Tove Lo by Kenny Laubbacher
Our favourite pop track this year, Tove Lo doesn’t disappoint with ‘No One Dies From Love’.
A heartbreak bop you can dance to, the Alaska-directed video follows movie star Tove and a robot named Annie 3000 get it on in a steamy dystopian love story.
Watch below.
Sounds like: Charlie XCX, ASTR, Broods, Hayley Kiyoko, Nina Yasmineh, Tove Styrke
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NOISY – Put A Record On
Worthing lads NOISY release ‘Put A Record On’ – a frenetic techno-infused indie banger with friendly combatant energy, perfect for a well deserved mosh in the music venues when they open up again, or one in your living room, if you can’t wait that long.
Sounds like: Everyone You Know, APRE, Jamie T, Bloxx, High Tyde, The Prodigy, Limp Bizkit, Bad Sounds
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Psyence – Tusk
Psyence by Mark Vyse
British alt-rockers Psyence shares their bold new single ‘Tusk’. It’s been a moment since their release, and it’s a great return – a radio-friendly, expansive and modern take on psychedelia, full of swagger.
Sounds like: Queens of the Stone Age, Kasabian, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, The Blinders, Wolfmother
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Margot Polo – This Old Thing
Margot Polo is back, with a softer approach to his usual electronica infused pop. His new song ‘This Old Thing’ is as nostalgic and emotive as anything we would expect Ben Gibbard to write, and reflects on Polo’s emo roots from back when he was growing up in California.
Sounds like: SYML, Death Cab for Cutie, American Football, The Album Leaf
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Jude the Obscure – Chapter 8
Manchester’s favourite neo-jazz son Jude the Obscure is back with a feel-good single, ‘Chapter 8’, once again combining elegant hip-hop poetry with jazz-soul infused compositions.
Sounds like: Loyle Carner
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Kat Meoz – Somebody Else
Ignore everyone else and walk your own path is the message that Kat Meoz is sharing in her new single, ‘Somebody Else’. Her swagger-rock single channels the darker and more electrifying side of pop.
Sounds like: Chløe Black, Broods
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Ant Antic – Good News
We’re all dealing with the overload of impressions and information we’re all exposed to, which often leaves us numb.
Woozy-R&B auteur, Ant Antic interrogates the onslaught of clickbait in his Rupert Höller-directed visuals for ‘Good News’
Sounds like: Ben Khan, Moderat, Jai Paul, 5K HD, Sega Bodega
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Beth Duck – Nomophobia
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.
Sounds like: Ralph, Dagny, Tove Lo, ALMA
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Opus Vitae – Carry The Weight
“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
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Future Jr. – Back To You
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.
Sounds like: joan, XY&O, Colouring, EXES, Akurei, Nightly
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School of X – Bad Love
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.
Sounds like: MØ, Máni Orrason, Soleima, Goss, Mura Masa, Clairo, Röyksopp, Lo Moon, Mew
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Tigerpunsh – Shade
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
Alex O’aiza – Out Of My Mind
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.
Sounds like: Kasabian
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juuku – healing Feat. wilo wilde
Commencing with delicate piano keys and leading to chill electronic production, juuku‘s new single ‘healing’ does just that.
Raw and unfiltered – like the body of his work – his collaborative single with wilo wilde is both angelic and moody.
Sounds like: Madnap, yetep
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Olivia Lunny – Think of Me
Canadian singer/songwriter Olivia Lunny shares the catchy and radio-ready ‘Think of Me’.
Channelling pure pop vibes with vibrant electronic production, this post breakup anthem is one for all the broken hearts out there.
Sounds like: Halsey, TESSA
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HUDSUN – Shutdown
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.
Sounds like: Imagine Dragons
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Last Youth – Violent Ends
Last Youth has returned following their debut album release with new single ‘Violent Ends’ – an array of genre-bending vibrant pop and alt-rock.
Full of emotional angst, the track portrays the violent ends that the human race faces.
Sounds like: Imagine Draons, Bring Me The Horizon, Thirty Seconds To Mars
Well, this is just a brilliant piece of music, isn’t it?
Dramatic and cinematic through and through, ‘Golden’ is the new collaborative effort from New Zealand-born and Los Angeles-based Space Above (aka Aaron Short, formerly of The Naked And Famous) and So Below.
Two talents in their own right, their contrasting expressions within the electronic worlds collide into a wonderful stroke of ‘space tech’ and ‘goth pop’.
Sounds like: Sigor Ros, Ulrich Schnauss, Bat For Lashes, The Naked And Famous, Ryan Vail & Elma Orkestra, Phantogram, Broods
Space Above
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So Below
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Young Australian-based artist Lola Scott transports us to Scandi-pop territory with her new song ‘Take Me Back’.
Written from the perspective of being at the end of a long term relationship, it’s easy to reminisce at how easy it was to dive right into love with no fears.
This frankness in her songwriting is thanks to Scott’s hard work over the last 12 months, as well as learning piano and guitar at an early age, courtesy to her dad’s record collection of new-wave, post-punk synth-pop and alternative rock.
