French electro-duo Synapson is comprised of multi-instrumentalists Alexandre Chiere (keyboard, beat and vocals) and Paul Cucuron (drums, scratch, record production and mixing). The boys have teamed up with Canadian singer and winner of the Vocal Jazz Album of the Year at Juno Awards of 2020, Dominique Fils-Aimé, to share their brand new single ‘Stand Tall’.
The result is luscious loops of Balearic goodness assorted with soul melodies and deep house sonics.
French synth-dance duo Caspian Pool likes to keep us on our toes with their wide-ranging selection of electronic music. Cue the colour-fuelled visuals for the foot-thumping ‘Insider’.
Sounds like: Nimmo, The Chemical Brothers, Hercules & Love Affair, Goldfrapp, Joe Goddard, Chvrches, Digitalism, Holy Ghost!, Boys Noize, Little Dragon, Cut Copy, Icona Pop
Anthemic alt-rock band Psyence returns with psychedelic sensibilities in rousing new single ‘Retrospect’, reminding us that every bitter end has a new beginning.
Distinctive Norwegian voice, Beharie shares his soulful, folk and ambient blend in the form of ‘Me and My Lonely’. Pastoral and beautiful, the track orbits a peaceful finger-picked acoustic riff.
Wigan-based four-piece Flechettes share the radio-ready and uplifting ‘Chasing Youth’, with blazing indie-pop guitar riffs and catchy vocals, making for a seriously dynamic record.
Sounds like: Sea Girls, Red Rum Club, The Blinders, Stanleys, Garden Party
22-year-old producer, songwriter and musician Ethan Bedell – aka Chillhum – shares ‘Dancing Alone’, a stripped back and melodic blissed-out track that celebrates the joys of being alone.
Sounds like: Gaspar Narby, Couro, Flume, Ed Sheeran, Flume, Louis The Child, Petit Biscuit, Troye Sivan, Robotaki
Songwriting heavyweight Bre Kennedy winds down for the cooler months with her acoustic track ‘Where Did Summer Go’, a nostalgic ballad that symbolises the passing and loss of time and dreams that never got to see the heat of summer.
Dark-pop artist Izza chronicles the ups and downs of dealing with anxiety and depression in a world where people are obsessed with the perceived perfection of their online selves, in new single ‘Lows’.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Timsters is the project of French-born, former truck driver Julien.
A surprising work history perhaps, but his love of music is what got him to where he is today. The singer-songwriter-producer develops his own Lynchesque touch mixed with classy pop songwriting in a retro meets futuristic way.
French producer, composer, and songwriter Petit Biscuit has teamed up with the forward-thinking artist, Shallou, on tranquil and nostalgic new single, ‘I Leave Again’.
Petit Biscuit explains about the collab,
“We first met when Shallou supported me on my first American tour and what I saw on stage was absolutely crazy. Joe is a passionate guy and a nice human being and we became friends. I came to the US in April 2019 for a change of scenery to get some inspiration for my new music and I invited Joe to come to where I was staying to work on some music together. We spent hours listening to a lot of different stuff and tried lots of different things, but it wasn’t until a few months later that we had finally found the perfect tune to collaborate on. “I Leave Again” is about the end of a relationship with all of its nostalgia, but we’ve tried to turn it into “the song to a new start,” with all of the excitement that it can bring.”
As for Shallou, he remarks,
“In some ways, this pandemic has made musicians from all over the world more likely to connect. I have traditionally made music on my own, then sharing the demos with artists over the internet to collaborate with. These past years I’ve made an effort to connect more in person in the studio. Now that it can’t happen, I feel like a lot of bedroom producers are reaching out again the old way. Petit and I connected on this one online and it was really fun to work on something that feels like a true combination of our sounds.”
Self-described composers/sound artists/instrument inventors, Archil & Leon collaborate on brave new single, ‘Faith’.
