A beautifully delicate and emotive approach to lo-fi pop from Rhode Island artist Leggs.
Leggs via Before The Data
New Music: Leggs
Hippo Campus – Ride or Die
With a career that has so far amassed almost ¾ of a billion streams and hundreds of thousands of concert ticket sales, Hippo Campus have firmly set their status as one of America’s biggest indie outfits.
‘Ride or Die’ is an anthemic bop that loosely charts ride-or-die relationships across different capacities – communities, romantic partners, collaborators, and friends.
“It’s one of my favourite songs on the record – you can really hear everyone in the band doing their thing.” – Jake Luppen, Hippo Campus
Taken from the upcoming third studio album ‘LP3‘ which arrives 4th February 2022 via Grand Jury Music/Fat Possum.
New Music: Offchance(onthe)
If you’re a fan of Rex Orange County or Dominic Fike then the chances that you’ll enjoy Offchance(onthe) are quite high.
The American producer and composer creates sounds that incorporate the best of lo-fi pop, R&B, hip hop and indie – leaving listeners with songs that feel distinctly unique while still carrying emotive undertones.
“The song talks about not fitting in and being lost in the world.”
YutaY – How To Be A Human Being
American talent YutaY is back today with an interesting fusion of electronic pop and indie through new single ‘How To Be A Human Being’. With it’s thoughtful lyricism and atmospheric production, the song presents a refreshingly experimental and original sound.
“In a world where we are slowly merging with our digital avatars and the ‘metaverse’ is all the rage, what does it mean to be human anymore? When ‘truth’ is a narrative we’re fed based on profiteering algorithms we have no control over, what should we believe? What matters? What is actually real?”
Chris James – The Cool Kid
Chris James not only performs, but also writes, produces and mixes his songs as well. To date, this German-American artist has garnered in excess of 25 million streams from his own work, while also picking up co-writing credits on BTS’ Billboard Hot 100 #1 single ‘Life Goes On’ and having his track ‘Not Angry’ go viral in China and Vietnam.
Today sees the release of his latest single ‘The Cool Kid’, which is a perfected slice of bedroom pop that is instantly catchy and an essential addition to your playlists.
Taken from new project ‘The Weight of Nostalgia’, slated for a spring release this year.
Kay Seeyen – You’re Mine You
Emerging UK talent Kay Seeyen returns today with a refreshingly original and funky blend of classic soul, disco, and hip hop through new single ‘You’re Mine You’.
“Sampling Gloria Lynn’s 1961 rendition of ‘You’re Mine You’, I made this beat trying to capture a certain groove I’d envisioned before even starting the track. I wanted stripped down open verse sections and a plucky guitar hook that makes you want to dance, with a constant four in the floor thudding kick moving the beat along in a classic disco nostalgic manner. I chopped and manipulated the original sample to piece together an entirely new song, combining beautiful string elements and the strong vocals of Lynn with my own percussion.”
warner case + TAPIWA – you’re like a dream
One of my favourite dance producers of recent times, New York’s warner case teams up with TAPIWA on anthemic new single ‘you’re like a dream’.
After meeting on Soundcloud, the pair exchanged some demos and clicked creatively right away. Lyrically, the track is all about meeting someone who shakes up your world; everything before meeting them no longer makes sense – and you can’t believe that you survived this long without them.
New Music: Roast Apple
Emerging from Hamburg, Roast Apple are new German indie-pop outfit who carry an enormous amount of international appeal.
This is music that is impossible not to enjoy – brimming with energy, charm and character.
“‘Wrap You Up’ tells the humorous story of a stalker who actually wants nothing more than to free his lover from the clutches of the paparazzi. A slightly surreal trip, wrapped in a mixture of 60’s beat and modern pop sound.”
New Music: Rachel White
As a beautifully melodic and deeply moving ballad, ‘You Don’t Want Me Anymore’ by UK newcomer Rachel White touches on the struggles of letting someone down – or not feeling good enough in a love relationship.
With previous support from the likes of BBC Introducing Scotland, and having music featured on ITV 2 show ‘The Cabins’, this year is shaping up to be an exciting one for White.
“I would love my listeners to take whatever perspective they want from my music and hope that they know they aren’t alone with however they are feeling. Love is amazing but it can be hard. The main thing to take away from it is that you always learn something so trust that you’ll continue to grow and move forward.”
