Irish-born and Brighton-based artist Franklin Mansion is one of the most interesting newcomers to come across our radars this spring.
The exciting prospect has a distinct approach with the way he creates his songs. The tracks are brave and experimental, yet still maintain an emotive essence which allows them to feel relatable.
“‘You Were Never Really Here (Chloroform)’ is about that blurry place where a relationship ends emotionally before it ends physically. It’s the fourth version of this track. I kept re-recording it until it felt honest. Everything you hear was recorded in my bedroom in Brighton.”
While there’s still not much out there about Franklin Mansion, we think that it’ll only be a matter of time before he starts building momentum. A debut album titled ‘Speak with Your Limbs’ is on the way, so be sure to follow this artist on the socials!
Miranda Faul has to be one of the most interesting artists emerging from Ireland right now.
This hugely promising talent is already winning fans globally, thanks to her distinctive approach to music-making, which blends genres as diverse as folk, R&B and pop into cohesive sounds that are not only sonically captivating but also lyrically moving. Speaking on her new single, ‘Holding Me Back’, Faul says:
“‘Holding Me Back’ is a song about overwhelming, suffocating love. It’s about meaning too much to someone, to the point that you can’t give them what they expect of you. They’re also blurring your mind, so you can’t see the situation clearly. You know that they’re hurting you, but you can’t break free; you can’t unwind yourself from them.”
Faul has garnered praise from outlets as noted as BBC Introducing, Hot Press Magazine, and RTE 2FM. Listeners can enjoy the artist’s critically acclaimed debut EP, ‘Rise & Run’, here, or catch a live performance in Amsterdam on the 17th of May.
Kingston-born and Toronto-based artist CLENNON is a very, very exciting newcomer. His debut single, ‘No Pain’, dropped today, and it’s really quite something to behold.
Bold, unique and avant-garde in style, this track takes mysterious vocals and hard-hitting lyrics (inspired by queer love) and infuses them into a dark-pop production that features elements of electronica and dancehall.
“I wanted to write a song that was equal parts Jamaican and equal parts CLENNON. I sometimes feel that I have to compartmentalise who I am as a person because it’s not always safe to be me everywhere I go. This song represents the merger of the most important parts of who I am and does so in a way that is unapologetic and reaffirming.”
This is the type of artist we love discovering – someone who’s unafraid to push boundaries while still crafting sounds that feel accessible and easy to form connections with. We’re excited to hear what comes next!
Critic’s favourite Mobley is, without a doubt, one of the US’s most exciting creatives. This Austin-based multi-disciplinarian counts being a singer, songwriter, producer and filmmaker as only a few of his talents.
‘Yesterday’s Another Day’ is a stunning release that we’ve been obsessed with. The track is lifted from Mobley’s forthcoming ‘We Do Not Fear Ruins’ album, which is out on the 23rd of April 2025 (pre-save here).
The song itself is paired with some equally impressive visuals that give listeners a glimpse into the album’s concept, which centres around a character called Jacob Creedmoor – a fictitious band singer from the 80s.
“In the last proper song on the album, the central character Jacob marvels at the durability of his passion for his lost love. He shrugs off his self-consciousness about living in the past with a cheeky modification of the aphorism ‘tomorrow’s another day.’” – Mobley
GUNNAR’s musical evolution recently has been quite extraordinary. The LA-based singer and songwriter has piqued our interest of late thanks to his take on alternative rock, with the new single, ‘Upside Down’, being on rotation ever since we picked up on it earlier this week.
The track is lifted from the artist’s upcoming ‘Sun Faded’ album (out on the 6th of June – pre-order here), of which he says:
“It’s hard to box this album into one theme. A lot of life has happened over the last few years, and I think these new songs show that. A lot of growth, rolling with the punches as they come, and accepting that I can’t control what happens. Sometimes that mentality is exactly what makes a difference.”
If you’re based in the US, then you can catch GUNNAR this autumn on his first-ever headline tour, with shows planned all across the country. You can grab your tickets here.
