Tag Archives: Emma McGrath

Weekly Gems 131

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Attawalpa – Done Hanging On

Attawalpa by Holly Whittaker

Attawalpa by Holly Whittaker

Very much a leftfield psychedelic visual and auditorial journey, former Jamie T guitarist Attawalpa shares the timeless hand-painted visuals for ‘Done Hanging On’, by modern visionaries Alex Gamsu Jenkins and Joe Taylor.

Sounds like: Jude Shuma, Alfie Templeman, Muck Spreader, Leonard Cohen

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Caspian Pool – Special Way Reloaded

Caspian Pool by Quentin Deronzier

Caspian Pool by Quentin Deronzier

Strongly influenced by 90’s French touch and techno, two French characters from Annecy, namely Low Bird (vocals) and Jimmy Q (guitars, synthesizers, production) – aka Caspian Pool, blast their contagious electronic cold wave in ‘Special Way Reloaded’.

Sounds like: FFO: Nimmo, The Chemical Brothers, Hercules & Love Affair, Goldfrapp, Joe Goddard, Chvrches, Digitalism, Holy Ghost!, Boys Noize, Little Dragon, Cut Copy, Icona Pop

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Lucia & The Best Boys – Forever Forget

Lucia & The Best Boys by Oli Erskine

Lucia & The Best Boys by Oli Erskine

The dreamy ‘Forever Forget’ is taken from Lucia & The Best Boys‘ new EP, ‘The State of Things’, and is a generous nod to the 80’s queens, Pat Benatar and Stevie Nicks.

Sounds like: Pat Benatar, Yonaka, Calva Louise, Courtney Love, Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Miley Cyrus

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Emanuel – Black Woman

Emanuel by Eric Miles

Emanuel by Eric Miles

Toronto R&B artist and songwriter Emanuel shares his new single ‘Black Woman’. Written a year ago, the message hasn’t changed – it’s a healing, celebratory ode to the resilience of Black women.

Sounds like: John Legend, Dylan Sinclair, Son Little, Michael Kiwanuka

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Sirens of Lesbos – PALA

Sirens Of Lesbos by Dominik Hodel

Sirens Of Lesbos by Dominik Hodel

Swiss sibling collective Sirens of Lesbos gear up to release their album, with the release of new single, ‘Pala’. It’s turned-on pop for a new psychedelic age.

Sounds like: De Hofnar, MYNGA, Talking Heads, Outkast

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Julia Church – Don’t Really Care What We Call It

Julia Church

South-African songwriter-producer Julia Church shares catchy pop gem ‘Don’t Really Care What We Call It’, a song about navigating those awkward feelings in a new relationship.

Sounds like: London Grammar, Emma McGrath, Violet Days, Birdy, GRACEY, Harlequin Gold, Millie Turner, Louise Burns, Tom Odell, Monogem

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Lissy Taylor – High

Lissy Taylor

British singer-songwriter Lissy Taylor shares her alluring single, ‘High’. Echoes of Lana Del Rey ooze from untamed Lissy, amongst the soft guitar riffs, driving rock percussions, and jangling tambourine.

Sounds like: Lana Del Rey

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Felix Räuber – Autsider

Felix Räuber by Madlen Krippendorf

Felix Räuber by Madlen Krippendorf

German multi-instrumentalist turned producer, Felix Räuber‘s bold new video aims to turn the preconceptions surrounding autism on its head, as it tells the story of an autistic character, deemed to be an outsider.

Sounds like: Aquilo, Solomon Grey, Son Lux, Nils Frahm, Ulrich Schnauss

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Weekly Gems 127

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Julia Church – Marionette

Julia Church

One of our favs of 2020, South-African born songwriter-producer Julia Church, unveils her breezy new cut ‘Marionette’. A catchy track with clear intentions that showcase her stunning vocal range and innate ability to create a wonderful pop earworm.

Sounds like: London Grammar, Emma McGrath, Violet Days, Birdy, GRACEY, Harlequin Gold, Millie Turner, Louise Burns, Tom Odell

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Jimi Somewhere – Jesus Feat. Kacy Hill

Jimi Somewhere by Dev Dhunsi

Jimi Somewhere by Dev Dhunsi

Jimi Somewhere combines unique Christian rock and modern, sheeny emo. Inspired by Christian summer camps and his frustration & feeling of loss growing up as a Christian, the track features the angelic vocals of Kacy Hill.

