Category: Music

Mar Malade – Moonman

One of Germany’s most successful new musical exports has been Mar Malade.

A collaboration between friends Alexander Hauer and Michèl M. Almeida, this outfit are winning fans all across the world thanks to their tastefully playful style of indie-pop, amassing nearly twenty million catalogue streams along the way.

‘Moonman’ continues to showcase the duo’s talent, with its bittersweet yet utterly charming story of a lonely astronaut floating in space.

The song is taken from their forthcoming sophomore ‘Balloon’ album, which is scheduled for release this April. Until then, fans can enjoy their debut ‘MAR Malade’ here.

Mar Malade

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Emei – Scatterbrain

Alt-pop star Emei is back with yet another showstopper release.

On the surface, ‘Scatterbrain’ comes across as any other pop song that you’d expect… up until that chorus hits and takes you by surprise.

This is a song that delights and intrigues you to the point where you’ll have it on loop for the rest of the day. And it’s probably the reason why the track has already gone viral, surpassing more than three million views on social media.

Both lyrically and sonically, the ‘Scatterbrain’ was created as a way to reflect the mind of someone with ADHD, and incorporates Emei’s quintessential ‘brain-tingle’ moment.

“So proud of this one it sounds exactly like my brain it’s everything I can’t even express how excited I am.”

Emei

New Music: Yaro Mila

Hailing from Amsterdam is avant-garde musician Yaro Mila, who creates a uniquely distinct style of pop that has to be heard!

To us, ‘cry baby’ seems to incorporate elements of 90’s-inspired R&B with electronica, punk and hyperpop, resulting in a sound that feels conceptual and bold, but still maintains mainstream appeal.

While still a newcomer, we definitely see a lot of potential for this Dutch newcomer. Keep an eye on this kid!

On a side note, if you love ‘cry baby’ then you’ll most likely also enjoy the ‘sped up’ version, which can be found here.

Yaro Mila

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Blaue Blume – Crush

Photo / Sophus Wolf

In recent years, Copenhagen three-piece Blaue Blume have established themselves as one of Denmark’s most influential and respected indie acts, with a catalogue of works totalling millions of streams globally.

They start the year with a shimmering new single, entitled ‘Crush’. Through its captivating fusion of indie-pop and art rock, the track serves as an inspiration for lovers to keep the excitement within their relationships alive – no matter how much life gets in the way.

“‘Crush’ is pretty much about getting your relationship to sparkle again when you both get stuck in all the practical stuff and everyday life. The song is about dancing and making out again with the one you went out of your way to get, reminding yourself that you really shouldn’t take love for granted. ‘Crush’ is a tribute to girlfriends and boyfriends.” – Jonas Schmidt, Blaue Blume

Blaue Blume are currently readying the release of their next EP, as well as a tour across Denmark which begins this spring.

Blaue Blume

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Nea – A Lover Like Me

Photo / Jasmin Storch

Acclaimed Swedish singer, songwriter and artist Nea returns with one of the catchiest bops of the week.

Lifted from forthcoming debut album ‘TRANSPARENT’ (out later this year), ‘A Lover Like Me’ serves as a masterclass in Scandinavian pop, with its infectious melody, memorable lyrics and energising sound.

 “’A Lover Like Me’ is one of those rare songs that just wrote itself. I had a lyric idea, Daniel [Ledinsky, co-writer & producer] played some chords and two hours later we had the song! I love the rawness of the vocals and the vibe, that there’s an edge to it.”

One of Sweden’s biggest pop successes in recent times, Nea (aka Linnea Södahl) has amassed more than 800 million streams under her own name, while also writing hits for the likes of Zara Larsson, Felix Jaehn, Tove Styrke and Axwell.

Nea

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KIDSNOT$AINTS. – 60’s Baby.

You’d be easily fooled into thinking ’60’s Baby.’ was a release from fifty years ago, but alas, it’s a brand new song from New Jersey collective KIDSNOT$AINTS.

Showcasing some of the finest nostalgia-tinged sounds that we’ve come across in quite some time, the track layers a classic 60’s vibe over a modern alt-pop production.

Referencing the likes of Motown, Elvis Presley and The Temptations, this emerging group have somehow brought a very old-school kind of heartbreak song into a very modern world.

KIDSNOT$AINTS.

Frank Ivy – New State of Mind

Photo / Katie Rosato

Fans of synth will be delighted with today’s release of ‘New State of Mind’ from Bay Area talent Frank Ivy.

Written as an uplifting song to remind us that the future can always be bright, the track treats listeners to an energising fusion of synth, indie and dreamy pop.

“It’s a hopeful and exciting up-tempo record about moving on from the past, and not letting anything hold you back. We zoom out and start thinking about fate, purpose and the perception of time.”

