Hailing from Canada is singer, songwriter, composer and producer Jackson D. Begley.
Through his intelligent merging of genres as diverse as 60’s beat, indie, pop, synth and garage-rock, Begley crafts songs that feel original and fresh, while also maintaining an essence of nostalgia.
Songs like ‘The Universe Hates Me’ showcase Begley’s artistry perfectly. Listeners can experience a sound that is sonically bold and confident, while the lyrics feel raw and personal in tone.
If Isaiah Grass looks and sounds familiar, that’s because you may have already seen this rising singer and songwriter from his recent appearance on American Idol.
Aside from his performances on primetime television, Grass has come to be known as an accomplished musician who writes all his lyrics – resulting in catchy pop sounds that carry with them personal and honest messages.
Now garnering more than 250k followers globally, Grass looks set to continue building momentum with the release of more new music this year.
Multi-talented creative Carmel Paradise is not only a singer and songwriter, but also an artist, model and author.
After spending the majority of her childhood in Slovakia, Carmel and her family decided to move across the Atlantic, before settling in Nashville so that Paradise could develop her creativity.
Since the unveiling of her debut back in 2016 with‘Turn Me On’(a song which has accumulated almost half a million streams on Spotify alone), Carmel has gone on to work on various projects that span experimental music, poetry and story-writing.
Oklahoma’s MORE&MORE might be the hardest-working newcomers that we have come across lately.
Since their debut just last May, this emerging five-piece outfit have already released two well-received EPs (both of which can be heard here).
Inspired by nights out at the St. Vitus club in Tulsa, infectious new single ‘SUPERSONIC’ serves as a masterclass in alternative pop, and treats listeners to a sound that is as charming as it is energising.
“This song has been in-the-works for almost 3 years. It’s started slow+moody and it’s seen ~10 versions since the first demo. Good things take time I guess. It feels really good to be landing here, the way it is. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we released a couple different versions of this song.”
Hailing from Los Angeles, rising artist JIMMY is a musician and producer who is currently crafting some of the most interesting pieces of hip hop to emerge from California.
With a seal of approval from Anthony Fantano himself, new single ‘*UNCULTURED’ is lifted from JIMMY’S ‘*GHETTOLAND’ project (out now), and marks this promising talent as one of America’s most future-forward newcomers to keep on your radars.
Fans should also check out JIMMY’S YouTube channel, which features a series of engaging videos that explain the artist’s work in detail.
We are kick-staring the day with one of the most exciting newcomers to have emerged this winter.
Already an accomplished producer, Danish-born Morten Lava has worked alongside artists as notable as JAE5, Skepta, Rema and Headie One.
Aside from his accomplished work behind the scenes, Morten is also a rising artist in his own right, and today’s unveiling of bouncy heartbreak-anthem ‘Fake It’ looks set to propel the London-based talent further into the spotlight.
“‘Fake It’ explores the late night melancholia of a past relationship, as Morten, originally from rural Denmark, deals with heartbreak in the big city.”
While accumulating more than 150k career streams to date, Morten has also played iconic London spaces like Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Abbey Road Studios and even sold out his own headline show at Islington’s Academy2.
Track of the week. With more than three million cumulative Spotify streams already under his belt, 22-year old singer and songwriter Bertie Newman might be the biggest artist you may not have heard of… yet.
‘I Will’ is a beautifully sincere and emotive piece of melodic indie-pop that was inspired by change, and the fleeting nature of feelings.
“‘I Will’ explores the shift of my past pre conceptions and associations with particular objects, places and people to how I feel now. I wanted to show the change in my mental state by making an ultimately happy and hopeful song, sound somber, just as I once felt.”
To date, this rising Hackney-born talent has received support from BBC Introducing, while also landing placements on playlists as noted as Apple Music’s Acoustic Chill and New in Singer-Songwriter.
An artist already on the rise in Sweden, Edgar Homeros looks set to take on the rest of the continent by storm in 2023.
Following on from the release of his debut song ‘Centerfolds’ last year (which became an instant hit, amassing well over 80k streams on Spotify alone), Homeros returns with new single ‘Heartless‘.
Through its gorgeously emotive fusion of indie and electronic pop, the song presents listeners with a sound that feels both melancholic and energising in equal measures.
“When I released “Centerfolds” several people told me that it felt like a song for autumn, which was great to hear. In the same way I think ‘Heartless’ fits perfectly now after new years, where you have one foot still in the darkness of winter, but we still move towards brighter times.“
“Even though it’s more upbeat and dynamic in comparison to ‘Centerfolds’ it keeps the same theme, and it’s one of my favourite tracks from the EP.”
