ALFITUDE - New Music

New Music: Ryan Chambers

Your weekly dose of premium alt-pop comes courtesy of Canadian-born singer and songwriter Ryan Chambers.

Chambers presents listeners with songs that are highly original in character, thanks to his unique approach to music-making which thoughtfully and seamlessly blends a multitude of genres together.

While sonically, new single ‘Spend On You’ is a beautifully intriguing piece of music, the lyrics convey a highly relatable problem most of us face – that of not having enough money or time to spend with those who we love.

“This song sort of fell out of me over two days and it’s always felt right and true. I’ve viewed my life through many different lenses and not one has made me feel like I’ve had enough time or money to spend on the one’s I love. This is the first of many but it stands tall on its own all the same and I got a lot off my chest in the process of making it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.”

Ryan Chambers

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New Music: Aáyanna

Freshly signed to buzzy LA-based label Avant Garden (home to Emotional Oranges, Chiiild, Unusual Demont and more), Aáyanna looks set to become one of the most interesting newcomers to emerge from the States in 2023.

Crafting sounds alongside producer Juberlee (credited for works with Playboi Carti, Smino and Big Latto), Aáyanna delivers a finessed fusion of R&B, alternative pop and indie.

New single ‘Risky’ showcases this starlet’s potential perfectly, and treats listeners to a melodic track that feels both future-forward and classic in style.

“‘Risky’ is about taking your power back. It’s about cutting ties with people and situations that no longer serve you. It’s also about having fun, sometimes we take life too seriously and realise that we aren’t enjoying it. Risky is the definition of work, play and having your way.”

Aáyanna

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Emei – Backtrack

Emerging Chinese-American artist Emei rounds off her year with sensational new single that reminds us why this rising starlet should be on everyone’s radars.

Serving listeners with a punchy, gritty and raw mix of punk-rock and pop, ‘Backtrack’ is the kind of song that commands your attention from the moment you press play.

To date, Emei has accumulated millions of career streams, competed on Chinese Idol, performed on Dancing with the Stars of China and picked up praise from the likes of Earmilk Early Rising, Ones to Watch and Lyrical Lemonade.

Emei

New Music: The Queen’s Head

Originating from South London is five-piece outfit The Queen’s Head, who are currently responsible for some of the most exciting rock sounds to emerge from the UK.

Lifted from the band’s debut ‘Haunt’ EP (out now), ”Til Death Do Us Part’ is a refreshingly bold mix of rock, indietronica and punk-pop that instantly grabs any listener’s attention.

To date, The Queen’s Head has garnered praise from the likes of BBC Introducing, Radio 1 and 6 Music. The group will perform at Windmill Brixton in London on the 2nd December 2022 – tickets can be found here.

The Queen’s Head

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Jules Paymer – Blood

Rising Nashville-based artist Jules Paymer returns with a sensational piece of indie-pop through their new single, ‘Blood’.

Melancholic and deeply personal in tone, the song was inspired by the distress and tension caused within family dynamics.

With more than a million catalogue streams to date on Spotify, it’s clear to see that Paymer’s beautifully composed melodies and thoughtful lyrics are resonating with a lot of listeners across the globe.

Jules Paymer

New Music: Graham Bright

Emerging from the American state of Maryland is Graham Bright, who has been steadily building momentum recently thanks to a run of consistently impressive releases.

New single ‘Redland’ blends elements of indie with soulful lo-fi pop and rock to create a sound that is anthemic as it is emotive.

A talent who initially turned to music-making while recovering from a back fracture, Bright is rapidly marking his name as one of 2023’s most exciting newcomers. Keep an eye out for this kid – he might well hit the mainstream very soon.

Graham Bright

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Kwoli Black – Wake Up (feat. Lex Amor)

Rising artist Kwoli Black has marked himself as one of the UK’s most promising alternative hip hop talents to have emerged in recent years.

Today sees this promising musician unveil his latest release, ‘Wake Up’, featuring vocals from London rapper Lex Amor.

Beautifully honest in its lyrical concept, the song was inspired by Black’s struggles with mental health – mainly anxiety and depression.

‘Vulnerability is a superpower’.

Black performs at The Old Blue Last in London on the 1st December – tickets can be found here.

Kwoli Black | Lex Amor

New Music: Nashon

One of the most impressive songs released this month has been Nashon’s shimmering debut, ‘love counts’.

