New Music: Puma June

Hailing from Toronto is emerging artist Puma June. As a self-taught singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, June creates intricate and elegant pieces of pop that are not only sonically mesmerising, but lyrically powerful.

Written as a dedication to self love, empowering new single ‘Holy’ treats listeners to a luxurious sound that its utterly captivating to experience.

“This song is an anthem to women, non-binary people, and all people in their search for self love.”

With support from the likes of Exclaim Magazine already under her belt, Puma June is one Canadian talent to watch for.

Puma June

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Elskavon – Blossom and the Void

Photo / Justin Blair

Minneapolis artist Elskavon (aka Chris Bartels) continues to showcase his musical versatility, with the release of a stunning new single called ‘Blossom and the Void’.

Cinematic and emotive in tone, the song is lifted from forthcoming album ‘Origins’ (out 17th Feb), and invites listeners to delve into an ethereal soundscape that is impressively rich in sonic textures.

With more than 240k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, Elskavon has grown to become one of Minnesota’s most hyped new talents in recent years. ‘Origins’ is released via Western Vinyl and is available to pre-order here.

Elskavon

ill peach – HOLD ON

Acclaimed Californian outfit ill peach start the year with a powerful piece of dark pop through new single ‘HOLD ON’.

The song was written for the new season of hit Netflix show ‘Ginny And Georgia’, and can be heard over the third episode’s most dramatic storyline.

No strangers to the Alfitude pages, ill peach continue to showcase themselves as one the most eclectic and versatile indie acts to have emerged from LA in recent years.

ill peach

New Music: BINA.

Track of the week. As one of London’s most hyped neo-soul newcomers, BINA.’s momentum has built steadily over the past year.

‘Blackjack’ presents listeners with a beautifully textured production that sets the scene for BINA.’s dreamy and captivating vocals to glide over a mesmerising melody.

To date, this starlet has amassed close to a million cumulative streams on Spotify alone, while also garnering praise from tastemakers as prominent as Notion Magazine.

BINA.

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Tobias Dray – Maya

It’s barely been a week, but French producer, composer, recording artist and DJ Tobias Dray has managed to pull off one of the first viral hits of the year.

Inspired by a random online encounter from two years ago, ‘Maya’ is probably one of the most charming songs you’ll ever come across.

Beautifully simple in tone, the track encapsulates the story of two people meeting on the web and building a connection together – along with all the thoughts and feelings that come with it.

 “Maya, I hope I’ll never meet ya” 

Fans who have been following the story may be pleased to know that Dray and Maya will finally meet in real life to create an upcoming video for the song.

Tobias Dray

Private Mountain – Moment to Moment

Hailing from the suburbs of Melbourne are Australian indie outfit Private Mountain.

Initially formed in 2017, this collective of musicians have spent the years evolving their sound through constant experimentation with production techniques and songwriting styles.

‘Moment to Moment’ is taken from the group’s new EP, ‘Optimism Cult’ (out now). The song feels beautifully simple yet emotive in tone, and treats listeners to a new style of rock that is refreshingly original.

Private Mountain

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Johnny Martian – Addict

Rising Californian artist Johnny Martian returns with a melodic blend of indie and bedroom-pop on new single ‘Addict’.

The track finds the LA-based singer, songwriter, mixer and producer delivering a lo-fi and stripped-back sound that feels mellow and emotive in equal measures.

“I wrote this song recently and I’m happy to put it out in the world. I hope you all enjoy!”

Since the release of his debut single ‘Foolish’ in 2019, Johnny Martian has gone on to accumulate more than a million streams from only a handful of singles.

Johnny Martian

New Music: Abby Lokelani

One of the most exciting newcomers to have emerged this week has been Hawaii-born singer, songwriter, pianist and cellist Abby Lokelani.

While still only 19-years of age, this promising talent is already crafting beautifully melodic fusions of indie and pop.

Written as an anthem for the heartbroken, melancholic new single ‘From the Grave’ is not only powerfully emotive but also intensely relatable.

“This song is meant to be sung at the top of your lungs, while screaming, crying or dancing, and thinking about someone who broke your heart.”

