Song of the Week - New Music

Kentö – Everything

Track of the week. One of New York’s brightest pop prospects in recent years has been Kentö. A singer since the age of six, this talent’s work has not only grown in popularity across social media but has also amassed significant praise globally from tastemakers as noted as MTV, BBC Music, and Paper Magazine.

New single ‘Everything’ treats listeners to a retro-inspired style of sound that infuses 60’s surf rock into a modern alt-pop production. The track is heady, almost psychedelic in nature, and is impossible not to fall in love with.

“I wanted to make a moody pop track that combines a modern feel with the nostalgia of the 60s.”

After listening to this song, it may not come as a surprise to learn that one of Kentö’s biggest musical influences are The Beach Boys, whom he has loved all his life. You can explore more of the artist’s music on Spotify.

Kentö

Eden Rain – Crashmat

Track of the week. Eden Rain is back with a stunning new single called ‘Crashmat’. Co-written by fellow rising starlet SOFY, this track looks at how some people will care so much for others that they end up neglecting their own needs and feelings.

Aside from its thoughtful lyricism, this song’s production really showcases some of the best of what the UK alt-pop scene offers right now. Elaborating on the inspiration behind ‘Crashmat’, Eden says:

“I think it really hits on that feeling of being stretched too thin, right? It’s like you’re always on call, trying to be everything for everyone, and somewhere along the way, you forget to take care of yourself. Its about how you can love someone and want to help but also not really knowing how to.”

Eden’s music has been streamed more than 700k times since April this year and has received praise from the likes of FLEX and Far Out. You can catch the artist performing at London’s Moth Club on the 12th November—tickets here.

Eden Rain

Ruti – Break My Own Heart

Track of the week. UK singer Ruti possesses one of the most distinctive vocals of any artist that we’ve come across for many years.

The acclaimed singer and songwriter returns today with one of their most heartfelt releases, titled ‘Break My Own Heart’. The soundscape is rich in texture, while the relatable lyrics are certain to strike a chord with many listeners.

The song focusses on the destructiveness that comes from overthinking. The musician elaborates:

“It’s a conversation with myself. Giving myself grace but also confronting myself about my tendencies to think too far in the future and not live in the present. I’m the kind of person that just gets either too excited or too anxious about things that haven’t even happened and it leads to me spiralling. It can lead to disappointment but most importantly it takes me out of the moment.”

This single follows on from Ruti’s incredible ‘Lungs‘ EP, which garnered widespread praise globally and has so far amassed more than 700k collective streams on Spotify.

Ruti

Dan Fable – Sideways

Track of the week. Rising Manchester artist Dan Fable returns with an impressive new single that has blown us away.

Through its unique drum and bass production, ‘Sideways’ is both emotive and energising in equal measures. The sound is melancholic and almost pensive in tone, yet somehow still manages to inject an essence of euphoria. On the song, Dan says:

“‘Sideways’ is a song about putting up walls. Being scared to let your guard down and allow feelings to grow due to previous bad relationships. Saying you’ll never fall in love can often make you miss something special right in front of you leaving you unprepared for new feelings and what that can do to you. I wrote the song just me and my guitar but felt it needed some additional flavour to tap into the euphoric and tense feelings associated with falling in love.”

With 300k monthly listeners on Spotify and more than fifty million streams already under his belt (thanks to his acclaimed collaboration with Venbee), it’s safe to say that Dan Fable has proven himself as one of the UK’s biggest newcomers.

Dan Fable

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Elizabeth Hume – sneaky

Track of the week. We just can’t get enough of US indie starlet Elizabeth Hume. She’s back again today with yet another mesmerising new single called ‘sneaky’.

The soundscape that evolves as you listen to this track is really quite something. It was written while the artist was on a trip to Italy and evokes feelings of mellow, sun-kissed days and warm nights.

The song is taken from Hume’s next EP, which is due for release soon. Until then, you can enjoy her former releases on Spotify, where she’s already amassed thousands of streams.

Elizabeth Hume

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New Music: Goz Asai

Track of the week. We’ve got a very exciting new talent to share with you today, going by the name of Goz Asai.

‘Get Me Out of Here’ is bold, energising, unexpected, and captivating. It’s frantic tempo and hypnotic beats keep listeners on edge, and the production overall displays some of the best dark pop sounds that we’ve come across in some time.

