The new song from Paco Versailles is anything but ‘Black and White’.
Echoes of Andalusia can be heard within its instrumental interludes and chorus, while a Parisian French Touch provides the foundation that carries the story.
The name Paco Versailles was conceived while imagining a collaboration between the duo’s biggest influences – the legendary Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucia and French electronic artists DaftPunk and Air, both products of the Parisian suburb of Versailles.
Full of fruity disco flair and tropical licks – aka “Dancemenco” – the luminous duo, led by Vahagni and Ryan Merchant (of Capital Cities), have spent the last year creating and establishing their original sound.
Sounds like: Friendly Fires, Capital Cities, LUXXURY, French Horn Rebellion, Miami Horror, Poolside
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
Yorkshire isn’t particularly known for his pop heritage. That is until now. Meet singer/songwriter Franky.
Her influences range from funk, disco and R&B, and her new single ‘Follow My Lead’ will urge you to do just that, with its fizzy attitude and feisty pop sensibilities.
Estereomance is a trio from El Paso/Juarez comprised of Manu, Paulina and Adria.
The three artists may come from different experiences and backgrounds but they share one common goal – artistic fearlessness that invokes sensitivities of emotional fibres reachable through consciousness.
In a gentle nod to 70’s French dream pop, the single ‘Crimson Queen’ explores the themes of vanity, obsession, insecurity, gender and beauty through surreal and metaphoric music.
Kent-born, London-based indie-pop newcomer CHERITON (aka Nick Harrison) shares his catchy new single ‘Parallel’, out now So Good So Good.
The infectious single, full of guitar-pop and vibrant melodies, is produced by Andy Hall (Bastille, Fickle Friends, JamesGillespie) and reflects on social media and the damaging effects it can have on mental health.
Overcoats is made up of critically acclaimed Brooklyn duo, Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell.
Channeling punk emergy with vulnerable vitality, their champion new single ‘Fire & Fury’ is equal parts dark and brooding as well as hopeful and anthemic – a dichotomy which is mirrored in the its soaring chorus “there’s a fire, there’s a fury, the sky is falling, but we’ll get through it.”
Watch the her Productions-directed video below.
Sounds like: The Magnettes, HAIM, First Aid Kit, Cold War Kids, The Violent Femmes
We are super excited about Reva Devito‘s fresh hustle on soul and R&B.
The Portland native has already featured on some of the most recognizable tracks of KAYTRANADA, Young Franco, Chuck Inglish, and B.Bravo, as well and as the live vocalist for Australian indie-pop rising musicians Miami Horror.
Produced by longtime collaborator B.Bravo, ‘Bet You Stay’ is a nostalgic, slower jam. Smother this over your ears right now.
LeyeT (pronounced “light”) channels emotional vulnerability into alternative-pop songs with a solid heartbeat.
She’s teamed up her friend Labit on new single, ‘Here For You’ – a song about friendship, being there for each other through the highs and lows of life, and sticking together through it all. The song was written with the Make Sure Your Friends Are Okay initiative in mind, a community that encourages you to have meaningful discussions with people you care about – answering truthfully the question of ‘how are you?’.
The Sydney duo dekleyn shares new single ‘See Right Through Me’.
Writing infectious heartbreakers, their songs have meaningful influences throughout. Speaking about the new one – a lesson about love and forgiveness – they explain,
“The song is about giving so much to a person and becoming so close with them that they know everything about you, even more than you know about yourself. As the relationship begins to break down, it begins to become obvious that the two could never be without each other, “I don’t plan on leaving this feeling at all, this is all I have.”
Phew! This is what we’ve been waiting for. A big “Fuck You!” to anxiety anthem!
Cue Norweigan artist/producer Ruben Dawnson and his emotionally expressive tuneage, namely ‘FYALMA’. Speaking about the track some more, he explains,
“It’s a big fuck you anthem to anxiety! Like many others I’ve been struggling with it for a long time… hopefully this can lift people’s spirit and I hope people will connect with it and scream out the lyrics!! I really want it to reach as many as possible and help create a big “fuck you” wave towards anxiety!!”
