UK-based Max Pope creates music that considers the universal experiences of life, love, loss, human connections and isolation in a new way.
Full of imagination, “the Max Pop world” encompasses funky basslines, giddy vocals and songwriting beyond his years. As a gardener in his day job, Pope longs to feel connected to the natural world.
The visuals for his woozy new single ‘Hologram’ capture this perfectly. Watch below.
Sounds like: Loyle Carner, Jordan Rakei, LIONLION, Still Woozy, Yakul
Neo-soul artist Alfie Neale has just released his ‘If My World Falls Apart’ EP, written about the topic of reliance.
He’s put together an awesome playlist of music together, something we can all count on at some point during these testing times.
J Felix – Mind Up
I picked this tune because it’s a breath of fresh air for everything we’re going through at the minute, we need all the positive vibes we can get at the minute.
King Krule – Easy Easy
I know this tune was released years ago, but I was pretty late to jump aboard the King Krule bandwagon. I’m well and truly on it now though, and as this is the first tune on his most famous record it was the first I heard, so it’s kind of become my favourite.
Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles
Wanted to pick this one because it’s an absolute anthem, I listen to a lot of funky music but wanted to switch things up with this one because the build-up to the solo is absolutely unreal!
Pip Millett – Fancy
This one is such a class tune about just being in love and the way someone can make you feel on top of the world. It’s so bare, laid back and such a sick tune to listen to any time of day.
Greentea Peng – Downers
This is one of the hardest beats I’ve heard in a while, my girlfriend put me on to Greentea Peng and I’ve been absolutely rinsing her tunes since.
Mac Miller – Blue World
I’m pretty sure this was produced by one half of Disclosure, and is one of my favourite Mac Miller tunes ever, this one IS the hardest beat I’ve heard in a while haha.
Sticky Fingers – Cool & Calm
These guys have been one of my biggest inspirations for a long time, and I only got to see them live for the first time last year. Hands down one of my favourite gigs ever, their newest album is full of regret but this tune is so positive.
Jarki Monno – Fade Up
Included this one because I live with Jarki and also play guitar for him in his band, so there’s not a day that goes by where I’m not listening to something Jarki Monno related!
Yakul – Getting Late
James Berkeley (lead singer and keyboardist in this band) produced my debut EP, he’s such a ridiculously talented and hardest working guy I know, also makes ridiculously good tunes!
Sounds like: Yakul, Tom Misch, Jordan Rakei
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Alfie Neale – Vices
Brighton-based singer/songwriter Alfie Neale shares his latest laid back and soul sweeping single, ‘Vices’.
It’s a song that describes the importance of the little things in life and a support network to help you through the fun times, and the more serious.
Sounds like: Yakul, Tom Misch, Jordan Rakei
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JupiterMoon – The Reason
Young Midlands-based quartet JupiterMoon is causing a bit of a ruckus.
Their energetic choruses and Asian influenced guitar hooks are written for sweaty, intimate venues. Conjuring up homegrown rock anthems at Blank Studios in Nercastle, their strongest track to date ‘The Reason’ is all the justification you need.
Sounds like: Foals, Blossoms
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A Is For Arrows – Roses
Toronto electro-pop duo A Is For Arrows shares the lush new single, ‘Roses’.
Echoes of heartbreak glistened with a retro glow, this is easy listening electronica at its best. Listen below.
Sounds like: Lights, Jocelyn Alice, Goldroom, RAC, Le Youth, Broods
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Mokita – colorblind
Nashville’s John-Luke Carter, aka Mokita, is a singer/songwriter/producer known for his lyrical and buoyant electronic-based pop.
Classically trained in piano in his youth, he later taught himself to play guitar and eventually transitioned into electronic music production. Taking a rewind to his classical routes, Mokita shares an orchestral version of ‘colorblind’ and it’s spellbounding.
Sounds like: Nirob Islam, EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND
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Tsar B – Unpaintable
Effortless and majestic with a highly cinematic yet vulnerable approach, Tsar B‘s single, ‘Unpaintable’, sees her functioning as a one-woman orchestra, songwriter, producer and singer.
An ode to the muddled emotions people that are too intelligent to just live a normal life feel; ‘They are uncatchable. They are unpaintable.”
Sounds like: GRAACE, Billie Eilish, FKA Twigs, ÄTNA
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Seafret – Magnetic
The coastal town of Bridlington isn’t the first place in the UK that you think has a buzzing music scene, but we’ve stumbled upon the brilliant Seafret, who have proved us wrong.
Made up of Jack Sedman and Harry Draper, their new single ‘Magnetic’ is an indie-pop anthem at it’s finest – addictive vocal harmonies and commercial riffs, complete with a killer pop chorus
Sounds like: Kodaline, Amber Run, Imagine Dragons, Lewis Capaldi
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Luna Li – Trying
Luna Li (fka VEINS) shares the brooding new single, ‘Trying’.
A undeniable strong presence in the alt-pop world, Luna Li uses and blends her 14 years of classical piano and violin training with dreamy rock, to create a vulnerable and distorted sound.
Sounds like: Lykki Li, Niki & The Dove, Oh Land, Perfume Genius
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Matt Simons – Cold
L.A Songwriter Matt Simons shares ‘Cold’ – a powerful piece of electronic pop that blends nostalgia and melancholic sentiment.
Speaking about the track, which has been released in time for any Valentine’s Day pessimist, he explains,
“People change, and change in any relationship is inevitable. The only question is, can the two people change together and adapt? Cold is about a relationship where they did not.”
