Australian artist Hatchie returns with an anthemic and nostalgic blend of 90’s indie and electronic-pop through new single ‘Lights On’. This may well be the catchiest song you’ll listen to all week.
Taken from the forthcoming album âGiving The World Awayâ.
One of the most exciting prospects to emerge from the UK this year will undoubtedly be London-based musician and model sona blue.
Through a beautifully melodic and emotive blend of R&B lo-fi pop, hazy new single ‘hermĂšs’ offers a stunning glimpse into this 21-year old artist’s phenomenal potential.
âhermĂšs is about the initial stages of falling in love, itâs about imagining a future with someone and wanting to be closer to themâ.
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Still riding high from his phenomenal successes over this past year, mehro returns today with contemplative new track, ‘parasite’.
Showcasing lush, layering strings and atmospherics over a driving acoustic guitar, the song finds mehro reflecting on his personal ‘parasite’, while also confronting those dark places he normally keeps hidden behind ‘silly faces’.
“parasite” is the story of how something so grotesque can appear to be so beautiful; a toxic relationship that feeds off the hope of the unsuspecting heart. I wanted to create a sonic world that embodied the illusion of that deceptive beauty, and to tell that story uncompromised. To me this is alchemy.
US Tour
Emerging from Auckland is rising queer artist Jack Panther. After spending much of his youth with his headphones on, listening to Sky Ferreira and writing angsty poetry, Panther now crafts masterful pieces of melancholic pop.
âSKI LIFT 001â is a chilling and introspective track about missing someone close to you.
âLast winter I went skiing for the first time since going with my ex-boyfriend and so many bittersweet memories came flooding back to me. I remember having an epiphany while skiing that I took so many moments with him for granted. Itâs a feeling that I think resonates with a lot of people – nostalgia can hit you so hard and so quickly. Writing this song was so cathartic to me, I had a lot of feelings towards my ex and I think in a way I wrote it to acknowledge these feelings and try to move on.”
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This seems to be the year of the great British girlband resurgence… and about time!
Today sees the introduction of new outfit CuteBad, comprising of five bold individuals who collectively create a confident and powerful style of pop banger.
So get yourselves familiar with Cameron, Mia, Natalie, Ramona and Scarlet – they may well be one of the UK’s next big musical exports.
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One of the most sublime slices of indie-soul this month comes courtesy of acclaimed Swedish artists Jelly Crystal and Seinabo Sey.
Conceptual new single ‘I Tryyy’ serves as a fervent love song, with soulful vocal deliveries, hotline bling-drums and swelling synth pads.
The track was produced by Simon On The Moon (James Blake, Jamie xx, Mahalia), and is the latest single to be taken from Jelly Crystalâs forthcoming EPÂ ‘ILY’ which is out in June.
“I’m so happy I got the chance to make music again with my partner in crime from Kungsbacka, Simon On The Moon, and Sweden’s only voice, Seinabo Sey! We’re still not tired of writing love songs.” – Jelly Crystal
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UK singer/songwriter Josh Vine releases ‘Thousand Skies’ today – and it is difficult not to be moved by the sheer beauty and sensitivity of the track.
An ode to love and separation, the song’s sublime production sets the scene as Vineâs vocal soars with a perfect blend of power and tenderness.
âItâs quite simply about missing somebody, being separated from love, and wanting to be connected to them. Iâm sure weâve all had those moments over the last two yearsâ.
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A playful and utterly charming blend of pop, indie and rock from rising London talent Bebe Barry.
After being diagnosed with PTSD and ADHD as an adult, Barry found that she suddenly had a lot to say – and songwriting was her way of saying it.
“I wrote this song about the incredibly chaotic feelings I get from having ADHD, and feeling like I would be able to take on the world if my brain got the dopamine that a neurotypical brain gets. I feel like I fully embraced myself in writing and recording this – all my weird and wonderful sides – and had a whole lot of fun doing it! It’s an anthem for anyone who feels they don’t quite fit in the mainstream. I LOVE performing it live, although I will admit a few times, I got so carried away and excited I forgot the lyrics for a quick second! Because the song is so mad, it didn’t matter at all! It just adds to the chaos.”
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Daisy Grenade are a rising bubblegrunge outfit from Brooklyn, helmed by bandmates (and musical theatre artists) Dani Nigro and Keaton Whittaker.
Through a funny series of paths crossing and a fateful production of American Idiot that was shut down because of Covid, Dani met Keaton and they started writing together because, “wouldn’t it be funny if we just started writing pop-punk music?”
That sound turned out to be pretty spectacular – so much so that the duo can call on Pete Wentz as a mentor.
Taken from the debut EP ‘Sophomore Slump’, out now. | Daisy Grenade
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Hailing from Toronto, Amanda Frances is a post-pop artist, songwriter, and videographer – as well as the COO of Sadboy Records, one of Canadaâs fastest growing indie labels.
Empowering new single ‘making out with vampires’ came to light after Frances learned what love should, and shouldnât be – and how to protect her own energy.
As a musical innovator, Frances recently dropped her genesis NFT project with decent.xyz for the upcoming debut EP, entitled ‘attachment theory’.
The Web2/Web3 artist will be dropping a single as well as a mini film music video NFT each month leading up to the release of the EP, which was produced by Juno-nominated producer, Father Bobby Townsend.
Emerging from Philadelphia, multi-disciplinarian James the Seventh is a self-taught musician, singer, songwriter and producer.
