Looking incredibly familiar in their press picture, with a glint of political satire, the Avante-Garde German duo ÄTNA releases their dark and rebellious new single, ‘Grinding’.
Australian artist Benji Lewis shares the result of his recent lockdown songwriting, with ‘Everything’s Alright’. Written with Golden Vessel, the track touches on the importantness of freedom.
Sounds like: The 1975, The Kite String Tangle, Antony Hegarty, Active Child, Gallant, Sam Smith, Solomon Grey, James Blake, Yazz, Jack Garratt, Disclosure, Jeremy Zucker, Shallou, Emmit Fenn
Alex Frew – Antisocial Love Song Feat. A Is for Arrows
Alex Frew touches on the difficulties of being alone with new song, ‘Antisocial Love Song’, featuring the delicate tones of A Is for Arrows. A pop ballad at heart with harder hitting lyrics.
Nicole Chambers is confidence setting in her single ‘Warm Body’, taken from her debut album, ‘Voice of a Virgo’. A new voice on the R&B and neo-soul scene, with a killer falsetto that demands attention.
Showing how you can make music regardless of a lockdown, rising UK artist Asha Gold shares her sweet new single ‘Debut’, written on Zoom with producer Mitch Jones.
Gay comedian and musician Joe Parsons shows a vulnerable and serious side in his new single, ‘Repair’. With tinges of folktronica and alt-pop, the shimmering track is written about toxic masculinity.
Cornwall-based multi-instrumentalist and producer KarumCooper has a new lo-fi jazz/soul project called Webmoms. The new single ‘Summer Salad’ is a tasty selection of rich, audible treats with jazzy licks and organic grooves.
Ambient grunge-pop band Crush will be your latest just that.
Their latest single, ‘All My Plants Are Dead’ exhales Millenial dilemmas, of struggling to look after your houseplants, and yourselves in a bittersweet yet discordant offering.
Alt-pop band Sarpa Salpa always strive to create upbeat, danceable tracks with unexpected changes and hidden meanings. The new video for their single ‘Lost Time’ aptly features a selection of tour clips showing this.
With support from Jack Saunders and Bombay Bicycle Club, definitely tune into these guys.
Sounds like: Island Club, Larkins, FEET, Two Door Cinema Club
Very much up to date with indie-pop trends, UK based trio Cassia, shares latest jam, ‘Do Right’, which talks about waking up to what’s happening in the world and making a conscious decision of wanting to make a positive change.
The video is set in sunny isolation. We love their all round positivity and sun drenched calypso sound.
Sounds like: Dancing on Tables, Vampire Weekend, Bombay Bicycle Club, Still Woozy
R&B artist Chloe Tang shares her latest single, offering a less rosy-colored side of love and youth.
Full of angst, she tells us how it is in ‘Fanning The Flame’. This isn’t a romantic gesture, this is a slow burn about knowing you’re trapped in a bad romance and knowing you’re powerless to escape it.
Magnus Bechmann‘s new release, ‘What Do You Know’ is the first single out from his upcoming album, which chronicles nine awkward situations from everyday life.
Considering a situation where you find yourself in a relationship that is better to get out of than to stay in, this is glistening indie pop that marks a bright new chapter in Magnus’ career.
Sounds like: Two Door Cinema Club, Bombay Bicycle Club
We know very little about experimental pop newcomer, This Boy from Denmark.
The duo’s first single, ‘Heart Is Broken’ drops just a few weeks ahead of their debut album – an unusual and bold move in a single release-dominated pop landscape.
Runrummer – I Like Getting High (But Not All The Time)
Whilt growing up, 25-year old East London-based singer-songwriter Runrummer (real name Livi Morris) faced a struggle to find herself as she came to terms with her sexuality and gender identity.
Addressing serious issues in the juxtaposed context of upbeat, electronic-pop anthems, she aims to inspire and strives to work with other creators in the LGBTQ+ space.
Introducing the new project by Pietro Filippone – aka uomo.
His latest release, ‘All I Hear’, is the first song that Filippone has written by himself for the project. A decent bit of autotune in there, the softer house elements give the song a gorgeously gentle uplift.
Sounds like: Henry Green, Roosevelt, Goldroom, Hayden James, Elderbrook
Bristol-based quartet Tungz combines effortless funk riffs with infectious vocal melodies and indie-pop sounds in new single, ‘Can’t We Just Be Friends Again’, out now via Heist or Hit.
It speaks of the confusion and the weird frustration that comes with wanting to snap back to being happy with someone you’ve only ever really been cool with before.
Sounds like: Ben Khan, Christine & The Queens, Patawawa, Bamily
DJ and producer Amtrac has teamed up with Grammy Award-winning British musician, DJ and producer Alex Metric on vocals in new single, ‘So Afraid’.
Looping vocals contemplate a simple question, “why you so afraid of love?” as Alex Metric’s breathy, enunciated voice lends an edge to the droning synths beneath, forming a steady crescendo of sound and passion that blooms.
UK duo Dirty Nice releases ‘100,000 Heartbeats’. A synth-wave pop at the core, it’s the perfect counterpart to the more lo-fi B-side, ‘Love Team’.
Originally presented as a special Valentines Day release, Dirty Nice sent a number of personalised cards to fans. Continuing this theme on their Instagram, an intergalactic cartoon epic has unfolded with a new card revealed every day.
Sounds like: Elder Island, Camel Power Club, Gorillaz, Everyone You Know, 10 O’Clock Chemical
Norwegian native, singer/songwriter and producer Rebekka Danielsson – aka EKKO – shares the visuals for ‘Off My Mind’.
Highly energetic, glorious pop with addictive melodic hooks and immaculate production this tune ticks all the boxes to be a serious club anthem and floor filler.
Expect her debut EP ‘Symptoms’ out later in the year.
