ALFITUDE - New Music

amy michelle – patience

Rising Irish artist amy michelle is back today with a dreamy slice of melancholic pop through her new single, ‘patience’.

Inspired by the emotional struggles that two people can experience with one another, the song demonstrates a style of sound that feels vulnerable and fragile – yet also raw and powerful at the same time.

“The song deals with trying to navigate a difficult friendship or relationship between two people. Despite the unconditional love they have for each other, they are both reflecting a bewildered frustration of unresolved issues within themselves onto one another, causing immense hurt and pain. It questions; perhaps you are my person, but now just isn’t the right time? You have hurt me so much, maybe I need to leave here alone? I have hurt you so much, maybe I should let you go? Perhaps with a bit of trust and patience, our paths will cross again? I wrote and recorded this song during the night about a year ago, in my room back home. It’s one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written.”

Already garnering support from industry heavyweights as noted as FADER, CLASH and District magazines, it seems inevitable that amy michelle will become one of Ireland’s biggest musical exports over the coming year.

amy michelle

New Music: Sarah von Reis

Sharp-eyed fans of Scandinavian pop may already recognise singer and songwriter Sarah von Reis as a former member of Swedish pop phenomenon Dolly Style.

Since breaking with the band in 2018, von Reis has focused on her work as a solo artist, and is now setting her sights on becoming one of Sweden’s newest stars.

Written alongside Maja Francis and produced by Andreas ‘Hyena’ Söderlund, ‘All My Ghosts’ treats listeners to a dark yet playful sound that feels both haunting and intriguing in character.

“It’s the first love song I ever wrote. Maybe it’s not a classic love ballad, but it’s more about feeling naked, closing your eyes and hoping you’re good enough. The text is based on a love letter I wrote to a girl. When I realised I am gay, love suddenly felt a lot scarier. Like suddenly there was more at stake. I have something to lose if she doesn’t want me.”

Upcoming debut EP ‘Melancholia High Season’ is scheduled for release in March 2023.

Sarah von Reis

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist

nodisco. – Break My Fall

Acclaimed Canadian artist nodisco. has spent the past year mostly in isolation, working on his latest collection of songs, entitled ‘A Long Talk at Taylors’.

Today sees the first taster from the project with new single ‘Break My Fall’. An anthemic fusion of soulful bedroom pop and lo-fi indie, the song showcases a new sonic style for the artist.

“‘Break My Fall’ came about at a party as this person and I discussed lost love and mixed signals given by each of our own complex and confusing love interests. At the time of recording, I was listening nearly exclusively to John Mayer’s ‘Room for Squares’ at the time of production, which influenced the rawness and funk of the song.”

As a Canadian star with global mainstream potential, nodisco. currently commands close to 100k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, while his total career streams have exceeded more than six million to date.

nodisco.

Carliane Tamara – Hot Girls Hate Money

As far as emerging alt-pop talent goes, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone pushing boundaries as well as New York-based Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Carliane Tamara.

New single ‘Hot Girls Hate Money’ treats listeners to a production that is full of rich sonic textures, while the melody will likely stay in your head all day.

With support from the heavyweight tastemakers like Early Rising, Lyrical Lemonade and Fashionably Early already under her belt, the next twelve months might well be Tamara’s biggest yet.

Carliane Tamara

tmdistant – fall out

At this point, we’ve lost count of the number of times that we’ve featured tmdistant – but here we are yet again with another impressive release from this 19-year old Essex-based artist.

New single ‘fall out’ is an impassioned and brutally honest song that was inspired by toxic relationships, and falling victim to gaslighting.

“‘fall out’ is such an emotional song for me. It’s kinda explaining in real-time me going through the motions of dealing with being gaslighted for the first time and understanding what’s happening inside of me and my mind. Overcoming those obstacles and learning from them. Shedding my previous skin and coming to a realisation of who I’ve become over the past year.This song really resembles the emotions a person can feel when they overcome toxicity and being gaslighted by themselves or someone else.”

To date, this rising talent has garnered praise from respected tastemaker outlets as diverse as BBC Radio 1, AFROPUNK, Mixtape Madness, DNü and Dummy Mag.

tmdistant

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

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

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

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

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

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

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

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

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

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

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

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

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

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist

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

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

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

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist

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

🎵 Follow the Scandinavia Sound Playlist

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this:

Like this: