Track of the week. We’ve got a very exciting group emerging from the UK to share with you today called GIRLBAND!
Hailing from the English city of Nottingham, this promising trio craft an energising style of music which seamlessly fuses punk-rock with alternative pop.
Anthemic new single ‘Not Like The Rest’ encapsulates the essence of youth through its lyricism and playful production. For anyone who feels like they’re growing up in a community that is too small for their dreams – this is the song for you.
The band will go on tour across the UK soon – dates and tickets can be found here.
You’ll realise something very special about LA-based newcomer Cara Hart from the moment you start to play ‘Hypelist’.
This is a loud, confident and utterly captivating piece of alt-pop that is lyrically inspired by our tendencies to obsess over the things we like.
The track was written and produced by the artist herself, and created in collaboration with a new app that shares the song’s name. Hart explains:
“In its essence, ‘Hypelist’ is a song about your obsessions, but not in a negative way. We all have obsessions, it’s a natural thing. We just treat it like something we are sometimes ashamed of. And I say ‘no’ to that. You should never be embarrassed of the things that make you quirky in your own unique way. That’s why when Alfonso (Cobo, the Creator of the Hypelist app and platform) told me about this idea and asked me to take part in it, I didn’t hesitate for a second.”
Having already garnered support from heavyweight tastemakers like Notion and Wonderland, it seems inevitable that Hart’s name will be propelled into the mainstream over the next year. And we’re here for it!
Canadian musician maxime. graces these Alfitude pages yet again with another sublime masterpiece that deserves your attention.
‘harry houdini’ is lifted from the artist’s upcoming third album, ‘the life and death of a dog’ (out in March), and presents listeners with a melodic fusion of li-fi rock and alternative pop.
maxime. plays the iconic SXSW in Austin next month, and will also have his own headline show at New York’s Elsewhere – Zone One on the 18th March (tickets here). Be sure to catch this artist wherever you can – he’s an incredible performer!
For when life feels like it’s getting a bit too much, you can thank bands like Boston’s bikethrasher for their music.
On their energising alt-rock anthem ‘Hillside’, the group explain that it was written to ‘make you feel the joy of starting a new chapter, and the pain of closing a good one.’ Alongside its sincere vocal delivery, the track treats listeners to a style of sound that is bold, powerful and sonically daring.
There’s no doubt in our minds that this outfit are crafting some of the most genuine new rock music to come out of the US, and they are most certainly ones to watch in 2024. You can explore more of bikethrasher’s work on Spotify here.
One of the most beautiful songs released this week comes courtesy of American starlet Joy Downer.
‘Ships’ is a gorgeously delicate piece of pop music that feels sincere and heartfelt in tone, and lyrically describes a tale of love and misfortune.
“A ballad of unrequited love and poor timing. A delicate vocal with robotic harmonies, steady piano, and that wistful feeling of a love that never was.” – Joy Downer
Downer’s music has consistently impressed us. With her natural flair for songwriting and a finessed style of sound, it’s no wonder that the artist commands more than 45k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.
Acclaimed European group The Two Romans return with an important new single that reminds us to help each other when we are at our lowest.
The inspiration behind ‘I Swear’ originates from a true yet tragic story involving the band’s friends. They explain:
“‘I Swear’ was inspired by friends of ours who have lost their baby after only three weeks. Surviving a tragedy like that while remaining a couple must be one of the hardest things. We can’t begin to imagine the pain. This song is for everyone who has gone through hell together with someone as a team.”
The Two Romans have built up a significant legion of followers since forming in 2015. To date, they have played more than 150 shows across the continent, and found their songs featured across some of the most prominent radio stations in Europe, including Switzerland’s SRF3.
Boston outfit bog berries (led by singer and songwriter Cooper Evello) are somewhat of a musical enigma, but an interesting one nonetheless.
If you’re a fan of artists like Lizzy McAlpine and Darwin Deez then you’ll probably enjoy this collective’s music as well.
New single ‘nobody told me’ was lyrically inspired by the transition into adulthood, and all the monotony that comes along with it. With that being said, this is one of the most charming indie-pop releases we’ve come across this week, and deserves to be on everyone’s playlists!
Canadian artist Keegan Powell is back today with an epic new rock single that really is a sonic wonder to experience.