Sounds like: Day Wave, Hazel English, Summer Heart
Connecting at a music school in the Netherlands, the now duo Small Talk is making music to the standard of industry veterans, as it’s clear the understand what it takes to put together a hit, and have achieved that with ‘Alarm’.
Running the length between upbeat indie-pop and melancholic EDM, the pair masterfully play with different shades and moods. Expect much more from the youthful duo in 2020.
Sounds like: The Him, Bastille, The Chainsmokers, Imagine Dragons
Lay down some vocals, come up with a great disco sound, and party all night long. Jobs a gooden right? Sure, if we are talking about Exmag, as things seem to be super breezy at the moment with this funky hip-hop trio.
In their new video for ‘In This’, which features vocalist Ehiorobo, things are just that. Chilled with celestial harmonies and nostalgic guitar riffs that take you somewhere. You’re not entirely sure where this place is, but you know it’s good.
Speaking of the track, Exmag explains,
“We’re really stoked about this release. We had a great time getting to know Ehiorobo, and producing the track and video for “In This” was a really effortless, communal process…‘In This’ came together really naturally. Ehiorobo was a perfect fit. Everyone came together and we actually had the great party that is being depicted in the video. A big thanks to Ehi, Nesmith Films, and our awesome friends who made this whole production happen so effortlessly.”
It’s part of a two-track release called ‘Glimpses of a Vision’, out now via Majestic Casual Records.
Reinvented Sydney-based, folk singer Nathan Hughes is KESMAR.
Working towards a more disco-orientated sound, with romantic bass lines and swirling synths, his new single ‘Feel It Again’ explores the darker side of romance, inspired by KESMAR’s recent breakup at the time.
Mysterious UK-based duo Weslee share their visuals for ‘Boy Like You’.
Another lip-smacking and dreamy song, the Alexandra Gavillet-directed video for ‘Boy Like You’ takes inspiration from Kanye West and centres on the infatuation of the lead male figure through a series of personal camcorder style shots filmed around a hazy American summer.
Sounds like: Ben Khan, Kacy Hill, Blood Orange, Wet, Off Bloom
Scene Writers vs Cookin’ on 3 Burners – Real Life Baby
Exciting Berlin-based duo Scene Writers (aka Christian Huerter and Sebastian Nouvortne) take inspiration from the art amidst the urban sprawl of Berlin.
They have produced a vibrant re-work of 3 Burners‘ ‘Real Life Baby’, which you can listen to below.
Continuing their knack for producing heartbreaking pop songs with a retro twist, ‘Tokyo’ is inspired by that moment of falling for someone but your time is running out.
Sounds like: Shura, Two Door Cinema Club, St. Lucia, LANY, Great Good Fine Ok, The 1975
Boom! Argonaut & Wasp are back with a funky new number called ‘Radio Sound’.
It is part of a double single, and combines elements of alternative, pop, indie, and funk to provide a bright sound, inspired by the bustling streets of Brooklyn.
It is released on the band’s own Bang! Jango Records.
Sounds like: The Strokes, Bad Sounds, Modest Mouse, Talking Heads, Phoenix, Miami Horror, Bag Raiders
Swedish trio ELD share their brilliant new single ‘Desire’.
Creating a big emotions and an anthemic sound reminiscent of Arcade Fire and The National, ‘Desire’ amalgamates electronica with post punk elements, and even enters the shoegaze realm in parts.
Listen below and prepare to be blown away.
Sounds like: Arcade Fire, The National, Interpol, Ulrich Schnauss
Rising Swedish teenager Amanda Mair shares ‘Empty Blockings’.
In the video, Amanda broaches the highly important topic of anxiety and depression,
“I wanted to show the feeling of the continuously searchers desperation. The every day hope for running away from anxiety and sorrow but the faith is to weak and puts you in a circle of running and running until you don’t know what you’re running away from.”