A successful and accomplished multi-dimensional artist, Frank has worked as a singer, bandmate, songwriter and producer over the space of two decades.

Frank Ivy

New Music: Darcy Fox

We are launching into the weekend with a beautiful new song from emerging Melbourne artist Darcy Fox.

An anthem for the broken-hearted, ‘Your Best’ perfectly balances hints of indie, rock and pop with folk.

On the track, listeners can experience Fox’s heartfelt vocals presenting raw and sincere lyrics over a production that feels fragile and emotive in tone.

“This folk-pop break up track about bittersweet acceptance is universally relatable.”

Inspired by the likes of Taylor Swift, Maggie Rogers and Phoebe Bridgers, Fox has been performing and building a loyal legion of followers since the age of 15. An upcoming album (which was crowdfunded by Fox’s fans) is scheduled for release this year.

Darcy Fox

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SM6 – Generation Heartbreak

For those unfamiliar with SM6, this group of siblings have become one of social media’s fastest-growing music outfits, with more than 2.8 million followers on TikTok alone.

While their style of sound has typically been defined by its bold fusions of electronica, pop and rock, new single ‘Generation Heartbreak’ treats listeners to a different sonic aesthetic.

Inspired by the slow-ballad productions from the early 2000’s, the song was written by vocalist & bassist Isabel Jones “out of sadness for [the band’s] generation” for losing “the old ways of love.”

The track serves as a taster to the SM6’s forthcoming album, which is scheduled for release later in the year.

SM6

New Music: Faith Angeles

An exciting talent to emerge from the States this week has been Faith Angeles, who has just released a new collaborative single with Californian artist BEST DAD.

Refreshingly authentic and gritty in tone, ‘AS IF’ presents listeners with an anthemic fusion of alternative rock and fuzzy indie-pop. Elaborating further on the creation of the song, Faith Angeles explains:

“It’s amazing what two different artists can pull out of each other. Together we created something that neither of us would have made on our own. That’s the power of collaboration.”

While this is still only Faith Angeles’s third release to date, the track showcases a young artist with tremendous prospects. Keep an eye on this one!

Faith Angeles | BEST DAD

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New Music: Charli Lucas

Hailing from Sydney is singer and songwriter Charli Lucas. Inspired by her own real-life events and experiences, Lucas creates lyrically relatable songs that carry with them impressive alt-pop productions.

New single ‘MARZ’ reflects upon the inquisitive urges that drive us to explore the new and unknown.

“The track is about wanting to leave the place you’re in both physically and mentally to explore a new world.”

With support from the likes of triple j, Dummy Mag and Kings of A&R already under belt, Lucas might well be one of Australia’s most exciting newcomers – and is most certainly a name to keep on your radars.

Charli Lucas

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Madeline – Somebody I Know

Madeline has had quite the journey since her debut back in 2020. To date, this rising US-based starlet has achieved more than 1.2 million cumulative streams from the release of just one EP and a few singles.

Rapidly becoming a tastemaker favourite while also building a significant fanbase across the globe, Madeline has found her work featured on iconic outlets like MTV, Early Risisng and Paper Magazine.

Today marks her return with introspective new single ‘Somebody I Know’. Taken from Madeline’s forthcoming ‘Gut Tag’ EP (out next month), the song was inspired by the disconnect between the way we see ourselves, compared to how we come across to others.

“Last summer, I was so frustrated with myself and how shy I had become over the pandemic. I kept getting caught in these situations where I found people’s perception of me was very different from how I viewed myself. Their idea of me was justified, I had become an overthinker/ shy and I had a difficult time changing that. Writing ‘Somebody I Know’ was a way for me to deal with that frustration.”

Madeline

New Music: Kid Culture

Within the music industry, Kid Culture is already known as a GRAMMY-nominated producer and songwriter who has worked alongside the likes of Justin Bieber and Eminem.

‘KEEP IT’ serves as a taster to Kid Culture’s standalone work, and is a sublime piece of nostalgia-tinged soul, synth, alternative R&B and rap.

This is a sound that feels timelessly classic yet future-forward and experimental at the same time, and showcases a musician who will most certainly hit the global music mainstream very soon.

Kid Culture

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RIZ LA VIE – FYP

American artist RIZ LA VIE continues to showcase his impressive (and highly individualistic) style of sound with the unveiling of new single, ‘FYP’.

Written after his move to Los Angeles, the song takes its inspiration from the feelings and thoughts that we experience when we settle into a new environment.

“[The song] is a representation of my love affair with New York City, even while living in Los Angeles. It reflects my feelings of longing, FOMO, and passion as I see my beloved city moving on without me, such as through concerts and billboards, while LA tries to capture my attention. It’s a story of my longing for my true home and my deep emotional connection to it.”

