One talent that’s picked up our interest this week has been singer and producer Frank Heaney, aka Good Jester.
If there’s ever such a thing as the perfect Sunday morning jam, ‘Deep End’ is it. Created alongside fellow artist pfreaky, the song treats listeners to a soulful fusion of indie, pop, R&B and jazz.
It’s a sound that is utterly charming and instantly captivating to experience. More of Heaney’s work can be heard here.
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Nieve Ella’s rise to prominence has been quite amazing. This UK-based starlet only picked up her first guitar in 2020, and has since gone on to acquire more than a million streams on Spotify alone from the release of just a handful of singles.
Songs like ’19 in a Week’ showcase a sound that is youthful, energising and anthemic in character. The track is part of a wider collection of works that form Ella’s ‘Young & Naive’ EP (out now), of which she says:
“I’ve waited what feels a lifetime for this day. These songs mean so so much to me in so many different ways. They are the reason I dropped out of college, met all of my closest friends, played some wonderful shows with my best friends, signed my first deal at eighteen and met my wonderful team.”
Having garnered support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, Dork, Notion and Haste magazines, Ella is one artist to watch this year.
Promising Wiltshire-based singer, songwriter and producer Reuben Medlin returns today with a superb new single, entitled ‘Pain Cargo’.
The song was written at a time when Medlin began to suspect that his girlfriend was about to break up with him (which she did – only two days after the song was written), as Reuben explains:
“The song is about the feeling of knowing things are coming to an end and also thinking back to if someone really cared about you as much as you thought they did.”
An independent artist on the rise, Medlin has already received praise from respected tastemakers as noted as James Therlfall (BBC Introducing) and Early Rising.
Medlin is currently readying a live show alongside his band, and will hit the road soon. Be sure to keep this talent on your radars!
South African newcomer CON THE ARTIST has unveiled his debut single today, entitled ‘All My Friends’.
Inspired by a fear that his friendships were drifting apart, the song presents listeners with relatable lyrics over a catchy and well-constructed bedroom-pop production.
“It’s a song about seeing your friends living a life without you on social media and the bittersweet feeling of realising that the friendships you once cherished have slipped away, whether it’s due to distance, growing apart, or simply the passage of time.”
While this is CON’s first release, this Canada-based talent is already an accomplished touring musician, songwriter and composer who has created original works for films and programmes that have ended up on outlets as prominent as Netflix, HBO and MTV.
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Liv East is no stranger to these pages – and with good reason. This rising London-based starlet has proven herself to be one of the UK’s most promising soul artists.
East returns today with a stripped-back version of her latest single, ‘So Badly’. Proving the case that ‘less is more’, this dreamy new edit is beautifully sublime in essence.
“‘So Badly’ is a sensual song of longing and passion, so I really leaned into the intimacy of the track in creating the stripped version. I always love doing stripped versions as the lyrics are the most important part of the song for me, and so it allows the listener to completely focus on the words more so than the produced version. I wanted this track to be dreamy and raw, and to allow the listener to feel the track in a much deeper way.”
Since 2019, East has worked on music that has spanned genres as diverse as hip hop, neo-soul, disco and R&B.
Emerging from London is Portuguese singer, songwriter and guitarist Raquel Martins.
Melodic new single ‘Empty Flower’ is taken from Martins’ freshly-released EP of the same name (out now), and treats listeners to a beautifully dreamy yet vulnerable sound that blends alternative soul with latin influences.
With support from the likes of BBC Introducing, The Line of Best Fit and Dummy, as well as praise from prominent tastemakers including Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum and Casskid, Martins is one name to watch for in 2023.
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Fans of Y2K-era Euro-Dance will fall in love with Luna Morgenstern’s latest single, ‘IDONTOU’.
While the production of the song presents listeners with a euphoric mix of nostalgic electronica and future-forward pop, the hard-hitting lyrics look at the troubling cases of assault that have come to light within the Dutch music industry.
“The surfacing of several cases of sexual assault at ‘The Voice Of Holland’ last year heavily triggered me. I was so angry and appalled by the victim’s accounts, that I had to transfer these emotions into a song. I wanted to write an anthem to all people who have experienced any form of sexual assault in their life. It shouldn’t be a sad song, but one that could be played at a party and that would make people want to dance, in order to reclaim ownership over their bodies.
For the lyrics, I took suggestive phrases and cat calls I had (over)heard countless times in my work surrounding or while going out and randomly connected them into a monologue that the protagonist has to endure. While the verses are kind of twisted, I wanted the message of the chorus to be very clear: you don’t own me and I don’t owe you, period.”
The track continues to showcase this Amsterdam-based, self-taught producer’s impressive skills, and serves as a taster to the their future releases – which will be inspired by the notion of ‘living life without limits’.
