Humane The Moon

In our view, East London’s Humane The Moon is one of the capital’s most exciting newcomers to emerge so far this year.

He’s just unveiled his debut single, called ‘A Track In Orbit’. Anyone living in a ‘9-5 bubble’ will relate to the song’s sentiment, which focuses on the mundane and depressing realities of modern life.

“When I wrote ‘A Track In Orbit’, I was working on the electrics for the Claridge’s Hotel renovation. Getting on that overflowing miserable 6am train from Forest Gate, and then again at 6pm from Bond Street. It conveys a sense of frustration with the repetitive and exhausting nature of work, the passage of time, and pressure to constantly chase money. It reflects a desire to break free from this cycle. To enjoy the moment, to dance to the radio.”

Complimenting the song’s bold lyricism is its impressive indie-rock production, which delivers a style of sound that feels frantic, raw and intense in character.

The artist has already sold-out his next show at London’s Luna Lounge on the 28th July, but you can join the waiting list here.

While this is only just the beginning for Humane The Moon, we predict huge things for this talent.

Humane The Moon

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New Music: Mathiah

Hailing from California is Jordanian artist Mathiah, who has just unveiled a powerful new single called ‘Swimming Through The Water’.

Blending alternative R&B with elements of hip hop and indie-pop, this genre-bending track presents us with a production that is not only rich in sonic texture, but is also unique in tone.

Alongside its distinct sound, the song’s refreshingly honest lyricism shows that Mathiah is an artist who is unafraid to share his truest thoughts with the listener.

“Always wanted to talk about my personal life but never knew how to articulate it musically but I finally figured it out, hope you enjoy this one and the next.”

With support from the likes of Wonderland Magazine and RGM already under his belt, it’s clear to see that this is one talent to watch for.

Mathiah

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Francis On My Mind – Are You Happy?

One of Romania’s most prominent rising stars in recent years has been Francis On My Mind.

Since debuting back in 2020, this emerging talent has gone on to build a global fanbase across social media, and also amass millions of career streams over a relatively short period of time.

‘Are You Happy’ is the singer-songwriter’s newest indie-pop anthem, and is lyrically inspired by our desires to chase happiness in life.

Fans can explore more of Francis On My Mind’s music here.

Francis On My Mind

Indy June – Medicine

American artist Indy June returns today with a beautifully moving new single, called ‘Medicine’.

Through its sincere and melancholic style of sound, the song highlights the emotions that arise when there is a disconnect between two lovers in a relationship.

“It recognises inequalities in a relationship, and how conflicting it feels to give yourself fully to someone who is only emotionally available on their own terms.”

Indy’s momentum has grown impressively since we first featured her back in 2021. This gifted indie singer-songwriter now commands more than 37k monthly listeners on Spotify, and has been featured by outlets as prominent as Glide Magazine.

Indy June

New Music: JHM

Hailing from the city of Melbourne in Australia is promising singer-songwriter JHM, who has just unveiled a sublime new single that deserves your attention.

‘Fever Dream’ was written and produced alongside fellow Australian musician Fractures, and treats listeners to a finessed yet tastefully eccentric blend of alternative R&B and soulful pop.

“This song had been sitting in the demos file for a minute so thank you to everyone who helped get it out and hope you all fw it!!”

JHM’s music has been praised by the likes of iconic tastemaker triple j, and also found its way onto playlists like Now Watching by Ones To Watch and Home & Hosed.

JHM

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New Music: benten

Track of the week. We’ll admit that we know very little about American musician benten, but something tells us that this promising artist’s work will likely gain a ton of traction over the coming months.

In essence, benten’s ‘Deadly’ is short and sweet. Despite being less than two minutes in length, song’s simple melody, sincere vocals and polished bedroom-pop production makes this one of our favourite releases of the month.

Aside from his solo work, benten also plays guitar with fellow artist Nick Wagen, who is scheduled to perform at Philadelphia’s The Foundry on the 25th July – tickets available here.

benten

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GAIKA – LADY (feat. bbymutha)

We’re starting the week with an outstanding musical collaboration that really is like nothing else you will have heard before.

British musician & artist GAIKA has joined forced with American rapper bbymutha on new single ‘LADY’, showcasing a rap-rock hybrid sound that feels bold, raw and immediately arresting in character.

Listeners can look forward to a new album from GAIKA called ‘Drift’, which is scheduled for release on the 8th September (pre-order here).

The artist will also perform some shows later in the autumn, starting in Berlin on the 17th September – you can check out the full schedule here.

GAIKA | BbyMutha

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