East London based quartet, Zola Blood is undoubtedly one of our favourite electro-ambient projects to come out of the UK.
The recent tour with RÜFÜS DU SOL has left a visible mark on the band – they appear more direct and powerful in their delivery. ‘Silver Soul’ is taken from their latest EP set for release on 22 May via Akira Records.
Speaking about the track, they explain,
“Silver Soul is about saying a last goodbye to a time or a place when you’ve outgrown it and you know it’s time to change.”
We are psyched to share Zola Blood‘s new single, ‘Two Hearts’, the title track of their latest EP set for release on 22nd May via Akira Records.
Taking a slightly heavier approach that their previous body of work, the track sets the tone for the EP, complete of a body of intricate and powerful songs.
A further nod to the bittersweet essence of the EP can be seen within the artwork. Referencing the Japanese art of Kintsugi, a tradition of fusing broken pottery back together with Gold. The EP reflects the philosophy behind the art, which challenges the idea that in order to preserve something, it can never change.
Sounds like: Wild Beasts, Radiohead, Brolin, Jape, Boxed In, TENDER, RÜFÜS DU SOL
After a hiatus, TENDER returns with ‘6 In The Morning’, showing a slightly new direction for the duo.
Stripping it back to basics, James Cullen and Dan Cobb’s new release is upfront and at times, takes an unnerving dive into self-reflection.
“The track ‘6 in the Morning’ is about the bitter, petty end to a relationship, where both parties do things to push the other away,” says Cullen. “Avoiding being the one to call it off, they intend to do things to make the other break. When the relationship finally ends, it brings relief.”
“We have all been in those situations, where it seems easier to stay in a bitter and toxic environment instead of just calling it off. It’s like pulling off a plaster. The slower you do it, the more pain it causes.”
Sounds like: MOTHXR, Jungle, Glass Animals, HUNTAR, Caribou, Air, The National, Tame Impala, Boxed In, Honne
London based alt-pop trio STIIR shares their upbeat new single ‘Heartstrings’.
Produced by the band’s drummer Prem Rupawala, the track – about the dilemas of love – is a delectable dish of psychedelic pop, making for a truly dreamy and warming listen.
Nottingham-based artist Blle is set for the bright lights of pop stardom.
Started out by writing songs in her bedroom, she soon saw herself performing in every venue she could. The most recent result of all her hard work and dedication is ‘Don’t Be Surprised’, written about the downfall of a relationship.
Los Angeles queer pop duo TWINKIDS share their second release of 2019 called ‘I Luv You.’
With their bittersweet, nostalgic and cinematic approach to music, the single explores the complicated feelings that follow a breakup in a mid-tempo, yet soaring synth-pop tune.
Sounds like: The 1975, Matt & Kim, Tame Impala, Oli Hannaford, Boxed In
London-based electro-pop duo SHiiVERS releases dark new offering, ‘Crook And Flail’.
Taking into account the crook and flail symbol used across Ancient Egypt, the song considers the unsettling impact of slavery and exploitation in Ancient, and perhaps, more Modern times.
The resurgance of R&B and soul sounds in pop music is well recieved across the board due to it’s multifaceted appeal, and Emily Litta is the perfect example of that.
Inspired by her love of old-school hip-hop, funk and jazz records, her inspirations perfectly collide on latest single ‘+1’.
Growing up in Sweden, surrounded by her Kurdish and very musical family, KELAA naturally gravitated to mixing the bold and sugary sounds of Scandipop with elements of traditional Kurdish folk – breaking new sonic grounds in the best way.
With this being her second single to date, expect this inspired artist to continue pushing boundaries.
Bristol-based four-piece Make Friends are set to send tingles down your ears.
Lead by emotional stories, the subject matter of their debut single, ‘Drop Naked’ may be dark, but the complex grooves and stretched indie-pop chords suggests otherwise.
Expect their EP in spring.
Sounds like: Bombay Bicycle Club, Foals, Sea Girls, Ten Fé, Suzi Island, Everything Everything
We are super excited about TENDER‘s new single, ‘Slow Love’, taken from their album ‘Fear Of Falling Asleep’, out via Partisan Records.
Much like TENDER’s other offerings, ‘Slow Love’ has a delightful bassline throughout with soulful vocals, inspired by the moments that come just before sleep when silence descends, and doubt and fear and desire take over.
Sounds like: MOTHXR, Jungle, Glass Animals, HUNTAR, Caribou, Air, The National, Tame Impala, Boxed In, Honne, Colouring
We are huge fans of Germany’s finest disco kid, Satin Jackets (aka Tim Bernhardt) and Sydney-based singer/songwriter, Panama. Their new collab is a dreamy leftfield pop at its best.
Expect the second Satin Jackets’ album, ‘Solar Nights’, on April 26 via Eskimo Recordings.
Sultry artist CUT_ combines forces with Klangstof to create a captivating atmosphere where there is but one message: Sex.
‘Fever’, a minimalistic song, is soft yet sensual which ultimate leads to a burning tension between the two vocals with the addition of lush reverbs and slow moving synths.
