You can’t go wrong with a Future Classic release. Cue ‘Nowhere To Go’ – the new collab between Australian talents, Hayden James & NAATIONS.
NAATIONS is a duo made up of singer/songwriter Nat Dunn who co-wrote Marshmello& Anne-Marie’s hit track ‘FRIENDS’ + Charli XCX’s single, ‘5 In The Morning’ and ex-Van She member + DJ Nicky Night Time also has been producing and writing for the likes of Purple Disco Machine and Kaz James.
Check out the video below:
Catch them supporting Hayden James on his North American and Australian tour in September.
Sounds like: Blonde, Just Kiddin, Goldroom, Lights
Madagascan musician NASAYA is bringing back the funk to our ears with his new single ‘Patterns’ featuring Montreal songstress, Sara Diamond.
Inspired by a vast spectrum of sounds, NASAYA champions jazz, electronic, pop, and classic rock, prompted by African, Indian, European, Malagasy, and Chinese cultures.
Forging a new path for his breezy take on syrupy electronica, ‘Patterns’ truly hits the spot.
It’s out now via Minerva Music – the new label from RAC and Goldroom.
Sounds like: Goldroom, Le Youth, Autograf, Pat Lok, Kaytranada, Shay Lia
0171 is Hackney duo Joe Bedell-Brill and Georgie Hoare.
Creating a beautiful clash of raw and honest music, the nostaglic dark pop duo shares their sophomore single, ‘SMTHN RL’. It explores a yearning for real experiences and real intimacy in a world where you can often feel distant from each other, and from your own life.
Canadian artist Tropic Harbour today releases his ‘Calm’ EP.
Not disimilar to his former releases, the lead single continues to serenade the listener, and gives further gravitas to the beat-maker’s own unique take on the chillwave sound.
Also one half of the esteemed roots band The Bros. Landreth, Joey takes a more emotional approach to his solo material, creating a bold and versatile sound that explodes with energy while also remaining captivating throughout.
Listen to ‘Cryin” below, with its James Bay vibes.
If you’re a fan of anything pop, there’s something for everyone in ORIION‘s latest, ‘Siren Call’.
His self-described ‘nostalgia pop’, walks the line from the 80s up to the modern day, with a one-a-kind vocal delivery that really conveys the lovesick motivations.
Manatee Commune is exploring music and life in his mid-20s.
His blissful new single ‘Growing Pains’ hits the crux of the issue. Immersed in a sober and earnest landscape, the song features Samuel Eisen-Meyers and is out now via Bastard Jazz.
Sounds like: John Mayer, Teen Daze, Goldroom, Tropic Harbour
If there is one thing to do this year, go see Bokito perform live.
Sitting in the gap between tropical indie pop and soulful funk, Bokito’s ‘Colleen Bawn’ is bursting with summery energy and fills you will and irrefutable urge to move. Frontman Moses Moorhouse’s vocal is the perfect compliment to the tasty groove set by the five-piece.
Sounds like: Two Door Cinema Club, Stereohoney, Shiners
Midnight Pool Party gives us a further taste of their EP on new single, ‘With You’.
A labour of love for the Australian duo, ‘With You’ was initially written in 2014 as just a chord progression. Gradually over the years, the pair have kept coming back to the track, matching their development and maturity as producers and songwriters.
The result is a nu-disco jam through and through. This will certainly ease your mind away from stresses of the day.
Rising pop artist Malory shares the beautiful ‘Blue Umbrella’, which we have had on repeat all week.
Seeking inspiration from life actions, ‘Blue Umbrella’’ started life on a tube journey after Malory had observed a family and noticed the father had a sadness in his eyes and seemed strangely discontented.
The Londoner was later in the studio making an experimental instrumental with producer Danny George when they noticed there was a blue umbrella left in the studio, which Malory found represented the image of an unhappy corporate figure in the rain on his way home from work.
Expect her debut album ‘Cornucopia’ out on 1 March.
Raised between Hong Kong and Aix en Provence in France, Paris-born singer/songwriter Noé doesn’t want to fit inside a musical box any longer.