‘In My Cave’ reflects on the musician’s difficult moments in life, and is taken from his freshly released compilation album ‘Alien Radio’ (listen here).
“I wish I could sit that former version of myself down and ask, ‘How can you expect to run if you have forgotten how to breathe?’ It sounds strange, but I had literally forgotten how to breathe and would have panic attacks that would make me pass out from the stress. Alas, the line of depression is a long, long line filled with many great people that stand in it everyday. I don’t think you can ever “leave” these lines behind for good,but eventually, you can find a better line to stand in, in a town with a more reliable meteorologist.”
The song demonstrates Powell’s incredible musical versatility, which has delighted and surprised fans consistently over the years.
Listeners in Canada and the USA can catch Powell performing live on series of shows, with more details here.
Melbourne/Naarm singer and songwriter Jewel Owusu returns with an impressive new single today called ‘happyforyou’.
Showcasing the very best in emerging Australian pop artistry, the song looks at themes of envy and insecurity, especially in the age of social media. Jewel explains:
“The creative journey is tough, especially when the achievements of others flood your feeds on Instagram and TikTok, amplifying the sensation of falling behind.”
Jewel looks set to take on her biggest year yet. With praise from the likes of Apple Music, Colors Studio and Rolling Stone under her belt, it seems that mainstream success is already on its way for this hugely talented artist.
Hailing from NYC is rising alt-pop talent Isla de Luca, who has just released a huge banger for us to enjoy.
If you’re a fan of Gwen Stefani, Paramore, or MARINA then chances are you’ll also fall in love with this artist’s sound. It’s refreshingly loud, confident and arresting in tone, and serves as the perfect anthem for the weekend ahead.
New single ‘I Already Am One’ was sonically inspired by Y2K rock-pop, while the lyrics focus on themes of femininity and unconventional relationships. Speaking on her artistry, Isla says:
In all of my songs, I play the persona of a hedonistic, ultra-confident, maybe-evil siren type– she’s having fun, and you should be too! This song is also inspired by an interview with Cher in which she shares how her mother told her she needed to marry a rich man, and she responded, ‘Mom, I am a rich man.’
Words can’t express how hard we’ve fallen in love with American singer-songwriter Kacey Fifield’s new single, ‘Never Reply’.
The track’s production treats us to a mesmerising fusion of indie- pop and classic rock, while the relatable lyrics tell of the contrasting emotions that we experience when trying to recover from painful emotions.
“This song plays on the idea of claiming to no longer care about a person who hurt me in the past, while making it painfully obvious that I actually care way too much.”
The song was co-written by Michael Kamerman and Sam Beresford, and is taken from Kacey’s forthcoming ‘Nostalgia Haunts Me’ EP. Explaining further, the artist says:
“Channeling the light, beachy vibes of Lorde’s ‘Solar Power’ record, the track creates an almost hauntingly optimistic tone, evoking the feeling of knowing something is too good to be true. The idea that I’ve moved on from this person to the point at which I wish I could go back in time and ‘never reply’ to them is in fact too good to be true, since the rest of the EP showcases the fact that pretending to not feel these emotions only makes them stronger.”
To date, Kacey’s music has been streamed over 6 million times, and currently attracts more than 40k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.
Brighton pop artist Libby Whitehouse is here with one of the biggest bops of the week!
‘OMG’ is an anthemic slice of pop bliss that tells of the singer’s desire to meet the perfect man. The song was written and recorded in Sweden, and carries with it that perfected Scandinavian style of production that always hits the spot. Elaborating further on the track, Libby says:
“I wrote this song in 2022 after just landing in Stockholm, getting stuck in knee-deep snow dragging my humongous suitcase to Dino’s [Medanhodzic] studio, where I met him and Maia [Wright] for the first time. I got into a rant about how I missed two things 1) the Summer and 2) the feeling of fancying someone (because absolutely no one was doing it for me!). I remember saying ‘I miss that OMG feeling!’ so we wrote a song about the butterflies, newness and excitement. I feel like it was a manifestation, which worked, as a month later I met my boyfriend!”
Libby already commands a huge following on social media, and looks set to have a stellar year ahead that is sure to see her name propelled into the British music mainstream.
We’ve got some fresh new UK talent for you today, in the form of Pontypridd trio OTHERS.
