Etaoin – I Hate Everyone (But I Don’t Mind You)

With over ten million streams since her debut only last year, it’s safe to say that Etaoin is already on her way to becoming an established pop talent.

The rising London-based starlet returns this week with an infectiously memorable acoustic bop through the release of new single ‘I Hate Everyone (But I Don’t Mind You)’.

Written alongside Edd Holloway and Nick Atkinson, the track looks at relationships that are doomed from the start, as Etaoin explains:

“The song is based around the idea of knowing someone fancies you and fancying them back secretly, but also knowing that you guys would be AWFUL for each other and it would never ever work out. Then also enjoying the fact that it could be a really bad idea. There are so many emotional ups and downs that happen when you start to like someone like that – especially when neither of you are good at talking about your feelings and you’re not sure what’s going on.”

‘I Hate Everyone (But I Don’t Mind You)’ is taken from Etaoin’s forthcoming LP, which is scheduled for release later this year.

Etaoin

ETAOIN UK DATES 2022

  • 19 October – Manchester – 33 Oldham Street
  • 20 October – London – Camden Assembly

New Music: Precious Pepala

Hailing from the city of Sheffield in northern England is hugely promising 17-year old newcomer Precious Pepala.

Upon pressing play to ‘My Eyes Only’, the first observation listeners may experience is Pepala’s gorgeously distinct vocals, which glide effortlessly over a simple yet beautifully powerful pop production.

Garnering over 130k followers and almost three million likes on TikTok alone, this may well be Pepala’s biggest year yet.

Precious Pepala

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Barrett Staples – Summerstorm

Seattle’s Barrett Staples returns with his fifth instalment of the year, as part of a project dedicated to the Chinese Year of the Tiger.

Continuing with Staples’ special brand of R&B and hip hop, ‘Summerstorm’ presents a mellow, dreamy and warm sound that feels understated yet charming in character.

Be sure to check out Staples’ other releases from this series, which can be found here.

Barrett Staples

New Music: Jack Britten

One of the most exciting talents to emerge from the UK this week has been Jack Britten.

While still a relative newcomer, it feels highly possible that this artist could hit the mainstream over the next year with his playful approach to indie-pop.

Charming new single ‘Missing Out’ is near impossible not to fall in love with. Inspired by Britten’s obsession with trying to understand why their ex broke up with them, the song is not only relatable but also infectiously catchy.

“I write all my music alone in my bedroom cause I have no friends. I’m basically just a hopeless romantic with a laptop and a microphone.”

With support from the likes of BBC Introducing, Britten is one British artist that should be firmly placed on your radars.

Jack Britten

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Micayl – Nevergreen

Photo / Julia Mueller

Rising UK-based German artist Micayl returns with a beautifully introspective slice of alternative R&B through the release of ‘Nevergreen’.

Continuing on from his previous singles ‘Half Hearted Lover’ and ‘Paintaker’, the song tackles the ruthlessness of overthinking, and the consequent feelings of hopelessness and vulnerability that come with it.

Recently featured on BBC Introducing and favoured by noted tastemakers such as Notion and Wonderland, Micayl is proof that R&B artists can create sounds that are both future-forward and highly relatable at the same time.

Micayl

New Music: Noah Richardson

Philadelphian newcomer Noah Richardson unveils a summer indie bop like none other today with the release of his new single ‘WHEREVER U GO’.

Presenting a fusion of hazy lo-fi pop, indie and R&B, the song bounces from melancholic verses to euphoric choruses – leaving listeners in a constant state of surprise.

The production perfectly mirrors the lyrical concept for the song – which looks into the emotional ups and downs of having to move on, as Richardson explains:

“Moving on can be an incredibly difficult thing, ‘Wherever U Go’ is kinda my way of dancing through that pain and that process. Despite the challenges, despite the heartbreak, despite everything burning down around you, you still find a way to dance through the ashes. These past couple months have been incredibly difficult for me. From health issues, losing friendships, family problems, etc. It all just felt like one thing after another but now i’m finally kinda seeing the end of it I think? Yanno, as much as I want to write my songs for the public and for others, I really use them as medicine for myself initially too. It’s therapeutic. A lot of the time I find myself smiling through the pain and the pressure and I just wanted a way to let it all go. That’s what this song is to me.”

Noah Richardson

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Sammy Copley – Little Box

Photo / narryphotographyvids

Following on from the successes of previous release ‘To The Bone’, Irish singer-songwriter Sammy Copley returns with a beautifully melodic slice of indie through his new single ‘Little Box’.

The song continues to showcase this rising artist’s ever-evolving body of work, and presents a darker and more intense style of sound.

“‘Little Box’ is a song about trying to get someone to like you, even though you’d probably be better off without them. It’s about making yourself smaller to fit into their narrow expectations of you, and reimagining even their most hurtful behaviour as being an expression of love. By the end, though, it’s more about breaking out of the box than anything else.”

