“‘‘Never Like The First Time’ is about chasing a sense of relief and purpose that I used to find in turbulent things, places and people. It’s a song reminiscing on the idea of my past self, and the reasons I was always on the hunt for something more intense or destructive. This song is brutally honest and tells some uncomfortable truths but it all stems from a time when I was not feeling seen or heard for who I truly was. I felt defined by a lifestyle I couldn’t escape. Realising at the core of what I was chasing was connection, unity and positive relationships. I just didn’t know what that looked like at the time.”
Ukrainian creative talent Kiogo is a newcomer who, despite releasing only two singles, has already won us over with his very unique work.
‘On My Back’ is a powerful electronic track that immediately captivates. It’s unashamedly bold and confident in its production, mirrored by the lyrics, which inspire us to follow our instincts and act on our ambitions.
“This track is for the moment when you stop wasting time on doubt. You just do it—and that’s it. No extra words.”
Alongside his music project, Kiogo is also behind the creative studio WHVR Group, which allows him to fully showcase his sounds through visuals like his impressive music video. We’re excited to see what this artist comes up with next!
The Awaikened is an interesting project created by Conscious Ventures that weaves sound into the human experience and taps into our emotions and thoughts. This is more than just music – it’s a way for the artist to reach out to his listeners in a more human and organic way.
‘The Still Point’ is a perfect introduction to The Awaikened’s work. Through its simple melody and soft pop production, the song inspires us to embrace stillness:
“‘The Still Point’ explores the delicate balance between chaos and calm — the silent centre within movement, the space between thoughts, where everything and nothing exist together. It’s a song about presence, surrender, and awakening — a reminder that in the stillness, we find ourselves.”
More music will be released this coming Thursday as part of Theo Johnson’s BBC Introducing. In the meantime, you can explore more of The Awaikened over on Spotify.
This weekend’s alt-pop banger comes courtesy of Sweden-based newcomer OK Alva and her brilliant new single, ‘Yet’.
Starting minimal, the production evolves with intensity to mirror the song’s heart-wrenching lyrics that tell of the moments when we struggle with emotional closure. It’s never easy to let go of someone you love, and this track perfectly encapsulates those emotions.
“‘Yet’ is about leaving everything unsaid, hoping that means it isn’t really over. Trying to move on with one foot in the door seems easier but us humans were never made like that, we need closure. This song almost wrote itself during a time when I was experiencing a situation like that. Kind of proves my point, trying to not think of something, someone, ultimately leads to thinking about them even more.”
We still don’t know much about this promising artist, but if their upcoming releases are as finessed as ‘Yet’, then we’ll have a new Scandi favourite to fall in love with!
Longing Louisa is a new musical project created by Finnish artist Reetta Hotti. ‘Hatchet’ only came across our radars a few days ago, but we were instantly captivated by its ethereal tones. It delivers an indie production that is intriguing and distinctive, yet easy to listen to. On the song, Hotti says:
“The production is quite fun and light, but actually the lyrics are far from fun. There’s a big contrast between the two, and for me that’s ‘The Thing’ with this song. Even though the title is Hatchet, the song serves also as an apology. Especially the end part breaks my heart a bit every time I listen to it.”
The track is taken from Hotti’s new ‘Waterphile’ EP, which is out today. The collection of songs was created by the musician as an ‘ode to water’ and, as you’d expect, is full of organic, soft sounds that draw you into a soundscape that reminds you of nature.
“I’ve always been prone to the feeling of longing. I think I’ve spent most of my life living someplace else than the present. I’ve longed for the past, the future or an alternative reality. It’s probably a way to escape anything uneasy happening in real life. Melancholic feeling, or the Japanese idiom ‘mono no aware’ to be more precise, is what Longing Louisa is about. The music has all the shades of blue, there’s fog, blurriness, some city lights, hollow and dull-like sounds, but also slowly growing intensity, small changes that every now and then lead to a massive gathering of clouds.”