Sounds like: Lykke Li, Billie Eilish, Susanne Sundfør, HAIM, Clairo, Niki & The Dove, Oh Land, The Knife, Broods
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Alfie Neale – Vices
Brighton-based singer/songwriter Alfie Neale shares his latest laid back and soul sweeping single, ‘Vices’.
It’s a song that describes the importance of the little things in life and a support network to help you through the fun times, and the more serious.
Sounds like: Yakul, Tom Misch, Jordan Rakei
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JupiterMoon – The Reason
Young Midlands-based quartet JupiterMoon is causing a bit of a ruckus.
Their energetic choruses and Asian influenced guitar hooks are written for sweaty, intimate venues. Conjuring up homegrown rock anthems at Blank Studios in Nercastle, their strongest track to date ‘The Reason’ is all the justification you need.
Sounds like: Foals, Blossoms
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A Is For Arrows – Roses
Toronto electro-pop duo A Is For Arrows shares the lush new single, ‘Roses’.
Echoes of heartbreak glistened with a retro glow, this is easy listening electronica at its best. Listen below.
Sounds like: Lights, Jocelyn Alice, Goldroom, RAC, Le Youth, Broods
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Mokita – colorblind
Nashville’s John-Luke Carter, aka Mokita, is a singer/songwriter/producer known for his lyrical and buoyant electronic-based pop.
Classically trained in piano in his youth, he later taught himself to play guitar and eventually transitioned into electronic music production. Taking a rewind to his classical routes, Mokita shares an orchestral version of ‘colorblind’ and it’s spellbounding.
Sounds like: Nirob Islam, EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND
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Tsar B – Unpaintable
Effortless and majestic with a highly cinematic yet vulnerable approach, Tsar B‘s single, ‘Unpaintable’, sees her functioning as a one-woman orchestra, songwriter, producer and singer.
An ode to the muddled emotions people that are too intelligent to just live a normal life feel; ‘They are uncatchable. They are unpaintable.”
Sounds like: GRAACE, Billie Eilish, FKA Twigs, ÄTNA
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Seafret – Magnetic
The coastal town of Bridlington isn’t the first place in the UK that you think has a buzzing music scene, but we’ve stumbled upon the brilliant Seafret, who have proved us wrong.
Made up of Jack Sedman and Harry Draper, their new single ‘Magnetic’ is an indie-pop anthem at it’s finest – addictive vocal harmonies and commercial riffs, complete with a killer pop chorus
Sounds like: Kodaline, Amber Run, Imagine Dragons, Lewis Capaldi
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Luna Li – Trying
Luna Li (fka VEINS) shares the brooding new single, ‘Trying’.
A undeniable strong presence in the alt-pop world, Luna Li uses and blends her 14 years of classical piano and violin training with dreamy rock, to create a vulnerable and distorted sound.
Sounds like: Lykki Li, Niki & The Dove, Oh Land, Perfume Genius
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Matt Simons – Cold
L.A Songwriter Matt Simons shares ‘Cold’ – a powerful piece of electronic pop that blends nostalgia and melancholic sentiment.
Speaking about the track, which has been released in time for any Valentine’s Day pessimist, he explains,
“People change, and change in any relationship is inevitable. The only question is, can the two people change together and adapt? Cold is about a relationship where they did not.”
Sounds like: Ruel, JP Cooper, Zak Abel
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Dräger – New Life
An introvert at heart, Dräger creates unabashed synth pop bangers born from a modern heartbreak.
Co-produced by House producer LEFTI, the single ‘New Life’ marks a fresh start for the singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Spencer Draeger, as he uses sounds of the past to channel themes of the modern age, taking a satirical approach to the narcissisms and anxiety illuminated through technology.
Sounds like: New Order, Soft Cell, Holy Ghost!, Dansu, The Cure, White Lies, Cocteau Twins
Meet Los Angeles-based pop act, golda.
She grew up in both Chicago and San Diego to Ukrainian parents who only spoke Russian in the house. At the tender age of 5, golda taught herself how to sing opera. She wrote her first song in 7th grade – ‘Genocide in Darfur,’ inspired after learning about the horrific happenings occurring in Darfur.
Her latest single ‘Under’ further showcases her raw and mature pop talent. Listen below.
Sounds like: Death Cab for Cutie, Rae Morris, Frances, Broods
Canadian producer, Tep No is one of our favs, and it’s been a minute since we last supported his music on the blog.
Exhilarating production of the highest order complemented by emotively tinged vocals from fellow music enthusiast, Joycelyn Alice, his new single ‘Never Been Hurt Before’ is another entry into the growing back catalogue of an exciting up and comer.
He’s put together an excellent playlist of his favourite tunes right now. Take a listen below.
Riah – Heartbreak Magic
Good engaging voice and nice 80’s production on it.
Grady – 500 Days of Summer
Interesting voice, high-end production on it.
Aalta, Lenachka – Closer Than Ever
Great immersive song, very dreamy
Elohim – TV
Very very distinct voice, really well carved out production and well thought out lyrics, everything gels so well. Lots of feeling in her voice and lyrics.