Rapidly becoming one of Ireland’s most hyped newcomers, Copley’s work has so far found its way on platforms as noted as RTÉ and Spotify’s Ireland Viral 50. Copley also plays Dublin’s Academy 2 in September – tickets here.

Sammy Copley

Hannah Elkins – Moving in the City

Hailing from Berlin is rising English singer and songwriter Hannah Elkins. Inspired by modern greats like Jessie Ware and Lianne La Havas, this talent creates soulful compositions that feel modern yet timeless in style.

Released through Elkins’ own label (Seastay Records), new single ‘Moving in the City’ was inspired by the artist’s move from South West England to Berlin:

“As most of you know I made a big move to Berlin earlier this year and I’ve become so inspired by the new surroundings and amazing people I’ve met there.”

Since the release of her 2019 debut ‘After the Midnight’, Elkins has garnered support from the likes of BBC Introducing, while also performing at world-famous venues including Ronnie Scott’s and PizzaExpress Jazz Club in London’s Soho.

Hannah Elkins

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Audio Dope – Ghost (feat. Emilia Anastazja)

Audio Dope has marked himself as one of the most prominent emerging Swiss producers in recent years. The beatmaker returns today with his new single ‘Ghost’, created in collaboration with Emilia Anastazja.

Lifted from Audio Dope’s forthcoming album (out next year), the song’s summer-tinged beat structure is juxtaposed with Anastazja’s haunting vocals – creating a sound that is refreshingly unique to experience.

To date, Audio Dope has garnered praise from the likes of the BBC, Indie Shuffle and Earmilk, while also playing several prestigious festivals including Montreux Jazz and Zürich Openair.

Audio Dope | Emilia Anastazja

New Music: The Aliso

As the self proclaimed purveyors of ‘dangerously catchy jams’, indie-pop newcomers The Aliso are in no shortage of confidence when it comes to their music-making.

Featuring members from both the East and West coasts of the US, this four-piece do indeed live up to their claims – with tracks like ‘Dance Alone’ treating listeners to a sound that is energising and refreshingly uplifting.

Be sure to keep this outfit on your radars – they may well be one of the most interesting indie projects to emerge from North America this year.

The Aliso

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New Music: JonathanBo

It wouldn’t be a normal week for us here at Alfitude if we didn’t feature some stellar Scandinavian talent, and this time it’s the turn of Swedish artist JonathanBo.

Tastefully experimental in character, songs like new single ‘Hit That Low’ delicately fuse a multitude of genres that include alternative R&B, jazz, indie and lo-fi pop.

This is a sound that feels unique and conceptual in its production, yet still maintains a human and soulful and essence at its core.

“This song is about learning to realise when to part from something. From a relationship or a piece of yourself. It can be just as hard. But sometimes the hardest decisions in life are the most crucial.”

JonathanBo

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D.E.L – Feeling

One of the boldest electronic releases of the week comes courtesy of Australian outfit D.E.L.

The musical partnership of Joe, Nick and Timm de la Hoyde unveil their new single ‘Feeling’ today, and it’s a song which will likely stay in your minds all day long.

Dark and atmospheric in tone, the track bravely presents a style of house music that is intensely captivating. Speaking on the track, Timm de la Hoyde says:

“’Feeling’ came together fairly quickly when the three of us got together in the studio. We wanted to continue to push the electronic house agenda as we have on our most recent tracks, whilst keeping elements of pop and experimental instrumentation.”

D.E.L

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SAER – Sorry

Acclaimed British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist SAER unveils a new self-produced single today, alongside visuals that pay homage to the hit Netflix series, ‘Stranger Things’.

Inspired by a couple looking to make amends with one another, ‘Sorry’ presents listeners with haunting vocals that glide over a production which incorporates dark indie tones with nostalgic synths.

“When recording there was a reverb on the vocal that held my attention and I just wanted to experiment with different soundscapes. The synths added such a drive later in the song and allowed for great fun recording the vocals in homage to some retro pleasures!“

Influenced by artists like Imogen Heap and Jeff Buckley, SAER’s work is dedicated to writing songs that focus on the complexities of human emotion.

SAER

sander blue – something without you

Berlin-based artist sander blue unveils his latest single today, and it’s a beautifully constructed gem that deserves your attention.

With a perfectly balanced hybrid of hyperpop and alt-pop, ‘something without you’ feels future-forward and bold in concept, yet melancholic and emotive in its tone.

sander blue has consistently shown himself as being one of European pop’s most interesting new artists, and this latest release continues to prove that.

sander blue

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New Music: Tasman Keith

One of the most impressive releases to emerge from Australia this week is a collaboration between rising artist Tasman Keith and pop royalty Jessica Mauboy.

