We’ve featured rising US-based artist Evenson a good few times on Alfitude, and if you’ve ever experienced the sonic joys of playing his music then you’ll understand why.
Melodic new single ‘IF I EVER FEEL BETTER’ further affirms Evenson’s natural flair for constructing flawless fusions of alt-R&B and indie-pop.
Conceptually, the song’s heartbreaking lyricism is juxtaposed with a production that feels charming and playful – resulting in a sound that is both interesting and captivating to listen to.
With more than 1.6 million career streams already under his belt, this could be the year that Evenson finally breaks into the mainstream and becomes one of the US’s hottest new musical exports.
Florida-born, Georgia-based artist Lilly Yan is a promising new musician who has just released an enchanting single that deserves your attention.
‘Paraíso’ presents listeners with a luxurious fusion of soulful dreamy pop and alternative R&B. We think it’s just about the most sublime piece of music you’ll likely come across today.
Yan’s collection of songs have so far amassed almost a million cumulative streams, and the artist currently commands more than 30k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.
Canadian artist Madhouse is not a new name to us; this talent has been on our radars since his 2020 release ‘Dawn On Me’ (listen here).
Momentum for Madhouse has continued to grow over the years, and his captivating album ‘I’LL BE HERE TOMORROW’ might just be his finest work yet.
In our opinion, ‘WDIK’ is one of the stand-out tracks on the record. With its sultry, dark and atmospheric style of production, the song is both intriguing and emotive in tone.
Through his perfected and finessed approach to alternative R&B, it comes as little surprise that this rising star has already amassed well over a million streams on Spotify, and picked up praise from heavyweight tastemakers as iconic as Pigeons & Planes.
Hailing from London is British-Guyanese artist Sabiyha. As one of the capital’s most exciting newcomers, this musician crafts songs that are not only distinct in their production style, but also feature lyricism that reflects issues which many of us can relate to – like mental health, sex and friendships.
Summery new single ‘Day Ones’ is sonically themed around the Sabiyha’s Guyanese heritage, and serves as a taster to her upcoming ‘Sheerkhan’ EP (out this summer). Lyrically, the song looks at the importance of sisterhood, and celebrates the singer’s childhood friends.
While still early in her career, Sabiyha’s work has already been praised by respected tastemaker outlets like The Line of Best Fit, Notion Magazine, The Guardian and BBC Radio 1.
Track of the week. Australian artist FRIDAY* has to be one of the country’s hottest newcomers right now.
His summery new single ‘Beaming’ was released less than a month ago, and has already amassed more than 100k streams on Spotify alone. You’ll understand why we are so in love with this song from the moment you press play.
This is a sound that feels understated and mellow, but also treats listeners to a style of indie that is somehow both nostalgic and future-forward in equal measures.
To date, FRIDAY* has picked up support from the likes of Spotify (Fresh Finds Indie and New Music Friday AU & NZ) and iconic Australian tastemaker outlet triple j.
That weekend went by way too fast, but fortunately we’ve got the perfect banger to kickstart your Monday.
‘Runaway’ is the incredible debut from 20-year old British singer and songwriter Fred Roberts.
The track lyrically inspires listeners to ‘let go’ of any negative feelings that might fester after a breakup, and sonically treats us to an anthemic mix of indie, pop and rock.
“’Runaway’ is a song about overcoming resentment towards someone that used to be a big part of my life. It’s a celebration of the freedom that arrives after you overcome a difficult time and a person who probably wasn’t the best for you. Someone who held the power to ruin your happiness with a few words or actions. The song details the last time I saw him – in a pub with friends, unexpectedly and the fear that comes along with that. But ultimately the realisation that I am no longer filled with upset and anger but with forgiveness. I am beyond excited to share it with the world and I really hope it connects.”
With early support from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and Clash Magazine under his belt, there is little doubt in our minds that Fred Roberts will become a UK household name very soon.
Running at just over two minutes in length, Tbreck’s ‘Slide’ is a tour de force in emerging rap. The first thing that stands out on this new single (aside from Tbreck’s skilled vocal delivery and lyricism) is the unique choice of sample – which feels refreshingly unexpected and bold.
While Tbreck has collaborated alongside other artists in the past, this track is only his second release as a soloist. With such a unique and distinct approach to the hip hop genre, we think this is one talent to keep on your radars.
If you feel as though you’ve already heard of Icelandic artist Klemens Hannigan then it might be from his work as a member of internationally renowned outfit HATARI.
Hannigan’s melodic new single ‘Never Loved Someone So Much’ is a beautifully intense, honest and vulnrable piece of music that fuses lo-fi pop with hints of indie and trip hop.
The track is taken from Hannigan’s forthcoming album, which will be produced alongside Leifur Björns from noted Icelandic rock group Low Roar, and also in collaboration with British electronica icon Howie B.
Presley Regier might not be a name familiar to many, but this musician is rapidly making headway as one of the industry’s most promising talents, and has already worked alongside Gen-Z stars as noted as Claire Rosinkranz.
In addition to his artistry behind the scenes, Presley is also a budding soloist who has just unveiled his debut single… and you won’t be surprised to learn that it’s highly impressive.
‘Nevermind’ presents listeners with a unique style of indie-pop that feels intriguing and eccentric, but also subdued and pensive.
“One whole year ago we started the idea for ‘Nevermind’. We had so many ups and downs with this song, so much excitement balanced with so much stress of wanting to make sure it was delivered in the right manner.”
Rising alternative artist and producer Brent de la Cruz returns with his second single of the year – and as you’d expect, it’s nothing short of spectacular.
Confidently bold and immediately arresting, ‘Save Your Breath’ showcases a style of sound that is both invigorating and impassioned in equal measures.
This song touches on senses of false hope and how lofty excuses often cannot fool a confident intuition.”
Since the release of his 2021 EP ‘Finding Boo’ (available here), Brent’s momentum has been on a steady rise. The artist has already amassed more than two million catalogue streams, and is regularly featured on prominent playlists like Spotify’s Lorem, Anti-Pop, tear drop and Fresh Finds.
Faroese starlet jazzygold is back today with a sublime new single, and it might just be the best R&B banger that we’ve come across in a very long time.
Inspired by the feelings of sadness and anger that arise from having a broken heart, the song’s refreshingly honest lyrics present listeners with a topic that all too many of us are familiar with.
“We all feel like dying our hair red at some mental break point in our lives. The feeling is short but sweet and can feel like a new beginning, for a while.”
The song follows on from the artist’s widely acclaimed debut single, ‘boring like me’, which was released earlier this year. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again… this talent needs to be on everyone’s radar!
It’s a big day for alt-pop artist Love You Later (aka Lexi Aviles), who has just released a beautifully uplifting new single called ‘Someday, Today Will Be Long Ago’.
Inspired by the realisation that no one on this earth is perfect, the song serves as a reminder for us all to not be so hard on ourselves.
“I’ve made friends with the fact that I’m a messed up human – we all are. That’s how we learn from our mistakes and become better at being human in the first place. It’s okay to not have it all figured out and there’s a sense of freedom and power in the feeling of letting go. What will be, will be and there’s no sense in trying to force my life to happen the way I think it should. Writing this song was like a therapy session in of it self and I’m hoping it feels like a breath of fresh air to whoever listens.”
‘Someday, Today Will Be Long Ago’ is taken from Love You Later’s new ‘From The Window Seat’ EP (out now), which features seven deeply personal songs that were all written as a reflection of the artist’s life – and the world around her. Elaborating further on the record, Aviles explains:
“The past couple years of my life, I feel like I’ve been viewing my life from a bird’s eye view. I’ve been diving into my thoughts and my soul and self-reflecting more than ever. It’s a scary thing to do but I’ve learned more about myself. The title of the EP comes from a lyric in the chorus of ‘Girl With Headphones’ – ‘From the window seat, I feel so out of control, so I’ll be the girl with the headphones on.’ And lately, whenever I’m sitting at the window seat of a car, train, or a plane, I take a step back and think about where I’ve been and how far I’ve come. Each of these songs on the EP represent a thought or feeling I have from the window seat.”
If you’re a fan of 90s indie rock then chances are high that you’ll enjoy the sounds of emerging Boston-based outfit Little Fuss.
Punchy new single ‘Hypothetical Girl’ highlights of the objectification that many women face from their male counterparts.
The track reminds us all that this is still a toxic societal issue which exists even to this day, and also encourages female listeners to embrace their true selves and be unafraid to show it.
With praise from respected tastemakers as noted as Wonderland, Billboard, 1883 Magazine, Ones To Watch and NPR, you can be certain that Little Fuss will grow to become one of Boston’s leading indie bands.
Irish singer, songwriter and producer Eiza Murphy is back today with a beautifully melodic new single called ‘Conman’.
As the title implies, the song gathers its inspiration from the people who hurt you through their deception. Elaborating further on the creation of the track, Eiza explains:
“I wrote ‘Conman’ in fifteen minutes while my sister had friends over. I sang really quietly so that they wouldn’t hear, and basically just word-vomited the whole song into the mic. I was completely unattached to it at first because I thought it was too blunt, but my sister and I were supposed to work on a different song that day and when I played her the demo of ‘Conman’, she refused to work on anything else. So, ‘Conman’ was started and finished that day, and hasn’t been touched since.”
Already an artist on the rise, this LA-based starlet has amassed more than a million career streams to date, been featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday, and even topped the Irish iTunes chart twice.
