Freshly signed to the iconic FADER Label, Brooklyn’s country girl might just be one of our favourite newcomers of the summer.
‘your favourite girl’ is a shimmering burst of joyful indie-pop and serves as a perfect introduction to this hugely promising talent.
Alongside its catchy melody, the song’s memorable lyrics (inspired by the notion of casting ourselves as the female lead in a movie) will likely stay with you all day.
While we don’t yet know much of this artist, we’re quite certain that you’ll likely hear a lot more of them in the coming months. Definitely a star to watch!
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.
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.
Hailing from England’s Midlands is rising talent SMOORIBA, who has just unveiled an anthemic new banger called ’21’.
The song was written as a way to ‘soundtrack Gen Z’s graduation to adulthood’, and treats listeners to a finessed blend of rock, hyperpop, and punk. With its catchy melody, thoughtful lyrics, and polished production, we think this track might win SMOORIBA a tonne of new followers.
The artist has already garnered more than 60k cumulative streams on Spotify, while also commanding over 2.4k monthly listeners on the platform. You can check out more of the musician’s bops right here.
Electronic music artist JAKE BACK is an emerging talent who splits his time between LA and New York. He originally began experimenting with sounds while studying physics at the University of Rochester, and has since unleashed a handful of strong releases.
“Music makes me feel REAL and ALIVE, physics makes me speculate. Music makes me move!”
We first came across this talent a few days ago, and we’ve been impressed with his energising productions that are both future-forward but also easy to connect with and enjoy.
New single ‘lemme tell you’ is sonically inspired by the French disco and techno genres that were pioneered by legends like Daft Punk, and deserves to be on everyone’s playlists this weekend!
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.
Michael Russell
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.’
We’ve got a hugely exciting new outfit to share with you today, hailing from the musical mecca of Nashville.
rarish craft a style of sound that is distinctly unique. Blending elements of alt-pop with R&B and indie, their music feels experimental but also playful.
Their debut single was released today, and it’s called ‘get high’. Despite its uplifting production, the lyrics look at the toxicity of being in a relationship when one person is taken for granted by the other.
“‘get high’ is about a parasitic relationship in which one person makes themselves available on a whim for the other, who takes advantage of the former’s time and emotional energy.”
While we don’t really know much about this duo yet, we’re quite sure they’ll be ones to watch in a very short space of time.
Fans of Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Alicia Keys will have a new starlet to fall in love with, going by the name of Ella Thompson.
If melancholic soul music is to your taste, then ‘Let There Be Nothing’ will hit all the right spots. Dramatic, moving, and beautifully heartbreaking, the song looks at the pains of accepting circumstances, but also finds the hope in new beginnings.
“‘Let There Be Nothing’ is a song about accepting something for what it is, without trying to change or fix it – and then making the choices you need to make. That moment of realisation can be sad and incredibly difficult, but on the other side is freedom.”
“The dominoes in the video represent the interdependent structures of patriarchy, racism and capitalism. How do these structures impact our choices and what are we willing to sacrifice? Ultimately we need an overhaul if we are to have freedom for everybody.”
Thompson has amassed more than half a million streams on Spotify, while also garnering praise from the likes of CLASH, KEXP, and Ones to Watch. There’s not enough 60’s-inspired music being released these days, so Thompson’s work is a welcome breath of fresh air to us.
It’s taken a good old while for Mingo Drive to debut their music. Despite forming in 2018, this four-piece outfit from Tulsa only started releasing music this year.
‘Color Blind Stories’ is the group’s new single and is very much a case of good things coming to those who wait.
The track’s production is stylistically reminiscent of indie icons like The Killers, while the melody is infectiously memorable and is certain to stay in your minds all day.
We’re not sure what comes next for Mingo Drive, but whatever it is, we’re here for it!
LA talent Claire Brooks is most definitely a name to watch. Having already amassed more than half a million Spotify streams to date, this rising starlet is quickly gaining traction thanks to her style of work, which fuses a whole range of genres together into distinctive and special sounds.
‘Hibernation’ is released today alongside another track called ‘Slowly Towards the Door‘, and delivers a captivating alt-pop and R&B production that showcases both Brooks’s sonic and lyrical artistry.
If you enjoy Claire’s music, then we strongly suggest you give her latest EP, titled ‘The Human Experience‘, a listen. In our humble view, Brooks is a hugely exciting newcomer that deserves to be on everyone’s radar.
Birmingham has a new indie band to be proud of, and they go by the name of Solace. This emerging outfit (consisting of band members Kieran Sparkes, Joel Hampton, Lee Hollis, Will Scott, and Daniel White) creates energising songs that feel raw and emotive while also maintaining mainstream appeal.
Their new single ‘Trying’ treats us to some of the finest rock that the UK has to offer right now. It’s bold, loud, and anthemic, and it might well be their breakthrough hit.
“Our third song, ‘Trying’, has just been released, and we couldn’t be more excited for you to hear it. We poured our hearts into this song, and we hope it resonates with you as much as it does with us.”
