Rising Norwegian pop songwriter jens shares ‘Tough Love’, taken from his new EP, ‘Call Me Back When You Get A Moment’. It’s another feel-good pop anthem, firmly rooted with a potent chorus hook and instant danceability.
Sounds like: Troye Sivan, Myylo, Charlie Puth, Dagny
From one Norweigan act to another. At completely different ends of the spectrum, alt-rock outfit Lazy Queen shares brazen new single, ‘Gutted’. Discussing the topic of self-destruction, addiction and recovery, it’s spirited punk rock with an upbeat pop hook throughout.
Chicago producers Chase Durrett and Casey Bruce – aka j. pastel – formed in the summer of 2019, and have been fusing 80’s synths and dreamy guitars with funk moves in their bedroom ever since. Listen to ‘Senegal’ below.
Los Angeles Phil Good is back with a new breakup-inspired track called ‘Falling’. Despite being laid-back, the music video manages to convey the emotion of the song.
Sounds like: Honne, Joseph Salvat, Miike Snow, Glass Animals, Joywave, Just Kiddin’, San Holo
At just 16, it’s hard to believe that pop singer-songwriter Gillian Heidi is already creating such raw and emotive tracks that reflect about relationships in a poetic eloquence not often seen of this age group. Listen to ‘Fray’ below.
Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Phil Good has unveiled an official remix of his latest single ‘Everything’s Good’ from DJ and producer Slow Magic.
He’s kindly taken time out of his busy schedule and put together an ace playlist, which you can listen to below.
Charli XCX, BJ Burton – 7 years
I’ve been falling hard for Charli’s music in the last few years. It’s so aggressively pop and so aggressively experimental, and I feel like no one can do it like she does. This song blows my mind.
Sylvan Esso – Ferris Wheel
Sylvan Esso is one of my favorite bands. I loved their last record “what now?” and was so excited to hear this song “Ferris Wheel” as their first single off the upcoming album. its everything I love about them wrapped into 2:58.
Deaton Chris Anthony – I love all my friends
This song gives me Francis and the Lights vibes but in such a cool and youthful way. I think Deaton Chris Anthony is such a creative force and I love this song.
Flume, Toro Y Moi – The Difference
This song makes me feel all of my feelings and memories from this life and my past 236 lives combined. Something about the sounds and Toro’s voice just gets me goin’.
Phil Good – Everything’s Good (Slow Magic Remix)
This is my song remixed by Slow Magic. I love how he took the previously upbeat and guitar-driven song to a totally new world. makes it a bit sadder and I love me a sad song.
Dijon – rock n roll
I’ve never heard anything like this before and every time I listen there’s something new and fresh for me to discover. The guitar is amazing and his vocals melt my soul.
Toro Y Moi – Who I Am
This is one of my favs on Toro’s latest album “Outer Peace”. I love that this song is so upbeat and simple but the closer you listen to it, the more that gets revealed. It makes me want to party.
Caribou – like I loved you
Another sad bop with the craziest production. I love the synthesized bass/guitar sound and the drums hit harder than a 20-foot bong.
Jim-E Stack, Empress Of – Note To Self
I found Jim-E Stack less than a year ago and then proceeded to listen to his whole discography non-stop for a few weeks. This song embodies everything I love about his production and sound. Makes me feel like going on a road trip.
The 1975 – I Like America & America Likes Me
I love The 1975. I didn’t really care for this song when listening to their album “a brief inquiry..” the first few times, but then I saw them play this live and watched him scream his soul into autotune and it made me cry. Now this song is one of my all-time favs.
Sounds like: Honne, Joseph Salvat, Miike Snow, Glass Animals, Joywave, Just Kiddin’, San Holo
Everything is far from ok at the moment, but perhaps we need a bit of light relief ahead of the weekend.
Cue PhilGood and his overtly optimistic attitude to what’s going on at the moment. Remember, someone always has it worse than you, so appreciate what you have. You can watch the Joren Cull-animated visuals below.
Sounds like: Honne, Joseph Salvat, Miike Snow, Glass Animals, Joywave, Just Kiddin’, San Holo
Unique band Artio share new single ‘All Things End’, released on Monomyth Records.
Embracing newly learned production techniques and taking an almost more mature approach to songwriting, with a feisty prowess not seen too often in modern bands.
US based Phoebe Ryan shares her former ‘Reality’ with us, taken from a time when she was very dishonest with herself.
The visuals for the wistful and fantastical story is inspired by the psychedelic production of The Flaming Lips‘ 2006 album ‘At War With The Mystics’, a formative album for Ryan’s music career.
Our favourte band in the UK right now, Sea Girls, share the visuals for ‘Do You Really Wanna Know?’.
Blurring the lines between reality and fansity, and touching on the topic of mental health, the video – directed by world class animator Francesca de Bassa – takes the band’s own self isolated photography and brings them to life as kaleidoscopic, animated collages.
Sounds like: Marsicans, The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Swimming Tapes, Slow Riot, Two Door Cinema Club, Sundara Karma
Gia Woods is an emerging voice in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as in the pop sphere.
As a queer, Persian woman, born into a traditional Persian household in Los Angeles, Woods grew up a loner and used this time to make music. Her latest single, ‘Naive’ touches on the subject of discovering what you want out of an intimate relationship.