With a dark and atmospheric take on alternative pop, this talent crafts songs that showcase refreshingly raw lyrics over emotive melodies.
New single ‘Future Memories’ looks at the artist’s struggles with an eating disorder as a full time ballet dancer in her past – and how these struggles have made her stronger to be optimistic for a brighter future.
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With praise from the likes of New York Times, American Songwriter, Clash, Earmilk and Noisey, acclaimed LA-based songwriter and producer ELPENTHE unveils their debut solo single today.
In collaboration with pop artist Devan, ‘Already Know’ is a captivating and melancholy piece of electronic pop that is infused with ELPENTHEâs organic touch.
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Canadian pop-rockers Royal Oak return today with their synth-infused anthem, ‘End of the Night’.
“Written over Zoom in the depths of the pandemic – when the thought of visiting a nightclub was unthinkable – ‘End of the Night’ bursts with a pent-up energy familiar to all of us.”
Continuing with the quartet’s established style of music-making, the track features hook-laden choruses, interlocked backbeats, and clever throwback references.
Hailing from Los Angeles, The Lavender Scare are a queer POC-led indie rock band comprised of multi-instrumentalists James Delos Reyes and Luis Servin.
Inspired by the likes of Radiohead, The Cure and Arcade Fire, this duo confidently deliver on heavy guitar-driven anthems that are interwoven with beds of dream-like synths.
New single ‘Pastel Skin’ was written during the pandemic, and tastefully incorporates elements of shoegaze into their production – making for a sound that is deeply moving and beautifully expressive.
Greta Isaac seems to do no wrong with her latest string of releases. Continuously pushing the boundaries of electro-pop, this Welsh-born and raised artist is back today in epic fashion through the unveiling of her new music video for ‘PAYRI$E’.
âWe had a ton of fun on the set for the video for ‘PAYRI$E’. I knew I wanted there to be a push and pull between me and the viewer – a sort of ‘come hither’ attitude one minute, then some resistance, and then complete desperation the next.
It reminds me a lot of my teenage angst of wanting so desperately to be liked by my peers or some random dude I fancied in school, and I wanted the video to show the mania and unpredictability of trying to find ways of getting someoneâs attention. The quick switches between showing disinterest and clinging on for dear life.”
So far this year, Isaac has been named as a âbreaking actâ by the Sunday Times Culture, as well as garnering support from the likes of Clash, PAPER, The Line of Best Fit, Polyester Zine, Notion and BBC Radio 1.
Taken from the forthcoming EP âI Think Youâd Hate It Hereâ, due out in May 2022.
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Dutch outfit Banji are back with just about one of the bounciest, most playful releases of the month.
New single ‘Cornflakes’ covers the consequence of submitting to small cravings, and the bigger overall issues this can cause.
âI’m prone to developing little addictions pretty easily. Just the tiny things that get me through my day. The overall subject turned out to dig a little deeper into my own habits – temptations, quick releases, and with that, carelessness. Always being on the lookout for a little bit more than what you already have. Enticement can lead you to concentrate on the wrong things, and make you forget that you always have a choice. Because, if these dependencies develop on a bigger scale, they can have a significant impact on the people around you, and cause you to put up a front. Hiding behind it for the sake of someone else. I was noodling around with these ideas, using metaphors and different voices to inhabit the lines in the song.â – Morris Brandt, Banji
Debut album âFreshcakesâ is set for release on 14th October 2022 via [PIAS] Recordings.
Tour Dates 2022
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Hailing from Toronto are emerging outfit GENTLE. New single ‘Softcore’ is a gorgeously atmospheric and arresting release that showcases this band’s perfected blend of dream-pop and shoegaze.
With the opening line “Called you, I had a panic attack”, the song expands into an explosive arrangement of massive drums and effects-laden guitars.
â’Softcore’ recounts toxic relationships in our lives. The first verse recounts the time I called my girlfriend (at the time) for comfort while having a major panic attack to which her reply was “I’m at a party and need to go”. The song exposes our frustrations with absent partners but when we stay with them and give them more chances, it’s our fault as much as theirs.â – Oliver O’Brien, GENTLE
GENTLE are slated to release a full EP in the coming months, and will go on tour in April and May 2022 – playing shows in Quebec City, Montreal, Guelph, Toronto and Hamilton.
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Multi-faceted London artist and producer ST3PH returns today with a captivating new single.
Inspired by Harriet Tubman and her story of freedom, ‘Chariot (I’m Gonna Leave You)’ continues to showcase ST3PH’s unique style of music-making – with fresh lyrics and compelling beats.
American singer and songwriter Naomi Wild returns with a sensational blend of alt-R&B and pop through melodic new single ‘OBSESSION’.
UK rap artist and producer Harry Jay Robinson returns with an exquisitely beautiful and dreamy release in the form of new single ‘Sisyphus’.
Utilising a finessed lo-fi production, smooth vocal samples and philosophical reflections, the track serves as the first single from the upcoming EP – due for release on 20th April 2022.
“In the Greek myth, Sisyphusâ punishment for cheating death is rolling a boulder up a mountain for all eternity, and every time he nears the top of the mountain the boulder rolls back down to the bottom. One of my favourite philosophers (Albert Camus) wrote an essay where he compares Sisyphusâ task to the sense of meaninglessness we often experience, and encourages us to happily embrace these tasks for what they are. This song is all about finding that strength when everything feels pointless.â