Abby Lokelani

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Eveline – harder

German artist Eveline starts the year with an epic release that is sure to garner this promising musician a whole new legion of fans.

Lifted from the forthcoming debut album ‘Modern Disaster’ (out next month), cinematic new single ‘harder’ is an intense and gripping sound that blends elements of electronica with dark pop.

“When I was a kid I daydreamed myself into stories of books and movies – now I try to create my music just like that.”

As a multi-talented creative who is not only a singer but also a songwriter, performer and producer, Eveline looks set to become one of Germany’s most interesting newcomers.

Eveline

New Music: Malou Madi

Paris-born starlet Malou Madi is a singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist currently based in Brooklyn.

New single ‘What We Don’t Say’ is taken from Madi’s freshly-released EP of the same name (out now), and treats listeners to a finessed fusion of mellow soul and alternative R&B. Explaining the story behind the track, Madi elaborates:

“I wrote this after a long late night conversation with someone who seemed unable to say what seemed to so evidently emanate from her. It felt as if she was not yet ready to hear the words come out of her mouth. I was questioned by her impossible wall, and I wrote this both wanting to say it’s ok not to say what we’re not ready to say, but also to express my deep commitment to being a safe, judgment-free space for people to say what they truly think or feel. We’re all complicated beings, and I’m always drawn to writing about the cracks, the unsure, the ambiguity of our ever-moving minds.”

Already an accomplished musician, Madi has worked alongside the likes of Kadhja Bonet, Emel Mathlouthi and Emily King.

Fans can look forward to a recorded live rendition of ‘What We Don’t Say’, which will be released soon.

Malou Madi

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Daimy Lotus – 1st Class D-Bag

One of our favourite rising Dutch artists returns today with a sensational new release.

Daimy Lotus always delivers premium sounds, and today’s unveiling of ‘1st Class D-Bag’ serves as an anthemic slice of punchy pop that reminds us all just why this talent is one to keep on your radars.

The lyrical inspiration behind the song comes from the encounters that we sometimes experience from toxic and narcissistic egoists, as Daimy explains:

“I think we all met someone in our lives who pretends to care, or even claims to care, in your face but actually they are solely concerned with their own being. Always taking advantage over the backs of other people and not taking any responsibility or even caring about those people’s emotions. A true 1st class d-bag.”

Daimy Lotus

FLO become the first ever group to win BBC’s Sound of 2023

In what could be the least surprising piece of music news today, UK supergroup FLO have been announced as winners of BBC’s Sound of 2023.

Through all the years that we’ve run Alfitude, we’ve hardly ever seen a new outfit pick up as much momentum as these ladies have in such a short space of time. Speaking on their win, they say:

“Wow, we did it! To win this accolade not even a year after we released our debut single Cardboard Box is wild. We feel so connected to our British music roots winning the BBC Sound Of and admire the artists who have come before us, especially our gal Pinkpantheress winning last year! Thank you to everyone who voted for us and put girl groups back on the map. To be recognised for our music and people to believe in our vision inspires us to go further this year! 2023 we’re ready!”

With more than 100 million global streams to date, FLO have already established themselves as the UK’s biggest new girl group.

BBC Sound of 2023 Top 5

  • 1st – FLO (featured April 2022)
  • 2nd – Fred Again (featured June 2020)
  • 3rd – Nia Archives (featured Nov 2022)
  • 4th – Cat Burns (featured November 2018)
  • 5th – Gabriels

FLO

New Music: Amaroun

Hailing from London is emerging multi-talented creative Amaroun. An acclaimed singer, songwriter and producer, this rising artist creates sounds that seamlessly fuse a multitude of genres together.

Amaroun’s cinematic reworking of The SOS Bands’ iconic ‘Just Be Good To Me’ is one of the most impressive releases we’ve heard so far in 2023.

Elaborating on the reason for choosing this song in particular, Amaroun explains:

“This song is like a balm for all the ills of the year gone by and a cleanse bringing in hopefulness in time for the year ahead of us.”

With support from industry heavyweights as noted as CLASH and Wonderland magazines already under her belt, Amaroun is one UK talent to keep on your radars this year.

