As far as emerging Scandinavian music goes, Denmark really has been a hotbed for talent this year, and William Torp is yet another case in point.
Lifted from an EP of the same name (out now), ‘still u’re all i’m thinking about’ is a beautifully atmospheric and intimate piece of indie-pop that feels emotive and captivating in equal measures.
Torp plays two live shows in January – Copenhagen’s Ideal Bar, and VinDanmark in Aarhus. Tickets can be found here.
The space between Christmas and the New Year doesn’t usually yield premium new music. Fortunately though, acclaimed Illinois singer, rapper and producer Kweku Collins has just released an impressive single for us to enjoy.
‘Tangerine’ serves as the penultimate song on Collins’ dynamic ‘Then Spring, [Side A]’ EP (out now), and presents listeners with a refreshingly experimental and eccentric fusion of genres.
“Tangerine” is the come down. I wrote the hook in January of 2020, watching the sun go down in LA. Sometimes I feel really happy and really sad at the same time. Hope and dread hold hands. Tangerine is about realising “I’m lost. Do I stay lost or do I find my way?”
“I also wanted to give a nod to New York and London drill music. Rhythmically, it makes me think of reggae. The use of the upbeat in reggae, and the use of tresillo in drill (listen to the hi hat patterns) remind me of each other in the way that they made a pre-existing music into something new.“
Since the release of his 2015 debut‘Say It Here While It’s Safe’, Collins has garnered critical acclaim from the likes of Pigeons & Planes and Pitchfork among others.
One of the most beautiful releases of the week comes courtesy of New Orleans musician Gaines.
‘I JUST WNT U’ features the talents of fellow artist Tasty, and delivers a sound that is truly unique in its concept. By fusing dreamy, lo-fi electronica with essences of alternative R&B and pop, the song feels almost transcendental in character, and showcases a level of artistry that really is quite impressive for a newcomer.
Already garnering interest from noted tastemakers as prominent as Early Rising, A1234 and Fashionably Early, Gaines is most certainly one to watch.
Rising Chicago-based singer and songwriter Kayden McCarthy unveils a brand new single, entitled ‘Vulnerable’.
Lifted from his upcoming ‘The Fields’ LP (due for release early next year), the song showcases a sound that seamlessly fuses dark pop with elements of sultry alt-R&B and hip hop.
Inspired by the likes of The Weeknd, Justin Jesso and The Chainsmokers, McCarthy has accumulated close to five million career streams to date, and has seen his work featured on flagship Spotify playlists like New Music Friday France and Indie Summer.
Already on her way to becoming a household name in her native Spain, it seems almost inevitable that Judeline’s work will at some point draw attention from across Europe soon.
Songs like ‘TÁNGER’ showcase a haunting yet tender sound that feels dreamy and ethereal in tone.
Judeline performs at the iconic Lollapalooza San Isidro and Primavera festivals next year.
With only a handful of singles under her belt, newcomer Natalie Red is marking herself as one of London’s most exciting talents.
Melodic new single ‘High’ treats listeners with a distinctly British club sound that somehow feels both future-forward and nostalgic in equal measures.
Comparable in sound to other artists like PinkPantheress and Charli XCX, Natalie Red might well be one of the UK’s next big artists.
Acclaimed US-based Sudanese singer and songwriter Hoosh has been delighting fans since his 2018 debut, ‘Better Days’.
As the year ends, Hoosh unveils a new single entitled ’12 Weeks’. Through its thoughtfully constructed mix of genres, the song is not only refreshingly original in its sound but also easy to form an emotional connection with.
As an artist on the rise, Hoosh has accumulated more than seven million career streams while also attracting more than 75k monthly listeners on Spotify.
American talent Kami Kehoe returns with a stunning fusion of lo-fi pop and alt-R&B on ’emotionally unavailable’.
Continuing the 19-year old’s impressive run of releases, the song further proves that this emerging artist is one of R&B-pop’s brightest prospects.
To date, Kehoe has garnered more than 150k catalogue streams from the release of just five songs, while also landing placements on Spotify playlists as prominent as Fresh Finds and New Pop Picks.
Debuts don’t come more impressive than Kate Peytavin. Already an internet starlet in her own right (with more than 170k subscribers on YouTube alone), Peytavin is clearly an artist on the rise.
‘ever fallen?’ is the Peytavin’s first release, and seamlessly fuses lo-fi pop with dark indie. Aside from the flawless production, the track cleverly samples Buzzcock’s iconic hit,‘Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve’.
The song highlights a talent who is not only hugely promising, but also someone who is bold and confident in their creative choices.
Track of the week. A member of acclaimed outfit Mulherin, Parker Tate has just released his own single – and it’s just about one of the most beautiful songs we’ve heard all winter.
Mixed and mastered by Tate himself, ‘June’ presents listeners with a gorgeously stripped-back blend of alternative R&B and mellow, hazy pop.
