Today’s introduction of Auckland’s Sam Cullen continues to affirm New Zealand’s status as a powerhouse nation for emerging indie talent.
Cullen’s style of work seamlessly fuses classic rock sounds with modern alternative pop, resulting in songs that somehow feel both nostalgic and current at the same time.
His work has resonated with a lot of people, so much so that Cullen has already amassed more than 120k cumulative streams on Spotify alone.
New single ‘Forever’ presents listeners with an upbeat and anthemic mix of stadium-style rock and indie-pop, and is sure to propel Cullen’s name even further into the spotlight.
Australian pop starlet Anna O returns today with one of her most powerful and personal releases to date.
‘Set It On Fire’ is a reflective song that takes its inspiration from Anna O’s recent life changes, and addresses the internal struggles and frustrations that we battle within ourselves. Elaborating further on the lyricism, the artist explains:
“It’s no surprise that lyrically it was still about this season of life that I was in the thick of.. . post-natal depression, stay at home mum, no understanding or diagnosis yet for me or my boys. Still unmedicated because I was too scared. One morning at some inhumane hour I lay awake staring into the dark after feeding my baby boy back to sleep. I was agitated and frustrated, but then this sense came over me that I was about to write a song, which is how songwriting tends to work for me.”
Anna O has become one of Australia’s most admired alt-pop musicians, and has garnered praise from heavyweight outlets like Triple J and AAA Backstage. To date, this talent has amassed more than 400k streams on Spotify alone, in part to her widely acclaimed 2015 debut EP, ‘Symphony’.
London-based trio amilost is a musical collaboration between Sigrid Zeiner-Gundersen, Ross Craib and Charlie Fowler. Together, these three artists create cinematic and immersive pieces of pop that are both captivating and emotive to experience.
New single ‘The Good Kind of Love’ is lifted from the group’s upcoming ‘Introspective Souvenirs’ debut EP, and features none other than Parallax Orchestra themselves. Lyrically, the song looks at the dynamic between two lovers who seem to have a missing connection with each another.
“We want other people to channel their pain and their questions through listening to our songs.” – Sigrid Zeiner-Gundersen
Aside from amassing thousands of catalogue streams to date, amilost’s music has picked up support from outlets as respected as NRK P3 and Amazing Radio, while also being featured on prominent playlists like Spotify’s ‘New Music Friday’ and ‘Fresh Finds: Pop’.
Rising singer and songwriter Sanna Martinez’s ‘I Like It’ might be the first real summe anthem of the year. With its perfected mix of electro-pop and R&B, this song is certain to leave you feeling like you’re on top of the world.
The track was written alongside fellow songwriters Maria Marcus and Tobias Näslund, who are already renowned for their work on some of K-Pop’s biggest artists.
While still a young musician, Martinez has already accomplished some very impressive feats. She’s already co-written and performed songs that have ended up in national selections for Eurovision, seen her music featured on primetime shows like Love Island USA, and has even written a track for K-Pop icons Everglow.
NiwrianCreature is an emerging alternative musician who is currently crafting some of the most interesting and experimental sounds to emerge from Sweden.
‘Hummingbirds’ is a gripping piece of dark pop which sets a haunting soundscape that is filled with intensity and tension. On the lyricism, Niwrian explains:
“The lyrics is steeped in metaphors, but is about friendship with bad intentions. The purely physical anxiety when people you trust don’t want you well. It is the voice of the person who experienced the text, so it is only reasonable that it is heard on the recording.”
Interestingly, the production for the song was completed just before the start of Niwrian’s testosterone treatments, meaning the voice that you hear on the track is one that no longer exists.
You can experience more of this artist’s work through his ‘From My Wounds’ EP, which can be found here.
American duo Drugstore Cowboy (aka Mr. Carter Davis and Grant Thompson) are back today with a charming slice of alternative pop through their new single, ‘Big House’.
The song is lyrically inspired by the time in our lives when we finish school or college, and are trying to understand how best to navigate this first stage of adulthood.