It won’t come as a surprise to learn that Goz is currently a student at the hugely influential Berklee College of Music, and is also gaining traction among leading music industry names within the Chinese and Korean markets.

You can explore more of the musician’s work on Spotify.

Goz Asai

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New Music: Lunar June

Track of the week. Lunar June (aka Olivia Judd) is a much-hyped UK talent who is not only a singer and songwriter but also a producer and visual artist.

Sonically inspired by the likes of Charli XCX and Lorde, this musician crafts a style of sound that fuses experimental indie with pop. If this is the first time you come across Lunar June, then new single ‘supplements’ is a perfect introduction.

Beyond its impressive production, the track’s thoughtfully written lyrics remind us that it’s okay to embrace our flaws.

“It’s called ‘supplements’ because I became obsessive over self-improvement and was buying every supplement and self-help book under the sun to try and somehow speed through the healing process and become a better person as quickly as possible so I could stay with this person; I felt I was something broken that needed to be fixed. In a weird way, this core belief alone is what was the most destructive element, not my actual brokenness – because we’re all broken! No one is perfect and I couldn’t see that, and so I lost someone very important to me because I couldn’t love and accept myself.”

“At the end of the day, it’s our flaws that make us human and loveable. It’s ok to not be perfect or totally healed, I don’t think either of those things are ever achievable. But that you’re still worthy, even when you feel broken.”

To date, Lunar June’s work has received praise from heavyweight tastemakers such as Wonderland Magazine, Kaltblut, and Ministry of Sound.

Lunar June

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Vilhelm Buchaus – Break My Heart Again

Track of the week. Without a doubt, Vilhelm Buchaus is one of our favourite rising Scandinavian stars.

Today’s release of ‘Break My Heart Again’ only adds to our admiration for this hugely talented Swedish singer and songwriter.

In essence, this is a song about broken hearts. Alongside its stripped-back, sombre production, the track’s lyrics express feelings of emotional pain and the toxicity of failing romances.

“I wrote ‘Break My Heart Again’ about being stuck in a broken relationship that doesn’t work, despite trying multiple times. I knew the relationship caused me more pain than joy, but I still hoped for a different outcome, and that feeling inspired this song.”

The song was created by Buchaus, with the help of Jacob Werner and Amanda Kongshaug. Fans can expect an EP later in the autumn.

Vilhelm Buchaus

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New Music: Baby J

Track of the week (and arguably, the entire year so far). Baby J is a Miami-based newcomer who has just released a debut that has immediately won us over.

‘Run Like Crazy’ is stunning on every level. A minimal yet impactful production delivers hypnotic beats that are instantly captivating.

And within that soundscape, Baby J’s beautiful vocals perform lyrics that inspire us to stay optimistic in our quest for happiness in life.

The song is taken from the artist’s ’13:7′ EP, which is available to stream now. Interestingly, the title comes from the verse John 13:7 in the Bible, which says, ‘You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’

Baby J

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Make Friends – Groans

Track of the week. The UK really is a hotbed for emerging indie-rock bands, and this week’s release of ‘Groans’ by Make Friends proves that case nicely.

Having garnered support from tastemaker legends like Wonderland Magazine, CLASH, and Radio 1, it comes as no surprise that the Bristol-based group has returned with a sensational track that reaffirms their status as one of the country’s hottest prospects.

The song perfectly balances indie with rock and pop, and was lyrically inspired by our natural tendencies to overthink the little things in life.

“‘Groans’ is a song about all the little things that go wrong. The song is about reflecting on yourself and understanding all the things that push people apart. The song paints a picture of different scenarios in which you may have overthought a situation or something hasn’t felt right … the ‘Groans’ of yesterday.”

Make Friends perform at London’s iconic Old Blue Last in Shoreditch tomorrow (tickets here). If you’re not in town, you can still experience more of the band’s brilliant music on Spotify.

A new EP, written and produced with Ed Nash (Bombay Bicycle Club), is scheduled for release on the 13th September 2024.

Make Friends

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New Music: Tatum Gale

Track of the week. One of the most impressive newcomers to emerge from the States this summer is Tatum Gale, who just unveiled a gem of a song today.

‘Your Day’ is a melodic indie-pop track that incorporates elements of breakbeat, resulting in a shimmering piece of music. Alongside its thoughtful production, Gale’s vocals are presented in a mellow yet captivating way, which is utterly mesmerising to experience.