Sounds like: Tove Lo, Chelsea Lankes, Allie X, ALMA, Kim Petras
Rising Danish pop songstress ELBA is making waves.
Starting her musical journey in the local choir at the age of six, it was clear her destiny was singing. Her new single ‘Remember Me’ showcases her powerful vocal range, and perfectly fits with the electro-pop production.
The Norweigan artists are smashing it this week, and it’s truly great to see Emilie Nicolas return.
Showing a new side to her music – less “cool pop” and more reflective – ‘Who’s Gonna Love You’ is centred around the difficulties of letting go of a relationship, succinctly capturing despair, unbridled joy, and the desire to dance.
Stockholm siblings Alva & August Heldt are The Endorphins.
As their name suggests, their feel-good future pop is set to induce endorphins. As they put it – “It’s about love, friendship, parties and sex“, and what’s wrong with that!
Listen to self-expressive ‘Dead Or Alive’ below.
Sounds like: The Magnettes, Banks, Fabich, Pastel, Midnight Pool Party, Keljet
Our favourite German-based newcomer, ÄTNA shares the video for ‘Won’t Stop’, along with the release of their debut album, ‘Made By Desire’, both out now via Humming Records.
The striking visual from the avant-garde duo was filmed in Italy, close to the Croatian border, as the sun came up, and encapsulates the sense of alienation and dystopian unease which lies at the music’s heart, as well as the dramatic, celebratory feeling of emancipation embedded in the song’s lyrics.
Live
26.02 Ludwigshafen – dasHaus
27.02 CH-Baden – Royal
28.02 CH-St.Gallen – OYA Bar
29.02 CH-Biel – Le Singe
01.03 Esslingen – Cosmic Playgrounds / Dieselstrasse
06.03 Dresden – Objekt klein a
07.03 Wuppertal – Loch
08.03 Köln – Jaki
11.03 Berlin – Lido
12.03 Hamburg – Übel & Gefährlich / Turmzimmer
13.03 Nürnberg – Club Stereo
14.03 Jena – Kassablanca
18.03 AT-Wien – Fluc
19.03 AT-Salzburg – Rockhouse Bar
20.03 München – Milla
03.04 Lörrach – Between The Beats
16.04 Osnabrück – Popsalon / Haus der Jugend
16.04 Dresden – Beatpol
Sounds like: Grimes, Fever Ray, Vök, Kllo, Christine & The Queens, I Break Horses
The exciting Berlin-based duo combines dramatic electro-pop with an array of synth variations and visual art in an innovative manner. Their catchy single ‘Made By Desire’ is the title track from their upcoming album, released on Valentine’s Day via Humming Records.
Live
30.01. Rüsselheim – Theater
26.02. Ludwigshafen – Das Haus
27.02. CH-Baden – Royal
28.02. CH-St.Gallen – OYA Bar
29.02. CH-Biel – Le Singe
01.03. Esslingen – Cosmic Playgrounds / Dieselstrasse
06.03. Dresden – Objekt Klein A
07.03. Wuppertal – Loch
08.03. Köln – Jaki
11.03. Berlin – Lido
12.03. Hamburg – Übel & Gefährlich / Turmzimmer
13.03. Nürnberg – Club Stereo
14.03. Jena – Kassablanca
18.03. AT-Wien – Fluc
19.03. AT-Salzburg – Rockhouse Bar
20.03. München – Milla
03.04. Lörrach – Between The Beats
16.04. Osnabrück – Popsalon / Haus der Jugend
16.04. Dresden – Beatpol
Greek artist, Σtella has just released her highly anticipated sophomore album, ‘Works For You’.
To celebrate, Σtella has put together a playlist for us. Enjoy!
Moscoman, Manfredas – Dévoué (Manfredas Remix) First time I heard this song I kinda felt like I was tripping, in a good way. I’m happy to have shared the stage with Moscoman once.
Arthur Russell – Springfield Arthur Russell will always remain a mystery to me. It ‘s music from outer space in a way.
Yello – Oh Yeah Really don’t know how to comment on this. Just a good listen and a place for phantasies.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love “She don’t want to be a man or a woman”. Good for her.
Grace Jones – Pull Up To The Bumper I love this song so much. It explodes in my head every time.
Julian Casablancas – 11th Dimension
This track takes me back in time, it’s got that heart ache feeling you just can’t miss.
KAYTRANADA – BREAKDANCE LESSON N.1 A DJ and a good friend of mine introduced me to this song by Kaytranada, and now I play it whenever I wanna shake my head a little.
Red Axes, Abrão – Balma (feat. Abrão) Loving Red Axes this year, they did a show In Athens last month. Good boys.
Jean-Jacques Perrey – Cat In The Night I sadly found out about Jean Jacques Perrey the day he died, late 2016. This man was a genius and is really worthy to listen to pretty much everything he’s done.
Toro y Moi – Lilly “This place is up for grabs, I give it to you for free”, that line was stuck in my head for a long time. Really good sound.
Fleetwood Mac – Never Going Back Again – Remastered The album “Rumours” has been one of my favorite albums ever, but just recently I gave a lot of attention to this track in the album. How sweet.
LA Priest – Lorry Park
LA Priest hit me in the stomach at around 0:50 with that beat, oh man, thanks.
Alan Hawkshaw – Beach Journey Super fine tune by Mr Alan Hawkshaw. This track takes me places I didn’t know existed.
Vulfpeck – Back Pocket
Bravo, Bravo, Bravo to Volfpeck for this massive funky smart track.
‘Works For You’ is out now via Inner Ear Records and is seriously good. Listen to ‘Way To Go’ below.
Sounds like: Kaleida, Annie Lennox, New Order, Depeche Mode, The Human League, Cash+David, Christine & The Queens
