TRACK OF THE WEEK
“‘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.”
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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.”
“This song is about dance music. We wrote this when we thought we were out the other side of the noise. We love our mates; this is for them.”
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For those who are fresh in love, we’ve got a very sweet song to share that you might appreciate.
‘Meant to Be’ is by American newcomer Katherion and delights listeners with a warm, dreamy pop sound that is mellow and nostalgic in character. It’s a beautiful piece of music that simply encapsulates the emotions of falling for someone.
“‘Meant to Be’ is about a blooming romance where uncertainty is as present as euphoria. Love and new beginnings are in the air!”
The track serves as a solid introduction to a very interesting artist, who operates ‘from a belief that the description of a human-to-human relationship can also describe our relationship to the Divine, and vice versa’.
With such a refreshing approach to songwriting, we think Katherion might build up quite the fanbase over the next few years.
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Mightyyout might be a name you’ll get used to hearing a lot soon, and as soon as you press play to ‘Pause’, you’ll understand why.
This rising Nigerian singer and songwriter has already gained the seal of approval from global names like Popcaan and Davido, thanks to his distinctive style of work, which seamlessly blends Afrobeats with dancehall. The sound is instantly uplifting and, as is certainly the case with his new single, instantly memorable.
‘Pause’ is lifted from Mightyyout’s freshly released debut EP, ‘Mighty Yard’ (listen here), which is the final result of a project that saw the artist create more than 500 songs!
“This EP means the world to me. It’s happiness for my friends and family who’ve been listening to these records with me for years. Most importantly, it means freedom. For the longest time, I’ve held these songs hostage, and finally letting them out now means more will follow. My heart is at peace knowing the world will now get to experience the talent God has blessed me with. I knew I had to do something special with this EP, because I know I’m different – in how I make music and how I connect with it. That inspired me to embrace the process, take the struggles in front of me, and turn them into something beautiful. It gave me the freedom to truly express myself and bring my vision to life. It was a long process, but enjoyable, because I had the freedom to truly express myself and bring my vision to life”.
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The heat season might be over (in the UK at least), but we’re still getting some lovely summery releases that make us wish the sun stayed a little longer…
‘reason to stay’ is the charming new single from American artist Justin Hawkins. The song treats us to an alt-pop production that feels warm and sincere, while also maintaining a sense of playfulness in its sound.
“A song full of nostalgic sounds with vocals and lyrics amplifying that feeling.”
While we don’t know much about Hawkins, he’s already building up a solid fanbase online, garnering more than 75k career streams to date. With his unique style of songwriting and relatable lyrics, we think this kid’s momentum will only continue to grow in the coming months!
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“‘Streetcar’ explores the discomfort of admitting what you’re not supposed to want. It explores the nuances of desire, guilt, and emotional honesty in a relationship. It’s about fantasizing about infidelity and the shame that shadows those thoughts. It’s a confession of yearning, of chasing fantasy at the expense of dignity, and wrestling with what that means when you love someone.”
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We’ve got a really exciting talent to share with you today, going by the name of BABY B (aka Sarah Blanchard).
Despite being an already acclaimed songwriter for over a decade (with a nomination nod from the BRITS and over a billion cumulative streams from songs she’s worked on), this Mancunian artist has only just now unveiled their debut solo single, called ‘Because’.
This refreshingly original indie-pop song, inspired by the reckless feelings that love can bring, should resonate with anyone who’s fallen for the wrong person too quickly and intensely.
“It’s a song for anyone who’s ever felt themselves lose control in love, knowing it might not end well but diving in anyway.”
With the release of ‘Because’, we not only get to experience brilliant songwriting from Blanchard but also get to enjoy some fabulous vocals too. A really impressive artist and one who deserves a tonne of recognition.
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“‘Don’t Leave Because I Love You’ is basically a love letter wrapped in self-awareness. It’s about how overwhelming love can be from both perspectives. Like that kind of deep, head-over-heels feeling where you’re so into someone that you can’t help but go big with your gestures, even if you’re scared it might be too much.”
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Fans of Chance Pena and James Blake will most likely enjoy the work of French-Italian newcomer Lord Rospo. This promising artist only recently caught our attention thanks to his beautiful style of indie pop.
Citing Billy Joel as his musical idol, this singer and songwriter creates sonically tender productions that are full of personal and introspective lyrics. Each song is thought through completely and welcomes the listener into both the artist’s heart and mind.
‘Cinnamon’ centres around the theme of reminiscence and serves as a taster to the musician’s freshly released ‘Memories’ EP, which you can stream in full right here.
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TRACK OF THE WEEK
We’re going to be really honest with you… The first few seconds of this song didn’t connect with us at all.
But we also couldn’t stop listening… and well… we found ourselves completely mesmerised by the end, to the point where this is now our Track of the Week.
‘Y&I’ by DeepFaith (aka Byron Spencer and Danial Stricker) is just an utter delight to experience. Its surreal and experimental production, courtesy of Matias Téllez, bounces between genres as diverse as electronica, pop, synth – and even choral – all the while sounding like a cohesive piece of work.