Acclaimed British singer and songwriter Charlotte OC has yet to release a single that we haven’t fallen head over heels in love with, so it won’t come as a surprise when we tell you that her new single, ‘God, We Tried’, is truly incredible.
The song grew out of a situation in the artist’s life when the passing of her father led her to be in a relationship that wasn’t right. The powerful and raw lyrics touch on themes of unhealthy love, as well as loss and grief.
“This song is deeply personal to me, I started writing it after my dad passed away. In my grief, I ended up in a relationship that probably wasn’t the healthiest choice for me, and I wasn’t truly allowing myself to heal. If I think about it, all I wanted was a male figure in my life, to fill a void. ‘God, We Tried’ reflects the end of that relationship and the emotional complexity of trying to make something work when it really wasn’t right. It’s about love, loss, and the struggle to move forward while still processing deep grief.”
It’s rare to see musicians with profiles as noted as Charlotte OC deliver songs this personal, and we have no doubt that this song will help a lot of people going through similar situations in their own worlds.
Despite amassing well over three million monthly listeners on Spotify, Canadian talent Avenoir is still somewhat of a mysterious personality.
Having said that, his new single, ‘Art Of War’ is sure to propel his work into the mainstream. This is a sensational piece of alternative R&B that is really quite captivating to experience. A gorgeous soundscape sets the scene for the singer’s vocals to really shine through in a way that feels almost ethereal.
The artist recently picked up a Juno nomination for his first project ‘Noire’ (Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year). The winner for the category gets announced later this month!
Jessy Fury is one of the most exciting US newcomers to come across our radars for some time. With a captivating vocal tone and a natural flair for creating incredible sounds, this artist is, in our opinion, a global name in the making.
New single ‘Hollywood Forever’ is a masterclass in cinematic pop. The track’s production is flawlessly constructed, while the melody sticks in your mind for a good while. The song is a teaser to the artist’s upcoming debut EP, of which Fury says:
“It feels incredible to create something I’m truly proud of, something my team and I put our hearts into. The energy, the quality, the love… everything about this project means the world to me. This is something I’m excited to share with you.”
Fury’s music has been praised by heavyweight tastemaker outlets like CLASH, Wonderland, and FAULT magazines, while his songs have already amassed more than 50k streams on Spotify.
British soul is at a marvellous peak right now, with Hackney starlet Mychelle being one of the genre’s most promising newcomers.
This artist ticks every box for us—incredible vocals, sincere lyrics, beautiful melodies, and finessed, timeless productions. ‘Sweet Nothings’ surpasses being our track of the week; in fact, this is one of our favourite songs of the year.
“This track is for anyone that is over the Sweet Nothings that come out of someone’s mouth. They’re not going to work this time. Go away.”
And we’re not the only ones who are obsessed with this talent – she’s already been lauded by national publications like The Metro, Evening Standard, and Clash Magazine to name a few. One to watch!
UK talent (and Alfitude favourite) Kai Bosch returns with a sparkling new single that is guaranteed to banish any midweek blues you might have.
‘Angel’ treats us to a dancefloor-ready fusion of indie and disco-pop, while its lyrics tell of the complexities of pining for someone you can no longer be with.
‘Angel’ is my crack at a disco-heartbreak anthem—I wanted to make a song that required a glitter ball and some flared trousers. And not to toot my own horn, but mission success in my opinion! To be blunt, ‘Angel’ is about thinking of someone else when you’re having sex. Shortly after my first breakup, I found myself in the thick of a rebound relationship. He was a lovely guy, and there was objectively nothing wrong with him, but I couldn’t help secretly yearning for the past. It’s about being with someone so kind, gentle, and perfect (an angel, if you will) yet still pining for something painful and ugly.”
