Swedish indie-wonder Augustine shares his pulsating new single ‘Coast’, released exclusively as part of Spotify’s Studio Oyster program.
Another wonderful story told to capture the idea of how seeing a happy loving couple together stirs up painful emotions in a delicate and groovy manner.
“‘Coast” is a song about loneliness, and a longing to understand this world a little better. I was confused and jealous of everything I laid my eyes on when I wrote it. And I often get struck by this feeling about wanting to escape from myself and from my body when I’m feeling down. I guess it comes down to the desire to have someone by your side who understands you and all your weird thoughts.” Augustine says.
Sounds like: PNAU, Foster the People, James Blake, Maggie Rogers, Phoebe Bridgers, Tame Impala, Phoenix
Following the successful release of debut single ‘Eyes Wide’ and follow up ‘Hollow’, new Scottish sensation Keir Gibson treats us to ‘Circles’, an emotional journey with an alt-pop twist.
From the outset, Keir’s powerful voice and soulful tones reminiscent of Lewis Capaldi take centre stage. However, Keir has no issue separating himself from the obvious comparison, the record itself builds a stunning radio-ready space in which we can delve into the meaning behind his lyrics, and showcase his talents to the full, culminating in a huge, emotion-filled grande finale.
Brand new Los Angeles-based duo SourFace woo us with their new single, ‘Paradise Ain’t So Cheap’.
Packed with intricate twists and turns and the nonconformist attitude of GlassAnimals, Sour Face continues to challenge addiction in a song packed full of very real demons.
We are excited to share PREP‘s single, ‘Pictures of You’.
A nonchalant nu-disco vibe laced with summery alt-funk and pop, this is something the foursome shine at. They comprise of Grammy-nominated producer Dan Radclyffe (AlunaGeorge, Foxes & Chronixx), French drummer Guillaume Jambel (George Fitzgerald, Odyssey & Kasabian), Welsh keys player Llywelyn Ap Myrddin and London vocalist & frontman Tom Havelock (Snakehips, Celeste, Anna Of The North).
Sounds like: Supertramp, Kaytranada, Mac DeMarco, Thundercat, Chronixx
Soulstress Caswell returns with ‘Distraction’, and it’s just that amidst these tough times.
Her signature sound is rich in vocal intelligence with attractive soul-pop melodies. This time, Caswell shows a more brazen side, as she questions why the rebound is such a taboo topic to talk about.
Sounds like: Låpsley, Skott, Lorde, Charlotte Cardin, Jorja Smith, JONES, Ray BLK, Sigrid, Maggie Rogers
Quirky and off-kilter is JYLDA‘s musical middle name.
Glitchy jazz chords mixed and soulful vocals represent her mysterious and experimental new single, ‘Jeopardy’ – a homage to risk and produced in collaboration with classical composer Marino Arcaro.
Rising Irish folk singer/songwriter AlanFinan shares his new single, ‘The Drive’.
Inspired by a visit to a town in rural Ireland deeply affected by a car accident that had changed the lives of families throughout the town, it’s a track that examines a theme of movement and travel in a simple and evolving manner.
Sounds like: Ben Howard, Talos, James Vincent McMorrow, RY X
Matt Couchois of atmospheric indie-pop project, fakelife, releases invigorating new single, ‘Drugs All Night’.
You can almost sense the energetic tension as Matt sings about a tumultuously toxic romantic relationship – what more could you want from a nightclub pop anthem?
Sounds like: The Knocks, Great Good Fine Ok, RAC, La Poré
Born from a simple plan – make music friends in a flatshare in former East Berlin, BLOODHYPE is a Berlin-based, independent gang of four that demand to be noticed.
Masterminded by frontman Weyland and UK producer John “P Nut” Harrison (AmyWinehouse, AliceMerton), their new single ‘Violent Heart’ caught us from the get-go. It’s an addictive slice of modern indie pop full of 80’s inspired self-pity.
Churchgoer-turned-open mic singer Tina Boonstra has shared her interesting new track, ‘Out of my depth’.
With a sharp emotional intensity, you can feel the angst bubbling underneath as the track progresses into a crushingly honest rage against the universe, God and insomnia.
German-born, Los Angeles-based indie artist NoMBe shares ‘HEELS’, a catchy AF funk-laden jam.
