Tag Archives: Melis

Weekly Gems 114

Mathew V – Don’t Let Me Go

Mathew V

Canadian born popstar Mathew V releases his enigmatic single ‘Don’t Let Me Go’.

A bold, unabashed pop track, Mathew V is using his strong roots within the LGBTQ+ community to express himself and let the music do the talking. Listen below.

Sounds like: Shawn Mendes, Dagny

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MΛD FVN – Skeletons

MΛD FVN

Debut act MΛD FVN has a lot to say, about a lot of things, including the light hearted topic of life, which she so nearly lost in two separate accidents.

A call to arms, this is emotional, raw and powerful.

Sounds like: Gia Woods, Broods

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kauf – Am I Crazy Feat. Overjoy (Kauf Rework)

Rising Los Angeles vocalist kauf is offering a rework of his first original track featuring another vocalist Overjoy – one of three artists on his burgeoning label ONE / HALF.

Taking a more “pop” approach to his music, he has added a UK garage style beat and some looped vocal samples, giving it more energy and bringing it into the dance world.

Sounds like: Kllo, James Blake, Nordic Giants, Bicep, Jon Hopkins, Caribou, Talos, Bonobo

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Francis On My Mind – Never Be The Same

Francis On My Mind - Never Be The Same

Only on her second release, 16 year old Romanian electro-pop act Francis On My Mind is proving that “Euro pop” is very much a thing of the past.

Sparing synth, melodic drums and fragile but still powerful vocals, this new song comes as a breath of fresh air in a saturated industry of overproduced singles.

Sounds like: Niki & The Dove, Jessie Ware, Monogem, Goldroom, Melis

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ELBA – 700 Angels

ELBA - 700 Angels

Danish pop newcomer ELBA is 25-year-old singer and songwriter Ellen Bathum. She tells stories about the loss of control and the many nuances of love.

Her new single ‘700 Angels’ has a catchy pop hook, but it almost feels like it splits in two directions – experimental electronic music and indie that ultimately culminates into a fiery explosion.

Sounds like: Lady Gaga, Blondage, Jinka

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Cloudy June – Psycho

Cloudy June

Former death metal singer, Cloudy June, takes a proud new step into the world of pop.

Expect her new ‘Psycho’ to be an exhilarating ride of rock and pop. It proves once again how young self-made independent talent can make a real impact.

Sounds like: Ava Max, Halsey, Girl Wilde

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Lex Low – Feel More

Lex Low

London-based Lex Low shares new single ‘Feel More. Ultimately questioning moments in his early life, should he be feeling less or more?

After seeking therapy this year, Lex has used this as a catalyst to tap into emotions from the past and create music. Listen below.

Sounds like: Easy Life, The Night Café

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Mokita – Over You

Mokita

Mokita shares the stripped back ‘Over You’.

With a modern twist on an emo/pop-punk ballad, the song was initially written in the format of a love letter to an ex, and shows a more sentimental perspective to Mokita’s music.

Sounds like: EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND

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Creature Comfort – Arcade Fire

Creature Comfort

Nashville bootgaze/indie-rock outfit Creature Comfort share the fuzzy ‘Arcade Fire’.

Not to be confused with the track ‘Creature’ Comfort’ by the band Arcade Fire (a cheeky nod to Arcade Fire unexpectedly releasing ‘Creature Comfort on the same day Clark and his bandmates performed at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in 2017), this is a psychedelic explosion with wavy electric guitar and unrelenting percussion.

Sounds like: Jagwar Ma, Pond, Liily, Future Thieves, The Weeks, Kurt Vile, Fleet Foxes

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Hedara – Numb

Hedara

Time to strip it back a little with London-based singer-songwriter Hedara‘s latest single, ‘Numb’.

Hedara (aka Scarlet Billham) graduated London’s famous BRIT School, alongside Freya Ridings and others, and enjoyed some time performing under different alias’ and bands. It was only after a near-death experience, narrowly escaping a diabetic coma, that she learnt a harrowing lesson and took stock of what’s important in life.