Remix connaisseur Macious has turned himself to Kidnap‘s classic track, ‘Start Again’.
As one of his biggest musical inspirations, the opportunity to remix the nostalgic original came about during a time when Macious was going through some exhausting changes. It’s offered as a free download.
Swiss jazz/soul collective Sirens of Lesbos shares ‘How Many Miles’.
Originally written about travelling the world with their future children, the song has since taken on an unexpected, larger meaning due to current travel restrictions. For those eager eared, it features some reworking of lyrics from The Fugees‘ ‘How Many Mics’.
Cactus? is an innovative three-piece band from the industrial plains of Northern Italy.
Combining influences from the dance-punk phenomenon of mid-00s with the current Lo-fi Bedroom movement, adding to the mix 80s synths and samples – their new single ‘Shitdisco’, out now via Costello’s Records, is full of frenetic and unpredictable energy of crazy synths and poppy vocals.
Sounds like: Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Bloc Party
Indie-pop savant Stevie wolf is paving the way with his refreshing approach to unconstrained honesty.
Diagnosed with Tourette syndrome and major anxiety disorder, as well as meeting a lot of set backs when it comes to making music, hasn’t stopped him exploring the constaints of both personal and societal expectations.
On’Yu is the creation of Australian multi-instrumentalist and producer, Rob Eggleston.
His new single ‘Done Without’ is a sweet slowburner with crisp 80’s influenced electric piano mixed with a soulful-synth bass and blushes of neo-emo in there.
Sounds like: Patternist, LOYALS, 90’s Kids, La Bouquet, MILKK
Alexander 23 is calling it as it is, in the new song, ‘Loving You Gets Hard’.
Further showcasing his lyrical genius, the multi-million streaming Chicago-born singer/songwriter wishes to maintain normalcy as possible, and share his views on a compassionate relationship.
The single is full of breezy vocals with a full-fledged pop essence, written about navigating the complications of losing someone, something close to Linney’s heart.
The Surf Rock Is Dead (SRiD) boys are back with the sweeping ‘Immaculate’, lifted off their debut LP ‘Existential Playboy’ out on 1 May.
Whilst appearing genteel, this is anything but. A juxtaposition that addresses the bleakness of societal affairs and corrosion of daily life amidst the capricious decisions made by those in power.
Sounds like: Day Wave, Hazel English, Swimming Tapes, The Cure, Beauty Sleep
Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter PHIL GOOD initially released his single ‘Do You Ever?’ in late 2019 after announcing his signing to Elektra Records.
It started as mumbles during a time when he was in a lost and stuck place. The track helped process that running away from your problems isn’t the answer.
Now to kick off 2020, he enlists Portland-based, Portuguese-American musician and record producer, André Allen Anjos (aka RAC) to up the electronic game.
Sounds like: Honne, Joseph Salvat, Miike Snow, Glass Animals, Joywave, Just Kiddin’, San Holo
Meet Norwegian born, London based electro-pop singer and songwriter, Hanne Leland.
Like many good pop artists out at the moment, Hanne has also experienced a stint of working in Nashville before focusing more on electro-pop sounds that country-pop.
Stockholm-based KIDDO is following in the cool Scandi footsteps of Dagny and Sigrid.
Her brazen new single is a song about escaping relating, as KIDDO reminisces “about a time when I knew I had lost everything but it was too painful to face it so I tried to ignore the truth for a little longer in every possible way.”
It’s out now via Stockholm-based independent label BLNK Music.
Sounds like: Kesha, Billie Eilish, Sigrid, Dagny, Soleima, Icona Pop
Time to get funky and sexy with Knox White‘s new single ‘You’ve Been My Girl’.
Following some unexpected advice from music kings, Lionel Ritchie and Paul McCartney, the Los Angeles-based Knox decided to hit up New Orleans to gain some creative perspective. Upon his return to Los Angeles, Knox started collaborating and touring with producer Josh Legg aka Goldroom, and the result is an exciting throwback style of chill wave pop.
Stage Republic is a two-person music project based in The Netherlands.
Citing a strong influence from the 80’s, the duo’s new single ‘Rise and Fall’ started as a one minute piece of improvisation to test a new synthesiser and the end result now showcases a brilliant way to bridge the gap between indie and pop.
Slowing it right down this hump day with FRND‘s self-love song, ‘Be Happy’.
Judging by the lyrics of the song, it appears that the two concerned are no longer friends, but it doesn’t stop us digging the overall positive vibes going on in ‘Be Happy’.
Sounds like: PATHS, Taka Perry, Phil Good, TOPANGA
Taking a much darker tone than ‘Sleeping In‘, Los Angeles-based PHIL GOOD shares ‘Growing Up’.
The track has a brooding pace which matches perfectly with PHIL GOOD’s sultry vocals.
Speaking on the track, he explains,
“I wanted this song to be heavier and darker than I’ve ever gone before, both musically and lyrically. I think Growing Up captures that feeling of restlessness and insanity that occurs when you’re trying to get over something or someone, but your mind and your body are fighting you back as hard as they can. I’m extremely happy with how this song turned out and I can’t wait to play it live.”
Sounds like: Honne, Joseph Salvat, Miike Snow, Glass Animals, Joywave, Just Kiddin’