Distinctly unique in its sonic concept, the production presents listeners with a perfected fusion of lo-fi pop, indie and rock.

Freshly signed to the vnclm_ record label, the song serves as an ideal introduction to an immensely promising newcomer.

Nashon

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Anna Margo – Know You

With only three singles under her belt, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Anna Margo has already earned herself almost a million streams.

‘Know You’ is the LA-based starlet’s most recent release, and showcases an emotive mix of melancholic pop and R&B. This is a sound that feels haunting, fragile and utterly captivating.

With support from the likes of EARMILK, Wonderland and Metal Magazine, the next twelve months look set to be Margo’s biggest yet.

Anna Margo

New Music: baej Lambeaux

Hailing from Los Angeles is producer and songwriter Michael Adubato, who also goes by the project name of baej Lambeaux.

With a refreshingly raw and honest style of indie-rock, this emerging talent crafts sounds that make an immediate impact from the moment you press play.

While still only on his second single as baej Lambeaux, Adubato has already found his work included on tastemaker playlists as established as Fashionably Early and Crack in the Road.

baej Lambeaux

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Felish – Can I be sad too?

An artist to watch from Scandinavia next year will be Afro-Swedish singer, songwriter and producer Felish.

A former recipient of the LACM Linda Perry Scholarship, this talented musician has been working alongside hitmakers and releasing songs since her 2016 debut, ‘A Dream’.

New single ‘Can I be sad too?’ further continues to showcase Felish as a pop star in the making, and treats listeners to a sleek fusion of melodic soul-pop and funky disco.

Felish

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New Music: King Kwn

Track of the week. One of the freshest talents to stumble across our way this month has been King Kwn, who released debut single ‘Heartbreak Hill’ just two weeks ago.

With its shimmering blend of lo-fi pop and alternative R&B, the song presents listeners to a sonic experience that is immediately inviting and utterly charming.

Not much is yet known about this promising starlet, but one thing’s for sure – this kid needs to be on everyone’s radar.

King Kwn

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New Music: Bo Milli

Another week, another stellar newcomer to emerge from Norway. This time it’s the turn of Bergen-based Bo Milli, who has just unveiled her new single, ‘FOMO’.

Demonstrating a natural flair for writing catchy pop songs that carry with them intelligent lyrics, the track finds the 21-year-old starlet wondering how things would unfold if we were more honest with our feelings towards each other.

“I like writing lyrics that sketch out what someone would say to another person if they were actually honest. In that vein, ‘FOMO’ is about the breaking point in a casual relationship where I lose my cool — in a very literal sense: while that other person is out partying with cool people, I’m unable to hide my true feelings on the matter, unable to stay emotionally distant and hard-to-get. It’s about losing a game you’ve been engaged in with someone, because you care more. And it’s about the ‘fear of missing out’ that constant digital insight into other peoples life has fostered.”

With support from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, The Luna Collective and When The Horn Blows, Bo Milli might well be one of Norway’s next big pop exports.

Bo Milli

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JVLY – swim

Australian artist Kayle Butler’s JVLY project has been compared to modern-day legends as diverse as Jungle, LEISURE, Omar Apollo and Joe Hertz.

Released through the iconic Majestic Casual Records, new single ‘swim’ is a mesmerising slice of soulful, dreamy disco that is ideal for your weekend playlists. Explaining the inspiration behind the song, Butler explains:

“I like the irony of contrasting a kind of futile situation with a sound that makes you feel good. Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) is good at that. If you relate to the story, and the song takes you to a place that’s spirited, it might give you a bit of solace, or at least a sense that you’re not alone in the gloom. All the soul, funk and house at the afterparty is the influence sonically, I love a lot of that stuff. The chord progressions, the movement, the sounds.

I find that if I notice I’m thinking about something a lot over a period of a few days, it’s probably worth trying to carve those thoughts into a couple of lines. It might not amount to much sometimes, but at least it might help make sense of the jumble that is often trying to tell you something. That’s where swim comes from, a blurting of that mess, that’s why the lines are really just blunt statements. So, I guess the essence of it is vice, whatever or even whoever that is for you.”

To date, JVLY has amassed more than two million catalogue streams, thanks to releases like ‘tacenda’ (as well as its daste. remix), ‘windless’ and ‘me&her’.

JVLY

Looney Gloomers – Faking Paintings

Acclaimed Danish outfit Looney Gloomers have been building a steady momentum ever since the release of their debut record, ‘House of Dying Days‘ last year.