If you’re based in the Midlands, then you can catch the group performing alongside The Viz, Tennant, and Louie Walsh on the 19th July at Rainbow Birmingham – tickets can be found here.
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.
Leonard Wellington is a rising Dutch artist who is currently based in the cultural hotspot of Berlin. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, this talent is making waves with his distinctive indie sounds.
‘Ive been feeling’ is a summer-ready anthem that thoughtfully blends pop and rock together, while at the same time, the artist compliments the song with a raw yet soulful vocal performance.
“As I embark on this musical expedition, I invite you to join me, to explore the depths of the human experience through the power of song. Let’s create something unforgettable together – a testament to the beauty of vulnerability and the strength found in embracing our true selves.”
Despite releasing only a handful of singles so far, we see a tonne of potential for this musician. This is one of the Netherlands’ most promising newcomers, so we suggest you keep him on your radars!
Hailing from Vancouver is promising starlet Molly Annelle, who has blown us away with her new single, ‘trophy wife’.
The track was produced by Parker Bossley, who is known for his work with noted outfits like Fur Trade and Hot Hot Heat. The sound is seductive, mellow, and utterly charming in character, thanks to its mellow fusion of retro-inspired pop and soulful R&B. It’s a playful piece of music that also maintains a romantic essence, and we’re obsessed, to say the least!
Annelle is currently working on an LP, which will be released soon via 604 Records. In the meantime, you can enjoy more of the musician’s work on Spotify, where she’s already racked up more than a million catalogue streams to date.
This weekend’s pop bop comes courtesy of 19-year-old singer and songwriter Tessa Dalton, with her fabulous new song ‘Overkill’.
As far as pop goes, this is a pretty brilliant track. Pulsing beats, a memorable melody, beautiful vocals, and relatable lyrics mean that this is likely to become a summer hit for the rising artist, who is not only a budding musician but also a student at Belmont University. On the song, Tessa says:
“It’s about taking chances in a relationship that’s about to end, because you think there’s nothing to lose. That is, until that chance starts to feel like something you never want to lose. In this song, I tried to capture the feeling of summer approaching and having a fun, casual thing turn into something more – unexpectedly. The lyrics toggle between denial and self-realization; what seemed like the end turned into the beginning.”
Dalton unveiled her debut single in April this year, called ‘One More Night’ (listen here), which was followed by a couple more impressive releases. A very promising talent, and one to watch!
Hyperpop can be very hit-or-miss. Sometimes it’s brilliant, sometimes it’s awful, but we can safely confirm that US newcomer Negative Shawdy has been one of the best artists tackling the genre in some time.
‘Same Room’ flips a sample from the iconic ‘Tom’s Diner’ by Suzanne Vega, and delivers a refreshingly uplifting sound that is rapid and playful but also quite soulful.
The track serves as a taster for the artist’s upcoming debut album, which is out soon, and will feature more of Negative Shawdy’s intelligent style of music-making.
Interestingly enough, the original by Vega is said to be the ‘Mother of the MP3’, since it was used to test the music format during its inception.
While Bradley Jago might be a new name to us here at Alfitude, we feel that his approach to soul music is simply timeless in style.
Sonically, ‘Keep On’ carries with it hints of classic Motown, while the lyrics delve into the artist’s mind as he navigates his way through the insecurities that he experiences while in his first queer relationship.
Jago’s work has been featured by the likes of BBC Introducing, as well as Radio 6 and Express FM. The musician currently commands more than 12k monthly Spotify listeners, while his songs have amassed more than 350k total streams to date.
We don’t feature indie folk as much as we’d like on this site, so we’re thrilled to be sharing with you a wonderful new musician from Australia called Southey.
Originally working as a mechanical engineer, this emerging talent has started to gain traction for his distinctive vocals and beautifully sincere approach to songwriting. The artist’s latest single is called ‘Into The Sea’, and is inspired by the idea of being disconnected.
“This song was written and produced, mixed and mastered by myself in my studio. It came from the feeling of wanting to throw my phone into the ocean, a feeling I think a-lot of people can relate to these days. I hope you like it.”
To date, Southey has amassed almost 1.5 million cumulative streams from just four singles, commanding 23k monthly listeners on Spotify alone. We can’t wait to hear what comes next from this hugely promising songwriter.
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!
One of the most hyped artists emerging from the UK right now is Fast Money Music, and if you haven’t heard of their sound yet, then today’s release of ‘Space Opera’ will act as a good introduction.
The song treats us to an energising blend of indie and pop in a way that is both nostalgic and current at the same time. Interestingly, it was co-written alongside Tony Hoffer and features The 1975’s George Daniel and John Waugh on the record.
Fast Money Music has garnered praise from heavyweight tastemakers like BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, while also landing placements on playlists as noted as Spotify’s Fresh Finds Indie.
Listeners can look forward to a new EP titled ‘ROUGE’, which is out soon. You can also catch the artist performing live at London’s The George Tavernon the 30th August.