New single ‘HEAVEN WITH U’ fuses elements of pop with hip hop in a playful yet harmonious way, and presents itself as a song which is not only current and fresh, but also relatable.

“‘HEAVEN WITH U’ was a song that I wrote to myself, a song about finding the blissfulness and enlightenment internally which in turn will have you see it in others. It’s a love song to oneself, whilst at the same time being a song you can dedicate to anybody you truly find heaven in.” – Tasman Keith

With early praise from the likes of NME, Rolling Stone, Complex, Billboard and MTV, Keith looks set to become one of Australia’s next big musical exports.

Tasman Keith | Jessica Mauboy

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New Music: Will Heggadon

Every so often, a promising solo talent begins to emerge from the UK that catches your attention – and today it’s the turn of Devon’s Will Heggadon.

Inspired by indie legends like Coldplay, Heggadon creates pop songs that have broad appeal. These are simply-constructed yet polished songs, where memorable melodies and relatable lyrics take precedence. Speaking on his new single, Heggadon says:

“‘Good To Us’ is based around those nights where you’ve drank a bit too much and you fall out with each other over the most simple, stupid things and then regretting them and wishing those fall outs never happened, it’s a situation we’ve all been in. Hence the lyrics “can’t the night be good to us.”

With early support from the likes of BBC Introducing already under his belt, Heggadon is one British artist worth keeping an eye for.

Will Heggadon

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New Music: Night Cap

While the world is in no shortage of indie-rock groups, few stand out as truly unique in their approach to music-making.

One such band is five-piece Texan outfit Night Cap, who create sounds that feel raw and punchy, while also maintaining a strong undercurrent of emotion.

The production on new single ‘Sentimental’ perfectly sums up the song’s title. With its sincere vocals and memorable melody, the track takes listeners on a moving journey that is utterly spellbinding.

so you feel like falling around in circles feeling sentimental

so you see me i see you hallowing the truth out from the middle

will you find a new light a new way to feel again

Night Cap

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New Music: AIYANA

Hailing from the English seaside city of Brighton comes promising newcomer AIYANA. With a gorgeously melodic approach to pop, this rising artist creates songs that feel fragile and emotive in tone, while still maintaining a fresh and light essence.

Produced by the equally talented FJ Law, melancholic debut single ‘all my friends‘ is all about the breakdown of friendships, as AIYANA explains:

“‘all my friends’ was written about the time I fell out with one of my best friends – one night I was told out of the blue that we shouldn’t spend time together anymore. I actually wrote this song before it all happened, like I knew it was coming. The song is the combination of broken friendships, loneliness and at the time, the feeling of nostalgia knowing my friends and I were moving on from university soon.”

Be sure to follow this emerging artist as she readies the release of her upcoming EP, entitled ‘Friends Forever’ (out soon).

AIYANA

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New Music: Gloomer

Photo / Cassie Hunter

One of the most interesting releases of the week comes courtesy of Gloomer – a project created by established LA-based producer Elliott Kozel.

New single ‘Drumjoy’ boldly fuses elements of electronica with rock, resulting in a sound that feels high-octane, energising and refreshingly raw.

“This song was originally five or six minutes long with way more different parts and sections, which I eventually edited down quite a bit.  It’s about boredom and jealousy in a long-term relationship.”

Speaking of the accompanying visuals, Kozel says:

The music video is a collaboration between myself and animator Joon Voigt whose drawings were recently featured in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’. We animated it by hand, making over 2000 drawings and collage pieces and photographing them one by one. We took a lot of inspiration from early 90’s cartoons like the Brothers Grunt, Beavis and Butthead, and Ren and Stimpy. During the process of creating all the images we watched a lot of Pauly Shore movies.”

To date, Kozel has collaborated alongside talents as notable as Jean Dawson and Corbin, as well as working on Yves Tumor’s forthcoming album.

Gloomer

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New Music: Gwyn Love

Rising artist Gwyn Love unveils an anthem for nostalgia-loving Gen Z and millennials alike, through the release of their new collaboration with Toronto producer La+ch.

Bold, punchy and playful in tone, ‘good luck rly’ perfectly fuses classic 00’s punk sounds with a more modern electro-pop twist, resulting in a song that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your faces. Speaking of the accompanying video, Gwyn says:

“This video felt most true to who I am and how I see myself as an artist than any other video I have made. My good friend Max Hite directed the film and brought in all the right people to make the shoot go smoothly and also just have a really fun time doing it. My bandmates and I hit it off so well and I honestly would change nothing about the video except maybe the fact I got a concussion at the second location and still managed to finish out the shoot. Pretty metal!”

To date, Gwyn’s work has garnered praise from noted outlets like CLOUT, LADYGUNN and Hollywood Life, while also securing spots on flagship Spotify, Amazon & Apple Playlists.

Gwyn Love

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