Music - New Music

James Vickery – Only You

At this point in his career, it’s safe to say that James Vickery has well and truly become one of the UK’s most prominent R&B talents.

Melodic new single ‘Only You’ is taken from Vickery’s ‘Sheet Music’ EP (out now), and treats listeners to a sublime slice of dreamy and harmonious R&B.

“For the longest time I had the idea of putting a barbershop quartet into an R&B song. No particular reason, it was just a new take I hadn’t heard before. I took a trip to Toronto to work with some producers I kept tabs on for a while and this original idea turned into ‘Only You’. I took the idea back to London and developed the harmonies to make them fuller and almost chorale like. What came next was one of the most unusual yet beautiful songs I’ve ever made.”

Close to reaching one million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, Vickery looks set to take on his biggest year yet. James will perform in London and the US over the month of May, with dates listed below.

James Vickery

International Show Dates 2023

Thursday 4th May – London – Islington Assembly Hall
Thursday 18th May – LA – Moroccan Lounge
Sunday 21st May – Toronto – Drake Underground
Tuesday 23rd May – NYC – Baby’s All Right

girlhouse – worth it

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a tastemaker outlet that hasn’t thrown praise at US indie artist girlhouse.

This much-hyped (and deservedly so) talent returns today with an impressive new release, entitled ‘worth it’. Sonically bold, impassioned and raw in its character, the song looks at the darker side of being in love, and its toxic effects.

“I always knew that I could be worthy of love but I had a toxic idea of what loving meant. I’d ‘fallen in love’ with someone who kept telling me I wasn’t enough and yet kept me around. They had so much control over me that even after they weren’t in my life, I still shaped my entire life around proving to them that I could be loved. This was my life up until an interaction after a show in New York that left me completely disenchanted. I don’t even recognise who I was when I was ‘in love’ with them. This song is about that moment and embodies putting words to a situation that I still don’t fully don’t understand yet.”

Fans based in America can catch girlhouse supporting Copeland on select tour dates this month – tickets can be found here.

girlhouse

Olivia Reid – Runner’s High

NY-based artist Olivia Reid unveils a stunning new single today, entitled ‘Runner’s High’.

Through its beautifully airy and elevated fusion of indie, electronica and pop, the introspective track tells of Reid’s ambitious nature and hunger for success.

“‘Runner’s High’ describes the way I’ve conditioned myself to be a workhorse. A product of growing up in America, I guess.”

‘Runner’s High’ marks a new step in Reid’s creative journey, and follows on from her 2021 debut EP, ‘Earth Water‘ (available here).

In recent years, Reid’s solo and collaborative work has grown in popularity, with the artist currently amassing more than 28 million streams on Spotify alone.

Olivia Reid

New Music: Ray Lozano

Born and raised in Cologne, Ray Lozano is a German-Filipino talent who is not only a singer, but also a songwriter and producer.

Running at just under two minutes in length, Lozano’s new single ‘Better Off’ is a perfect example of quality over quantity. The song presents listeners with a finessed fusion of alternative R&B, indie and soul, and serves as a perfect taster to Ray’s freshly-released ‘Pairing Mode’ album (out now). Elaborating on the project’s concept, Lozano explains:

“’Pairing Mode’ means connecting with each other. With everything that is and everything that is not. 2020, after all, was a year when we were all suddenly thrown back on ourselves. Had to deal with diffuse or less diffuse losses and were forced to downshift. At the same time, it also offered the chance for us to get to know ourselves and others once again in a different way. To connect with ourselves. With what remained and what had to be let go of.”

Lozano performs at Cologne’s King Georg on the 9th March – more details can be found here.

Ray Lozano

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Christopha – I Deal (feat. Dwain Brown)

After building a name for himself as one of London’s original grime MC’s, Christopha has since become a noted rapper, writer, and successful business leader within the tech industry.

Gathering his musical inspiration from artists as diverse as Kano and India.Arie, Christopha writes songs that are designed to empower and inspire listeners.

New single ‘I Deal’ features the talents of Dwain Brown, and is the latest addition to Christopha’s ’26 Miles and Running’ project, which finds the artist releasing a new track every fortnight until the end of the year.

“This song is about dealing with and managing the challenges of life and coming out on the other side.”

Christopha | Dwain Brown

New Music: James Julian Villa

Hailing from Portland in Oregon is musician James Julian Villa, who unveils his infectious new single today, ‘My Friends Are Sober’.

Inspired by sounds from early 00’s pop-rock bands as iconic as Weezer, Wheatus and All American Rejects, the song serves as a nostalgic and light-hearted ode to the youth of yesteryear.

“I had been watching my friends grapple the unstoppable force of aging, overcoming addiction, and saying goodbye to their 20’s, when I sang the words ‘Nobody drinks anymore…’, and turned an existential crisis into a sarcastic take on growing up. The song’s style is a throwback to my teen years of listening to 2000’s rock, discovering Guitar Hero, and my own modern interpretation of an ‘aging emo’ anthem.”