New Music: LOUISE
Another week, another Scandinavian bop! Swedish singer, songwriter and dancer LOUISE releases electro-pop anthem ‘IN THE NIGHT’ today.
A perfect track for the weekend ahead, this song rewards listeners with an infectious and sleek chorus that makes you reminisce of the your finest memories on the dance-floor.
Barrie – Quarry
New York-based artist Barrie’s latest release ‘Quarry’ is a beautifully intimate slice of indie that feels eery and forlorn, yet leaves the listener with a delicate yet well-earned sense of hope.
“’Quarry’ is about falling in love in an isolated environment. There’s a surreal quality to the experience, but also explosive joy.”
Taken from the forthcoming second album ‘Barbara’, to be released on 25th March 2022.
New Music: Vero
Stockholm-based trio Vero create a kind of music that challenges the idea of what a modern guitar band is supposed to be.
This is a raw, bold and proudly confident rock sound that makes an immediate impact. Vero may well be one of your new favourite indie groups this year.
Crystal Murray – Other Men (feat. Le Diouck)
Parisian artist Crystal Murray continues to impress with the release of her new collaboration. Featuring Le Diouck, ‘Other Men’ is a sultry and experimental pop song that marries Crystal’s soulful flair with her love of the underground Parisian electronic scene.
“A song about a toxic love which keeps coming back, a repetitive ballad. This song touches me deeply, when I sing it the piano melody possesses me and something mystical happens. Le Diouck and I knew straight away we had to do this track together – I wanted an out of the ordinary voice, a surprise effect.”
Taken from the forthcoming EP ‘Twisted Bases’ which is out 11th February 2022.
Seph Cove – Helen
Australian artist Seph Cove returns today with a gorgeously moving blend of folk and pop that feels almost ethereal in tone.
Rich in texture and emotion, ‘Helen’ focuses on friendship, and how sometimes it is important to remind the people you care for that they are enough.
“I wrote this song in response to learning about the upsetting half-year a friend of mine had during the lockdown in 2020. It was such an important reminder to have perspective. I wanted to let my friend know they had support and that despite everything, they were a very, very good person.”
New Music: Sam Opoku
One of the most exciting talents to emerge from the US of late, singer-songwriter Sam Opoku’s approach to music-making is something truly outstanding,
‘Boomerang’ displays gorgeously dreamy approach to R&B that carries hints of soul and pop, offering listeners a sound that is impossible not to love.
via Before The Data
Taloula – Quick Fix Love
London-based artist Taloula returns with the stunning ‘Quick Fix Love’. Dreamy yet candid in tone, the song addresses dependency in relationships – and is probably the most finessed soul-R&B slow jam you’ll experience all week.
“I talk about how I’ve always been dependent on others, whether in my romantic or professional life, putting aside my opinions and needs. Subconsciously, I never allowed myself to think for myself, always needing the approval or direction of others.”
Taken from the debut EP ‘The Evolution of Taloula’ is out now.
New Music: Braden Ross
With an infectious melody and memorable lyricism, ‘useless 2.0’ from Seattle native Braden Ross delivers a refreshing take on music-making that blends indie with hyperpop. This is a sound that feels experimental and unique, while still maintaining a sense of familiarity.
“‘useless 2.0’ is a song about social media and how it negatively impacts my mental state in regards to my music and music promotion. It’s about how easy it is to become reliant on it for validation and how toxic that can be to ones state of mind.”
New Music: Brent de la Cruz
Emerging from San Diego, Brent de la Cruz delivers a refreshingly original sound that blends raw indie tones with hip hop. This is a sound that not only feels distinctly unique, but also future-forward.
Taken from the new album ‘Finding Boo‘ which is out now.
New Music: Posie
American storyteller and instrumentalist Posie uniquely fuses elements of classic folk and rock with the stylings of modern pop, creating sounds that feel timeless in essence.
Loosely drawn from Shakespeare’s King Lear but given a modern imagining, new single ‘Cordelia’ features dreamy vocals and a fairytale like production.
Cordelia was the name of one of the daughters in the play; a story written in a time when women had less – or no – control over their lives. Now Cordelia has control over her home, the men she sees, and her money; but at the end of each night she chooses to be alone to safeguard her power and freedom.