There’s a really exciting newcomer emerging from France going by the name of Soane, and we can’t wait to share her work with you.
Sultry new single ‘Fountains’ treats listeners to a perfected R&B sound that is crafted meticulously. The production feels classic and luxurious, while Soane’s soulful vocals draw you into her innermost thoughts.
“Can you feel the rush, keeping you awake, longing for my touch, addicted to the taste.”
The song highlights the sheer talent that this French and Moroccan musician has to show, and we can’t wait to see how her career evolves over the next twelve months.
woody is one of those artists who is steadily making a name for himself as one of the UK’s most promising indie-pop newcomers.
New single ‘over n’ out’ has been on repeat all evening here, and the more we listen, the more we love. The track is sincere and vulnerable in tone and serves as a perfect introduction to new listeners.
The song is lifted from Woody’s debut collection of songs, ‘highs, lows & stargazing’, which is out now. With backing from Warner Music, it feels almost certain that this talent’s momentum will grow immensely over the next twelve months… and it’s so well deserved!
Emerging from Australia is the incredibly talented musician Aubany, who has mesmerised us today with the release of her intimate new single, ‘Waterworks’.
This song is just so effortlessly beautiful. Minimal in structure, the production allows for the artist to truly express herself with her haunting yet hypnotic vocals. Despite being a pop song, it feels unique and timeless in style.
To date, Aubany has only released four singles. With such a distinctive style of songwriting, it seems likely that this artist will start to garner a tonne of fans across the world very quickly.
We only came across American newcomer Cassidy Johnson yesterday, but we’re already in love. This promising starlet has just released her first solo single, titled ‘The Song I Promised’, and it’s gorgeous.
The track presents Johnson’s smooth, velvety vocals over a polished soul production. Sonically, it’s a melodic slice of musical bliss, contrasting nicely with the lyrics, which focus on themes of betrayal and self-realisation.
Despite being a new name, we really have high hopes for Johnson – it’s rare to find a young soul musician with so much emotional depth. One to watch!
One of the most exciting discoveries of the week has been Nashville’s Mel Denisse, whose extraordinary work really caught our attention.
This artist is creating some of the most original shoegaze and indie-rock productions to come out of the US right now, and her new single ‘going nowhere’ shows that. The track invites listeners into a soundscape that feels pensive and melancholic but also gritty and raw.
“Inspired by the fantasy book, The Serpent & the Wings of Night. With themes of survival via invisibility, split loyalties, recurring grief, and forward motion without belonging.”
Mel’s work has already picked up praise from outlets like BBC Radio 1, EARMILK and LADYGUNN. We’re obsessed, and we honestly can’t wait to hear more from this hugely promising talent.
We came across British newcomers Kissmet only a few days ago when we managed to get an early listen of their music. Today sees the trio debuting with their first single, ‘Darling Don’t You Know Me’.
It’s almost impossible not to find some enjoyment with the track. This is pop in its purest form – a catchy melody, relatable lyrics, smooth vocals, and a well-crafted production. The simplicity of its sound means that anyone, from any generation, could feel a connection with the song.
“A song about keeping a relationship real and comfortable – accepting imperfection.”
Despite being a new act, this outfit seems to already understand what it takes to make good pop – so it’s likely you’ll see their momentum grow over the next few months!
We have a sensational outfit to share with you today, all the way from America, going by the name of Found Space.
The musical project of Spen Oliver and Lillian Christopher, this duo create beautiful indie productions that are sonically textured, immersive, and utterly mesmerising.
‘nostalgia’ carries with it an essence of the 90s and features elements of trip hop, dreamy pop, shoegaze, and electronica. It’s a combination of genres that are almost impossible to perfect together, and yet Found Space do it with an effortless ease.
