A hugely exciting new prospect, Halle Abadi weaves elements of her Persian/ Afghan culture into richly dark, sleek and polished pop productions.
‘Focus’ has already been somewhat of a hit, achieving almost a million views on TikTok prior to it’s official release. The song was written as an empowering anthem for all people, and something to remind listeners that it’s okay to be selfish with your time and energy.
HotKid is the work of Canadian producer, songwriter and lead guitarist Shiloh Harrison. Also a co-founder of boutique indie label Fortune Stellar Records, it’s clear that Harrison is a master of many talents.
Inspired by feelings of frustration and helplessness, ‘Letter’ is Hotkid’s latest release and is taken from the upcoming album, ‘Truth or Deceiver’ (out 1st October 2021). This moving piece of indie-rock is not only packed with thoughtful lyrics, but is melodically rather beautifully constructed too.
As a queer skater girl making her debut in the music industry, girlboy J’s style of pop-punk is raw, honest and personal.
Using music as a platform for shattering the stigma around mental health struggles, she launches her single ‘Not Real, Not Here’, inspired by her battle with PTSD.
“The chorus talks about my experience with dissociation, apathy and PTSD. There were so many periods of my life where I would literally say to people ‘I’m not a real person anymore,’ and everyone thought I was being emo or poetic, but I actually didn’t know how else to phrase what I was going through…. Later when I got diagnosed with PTSD, I found out that it is very common for people with it to articulate that they don’t feel real, or that they have this inexplicable feeling that they aren’t living a normal life. It’s like no matter how hard you go through the motions and check off the boxes everyone else is checking off, there is some sort of disconnect – you can’t get back to the effortlessness of existing, you just have to fake it.”
Just in time for the weekend comes a fresh pop bop courtesy of Danish newcomer siné. While on the surface ‘2GOOD2U’ carries a punchy and fun sound, it also has a softer and more vulnerable side that juxtaposes superbly.
“It was really meant to be the ultimate break-up song. But while I was going all Girl Power and feeling free I was hit by the insecurity that always haunts you when you’re trying to leave someone for good. And so instead,I ended up feeling totally miserable about myself. ‘2GOOD2U’ is about the inner fight that comes with not being able to stand up for your ridiculous self when life needs to change. It’s a reminder that you are the one in your life who can make the chance to move forward from what might seem like a catch-22.”
Tessa Rae has to be one of America’s most versatile musical talents. This artist has been surprising and delighting listeners for years now, and continues to do so with through her new anthem ‘i don’t miss you’.
Never defined by any one single genre, Rae balances subtly raw tones of indie and rock with pop on this release, perfectly complimenting her distinctly dreamy vocals.
“No cookie cutter pop team is writing my music. Just me and my best friend doing what we love.”
Undoubtedly one of my favourite exports from Denmark so far this year, Mina Okabe is back today with not only a sensational single, but an entire album full of pop gems to delight your audible senses.
New single ‘Miss Those Days’ is a shimmering and emotive track, with a lyrical topic everyone can relate to at some point in their life.
“It’s about friendship – about a close friend of mine. We used to be together all the time but one day she had to move far away and even though we promised to stay in touch everything we had just faded out and disappeared. ‘Miss Those Days’ is about everything you take for granted and the wonder of sudden change.”
Taken from the new album ‘Better Days’ which is out now.
One of the most exciting indie-pop outfits to emerge this week, London-based quartet Out At Sea is made up of four university friends who formed a connection through their love of football, 80’s synth pop, craft IPAs and 00’s indie-rock bands.
Quintessentially British in it’s nature, new single ‘Izzy’ features cheeky vocals and indie-rock guitar riffs that take you back to the days of the noughties.
“I wanted to write a singalong tune about the highs and lows of fancying and flirting with someone, where even if the feelings are unrequited, the hook definitely isn’t.” – Matt, Out At Sea
The band play their biggest gig to date at the O2 Academy2 Islington on 4th September 2021 – tickets here.
Seamlessly fusing elements of pop, RnB and jazz into new sounds, Irish artist Drew Hall crafts songs that are both heartwarming and charming in equal measure.
‘ilostmyhead’ serves as Hall’s fourth single, and is a reflective piece of music that looks at purpose, life and the sacrifices we all make to actualise our dreams.
“‘ilostmyhead’ expresses the overwhelming thoughts and emotions that can cloud your mind as we pass through transitional periods of our lives.”
Alt-rock outfit The Sukis have firmly established a solid and loyal fan base since their debut in 2017, now achieving well over 150k monthly listeners from Spotify alone.
Nostalgic new single ‘Cherryade’ serves as an ode to British culture and adolescent romantic affairs, featuring a cinematic and energetic production with fantastic story-telling lyricism.
“‘Cherryade’ takes a self-reflective journey through teenage romantic affairs. An upbeat, glistening indie-rock song exploring the implications of nostalgia; through the reverb soaked guitars, dreamy synths and groovy-driving bassline. Taking different elements from early Strokes to the harmonies of Queen with traces of 90s dream-pop ambience. ‘Cherryade’ is the party anthem, the clean up and the soundtrack.”