Having garnered more than 100 million career streams to date, LA VIE finally releases his debut album ‘Haven’ on the 9th Feb (pre-save here). The record will feature prominent production personnel like Vic Wainstein, Daniel Hartzog, Lucy Blomkamp, Johan Lenox, KES and Mike Bozzi.

LA VIE will also embark on a tour across North America throughout the spring – dates and tickets can be found here.

RIZ LA VIE

New Music: Tomas

You can thank Spotify’s algorithm for this one… Tomas is a new artist that we’ve just come across that has really picked up our interest.

There’s not much yet known about this talent, so we don’t have a lot to say about who he actually is, but ‘bossanova’ is just too good not to share with you.

While still in his teens, Tomas creates a charming blend of indie and pop that feels both playful and melancholic in equal measures.

With only a handful of releases to date, this kid has already managed to pick up more than 50k streams. Keep an eye out on this one!

Tomas

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New Music: Cole LC

Photo / Camera Papi

Showcasing some of the finest in emerging British Gen-Z talent is Leeds artist Cole LC, who has just released a new single called ‘(Most) Humans Are *icks’.

By blending elements of pop with R&B, UK garage and rap, Cole LC creates sounds that feel both fresh and nostalgic in equal measures.

Produced by frequent collaborator Motion, ‘(Most) Humans Are *icks’ marks an important milestone for this rising talent, who has been busking and sharing his work on social media from an early age.

“It’s a reminder to stop trying to please everyone because not everyone is going to like you and your not going to like them but at the end of the day your stuck with yourself so do right by you, you’re the most important.”

To date, Cole LC has performed at prominent UK festivals like Reading, Leeds and Parklife, while also receiving support from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and 1 Xtra, GRM Daily and SBTV.

Cole LC

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7th Obi – replace me

Ever-evolving Irish-Nigerian artist 7th Obi has been steadily building an army of loyal fans since the release of his much-acclaimed debut ‘Taxi Club’.

Melodic new single ‘replace me’ perfectly balances elements of indie with alternative R&B and soul, and looks at the ways in which mental health and trauma can contribute towards the breakdown in communication between two people.

“A song like this, for those who know me, isn’t a surprise. This one is for the black kids that love indie FIFA music, listening to The Script, Arctic Monkeys etc. I want to show that black kids don’t have to only be boxed into hip hop and R&B.”

With support from the likes of Highsnobiety, The Irish Times and RTE, this Essex-based talent looks set to take on his biggest year yet.

7th Obi

Sammi Constantine – Dopamine

Sammi Constantine begins the year with a sensational slice of pop that further sets her name as one of Australia’s most exciting talents.

‘Dopamine’ was written by Constantine at a time in her life when she had decided to come off the use of antidepressants, and inspires us to let go of all the negative people and situations that hold us down.

“Dopamine is a chemical released in the brain that is responsible for allowing you to feel satisfaction, pleasure and motivation. ‘Dopamine’ is the direct result of feeling like I was working against all odds trying to make my music connect, keeping toxic friendships alive, and never feeling likeable or good enough.”

As an acclaimed singer (and songwriter to the stars), Constantine displays a natural flair for creating relatable songs that are not only melodically memorable, but lyrically captivating.

Sammi Constantine

Ponette – Beats Me Up (feat. Coucheron)

Two prominent Norwegian artists have just released a very special collaboration that deserves your attention!

Serving as a teaser to ‘Part I’ of Ponette’s upcoming album (out later this year), ‘Beats Me Up’ features the work of acclaimed producer Coucheron.

The track showcases a refined electronic sound that is experimental and unique, yet still maintains some pop sensibilities.

“‘Beats Me Up’ was created during a massive wave of feelings. Totally overwhelming. I just had to find a way to communicate all of the raw emotions that had been building up in my body for a while, and I want the song to feel like that when you listen to it as well. I hope people can relate, and that I’m not totally crazy.” – Ponette

With support from the likes of Acid Stag and The Line of Best Fit, as well as an impressive catalogue of releases that currently garners more than 100k monthly Spotify listeners, Ponette has marked herself as one of Norway’s next big musical exports.

Ponette | Coucheron

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New Music: beamco

Hailing from Canada is genre-bending newcomer beamco, who has already become one of our favourite discoveries this week.

Through a unique style of music-making, beamco constructs atmospheric sounds that fuse elements of emo with alternative R&B and rap.

Lifted from his freshly-released EP ‘its just a scratch’ (out now), new single ‘whatever you got’ feels sonically sparse and stripped-back, yet still maintains a deeply emotive essence.

“This song (and album) is about the period of time after returning to everyday life after I had a bout with cancer in 2021. I had come to a lot of life changing epiphanies in the hospital but found them all fading away fast when I returned to life. I realised I still had all the same demons I had struggled with in the past. This realisation ignited the writing of this project and this song. Collaborating with my brother in Ontario we created this track and I’m really proud of it!”

beamco

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