Credited with forming a new style of indie called ‘New Now’, this emerging collective of singers and multi-instrumentalists return with an explosive new single today entitled ‘Faking Paintings’.

The track finds the Copenhagen & London-based group confronting the struggles of modern-day living, as they explain:

“This song confronts the inner saboteur that keeps you awake at night. The hero of ‘Faking Paintings’ is in a fog of self-doubt, trapped in a limbo of never knowing whether he’s in or out – an uncertainty that quickly turns into anger and slowly but surely develops into; self-loathing. It’s a struggle that many young people go through today and a torment we should talk more openly about.”

The song is lifted from the band’s forthcoming sophomore ‘Between Good Friends’ album, which is scheduled for release on 30th November 2022.

Looney Gloomers

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Tonia – Afloat

One of Liverpool’s most exciting talents to have emerged this year has been soul-pop artist Tonia.

New single ‘Afloat’ continues to showcase this promising newcomer’s exceptional skills at writing refreshingly honest and relatable pieces of music. Elaborating on her new single, Tonia explains:

“It sounds like I’m talking to someone else but, with hindsight, ‘Afloat’ is more a message for myself: I became very dependent on a relationship and struggled to stand on my own two feet. This became draining on the other person and I also hated the way it made me feel. I couldn’t make any decisions or think for myself – I lost trust in my own decisions and thoughts.

I have been focusing on really learning to trust myself and truly knowing what’s best for me. All my friends will agree that I always second-guess myself even if what I’m saying is right. I wrote Afloat at the perfect time. It was exactly what I needed to say to someone and also the realisation of what was missing in the relationship.

Maybe I realised slightly too late but I learnt that it is so important, to be honest. Your own feelings are valid even if it means hurting someone you care about.”

With only three other singles released to date, Tonia has already picked up praise from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and Introducing, The Independent and Crack in the Road. Forthcoming debut EP ‘Afloat’ is out on the 20th January 2023.

Tonia

Sweeney – Die a Bitch

LA-based musician, filmmaker and actor Sweeney is back with another impressively bold pop production through the release of his introspective new single, ‘Die a Bitch’.

Written by Sweeney as a ‘diary of self reflection’, the song looks at all the hardships and personal struggles that he has faced so far in his life, as well as his desire to overcome the pressures that hold him down.

As an all encompassing creative, Sweeney (aka Hunter Sweeney) has been building momentum since the release of his 2020 single ‘Popstar’, which as since garnered more than 2.4 million streams on Spotify alone.

Sweeney

New Music: PRIESTESS

Hailing from London, PRIESTESS is a critically acclaimed alternative-pop project formed by musician Kate Fleur Young.

New single ‘HOOKS’ is lifted from the artist’s debut ‘Landscapes’ EP, and presents listeners with an immersive sonic experience that is as haunting as it is intriguing in character.

“This track was written about my experience within an abusive relationship and the relatability I felt about people that ‘go back’ to their partners even when they know it’s unhealthy and bad for them. This experience was one that was very hard for me to extricate myself from and I felt it was like an intoxicating monster that had its hooks in me making it very hard to leave.”

With praise from established tastemakers as notable as CLASH, Wonderland and M magazines, PRIESTESS looks set to become one of the UK’s most interesting newcomers in 2023.

PRIESTESS

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Watch: Kleo – Broken Hallelujah

After much hype over the last twelve months, Danish indie-pop artist Kleo finally unveils her debut EP, entitled ‘I Love This Movie’ (out now).

Serving as a commentary on the key moments of life, the record treats listeners to a gorgeously dreamy collection of songs that are deeply captivating – both lyrically and sonically.

Alongside the EP, Kleo has also released a lyric video for ‘Broken Hallelujah’, which was written as an ode to ‘the one who got away’.

Kleo

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New Music: Ben Wolf

We’re starting the day by introducing you to Belgian singer and songwriter Ben Wolf. With a style of sound that is sincere and emotive in tone, Wolff creates pop songs that present powerful and impactful lyrics over beautifully melodic productions.

Wolf’s journey into songwriting began as a way for him to process the grief that he suffered when his best friend passed away, as he explains:

“I picked up the pen for the first time on the night after my best friend passed away. At that moment I felt numb, but wanted to feel something. I wrote her a letter, but that didn’t suffice.”

An artist who is already gaining traction in his home nation, Wolf has so far garnered more than 200k career streams from only a handful of releases.

Ben Wolf

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