“We wrote the song separately in different rooms. Grant was in his bedroom studio working on a totally different beat and I was in the kitchen hanging out. There was something about barely hearing an abstract melody and unintelligible beat through the walls that spurred on a new idea. The melody and lyrics came to me instantly. I made a voice memo and we dropped our plans for the night to chase the idea. We made the song within an hour or so and we immediately agreed it was our favourite song we’ve ever done together.
I imagine two friends are hanging out for the first time in months. The friend that is visiting is about to graduate, while the other has dropped out to work and is living on their own. This is their first apartment. There’s barely any furniture, except an old leather couch and a glass coffee table. The type of apartment that we’ve all been to, with a balcony, worn out carpet, and a kitchen floor plan that bleeds into the living room. It’s small and It smells of previous tenets and weed. I imagine these two friends on that leather couch having beers/ smoking and being exhausted from their day. They catch up, and it’s awkward at first but as the night goes on they find common ground in their shared past. They tell old stories, talk about exes and what everyone is doing now. Eventually the move on to their dreams and their desires for the future. They both realise they’ve recently grown up a lot but no matter what happens, you can’t change where you’re from and who you grew up with. Their paths may be different but their destination is the same. Happy, healthy, wealthy and surrounded by their closest friends.”
To date, Drugstore Cowboy have amassed more than 100k career streams, and currently command close to 15k monthly listeners on Spotify. With their momentum on the rise, we think its safe to say that these chaps are worth watching this year.
One of London’s most interesting newcomers in recent times has been alt-pop starlet MOLTENO.
Today’s release of ‘Stars’ continues to showcase the artist’s stunning approach to music, which blends together elements of dreamy pop with trip hop and mellow indie. This is a sound that is ethereal and transcendent in character, and elegantly timeless in style.
“‘Stars’ invites us to look up, and remember we’re a tiny dot on a spinning rock. I started writing the song in my teens, inspired to explore the contrasting ways life’s challenges can be perceived. Can we learn to trust the next step on the tightrope?”
‘Stars’ is lifted from the artist’s upcoming ‘Element 2’ EP, which is part of a wider collection of works that are inspired by our connection to nature. You can experience the first instalment, ‘Element 1’ here.
Praised by tastemakers as respected as BBC Radio 6, Earmilk, Clash and Notion magazines, MOLTENO has proven herself to not only be a rising talent but also a critic’s favourite.
If you’re looking for a heavy dose of bluesy rock then you’ve come to the right place! Swiss musical collective Golden Vultures have been around since 2021, but new single ‘Cry Wolf’ is only their second release to date.
The track makes an immediate impact from the moment you press play. It’s a bold and confident sound that addresses human’s attitudes towards wolves, and how our preconceptions are threatening their existence.
“The song is presented from the perspective of a wolf and explores how humans tend to demonise these mystical animals, viewing them as threats to be eliminated rather than as integral parts of the natural world. The lyrics touch on the ongoing debate surrounding the coexistence of humans and wolves in the Swiss Alps, questioning why a smarter solution to preserve these magnificent creatures while respecting nature and protecting farmers and their animals cannot be found.”
Golden Vultures consists of artists Yari Copt, Yannick Rinvi, Andrea Zinzi, Eveline Lucchini, Sebastian Rigo and Enea Adami. Between them all, they have performed in hundreds of live shows (some of which were alongside outfits as iconic as Papa Roach and The Misfits), and also released several studio albums.
Oklahoma might not be the first place you’d think of when looking for future-forward indie rock, but Tulsa’s COMBSY look set to change that.
This promising four-piece outfit construct distinctly unique and experimental sounds that really are in a league of their own. Captivating new single ‘Melody Calls’ presents listeners with a beautifully atmospheric yet bold soundscape that is rich in sonic complexity and texture.
The group are currently working on their debut album, ‘Neon Eyes’, which is scheduled to drop this autumn. In the meantime, local fans can catch the band performing live at Tulsa’s Four. Seven. Three. Bar on the 25th May 2023 – more details here.
Nottingham outfit Blondes have had quite the career since their formation back in 2017. With more than 17 million catalogue streams to date, as well as 200k monthly listeners on Spotify and over 1.7 billion TikTok views, it’s safe to say that these lads have become one of the UK’s hottest indie stars.