Amaroun

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Riley Lynch + Ron Geffen- When My Breathing Slows

If you’re already suffering from those ‘back to work blues’, then ‘When My Breathing Slows’ is the midweek anthem for you.

Created by Riley Lynch and Ron Geffen, the song inspires us to acknowledge life’s hardships, and reminds us of the growth we can achieve from facing our challenges.

“I think we’re all exhausted having to pretend that we’re okay all the time. This song is an ode to being a mess and feeling those bad things in order to grow through it.” – Riley Lynch

As two of America’s most promising alternative prospects, both Lynch and Geffen look set to take on their biggest year yet.

Riley Lynch | Ron Geffen

meija – How You Like

Indie-pop darling meija (aka Jamie Sierota) has consistently served us with supreme cuts of music since his debut back in 2019.

Now garnering more than 200k monthly listeners on Spotify (as well as accumulating well over 15 million career streams to date), this LA-based singer, songwriter and producer continues to impress with his new single, ‘How You Like’.

Inspired by the ways in which modern-day culture deals with intimacy, the song’s refreshingly honest lyricism strikes a relatable chord with most of us!

“It is a song about intimacy and how our culture talks (or doesn’t!) about it. Nobody sees you at your worst quite like the clerk who works at the store down the street. You run out, last minute, barely dressed, to go make some embarrassing purchase. I mean, what’s more intimate than that? They might even know more about you than your closest friend.”

meija

New Music: Ona Tzar

As a truly versatile creative, Ona Tzar is an independent artist, singer, producer and visual & kinaesthetic creative director based between London and Berlin.

Cinematic and immersive in tone, new single ‘Chains Of Angels’ feels future-forward, avant-garde and intriguing.

The song has captivated audiences so much so that it has recently been announced as ‘Best Original Score’ at Berlin’s Wall Film Fest.

To accompany the song, Tzar has also unveiled some stunning and surreal visuals today, which were written, produced, directed and edited by Ona herself.

Ona Tzar

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Caroline Loveglow – Patience Etc…

Track of the week. A masterclass in dream-pop, Caroline Loveglow’s self-produced ‘Patience Etc…’ is just about the most beautiful piece of music to start the week with.

Lifted from her much acclaimed ‘Strawberry’ LP (out now), the song feels reminiscent of late 90’s and early 00’s trip hop and mellow electronica.

Melodic, emotive and sincere in tone, the track showcases Loveglow’s unique and expressive style of songwriting.

Loveglow has already found her music featured on iconic outlets as noted as i-D, Fader, BBC Radio 6, Pitchfork and Ones To Watch. If there’s one alternative artist to keep on your radars in 2023, it’s Caroline Loveglow.

Caroline Loveglow

Watch: Pritt – You Mine//Home

South London starlet Pritt unveils visuals for her latest single, entitled ‘You Mine//Home’.

With its sultry and finessed blend of alternative R&B and dark pop, the song continues to solidify Pritt as one of the most versatile and promising talents to emerge from the UK in recent times.

To date, Pritt has picked up praise from the likes of GQ India, Earmilk, CLASH and Trench magazines. Fans can catch Pritt’s radio series on BBC Asian Network, which can be heard here.

Pritt

Bad Flamingo – Devil and the Deep Blue

Mysterious outfit Bad Flamingo have acquired a loyal fanbase over the years with their unique style of sound.

‘Devil and the Deep Blue’ showcases the duo’s work perfectly through it’s balanced elements of indie, dark pop and alternative country.

Not much is known on who Bad Flamingo actually are; the masks are an intentional aspect of the band’s work.

“We are two nobodies from nowhere particular who don’t do anything for any good reason. Singing folk that face the door when they sit and lean when they stand. Wandering from place that has gotten too hot to far desert place that will get too hot.”

But it all makes sense when you realise that their motto is this simple, but powerful quote from the great Oscar Wilde:

“Give a man a mask and he will tell you the truth.”

Bad Flamingo

It’s been quite the year…

The last twelve months have been (for us, anyway) some of the weirdest and most unexpected that we have come across in a while.

Sometimes good, sometimes bad… but life goes on and another year draws to a close. However you choose to spend your New Year’s Eve, make sure it’s a good one.

See you in 2023!

Lila Drew