Alongside the release of the song also comes a music video, which was created by DeepFaith’s closest friends, chosen acquaintances and family:
‘It’s community. It’s the world. It’s finding your people even when things feel or are shit in the church of the night.”
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London-based Dutch-Taiwanese newcomer Luvrite is a promising singer and songwriter who caught our attention this week with his beautiful single, ‘On My Own’.
This track presents listeners with a polished R&B sound that goes beyond the genre’s normal sound. The production seamlessly fuses elements of jazz, indie, and Afro-style beats, resulting in a song that is both sleek and highly original in its character.
Lyrically, the song looks at themes of self-reliance and independence and reminds us that even if relationships fall apart, we can rely on our own inner strengths to keep us going. We’re excited to see what this talent releases next!
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Hailing from Sydney’s flourishing alt-rock scene is Junipo, who is rapidly marking his name as one of Australia’s most interesting newcomers.
We were introduced to this artist through his song ‘Explora 95’. This is a refreshingly bold and original sound that is both energising and playful in tone.
It’s an unapologetically bold anthem that not only shows an artist who is sonically brave in his songwriting but also one who understands how to make songs that connect to listeners.
The track is lifted from Junipo’s freshly released ‘Soundspeed’ EP (out now), of which he says:
“This project is built on the DIY spirit and the support of the creative community around me. The songs were made from a place of fun and freedom, away from any pressures of being tied to a release schedule or even a project.”
Junipo has already picked up praise from Aussie tastemaker institutions like rage and triple j, so be sure to keep this talent on your radars.
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“’Good Intentions’ was written about learning to be at peace with making mistakes in my life. Even when everything goes wrong, it can be comforting to remember that trying your best is pretty much all you can ever do.” – Riley, daydreamers
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We honestly can’t remember the last time that we featured talent from Denmark, so we’re really excited to be sharing with you a new artist from the region, who goes by the name of GIMI.
This Copenhagen-based, Danish-Kosovan singer and songwriter has been steadily gaining traction from the release of only a handful of singles so far.
New single ‘Communicate It’ treats listeners to a beautifully introspective piece of dark pop which is sonically experimental but also emotionally charged. Speaking on the track, GIMI explains:
“I wrote this song about this deep rooted need I have for validation. It’s about how we often seek self-worth through the attention of others, turning casual hookups into a search for approval and trying to find your value in someone else’s desire.”
With support from the likes of BBC Introducing, KALTBLUT and The Line of Best Fit, it’s quite clear to us that this talent’s momentum is on the rise.
There’s something refreshingly intriguing about a new outfit that doesn’t (yet) have much of an online presence.
Today’s release of ‘Hold Me’ marks the debut for Virginia-based alt-pop collective Seb. This track is really quite unique and blends elements of electronic music with glitchy pop and indie. The result is a sound that is eccentric and unexpected, yet also raw and vulnerable in tone.
“‘Hold Me’ is our introduction to the world. It’s about fragility, the need for closeness, and the hope that love can free you from yourself.”
Seb cite the likes of James Blake and The 1975 as their inspirations, and if their future releases are as fantastic as ‘Hold Me’, then they might just get their own global fanbase very soon.
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“It’s happy, to me the song has a very good feeling to it, I can’t quite put my finger on what it is exactly but it feels good. The song is about finding your person, and everything that comes with that – the fun, adventure, the safety, creating memories with them by your side.”
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TRACK OF THE WEEK
Fright Years are undoubtedly one of Scotland’s most promising emerging indie-rock outfits. The recent release of their debut EP, ‘Still Life’, brought the Edinburgh-based group to prominence across the indie world, and that momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
New single ‘Wait For Nothing’ is an incredibly powerful song, not only sonically but also lyrically. The track confronts our fears of death and encourages us to embrace life to its fullest, while the production is bold and confident in tone.
“Wait for Nothing is about finding comfort in mortality, It’s a realisation that life is short, and a call to devote yourself to your passion despite fear. Writing the lyrics felt like a personal pep talk: focus on what matters make the changes you need, and pour your energy into the things you love.” – ” Kelly, Fright Years
With praise from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and CLASH already under their belts, we’re very sure that Fright Years will break into the global market very soon.
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imstillFranci is the moniker of rising 22-year-old singer and songwriter Francesca Hojda.
This artist has impressed us with her distinct approach to indie-pop, which feels both raw and powerful while still being easy to listen to and form connections with.
The new single ‘Peace Without a Fight’ is refreshingly simple in its production, yet packs a punch with its lyrics. The track looks at the importance of choosing to embrace a calm life rather than staying in a broken relationship.
Fans can look forward to an upcoming EP from the artist, due for release soon. In the meantime, you can explore more of imstillFranci‘s music here.
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TRACK OF THE WEEK
UK-based outfit Korder has unleashed one of the most impressive releases of the week, and we’re really excited to include it on these pages.
‘end of an eternity,’ mastered by the acclaimed John Webber, is a euphoric piece of music that is not only refreshingly unique sonically but also incredibly moving. The track seamlessly presents listeners with a fusion of genres—from dreamy pop and shoegaze to pure, raw rock.
And it seems like we’re not the only ones who are impressed by Korder—they’ve already been featured by BBC Introducing, showing that they’re ones to watch for in the coming months.
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