Sounds like: Owen, Máni Orrason

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Lucky Idiot – Mud

Lucky Idiot

Lucky Idiot is an exciting new project from Maxwell Byrne (Golden Vessel), Kalem Woo (Rei So La) and Rei Sakakibara (Sweater Curse). Expect an upcoming debut EP, ‘Low Ceiling’, to be released in October via sumoclic.

Sounds like: Good Morning, Loving, Big Thief, Golden Vessel

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Dr Orange – Take

Dr Orange - Take<

Liverpool’s Dr Orange – aka Chas Moody – draws on indie alt-rock. His new single, ‘Take’, is luscious, high-frequency rock n roll with authentic nuances of a leftfield nature.

Sounds like: Attawalpa, The Last Shadow Puppets, The Libertines

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Weekly Gems 123

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Georgie – Chasing Kites

Georgie - Chasing Kites

UK-based Georgie shares the expressive ‘Chasing Kites’ taken from her album, out now. Georgie was the first signing to Soul Kitchen Recordings (the label set up by Jake Bugg’s management company: Soul Kitchen), and it’s the only song on the album that she didn’t write or produce during the lockdown. Listen below for that uplifting feel.

Sounds like: Sigrid, Adele, Emma McGrath

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Kasbo – Play Pretend Feat. Ourchives

Kasbo by Olof Grind

Kasbo by Olof Grind

Swedish artist and producer Kasbo shares his emotionally-charged new single ‘Play Pretend’. Featuring Ourchives’ soaring vocals, the track marks a new chapter ahead of his second studio album ‘The Making of a Paracosm’ will be out on 23 October via Foreign Family Collective / Counter Records, and features a passionate embrace amongst nature.

Sounds like: Frida Sundemo, Talos, Gryffin, Vanic, Shallou

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Jesse Hite – I’m Glad You Called Me

Jesse Hite

American-born French residing Jesse Hite combines music from the West Coast of the US with synth-laden electro inspired by his French antics. His new single ‘I’m Glad You Called Me’ combines poppy hooks with a generous nod to 80s disco.

Sounds like: Róisín Murphy, Shy Girls, Jungle, LCD Soundsystem, Ian Brown, Goldroom

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Dominic Fike – Double Negative (Skeleton Milkshake)

Dominic Fike by Daniel Prakopcyk

Dominic Fike by Daniel Prakopcyk

A new wave of rockstars are taking over, and with Billie Eilish‘s seal of approval, Dominic Fike is making huge waves with his modern take on emo-pop. The track ‘Double Negative (Skeleton Milkshake)’ is one of the more indietronica-friendly tracks taken from his genre-bending new album, ‘What Could Possibly Go Wrong’.

Sounds like: Glass Animals

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Glass Animals – It’s All So Incredibly Loud

Glass Animals by Ollie Trenchard

Glass Animals by Ollie Trenchard

Glass Animals shares the David Wilson (Tame Impala, Christine and the Queens) directed video for new single, ‘It’s All So Incredibly Loud’. Written about three seconds of life, in which during that short heartbreaking moment, devastation creates a deafening silence, followed by a point of no return.

Sounds like: alt-J, Tender, Pale Hands, Foreign Air, Everything Everything, Son Lux

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Red Robyn – I’ll Stay The Same

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Red Robyn

The wonderful Red Robyn shares her delicate new single, ‘I’ll Stay The Same’, taken from her trilogy EP called ‘Girls Wear Pink’, out now.

A delicate rendition with pleasing vocal tones and instrumentation, her music is a mirror that reflects the current state of the world.

Radiating a strong sense of self-worth and surety, the new single is exactly what we need right now.

Sounds like: HAIM, Maggie Rogers, Chairlift, Lykke Li, King Princess, The Aces, Phoebe Bridgers, Wet, Men I Trust, LÉON, Emma McGrath, Birdy

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Weekly Gems 116

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XY&O – Left Alone

XY&O - Left Alone

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.

Sounds like: Kid Astray, Sir Sly, Lost Boy Crow, Nonaphoenix

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Limón Limón – Barcelona

Limón Limón

Future indie duo Limón Limón is taking us back to sweeter times in ‘Barcelona’.

Conjuring up dreams of warm summer nights sitting on the beach drinking wine, as the salt air drifts over our warm bodies. Perfect!

Sounds like: Midnight Pool Party, La Felix, All The Rest, argonaut & wasp, Goldroom, Pastel, 90’s Kids, Empire of the Sun

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Jamws – Toronto

Jamws - Toronto

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.

