ALFITUDE - New Music

Ian Abel – Drowning

American artist and performer Ian Abel is no stranger to the spotlight. Aside from his solo work projects, this accomplished musician has toured the world, and performed alongside icons as noted as Nile Rodgers.

Abel’s latest single, ‘Drowning’, presents us with a refreshingly unique and brave mix of genres.

This is a sound that is eccentric, bold, and utterly captivating to experience. Listeners will be taken on a journey that features elements of nostalgia-tinged 00’s pop, alternative R&B and hyperpop, while the lyrics tell of the impending doom that comes with falling for the wrong person.

“You know when you want someone so bad… they’re so hot that you just can’t get enough, but you also know it‘s a bad idea? It’s like you’re watching a shipwreck about to happen… and in the end you can’t stop the inevitable.”

If you’re still new to this artist then be sure to check out his critically-acclaimed 2016 debut EP, ‘Icarus’ here.

Ian Abel

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nodisco. – Blame (feat. John Splithoff)

Genre-bending North American talent nodisco. (aka Chris Toufexis) returns with an impressive new collaboration featuring fellow musician John Splithoff, entitled ‘Blame’.

The track presents listeners with a smooth and melodic mix of classic R&B and hazy indie-pop, and was crafted during a period of heartbreak for the artist.

“I had just flown to LA the day after a breakup and was staying with my friend Luke Moellman for a few days of recording. Unsurprisingly, I was in the dumps but we wanted to write something upbeat to get me out of it. We were listening to a bunch of D’Angelo, Maxwell, Raphael Saadiq and wanted to get that raw, real instrumentation R&B sound down. We called up our friend, the incredible John Splithoff, to lay down the guitar solo and he ended up adding flavor to the whole tune. He really took it to a whole other level.”

The song serves as another teaser to the artist’s upcoming project, ‘A Long Talk at Taylors’. With such a natural flair for crafting beautiful sounds, it’s no wonder that nodisco. continues to gather momentum from tastemakers and playlist curators alike.

nodisco. | John Splithoff

Moon Taxi – Set Yourself Free

With five albums under their belt, 300 million career streams on Spotify alone and a significant fanbase all across social media, Moon Taxi have confirmed their status as one of Nashville’s biggest indie outfits.

Inspired by themes of collaboration and the importance of community, new single ‘Set Yourself Free’ was written as a reminder that we are better when we are together.

Interestingly, the song was written by all five members of the group through a FaceTime call. Elaborating further on the track, vocalist & guitarist Trevor Terndrup explains:

“During the pandemic, we got used to FaceTime songwriting. For better or worse, it’s been a great way for everyone to collaborate remotely. The idea of falling back on someone you trust is so important nowadays. But truly it’s how we’ve tried to operate as a band for all these years.”

The song is taken from the band’s upcoming studio album, which is scheduled for release on the 9th June 2023.

Moon Taxi will also embark on a nationwide tour across the US this summer, with support from The Stews – dates and cities listed below.

Moon Taxi

Moon Taxi US Tour 2023

8.4 Isle of Palms, SC @ The Windjammer (tickets)
8.5 Isle of Palms, SC @ The Windjammer (tickets)
8.6 Isle of Palms, SC @ The Windjammer (tickets)
8.9 Virginia Beach, VA @ 24th Street Park (free)
8.10 Savannah, GA @ Victory North
8.11 Ponte Vedra, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
8.12 Augusta, GA @ Imperial Theatre
8.24 Tuscaloosa, AL @ Druid City Music Hall
8.25 Chattanooga, TN @ Signal
8.26 Athens, GA @ Georgia Theater
8.31 Greenville, SC @ The Foundry
9.1 Wilmington, NC Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
9.2 Asheville, NC @ Salvage Station
9.15 New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina’s
9.16 Mobile, AL @ Soul Kitchen
9.20 Nashville, TN @ Jrodconcerts Americanafest FIESTA II
9.22 Huntsville, AL @ Mars Music Hall
9.28 Columbia, SC @ The Senate
9.29 High Point, NC @ The Stage @ Cohab
9.30 Macon, GA @ Capitol Theatre Macon
10.4 Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity Theatre
10.5 Oxford, MS @ Lyric Theater
10.6 Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
10.7 St. Louis, MO @ The Big Top
10.12 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
10.13 Cincinnati, OH @ Riverfront Amphitheater
10.14 Louisville, KY @ Paristown Hall
10.20 Birmingham, AL @ Avondale Brewing
10.26 Columbus, OH @ The Bluestone
10.27 Indianapolis, IN @ Vogue
10.28 Peoria, IL @ Premier Event Center
11.1 Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater
11.2 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
11.3 Richmond, VA @ The National
11.4 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Smalls Theatre
11.6 Portland, ME @ State Theatre
11.8 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
11.9 Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl
11.10 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
11.11 Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theater Block Party
11.18 Chicago, IL @ HOB
11/30 Houston, TX @ Last Concert Backyard & Amp
12/1 Austin, TX @ Emo’s
12/2 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
12/3 Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
12/5 Oklahoma City, OK @ Jones Assembly
12/6 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
12/8 Kansas City, MO @ The Truman
12/9 Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall

New Music: The Silver Doors

If you’re in the mood for some hard rock then today’s release of ‘Losing Hand’ by American four-piece The Silver Doors will most likely make you very happy.

Sonically dark and raw, the song serves listeners with captivating vocals over an anthemic melody. The track is both mysterious and arresting in equal measures, and showcases the group’s distinct style of sound.

‘Losing Hand’ serves as a follow up to the North Carolinian’s debut single, ‘Redeemer’, which was released earlier this year. You can catch the group at Asheville’s Static Age Records on the 25th May – more details can be found here.

The Silver Doors

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Cherise – 2 Steppin

Cherise is no stranger to the Alfitude pages – and you’ll find out why as soon as you play her summery new single, ‘2 Steppin’.

The track marks the UK soul starlet’s return, and was inspired by the childhood trips she would take to see her late grandfather:

“When I was younger, my mum would bring me from Luton to Hackney for him to babysit me and my little sister.”

Explaining the meaning of the song’s title, Cherise goes on to explain:

“He had so much swag, walking so slowly down Ridley Road, with this two-step; no hesitation.”

Cherise has a packed scheduled over the next few months. The artist will be performing on the jazz festival circuit throughout the early summer (locations and tickets here), before releasing a new album entitled ‘Calling’ on the 7th July 2023 (pre-save here).

Cherise

Tafari Anthony – Falling Back

JUNO-nominated Canadian artist Tafari Anthony is back with one of the catchiest songs of the week, entitled ‘Falling Back’.

With its finessed and sleek fusion of alternative R&B and soulful pop, the song presents listeners with a melodic slice of disco bliss.

Alongside the release of the track, Anthony has also unveiled some striking visuals, of which he says:

“I wasn’t even planning to do a video for ‘Falling Back,’ but we decided very last minute that it would be a good idea as the first single back since my JUNO Award nomination. I had about a week to come up with how we were going to make this happen. It’s interesting when you have to move quickly and resources are scarce, it forces you to think differently. Oftentimes, this ends up creating something super cool that I may not have even thought of if I had more time to think about it. I’ve always been a fan of more minimalistic and abstract art. I knew we didn’t have a lot of time with the director, Derek Janzen, so the concept was going to have to be something that was more implied, and the story told more through performance and a very minimal set. The video had to be completely shot in about four hours, and I flew into Vancouver an hour before we were supposed to start shooting. The idea was to depict this never-ending cycle where no matter what action was taken, it always came back to the same starting point and same ending point.”

Having amassed more than 200k career streams to date on Spotify alone, as well as receiving continued praise from outlets as respected as Exclaim and Atwood Magazine, Anthony has firmly marked himself as one of Canada’s next big prospects.

Tafari Anthony

New Music: JO universe

Our introduction to JO universe proves that Denmark is currently one of Europe’s leading nations for emerging musical talent.

As the creative project of artists Johanne Marie Theill (singer & writer) and Nicolai Absalon (co-writer & producer), these two musicians are creating some of the most exciting and interesting sounds to emerge from Scandinavia in quite some time.

In equal parts, the duo’s infectious new single ‘Sweet Deal’ is an eccentric, camp, quirky and high-drama slice of alternative pop that you’ll likely have on repeat for the rest of the day.

This is a sound that is bravely playful and utterly captivating to experience – and marks a promising taster to the band’s upcoming releases.

