The Australian duo MidnightPoolParty are back doing what they do best – bringing classic disco to the fore.
The new single – influenced by PNAU‘s remix of EltonJohn and DuaLipa‘s ‘Cold Heart’ – is a heavy dose of pop, making even the weariest of heads feel undefeated.
London-based multi-instrumentalist and singer George Gretton takes a turn in genre in ‘Morning’ featuring theMIND, ahead of his new EP, ‘Ordinary Life’ out in August.
Made during “a bit of a 90s boom-bap phase,” ‘Morning’ is about the predictability of taking some time out which ultimately leads to becoming a bit of a recluse.
Essex band Black Pines shares ‘SAINT,’ a hugely personal song about grief and loss.
Used as a therapy for the band, it is jam-packed with raw and passionate emotion and continues that rich and shimmering alt-rock direction the band have cultivated for themselves.
Expect their eagerly-awaited new EP ‘Talk Of The Devil’ on 29 July.
Kickass trio Wild Horse shares the slow-burning, yet anthemic single, ‘Don’t Want You To Go’.
With it’s soaring and dynamic energy, it gives us a snippet of what’s to come from their upcoming album, ‘We Are In An Identity Crisis… But We Love It!’.
Montreal-based electronic artist CRi is quickly becoming a household name within the ambient electronic scene.
Having already released on TOKiMONSTA’s label, Young Art, and Anjunadeep, his new single ‘Never Really Get There’ is driven by his anxieties and desires for introspection, represented in expansive synths and Jesse Mac Cormack‘s elegant vocals.
Oslo-based alt-rock/punk outfit Lazy Queen share the potent new single, ‘Sober’.
Discussing the complex nature of addiction – a subject close to lead singer Henrik’s heart – it’s a frenetic and unpredictable beacon of sound as the band explore to find balance and normality.
What a way to kick off the gems this week! Welcome back XY&O.
Teasing a debut album (finally!) comes ‘Left Alone’ – another slice of hazy pop with simple and effective melodic structures, and of course, Skip Curtis’ luscious vocal mix.
When you are in flow, you are completely engrossed in the task in hand. Hours can pass without even noticing. This appears to have happened to South London multi-instrumentalist, performer and bedroom producer Jamws whilst working on his debut EP ‘Toronto’.
The five heartfelt tracks describe various stages of heartbreak, starting with a separation, following his partner of ten years moving to Toronto.
Max Alexander is a new alt-pop singer/songwriter from London.
Originally an acoustic artist by heart, he’s decided to go straight in with the electric guitar, to create an all together fist-to-chest sound in ‘Stay Where You Are’.
It’s always worthwhile to take a step back sometimes, and reflect.
NYC-based singer-songwriter/vocalist VictorPerry does exactly that in his lyrically mature new song ‘What I Observe’. As he croons in a poetic form of self-expression, we witness a subtle electro-pop space in which the track really starts to breathe.
Singer/songwriter Amy Milner shares her new single, ‘Wildside’.
Written about catching yourself before you lose control, facing those demons and welcoming the dark side of your mind, it’s energetic commercial alt-pop at its finest.
Stockholm siblings The Endorphins shares ‘Parachute’.
A more soulful change in direction to their previous single, ‘Dead or Alive‘, the ’90s inspired R&B breaker was written about intensely falling head over heals for someone.
New York City-based Maude Latour‘s bubbly new single ‘Furniture’ is unapologetic as ever.
Written at the lowest point of a breakup, the song oozes bravery with an ounce of playfulness. This is her joyous breakup song, that she now shares with the world!
Local Crawley band TALU share their new single ‘Take You Home’.
Recording the drums in a warehouse and everything else in their living room and kitchen, the band captures the joy in everyday moments, offering a delightful slither of nostalgia that you’d desire from a modern day indie-pop band.
South London’s Alice MC shares her new single ‘My Love’, taken from her debut EP, ‘Storyteller’.
Despite her music fitting best within the jazz, soul and folk genres, Alice MC started by studying Opera at the Guildhall School. She soon realised her destiny was within the jazz worlds.
Introducing the new project by Pietro Filippone – aka uomo.
His latest release, ‘All I Hear’, is the first song that Filippone has written by himself for the project. A decent bit of autotune in there, the softer house elements give the song a gorgeously gentle uplift.
Sounds like: Henry Green, Roosevelt, Goldroom, Hayden James, Elderbrook
Bristol-based quartet Tungz combines effortless funk riffs with infectious vocal melodies and indie-pop sounds in new single, ‘Can’t We Just Be Friends Again’, out now via Heist or Hit.
