Hailing from Austin, Texas we see indie pop duo Blue Heaven with a sound that feels nostalgic and playful yet emotive and charmingly mesmerising.
“The musical arrangement choices set a darkened palette ledger for the lyrical theme of longing for something that is unstable without a vulnerable amount of honesty.”
A powerfully gripping piece of synth and electro-pop, with thoughtful lyricism and highly charged emotive tones.
“This song is a journey in escaping those negative side effects of pushing yourself too hard, and reminding yourself that if you just keep going everything will happen in time.”
Toronto native Abra Taylor crafts a sultry blend of dark RnB with electronic pop to form something that is immediately arresting and totally spellbinding.
“I wanted to make a song that embodied the feeling of nearly transcending with lust, but didn’t know quite how to word it. When I started writing to the beat, it clicked – it just ‘Feels Like This’.”
Some of the most powerfully intense pop you’re likely to have heard this week. A dark and cinematic approach to music making, with bold vocals, empowering lyrics and a darkly rich soundscape.
“‘Riptide’ is driven by the message of just how powerful and dangerous love can be at the same time.”
I know you don’t like to listen
Turn the sound on with no permission
I know you don’t like to listen
But there’s only one life to live so it’s okay
A refreshing fusion of pop and RnB by triple-threat talent Kazi, who’s not only a singer and rapper but also a producer hailing from New York.
Saint Djuni start the year in a truly epic fashion, serving us a rich dose of indie pop with an orchestral twist that harks back to the golden era of Trip Hop.
The result is a dreamy piece of escapism that is an ode to anyone who’s longing to start over in life.
“In the end, we all carry love. And that love starts at your Favorite Place.”
A finessed slice of disco that reminds us of the ecstasy of simply being alive, despite the year we’ve all experienced.
“DRAMA transformed the song from a classic laid back Poolside vibe into a banger for the club that is essentially a celebration of this ecstatic and sometimes reckless thing we call life.” – Poolside
Pa Salieu has been announced as the winner for 2021’s edition of BBC’s Sound of poll; one of the most reliable predictors of emerging talent to hit the mainstream over the coming year.
The shortlist also featured:
2nd place – Holly Humberstone – first featured on Alfitude in August 2020
3rd place – Berwyn – first featured August 2020
4th place – Greentea Peng – first featured August 2018
5th place – Griff – first featured July 2019
An already popular talent on social media, Marlhy’s style of unapologetically punchy pop is quite enthralling.
As far as future-forward soul-RnB and pop goes, this is some of the finest that I have heard in quite some time. It’s got the perfect balance of sweetness, emotion and charm.
A pop talent hailing from Dallas who creates melodic tones matched with thoughtfully constructed lyricism. This track was self-produced by DeLaughter (with mixing by Joe Grasso), and self-released.
“‘Just Woke Up’ is about coming to grips with the reality of certain aspects in life but keeping hope that things will get better… I feel like things get easier when you’ve accepted what they are… I refer to summer because summer is a time when we plan on doing all the things you’ve wanted to do all year… but unfortunately it doesn’t always work out. This past summer I think everyone had a taste of that more than ever considering the state our world was in.”
Taking inspiration from a whole load of electronic and dance genres to create something new that still somehow feels familiar. In it’s purest form, this is feel-good music made to get you dancing.
With a feature on V Magazine earlier this year, New York outfit Telescreens have an almighty powerful approach to indie-rock, laced with heavy synth tones and raw vocals. It’s a sound that immediately commands your attention, and I’m living for it.
Taken from the debut album ‘The Return’ which is out now.
So look me in the eyes, tell me that you want me
Tell me pretty lies, tell me I’m the only
Even if you don’t mean it, touchin’ you is holy
Maybe fake love is better than feeling lonely
A South Australian talent who blends synth with RnB in the most charming way. Half of you wants to dance along, while the other half just wants to experience the melancholy of the melody.
A conceptually interesting piece of electronic music that feels experimental yet highly charged and emotive. It’s not always an easy listen, but totally captivating.
“‘semiautomatical’ is a non-word that i was using to refer to this kind of halfness. closeness and farness simultaneously. watching other people have sex on the internet. Love in the anthropocene. Blah blah you get it. But it’s more ambiguous than ‘wow this is fucked the bots are taking over my brainstem.’ It’s the feeling of sticking your hand out the window of a moving car and letting your palm pitch and dive with the wind. Knowing that even on the highway humanity thrives.”