Sounds like: James Blake, Kllo, Massive Attack, Phantogram, Kito, Broods
Having just signed to Terrible Records (Blood Orange, Porches, Le1f), Norwegian producer and artist Gundelach shares the imaginative ‘Control’.
It is taken from the forth-coming ‘Baltus’ LP, and showcases Gundelach’s Nordic-noir sensibilities, using delicate synths, pulsating beats and his effortless falsetto voice to tell a story of deep personal depression.
Sound like: Ásgeir, Bon Iver, Honne, Boxed In, RY X, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, The Presets
Time for something to lighten the mood from our favourite band of 2018, Great News.
‘You’re Mine’ is a shoe-gazer fan’s dream, a super colourful sonic nod to the 80’s and 90’s, a theme that runs throughout their debut LP ‘Wonderfault’.
Sounds like: Ten Fé, Bruce Springsteen, Sea Girls, SWIMM, Lean, Tame Impala, DIIV
We are excited about Benjamin’s Brother – an interesting indie-pop band from Tel Aviv.
Discussing topics such as violence, death, desire and love, and citing influences across several genres including Arabic, American folk and techno, it’s no surprise that their sound is expansive, yet tender.
Watch their video below, which was shot by Indy Hait, at the Tel Aviv Museum Of Art, on a 16mm film.
Sounds like: Tame Impala, SAMA, Mumford & Sons, Solomon Grey, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Aquilo
Dutch electronic duo CUT_ share ‘It’s On’, a song about the denial towards the demise of a relationship.
But they don’t just write about internal issues found in human nature, but also discuss topics on mass psychology and by analysing these aspects of our society, CUT_ attempts to find a way of coping with the messed up world we’re living in.
JOHN.K‘s electronic driven pop always catches our attention and ‘Best Of Me’ is no exception.
‘Best Of Me’ is JOHN.K’s fourth single and demonstrates another layer of maturity and artistry. Speaking of the track, he explains,
“‘Best of Me’ is about evolving through young love, admitting to past mistakes and committing to giving someone the best possible version of yourself.”
We don’t know a great deal about Swedish singer/songwriter Timothy, but have really enjoyed listening to his second single, ‘Fly’.
Timothy explains, “The song is a long battle with a ghost of his, he interpreters his own song with a self-written poem. Wanting the listener to create their own story, rather than giving it all away.”
Sounds like: Bon Iver, Alex Vargas, Ry X, The xx, Keaton Henson, Matt Corby
Indie pop quartet OKKAH share their new single called ‘Body of a Swan’.
Elegant and melodic in nature, and much like the animal itself, ‘Body of a Swan’ takes you on a dream-like journey full of delicate vocals and gentle keys.
It’s the lead track from the EP of the same title.
Let’s take things nice and slow with Steven Bamidele‘s ever-optimistic new single, ‘Things Could Be Better’.
It’s a stripped-back production with well-timed jazz percussion and emotive, soulful vocals, courtesy of the 23 year old London-based songwriter and producer.
Kasbo is an exciting Swedish producer whose music fits nicely alongside the likes of ODESZA and Aquilo.
His current release ‘Aldrig Mer’ (translating to ‘No More’ in English) combines organic elements including real instrument recordings and electronic synths, as well as the boundless vocals of rising UK duo TENDER.
Expect Kasbo’s debut album to come out on Foreign Family Collective/Counter Records on 23 March.
Cub Sport‘s new single ‘Good Guys Go’, questions just that – unreciprocated love, unfortunately a common theme in a lot of relationships.
The neon video, directed by Joe Agius is shot in real time with one roaming camera, and tries to capture an intense feeling of loss, inspired by images from fashion magazines and music videos by Michael Jackson, TLC, and Perfume Genius.
Rising Canadian R&B artist Ruben Young shares the ever so smooth ‘Bad Habits’.
Speaking of the single, Ruben says,
“I wrote it in the fall of 2015, following my “relapse” for a girl I’d been chasing since I was 16 years old. She’s never been good for me, and I’ve known it all along. We kept our ‘relationship’ a secret, and it became more of an affair. She was my forbidden secret – my bad habit. 7 years later, it all came crashing down. I think everyone’s guilty of falling for someone who they couldn’t get over; even though they knew they needed to. For me, she was dangerous, and I loved that about her.”
DIY band Sub-Radio create uplifting music with a raw edge.
‘Was It Good For You’ creates a feeling of disorder as soon as you listen to it, but this isn’t a bad thing when the falsetto vocals are as good as this!
Introducing JOHN.k, an Orlando-based singer-songwriter who effortless perspires soul.
He has teamed up with Mad Decent-signed and Grammy Award winning producer Ricky Remedy for a new collaborative single, ‘Gold’, in which Ricky brings some serious, crisp production skills to the table.
Meet Los Angeles-based queer pop duo, TWINKIDS, comprised of Tokyo born Gene Fukui and Floridian Matt Young.
We really get the impression with ‘Overdressed’ that we are party to intimate talks between two lovers, thanks to the track’s enticingly soft, whispering vocals, bouncing between the twosome.
‘Overdressed’ is the first single from the TWINKIDS’ debut release on Om Records ‘Boys Love’ to be released 18 August.