Slowly finding her way back into music, she began working with different songwriters and producers on before finding a connection with Carey Willetts (Dua Lipa, Freya Ridings, Dermot Kennedy). Together they co-wrote and produced eight tracks, three of which now form the EP ‘Slow’, which includes the single ‘Numb’.

Speaking of the track, Hedara explains,

“Numb is probably the most honest song I’ve written. I wrote it when I was going through a tough time, and although people were around to support me, I was also being told how to feel. I was feeling everything but being made to feel nothing at all.”

Sounds like: Freya Ridings, Laura Marling, Chloe Foy, Banks, Melis

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Weekly Gems 61

Low Hum – Strange Love

Low Hum

Los Angeles-based Low Hum shares his new single, ‘Strange Love’.

A low hum, this is not – ‘Strange Love’ is a circulating brawl of guitar riffs and retro-tinted vocals that tell a story of epic proportions.

Sounds like: Jagwar Ma, Liily

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Preston Lovinggood – Everything Will Be Okay

Preston Lovinggood

We don’t normally feature songs that are reasonably old, but we had to make an exception for Preston Lovinggood and his dreamy take on folk.

You can listen to his song, ‘Everything Will Be Okay’ below.

Sounds like: Ten Fé

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Ro – do you think it’s fine?

Ro - do you think it's fine?

British newcomer Ro shares her self-produced debut, electro-pop tune, ‘do you think it’s fine?’

Looking up to female artists such as Grimes and Robyn, Ro is striving to reach their great heights of artistic control in a modern electronic landscape. Expect an EP later in the year.

Sounds like: Melis, VÉRITÉ, Linney

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Dan Crossley – Heal

Dan Crossley

UK artist and vocal heavyweight, Dan Crossley shares his addictive new single, ‘Heal’.

It has everything that makes a perfect pop banger – sensual vocals, lucious synths loops and romantic guitars riffs.

Sounds like: The 1975, Cat Burns, Years & Years

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2CRE8 – Cheater

2CRE8

Dutch production and DJ duo, 2CRE8 returns with a cheeky number called ‘Cheater’.

Giving a wink to misbehaving and making the most of the summer, in a similar vain to the likes of The Him, you’ll be forgiven for having this track on repeat, even when the sun isn’t shining.

Sounds like: The Him, Jonas Blue

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Victoria’s Flight – Paradise

Victoria's Flight

Victoria’s Flight is a Glasgow-based band of childhood friends Matt Robertson and Craig Harkness.

Their new single ‘Paradise’ is the first of three singles that tells the story of summer love and loss, with a combined energy of tropical guitar riffs and contemplative vocals.

Sounds like: SKIES, The Island Club, Blossoms

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Melis – Waves

Melis

Melis by Lucas Christiansen

Melis is going back to her roots with new single ‘Waves’, which arrives with a nostalgic video, shot on 16mm film in her hometown in Prague.

Starting with a simple melody, the track soon builds into a beautifully crafted and intimate assemble of vulnerability and melacholic feelings used to convey a love/hate relationship with someone.

Sounds like: London Grammar, IYES, Grace Carter

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Weekly Gems 28

Vivienne Chi – Blood Brother

Vivienne Chi

Alternative pop artist Vivienne Chi shares the enticing ‘Blood Brother’.

With a broad vocal range and a story to tell, ‘Blood Brother’ is about the correlation between light and love, submerged by driving synth hooks and magical moments throughout.

Sounds like: Jessie Ware, London Grammar, GRADES, RUNAH

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LeyeT – Drip Drop

LeyeT

Meet Los Angeles-based pop artist and songwriter, LeyeT (pronounced ‘light’).

Speaking from a hugely painful personal experience, LeyeT’s single ‘Drip Drop’ channels feelings of heartbreak, as if the waves were pummelling over and over again until eventually stopping.

Sounds like: Halsey, Imogen Heap

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LOVE SICK – Hope

LOVE SICK

Scottish cosmic pop duo LOVE SICK share ‘Hope’.

It’s a shout out to everyone who struggles with anxieties of daily life, a supportive song that urges you to maintain your passion and drive, something that LOVE SICK are very much doing within the music industry.