The track is lifted from Kai’s forthcoming ‘Popstar Of Your Dreams’ EP, which is scheduled for release on the 16th of April 2025. Elaborating further, the artist says:
“When it came to finishing the EP with my friend Duncan Mills last summer, the rebound was long gone, and so were the lingering feelings I’d been having. It felt so freeing to finally let go, so much so that I wrote a last-minute middle eight letting it all go and not looking back. I’m happy to say we set a record for the highest note in Kai Bosch history—whether I am brave enough to recreate it live is another story…”
If you’re in the UK, then you can watch Kai performing live later this evening in Manchester, followed by some London dates later in the month… Be sure to catch this rising talent before he explodes into the mainstream and finally becomes ‘the biggest gay pop star in the universe’ that he aspires to be! Dates and venues are listed below.
Hand on heart, we haven’t heard something this sublime in a very long time. Today we introduce you to UK-based R&B talent Ebubé. A name on the rise, and one that will very likely become globally recognised very soon.
‘Where I Wanna Be’ showcases this rising singer and multi-instrumentalist’s artistry beautifully. Alongside the sincere vocals, the track’s flawless production (crafted by RELYT, who has also worked with the likes of FLO and Ayanna) treats listeners to a finessed and perfected R&B sound.
It’s quite an impressive piece of music, and really quite extraordinary that this musician is only 22 years of age. It’s looking bright for this kid… keep him on your radars.
Two of the UK’s most hyped, rising starlets have teamed up to create a sensational R&B track that requires your immediate attention.
‘Give It Up’ is a collaboration between Nia Chennai and Ella More, and serves us with a finessed, perfected R&B sound that feels fresh and future-forward while also maintaining a sense of timelessness. On the song, the artists say:
“Me and Ella just bounced ideas off each other, and it flowed like we had been friends for years. It was both our first female collab, so the energy was already high, it was good vibes from the start. When we got in the studio, we were just talking about life — how sometimes you really gotta stand on business and walk away from stuff that’s not serving you. That vibe really shaped the whole track. I want people, especially women, to know that it’s more than okay to put yourself first. It’s about walking away from what doesn’t serve you without feeling bad about it. Know your worth and move with that confidence, but keep it real and true to who you are.” – Nia Chennai
“I’ve admired Nia’s artistry for a while, and collaborating with her firsthand has deepened my respect for her talent and vision. We made this song during our very first session together over a year ago. It felt so easy working with her and we creatively bounced off each other. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it and, hopefully, love it as much as we do!” – Ella More
If you’ve yet to come across these two talents, then now’s the time to go and check out their catalogues. Chennai has been featured by outlets as prominent as COLOURS, Earmilk, and Viper magazines, while More has received support from the likes of Spotify and Stereofox.
Our first post this week is a brilliant collaboration between two very promising artists: US-based musician Ex Habit and rising Istanbul newcomer BURY.
‘let me fall’ delivers a beautiful mix of alternative pop, soul, and R&B. The sound is cinematic and dark, without coming across as too heavy or overwhelming.
Alongside the impressive production, these two artists’ vocals complement one another perfectly. Speaking on the track’s lyrics, Ex Habit says:
“This song encapsulates the feeling of deep all encompassing devotion and infatuation with a lover.”
Ex Habit has amassed more than 155 million streams on Spotify to date, while BURY has garnered 23 million streams herself on the platform. Two names to watch for in 2025—mark our words!
Track of the week. We came across Iraqi-New Zealander talent Mikeyy a few days ago, and we’ve had his new single ‘lift’ on rotation ever since.
This track not only serves us with a refreshingly eccentric and unique take on hyperpop, but its joyful playfulness is so infectious that it’s really become a perfect anthem for the weekend.
Mikeyy is inspired by a wide range of artists—from Brakence and Glaive to The Beatles and Kanye West. He’s garnered more than 300k streams on Spotify so far, while also attracting almost 6k monthly listeners on the platform.
Track of the week. With a new year comes a fresh wave of talent that we’re really stoked about—one of which is US-based artist RHNO.
‘Gowithyou’ fuses synth with distorted pop and adds some soulful R&B into the mix for extra goodness. The sound is bold and distinct but also feels relatable and easy to connect with on an emotional level.
The track marks a new direction for the already hyped New Yorker. We think you’ll be hearing about this kid more often in the future, so be sure to keep this one on your radar.
