Australian artist Akurei has just released his most exciting EP of the year, ‘CLOVER’.
Lucky for Akurei, venues have now opened up in Australia, which has promoted him to recollect about those nights out where you drink to feel comfortable.
So with all that social anxiety in mind, whack on his dreamy and nostalgic playlist and drift off into a state of bliss.
Hovvdy – Runner
Most of the people I’ve spent time with over the last few months could attest to the fact that I’ve been humming this daily. I’ve made it a goal to write a song that makes people feel the way this one makes me feel – light, hopeful and nostalgic.
Hether – Twinkle
Obsessed with this song, and everything Hether has done really. It all sounds like falling in love.
The Nicholas, Odessa – Rockshow
I’m lucky to be friends with The Nicholas, I’m so inspired by his song writing and production. This songs been on repeat since its release, the melodies are so so catchy.
Buddy Ross, Gabriel Delicious – Bored Again!
This one just feels so good, it’s hard to have a bad time while it’s on.
Porches – I Miss That
I’m a new Porches fan. The drum loop pulled me in and I stayed for the lyrics and the melodies, so infectious. Also the synth parts are really interesting.
Huron John – Why Do People Grow (Long for the Day When I Had That Flip Phone)
This one hits the sweet spot between fun and self deprecating.
Billy Lemos, Tati – Midlife Crisis
I’m new to Billy Lemos. This song is wild, along with the album he dropped this year.
A. G. Cook – Being Harsh
I could just listen to the first 30 seconds of this song all day, that alone is so captivating. It’s just a really beautiful and simple song.
Dijon – alley-oop
Pretty much every time Dijon drops a song I think “Damn I wish I wrote this” and this song is no exception. He has the most expressive voice and melodies, and the lyrics to this song are so nice.
Golden Daze – Blue Bell
This song will probably be in my Spotify ‘Top Songs of 20__” for the rest of my life.
The ‘CLOVER’ EP is out now on sumoclic records.
Sounds like: LA Bouquet, LANY, The 1975, Golden Vessel, Joji, No Rome, Kevin Abstract, Emerson Leif
Thor Rixon‘s new single ‘Won’t Stop Crying’ is the third and final in a series of visuals featuring Thor, culminating in an EP at the end of the year. Sniff 🙁
It’s another big groover full of bounce and vibes, despite the turmoil Thor once again faces dealing with a break-up in today’s gross abundance of dating apps and social media.
Director, Rob Smith, gives his account of the filming experience,
“Thor is a natural performer. You put a camera on him and it’s hard to take it off. The main shoot itself was a tiny crew, consisting of myself, the “girl,” a DOP and two assistants. Thor and I later shot the iPhone footage all over Cape Town, pushing and pulling on those heart strings. Once Thor turned that tap on, there was no stopping him. He truly did not stop crying.”
Rising Norwegian pop songwriter jens shares ‘Tough Love’, taken from his new EP, ‘Call Me Back When You Get A Moment’. It’s another feel-good pop anthem, firmly rooted with a potent chorus hook and instant danceability.
Sounds like: Troye Sivan, Myylo, Charlie Puth, Dagny
From one Norweigan act to another. At completely different ends of the spectrum, alt-rock outfit Lazy Queen shares brazen new single, ‘Gutted’. Discussing the topic of self-destruction, addiction and recovery, it’s spirited punk rock with an upbeat pop hook throughout.
Chicago producers Chase Durrett and Casey Bruce – aka j. pastel – formed in the summer of 2019, and have been fusing 80’s synths and dreamy guitars with funk moves in their bedroom ever since. Listen to ‘Senegal’ below.
Los Angeles Phil Good is back with a new breakup-inspired track called ‘Falling’. Despite being laid-back, the music video manages to convey the emotion of the song.
Sounds like: Honne, Joseph Salvat, Miike Snow, Glass Animals, Joywave, Just Kiddin’, San Holo
At just 16, it’s hard to believe that pop singer-songwriter Gillian Heidi is already creating such raw and emotive tracks that reflect about relationships in a poetic eloquence not often seen of this age group. Listen to ‘Fray’ below.
No one likes a liar, and no one more than Thor Rixon, who is calling out the BS in new single, ‘Lies’.
It’s another smooth groover with subtle bass slaps and jazz-infused vocals, something that Thor is becoming well known for.
The accompanying video was shot in his home town of Cape Town, and filmed in one continuous take. The video teases and essentially lies to the viewer, but you have to watch it to see for yourself….
Music genius Maxwell Byrne – aka Golden Vessel – is releasing the video for new single, ‘midwest’.
Once again crafting a unique sound with a simple and endearing visual treat – this time co-filmed & directed by Maxwell Byrne and Matthew Howard – ‘midwest’ is about getting on the road.
Showcasing Emerson Leif‘s Hofner bass guitar, the track blends elements of electronic music with hip-hop, R&B and alternative modern pop.
It is the first taste of his upcoming second album ‘colt’, and is being released via the recently launched label, sumoclic, which he co-owns with his good friend Akurei.
Sounds like: Alex Vargas, TENDER, Kanyon, Four Tet, Toro Y Moi, Brockhampton, Akurei
After teaming up with his good friends Golden Vessel and Emerson Leif, Australian artist Akurei releases three stunning tracks that form his ‘SEROTONIN’ EP.
The title track covers the morning after a big night (remember those?!), when you don’t want to get out of bed.
“I started thinking writing for this project almost immediately after I put out my last ep ‘September’, but it really came together in February. I took Maxwell (Golden Vessel) and Caleb (Emerson Leif) out to regional Queensland for three days to write music and be creative without any distractions. It was hugely refreshing and productive, we left with the bones of 6 songs.”
‘SEROTONIN’ is also the debut release for the recently launched independent label sumoclic, which is co-owned/operated by Akurei and Golden Vessel.
Rising Australian artist LOVER has just released his genre-bending EP, ‘It’s A Wild World’.
A body of work he’s been working on since late 2019, it reflects the time in LOVER’s life, as well as in the world around us.
To coincide with the release, LOVER has kindly put together a “Headrush” themed playlist for us. Listen below.
“Headrush” – Like a rush of blood
Dijon – CRYBABY :*(
Damn. I really wish I wrote this song. The video is beautiful too – one of my favourite songs of ALL TIME.
Jean Dawson – BRUISEBOY
My parents had me when they were young, so I remember my Dad mainly listening to early 90’s music – The Smashing Pumpkins, Third Eye Blind etc. This has the perfect combo of the influence of this generation of music w a modern twist.
Porches – PFB
I love short songs. Looking around, it is all “Pretty Fucking Bad” too. Thank you Porches and thank you Golden Vessel for showing me this song.
daste. – Telephone (What’s Your Name?)
These guys are my mates from Australia, who I met from being a fan of their music and now we’re indie label mates! They have a lot of versatility and all three of them are great songwriters. I’m a big fan of this track from their latest EP ‘Same As It Ever Was’.
Ryan Beatty – Evergreen
Dreaming Of David, the second album by RyanBeatty at the start of this year is the most slept on record. I cannot believe that after his HIT ‘Sugar’ with Brockhampton it doesn’t have as many streams as his older work. The songwriting is strong, his voice is something else and the production on this album, and particularly Evergreen, is fresh and inventive. Ryan, if you’re out there, I’m sorry they’re sleeping on this !!!
Phoebe Bridgers – Garden Song Phoebe Bridgers is a phenomenon. Her lyricism across her catalogue is inspiring. Love the production on this track particular track, definitely was a big influence for the ending of my own track ‘Last Puzzle Piece’. I’ve read that down-tuned sounding voice in the chorus is actually her tour managers real voice haha.
Jon Brion – Phone Call – Score
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is one of my favourite movies. The soundtrack is immaculate too, and once I learned more about JonBrion I realised he scored multiple of my favourite 90’s / early 00’s movies as well as the latest MacMiller records (RIP). This track is a short lofi dream, about 20 years ahead of its time!
Oneohtrix Point Never, (Sandy) Alex G – Babylon
This song is what happens when you get a versatile producer in the room with a legendary songwriter. It transcends your usual soft acoustic track with the electronic elements, strings and the vocal layering. I really want to see (Sandy) Alex G live with a band someday and cry quietly in the back corner.
Kllo – Insomnia
Really tight, lush production paired with the singer Chloe’s glass vocals. I love them and they’re from Melbourne – basically my backyard! (if my backyard was a 10 and a half-hour drive away).
18YOMAN – Fireflies
Another Aussie. When I first heard this song on Triple J Unearthed I was like, fuck, ok, do I still release my EP? lol. It’s sooo good and the songwriting / production (which I believe he did himself) raised the bar for all Australian acts releasing in 2020 .. in my opinion!
Dijon – Rock n Roll
Had to put two Dijon songs in, I’m sorry! He’s too good. This is from his new project, the breakdown at the end takes me somewhere else.
Roland Faunte – Happy Life
One of the only songs I legit cry to. Roland Faunte’s story over the whole ‘Sewing Kit’ project is cohesive, honest, raw, poetic. It has a classic sound that I think is above ageing All the lyrics are perfect but I lose it at:
“Give me heartache if that means a reason That I would continue; Please, I need them Because you mattered, when nothing mattered If I need something let me have her”
Radiohead – True Love Waits
I tried to keep this playlist as new as I could, but I couldn’t resist putting a Radiohead song in there. They’re probably my favourite band and different eras of their music has been in consistent rotation since day dot. This track was actually written in the mid-90’s, and from the live versions from that time that I’ve watched it was originally kind of uptempo and pop leaning like “High and Dry”. It didn’t get released until 2016, in a very different form. Imagine sitting and reworking a song for TWENTY years lmao. It’s that good.
‘It’s A Wild World’ is available everywhere now via Mammal Sounds Records.
Sounds like: Golden Vessel, daste., Emerson Leif, Akurei, JVLY, CLN, George Gretton, Luna Pines
British pop singer Beth Duck shares her cyber-inspired electro-pop single, ‘Nomophobia’, inspired by a realisation of our generation’s phone obsession.
With a clear European influence – the track is produced and co-written by One by One, a songwriter and producer duo from Berlin.
“Love isn’t perfect, and neither is life, and that’s the real fairy tale” says Los Angeles-based songwriter Banah Winn, aka Opus Vitae. Ain’t that the truth.
His new single ‘Carry The Weight’ is driven by the fired up angst about the current political climate of the world.
Sounds like: Empire Of The Sun, Sufjan Stevens, Porches
Inspired by missing home, Australian-born, pizza-loving, Los Angeles-based Future Jr. shares ‘Back To You’.
Conjuring all the nu-disco, dream-pop vibes one could ever wish for, the song was written by Future Jr. and a friend after attending a cliche house party in the Hollywood Hills.
Following the extremely well-received release with Lord Silva, School of X releases ‘Bad Love’.
Inspired by Eks-skolen – an anti-establishment art collective that was based in Copenhagen in the 1960s – the emo-tinged song by School of X’s Rasmus Littauer (MØ, Liss, Clairo) is about the loss of trust or faith.
Born from a remote connection via Instagram and a mutual love of big cats, London-based Welsh/Finnish electro-pop duo Rochelle and Vee are Tigerpunsh.
Brand new onto the scene, their single ‘Shade’ holds a bursting energy throughout, with delicate Eastern synths and experimental pop elements. A great start to what could be a very exciting future for the girls!
Sounds like: Broods, EXES, MS MR, Vera Blue, RAINDEAR, Nova Club, Georgia
Alt-pop whizzkid Alex O’aiza shares the Instagram video for ‘Out Of My Mind’, produced by Austin Bello from Dallas pop-punks Forever The Sickest Kids.
Combining snappy pop melodies with gritty rock riffs and layered samples, the visuals show a fun side to O’aiza, whilst still conveying a timely message of pushing through adversity and hard times.
Having entered the music scene from the early age of 17, this rising star has already received national recognition within the UK.
In his signature soul-infused, pop sound, HUDSUN’s latest offering ‘Shutdown’ speaks of the frustration in attempting to break someone out of an emotional prison they have created for themselves wrapped up.
London singer-songwriter Eloise Viola refuses to be second best in her new single, ‘Wait In Line’.
With another energetic pop anthem, Viola is both vocally and lyrically on point, and with a positive message promoting body positivity and self-love, what’s not to love?
Sounds like: Anne Marie, Charlie XCX, Dua Lipa, Zara Larsson
In a love letter to mother nature, London-based KYRI bares all in his new single, ‘Sanctuary’.
Using his voice for good, KYRI explores themes of rebirth, nature, spirituality and the deepest corners of our humanity with his music, heavily influenced from his childhood of Greek Orthodox churches, gospel choirs & forests, through to London’s intoxicating LGBTQ+ club culture.
Sounds like: The Weeknd, Rosie Lowe, Gallant, Birdy, James Blake
Producer-turned-solo artist Danny George shares highly accessible new track, ‘Sincerity’
Now residing in Berlin, George has gained a new perspective and musical inspiration, translating into music that has soul and electronica with hints of R&B and indie.
His first full EP ‘Crushed Comfort’ will drop early next year.
Introducing Vancouver-based singer/songwriter and guitarist BENJII – aka Benji Klassen.
His new single, ‘I Won’t Die For You’ is a moody alt-pop track driven by rock-tinged vocals and textual guitar riffs, and as refreshing as the BC mountain dew.
Brooklyn-based bedtime producer Chloe Lilac shares her fun new pop single, ‘Special’.
Within the last year, Chloe has gone from sheer obscurity self-producing songs in her bedroom to signing with RCA, releasing a debut EP, and now has a 2nd EP in the pipeline. No mean feat.
Sounds like: Charlotte Lawrence, Sasha Sloan, Tessa Violet