JO universe

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist

New Music: Fourth Daughter

Scottish multi-hyphenate Fourth Daughter (aka Emily Atkinson) unveils an impressive anthem today, entitled ‘Take The Fall’.

Serving as a taster to the artist’s upcoming debut ‘HYPERREAL’ EP (out 28th July), the song showcases an impressive style of sound that effortlessly incorporates dark pop with indie and electronica.

While still only Atkinson’s third release, the track’s production tells us that this is a talent who is unafraid to push sonic boundaries to create bold and captivating pieces of music.

With praise from the likes of BBC Introducing and TikTok, as well as features on prominent playlists like Apple Music’s Breaking Dance and Amazon’s Fresh Dance, its safe to say that Fourth Daughter is a talent on the rise.

Fourth Daughter

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MTMBO – Simple Things

London talent MTMBO is one of those artists who never fails to impress. Debuting back in 2015, this musician’s releases have since gone on to amass more than six million streams – with new single ‘Simple Things’ only adding to the momentum.

Weaving elements of alternative pop with indie and folk, the song presents listeners with an atmospheric soundscape that is melancholic and deeply moving to experience.

To date, MTMBO’s work has been featured by iconic tastemaker outlets as noted as Fashionably Early, Disco Naïveté, Sodwee and Dummy Mag.

MTMBO

Chrissy Chlapecka – Alpha

TikTok starlet Chrissy Chlapecka has just unleashed a massive banger called ‘Alpha’.

Bold, confident and fun in tone, the track’s production reminds us of the extravagant styles of electro-pop that were prevalent from the mid 00’s – think Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Kesha.

With more than 5 million followers on TikTok alone, as well as 270k monthly listeners on Spotify, there’s no doubt in our minds that Chlapecka will become one of America’s biggest pop exports this year.

Chrissy Chlapecka

greek – BLUFF

US-based artist greek has that rare talent of creating unique songs that are unlike any other, yet still accessible and easy to form connections with.

New single ‘BLUFF’ treats listeners to an eccentric yet mesmerising a fusion of alternative R&B, soul and indie. While the track is refreshingly original in its production, it is also beautifully emotive and sincere in tone.

greek joins Weston Estate on tour across North America, starting from next month – more details can be found here.

greek

New Music: Nicknames

Nicknames is a rising American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer who has been drumming up considerable attention amongst tastemaker circles over the last few months.

Thanks to his highly individualistic style of music-making, this talent creates songs that bravely feature an array of genres.

From self-produced alt rock anthem ‘Go Big or Go Home’, through to his bouncy electro-pop gem ‘fwm’, this musician is unafraid to showcase his artistic versatility and open-mindedness.

With praise from the likes of Fashionably Early, RockDaFuqOut and RGM already under his belt, this is one talent to watch for!

Nicknames

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Jae Luna – cyanide

Track of the week. LA-based talent Jae Luna has been on our radars for quite some time, and never fails to impress with his stunning style of lo-fi alternative music.

Inspired by ‘the complexities and challenges of family dynamics’, new single ‘cyanide’ was written as a form of therapy by the artist during lockdown. It’s undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous songs we’ve come across so far this month, thanks to its powerfully emotive production and raw lyricism.

Since releasing his 2018 debut EP ‘Projected Self’ (listen here), Luna has amassed over four million cumulative streams on Spotify alone, and impressively commands more than 45k monthly listeners on the platform.

Jae Luna

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New Music: Celia

American musician Celia is a name to watch for this year. With only four singles under her name so far, this talent has already racked up more than 430k Spotify streams – with new release ‘Dumber’ looking set grow that momentum even further.

Through it’s beautifully constructed fusion of indie and alternative pop, the song treats listeners to an infectiously catchy and upbeat sound that is sure to stay with you for the rest of the day.

We don’t yet know much about this artist, but we don’t think it’ll be long before her name picks up prominence among tastemakers.

Celia

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New Music: Dodo Museum

London-based newcomers Dodo Museum have created the perfect song for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Inspired by the unpredictabilities that come with being in love, ‘baby’ effortlessly fuses mellow, hazy pop with beautifully airy vocals.

In equal parts, Dodo Museum’s sound feels chilled and contemplative, but also playful and light-hearted in tone.

“Just as the long-gone dodo bird fades into history, Dodo Museum’s music invites you to explore a headspace of mystery.”