Melodic new single ‘Beautiful World’ is lifted from the group’s forthcoming ‘In Separation’ EP (out 14th July), and presents listeners with an immersive fusion of indie and alt-pop.
“’Beautiful World’ feels like our first proper pop song. It’s my favourite that we’ve written so far. It’s about our relationship with our environment and each other. We wrote it to speak not just for ourselves but to anyone that finds themselves looking around at our world and wondering just how we’ve become so disconnected from one another and the planet. We hope you like it.” – Alex, Blondes
Fans can catch the band performing live across the UK in June, supporting Inhaler and Mt Joy. Dates and tickets can be found below.
Rising talents YAOUNDÉBOXINGCLUB and tmdistant have joined forces to create one of the most impressive collaborations that we’ve seen so far this month.
Through an upbeat production that fuses elements of indie and alternative pop, ‘Did It My Way’ highlights to listeners the importance of embracing our self-worth. Elaborating further on the inspiration behind the track’s empowering message, YAOUNDÉBOXINGCLUB explains:
“I guess I’m a nice person who always tries to help others out when I can and even when I can’t sometimes, and that really hasn’t worked out in my favour. People tend to take advantage of that and I know it. I used to let it slide, until recently, when I realised that I wouldn’t get where I want in life if I didn’t put myself first. This song is about that realisation.” – YAOUNDÉBOXINGCLUB.
Aside from the fact that both YAOUNDÉBOXINGCLUB and tmdistant have already picked up widespread tastemaker praise over a relatively short space time, these two musicians have also grown significant fan bases – with each artist amassing more than 250k career streams to date.
UK-based Italo-Japanese singer, songwriter and producer nainami has spent the last three years working on her style of sound – with today’s release of ‘cheated out of love’ being the result of all her hard work.
Through its perfected mix of alternative R&B and pop, the song invites us into a soundscape that is luxuriously dreamy yet melancholic in character. Mirroring the song’s emotive essence, the lyricism tells of heartbreak and a failing romance.
Despite this being nainami’s first ever standalone single, the artist has already found early praise from BBC Introducing. While not much is yet known about nainami, we definitely think that this is a musician who is worth keeping on your radars.
We don’t often come across new indie talent from Poland, so today’s introduction of keatsu is very exciting for us.
Growing up to the sounds of music legends like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gorillaz and Radiohead, this promising singer and songwriter creates songs that fuse elements of indie with folk and alternative pop, resulting in a sound that feels relatable but also unique and subtly eccentric in tone.
‘Clown’ is taken from the keatsu’s forthcoming debut album, entitled ‘Struggles’ (out 1st June), and lyrically explores ‘dark themes of identity and the desire for validation’. Elaborating further, keatsu explains:
“The song celebrates the power of humour and comedy – a defence mechanism that repels others but is also a source of joy and a way to cope with pain.”
Alongside the audio release of ‘Clown’, keatsu has also unveiled accompanying visuals which mirror the song’s lyricism in beautifully captivating way.
If you’re a frequent social media user then chances are high that you’ll have come across Durry’s ‘Who’s Laughing Now’ at some point over the last two years.
Initially unveiled on TikTok by the sibling duo back in 2021, the track picked up huge levels of traction and went viral – despite being a demo. Now it’s finally been released in full form, and it’s just as anthemic as you’d hope for.
Written for all the people who are tired of living a mundane and unfulfilling life, the song’s relatable lyricism is paired with a powerful production that fuses indie with rock and pop.
“‘Who’s Laughing Now’ went viral before it was even finished being written. What started as a cynical outlook on life was flipped on its head overnight, as it rocketed to popularity. The next morning I left for the studio to try and capture this once in a lifetime viral moment. I realised the song I had written was wrong, and there was still hope left in the world. On the drive to the studio I rewrote it, inspired by the success and excitement of the public. This song is literally written about the success of its own demo.” – Austin Durry
The song is taken from the band’s upcoming self-released album, ‘Suburban Legend’ (out in September), which you can preorder here.