Sounds like: Ruel, JP Cooper, Zak Abel
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Dräger – New Life
An introvert at heart, Dräger creates unabashed synth pop bangers born from a modern heartbreak.
Co-produced by House producer LEFTI, the single ‘New Life’ marks a fresh start for the singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Spencer Draeger, as he uses sounds of the past to channel themes of the modern age, taking a satirical approach to the narcissisms and anxiety illuminated through technology.
Sounds like: New Order, Soft Cell, Holy Ghost!, Dansu, The Cure, White Lies, Cocteau Twins
Surf Rock Is Dead – Our Time
Surf Rock is Dead by Jacqueline Harriet
Introducing Surf Rock Is Dead (SRiD for short) – aka Kevin Pariso and Joel Witenberg from Chicago and Melbourne.
Their new wave and billowy single, ‘Our Time’ captures the moment where you are forced to face fear head-on and look within.
Expect the band’s debut LP in the spring of 2020.
Sounds like: My Bloody Valentine, DIIV, Day Wave
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Lauren Sanderson – Upset
Fiery LGBTQ artist Lauren Sanderson has incredible drive. That’s clear from her music and attitude (not many people can say they’ve given a TED Talk at the age of 18).
Her new single ‘Upset’ flips the issues of the despondent Generation Z on it’s head.
Sounds like: Post Malone, Rihanna, Sizzy Rocket
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Phoebe Sinclair – OMG
Australian pop artist Phoebe Sinclair is a self-confessed emotional wreck, and this makes for intoxicating music.
Her new single ‘OMG’ is Sinclair taking ownership of her mistakes whilst not letting them define her.
Backed by a four-piece all girl ensemble, oozing confidence and power, and armed with a massive pop vocal, Sinclair smashes out electro pop tunes with an inescapable energy.
Sounds like: La Roux, Robyn, Vera Blue
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Tallsaint – Model Effect
British artist Tallsaint releases the highly chic and addictive ‘Model Effect’.
Taking inspiration from early 2000’s tracks as well as a more modern pop culture of now – born from a visual scene in Killing Eve where Villanelle sees Eve in the bathroom for the first time and makes a comment on her hair.
Sounds like: Bat For Lashes, Anna of the North, Stereo Honey, RALPH, St Vincent, Lykke Li
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Hank Compton – Judge Me
Nashville native, Hank Compton, shares his head nod-inducing single, ‘Judge Me’.
Combining his love of classic rock and 80’s pop, Compton’s music and rich storytelling creates a modern sound with a nostalgic feel.
Sounds like: Sam Fender, Bruce Springsteem
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Beau Diako x Jordan Rakei – Flamingo
Self-taught musician Beau Diako shares his new single called ‘Flamingo’, taken from his debut EP, ‘Flutter’.
Featuring neo-soul artist Jordan Rakei, the track is probably his most “pop” song from the EP, which is a glorious fusion of indie, jazz, folk, electronic and soul.
Sounds like: Tom Misch, Bombay Bicycle Club
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ANDRO – GYMH
ANDRO by Johnny Diaz Nicolaidis
ANDRO may have plenty of experience touring in Jungle‘s band, but now it’s his time to shine.
His debut single, ‘GYMH’ (Give You My Heart) kicks off a new collection of theatrical pop melodies that balance between the ethereal and emotional, perfectly encapsulated by the beautifully shot video below.
Sounds like: Kyri
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Mokita – Colorblind
Also from Nashville is singer/songwriter/producer John Luke Carter, aka Mokita.
Known for his lyrical and buoyant electronic-based pop, Carter was classically trained in piano in his youth and first started performing in his church. Later, he taught himself to play guitar and eventually transitioned into electronic music production.
His new single ‘Colorbind’ is an attempt to try and describe depression to someone who has never experienced it.
Sounds like: EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND, Nick Anthony, Luna Pines
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Penniless Cove – Too Tight
Named after a harbour road that lead to the sea, unique Welsh songwriter based in London Penniless Cove, is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist that writes raw, affecting music drawing from a number of different genres.
The music obsessive shares ‘Too Tight’ – a weird and wonderful array of jazz, blues and folk.
Sounds like: Regina Spektor, Björk, Ibeyi, Alev Lenz, Kate Nash
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London based singer-songwriter Elena Flury is channelling the neo-soul and jazz revolution that’s happening here in the UK.
Bringing vintage sounds to the forefront of the capital’s scene, Elena is gaining a reputation with her live performances. Speaking about her new track, she explains,
“Say No talks about the beginning stages of a relationship; the protagonist has a hard time fully engaging in it, instinctively pushing the other person away but at the same time is unable to resist how good it feels.”
Sounds like: Eliza Doolittle, Caswell, Jorja Smith, Jordan Rakei, Fatima, Laura Misch
We love supporting local acts, Brighton-based Nico Cara is one such act we are getting super excited about for the coming year.
Combining classic jazz sounds with modern electronic and R&B production, ‘Grounded’ is a slow burning gem that leaves Cara’s vocals to their own devices, ultimately letting them shine through.
Speaking about the track, Cara explains,
“Recording this single has been a new experience for me, trying out a lot of new sounds and instruments to get a solid R&B vibe. I think I’ve taken a lot of different influences and made something that encompasses me as a musician at this time.”
Sounds like: Jordan Rakei, YAKUL
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