As an artist of many skills, James is not only a singer and songwriter, but also a multi-instrumentalist, producer and engineer. To date, this promising talent has collaborated with other notable Portland prospects like Laryssa Birdseye, Hayley Lynn, Blair Borax and Lewis Childs.

James Julian Villa

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Estella Dawn – Cotton Candy

New Zealand-born artist Estella Dawn returns today with an almighty pop anthem that continues to remind us as to why this talent is one to keep on our radars.

‘Cotton Candy’ contains all the ingredients you’d need to make the perfect bop. A strong melody, relatable lyrics, a polished production, and most importantly – a huge vocal performance that really will blow you away.

‘There are nine rings in hell, and I walked willingly through your inferno.’

With an ever-growing legion of fans from across the globe, Dawn has marked herself as one of pop’s most promising prospects, and currently commands more than 24k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.

Estella Dawn

New Music: Polyvinyl

Showcasing some of the finest in emerging British indie-rock are North-East outfit Polyvinyl, who have just unveiled a huge new single entitled ‘Nirvana Now’.

A song of contradictions, the track’s lyrics look at the process of grieving love, while the 80’s-inspired production presents listeners with a loud, energising and vivid sound.

‘Nirvana Now’ is taken from the group’s forthcoming debut EP, which is scheduled for release later this year. In the meantime, Polyvinyl play The Head Of Steam in Newcastle on the 22nd April 2023 – tickets can be found here.

Polyvinyl

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Emmrose – 17 Inside

Emmrose might be one of New York’s hardest working musicians. Releasing more than eighteen singles and an album in the space of just two years, this artist is now rapidly gaining traction across the world.

’17 Inside’ fuses Emmrose’s folky vocals over a production that blends elements of indie with pop. Elaborating on the song’s lyrical inspiration, Emmrose explains:

“I feel that I never really finished high school because I was in zoom-school all year. I felt that I grew as a person but didn’t get to show that to anyone. It was very frustrating for no one to see that. I was still upset with how everything happened with a particular friendship, and that I never had a chance to really talk one on one about how I felt. I don’t like holding grudges and I don’t want to have people thinking poorly about me. I was hoping to apologise, but New York shut down.”

The track is taken from Emmrose’s forthcoming ‘Thorns’ album, which is out soon. In the meantime, fans can explore this artist’s other songs over on Spotify.

Emmrose

New Music: Ilton

If you’re looking for this weekend’s anthem then you’ve come to the right place. NYC-based newcomer Ilton is an emerging electronic-pop artist and producer who creates songs that are sonically uplifting and refreshingly joyous.

Inspired by 90s house and rave music, melodic new single ‘GO!’ treats listeners to a sound that applies essences of nostalgia into a future-forward style of production.

“The lyrics describe the will to want to make a situation work throughout all obstacles even it is for temporary relief.”

With more than 100k career streams to date, as well as praise from tastemakers like Wonderland and Under the Radar under his belt, Ilton is one name to watch for.

Ilton

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Maya Yenn – Sour Grapes

In our opinion, Maya Yenn has been one of the most interesting pop newcomers to have emerged from the UK in quite some time.

This independent singer, songwriter and producer has been steadily building momentum over the last year, and returns today with a fantastic nostalgia-tinged single.

The older we grow into adulthood, the more likely we are to face frustrations and disappointments in life. ‘Sour Grapes’ addresses this line of thought in a fun and charming way, and reminds us that we are not alone in experiencing life’s challenges.

“‘Sour Grapes’ is basically about the irony of being a kid and looking forward to all the freedom you’re going to have as an adult and then you get there and feel like you actually had it better as a kid.”

Since her debut back in the summer of 2021, Yenn has picked up praise from the likes of Clout, Mystic Sons, BBC Introducing and 6 Music.

Maya Yenn

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JAYNIE – Own Advice

Rising Swedish talent JAYNIE is back today with an infectious slice of alt-pop that has to be heard!

Playful as much as it is melancholic in tone, ‘Own Advice’ was written alongside obi mani (aka Tobias Kihlman), and is inspired by that all-too-familiar situation when we choose not to follow our own advice.

“It’s like it’s so easy to give out advice to friends and family but when it comes to yourself it’s like the hardest thing to to do and you become a total contradiction.”

The song continues to shine a light on this promising singer-songwriter, who seamlessly finds ways to weave serious and thoughtful lyrics into creative pop productions.

JAYNIE

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Danny Starr – Over The Edge

London-based indie talent Danny Starr has been on our radar for several years now.

Today’s release of ‘Over The Edge’ is yet another example of an artist who has never stopped evolving his sound, and is probably our favourite single from Starr yet.

‘Over The Edge’ gathers its inspiration from the situations that people can find themselves in when a relationship becomes toxic. The song’s production mirrors the intensity of these lyrics through a style of sound feels tense, dark and raw.