With such a strong start to the year, Homeros is one Scandinavian artist to keep on your radars.
Showcasing some of Calgary’s most interesting new alt-pop sounds is independent singer, musician and producer Malcolm.
New single ‘Closure’ presents listeners with a charmingly playful indie production, while the sad lyricism makes for a refreshingly interesting juxtaposition.
Fans of the song will be delighted to know that an upcoming EP, entitled ‘I Think I’m okay‘ is due for release soon.
With more than half a million career streams to date, Malcolm. might well be one of Canada’s most exciting newcomers to emerge this year.
Denmark’s burgeoning indie scene continues to surprise and impress with today’s introduction of alt-rock duo No Project One.
As school friends on the island of Bornholm, Jesper Møller and Jakob Hjarsø would skip classes to work on their music.
Fast forward to 2023, and the two 23-year old musicians have just unveiled their anthemic debut single, ‘Connected’.
Bold, intense, epic and cinematic in character, the song serves as an impressive taster to the duo’s work. Explaining the track’s story, they elaborate:
“In a magical and somewhat coincidental way, ‘Connected’ ended up being the first No Project One-song. Its sound instantly hit this pure feeling in both of us – something that is both raw and powerful and an atmosphere you can step into. The lyrics sum up a theme of human connection and feeling comfortable in what you do, where you are and with whom. A moment where nothing else really matters.”
It’s rare to find a new outfit unleash their sound in such a confident and self-assured way. Be sure to keep these kids on your radars – they might be one of Denmark’s most interesting bands this year.
“To us, No Project One means that you rarely succeed in what you do the first time around – that everything must be tried and explored. This project reflects our abilities, curiosity and ideas that narratively tells the story of where we are and the fact, that this band is No Project One.”
Stockholm-based Australian indie-folk artist Hazlett has just unveiled his debut album, entitled ‘Bloom Mountain’ (out now).
Amongst the beautifully intimate collection of songs is new single ‘Hesitate’, which features the vocals of rising Austrian starlet OSKA.
“I wanted to write this album differently. The songs are conversations being retold by a friend of a friend. Anytime you pass another person’s story on, you embellish certain moments because those are the moments worth retelling. Certain details get a little hazy, and some are vivid as if they happened yesterday.”
With praise from the likes of NME, Clash, Atwood and The Line of Best Fit, Hazlett has not only won over the minds of critics, but also the hearts of listeners – of whom he commands more than a million every month on Spotify alone.
LA-based singer, songwriter and producer YOUR ANGEL (aka Maddy Boyd) unveils a perfected slice of blissful electronic pop on her new single, ‘Misbehave’.
Lyrically, the track was inspired by the euphoric feelings of adrenaline that come with being so deeply in love, as Boyd explains:
“I wrote ‘Misbehave’ when I met my now boyfriend of two years. It’s about wanting to throw all of my boundaries out of the window and move super fast with him because I felt like I had known him for my whole life.”
While fans wait for more new music from YOUR ANGEL, be sure to check out debut album ‘Pipe Dream’, which can be heard here.
Representing some of the finest indie-pop to emerge from Pittsburgh is promising duo Sad Girls Aquatics Club.
Consisting of college friends Marie Mashyna and Chelsea Rumbaugh, the group initially formed under the name of Side Eye in 2016, before changing to Sad Girls Aquatics Club in later years.
Inspired by 90’s alt icons like The Breeders, Veruca Salt and Hole, new single ‘Who’s Your Witness’ perfectly balances elements of dark indie pop with garage rock, resulting in a sonic aesthetic that feels nostalgic and grungy, while still maintaining a current edge.
“It’s a tongue in cheek send off to that frustrating situation of person that you can’t wait to never see again. All the tings you wish you were brave enough to say, with the most perfect nostalgic 90s grungy guitar as a backdrop.”
There was a special moment in music around the time of the millennium, when talents like N.E.R.D and Kelis introduced the mainstream to new styles of R&B that were not only bold, but also groundbreaking.
‘Round & Round’ is a collaboration between Swiss producer and artist Audio Dope and Berlin-based Noah Slee, and serves as somewhat of a homage to the period – even featuring an iconic line from Kelis’s infamous hit, ‘Caught Out There’.
“It’s a dream come true to release a track with Noah Slee. He is an amazing artist. I’m very proud of the result – ‘Round & Round’ is the kind of song that will heat up any room.” – Audio Dope
With eleven works released and more than 50 million catalogue streams under his name, Audio Dope has firmly marked his name as one of Switzerland’s most exciting musical exports in recent years.