The visuals for the innovative pop number depict the quest for faith; the meaning of life. Shot in a breathtaking hidden avant-garde church, it is their first release as a duo, and the choreography is stunning.
Sounds like: James Blake, Weval, Bonobo, Floating Points, Four Tet, Apparat
Looking for a soulful release this Spring time? Look no further than this delightful song from rising multi-instrumentalist Pastel featuring the stunning vocals of Ben Kessler.
Having already remixed records for the likes of Camila Cabello, Pastel is entering 2020 with his strongest material yet.
‘Daylight’ is the latest creation from the London based French-Polynesian, taking us on a beautiful journey of whimsical, funked-up neo-soul. ‘Daylight’ is the third single off the forthcoming EP ‘Cereal’ due for release in June.
Christine and the Queens shares the beautiful ‘People, I’ve been sad’.
A minimalistic and melancholic rendition, sung in both English and French, it’s a true piece of Letessier’s still vulnerable heart about teenage sorrow, an inward approach and yet a sad unity.
Watch the COLORS session below.
Sounds like: HAIM, MUNA, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Robyn, Empress Of, Roisin Murphy, St. Vincent, ÄTNA
French composer and “perfectionist machinist” Epic Empire brings joy to our ears with the new song, ‘Go On’.
Asking for us to search deep inside ourselves, the emotive track echoes both the old school touches of Moby as well as more modern producers, Model Man.
Norweigan band Sløtface shares ‘Tap the Pack’ – a raw and catchy self-pep talk about keeping fear by your side to drive you and not letting it bring you down.
Their album ‘Sorry For The Late Reply’ is out at the end of the month via Nettwerk/Propellor Recordings.
Wow, the German music scene is really blossoming at the moment. Munich-based band KYTES is bringing some positive energy in the new video for the indie-pop banger, ‘GO OUT’.
Reminiscing to a time when life seemed easier, ‘GO OUT’ is a throw-back tune through and through and celebration of teenage years.
Sounds like: Phoenix, Blossoms, High Tyde, Travis, Them Swoops, Native People, Strange Talk, Two Door Cinema Club, Parcels
Dan Croll returns with the release of double A-side single ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Stay In L.A.’ through Communion Records.
Following a transition to California from Liverpool two years ago, Croll’s writing has taken a more sunny demeanor, although there still remains a contemplative undercurrent with a gentle nod to his home town.
Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens, The Beatles, Elton John, Bombay Bicycle Club
Started by London-based Zygmunt Day, Joe Hyam and Nathan Kerntiff in 2019, Bad Progress is an experimental and refreshingly practical project that focuses on “the blend of musical styles playing in pubs and out of car windows in London” in a timeless and often scrappy style.
Their philosophy is “just make it easy”, which can be seen in their EP, ‘Moody Bangers’, out now.
Sounds like: Fontaines D.C., Black Midi, The Clash, Black Country New Road
Big Fox might not be a name on the lips of the UK music lovers, but she has had huge success around Europe, especially Scandinavia, Germany, Italy and France.
The fragility of her new single ‘Beast’ is moving – she interrogates the process of using violence and fear to enforce order, and frames through a plucky-pop lens.
Multi-talented Scandinavian songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, singer and producer Emil Wilk, better known as M.I.L.K releases new single ‘Need A Witness’ via Capitol Universal.
His new, self-produced single, ‘Need A Witness’ is a feel good and laid back jam full of technicolor. Expect his forthcoming debut album ‘Always Summer Somewhere’ set for release in March.
French duo Saavan is comprised of Lucas Mokrani and Claire Lengaigne.
Their contemplative single ‘Young Minds’ sits alongside their current collection of brooding electronica, as an observation of “how the masses are dealing with a higher power, and how the rulers know how to handle them: without fighting back but misleading everyone.”
Thw track is taken from the forthcoming sophomore EP ‘Observatory’, out on 29 November.
Sounds like: Møme, Petit Biscuit, Foals, Fakear, Bonobo, Alt-J, Odesza
