Category: Music

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)

NAMESAKE by Dylan Guy

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)

Photo / Emanuel Shogbolu

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

New Music: Sophie Truax

What better way to ride through this heatwave than with a shimmering slice of indie, courtesy of LA-based singer and songwriter Sophie Truax.

‘Untether’ effortlessly fuses uptempo pop with indie and alternative rock, resulting in a sound that is both energising and refreshing to experience.

Despite releasing just three singles to date, Truax has already amassed more than 690k likes on TikTok while also landing placements on prominent playlists like Fashionably Early and Spotify’s Fresh Finds.

You can pre-order the artist’s upcoming ‘MFPR1US’ project here.

Sophie Truax

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sona blue – window seat + no violence

Over the past year, we’ve come to grow a special fondness for London-based singer, songwriter and producer sona blue.

The acclaimed artist has returned with some of his best work yet, and we’re so excited to be sharing it with you.

‘window seat’ presents listeners with a beautifully atmospheric mix of alternative R&B and lo-fi indie pop. The song’s accompanying visuals were created by sona himself, in collaboration with some friends.

“Written by me and produced with the help of my friends, it’s about feeling like a spectator in a relationship.”

‘no violence’ is another exciting new release from sona, and is taken from his upcoming ‘drifter’ EP. Lyrically, the song was inspired by the challenges of being in a relationship while also trying to chase your dreams.

‘I wrote and produced this entirely in my bedroom on my ones. Written about the stresses that come with balancing a long term relationship with your pursuit of a music career.”

The track perfectly showcases sona’s flair for writing songs that are not only melodically memorable, but lyrically powerful.

With only one EP and a handful of singles released to date, this promising musician has already managed to amass more than 100k cumulative streams. Be sure to keep sona on your radars – he is one talent to watch for.

sona blue

Yueku – Marathon

Rising US-based singer-songwriter Yueku (aka Christian Koo) returns with an epic bop for us all to enjoy.

‘Marathon’ treats listeners to an 80’s-inspired sound that effortlessly fuses power-pop with indie and synth. Alongside its energising production, the song’s melody and punchy chorus makes this one of the biggest songs of the summer.

“‘Marathon’ is a high energy track about the inability to leave someone who isn’t right for you. No matter your efforts to distance yourself, they find a way to pull you back in. Though you’re capable of seeing the relationship through an objective lens, the other person inexplicably continues to cloud your judgment; the thought of running a marathon seems much easier than running away. The song has a lot of inspiration from 80’s pop, even slightly alluding to those old exercise tapes.”

Upcoming EP ‘Little Less Noise’ is scheduled for release on the 28th July. Yueku joins The Wldlfe on their summer tour from today – dates and tickets can be found below.

Yueku

2023 Summer Tour with The Wldlfe

  • Jul 15th – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Purgatory) – TIX 
  • Jul 16th – Atlanta, GA – (The Masquerade (Purgatory) – TIX
  • Jul 20th – Boston, MA – Middle East Downstairs – TIX
  • Jul 21st – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry – TIX
  • Jul 22nd – Washington, DC – Songbyrd – TIX 
  • Jul 28th – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern – TIX 
  • Jul 29th – Columbus, OH – A&R – TIX 
  • Aug 1st – Denver, CO – Globe Hall – TIX 
  • Aug 3rd – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court- TIX 
  • Aug 5th – Seattle, WA – Barboza – TIX 
  • Aug 8th – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop- TIX 
  • Aug 18th – Indianapolis, IN- HiFi- TIX 
  • Aug 19th – Minneapolis, MN 7th St Entry- TIX 
  • Aug 25th – Houston, TX – Bronze Peacock @ HOB – TIX 
  • Aug 26th- Austin, TX – 3TEN – TIX

New Music: Black Polish

Black Polish might well be one of indie’s biggest newcomers. This hugely talented non-binary, LGBTQ+ singer-songwriter has been gaining significant momentum in recent months, thanks to their distinctive style of work.

New single ‘Purple Skies’ draws listeners into a soundscape that feels intense and heady, while the song’s introspective lyricism is not only honest and raw, but also emotive and thought-provoking.

“‘Purple Skies’ has quickly become one of my favourites I’ve made thus far. Every word I sing is very true and real to my everyday life.”

Having amassed more than five million cumulative streams to date, it’s clear to see that Black Polish’s music—as well as their ethos for inclusivity and tolerance—resonates with a lot of listeners. We can’t wait to see whats next from this talent!

Black Polish

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Emei – Cynical

We’ve featured Emei so many times on these pages that we’ve lost count. And yet still, this much-hyped alt-pop icon continues to impress us.

