Tag Archives: Matt & Kim

Weekly Gems 106

Zachary Knowles – Cherry Wine

Zachary Knowles

Fresh rising artist Zachary Knowles quenches our thirst for love with ‘Cherry Wine’, a song written about the girl he loved before she even realised (and don’t worry, it all worked out fine – they are very happy together as far as we know!)

Signed to the prestigious FADER Label (home to Clairo, Matt & Kim), The Texas-bred songwriter/instrumentalist crafts addictive R&B with silky flair.

Sounds like: The Weeknd, Alec Benjamin, Kayden, ASTN

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Latir – Wallflower

Latir - Wallflower

London-based, alt-RnB artist, Latir, loves to fuse the sounds of hip hop, old school jazz, indie and electronica. Glistens of his old soul expresses itself through his younger-leaning music.

Created with Leeds-based producer Luvian, ‘Wallflower’ shows a truly romantic side.

Sounds like: Miller Blue, Ayelle, Joe Hertz, Tom Misch, Miguel

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Mokita – Take It Back Feat. Ella Vos

Mokita

The project of multi-instrumentalist John-Luke Carter – aka Mokita – is growing from strength to strength.

His new song, in which has teamed up with the rising star Ella Vos, deals with some of the complexities of relationships.

Sounds like: EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND

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FARR – Wildflowers

FARR

Transatlantic alt-pop duo FARR – aka Roméo and producer Linden Jay – shares ‘Wildflowers’.

An almost eerie rendition that steps outside genre lines, with sultry vocals exposing the truth about someone’s actions. Listen below.

Sounds like: RKCB, Jadu Heart, Dan D’Lion, James Vickery, Rudimental

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Laura Hyde – Bliss

Laura Hyde - Bliss

Laura Hyde shares her third single, ‘Bliss’.

Using an old voice recording of Hyde’s, the electro-pop number is about distracting yourself from the mess of life, until finally letting someone in to see the mess and accepting their offer to help.

Sounds like: Sigrid, Billie Marten, Emilie Nicolas, Skott

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TENDER – Living

TENDER - Living

Originally planned to be released in this month, UK duo TENDER has made the decision to still share ‘Living’, inspite of the fact it serves a well recognised backdrop to these “unprecedented times”.

Speaking about the track, they explain,

“It’s about inspired by isolation, before we were isolating. It’s a song about locking yourself away with sadness. Hiding your emotions, in fear of showing how you feel to the world. The segregation only pushing you further into despair.”

Sounds like: MOTHXR, Jungle, Glass Animals, HUNTAR, Caribou, Air, The National, Tame Impala, Boxed In, Honne

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Chris James – Melancholy

Half American, half German songwriter-producer turned YouTuber Chris James shares his new single ‘Melancholy’.

Growing up in California, but moving to Germany at a young age, James is on a journey to showcase positivity and fun through his upbeat lyrics and melodies.

Sounds like: Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Calum Scott, Liam Payne

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Briskey – Don’t Want To Talk About It

Briskey - Don't Want To Talk About It

It may only be April, but the summer-tinged tracks are making their way out of the studios. Or maybe we’ve got this completely upside down, as Australian artists are coming out of summer and moving into their winter.

Anyway, cue Briskey and his new single ‘Don’t Want To Talk About It’. An emotionally-driven song that tinkes with alt-pop, dance, electronica, and even includes a cheeky sax solo.

Sounds like: Hayden James, Goldroom, Bag Raiders

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Weekly Gems 85

Phantogram – In A Spiral

Phantogram by Eliot Lee Hazel

Phantogram by Eliot Lee Hazel

Our favourite high energy pop duo, Phantogram is back with their brilliant new single ‘In A Spiral’.

With a rock-inspired edge and nods to rave culture, the track is enticing as it is unnerving.

Sounds like: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Metric, Sleigh Bells, Charli XCX, ASTR

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STIIR – Heartstrings

STIIR

London based alt-pop trio STIIR shares their upbeat new single ‘Heartstrings’.

Produced by the band’s drummer Prem Rupawala, the track – about the dilemas of love – is a delectable dish of psychedelic pop, making for a truly dreamy and warming listen.

Sounds like: Plastic Plastic, temp.

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Blle – Don’t Be Surprised

Blle

Nottingham-based artist Blle is set for the bright lights of pop stardom.

Started out by writing songs in her bedroom, she soon saw herself performing in every venue she could. The most recent result of all her hard work and dedication is ‘Don’t Be Surprised’, written about the downfall of a relationship.

Sounds like: Banks

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Urchin – Night Light

Urchin

Jazz turned indie musician Urchin (aka Leo Appleyard) makes his label debut on BonFire Records with ‘Night Light’.

Expect his four-track EP later this year.

Sounds like: Two Door Cinema Club, Von Sell

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TWINKIDS – I Luv You

TWINKIDS

Los Angeles queer pop duo TWINKIDS share their second release of 2019 called ‘I Luv You.’

