What a way to kick off the gems this week! Welcome back XY&O.
Teasing a debut album (finally!) comes ‘Left Alone’ – another slice of hazy pop with simple and effective melodic structures, and of course, Skip Curtis’ luscious vocal mix.
When you are in flow, you are completely engrossed in the task in hand. Hours can pass without even noticing. This appears to have happened to South London multi-instrumentalist, performer and bedroom producer Jamws whilst working on his debut EP ‘Toronto’.
The five heartfelt tracks describe various stages of heartbreak, starting with a separation, following his partner of ten years moving to Toronto.
Max Alexander is a new alt-pop singer/songwriter from London.
Originally an acoustic artist by heart, he’s decided to go straight in with the electric guitar, to create an all together fist-to-chest sound in ‘Stay Where You Are’.
It’s always worthwhile to take a step back sometimes, and reflect.
NYC-based singer-songwriter/vocalist VictorPerry does exactly that in his lyrically mature new song ‘What I Observe’. As he croons in a poetic form of self-expression, we witness a subtle electro-pop space in which the track really starts to breathe.
Singer/songwriter Amy Milner shares her new single, ‘Wildside’.
Written about catching yourself before you lose control, facing those demons and welcoming the dark side of your mind, it’s energetic commercial alt-pop at its finest.
South African born Julia Church woos us with her baritone vocals and effortless pop energy.
Starting off as a smooth, soulful number, the pace soon picks up with an epic backbone of a drum groove driven by her more soaring, distinctive vocal.
She explains about the track,
“Admittedly, I have never actually been to Japan but have always been intrigued by it. It strikes me as a sort of enigmatic paradise, brimming with natural beauty that I could envision losing myself in. This song is essentially about losing yourself in a new world.”
Sounds like: London Grammar, Emma McGrath, Violet Days, Birdy, GRACEY, Harlequin Gold, Millie Turner, Louise Burns, Tom Odell
Introducing Derbyshire-born Sophie Kilburn and her debut single ‘Indigo Fever’.
It’s a beautiful fiery alt-pop number that showcases Kilburn’s powerful songwriting with an anthemic backdrop – “How can you love your body, when nobody is loving you?”
Listen below.
Sounds like: KT Tunstall, Florence & The Machine, Angie McMahon, Emma McGrath, PJ Harvey, Jade Bird
Touring drummer for MØ and Major Lazer, Copenhagen-based Rasmus Littauer spends the majority of his time on the road. When he does get some rare downtime, he spends it writing and producing tracks for his solo project, School Of X.
His evocative synth single, ‘Write My Name’ is the final single release before his ‘Destiny’ EP, which takes us on a journey of leaving doubts behind and looking forward.
Indie music often alludes to themes of adolescence, but what happens when indie bands grow up? Should their songwriting not follow suit? Stranger Girl are the perfect example of that, they retain all the trademark sonic tropes but their songwriting addresses navigating love in their twenties, hoping to ‘Find The Humour’ post-breakup.
Listen below and check out the warm fuzzy guitars set the perfect backdrop for frontwoman Melissa’s Blondie-inspired pop-rock vocal melodies.
We’re not going to feel bad for digging a band that racks up similarities to The Killers and U2.
The band in question is vibrant Leeds-based The Chevin, and we can’t help but admire their nod to energetic, 90’s rock in the new single, ‘Big Machine’.
Sounds like: The Wombats, The Killers, INXS, Duran Duran, U2
Emma McGrath is back with another knockout pop single called ‘Other Side’.
There is no doubt that Emma’s music has matured over the last year and this is adamantly clear in the bold, guitar-infused anthem, where we see a more vulnerable side of Emma.
Speaking about the track, Emma explains,
“Other Side is the first song I wrote in the US. The song started out with my best mate Alfie and I deciding we needed a quality country song, but it very, very quickly turned into something else! The song is about needing honesty; I can’t fix any of your problems, but I’ll promise to be there and help you through the ups and downs of life. I’m almost asking for permission, not wanting to give my all to something for fear of being let down; I’m searching for reassurance.”
‘Other Side’ is out today via Young Poet Records, and is taken from her upcoming four-track EP, to be released this Autumn.
Live
20 July – L Fest, Bodafon Farm, Llandudno, Wales
24 July – Blue Balls Festival, Switzerland w/ Charlotte Gainsbourg
27 July – The Drawing Room, Chesham, UK
27 July – Standon Calling, UK
2 August – Underneath The Stars, UK
18 – 21 September – Reeperbahn Festival, Germany
Sounds like: Soak, Florence + The Machine, London Grammar, Birdy, FOXES, Ed Sheeran
Dream-pop story teller Harry Nathan has just shared his debut EP, ‘Songs About Dreams About Her’, a piece of work true to himself.
A complete DIY project, the Australian producer/singer/songwriter/DJ ends the five-track EP with ‘Blue Eyed Girl,’ a closing and contemplation on the relationship as well as a little peek into the sound and direction of Harry’s production evolution on his next project.
M w S are a songwriting duo from a small town in Italy, that have made London their home for creating their distinctive, soulful-pop sound.
So the saying goes, you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone. And that’s exactly what ‘Too Young to Know’ discusses – a bittersweet nostalgia of love lost.
Sounds like: Marie Dahlstrom, Tom Misch, Oscar Jerome, Honne, Blood Orange
Introducing 22 year old Swedish songwriter Naah, who has dropped an absolute banger with C. Gold, called ‘Wake Up’.
A background in the indie rock and pop world, Naah’s release is refreshingly catchy. Not wanting to be pigeonholed as pop or electro, Naah has born a love child of modern dance-music and old-fashion disco.