No song sums up the midweek blues as well as ‘Stop Dreaming’ by Danish singer and songwriter Astrid Cordes.
Aside from its beautifully raw and introspective lyrics, the track’s flawlessly blended fusion of soft disco and dark indie-pop has convinced us that this is one of the most impressive Scandinavian releases so far this spring. Elaborating further on the song, Cordes explains:
“It seems like yesterday, I pulled my beloved idol posters and the luminescent stars off the walls of my teenage bedroom and moved out of my dad’s house. But here I am; happily stuck in a new role and part of life. I found myself reflecting on the success and lives of others, inevitably feeling insecure and losing faith in who I am as an artist and what I can achieve as a human being.”
“‘Stop Dreaming’ is a mental and artistic state of emergency. It’s also kind of a paradox ’cause I’ve never been more creative than I am right now. Inspired by the frustrating emotions I was going through, I sat down by the piano and wrote the song in less than 30 minutes. ‘Stop Dreaming’ is a bittersweet salute to anyone who has felt like giving up on their dreams and goals in life.”
‘Stop Dreaming’ is part of a trilogy of EP’s by Astrid, which will all come together to form her upcoming album, entitled ‘Hurry Up and Kiss Me While the Baby’s Still Asleep’ (out later this year).
After steadily growing in momentum over the last few months, Dublin music collective Bricknasty have just secured a deal with much-respected record label FAMM.
New single ‘ducks ina row’ is taken from the group’s upcoming ‘INA CRUELER’ EP (scheduled for release this June), and presents listeners with a refreshingly captivating yet intriguing production that blends so many genres together that its almost impossible to define.
Bricknasty currently command more than 14k monthly listeners on Spotify, and have already received praise from respected tastemakers as noted as The Face and Clash magazine, as well as The Line of Best Fit.
There’s a brief spell of sunshine across London this afternoon, so what better way to enjoy this rare delight than with one of the capital’s sweetest R&B starlets, Essosa.
While ‘LEMONADE’ was initially unveiled back in 2021, it’s currently making a resurgence thanks to its newly-released ‘Sped Up’ version, which is just as fantastic as the original edit.
Seamlessly fusing funky R&B with disco and pop, ‘LEMONADE’ is not only a sonic piece of bliss but also the perfect song to soundtrack the upcoming summery days and nights.
With support from the likes of Dummy Mag and Fashionably Early already under her belt, the future looks bright for this promising artist.
If you’re in the mood for some finessed R&B-rap then we’ve got the perfect song for you.
‘Hii ROLLER’ is the new single from rising Cape Town vocalist Luukhanyo. Smooth, dreamy and immersive in tone, the track highlights the incredible talent that is currently emerging from South Africa.
“Watching this song develop from a rough idea to what is undeniably my favourite piece of music right now, has been one of the greatest pleasures I’ve ever experienced. I feel nothing but grateful.”
While still a relatively new artist, we firmly believe that Luukhanyo has the talent needed to become a global name – so be sure to keep this future star on your radars.
Acclaimed British artist Sweets continues to impress with his latest genre-bending masterpiece, ‘Bitter’.
Through its electrifying production, captivating lyricism and powerful vocals, the song makes an immediate statement from the moment you press play.
The track showcases the Manchester-based musician’s unmistakably bold and distinct style of at sound – and further affirms him as one of England’s hottest music prospects.
To date, Sweets has receives support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, Clash, Notion and NME magazines, while also amassing more than 120k streams on Spotify alone from the release of just four songs.
Orphée Noah has to be the most exciting newcomer to emerge from Sweden so far this spring. As the son of a Swedish pianist and a French jazz singer, it comes as no surprise to learn that Noah’s sonic artistry is nothing short of spectacular.
‘Attack On Us’ was written, performed and produced by Noah himself, and fuses elements of jazz with soul and alternative pop. Lyrically inspired by the human desire for efficiency (and the dire consequences it can lead to), the song presents listeners with a stark warning on the state of the world.
The track has already picked up more than 60k cumulative streams and views since its release just over a week ago. As far as Scandinavian talent goes, they don’t get much more interesting than Orphée Noah.