Anthemic new single ‘Cynical’ delivers listeners with a punchy and bold production that hits you hard, from the moment you press play. Emei has also unveiled some brilliantly vivid visuals for the track, of which she explains:

“When I met Aser Santos (DP) on the set of my ‘That Girl’ music video, I knew instantly we had chemistry through the camera. Our creative visions have always aligned for my music and it is with sincere excitement and giddiness to show the world our baby, the ‘Cynical’ music video. The moment I wrote this song, I knew it was my title track and I knew it needed a dramatic and ridiculous music video. The song has always been my favourite to play live so of course, a moshpit was a must. We then landed on an aesthetic inspired by Tim Burton and this video became everything I’ve wanted and more. Welcome to the title track of my EP. Welcome to the world of Cynical.”

Emei plays two dates in London later this month, although if you haven’t got tickets then good luck to you – since both shows are sold out! You can join the waiting list here. The artist will also embark on a tour across the US starting this autumn.

Emei

New Music: Summerdrive

You won’t find a more summer-themed song this weekend than ‘Shimmer’ from American trio Summerdrive.

Listeners are treated to a style of sound that features elements of synth, indie, pop and alternative rock, while the lyrics tell of lost feelings:

“The overarching idea of the song is chasing a feeling that has faded, whether you like it or not. Visiting the places that you’ve been with someone, whether it be a friend or partner, and those places not holding the same meaning as they once did. Ultimately realising that sometimes it’s out of our control how these things end up.”

Summerdrive is the collaborative project of musicians Jake Stam, Matt Montgomery and Tim Coakley. The group have so far amassed more than six million catalogue streams on Spotify alone, making them one of New York’s biggest newcomers.

Summerdrive

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Azu Yeché – Gone Are The Days

One of the most exciting soul talents to have emerged from South London in recent years has been singer, songwriter and performer Azu Yeché.

The artist is back today with a summery new single called ‘Gone Are The Days’, which was inspired by the thoughts and feelings that we encounter on our journey to adulthood.

“The song is about approaching adulthood and realising you have to stand on your own, and face the challenges and pressures that life brings. Realising that you now have to face all the things you pushed aside for tomorrow. It touches on that sentiment, and almost romanticises the innocence that usually comes with being a child – in particular, Fred [Cox – collaborator] and I spoke about how my life as a child in Lagos was so much simpler, compared to the hustle of London and adulthood. Having also lost my father earlier in the year, this song proved a huge reality check, as well as a balm in trying times.”

Yeché’s distinctive approach to the soul genre has garnered him praise from the likes of BBC Radio 1, Earmilk and Apple Music. The musician also boasts a fanbase that includes British legends Gabrielle and Lemar.

Listeners can look forward to a new EP from Azu called ‘Soul Afrikanah Part II’, which is scheduled for release later in the summer. In the meantime, you can experience ‘Soul Afrikanah Part I’ now.

Azu Yeché

Bo Baskoro – The Lonely Nights

Photo / Shawnie Fortune

Anyone with a broken heart will appreciate this new piece of music from US-based singer, songwriter and actor Bo Baskoro.

‘The Lonely Nights’ is an emotional song that finds the Portland native contemplating over the people who we can’t stop loving – even when they treat us badly.

Complimenting the the ballad’s meaningful lyricism is its polished production, which effortlessly fuses indie with alternative pop.

“‘The Lonely Nights’ is about the frustration of knowing that even though you feel used, manipulated and lied to by the person who left you, you still love them and want them to be happy, even if it’s with the person they left you for.”

Bo continues to build momentum with each release, and currently commands more than 23k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.

Bo Baskoro

New Music: ODDGHXST

Fans of Dominic Fike and Jaden will most likely fall in love with rising newcomer ODDGHXST.

Splitting his time between London and Hamburg, this artist’s approach to music-making centres around experimenting with different genres and styles of production, rather than focusing on one particular sound.

‘Running Away’ is the musician’s latest single, and presents listeners with a sincere and honest piece of alt-pop that is lyrically inspired by the importance of understanding ourselves. Elaborating further on the song’s meaning, ODDGHXST says:

“It’s a song about finding ones self. Being lost over and over again whether thats because of yourself or something else being the reason. Regardless, being more in touch with ones own emotional side and not rejecting it completely, but not letting it control your mindset and your actions either. Running away was something I used to do a few years before in my life, but I began to acknowledge my flaws and mistakes. Not hating them or ignoring their existence, but acknowledging them and learning to live with them. Stress, pain, hate, love, life, etc. all these things being human, but finding a balance. So, I wanted to write a song about my old self and looking back at how much I have evolved as a human being and as a person. It’s a bit hard to explain in words, but this song gave me a proper feeling on these topics.”

ODDGHXST’s songs have been streamed more than a million times on Spotify alone, and momentum continues to grow with each new release. This is most definitely an artist to watch for.

ODDGHXST

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