The track serves as an impressive debut for this promising duo, who seem to have already perfected the art of creating universally likeable and charming songs.

Dodo Museum

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New Music: Dylan Guy

Hailing from Melbourne is producer and videographer Dylan Guy, who has just unveiled a sensational new single that deserves your attention.

‘Garden’ features vocals from acclaimed UK artist EDÁJA, and treats listeners to a mesmerising mix of hazy lo-fi pop and alternative R&B. The sound feels dreamy and ambient, and serves as a perfect addition to your summer playlists.

Interestingly, a shortened edit of the track has already picked up momentum across social media, garnering more than 250k views on TikTok alone. The song has also been embraced by playlist curators worldwide, including spots on editorials like Fresh Finds UK and Fresh Finds R&B.

Dylan Guy

🎵 Discover more new music on the Ones To Watch Playlist

psykhi – Dyed in Wool

London-based artist pyskhi returns today with one of the most impressive tracks of the week.

Inspired by some people’s tendencies to be stubborn, ‘Dyed in Wool’ is taken from the artist’s freshly-released ‘Forest People’ EP (out now), and treats listeners to an eccentric and utterly mesmerising mix of indie, alt-pop and rock.

You think you’re flawless since you feel this way

Tell me what’s suspected, tell me what’s addictive

You just shake your head like a disappointed friend

I hope you don’t pretend that you could be more than specific

Praise for pyskhi has come from the likes of Ones To Watch, Earmilk, Fault and Notion magazines, while the artist has amassed more than 1.2 million catalogue streams on Spotify alone.

You can catch this rising star performing at The Grace in London alongside Alfitude favourites peach tinted on the 24th May 2023. Tickets can be found here.

psykhi

New Music: Wilja

It wouldn’t be a normal weekend at Alfitude if we didn’t share with you some fresh Scandinavian pop, and this time it’s the turn of singer, songwriter and producer Wilja.

Despite being sung entirely in Swedish, ‘Håll mig Hårt’ (which translates to ‘Hold Me Tight) has a style of sound that makes it universally appealing. Through its stripped-back blend of mellow pop and alternative R&B, Wilja’s airy vocals sing lyrics that tell of the loneliness that follows a breakup.

“‘Håll Mig Hårt’ is about the feeling of being alone after having a relationship with someone who has been both good and bad for you. You are willing to drop everything for that person just to have and feel that closeness once more, no matter how long it lasts.”

While the song marks Wilja’s solo debut, she is no stranger to the industry. This accomplished musician also runs hugely successful EDM project JEN, which has amassed millions of streams through its collaborations with the likes of Sevek and Man Cub.

Wilja

🎵 Ones To Watch Playlist 🎵Scandinavia Sound Playlist

New Music: Sam Cullen

Today’s introduction of Auckland’s Sam Cullen continues to affirm New Zealand’s status as a powerhouse nation for emerging indie talent.

Cullen’s style of work seamlessly fuses classic rock sounds with modern alternative pop, resulting in songs that somehow feel both nostalgic and current at the same time.

His work has resonated with a lot of people, so much so that Cullen has already amassed more than 120k cumulative streams on Spotify alone.

New single ‘Forever’ presents listeners with an upbeat and anthemic mix of stadium-style rock and indie-pop, and is sure to propel Cullen’s name even further into the spotlight.

Sam Cullen

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Anna O – Set It On Fire

Australian pop starlet Anna O returns today with one of her most powerful and personal releases to date.

‘Set It On Fire’ is a reflective song that takes its inspiration from Anna O’s recent life changes, and addresses the internal struggles and frustrations that we battle within ourselves. Elaborating further on the lyricism, the artist explains:

“It’s no surprise that lyrically it was still about this season of life that I was in the thick of.. . post-natal depression, stay at home mum, no understanding or diagnosis yet for me or my boys. Still unmedicated because I was too scared. One morning at some inhumane hour I lay awake staring into the dark after feeding my baby boy back to sleep. I was agitated and frustrated, but then this sense came over me that I was about to write a song, which is how songwriting tends to work for me.”

Anna O has become one of Australia’s most admired alt-pop musicians, and has garnered praise from heavyweight outlets like Triple J and AAA Backstage. To date, this talent has amassed more than 400k streams on Spotify alone, in part to her widely acclaimed 2015 debut EP, ‘Symphony’.

Anna O

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