For those of you unfamiliar with this starlet, Estella Dawn is a rising singer and songwriter who is rapidly gaining traction thanks to her powerful vocals, intelligent lyricism and finessed pop productions.
Freshly released today, new single ‘Not A Problem’ is a statement song that bravely exposes Dawn’s inner thoughts and emotions in a raw and expressive way. Passionate as it is vulnerable, this is a piece of music that is impactful and captivating to experience.
With praise form the likes of A&R Factory, Rock Era and Unheard Gems, as well as a catalogue amassing over a million streams to date, Estella Dawn looks set to take on her biggest year yet.
Today marks the return of acclaimed UK-based pop outfit Gold Spectacles.
‘How To Make A Million’ was written, recorded and produced in its entirety by the duo themselves, and addresses feelings of loss and grief in a beautifully sensitive and emotive way.
“On the first sunny day of spring in 2017, my dad woke up early, got on his motorbike and headed for the coast. He didn’t come home. Nothing can prepare you for the loss of a parent. The hollowness, the emptiness, the unfinished conversations, the unexpected guilt. In my situation, it was very sudden – the news of the accident didn’t seem real. I still have a hard time believing he is really gone. I keep expecting him to turn up. Time is the only thing that can separate you from the emotion but when you stop and think about it, it’s still as raw as ever. This is definitely the hardest song we’ve written.”
The track is lifted from the group’s forthcoming EP, which is scheduled for release this May.
To date, Gold Spectacles have received support from heavyweight tastemakers as noted as BBC 6 Music, KCRW, Indie Shuffle and The Line of Best Fit.
Emerging US-based artist and influencer vara unveils visuals for dark-pop anthem ‘paranoia’.
Addressing topics like depression and our inner battles with mental health, the song’s honest lyricism is likely to feel relatable and relevant to many listeners.
With more than 350k streams since its release last November, ‘paranoia’ has grown to become vara’s biggest hit yet. Be sure to keep this rising artist on your radars over the next twelve months!
Surinamese-Dutch folk pop artist néomí has been steadily building momentum since the release of last year’s debut EP, ‘before’.
The singer-songwriter returns today with the announcement of a follow-up record, entitled ‘After’ (out 14th April), alongside the release of sublime new single ‘skipping stone’.
“I remember myself writing this with my dear friend Jesse Koch, while I had just fallen in love with someone. That someone was going through a difficult time, and in those moments of our relationship I felt like a skipping stone: picked up and thrown over the water, as if I was nothing to him. When I was younger my Dad and I would go down to the river in France to find those flat stones and he would try to teach me how to skip them over the water. I always got frustrated doing it and it’s the image that came to my mind when writing this song.”
“I felt so insecure, not about me or my lover individually but the love we had. I couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t allow me to let me in. It felt unfair because I was letting him in, and he just threw me away, like I was his skipping stone to sink somewhere in the lake.”
To date, néomí has garnered praise from the likes of CLASH, The Independent, Under The Radar and Ones To Watch. She headlines Amsterdam’s iconic Paradiso on the 7th May – tickets can be found here.
Australian starlet Romanie is back today with a beautifully personal piece of indie-pop on new single ‘Anthony’.
Inspired by Anthony Hopkins’ ‘The Father’, as well as Romanie’s own family experiences, the song’s lyrics focus on the issue of dementia with thoughtfulness and care.
“I remember coming home from the cinema late at night and getting this wave of inspiration. I sat down with my guitar and wrote the song almost completely in one go. We were still in and out of lockdowns and I was chatting on Zoom with my friends from overseas Michiel and Kate who encouraged me to finish the song. The first band rehearsal back, we played Anthony through and it felt like magic to make this song into something bigger with my band, so much fun.”
The track continues to showcase this rising Melbourne-based artist’s extraordinary work, which has already received praise from outlets as notable as Rolling Stone Australia, MILKY and AU Review.
Any signs of midweek blues will likely be banished upon pressing play to Shalom’s new single, ‘Happenstance’.
“We invite you to watch the video for ‘Happenstance’ with us, and with anyone in your chosen family you want to share a dance, a smile, a hug, any warmth with.”
Lifted from the Brooklyn-based artist’s forthcoming ‘Sublimation’ debut LP (out 10th March, pre-order here), the song showcases some of the finest indie-rock to emerge from New York in recent months.
A recent signee to iconic indie label Saddle Creek, Shalom looks set to take on her biggest year to date – so be sure to keep this rising artist on your radars!
