Breakthrough Irish band, Inhaler share new single, ‘These Are The Days’, a widescreen indie-rock anthem led by foot tapping drums, with a bubbling bassline, and full of spirited synths as well as lifting vocal harmonies.
It’s the first new music since the release of their debut album ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ in July 2021, a record that went to the top of the charts in both the UK and Ireland.
UK Tour dates
June
11th – Summer Sessions, Dundee, Scotland (Noel Gallagher Support)
13th – Arena, Birmingham (Kings Of Leon Support)
22nd – Cambridge Junction, England
24th – Glastonbury Festival, England
26th – The SSE Arena, Belfast (Kings Of Leon Support)
July
5th – AO Arena, Manchester (Kings Of Leon Support)
23rd – Tramlines Festival, Sheffield, England
24th – Truck Festival, Oxfordshire, England
August
27th – Victorious Festival, Portsmouth, England
Sounds like: Sam Fender, Sports Team, U2, Sea Girls, Blossoms, Joy Division, The Strokes, The Cure, Interpol, Depeche Mode
Peruvian-born Los Angeles-based Britt Lari self-releases her new single ‘Wild’.
The track, co-produced with Dominic Lalli of Big Gigantic, is more than a contemporary electro-pop track, it’s a colourful listen infused with a relentlessly funky, upbeat tempo and Britt’s dazzling vocal instrument.
Urging us to seek our own truth, the Canadian introspectively channels the energy of modern electronic music with the wistful nostalgia of contemporary indie music, evoking emotion in equal parts through both story-telling and sonic excellence.
ToyQueens describes his music as “alternative indie-emo with glittery pop and a melancholy dream-core aesthetic” and that’s just the beginning.
His new track ‘ChemicalBlood’ is certainly all of those things but with an indefinable quality that’s purely addictive. An anthem at its core, futuristic electronic sounds meet emo-era toplines that you simply won’t be able to get enough of.
Sounds like: Bleachers, the neighbourhood, badflower
Moise shares his downtempo indie soul record ‘Cellphone Receiver’. With echoes of rock, the lo-fi single blesses us with his distinct, rich and smooth vocal tone, as he explores a difficult past relationship.
Son of two Rwandan immigrants that came to America soon before the genocide to chase their dream, Moise finds inspiration writing about family, relationship and personal feelings through a rock-infused R&B and soul music from his city of Minneapolis.
Sounds like: Leon Bridges, Daniel Caesar, Steve Lacy, Dijon
Ines Rae is a seriously promising new face on the indie pop scene with a string of singles that have put her on the map.
Her latest track ‘Burner Phone’ is one of her strongest yet as Ines navigates being ghosted and likens the experience to being on the other end of a burner phone.
Sounds like: Holly Humberstone, Chelsea Cutler, Jeremy Zucker
Joe Ramsey’s keen ear for instant classics and mature songwriting will have you hooked on his new EP ‘Making Notes’.
The music industry is no stranger to songs of self-discovery during the pandemic but Joe approaches things from a different angle – exploring his experiences as a period of learning and appreciation and aptly, “making notes”.
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.
Dublin quartet Inhaler shares their psychedelic visuals for ‘Falling In’.
A song written about the ego, the band worked with renowned filmmaker and former Jesus & Mary Chain bassist Douglas Hart (Paul Weller, TheHorrors, My Bloody Valentine) and Antony Genn on the vibrant clip, which was shot entirely over Zoom with each member in isolation during the worldwide lockdown.
Expect a forthcoming album soon.
Sounds like: Sam Fender, Sports Team, U2, Sea Girls, Blossoms, Joy Division, The Strokes, The Cure, Interpol, Depeche Mode
Neo-soul artist Alfie Neale has just released his ‘If My World Falls Apart’ EP, written about the topic of reliance.
He’s put together an awesome playlist of music together, something we can all count on at some point during these testing times.
J Felix – Mind Up
I picked this tune because it’s a breath of fresh air for everything we’re going through at the minute, we need all the positive vibes we can get at the minute.
King Krule – Easy Easy
I know this tune was released years ago, but I was pretty late to jump aboard the King Krule bandwagon. I’m well and truly on it now though, and as this is the first tune on his most famous record it was the first I heard, so it’s kind of become my favourite.
Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles
Wanted to pick this one because it’s an absolute anthem, I listen to a lot of funky music but wanted to switch things up with this one because the build-up to the solo is absolutely unreal!
Pip Millett – Fancy
This one is such a class tune about just being in love and the way someone can make you feel on top of the world. It’s so bare, laid back and such a sick tune to listen to any time of day.
Greentea Peng – Downers
This is one of the hardest beats I’ve heard in a while, my girlfriend put me on to Greentea Peng and I’ve been absolutely rinsing her tunes since.
Mac Miller – Blue World
I’m pretty sure this was produced by one half of Disclosure, and is one of my favourite Mac Miller tunes ever, this one IS the hardest beat I’ve heard in a while haha.
Sticky Fingers – Cool & Calm
These guys have been one of my biggest inspirations for a long time, and I only got to see them live for the first time last year. Hands down one of my favourite gigs ever, their newest album is full of regret but this tune is so positive.
Jarki Monno – Fade Up
Included this one because I live with Jarki and also play guitar for him in his band, so there’s not a day that goes by where I’m not listening to something Jarki Monno related!
Yakul – Getting Late
James Berkeley (lead singer and keyboardist in this band) produced my debut EP, he’s such a ridiculously talented and hardest working guy I know, also makes ridiculously good tunes!
A very cold Saturday evening it may have been, but the queue for Brighton’s Dome was brimming with bright, smiling faces ready for an evening’s entertainment with the newfound household name Sam Fender.