“I started this song in July a few weeks after I broke my ankle. I was just laid up with a hard cast on and it was hot as hell I actually recorded all of it with the AC on cause I couldn’t handle the heat. You can hear the noise throughout a lot of the song as a result.”
Tate plans on releasing more new music under his own name, as well as with Mulherin next year.
Danish talent Rebecca Lou closes the year out with an epic anthem through her new single, ‘Heaven or Hell’.
The track makes an instant impact from the moment you press play, with Lou’s powerful vocals gliding over an energising and polished power-pop production.
No stranger to the Danish music scene, Lou has accumulated more than half a million career streams to date on Spotify alone.
It’s Christmas Day! As you might expect, we’re taking a break today – but we leave you with this alternative to the traditional festive music that you usually come across every year.
Originally released back in 2018, ‘Home Alone, Too’ is a beautifully delicate indie-folk piece of music that gives listeners a different perspective on the holiday season.
Anyway – whatever you end up doing today, be sure to have an amazing Christmas!
Hailing from Seattle is genre-bending newcomer jon mercer, who recently unleashed an epic single entitled ‘all we talk about is yourself’.
Inspired by modern-day rock legends like Green Day and Red Hot Chili Peppers, mercer crafts a refreshingly raw and highly original style of alternative music that is both powerful and energising in character.
mercer plays Seattle’s High Dive on the 29th December 2022 – tickets can be found here. If you’re in town then be sure to catch this talent before his popularity explodes!
Emerging from New Jersey is an exciting music collective called KIDSNOT$AINTS. With members ranging from singers, songwriters and producers to creative directors, this group of talented individuals craft impressive sounds that deserve your attention.
New single ‘Love, Always’ might just be the sweetest pop song you’ll have heard all week. Through its thoughtfully constructed pop production, the track feels fresh and current while also maintaining mainstream appeal.
With more than three million cumulative streams under their belts so far, KIDSNOT$AINTS. might well be one of pop’s future stars.
Rising artist Artemas returns with one last single to end his successful year on a high.
‘Mi Amor’ is a superb slice of anti-pop that feels refreshingly original in tone, and adds further confirmation that this UK-based musician is one of the country’s most promising prospects.
Artemas has had an impressive (and much deserved) rise in momentum recently, commanding more than 128k monthly listeners on Spotify and amassing over five million catalogue streams to date.
We have Spotify’s algorithm to thank for coming across American collective/ boyband Townewest.
Running for under two minutes, debut single ‘Softspoken’ is as endearing as you’d imagine. This is a sound that is playful, light-hearted and utterly charming to experience.
Not much is yet known of this group, but if ‘Softspoken’ is anything to go by then Townewest might well become one of the most interesting new acts to emerge from California this winter.
Hailing from Lake Macquarie is 20-year old African-Australian artist and musician Chandler Jewels.
Already an established name as a producer, Chandler has crafted sounds for artists as prominent as Dro Kenji, Manu Crooks and Example.
Alongside his work behind the scenes, Chandler has also unveiled a debut mixtape entitled ‘Insomnia’ (out now).
‘Fine Art’ is taken from the collection of songs, and presents listeners with a flawlessly constructed fusion of alternative R&B and hip hop that feels intense and atmospheric in tone.
One of the most exciting indie discoveries to have emerged from North America over the last few weeks has been Seago.
‘Lawn’ is lifted from Seago’s debut album of the same name (out now), and showcases an anti-pop sound that is not only melodically memorable, but also carries with it some thoughtfully constructed lyricism.
We predict that this extraordinarily talented Canadian will become a star to watch for in 2023, so be sure to keep them on your radars!
Artist and producer Botaii (aka Sander Askeland) has proven himself to be one of Norway’s most interesting and experimental newcomers.
‘Résumé’ continues to showcase this talent’s skill at crafting sounds that feel future-forward and unique in tone, while still maintaining a powerfully emotive essence.
With a style of music-making so original and bold, Botaii is one Norwegian talent to keep an eye out for in 2023.
Rising talent Aryia unveils visuals for his latest anthem, ‘Losers’. Dedicated to those of us who strive for more of out life, the song serves listeners with an energising fusion of alternative pop and punk.
“I wrote this song because I was so sick of living in Massachusetts that I just wanted to scream. Being annoyed is an understatement. I hope if people feel stuck at where they are at in their lives they can get at least a moment of relief listening to this song. Truthfully we are all just losers doing the best we can to get by. This song and music video was my catharsis of this realisation. And I hope that the people who are sick of their hometowns can relate and bang their heads to this angsty song”
As one of America’s most prominent pop-punk newcomers in recent times (with more than 16 million catalogue streams on Spotify alone), Aryia looks set to hit the mainstream over the next twelve months.
Upcoming EP ‘Viral’ (via Velocity Records) is released on 27th January 2023.