Luna Morgenstern Live Dates 2023:
Danish newcomer your hands (aka Johannes Brandstrup) unveils a charming slice of mellow indie-pop with his new single, ‘down here waiting’.
Inspired by the small (but significant) surprises that come across us in our everyday lives, Brandstrup creates refreshingly authentic songs that are lyrically thoughtful and insightful. Speaking on his new single, he explains:
“I wanted to write a song about the youth and social life. My generation has become addicted to communicating with one another – which is good – but when you agree to meet up with someone it often creates a clash between expectation and respect of each other’s time. We rely on communication more than we rely on each other and I hope this catchy little pop song reflect those mellow thoughts and frustration of modern living.”
The track follows on from Brandstrup’s 2022 debut ‘floating’, which received acclaim from several music blogs from across the globe.
What began as a mutual love of music (and dogs) led to the creation of acclaimed Swedish-British indie outfit The Franklys.
This all-female group of rockers have been on our radar for quite some time, and never fail to impress us with their sound.
Anthemic single ‘Mess’ coincides with the release of the band’s new ‘Dogma’ album (out now), and showcases a refreshingly raw style of garage-rock that is immediately captivating to experience.
The Franklys will celebrate the release of the album on the 16th March at London’s Lexington – tickets can be found here.
Green Rays is the new indie project from acclaimed My Sad Captains singer and songwriter Ed Wallis.
Today sees the release of a self-titled debut album (out now), as well as a taster single called ‘In Between’.
Written during a time of significant change within his life, the new 8-track record offers listeners a collection of works that are sonically beautiful and lyrically emotive. Speaking on the album, Wallis explains:
“My partner and I had just had our first son and the songs I was writing reflected that in different ways. Partly practical: a lot of quiet ambient tunes composed on keys with headphones on. But it also brought an open heartedness I’d never really countenanced before, playing songs on an acoustic guitar while my foot tapping kept a baby bouncer going. We’d also decided to leave London, where we’d lived for twenty years, to find more space in the country.
Life changed even more profoundly when our second son died. I’d just handed over the finished recordings to my brother Jim to mix before it happened. And in the weeks and months after, I have to say I didn’t want anything to do with these songs.
But after some time had passed, Jim sent me a couple of mixes he’d been working on. I listened to ‘Getting Back Again’, the first song you hear on the album. The love and care in his mix picked me up off the floor. He’d used our Grandma’s old cello to create a beautiful coda, without discussion but with perfect execution, intertwining with Leon’s Fripp-esque lead lines. And it really did make me believe in the whole thing again.”
Green Rays performs at London’s iconic Servant Jazz Quarters on 2nd March – tickets can be found here.
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The most exciting newcomer to emerge from Scandinavia this week has been jazzygold (aka Jasmin Mote).
Hailing from the Faroe Islands by way of Kenya, this R&B-soul starlet has just released a sensational new single called ‘boring like me’ that deserves your immediate attention.
“‘boring like me’ is the new soundtrack for your most self-sabotaging moments in life. You know you’re a 10, but you still settle with the bullsh*t from a 5. That’s what sparked a fire for the making of the track. The breakup leaves you in the exact position you knew it would, and the track captures the irony perfectly.”
Prior to her work as a solo artist, Mote was part of award-winning outfit JASMIN, who toured across the Nordic region and played at festivals as prominent as Uhørt and Sørveiv.
After leaving the group, Mote travelled to Stockholm and London to focus on her own sound, and has now finished a collection of ten songs that she is ready to share with the world. Keep an eye on this artist!
British trio The Family Rain are back with their first new single since 2021’s ‘Death In Slow Motion’.
‘Gasoline’ treats listeners to that epic rock sound that we’ve all become accustomed to from these three brothers.
It’s a raw, confident and exhilarating track that sets the tone for what fans can expect from the band’s forthcoming releases.
“It’s a sonic pick-me-up. Something that our favourite bands (AC/DC, The Rolling Stones) nailed, and what current guitar music shies away from. We wanted to go all the way with this track and make the listener feel like Scarface on steroids. We know it’s only rock and roll… but we adore it.”
Rising artist YOUR ANGEL (aka Maddy Boyd) is back with yet another premium slice of alt-pop.
Sultry and sparse in its sonic character, ‘Good Girl’ is taken from Boyd’s upcoming ‘A Star in the Headlights’ album (out 17th March, pre-save here). Elaborating on the track’s inspiration, Boyd explains:
“It’s a song about dating someone who always has their sights set somewhere else. It’s about the feeling of spending all of your time with someone and still feeling profoundly alone.”
To date, Boyd has received praise from the likes of NYLON, Consequence and Notion magazines, while also amassing more than 200k career streams on Spotify alone.