Track of the week. We’ve long been fans of UK talent Martin Luke Brown, and we’re pleased to see his return this week with another brilliant new release called ‘animal’.
The song focuses on themes of escapism, and tells of the artist’s desires to switch off from the modern world and return back to basics – experiencing life the way it was meant to be.
“About once a week I get a deep urge to retire from capitalism and run off into the woods to become Tarzan in a cabin somewhere eating berries. This is about that urge for a simple life away from the abstract chaos of the modern world.”
The track’s production blends elements of dreamy, lo-fi pop with indie, creating a soundscape that allows listeners themselves to escape from the manic chaos of current life.
Alongside his recent run of solo releases, Martin has also had a busy few months supporting global stars Sam Tompkins and Emily King on their respective tours.
Track of the week. Netherlands-based musician Joshua J returns with one of the most impressive songs of the week, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
‘In My Phone’ presents listeners with a finessed production that fuses neo-soul with afrobeat. Complimenting the sublime production are the introspective lyrics, which focus on the artist’s journey of self-discovery while visiting Ghana.
“As a child, I felt intense anger towards my mother for her inability to care for me and my siblings due to her struggles with drug addiction. However, as I matured, I gained a deeper understanding of her plight and realised that addiction is a battle that many face. I wrote this song to humanise addiction and to forgive my mother, using the mobile phone as a modern symbol of the addictions that affect us all.”
The track is lifted from Joshua J’s sophomore album ‘Polygamy,’ which was also released today and features contributions from Xenia Manasseh and AE (listen here).
Track of the week. We’re kicking the weekend off with a brilliant new artist emerging from Jersey City in the USA, going by the name of Libby Jade.
Today’s release of ‘Courtyard’ is really quite the treat. This energising blend of indie-pop and rock offers us a taste of the singer & songwriter’s impressive talents, with its beautifully textured production and thoughtful lyricism, which takes listeners on a journey to Libby’s home and community. Speaking on the song, she says:
“Dedicated to anyone that’s lived in my neighborhood, ‘Courtyard’ is a celebration of community and those ‘third places’ that people crave to build connection. The courtyard of my Jersey City apartment building has built friendships and seen love and loss.”
Libby’s music has already picked up support from tastemaker outlets like The Luna Collective, Glasse Factory, and Lefuturewave. You can explore more of her sounds on Spotify right here.
Track of the week. Elia Tomé is undeniably one of the most promising newcomers we’ve come across in quite some time. This rising Leeds-based songwriter and producer creates immense electronic productions that are simply breathtaking in nature.
New single ‘Stay Kids’ is a collaboration with the equally talented Zoe Cure and treats listeners to a sparse soundscape that, while minimal in concept, is still powerfully emotive.
“I felt a deep sense of familiarity when finding the synth lines on ‘Stay Kids’. It was like stumbling upon an old photograph from childhood, instantly pulling me back in time.”
The song serves as a taster to Tomé’s forthcoming debut album, which is out in January 2025. With support from the likes of BBC Introducing and Stereofox already under his belt, we anticipate big things in the future for this artist.
You can catch Elia performing at Hull’s Polar Bear on the 21st of January—tickets here.
Track of the week. We’ve made no secret of our admiration for emerging Danish music talent, so we’re stoked to be sharing with you another new outfit from the Nordic nation called 100%WET.
Signed to acclaimed label Crunchy Frog (home to The Raveonettes and Yune, among many others), this duo has caught our attention with their unique productions, which blend nostalgic 90’s sounds with shoegaze and electronica.
Euphoric new single ‘Ether’ will be our weekend bop and is very quickly becoming one of our favourite songs of the winter.
“‘Ether’ describes the juxtaposed feelings of being in an altered state of mind—the perception of momentary bliss while also experiencing everything at a dissociate remove.”
100%WET comprises of producers Jakob Birch and Casper Munns, while vocal contributions come courtesy of artists like Eir from Sweden (as featured on ‘Ether’), Polly from Denmark, and the UK’s Hockeysmith.