Sounds like: ASTR, Dagny, COSBY

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Me Not You – Eventually

Me Not You

Vintage keys and delicate vocals highlight ‘Eventually’ by Me Not You as a short and sweet song that is straight to the point.

Speaking of the track, “…it’s a personal song for me… a sort of hyping up of myself to the idea of squashing the beef with someone. the baggage of relationships can linger, and it does no one any good to keep that shit around.”

Sounds like: Melis

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ISLAND – Ride

ISLAND by Mel Tjoeng

DIY London band ISLAND take us on a journey with them.

Their new single ‘Ride’ is taken from the upcoming debut album ‘Feels Like Air’, and is led by a guitar riff full of nostalgia that builds throughout the track.

Sounds like: Foals, Amber Run, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Libertines, Mystery Jets, The Lapelles, Circa Waves

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Disco Shrine – Up in the Air

Disco Shrine

Let’s throw it back with Los Angeles-based electro-pop artist Disco Shrine (aka Jessica Delijani) and her new single ‘Up in the Air’.

As Disco Shrine’s first release in a year, ‘Up In The Air’ hits the ground running with infectious synths and a catchy chorus.

Sounds like: Monogem, Jessie Ware, FOXES, Le Youth

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Robokid – Worth It

Robokid

…And finally in this week’s roundup, a truly honest rendition from DJ/producer Robokid.

Robokid makes interesting and progressive indie-pop music with a generous nod to early 2000s sounds.

Listen to ‘Worth It’ below, taken from his debut EP ‘Apart’, out now via Moving Castle.

Sounds like: Hellogoodbye, EXES

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Weekly Gems 17

Shoos Off – Future Heartbreak

ShoosOff

Time to kick your shoes off and get down with this week’s favourite tunes.

First up is Los Angeles-based bedroom collective, Shoos Off.

Led by singer Patrick Killeen, these guys amalgamate synth sounds with delicate, upbeat vocals, in a modest manner.

Listen to ‘Future Heartbreak’ below.

Sounds like: The Knocks, Smallpools, St. Lucia

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Sonata Kay Feat. Novo – Reach

Sonata Kay ft. Novo - Reach

Meet Sonata Kay, a London-based artist with a bright future.

Citing various influences from around the world, Sonata Kay likes to combine the ethos of a traditional singer/songwriter with electro-pop production.

Listen to dramatic ‘Reach’ below, featuring Novo.

Sounds like: Melis, Amethysts

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ARIA – You Got Me Good

ARIA

Continuing to share her desire for electronic, pop and R&B, London-based ARIA shares her latest single called ‘You Got Me Good’.

The track is about a darker realisation of relationship hardships, portrayed through atmospheric guitar riffs and vocal belt-outs.

Sounds like: Emile Sande

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Margot Polo – Turn You, Baby

Margot Polo

Halloween has passed, but we are still jamming to Margot Polo‘s spooky new single, ‘Turn You, Baby’.

Margot says that the throw-back number “is for self-professed werewolves and fans of Michael Jackson, Foster the People, Justin Timberlake, and The Killers” and we couldn’t agree more.

Sounds like: April Towers, Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend, CHAPPO, The Beatles

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Kastrup – Try It All

Kastrup

You can really see why Kastrup‘s music has been described as creating arena pop.

The Swedish duo’s new single ‘Try It All’ definitely encompasses this, with its longing vocals and an uplifting children’s choir of a chorus to match.

It’s out now via Strandberg/ Westberg Music.

Sounds like: Imagine Dragons, OneRepublic, Twenty One Pilots

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Melis – Sober (Over You)

Melis

Melis returns with ‘Sober (Over You)’.

Citing her influences of folk, electronica and pop from her multi-national roots, Melis always seems to set a provoking landscape with her contemporary music, one that often juxtaposes between credible and obscure feelings.

Sounds like: London Grammar, IYES

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Weekly SubmitHub Gems 7

LAYNE – The Fog

LAYNE

Introducing Los Angeles-based duo LAYNE (aka lead-singer/guitarist Layne Putnam and drummer Alex Rosca).