Consisting of Grammy nominated songwriter Danny, award-winning director Lewys, and professional guitarist Mark, this promising outfit create a style of alt-pop that is both future-forward and bold in character.
‘Lose It’ is the band’s latest single, and was lyrically inspired by the raw emotions that can arise from losing your composure.
“’Lose It’ felt like the culmination of years of searching for our sound. The moment we wrote it, I knew it had to lead as the debut single. It captures that sensation of losing grip on reality, when every attempt at calm evaporates, and you cross the threshold of no return.” – Danny Lafrombe, OTHERS
Despite only releasing a handful of songs to date, OTHERS have already gained more than 350k cumulative streams on Spotify.
Australian starlet Maina Doe is here with a sensational new single called ‘Witness’. Serving as a taster to the artist’s upcoming EP, the track delights its listeners with a finessed fusion of alternative R&B and stripped-back pop.
Doe’s music has been streamed more than a million times on Spotify. In addition to her ever-growing base of followers, the artist has also picked up support from the likes of Triple J, Notion Magazine, BBC Radio 1xtra and Rinse FM.
Track of the week. Can we ever get enough of Jon Vinyl? The short answer is simply no! The Canadian soul superstar returns today with yet another mesmerising song called ‘Clouds’.
The track further affirms the Canadian’s ease at crafting beautiful tracks that are not only impressive in their production, but also lyrically and melodically enchanting.
It’s no surprise to learn that this talent has already found praise from some of the world’s most respected tastemakers – from BBC Radio 1Xtra, Billboard and MTV to Beats1 and Apple Music.
If you’re based in North America then you can catch the artist live on his HEARTBREAK HILL tour from March – with shows all across the US and Canada. Full details here.
Fans of Flo Milli, Doja Cat, and Beyoncé will most likely also enjoy Washington, D.C. artist Helen, who has just released a sleek R&B-pop bop for your enjoyment.
Despite its playful production, ‘Pretty Privilege’ carries a serious message that reminds listeners to empower themselves- regardless of how society perceives them.
“It’s meant to challenge conventional standards and celebrate the empowerment of individuals irrespective of societal judgments.”
If this is the first time you experience Helen’s music, then check out her 6-track debut EP ‘ubiquitous’here. The artist’s music has so far amassed more than a million streams on Spotify, so be sure to keep your eye on this kid!
Dublin artist Leila Jane has been one of Ireland’s most interesting pop talents in recent years.
Aside from her distinctive vocals, this gifted musician is also capable of translating her truest thoughts and emotions into sincere and heartfelt lyrics.
New single ‘Love Will Come Rushing’ seems like a suitable song for Valentine’s Day, as it symbolises the constant cycle between struggle and growth. On its inspiration, Jane says:
“I wrote the song as a result of my experience taking part in the Irish national final of the Eurovision last year.”
To date, Leila’s music has collectively garnered more than 100k streams on Spotify, while her work has been praised by the likes of RTE Radio 1 and Hot Press Magazine.
Hailing from the US is promising newcomer Daisybox (aka Taylor Hottenstein). With each single that this musician releases, he finds his fan base growing – thanks to his captivating style of sound which can be described as melancholic pop rock.
Hottenstein began writing music following the death of his brother. The artist realised that songwriting was a meaningful way for him to process his emotions, and facilitate his healing.
‘Someone Else’ is the singer’s latest release, and tells the story of two lovers who are starting to drift way from one another. Hottenstein explains:
“This song is about a couple who love each other, but have lost their spark. The verses refer to their relationship real time while the chorus is a hypothetical situation where the main character sees their lover out in public with someone else. It’s meant to be about holding on to love.”
Dublin indie kids Sick Love return with a powerful new single that is sure to propel their momentum across the globe.
‘Ricochet’ is an unashamedly bold and immensely inspiring song that instructs us to follow our chosen destinies in life, no matter what hurdles come our way.
“‘Ricochet’ is a song about standing up for your dreams and following your own path, even when the world thinks you should give up. It’s about believing in yourself, blocking out the hate and riding your own wave no matter what anybody else thinks.”
The track serves as a taster to the band’s forthcoming (and highly anticipated) debut album, which is out in the spring.
With support from BBC Radio 1 already under their belt, you can be sure that Sick Love will become one of Ireland’s biggest musical exports in 2024.