A name in the mouth of a lot of people over the past two years, there’s no doubt you’ve heard a least a track of his or two, and therefore no need cover his songwriting, which is clearly resonating with fans the world over.
That does lead to my main observation from the evening, aside from the powerhouse performance from the man himself and his stellar band, which is the fanbase that was absolutely rammed into the venue. As Sam let his winding storytelling spin a story of adolescent love, life and everything in between through his inimitable Northern charm, it became clear that there was everyone from demographics across the board in attendance, young teens to older folk all there for the sheer delight.
With such a stratospheric and short rise to the top of the pile, don’t expect Sam to be slowing down anytime soon.
Sounds like: Bruce Springsteen, The Hunna, The Amazons, Marsicans, Viola Beach
Fiery LGBTQ artist Lauren Sanderson has incredible drive. That’s clear from her music and attitude (not many people can say they’ve given a TED Talk at the age of 18).
Her new single ‘Upset’ flips the issues of the despondent Generation Z on it’s head.
Australian pop artist Phoebe Sinclair is a self-confessed emotional wreck, and this makes for intoxicating music.
Her new single ‘OMG’ is Sinclair taking ownership of her mistakes whilst not letting them define her.
Backed by a four-piece all girl ensemble, oozing confidence and power, and armed with a massive pop vocal, Sinclair smashes out electro pop tunes with an inescapable energy.
British artist Tallsaint releases the highly chic and addictive ‘Model Effect’.
Taking inspiration from early 2000’s tracks as well as a more modern pop culture of now – born from a visual scene in Killing Eve where Villanelle sees Eve in the bathroom for the first time and makes a comment on her hair.
Sounds like: Bat For Lashes, Anna of the North, Stereo Honey, RALPH, St Vincent, Lykke Li
Self-taught musician Beau Diako shares his new single called ‘Flamingo’, taken from his debut EP, ‘Flutter’.
Featuring neo-soul artist Jordan Rakei, the track is probably his most “pop” song from the EP, which is a glorious fusion of indie, jazz, folk, electronic and soul.
ANDRO may have plenty of experience touring in Jungle‘s band, but now it’s his time to shine.
His debut single, ‘GYMH’ (Give You My Heart) kicks off a new collection of theatrical pop melodies that balance between the ethereal and emotional, perfectly encapsulated by the beautifully shot video below.
Also from Nashville is singer/songwriter/producer John Luke Carter, aka Mokita.
Known for his lyrical and buoyant electronic-based pop, Carter was classically trained in piano in his youth and first started performing in his church. Later, he taught himself to play guitar and eventually transitioned into electronic music production.
His new single ‘Colorbind’ is an attempt to try and describe depression to someone who has never experienced it.
Sounds like: EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND, Nick Anthony, Luna Pines
Named after a harbour road that lead to the sea, unique Welsh songwriter based in London Penniless Cove, is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist that writes raw, affecting music drawing from a number of different genres.
The music obsessive shares ‘Too Tight’ – a weird and wonderful array of jazz, blues and folk.
Sounds like: Regina Spektor, Björk, Ibeyi, Alev Lenz, Kate Nash
It’s that time of year. SXSW. One of the biggest music festivals in the world and we have to confess…we are SXSW virgins. Not to worry as we’ve scoured the line up to ensure we don’t miss any music whilst stuffing our faces with tacos.
Here’s a list of ones to check out (in no particular order).
London duo APRE (aka Charlie Brown and Jules Konieczny) creates low-slung indie with heart-bonding melodies.
A witty take on alternative pop, these two have spent their days creating music in the backroom of a West London chess club and we can’t wait to see what their live performance has in store.
Sounds like: Kasabian, 10 o’clock Chemical, Everything Everything, April Towers, Fickle Friends, Sea Girls, Nick Mulvey
Indulgent rock-pop band Anteros is a London-based four-piece, headed up by frontwoman Laura Hayden who set up the band with Josh in London after her move from Barcelona.
We expect their show to be glorious, glamarous and pushing boundaries.
Sounds like: Blondie, Wolf Alice, Black Honey, Ladyhawke, Blondie, Garbage, The Cardigans
We’d not heard of Los Angeles-based trio Run River North until browsing the SXSW schedule but they’ve made the cut due to their hopeful and upbeat approach to indie-pop.
Expect their EP ‘Monsters Calling Home: Part 1’ out in the spring.
Sounds like: Like Swimming, Beauty Sleep, Of Monsters and Men, Grouplove, Fleet Foxes
We’ve covered Golden Vessel are fair bit on the site. He is currently on tour across North America supporting BAYNK, before making his debut appearance at SXSW.
Check out his newest single ‘DIZZY’ which features the voice of Australian artist Oscar Key Sung, a taste of his forthcoming debut album.
Sounds like: MØ, Brolin, The National, Gang of Youths, Bon Iver, Alex Vargas, TENDER, Kanyon, REFS
Correct us if we are wrong, but we are pretty sure Sir Sly was on an indefinite hiatus the last time we checked a few years back, so to our surprise they are on this year’s SXSW bill.
We are not complaining one single bit – we this authentic and brazen Los Angeles trio explode with frenetic energy on stage.
Sounds like: Growlers, Wolf Gang, All We Are, Gypsy & The Cat, Jagwar Ma, Anteros
US/Scandi husband and wife duo Flora Cash write heartfelt ballads with cinematic keys amidst a brooding Scandi backdrop.
They are set to play SXSW and we are really looking forward to seeing the chemistry on stage, whilst they sing of heartache, politics and general struggles.
Sounds like: Laurel, Lana Del Rey, Lucius, Bon Iver, Johnny Cash