Toro Y Moi – Balance (Feat. Washed Out)
What can I say, 2 of my favorite artists ever, and what drove me for the longest time. Dreamy song, it makes you feel like everything will be fine. And the song is 4:20 minutes long I mean.
Liyv – In My Guccis
Relatable, I work hard in my Guccis I mean. What else is there to say.
Noirre – numb
The production is so wild on this, so well done.
Broods – Peach
Amazing song, I can relate to the lyrics, I’ve listened to this 1000 times. The pre-chorus is insanely good.
bülow – Get Stupid
Really quirky song from fellow Torontonian. Great voice, catchy lyrics and clean production.
Hazey Eyes Feat. Moli – Hungover You
I’m always feeling hungover these days so I can relate. Nice natural-sounding vocals mixed with 80s production.
‘Never Been Hurt Before’ is out now on Ultra Music.
Sounds like: Gryffin, Goldroom, Odesza, The Chainsmokers, Washed Out, Summer Heart, Bon Iver
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OH Wonder – Hallelujah
OH Wonder by Olga De La Iglesia
OH Wonder returns with the glorious new single, ‘Hallelujah’! Praise be!
The visuals, shot in one take, feature Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht in a field amongst a selection of multi-coloured church gowns. As colourful and catchy as ever.
Sounds like: IYES, Kid Astray, Banks, Fickle Friends, Monogem, Paperwhite, PROM, Blood Orange, Years & Years, Bipolar Sunshine, Broods, ASTR
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Islandis – Slow Down
Islandis by Cormac Power
Australian duo Islandis – aka producer/instrumentalist James Chave-Dubois & Ben McInerney – share their bright new single, ‘Slow Down’.
Sharing one song a year, this radiant upbeat jam breathes nostalgia and contagious pop hooks
Sounds like: New Navy, Phoenix, Foster The People, Goldroom, Strange Talk
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Daniella Mason – Woman Lover Powerful
Damn right, Nashville-based Daniella Mason knows the power she has a woman.
A modern feminist anthem through and through, it spells out the world from many womens’ eyes. Her forthcoming EP, ‘Physical State’ is due out this fall.
Sounds like: Imogen Heap, The Japanese House, Robyn, Maggie Rogers, Billie Eilish, George Gretton, Luna Pines
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Tony Njoku – CONFIDENT
Nigerian-British avant-pop auteur and artist Tony Njoku shares the brilliant new Max Jedwab-directed video for ‘CONFIDENT’.
The intense single adopts a confessional, diary-like intimacy underpinned by whirring synths, which dissolve into effervescent chaos.
It is taken from his new album, ‘Your Psyche’s Rainbow Panorama’, released on 4 October via Silent Kid Records, in which he has taken inspiration from a work of Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s glass walkway, entitled ‘Your Rainbow Panorama’.
Sounds like: Sacred Animals, Ben Khan, Flying Lotus, Ghostpoet, Gaika, Lightfoot
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Zanski – Younger You Feat. Emilia Ali
Zanski digs deeper with his creative new single, ‘Younger You’.
A laid-back RnB affair, Zanski has teamed up with vocalist Emilia Ali to deliver unparalleled vocal lines, rich harmonies, and sweet grooves that perfectly showcase his ability for some serious tuneage, with as much intrigue and substance as James Blake or Jai Paul.
Sounds like: Ben Khan, James Blake, Honne, Banks, Jai Paul
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Slow Shudder – Just As You Are
Pop music is always in a state of flux, and there are always artists doing interesting things with it if you know where to look. This week it’s Seattle-based producer-singer-songwriter Slow Shudder.
Reminiscent of the likes of Robokid and PC Music artists, ‘Just As You Are’ walks a fine line of forward-thinking contemporary production and early 00’s sugary pop, for a delightfully charming ballad.
Sounds like: VÉRITÉ, Robokid
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Broken Back – One By One Feat. Alle Farben
It’s coming to the end of summer, which is why you need to listen to the almost-tropical ‘One By One’ by Broken Back and featuring Alle Farben.
The combination of Broken Back’s upbeat and quirky energies with his whimsical vocal styling, combine effortlessly alongside Alle Farben’s diverse, colorful, and boundless spirit.
It’s out now via Sony Music/Ultra Records.
Sounds like: Klingande, Möwe
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You could be forgiven for mistaking Alexina is from Scandi heritage with her electrifying take on electro-pop, but she was in fact born in London and grew up in a very remote part of the south of Scotland.
Exploring the arts – music, art and literature, Alexina was surrounded by creative thinkers, so it’s no surprise that she has a number of projects under her belt. She is currently working on a teen Sky TV programme (with film composer Ilan Ishkeri) and writing her very own children’s book. This is alongside composing music for a forthcoming Sylvester Stallone movie, as well as the recently released Margot Robbie movie Terminal.
Both of the below tracks are taken from Alexina’s forth-coming debut EP which tells a relatable story; a girl growing up, post-break up and broke in a city where life is tough, tackling social media and the evils it comes with, self-worth, drink, drugs and everything in between.
Sounds like: ALMA, Tove Lo, Sigrid, Broods, Carly Rae Jephsen
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