Eiza’s work has also received tastemaker support from the likes of BBC Introducing, Earmilk, RTE2FM and Early Rising.
If you’re in the mood for some bouncy, anthemic indie-rock this weekend then Brisbane four-piece The Splints have got the perfect song for you.
‘I Just Wanna Know’ is the band’s latest offering, and treats listeners to an energising production that somehow feels both melancholic and uplifting in equal measures.
The track follows on from their debut single ‘Come & Get It’ (listen here), which became an instant favourite across Australian radio.
With early support from the likes of triple j and Happy Mag already under their belt, we predict that the group will continue building momentum this year. Definitely ones to watch!
Nashville’s Caroline Romano has become a regular fixture on these Alfitude pages. This emerging songstress continues to release powerful sonic gems, and today’s unveiling of new single ‘Mississippi Air’ is no exception.
Atmospheric and enchanting in character, the track treats listeners to an intoxicating blend of alt-pop, indie and rock. Explaining the song’s inspiration, Romano says:
“‘Mississippi Air’ is really just a longing for something, or a feeling, that once was. It’s driving past a blur of trees spinning into a film reel, playing a movie of something you used to know, and briefly you are able to breathe. You’re able to know the love you once had without the pain associated with it. I think we all have those moments as we drive through familiar grounds that take us back to when something you’ve lost wasn’t lost at all. It is a deep surrounding type of breath you take in those moments. That’s ‘Mississippi Air’ – lavender bikinis, button downs, silver trucks, pools, and Harry Styles songs.”
As a 21-year old solo artist, Romano has already amassed more than a million career streams on Spotify alone, and impressively commands almost 50k listeners on the platform. If you’ve only now just discovered this artist, then be sure to check out her 2022 debut album, ‘Oddities and Prodigies’ (available here).
We’ve got a hugely exciting new Swedish talent to share with you today. Singer, songwriter and producer Flora Summers (aka Ida Johansson) crafts a kind of sound that is immediately captivating.
Nostalgia-tinged debut single ‘Obsessions’ blends alternative pop with hints of dark indie and hazy rock, treating listeners to a piece of music that feels heady and mesmerising. Elaborating further on the song’s lyrics, Ida explains:
“‘Obsessions’ is the kind of song that fell from the sky. All of a sudden I had summed up myself and my tendency to go way too hard into situations. I fall head over heels in love, I listen to songs that I love until I can’t stand them anymore and I get completely absorbed by characters in books and movies. It’s always all or nothing for me.”
The track serves as a taster to the artist’s forthcoming debut EP, which will is released soon. Aside from her own work as a soloist, Johansson is also part of award-winning, critically acclaimed pop duo Isle of You.
Fans of British indie will be pleased to learn that much-acclaimed group Pentire have just released a brand new EP, entitled ‘Now In a Minute’ (out now).
Within the collection of bold and energising songs is ‘Kick Me When I’m Weak’, which has already grown to become a fan favourite at the band’s shows.
“We wrote ‘Kick Me’ as grumpy teenagers in Owen’s Mum’s shed in about 2019. It sounded a lot ‘raspier’ and underdeveloped back then, but the premise of the song was definitely there. It instantly earned its place on the setlist, where it’s remained ever since. It never fails to get the crowd moving!”
Pentire continue to build momentum, with their music featured on outlets as prominent as BBC Radio 1 and on Spotify’s Fresh Finds. The band start their tour on the 9th May in Leeds – tickets and dates are below. Be sure to catch these kids now before they take over the indie-pop world by storm!
This isn’t the first time we’ve featured British alternative artist moleface, and we’re pretty sure it won’t be the last either.
With only a handful of releases so far, this Bristol-based talent has already proven himself as someone who thrives on pushing sonic boundaries – even when it comes to heartbreak songs like ‘take me to the moon’.
In equal parts, we found this song to be beautifully haunting, melancholic and moving, but also intriguing, unique and distinct in character.
“This song is a phone call in between an alien and his human lover. Coming to terms with the loss of a relationship and battling with what could’ve been.”
moleface will shortly embark on his ‘333 UK TOUR’, starting in Leamington on the 27th May. Locations and tickets can be found here.
It’s the dawn of a bright new era for Sammy Adams. Since his impressive recovery from a life threatening accident in 2018, this highly regarded singer, songwriter and rap artist has parted ways with his label and is now gearing up to release his first independent record in over a decade.
New single ‘Attention‘ is lifted from Sammy’s upcoming ‘Good Problems’ EP (out soon), and showcases the artist’s flair for writing songs that feature memorable melodies and captivating lyrics.
With more than 200 million career streams to date, as well support from global outlets as respected as Billboard, Vogue, V Magazine and Complex, there’s no doubt that Sammy Adams has become one of rap’s most adored talents.
