Tag Archives: Monogem

Weekly Gems 131

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Attawalpa – Done Hanging On

Attawalpa by Holly Whittaker

Attawalpa by Holly Whittaker

Very much a leftfield psychedelic visual and auditorial journey, former Jamie T guitarist Attawalpa shares the timeless hand-painted visuals for ‘Done Hanging On’, by modern visionaries Alex Gamsu Jenkins and Joe Taylor.

Sounds like: Jude Shuma, Alfie Templeman, Muck Spreader, Leonard Cohen

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Caspian Pool – Special Way Reloaded

Caspian Pool by Quentin Deronzier

Caspian Pool by Quentin Deronzier

Strongly influenced by 90’s French touch and techno, two French characters from Annecy, namely Low Bird (vocals) and Jimmy Q (guitars, synthesizers, production) – aka Caspian Pool, blast their contagious electronic cold wave in ‘Special Way Reloaded’.

Sounds like: FFO: Nimmo, The Chemical Brothers, Hercules & Love Affair, Goldfrapp, Joe Goddard, Chvrches, Digitalism, Holy Ghost!, Boys Noize, Little Dragon, Cut Copy, Icona Pop

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Lucia & The Best Boys – Forever Forget

Lucia & The Best Boys by Oli Erskine

Lucia & The Best Boys by Oli Erskine

The dreamy ‘Forever Forget’ is taken from Lucia & The Best Boys‘ new EP, ‘The State of Things’, and is a generous nod to the 80’s queens, Pat Benatar and Stevie Nicks.

Sounds like: Pat Benatar, Yonaka, Calva Louise, Courtney Love, Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Miley Cyrus

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Emanuel – Black Woman

Emanuel by Eric Miles

Emanuel by Eric Miles

Toronto R&B artist and songwriter Emanuel shares his new single ‘Black Woman’. Written a year ago, the message hasn’t changed – it’s a healing, celebratory ode to the resilience of Black women.

Sounds like: John Legend, Dylan Sinclair, Son Little, Michael Kiwanuka

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Sirens of Lesbos – PALA

Sirens Of Lesbos by Dominik Hodel

Sirens Of Lesbos by Dominik Hodel

Swiss sibling collective Sirens of Lesbos gear up to release their album, with the release of new single, ‘Pala’. It’s turned-on pop for a new psychedelic age.

Sounds like: De Hofnar, MYNGA, Talking Heads, Outkast

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Julia Church – Don’t Really Care What We Call It

Julia Church

South-African songwriter-producer Julia Church shares catchy pop gem ‘Don’t Really Care What We Call It’, a song about navigating those awkward feelings in a new relationship.

Sounds like: London Grammar, Emma McGrath, Violet Days, Birdy, GRACEY, Harlequin Gold, Millie Turner, Louise Burns, Tom Odell, Monogem

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Lissy Taylor – High

Lissy Taylor

British singer-songwriter Lissy Taylor shares her alluring single, ‘High’. Echoes of Lana Del Rey ooze from untamed Lissy, amongst the soft guitar riffs, driving rock percussions, and jangling tambourine.

Sounds like: Lana Del Rey

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Felix Räuber – Autsider

Felix Räuber by Madlen Krippendorf

Felix Räuber by Madlen Krippendorf

German multi-instrumentalist turned producer, Felix Räuber‘s bold new video aims to turn the preconceptions surrounding autism on its head, as it tells the story of an autistic character, deemed to be an outsider.

Sounds like: Aquilo, Solomon Grey, Son Lux, Nils Frahm, Ulrich Schnauss

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Weekly Gems 114

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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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Weekly Gems 101

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fakelife – Drugs All Night

fakelife by Dillon Couchois

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

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BLOODHYPE – Violent Heart

BLOODHYPE - Violent Heart

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 (Amy Winehouse, Alice Merton), 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.

Sounds like: Ten Fé, Larkins, Dancing On Tables

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Limón Limón – Normal Now

Limón Limón - Normal Now

Los Angeles duo Limón Limón offer a zesty take on the past and the future with their captivating nostalgic soundscape sound.

The new single, ‘Normal Now’ is about being yourself in a world that is always trying to turn you into someone else.

Sounds like: Midnight Pool Party, La Felix, All The Rest, argonaut & wasp, Goldroom, Pastel, 90’s Kids

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Tina Boonstra – Out of my depth

Tina Boonstra

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.

Sounds like: Regina Spektor

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SUMif – Collide

SUMif - Collide

SUMif shares her sensual new single, ‘Collide’.

Written after an enlightening, whirlwind romance, it’s a heady mixture of naivete, recklessness, seduction, and soulful connection.

Sounds like: REMMI, Cappa, Monogem, Evvy, Noosa, Sizzy Rocket

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NoMBe – HEELS

NoMBe - HEELS

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.

Sounds like: The Knocks, Jungle

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Foreign Fields – Rose Colored

Foreign Fields

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.

Listen to ‘Rose Colored’ below.

Sounds like: Bon Iver, Billie Eilish

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Bronze Whale – Let’s Go Walk

Bronze Whale - Let's Go Walk

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, Magic Magic.