Not quite defining her sound, her low-tempo music gathers inspiration from a blend of Pop, R&B and alt-indie sounds, tied together through painfully honest lyrics.
Her new single, ‘Pity Party’ highlights Noé’s tendencies to overthink and sometimes feel sorry for herself.
Exciting new Argentinian/American artist Crow shares the sultry single ‘Go’.
The song channels the idea of courage – following brutality at the hands of bullies during Crow’s school years – with hypnotic and melodic soundscapes and introspective reflection.
Forming in London, Gold Spectacles is the collaborative output of two British songwriter/producers who create “baroque-pop”.
Their new single ‘Courtside’ focuses on dependence in a long distance relationship, and uses flute, spanish guitar with analog synths to create a post-modern landscape.
Sounds like: Lykke Li, Bombay Bicycle Club, San Fermin, Fyfe, Astronauts, Carousel, Dan Croll, Nick Leng, Bibio, ROSTAM
Brooklyn-based duo Drinker shares ‘Something I Want’ – a track slightly darker than your average musical tipple.
Inspired by a mututal love of James Blake, songwriter Aaron Mendelsohn and producer Ariel Loh “wanted to create a visually diverse and bold message with the video for “Something I Want” and enlisted the help of NY based LGBTQ focused film maker Tyler Byrnes. With the implementation of stop motion animation and found footage, we aimed for a stark and surreal aesthetic to paint America’s multi-generational story of consumerism.“
Sounds like: Thom Yorke, James Blake, Trentemoller, The Acid, Fever Ray, Sevdaliza, Tame Impala
Dutch DJ/producer duo 2CRE8 has today released their debut single ‘Naughty Boy’.
Having spent their time growing up together at high school, it was until a gig in December 2014 that everything fell into place and they decided to form a duo.
Check out ‘Naughty Boy’ with its bold dance-led lyrics and a catchy flute drop, which definitely hints at their playful side.
Sounds like: Harlee, Just Kiddin, Blonde, The Magician, Calvin Harris, Rihanna
Externalising her thoughts, Ariela Jacobs considers the concept of missing her old self in new song ‘Missing You’.
New York born and Melbourne bred, indie-pop singer-songwriter Ariela Jacobs was raised on a diet of literature and art. Her songwriting sends the listener on a journey both intimate and other-worldly; with melodies with clear folk-based lines, underscored by lush chords and pulsing rhythms.
Seattle-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Diamond shares slow-burning pop song, ‘Steady’.
At just 25, Diamond already oozes so much self-love and confidence, and with this being a debut, we are blown away by his frank approach to welcoming such feel-good emotions.
‘Steady’ is out now via Stardog Records/Republic Records.
UK-born band Stats embrace spontaneity by transfusing genres in their music, such as 70’s art rock, 80’s synth grooves, and cosmic disco-pop.
The new single ‘Lose It’ is about temptations to simply vanish into thin air, a desire that most of us have probably faced in life. Let’s hope Stats don’t disappear anytime soon.
Expect their ‘Other People’s Lives’ album shortly.
Brighton trio Suzi Island shares vibrant new single, ‘Halo’.
Produced by Larry Hibbitt (Nothing But Thieves, SundaraKarma, SeaGirls, Marmozets), ‘Halo’ has a bittersweet sound throughout and is a clear bound forward for Suzi Island following their last two singles.
Sounds like: Nothing But Thieves, Sundara Karma, Sea Girls
Young & Sick is the project by musician and visual artist Nick van Hofwegen.
After a stroke of luck following a move from his home country of Holland to London, Nick was commissioned to put together artwork for artists such as Foster the People, Maroon5 and MikkyEkko.
If that wasn’t enough to contend with, this creative genius has taken his pen music and the result is funkily brilliant. His new single ‘Bitter End’ “is a celebration of seeing things through completely. It’s looking back at a pretty wild year of countless obstacles and turbulent skies. Through the eyes of an unstoppable maniac”.
You can purchase Young & Sick’s ‘Ojai’ EP on limited edition 7″ vinyl here, out now via Neon Gold Records / B3SCI Records.
He also plays some live dates supporting Our Lovely Friends and The Knocks (tickets here), where you can likely expect a multi-faceted experience of music performance and interactive art.