Consistently crafting premium pop songs with a uniquely eccentric yet highly tasteful flair, Elohim returns today with a showstopper of a bop in the form of new single ‘Go Through It’. This weekend-ready anthem is taken from her latest EP, ‘Journey to the Center of Myself Vol.2’ which is out now.
Elohim garners over 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, and more than of 300 million combined streams globally. She’s also collaborated with the likes of Skrillex, Marshmello, GRiZ, Louis the Child, The Glitch Mob, and most recently with Flux Pavilion and Ookay.
One of Brighton’s most prominent indie-rock groups in recent years, Will And The People return today with ‘Animal’. This rousing and impactful release was recorded in Los Angles with the legendary Thom Russo (who’s worked alongside Audioslave, Michael Jackson and Jay Z to name but a few).
Engaging lyrics, powerful vocals and a confidently bold production mean that ‘Animal’ makes an immediate impact to any listener. Explaining the meaning behind the track, the band says:
“It’s the arch nemesis of the ‘cancel culture’ world we live in today. It’s about primitive acceptance. It’s about desires, social conformity and was written to hit very hard, like our actions do when they come back and bite us.”
Two emerging newcomers join forces to create one of the strongest RnB-pop songs of the season. ‘nothing new’ is a collaboration between 18 year-old Essex-based anti-pop artist tmdistant and German-Irish pop/ RnB talent vi0let.
With production from Abare, this is a hauntingly dark and futuristic piece that blends elements of alt-RnB with pop, engrossing the listener and leaving them completely captivated.
“This song is about two individuals who are constantly toxic towards each other, they know that they aren’t good together but they are both stubborn. I wrote from the perspective of the man in the relationship who is fed up with the situation he is in with the beautiful woman. In this day and age toxicity has become normalised and it shouldn’t be, so I showed an example of this in the song.” – tmdistant
A gorgeously airy and melodic blend of indie-pop and alternative rock from Sydney-based singer-songwriter Alex Partridge. This artist’s style of music-making is universally likeable; there’s a sense of confidence that shines through on the songs that is really quite wonderful to experience.
“‘Can You Remind Me?’ is a reflection of how much individuals think and ponder over what it is that influences our decisions personally, financially, etc. It is easy to get lost in the moment when driving and that is portrayed strongly in this track.”
A deliciously playful fusion of RnB, soul and pop from American artist Cameron Forbes.
‘Send Nudes’ is one of those songs that’s near impossible not to be charmed by; with engaging lyrics, distinctive vocals and a catchy melody, this could well be one of your favourite new bops.
“I’ve had the opportunity to go deep within and find my own power and rediscover my own light. I want to show people that when you strip away whatever trauma you’re going through and allow yourself to heal, you’ll find you are limitless.”
Summer might be drawing to an end, but bops like ‘Prada’ will keep it’s spirit alive for a good while still.
The track was born after 16-year-old Canadian producer CUBE sent a beat to Danny Polo, who recognised an opportunity to create a funk and soul-laden dance anthem over the beat’s lo-fi and ambient textures. Polo then called upon close friend and platinum songwriter Landon Sears for feedback, but walked away with a collaboration he describes as ‘MAGIC’.
Manchester-based outfit The Deep Blue craft a beautifully original style of alternative indie folk, infused with stunning vocals and thought-provoking lyricism.
As is the case with their new single ‘He Said She Said’, this is a song that feels dreamy and summery on the surface, while the lyrics carry a far more important and poignant message.
“‘He Said She Said’ was written in response to section 72 of The Domestic Abuse Act of 2021. Inspired by stories in the news and some of our own experiences, we offer this song as a voice for the countless women who have been harmed by or lost their lives to domestic or sexual violence. It’s a topic full of sadness but we wanted to wrap it in an upbeat sound and swap the sadness for strength. We’re not here to make you cry, we’re here to light a little fire in you.”
Nigerian born and London based musician DxBoY only started to rap in 2020, yet the sound he constructs is not only impressively advanced but refreshingly original.
As the world went into lockdown last year, he took the time to explore his approach to music-making; and with songs like ‘Lit Again’ it’s clear that this talent is well on his way to gaining mainstream recognition.
Dublin born and London based artist Fia Moon crafts a soulful kind of dreamy pop that feels relatable and so incredibly easy to fall in love with.
Fusing hints of RnB and jazz into the mix gives this talent’s sound a sense of individuality that is a real delight to listen to.
A classic RnB sound with a future-forward edge from Canadian talent Rude Nala. This is a style of music that is finessed, sleek and understated yet subtly euphoric and dreamy.
And for anyone wondering where the name Rude Nala comes from, ‘Rude’ is used as a compliment in Caribbean culture to call someone a boss; while ‘Nala’ is her birth name spelled backward (Jalangi).
A beautifully dark and intense debut from 0207 Def Jam artist tendai. ‘Not Around’ is a haunting and almost ethereal approach to alternative RnB that is so hugely exciting to experience, and a fantastic introduction to this London talent.