Oozing sass upon sass, it’s taken from his upcoming concept album, ‘CHROMATOPIA’ which is built upon the spectrum of colour and the spectrum of sexuality.
Foreign Fields is US-based Eric Hillman and Brian Holl, who create a bewitching melting pot of acoustic sounds.
As with all promising folk contenders, the duo wrote and recorded their upcoming album, ‘The Beauty of Survival’ in the winter in a back-to-basics cabin with no heating built by a two-man father-and-son team in Western Wisconsin.
Bronze Whale like to walk a lot. During this time, they talk about things they want to accomplish, music stuff and dinner.
This where the lyrical inspiration came for ‘Let’s Go Walk’, a resonating and atmospheric electronic piece about love, loss and learning. It’s out now on their own label, MagicMagic.
Sounds like: Glass Animals, Alt-j, OTR, CLN, Golden Vessel, Autograf
Multi-instrumentalist Zoë Phillips combines country with beautiful folktronica. Think DollyParton meets BombayBicycleClub.
Set for the same level of fandom, Phillips has already seen plenty of support from the BBC, and her new single ‘Love Is Gone’ is going to propel her closer.
Looking like they are having the best time, the video footage was taken from many of their past videos plus some extra shots from 2010 to 2019.
HUMANS is a Canadian indie-electronic duo made up of musicians Robbie Slade and Peter Ricq. Focusing on performance and production styles of both the past and present, HUMANS have consistently impressed upon audiophiles with their technical and compositional skills.
Introducing Zach DeGaetano and Bridget Boltz – aka Mannequin Online.
Pushing sonic and ideational barriers with gritty, yet refreshing off-kilter pop, may their sound forever remain bright, gritty, and unapologetic. Listen to ‘I Do’ and check out the glorious Gorgeous guitar solo.
Sounds like: Goldroom, Poolside, VHS Collection, The Knocks, Miami Horror
London-born, now US-based singer/songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Sophia Gripari shares her first self-produced single, ‘Lesson Learned’.
The electro-pop track is written about the liberation found in realising and subsequently walking away from a toxic relationship.
REYNA is feeling pretty ‘Clueless’ in their fun new karaoke based video.
The upbeat pop single, taken from their highly anticipated upcoming debut EP in Spring 2020, is written about learning to accept and love yourself even when you’re feeling clueless about life.
Effervescent pop maker la lune releases the delectable ‘holding onto u’.
The 20 year-old, London-born singer-songwriter and producer has been releasing music with a DIY ethos since she was 18. Masked beneath her pseudonym and subtle social media presence, la lune is using obscurity to ‘protest’ against the over-sexualisation of women in music, stating that her music should be listened to and judged at ‘face value’.
Sounds like: Shallou, Fickle Friends, The Japanese House
The Millennial Club is SoCal melancholic-synth pop band comprised of friends and jazz musicians, singer/guitarist Andres Owens, bassist/keyboardist Jared Ortiz, guitarist/saxophonist Jake Stevenson, and drummer Tyler Kamei.
Their lovelorn new single ‘Coffee In The Morning’ displays Owen’s wisdom beyond his 23 years of life through his powerfully intimate lyricism which puts listeners directly into the relationship at stake. It features guest vocals from newcomer Tori Romo.
Romanian-born Edith has been writing songs since at song, and creating music was her only path to express her emotions from a young age.
Her new single, ‘No Matter What You Do’ is an emphatic, contemporary-pop banger that showcases her natural songwriting ability. Drawing on personal experiences, for an upbeat piece of pop bliss.
Sounds like: Blithe, Mabel, Dua Lipa, Baker Grace, Just Kiddin
We’ve been blown away by Jenny Kern‘s beautiful voice in her new single, ‘Satellite’.
The Canadian-born, New York-based film and TV producer turned singer-songwriter draws on her own experiences as her songs unfold through a confessional-style delivery revealing the strength that can only come through vulnerability.
The new single is produced by AndySeltzer (Maggie Rogers, Chelsea Cutler). Speaking of the track, Kern explains,
“It’s almost cathartic, sharing emotion. Being open is not an easy feat for anyone. I want people to know that these songs come from an honest place. We all struggle to find comfort in ourselves while being open to the unexpected.”
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