Sounds like: Glass Animals, Alt-j, OTR, CLN, Golden Vessel, Autograf

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The Policy Feat. CUT_ – NLYU

Dutch-based The Policy teams up with CUT_ to create the looping, synth-based, and nostalgic ‘NLYU’.

Looping lyrics reflect a DIY attitude, after all it’s only you who can make it come true.

Sounds like: Joe Goddard, Todd Terje, Jessie Ware, Disclosure, Kylie Minogue

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Zoë Phillips – Love Is Gone

Zoë Phillips - Love Is Gone

Multi-instrumentalist Zoë Phillips combines country with beautiful folktronica. Think Dolly Parton meets Bombay Bicycle Club.

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.

Sounds like: Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Bombay Bicycle Club, Lucy Rose, Maggie Rogers, Birdy

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HUMANS – Beggin

HUMANS

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.

Sounds like: Madcon, Digitalism, Rudimental

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Fí – all i have

Fí - all i have

Dublin-based self-taught musician, Fí drops ‘all i have’.

Written and intended as a diary entry, the electro-pop number holds a collection of emotions following a break up. Listen below.

Sounds like: Halsey, Låpsley, VERITE

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Mannequin Online – I Do

Mannequin Online - I Do

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

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LANEY LYNX – Bad Attitudes

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LANEY LYNX

Introducing Berklee graduate LANEY LYNX and her soulful take on electro-pop.

On the new single, ‘Bad Attitudes’, Laney has teamed up with songwriter Brooke Tomlinson about hitting it off with a dreamboat only to find out that his friends aren’t as down to earth as he’s made out he is.

Sounds like: Monogem, Dagny, Carly Rae Jepsen, HAIM, Sigrid, LÉON

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RALPH – Last Time

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RALPH

We love RALPH and her new single, ‘Last Time’ is distinctly addictive.

The track, inspired by a breakup, grooves with a mid-tempo beat and pulsating synths. RALPH says about the inspiration for the track,

“We all know break-ups are brutal. You miss your ex like crazy and spend so much time and energy trying to get over them, regardless of who broke up with whom. But when you inevitably see them at a bar or at a party, you’re suspended in this dreamy moment where the only thing that matters is touching them again and reliving those familiar moments of tenderness and passion. ‘Last Time’ is about ignoring that inner voice saying “don’t do it” because even though you know giving in will make everything more complicated, the temptation is too sweet.”

‘Last Time’ is the third single from RALPH’s upcoming EP titled ‘Fantasies & Flashbacks’, due 13 November.

Sounds like: Dagny, Sizzy Rocket, Lykke Li, Scavenger Hunt, Monogem, CALICA

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Chandler Juliet – Take It or Leave it

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Chandler Juliet

Los Angeles native singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Chandler Juliet shares her catchy pop number, ‘Take It or Leave It’.

Co-written with fellow artist LeyeT, and co-written & produced by Aaron Blackmar, ‘Take It or Leave It’ showcases her powerhouse vocals.

As feisty as ever, the song comes with a huge slice of sass in the form of a groovy upbeat empowerment anthem.

Sounds like: Dagny, RALPH, Monogem, Katie Perry, LeyeT

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MONOGEM – Soy Lo Que Soy

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Monogem

‘Soy Lo Que Soy’ is the type of song that gets stuck in your head from the first listen. The intro is significantly long, but MONOGEM‘s progression makes it worth the while as you’ll be met with a real Spanish melodic feel with heart touching vocals.

The song shows that the Los Angeles based artist isn’t afraid of speaking out of her heart through music and you’ll definitely feel that through her catchy rythme.  “Soy Lo Que Soy”, meaning “I am what I am” gives that Jazz / Soul feel mixed with modern electronic music elements, flavored with Jen Hirsh’s own Guadalajaran heritage.

This is a personal and career milestone for Hirsh—it marks the first time she was courageous enough to incorporate her Guadalajaran heritage in her music, all to follow through on a promise she made with her abuela never to lose it.

Soy Lo Que Soy is part of a forthcoming EP called ‘So Many Ways’.

Sounds like: Goldroom, Silk Cinema, ASTR, July Child, Lights, Evvy, Micky Blue

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Weekly Gems 80

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OH Wonder – Hallelujah

OH Wonder by Olga De La Iglesia

OH Wonder by Olga De La Iglesia

OH Wonder returns with the glorious new single, ‘Hallelujah’! Praise be!

The visuals, shot in one take, feature Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht in a field amongst a selection of multi-coloured church gowns. As colourful and catchy as ever.

Sounds like: IYES, Kid Astray, Banks, Fickle Friends, Monogem, Paperwhite, PROM, Blood Orange, Years & Years, Bipolar Sunshine, Broods, ASTR

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Islandis – Slow Down

Islandis by Cormac Power

Islandis by Cormac Power

Australian duo Islandis – aka producer/instrumentalist James Chave-Dubois & Ben McInerney – share their bright new single, ‘Slow Down’.