“‘Your Day’, a song about offering solace.”

The track is not only sonically distinct, but also beautifully constructed. We’re already obsessed with this talent, and can’t wait to explore more of his work when he releases his new EP later this year.

Tatum Gale

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Animal Scream – Sandinista Smile

Track of the week. If you’re in a nostalgic type of mood today, then we’ve got the perfect song to share with you, courtesy of American outfit Animal Scream.

‘Sandinista Smile’ was created in collaboration with Ames Harding & the Mirage and presents us with a mesmerising mix of alt-pop and indie.

This uplifting track encapsulates the essence of summer perfectly; it’s pure joy, and will be on loop all weekend on our playlist.

“The song leans into the euphoric feeling of dancing, moving, loving and living in true romantic bliss with the one you love.”

If you’re yet to be acquainted with Animal Scream, this Pittsburgh duo consists of musicians Chad Monticue and Josh Sickels. Together, they’ve released two albums, of which ‘Heartbreak Motel’ is the most recent – check it out here!

Animal Scream

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Paige Bea – Worth It

Track of the week. Rising UK starlet Paige Bea is back with some of her most beautiful work to date (in our humble opinion, at least).

‘Worth It’ is a captivating release that treats listeners to a distinctive production which fuses electronic pop with alternative R&B in a way that is refreshingly unique. On the lyrics and inspiration behind the song, Paige says:

“The lyrics for ‘Worth It’ came shortly after a date I’d just been on. I was already just so anxious about when I was going to get the text back and how much longer we were going to have to do this silly dance before we just gave in to falling in love and seeing what happens. It felt like we were both coming into the start of it with a lot of trepidation given past relationships we’d been in, and we were trying to be adults by taking it slow, but it also felt like that was sucking the fun, spontaneous joy of starting something new out of it? I was also thinking about expectations of women in relationships, the peacemaker, the homemaker, the PA, the mother (I’m not here to convince and coerce / Make things nice then give birth / I’m a difficult person) and I wanted to make a statement that I probably won’t fit into the idea of who you think I am and I want to make that clear, but I’m also up for just leaning into this new feeling and taking a leap of faith if you are? I think our generation has this tendency to think that because they are grown and therapised, it means we can micro-manage all our relationships and behaviours and I’m far too impulsive for that. I’m much more about throwing myself in the deep-end and seeing where it takes me.”

The track serves as a taster for the singer and songwriter’s forthcoming ‘Flutters’ EP (out 17th July), which is released via DMY Artists and in collaboration with Help Musicians. Fans in London can also catch Paige performing a headline show at The Lower Third on the 13th November – more details can be found here.

Paige Bea

New Music: Salty Licorice

Track of the week. Despite being a relative newcomer, Swedish project Salty Licorice has already caused quite a stir. The visuals of her recent release of ‘Yemanya (p.19)’ went viral on TikTok (amassing more than 8.6 million views), and the song itself has also been streamed over 300k times.

New single ‘North Sea Siren (p.78)’ is yet another impressive piece of sonic artistry. Lifted from the artist’s forthcoming ‘The Sunrise Cried’ EP (out later this year), this introspective song focuses on the humans’ natural tendency to desire change.

“I was captivated by The Spy and read it several times. I visualized the scenes as if they were a film and began composing music that would suit them. The lyrics are written from Mata Hari’s perspective. I was intrigued by how fearless she comes off in the book. It gave me the freedom to express myself in ways I normally wouldn’t.”

Salty Licorice (aka Soha Akile) has been praised by the likes of The Line of Best Fit, BBC, MTV, and DiscoverNü. It’s not often that we come across a talent who is so unafraid to push the boundaries of pop, so we can’t wait to hear what comes next!

Salty Licorice

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Kan Wakan + SAÍGO – IO

Track of the week. Bulgarian-born wonder-kid Gueorgui Linev (aka Kan Wakan) unveils a dreamy new collaboration with emerging talent SAÍGO that is not only one of our favourite songs of the week, but also of the summer.

‘IO’ is a refreshingly unique-sounding track that blends indie with electronica in a way that feels both textured and finessed in equal measures. Elaborating on the lyrics, Gueorgui says:

“‘IO’ tells the story of humans being replaced by AI, our ambivalence about this process, and poses the question of how we’ll be treated by our synthetic descendants (if they keep us around).”