Meet 22 year old Katherine Evans. It says on her SoundCloud page that she likes to sing and sleep. We are not sure about her knack of sleeping, but she sings a damn good song!
With plenty of awards under her belt, she is far from taking it slow, unlike her new single, which is about capturing a fleeting and reckless moment.
It’s out now via Afromartian, an indie record label based in Italy.
Enigmatic singer Teflon Sega is right on point in the modern music scene having wracked up high numbers of streams on Spotify with his previous releases, and we are sure ‘NEØN’ will do just as well.
The track perfectly highlights Teflon Sega’s magnificent range of sultry lows and stirring highs. Listen below.
Standing firmly on his own two feet is the young Copenhagen-based Vera (aka William Asingh).
His latest single, ‘Nobody Else’, was a collaborative effort with Off Bloom, and is influenced by the Caribbean novel ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’ by Jean Rhys, which is about a landowner’s Jamaican wife who is locked up in an attic for allegedly being mad.
The ‘Good Job – No Conversation’ EP is released on 8 December through Ultra Records/Ministry of Sound.
Sacre are hitting some serious Drake vibes with their new single ‘Stereo’.
It’s not the usual sound we hear from the French duo, but we kind of like it. The contrast between the classic electro vocals works well with the addition of rising French artist, rapper Dopize.
Finally, we have the brilliant new indie-pop trio from Portland called Year of the Brother.
We are particularly excited about these guys as they seem to have something special about them. Perhaps it’s the soaring, yet delicate production? Perhaps it’s the on-point falsettos? Or perhaps it’s the enticing lyrics? You decide.
LCAW (aka 22 year old Leon Weber) is sharing an interesting message in his new track ‘Staring at the Sun’, which features the lush vocal tones of New York City-based singer/songwriter, Sophie Hintze.
LCAW says,
“‘Staring At The Sun’ has a clear message – If you feel trapped in a place or a situation you need to break free, pack up your things and just go. The Sun is quite symbolic in this picture, on the one hand it stands for hope, a better future, adventure; and on the other hand it is a burden. Staring directly at the sun for too long blinds you, leaving you on a path without navigation. The lyrics embrace a loss of direction. Hypnotised by yellow lines, moving faster than the speed of light, renegades without a plan. In the end it’ll be worth it.”
It’s out now via Ultra Records / Columbia Records.
Manchester indie band Cassia share the uplifting ‘Sink’.
Despite shows at Reading and Leeds Festivals, the trio’s agenda is to make their fans dance and not mosh, and it’s quite understandable that this would happen with their calypso-infused offerings.
The new song will form part of the band’s debut EP ‘Movers & Shapers’ which is due out later this year.
South London duo Temptress have just dropped the awesome ‘What I Want’, which has been produced by Chris Zane (Passion Pit, Friendly Fires, Holy Ghost!)
It very much has a nu-disco vibe throughout, which works well with Jess’ soulful vocals and the retro basslines.
Joshua Moriarty may well be best known for his role in Miami Horror, but he is branching out with his own solo project.
His debut track is called ‘R.T.F.L.’ and, whilst there are still clear Miami Horror influences, the overall sound is unfamiliar, as sensual, elongated synths play with Joshua’s impatient vocals throughout.
Joshua explains about the project,
“My current ethos is to create compositions to arouse the senses and make one remember there is no real purpose on this planet other than to imbibe as much sensual pleasure as one can. It is music to make you feel (at least for a moment) that you are not alone, to capture in aural form the ephemeral grace of existence. Yet, on the other hand the music is mere art for art’s sake, completely useless, beautiful for the sake only of beauty. A dichotomy of point and pointlessness. War Is Over is designed as a modern day opus of existential desire, longing, sensuality, and what it means to human.”
It is the first single taken from his eight-track album, ‘War Is Over’, which is due for release in August.