Tour Dates
Jan 24 // Vancouver, CA @ Fortune Sound Club
Jan 25 // Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
Jan 29 // Chico, CA @ Senator Theatre
Jan 31 // Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
Feb 1 // San Luis Obispo, CA @ The Fremont Theatre
Feb 2 // Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
Feb 5 // Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
Feb 6 // Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Feb 8 // Dallas, TX @ Dada Dallas
Feb 9 // Austin, TX @ Historic Scoot Inn
Feb 10 // Houston, TX @ Bronze Peacock Room
Feb 12 // St. Louis, MO @ The Ready Room
Feb 14 // Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
Feb 15 // Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
Feb 16 // Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
Feb 17 // Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Feb 20 // Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
Feb 21 // Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
Feb 23 // Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
Sounds like: Von Sell, The Knocks, Passion Pit, Summer Heart, Goldroom, Roosevelt, Sofi Tukker
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:
MONOGEM (aka Jen Hirsh) is back after a brief hiatus with ‘Shade’, an explorative song about standing up and speaking your truths, no matter what shades they may be.
Lead by dramatic pizzicato plucks, and written with pop songwriter and producer Bleu of Coach & Ref, MONOGEM explains of ‘Shade’,
“I wrote “Shade” on a day when I felt particularly bleak and dreary. Dark thoughts ran through my head about anything and everything: my artistry, my life, my body, my family, I was having one of those moments where nothing was right. As an artist, those days are more frequent than I’d like to admit. As a woman, I’ve felt pressure to cover up this little dark corner, put my face on and show up for the party. “Shade” is a personal anthem that reminds me to stop hiding my truths, even if they aren’t pretty.”
Sounds like: Goldroom, Silk Cinema, ASTR, July Child, Lights, Evvy, Micky Blue
We recently discovered rising pop-star, Harlee and we haven’t been able to get enough of her stunning debut four-track EP, ‘It’s Personal’.
The lead single from the EP, ‘Now I Know’, was written when Harlee was just 14 and explores the feelings that she experienced coming out of her first relationship and the first time she had ever felt pain.
Emphatic electro-pop band WYVE from France share their upbeat debut single, ‘Sunset on the Bay’.
Groovy by nature, WYVE effortlessly bounce between 80’s retro vibes and contemporary drumbeats and sugary synths. Having already made a start on their debut album, we are excited about what’s to come from the musical pioneers.
Anna Pancaldi releases her guitar-driven song, ‘Peace’.
Since working with producer Matt Ingram (Florence & The Machine, Lianne La Havas, Laura Marling), Pancaldi has really got down to business honing her sound and adding more grit to her already heart-felt songwriting skills.
On ‘Peace’, Pancaldi states,
“A challenge at first but now an exhilarating awakening having discovered and then explored the electric guitar. ‘Peace’ is my first ‘foot stomper’ track which I think will surprise listeners who’ve been on the journey with me so far. It feels a bold evolution for me so here we go.”
Sounds like: London Grammar, Adele, Rhye, Birdy, Maiday, Courtney Barnett
Uk producer Calper and North London artist Latir have teamed up on new single ‘Run To The Moon’.
With it’s subtle of hints of dance sensibilities, the track never quite takes off in that direction, but it’s not big deal as we absolutely love the romantic escapism inspired in the track.
Canadian producer and remixer, Tep No, returns with new single ‘Fighting’.
Summer-ready production, floating vocals, and topics of melancholy make this the perfect way to see through the end of summer.
Speaking about his brand-new single ‘Fighting’, he says,
“‘Fighting’ is about the difficulty of breakups and moving past relationships, feeling like a part is taken away when it’s over, the loneliness, not knowin how to move on.”
Sounds like: Robin Schulz, Klingande, Goldroom, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Bon Iver, Summer Heart, Washed Out, Day Wave
Experimenting with vocal chops and melodic riffs, ‘Horizons’ is upbeat and memorable.
Exciting Nashville producer and creator Super Duper has managed to do something unheard of – create a repetitive song that is quite simply addictive, and in no way annoying. Even Super Duper puts it on repeat, and you should too.