Sounds like: Summer Heart, The 1975

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Max Alexander – Stay Where You Are

Max Alexander - Stay Where You Are

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’.

Sounds like: WEIRDO

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Victor Perry – What I Observe

Victor Perry

It’s always worthwhile to take a step back sometimes, and reflect.

NYC-based singer-songwriter/vocalist Victor Perry 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.

Sounds like: Rhye, Rationale, Jacob Banks, James Blake, The Weeknd, Labrose

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dekleyn – Who We Are

dekleyn - Who We Are

Australian duo dekleyn fuses electro-pop with pop-leaning dance in the catchy single, ‘Who We Are’.

It touches on the topical subject of mental health and the sense of vulnerability that comes with almost every relationship.

Sounds like: LANY, joan, LAUV

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PELA – South Of

PELA

South London duo PELA share ‘South Of’, the first song they wrote together.

Amalgamating differing musical influences, it’s another stellar example of the duo’s sonic trajectory into a moody, melodic melodious song.

Sounds like: Kudu Blue, James Blake, KAYTRANADA

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Amy Milner – Wildside

Amy Milner

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.

Sounds like: Birdy, Emma McGrath, Florence + The Machine

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Jens – Nocturnal

Jens by Sigurd Fandango

Jens by Sigurd Fandango

Bergen-born Jens could be the next big Scandi-pop superstar.

His off-kilter single ‘Nocturnal’ has all the makings of a pop banger – upbeat, catchy vocal hooks with a carefree bass line.

Sounds like: Troye Sivan, Myylo, Charlie Puth

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Julia Church – Japan

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Julia Church - Japan

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

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Weekly Gems 86

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Neon Strangers – Stuck In A Rhythm

Neon Strangers by Ronja Dahlgren

Neon Strangers by Ronja Dahlgren

‘Stuck In A Rhythm’ by Swedish duo Neon Strangers is short, sentimental and sweet.

The duo – comprised of Anton Ericson and Robin Dahlgren – explore their very own take on emotional songwriting, and what it’s like to be human.

Sounds like: Of Monsters And Men, Born Strangers

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Sophie Kilburn – Indigo Fever

Sophie Kilburn

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

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Tyler Meacham – Say Yes

Tyler Meacham

Tyler Meacham is one lady who, when she makes mistakes along the way, gets up, dusts herself off and tries again.

‘Say Yes’ is a punchy pop number with a slice of attitude for the modern female generation.

Sounds like: VÉRITÉ, Maggie Rogers, City & Colour

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School of X – Write My Name

School of X by Jonas Bang

School of X by Jonas Bang

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.

Sounds like: MGMT, The Flaming Lips, Cat Power

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Stranger Girl – Find The Humour

Stranger Girl

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.

Sounds like: Wolf Alice

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The Chevin – Big Machine

The Chevin

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

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Emma McGrath – Other Side

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Emma McGrath

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

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Weekly Gems 69

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ROE – GIRLS

ROE

Derry-based ROE releases ‘GIRLS’, a call out out to the unrealistic expectations on social media and loving yourself for who you are.

Things seem to be going pretty well for ROE, having supported SNow Patrol on tour and playing SXSW and The Great Escape festivals this year.

Sounds like: Emma McGrath, Soak, Gabrielle Aplin

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Harry Nathan – Blue Eyed Girl

Harry Nathan

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.

Sounds like: Moby

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M w S – Too Young to Know

M w S

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

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Naah – Wake Up Feat. C. Gold

Naah - Wake Up Feat. C. Gold

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

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Aaron Taos – Bloom

Aaron Taos by Dave Krugman

Aaron Taos by Dave Krugman

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.

Sounds like: Yoke Lore, MP The Kid

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Weekly Gems 55

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RKCB – Till We’re In The Sea

RKCB

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.

Sounds like: Ásgeir, Talos, Aquilo, Solomon Grey

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Like Swimming – The Ground

Like Swimming by C. Johan Knobe

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

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ROE – Down Days

ROE

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

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Jack Hawitt – Grow

Jack Hawitt

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.”

Sounds like: Matt Corby, Freya Ridings

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Fintan – Say It Again

Fintan

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.

Sounds like: Troye Sivan

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Trapdoor Social – The Move

Trapoor Social

Independent band Trapdoor Social are on ‘The Move’ with new single.

Blending Cali surf rock with pop/rock, the band’s music is energetic and passionate, with lyrics that play with love, philosophy, and social critique.

Sounds like: The Kooks, Panic! At The Disco, Great Good Fine Ok

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