With their bittersweet, nostalgic and cinematic approach to music, the single explores the complicated feelings that follow a breakup in a mid-tempo, yet soaring synth-pop tune.

Sounds like: The 1975, Matt & Kim, Tame Impala, Oli Hannaford, Boxed In

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SHiiVERS – Crook And Flail

SHiiVERS by Karl Andrew

SHiiVERS by Karl Andrew

London-based electro-pop duo SHiiVERS releases dark new offering, ‘Crook And Flail’.

Taking into account the crook and flail symbol used across Ancient Egypt, the song considers the unsettling impact of slavery and exploitation in Ancient, and perhaps, more Modern times.

Sounds like: CHVRCHES

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Emily Litta – +1

Emily Litta

The resurgance of R&B and soul sounds in pop music is well recieved across the board due to it’s multifaceted appeal, and Emily Litta is the perfect example of that.

Inspired by her love of old-school hip-hop, funk and jazz records, her inspirations perfectly collide on latest single ‘+1’.

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KELAA – Serefe

KELAA

Growing up in Sweden, surrounded by her Kurdish and very musical family, KELAA naturally gravitated to mixing the bold and sugary sounds of Scandipop with elements of traditional Kurdish folk – breaking new sonic grounds in the best way.

With this being her second single to date, expect this inspired artist to continue pushing boundaries.

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Weekly Gems 51

Mark Diamond – Steady

Mark Diamond - Steady

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.

Sounds like: Tom Petty, Hootie & The Blowfish

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Stats – Lose It

Stats - Lose It

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.

Sounds like: Arcade Fire, Pet Shop Boys, Nimmo

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Suzi Island – Halo

Suzi Island - Halo

Brighton trio Suzi Island shares vibrant new single, ‘Halo’.

Produced by Larry Hibbitt (Nothing But Thieves, Sundara Karma, Sea Girls, 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

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Kita Menari – Pretty Sure

Kita Menari by Joram Kaat & Rens Polman

Kita Menari by Joram Kaat & Rens Polman

Kita Menari is the synth-pop project of Dutch artist Micha de Jonge.

His new single ‘Pretty Sure’ is an infectious slice of indie-dance-pop with a big nod to classic Passion Pit-.esq synth effects.

Kita plays Eurosonic Noordeslag on 19 January, so check him out if you can.

Sounds like: Goldroom, Passion Pit, MGMT, Phoenix, The Naked And Famous, Silversun Pickups, Matt & Kim

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Smallpools – Run With The Bulls

Smallpools by Dan Monick

Smallpools by Dan Monick

After a brief hiatus, US band Smallpools return with their first independent release; a frenetic video for ‘Run With The Bulls’.

Working with the track’s producer, Frederik Thaae (Atlas Genius, Saint Motel), for the bulk of their summer, it’s safe to say that Smallpools have definitely ramped things up a bit. Possibly a “so long!” to RCA Records, possibly not. Either way, it’s decent stuff!

Sounds like: The Bravery, Panic! At The Disco, Passion Pit, Phoenix, Matt & Kim

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Y.O.U – Heavy Crown

YOU

‘Heavy Crown’ is the first official release from Manchester artist Y.O.U (Your Own Universe), out soon on Tigersushi.

Elliott Williams aka Y.O.U, was brought to the attention of Parisian tastemaker and Tigersushi founder; Joakim Bouaziz, who immediately invited him over to his Paris studios to record a few tracks that would form the basis of Y.O.U’s forthcoming album out later this year. Both artists bonded over a love of hardware synths and 80s New Wave pop records. It was deemed a logical succession of events for Y.O.U’s first outing to be released on the cult label.

The track is a mix of 80s synth pop, nu disco, and house, with a nod to the legendary ‘French Touch’. This eclectic, forward thinking approach has placed Y.O.U in an esteemed class of artists, with Elliot’s ethos mirroring that of Tigersushi’s varied roster.

The release has even attracted attention from Junior Boys’ Jeremy Greenspan, who has remixed ‘Heavy Crown’

Sounds like; Matt & Kim, Passion Pit, Miike Snow, Years & Years
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Smallpools – Dreaming (Magic Man Remix)

Small Pools

New on the LA scene of big-chord indietronica is Smallpools. Evidently with a lot of production investment behind them, there is no doubt these guys are going to be very huge, very soon. Which is fine by us, as turns out they sound pretty cool.

The band released debut single ‘Dreaming’ on 16th July 2013 on RCA Records to a very welcome reception, with pop hooks and driving tinny synths, this song certainly gets you in the summer spirit. The track is available to purchase here.

The remix by synth rock band Magic Man from Rhode Island, takes the floaty synths up a notch to sing through over the original’s vocals. These guys are quickly becoming big on the remix scene, and turns out they do some great original tunes too.


Sounds like; Passion Pit, Phoenix, Matt & Kim
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