“We’re striving for the future the world never had. It’s easy to feel let down by the hollowness of modern life, and like the adulthood we expected as kids has disappeared. We just want to put down our phones and go back to how things were, maybe make people feel something.“
An upcoming EP, titled ‘cloud study’, is on the way. In the meantime, you can check out more of the duo’s songs here.
We’re ending the week with an epic pop-rock banger, courtesy of Tizane’s and their fantastic new single, ‘Change For You’.
This track reminds us of classic Paramore, with its anthemic melody, confident production, and captivating vocals. Elaborating on the song’s meaning, the band says:
“Where self doubt turned into anger, and then into clarity. We’ve all been there, losing ourselves to please someone else. It’s about realising that the problem was never really me, and that I’d rather be alone and honest than loved for being someone I’m not.”
While still relative newcomers, this rising London-based trio have already garnered praise from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2, Kerrang! Radio, and LA Weekly.
We’ve got a lot of space for artists that address mental health in their songs. Now more than ever, the world seems unpredictable and overwhelming, and sometimes we all need reassurance that things can get better.
Newcomer Lila Holler is one such artist who has just released a heartfelt song that feels like a warm hug for anyone who needs comfort right now. ‘The Way I Am Now’ was written at a time when Holler was facing her own struggles, as she explains:
“I wrote this song while in the midst of dealing with some mental health issues last year. Being in a serious relationship, I had to learn how to balance taking care of myself and showing up with my 50%. It’s a song laced with insecurities, written in the hopes that people who deal with the same struggles feel less alone.”
While still a new name, Holler has already impressed us with her work. And we’re not the only ones – as someone who was selected to attend the prestigious Grammy Foundation Grammy Camp, it’s clear that her music resonates across the industry.
Who is Noah Zayden? Good question—we’re not quite sure of ourselves. As much as we’ve scoped the blogosphere to try and learn more about this artist, we just couldn’t seem to find a backstory. And somehow, that makes Zayden even more interesting.
We came across this musician last week and were taken aback by the charming simplicity of his sultry new alt-R&B single ‘No Sale La Luna’. The production is stripped back, allowing for Zayden’s vocals to come through. And while the lyrics aren’t sung in English, the emotion is very much present.
From what we gather through his listeners on Spotify, Zayden seems to gain most traction in Argentina. You can stream more of his songs right here.
Hailing from Dallas in Texas are Tela Bella, an indie-electronica duo who recently caught our attention with ‘Iridescent Light’.
Serving as a taster to the outfit’s self-produced ‘Echo City’ album (listen here), this song presents listeners with a breakbeat sound that somehow feels both melancholic and also playful at the same time. The production is thoughtfully considered and keeps you hooked from start to finish.
“This is the last song we wrote for our album ‘Echo City’. We felt the record needed a more energetic moment, and this song is the result of that. It’s about going on a walk through the city in search of a distraction while dealing with grief.”
While we don’t yet know much about Tela Bella, we’re quite confident that these two highly talented musicians will continue to grow in momentum, so be sure to keep them on your radars!
“‘Nostalgia’ came so out of the blue for me, I was back home in Ireland playing FIFA with my little brother when it hit…I really wanted to embrace the drama, how hard I find it to move on from someone, & I love how fluid the whole process was. I wrote it over that weekend, and we had it mixed & mastered by Friday. We really wanted to keep as much as we could from the original demo, because the feeling was just so fresh.”
One of the most impressive newcomers to come across our radars from Scandinavia recently has been Lemi.
Signed to the powerhouse that is Made (who are already well known for their work with AURORA and Sigrid), this artist creates bold, punchy pop songs that are not shy of delivering drama, as is the case with her new single, ‘Get Him Gone’.
The track was created alongside Whammyboy and Robert Gillies and encapsulates the rawness that comes with being a teenager trying to cope with love’s trials and tribulations. Speaking on the track, Lemi explains:
“I wrote it for me, but even more for everyone else who can relate. It’s not about what I’ve been through, but about something so many people experience. I get really angry, and then I have to write about it.”