It speaks of the confusion and the weird frustration that comes with wanting to snap back to being happy with someone you’ve only ever really been cool with before.
Sounds like: Ben Khan, Christine & The Queens, Patawawa, Bamily
DJ and producer Amtrac has teamed up with Grammy Award-winning British musician, DJ and producer Alex Metric on vocals in new single, ‘So Afraid’.
Looping vocals contemplate a simple question, “why you so afraid of love?” as Alex Metric’s breathy, enunciated voice lends an edge to the droning synths beneath, forming a steady crescendo of sound and passion that blooms.
UK duo Dirty Nice releases ‘100,000 Heartbeats’. A synth-wave pop at the core, it’s the perfect counterpart to the more lo-fi B-side, ‘Love Team’.
Originally presented as a special Valentines Day release, Dirty Nice sent a number of personalised cards to fans. Continuing this theme on their Instagram, an intergalactic cartoon epic has unfolded with a new card revealed every day.
Sounds like: Elder Island, Camel Power Club, Gorillaz, Everyone You Know, 10 O’Clock Chemical
Norwegian native, singer/songwriter and producer Rebekka Danielsson – aka EKKO – shares the visuals for ‘Off My Mind’.
Highly energetic, glorious pop with addictive melodic hooks and immaculate production this tune ticks all the boxes to be a serious club anthem and floor filler.
Expect her debut EP ‘Symptoms’ out later in the year.
Sounds like: Tove Lo, Chelsea Lankes, Allie X, ALMA, Kim Petras
Rising Danish pop songstress ELBA is making waves.
Starting her musical journey in the local choir at the age of six, it was clear her destiny was singing. Her new single ‘Remember Me’ showcases her powerful vocal range, and perfectly fits with the electro-pop production.
The Norweigan artists are smashing it this week, and it’s truly great to see Emilie Nicolas return.
Showing a new side to her music – less “cool pop” and more reflective – ‘Who’s Gonna Love You’ is centred around the difficulties of letting go of a relationship, succinctly capturing despair, unbridled joy, and the desire to dance.
Stockholm siblings Alva & August Heldt are The Endorphins.
As their name suggests, their feel-good future pop is set to induce endorphins. As they put it – “It’s about love, friendship, parties and sex“, and what’s wrong with that!
Listen to self-expressive ‘Dead Or Alive’ below.
Sounds like: The Magnettes, Banks, Fabich, Pastel, Midnight Pool Party, Keljet
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
San Diego-based dream-pop band Inspired & The Sleep shares new single, ‘Getting Through’.
With an addictive piano-led melody throughout, ‘Getting Through’ tackles the moment when two formerly close individuals become disassociated and detached from each other.
Swedish feminist and LGBTQ advocate, Ellen Krauss shares her bright video for the country-tinged pop song, ‘On The Bus’; a story full of heartbreak that has a kind of teenage nostalgia to it.
Since the age of four, Ellen has been secretly writing songs in her room in Stockholm, or in South Africa where her family occasionally lived. This is the first song released via BMG Recorded Music through a new partnership with the indie label, Tiller Inc..
Taking cues from modern pop bands The 1975 and Pale Waves, Irish four-piece Milk. creates music that considers many genres, ranging from RnB, to electronic and pop.
The band’s new single ‘Temperature’, does exactly what it says on the tin – raises the heat in a reflection about the unity that’s felt between two people during sex.
Songwriter, producer, vocalist and budding-polymath Bevan shares ‘P.T.L’ featuring the luscious vocals of Holly Moore.
His experimental, disco-infused electronic project seems a far cry from teaching in the coastal town of Bournemouth. Inspired by track catchphrases in 80’s tunes, Bevan decided to create his own catchy number…’Part Time Lover’.
Sounds like: Friendly Fires, Midnight Pool Party, Ok Go, Roosevelt
Introducing super chilled out indie synth-pop trio, Couch Prints.
Originating in various apartments across the world and finally finding a home in Queens, New York, the song ‘Tell U’ reflects a feeling of transience and movement and leaving the past behind; whether that’s moving homes or ending a relationship or just changing yourself day by day.
So stop for a minute. Recline, listen, enjoy.
Sounds like: Porches, Men I Trust, Beach House, The Knife
Midnight Pool Party gives us a further taste of their EP on new single, ‘With You’.
A labour of love for the Australian duo, ‘With You’ was initially written in 2014 as just a chord progression. Gradually over the years, the pair have kept coming back to the track, matching their development and maturity as producers and songwriters.
The result is a nu-disco jam through and through. This will certainly ease your mind away from stresses of the day.