Kan Wakan currently commands more than 27k listeners on Spotify, and has amassed more than 7 million career streams to date. The acclaimed musician has also worked alongside modern-day legends like Thundercat and Moses Sumney.

Kan Wakan | SAÍGO

Noak Hellsing – Empty the Bags

Track of the week. Swedish artist Noak Hellsing kicks the weekend off with a shimmering new single called ‘Empty the Bags’.

Through its finessed fusion of dreamy pop, disco, and indie, this track treats listeners to a hypnotic sound that leaves you wanting more. It’s a sound that feels distinctly unique and is complimented by evocative lyricism, which is inspired by the emotions of love.

“‘Empty the Bags’ is more than just a song. It’s a powerful narrative about dedication and unconditional love. It’s about how far we’re willing to go to protect what’s dear to us.”

The song serves as a taster to Noak’s forthcoming ‘SHIFT’ EP, which is out on the 18th of July via Ten Music Group. Until then, you can check out more of this emerging talent’s music over on his Spotify.

Noak Hellsing

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New Music: sunsetto

Track of the week. Canadian singer and songwriter sunsetto is a name to watch in the coming months.

The artist’s new single ‘GREEN TXTS’ caught our attention this week, thanks to its finessed production, which layers melancholic vocals over an experimental pop base.

The song was inspired by the notion of humans drifting apart – and the realisation that the connections you once had with old friends are sometimes left in the past.

sunsetto initially rose to prominence in 2020, when a clip of his gorgeous track ‘don’t leave’ gained momentum across social media, amassing almost 500k streams. He’s built up a solid fan base since then, which is sure to grow with each new release. Keep this talent on your radars!

sunsetto
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New Music: MADI LEEDS

Track of the week. MADI LEEDS is a new prospect emerging from Australia, whose new single ‘Long Distant Memory’ has totally mesmerised us.

The track is in essence indie-pop music, yet somehow it still infuses an essence of summery nostalgia which is utterly charming to experience. Alongside its memorable melody, Madi’s vocals also captivate listeners as she sings about memories of the past.

“Wrote this a while back about being in a time I knew I’d feel future me would be nostalgic about … so this feels meta now. All about grief and trying to hold onto fading memories and feelings that come with that. Hope you like it and can connect with it in your own way.”

In addition to her talents as a recording artist, Leeds is also a performer who has been featured at noted events like the Melbourne Music Festival and Sydney Fringe.

MADI LEEDS

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New Music: Finn Doherty

Track of the week. We have a sensational newcomer to share with you today, who goes by the name of Finn Doherty.

This London-based artist has already been making waves across the UK scene for some time, with support from outlets like BBC Introducing under his belt.

His latest release, taken from the new EP ‘if you’re bored of this city’ (listen here), is called ‘Your Love Won’t Take Me Home‘. The song treats listeners to a powerful indie-pop sound that is sincere and emotive in tone. Explaining the lyrics, Finn says:

“‘Your Love Won’t Take Me Home’ serves as the acceptance, the realisation that some love remains unrequited beyond the realms of simple pleasure. Falling for someone who will never reciprocate is one of the most universal experiences as a queer individual, and this song speaks directly to that feeling. It feels like a long car ride home. A walk in the rain under soft orange street lights.”

You can catch Finn performing some shows through the spring and summer, with dates and locations listed below.

Finn Doherty

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Finn Doherty Live Shows 2024

10th May 2024 – Release Party, London.
21st June 2024 – Albion Nights Gig, South Norfolk.
22nd June 2024 – First Light Festival (Sunlight Stage)

New Music: Lucky Lou

Track of the week. It’s been a little while since we shared with you some premium Scandinavian pop, so we’re delighted to introduce you to Swedish starlet Louise Lindberg, aka Lucky Lou.

Already an accomplished songwriter who has worked with the likes of Zara Larsson and Astrid S, ‘Space’ marks the artist’s first foray as a soloist. And as to be expected, the track is a pop masterpiece.

Lifted from an upcoming debut EP (out in June), the song was inspired by the demise of a cherished friendship. The artist explains:

“Throughout making the EP, I had quite a few fallouts with people in my surroundings, and I felt overstimulated and taken for granted. The song is about the sorrow of breaking up with someone close to you, whom you love and have known for a very long time.”

It won’t come as a surprise to know that the track was written and produced by Lindberg herself. We’re excited to see what comes next!

Lucky Lou

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