Sistir is the musical project of Thailand-based, Irish artist Aisling McCarthy. Already an accomplished talent with extensive experience touring across Ireland, the UK and Europe, McCarthy has now focused her attention on creating ‘celestial soundscapes’ that address topics as diverse as ‘femininity, trauma, sexuality and living in emotional urgency’.
Sonically similar to artists like Anna of the North, Lykke Li and Florence and the Machine, Sistir’s music feels dreamy and ethereal, while still maintaining some pop sensibilities.
“Because I express my ideas and feelings through music, it’s difficult for me to describe. I know what I’m saying is somewhat universal. It helps me and maybe it will help someone else feeling something similar.”
Melodic new single ‘bridge’ was inspired by the situations within a relationship when one person gives too much of themselves to the other.
“The bones of this track were written when I was living in Dublin in 2017. I was in a difficult relationship, but the potential I saw in it kept me trying. I dreamed of moving away (which I had never done) and being in a harmonious relationship (also had never done!). I have since met a loving partner and am living in Thailand focusing on writing music.”
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Bay Area singer and songwriter She Is Jules (aka Julianna Pollifrone) addresses the subject of mental health on pop-forward new single, ‘Do Therapists?.’
Lyrically witty and thought-provoking, the track ponders on the levels of trauma that therapists are exposed to, and asks whether they themselves need help occasionally.
“…does my therapist need therapy because of me?”
As an accomplished vocalist and collaborator, Pollifrone’s catalogue of songs have been streamed over 113 million times on Spotify. Pollifrone also currently commands more than 200k monthly listeners on the platform.
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After teasing its release over the last few months, German newcomer Eveline has finally unveiled her debut album, along with another stunning new single.
While at its core, ‘modern disaster’ is an electronic-pop song, its immersive style of production also presents listeners with a cinematic experience. This is a sound that is refreshingly bold, vivid and deeply intense in tone.
“‘modern disaster’ – it’s the world we live in, our mental states and relationships.”
The track is lifted from the album of the same now (out now). Fans in Berlin can catch Eveline at Bar Bobu on the 18th Feb – tickets can be found here.
Rotterdam-based starlet Daimy Lotus returns with an energising slice of punk-pop on her new single, ‘Friends :)’.
An anthemic and punchy number, the song narrates the story of two friends dangerously veering away from the ‘friend zone’.
It’s a situation that many of us have fallen in to, and makes the song’s lyrics relatable in a fun and playful way.
“I wrote this song in London together with Afterparty and Nova May about two years after I f***ed up my friendship with my then best friend. I never fancied him when we first met. We were even dating different people at the time. But we got closer and then we got really drunk one night and we were flirting and then boom. It was the scariest thing ever and I never thought I’d ever sleep with a friend but here we are! No matter the outcome, I feel we should go after what we want and trust our gut feeling more. So, here’s to trusting your gut feeling and f***ing up friendships! Hell yeah!”
Amassing well over 1.4 million career streams on Spotify alone, Daimy has already cemented herself as one of the Netherlands’ most promising new musical exports.
Emerging from the Australian city of Melbourne is singer, songwriter and producer Ceeko.
Emotional new single ‘Muddy Waters’ presents listeners with a perfected blend of indie, alternative R&B and soulful pop, while the lyrics look at themes of conflict.
Having garnered more than 200k catalogue streams to date on Spotify alone, Ceeko is one name to keep on your radars over the coming months.
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Up-and-coming Auckland-based musician Theo Sawyer returns today with a spectacular new pop release, entitled ‘Get Together (Lonely)’.
Lyrically centred around the idea of a ‘situationship’, the song looks at the complications and emotional struggles that arise when two people find a connection, but are too afraid to commit.
“This song is inspired by the complexities that can arise in a ‘situationship’ when feelings/ emotions come into play when two people ‘only ever get together when they’re feeling lonely’. The song also sheds light on how we may resist the development of deepening feelings out of fear that we could get hurt or heartbroken again.”
Since the release of his debut only last summer (with break-up anthem ‘Forget Your Ex’), Sawyer has gone on to mark himself as a promising name to watch from New Zealand, thanks to his deeply personal yet relatable style of songwriting.
It’s safe to say that four-piece outfit Pentire are behind some of the most exciting indie-rock sounds to emerge from the UK right now.
Influenced by the likes of The Killers and Stereophonics, this promising group create energising and anthemic songs that are immediately captivating.
Powerful new single ‘Spinning’ is inspired the mental support that we sometimes seek from the people that are closest to us.
“For us, ‘Spinning’ represents a feeling of being trapped in your own thoughts, looking for a light. Embodied within a romanticism, this single represents looking to a loved one for help during hard times”.
While still early in their career, Pentire have already picked up attention from industry heavyweights as respected as Steve Lamacq and John Kennedy. The group will shortly embark on a UK tour alongside milk. (dates below, tickets here).
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Pentire / milk. UK Tour 2023