Sounds like: Whethan, Daft Punk, Tove Lo, Terror JR, Ninajirachi
Aaron Taos‘ new single is about forbidden fruit, more specifically about him having a crush on his friend’s sister.
The video shows Aaron and his beau in a typical Sunday morning scene, set in a not so typical field of flowers, one that represent the fanasty of letting their love blossom.
Los Angeles-based duo RKCB shares the beautiful new single, ‘Till We’re In The Sea’.
RKCB fuses neo-soul, modern electronic R&B and dreamy synth-pop with avant-garde lyrics, resulting in an unparalleled sound that has echoes of Icelandic band, Ásgeir, bringing back memories of long drives by the cold seaside.
The song is taken from their ‘Shores’ EP which aims to tackle global warming and climate change.
It’s been a minute since we last covered Swedish trio, Like Swimming and goodness aren’t we glad they’re back!
‘The Ground’, the more organic and typical indie-pop style compared to their last single, ‘Strike A Pose’, is released ahead of their double EP Resistance / Relations’, out on DigSin.
Sounds like: Chvrches, Chrome Sparks, Of Monsters & Men
Rising folktronica artist ROE has just reeased her new single ‘Down Days’, whilst currently on a UK tour with Snow Patrol.
A song dedicated to those down days, the song is described as “grumpy electro-pop” by ROE herself, but we think this gives herself an injustice as we all suffer down days and there’s nothing wrong with being reflective about that.
‘Down Days’ is out now via Fictive Kin Records.
Sounds like: Emma McGrath, Soak, Florence + The Machine
You may not know the name Jack Hawitt, but you soon will.
Despite his HUGE success with previous releases with DJ Lucious and his cover of Dua Lipa‘s ‘Be The One’, his new single ‘Grow’ seems like the first personal release from the solo act – and one that is about “embracing the past and diving into the future.”
Meet Canadian busker and soon-to-be-artist, Fintan.
A deeply honest take on modern-day pop music, confessional track ‘Say It Again’ is the closest Fintan has come to knowing himself, being as deeply honest as possible.
We predict that 2019 will be the year of contemporary alt-jazz tunes. Setting the year off right is Tali (aka Tali Kouchnir) and her new single, ‘Comfortable In Another Bed’.
The video has a classic chic feel and cleverly leans into nostalgic tendencies with weighty folk-pop elements. About the track, Tali explains,
“This song is about working out if you will ever be comfortable with someone – really playing with the idea that comfort is love,” explains TALI. ‘Everyone wants love, and comfort can make or break that. What I was really asking here was ‘where’s that guy who brings that comfort and makes me feel good and safe through love?'”
Self-described “tragic” songstress Sasha is speaking a lyrical frankness in her new single, ‘Ouch!’, written about foreseeing being stung in a relationship.
The single blends unique and interesting soundscapes with sweet pop production and has elements of ‘Pure Imagination’ featured in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Tasty.
Sounds like: Billie Eilish, VÉRITÉ, Rae Morris, The Japanese House
Introducing the new project called Bohnes by Alex DeLeon from the band The Cab.
His new single ‘Raging On A Sunday’ is a frenetic two middle fingers to religion, caught up with an anthemic rock backdrop, glitches of grungy electronica and a retro-inspired, R&B-tipped vocal range.
Caymanian-born, London-based R&B newcomer Maeve shares the striking visuals for her new single ‘Eden’.
Directed by Black Dog Films‘ filmmaker Jade Jackman, choreographed by Liv Lockwood and styled by designer Asai (Dazed 100), the hallucinogenic and bestial video borders between what is real and what is not, conveying a sense of abandonment and isolation found in a toxic relationship.
The song is taken from her debut EP ‘Beasts’, out now.
Katy Tiz has teamed up with esteemed songwriter Ed Drewett on new single, ‘Life’, which has a Bonnie & Clyde context.
Recorded whilst suffering with laryngitis, this is a testament to Katy Tiz’s determination, and the result is a raw and enchanting song that is upfront and honest.
Sounds like: Ella Eyre, Meghan Trainor, Aly & AJ, Bonnie McKee
Golden Vessel (aka Max Byrne) returns with ‘Moonstone’, featuring friends Elkkle and Akurei.
The upbeat track once again incorporates Byrne’s signature cross-genre style, and futuristic production.
‘Moonstone’ is inspired by the historical investigation of missing moon rocks from NASA trips into space on Apollo 11. Legend has it that the specimens once brought back to earth in 1969 were distributed across the world in the famous Goodwill Moon Rocks initiative, only to, nearly 30 years later, have mostly vanished or become untraceable.
Sounds like: MØ, Brolin, The National, Gang of Youths, Bon Iver, Alex Vargas, TENDER, Kanyon, REFS
American producer Lincoln Jesser produces indie synth-pop with sky-high aspirations.
Growing up at school, Jesser would often play in jazz sessions during the breaks, but it wasn’t until he listened to The Strokes that his passion for music was spiked.
Moving slowly into the electronic realms of production brings us to Jesser’s release today, called ‘Undone’, which you can listen to below:
Emma McGrath continues to make waves in the pop world with the release of ‘Butterfly’ taken from her ‘Silent Minds’ EP, out on 13 April.
The song shows a more feisty and upfront side of Emma than her last release ‘Love You Better’, inspired about getting rid of fake people in your life and doing what is morally right instead of following the crowd, even though it may be detrimental to your own situation.
Disclosure: I am Emma’s publicist at the time of writing.
Sounds like: Soak, Florence + The Machine, London Grammar, Birdy, FOXES, Ed Sheeran