Their new song ‘The Fog’ follows on from the viral success of their previous two singles, ‘Good’ and ‘Somebody’, and has everything you’d want from a decent electro pop track – lush vocals, bright lyrics, and catchy hooks sculptured around modern production.

Their EP ‘The Black Hills’ is out now.

Sounds like: CAPPA, Halsey, Paramore

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BONEAGE – G.N.P.M

Boneage

Moscow based Boneage share curious new track ‘G.N.P.M’ which stands for ‘Good Nights – Pale Mornings’. It follows on from the spiritual single, ‘Crystal Rainbows’.

Speaking to the duo, we were told ‘G.N.P.M’ is about MDMA (also the name of their EP – ‘My Dreams Mean All’, out now) – that feeling you have when you are high, followed by the downward spiral of reality the following morning.

Sounds like: Goldroom, Jessie Ware

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Radio Wolf – Song On The Radio

Radio Wolf

Wait. Are we in a David Lynch film?!

There is a huge sense of familiarity with Radio Wolf‘s sound – a unique fusion of electronica with retro-futuristic power.

Listen to ‘Song On The Radio’ below.

Sounds like: The Jezabels, Ladyhawke, The Ravonettes, Chromatics

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Oddnesse – Are You Down

Oddnesse

We are super excited by Oddnesse, a music project by Rebeca Arango and producer Grey Goon. The duo amalgamate flamboyant and infectious music with heavy rock sounds.

‘Are You Down’ is their “‘Pina Colada’ song”, about the lure of a future lover.

Sounds like: Goldfrapp

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Liyv – Weeknight

Liyv

Seattle pastel pop artist Liyv shares ‘Weeknight’.

‘Weeknight’ is an easy-going song that encourages friends to get together on a weeknight and stay up late. There is just enough upbeat production to entice you to do just that. Get inviting!

Sounds like: Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Evvy, Kyla La Grange, Kimbra, Ellie Goulding

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LINNEY – Always

Linney

In our eyes LINNEY is already a pop-star. She just seems to have it and you’ll see why when you listen to her new single ‘Always’,

It immediately takes us back to the Britney Spears era of enticing pop tunes that would make us really understand our broken heart.

Sounds like: Britney Spears, Monogem, Paperwhite, Poema, Scavenger Hunt

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NUUXS – Real Love

NUUXS

We are suitably winding things down for our last song – ‘Real Love’ French-born artist NUUXS.

The soothing, minimalist-pop track has been co-written and produced by Jake Gosling (Ed Sheeran, Hot Chip, Wiley, The Libertines), so no wonder it has a level of sophistication!

Sounds like: Gwen Stefani, BETSY, Billie Eilish

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Caitlyn Scarlett – Human, Being

Caitlyn Scarlett

Upcoming UK artist Caitlyn Scarlett shares ‘Human, Being’.

We first covered Caitlyn when writing about her duet with Born Stranger, and she continues to impress us with her new track.

‘Human, Being’ is delicate, with Caitlyn’s celestial vocals and soft Eastern chimes tapping throughout. Listen below.

Sounds like: Melis, Zara Larsson, Rihanna, MØ, Lily Allen, Kehlani, Tove Lo, Tove Stryke

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Melis – Flower

Melis

Like the process of photosynthesis, Melis manages to capture light and formulate a blooming of beauty with her latest single ‘Flower’ which comes as the first official release from her upcoming debut EP ‘Parallels’.

Melis previously released ‘Love Song Idea‘ to much applause, as her debut grew and flourished across the blogosphere, landing a Hype Machine #1, Spotify New Music Friday playlists and some impressive plays and streams.

Unlike ‘Love Song Idea’, which was actually a demo, saved and repaired from old instrumental stems on her breaking hard-drive, Melis shows her talent in minimalistic electronic production, a hugely intimate vocal and once again, stunningly fragile lyrics. Being in love or been in love, this song will turn the heart on, re-light your emotions and help you love deeper, or move onwards.

You can pre-order her ‘Parallels’ EP, which is very limited 10″ Vinyl, via Qrates now here.

Sounds like: London Grammar, IYES

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