Starr began writing songs from the age of 13, and has so far received praise from outlets as noted as BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and Rolling Stone France. Forthcoming EP ‘For Hungrier Hearts’ is out this April.

Danny Starr

Tour Dates Spring 2023:

21st March – Green Note, London
20th April – Colours Hoxton, London – tickets

New Music: Cassandra

Another week, another sensational new UK R&B talent emerges! This time it’s the turn of London native Cassandra, who has been immersed within the world of music since her early childhood.

After completing her university in her home town (this talent is not only a musician but also a math grad!), Cassandra went on to spend four years living in South Korea, where she began to develop her sound.

Citing icons as legendary as Whitney Houston, Brandy, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé, this promising starlet creates a finessed style of alternative R&B that is not only sonically captivating, but lyrically intelligent.

Elaborating on the concept behind her ethereal new single ‘Serenade’, Cassandra explains:

“‘Serenade’ is an invitation for listeners to embrace their own vulnerability and connect with the lyrics on a personal level.”

Cassandra

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New Music: Sam Free

Emerging from Las Vegas is indie-pop singer and songwriter Sam Free, who has just unveiled a charming new single called ‘Fell in Love at 15’.

Inspired by those unforgettable feelings that we experience in our teen years when we fall in love, the song’s relatable lyrics are sure to bring back some emotional and nostalgic memories for many of us.

“It’s a tale as old as time and at some point everyone experiences their very first love and then losing that love.”

To date, Free has accumulated more than 70k career streams on Spotify alone (from the release of only a handful of singles). Details of a forthcoming EP will be announced soon.

Sam Free

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B.Miles – The Year I Felt Cool

New York artist B.Miles is back with a shimmering slice of soulful disco-pop on new single, ‘The Year I Felt Cool’.

Through its effortlessly sleek sound, the track serves as a commentary on how we all sometimes try to create an image of ourselves to the outside world.

The momentum for B.Miles continues to grow, with the rising talent currently commanding more than 68k monthly listeners on Spotify and picking up attention from Refinery29 and Ones To Watch.

B.Miles plays the Bowery Ballroom on the 17th March – tickets can be found here.

B.Miles

Wild Child – Cheap Champagne

For those who are unfamiliar with Wild Child, this Austin-based ensemble have been crafting indie-pop songs for a decade, consequently building a loyal army of supporters both locally and across the globe on social media.

Vivid new single ‘Cheap Champagne’ is a audible delight that really deserves to be heard in full. Through its swooping, almost cinematic style of sound, the track serves listeners with a piece of music that is epic, emotive and utterly mesmerising.

“This song has always felt special, like we had to get it right. Sometimes songs feel like they fall from the sky, like they were always there floating around above you and you just have to guide them down. Other songs are more elusive and less obvious and take years to find their form and place; where you collect little pieces of them along the way and have to be patient with them trying to put them all together.”

To date, Wild Child have accumulated more than 100 million career streams. Their next album is called ‘End of the World’, and is scheduled for release on 31st March 2023.

Wild Child

New Music: MIMI

It’s always a thrill to introduce emerging British pop talent, and today it’s the turn of independent singer-songwriter MIMI.

Hailing from South West London, this promising artist creates atmospheric sounds that fuse elements of bedroom pop with indie in a captivating and charming way.

Dreamy new single ‘Shiver’ showcases MIMI’s exceptional style of songwriting, and is inspired by the moments when we pine for a loved one to come and comfort us.

To date, MIMI has received praise from the likes of BBC Introducing and Radio 1, while her songs have also been featured on prominent playlists as noteable as Spotify’s New Music Friday (Sweden & Finland) and Fresh Finds UK & IE.

MIMI

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Astronaut – Heartless

Acclaimed Danish outfit Astronaut return today with a haunting new single that is sure to captivate even the most discerning listener.

Produced by Claudius Mittendorfer (who has also worked alongside the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Temples), the song presents us with beautiful fusion of dreamy indie and alternative pop.

“It’s about anyone who is misunderstood in some way, and trying to see beyond that. If we could read how each other actually feel, almost like a comic book superpower, the world would probably be more empathetic” – Martin Zeppelin, Astronaut

Astronaut have grown to become one of Denmark’s most prominent indie bands since the release of their 2019 debut album, ‘Silence One’. They are currently working on their next project, entitled ‘Kintsugi’, which is out on the 24th March 2023.

Astronaut

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Jony Shelby – lately

Rising artist Jony Shelby has been steadily building traction over the last few years.

His 2018 debut project ‘Mango‘ was well-received by tastemakers and critics alike, and marked Shelby’s name as one of R&B’s most interesting newcomers.

The US-based musician returns with a stunning new single entitled ‘lately’. Lifted from his upcoming EP (scheduled for release later this year), the song invites listeners to embark on a journey through Jony’s thoughts and feelings.

With support from outlets as noted as A1234, as well as Elevator and ZO magazines, Shelby is well on his way to becoming one of R&B’s newest stars.

Jony Shelby

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