Sharing one song a year, this radiant upbeat jam breathes nostalgia and contagious pop hooks

Sounds like: New Navy, Phoenix, Foster The People, Goldroom, Strange Talk

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Daniella Mason – Woman Lover Powerful

Daniella Mason

Damn right, Nashville-based Daniella Mason knows the power she has a woman.

A modern feminist anthem through and through, it spells out the world from many womens’ eyes. Her forthcoming EP, ‘Physical State’ is due out this fall.

Sounds like: Imogen Heap, The Japanese House, Robyn, Maggie Rogers, Billie Eilish, George Gretton, Luna Pines

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Tony Njoku – CONFIDENT

Tony Njoku

Nigerian-British avant-pop auteur and artist Tony Njoku shares the brilliant new Max Jedwab-directed video for ‘CONFIDENT’.

The intense single adopts a confessional, diary-like intimacy underpinned by whirring synths, which dissolve into effervescent chaos.

It is taken from his new album, ‘Your Psyche’s Rainbow Panorama’, released on 4 October via Silent Kid Records, in which he has taken inspiration from a work of Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s glass walkway, entitled ‘Your Rainbow Panorama’.

Sounds like: Sacred Animals, Ben Khan, Flying Lotus, Ghostpoet, Gaika, Lightfoot

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Zanski – Younger You Feat. Emilia Ali

Zanski

Zanski digs deeper with his creative new single, ‘Younger You’.

A laid-back RnB affair, Zanski has teamed up with vocalist Emilia Ali to deliver unparalleled vocal lines, rich harmonies, and sweet grooves that perfectly showcase his ability for some serious tuneage, with as much intrigue and substance as James Blake or Jai Paul.

Sounds like: Ben Khan, James Blake, Honne, Banks, Jai Paul

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Slow Shudder – Just As You Are

Slow Shudder

Pop music is always in a state of flux, and there are always artists doing interesting things with it if you know where to look. This week it’s Seattle-based producer-singer-songwriter Slow Shudder.

Reminiscent of the likes of Robokid and PC Music artists, ‘Just As You Are’ walks a fine line of forward-thinking contemporary production and early 00’s sugary pop, for a delightfully charming ballad.

Sounds like: VÉRITÉ, Robokid

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Broken Back – One By One Feat. Alle Farben

It’s coming to the end of summer, which is why you need to listen to the almost-tropical ‘One By One’ by Broken Back and featuring Alle Farben.

The combination of Broken Back’s upbeat and quirky energies with his whimsical vocal styling, combine effortlessly alongside Alle Farben’s diverse, colorful, and boundless spirit.

It’s out now via Sony Music/Ultra Records.

Sounds like: Klingande, Möwe

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Weekly Gems 78

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More Giraffes – Treehouse

More Giraffes

Songwriting aficionados More Giraffes (aka Mark Hadley and Keeley Bumford) return with their carefree new single, ‘Treehouse’.

Written in an actual treehouse (in Hawaii no less), the vibe carved throughout is carefree music that aims for the sky.

Sounds like: Sofi Tukker, Charli XCX, Manila Killa

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Gabrielle Aplin & JP Cooper – Losing Me

Gabrielle Aplin & JP Cooper - Losing Me by Louie Banks

Gabrielle Aplin & JP Cooper – Losing Me by Louie Banks

Popstar and advocate for all things healthy and environmentally conscious, Gabrielle Aplin teams up with JP Cooper on new single, ‘Losing Me’.

The heartfelt rendition, produced by Lostboy (Liam Payne, Mabel) and Mike Spencer (Zara Larsson, Tom Walker, Rudimental).

Sounds like: Dagny, MONOGEM, Ellie Goulding, Chlöe Howl, Hannah Grace

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HOAX – Unamerican Dream

Hoax

NYC-based indie-pop outfit HOAX shares their second single from their ‘b?’ album, called ‘Unamerican Dream’.

A satiryical playoff of the “American Dream”, centred around immigration, a topic close to both Michael Raj and Frantz Cesar’s hearts.

Having been close to the subject, HOAX will be donating 50% of royalties from “Unamerican Dream” to KIND (Kids In Need of Defense), an organization that helps immigrant children who entered the U.S. alone find a safe haven.

Sounds like: Manic Street Preachers, Hers

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LOVER – Starving

LOVER

LOVER (aka Oliver Kirby) is taking a pragmatic approach to making music in his new single, ‘Starving’.

A track written about his personal struggle with not being able to afford groceries – something he says is “the classic starving artist cliché” – the laid back groove sets the tone throughout.

Sounds like: Gold Coast, Tanssi

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Cattle & Cane – Mexico

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Cattle & Cane by Junior Ayub

Teeside-based sibling duo Cattle & Cane are back with a corker of a tune.

Their new single, ‘Mexico’ is as sun-drenched as it can get. Produced by Pete Hammerton (Kylie Minogue, The Shires, Wandering Hearts, Tom Gregory), the duo have made a real statement with the direction of their sound – this is ambitious, radio-friendly pop for the modern ear.

Watch their enticing black & white visuals below:

Sounds like: Arcade Fire, Monogem, Tom Odell

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