Tag Archives: Shawn Mendes

Gavin Haley – Self Control Feat. Izzy Bizu

Gavin Haley

Cheeky Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Gavin Haley has just released his vulnerable new EP, ‘Unfolding’.

Presented as an irresistible alternative pop sound with a hip-hop undercurrent offset by acoustic guitar and confessional lyrics, his feel-good music is both modern and connective.

Unfolding “a series of growing pains through music“, it’s a complex juxtaposition of actions and feelings, as Haley explains in more detail,

“I grew up in church, but I also raced bikes and listened to rap music when I could hide it from my family. I feel like I brought elements to this music from every area I’ve drawn inspiration from, but still staying me. Each song is its own story, and I hope this project connects with the people who find it and brings us closer. I wrote Unfolding almost entirely in a few days.”

The track ‘Self Control’ features Izzy Bizu and you can watch the video below:

The new EP is out now on Red Bull Records.

Sounds like: Easy Life, Shawn Mendes, Gareth Pugh, Jack Hawitt

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Weekly Gems 114

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 106

Zachary Knowles – Cherry Wine

Zachary Knowles

Fresh rising artist Zachary Knowles quenches our thirst for love with ‘Cherry Wine’, a song written about the girl he loved before she even realised (and don’t worry, it all worked out fine – they are very happy together as far as we know!)

Signed to the prestigious FADER Label (home to Clairo, Matt & Kim), The Texas-bred songwriter/instrumentalist crafts addictive R&B with silky flair.

Sounds like: The Weeknd, Alec Benjamin, Kayden, ASTN

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Latir – Wallflower

Latir - Wallflower

London-based, alt-RnB artist, Latir, loves to fuse the sounds of hip hop, old school jazz, indie and electronica. Glistens of his old soul expresses itself through his younger-leaning music.

Created with Leeds-based producer Luvian, ‘Wallflower’ shows a truly romantic side.

Sounds like: Miller Blue, Ayelle, Joe Hertz, Tom Misch, Miguel

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Mokita – Take It Back Feat. Ella Vos

Mokita

The project of multi-instrumentalist John-Luke Carter – aka Mokita – is growing from strength to strength.

His new song, in which has teamed up with the rising star Ella Vos, deals with some of the complexities of relationships.

Sounds like: EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND

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FARR – Wildflowers

FARR

Transatlantic alt-pop duo FARR – aka Roméo and producer Linden Jay – shares ‘Wildflowers’.

An almost eerie rendition that steps outside genre lines, with sultry vocals exposing the truth about someone’s actions. Listen below.

Sounds like: RKCB, Jadu Heart, Dan D’Lion, James Vickery, Rudimental

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Laura Hyde – Bliss

Laura Hyde - Bliss

Laura Hyde shares her third single, ‘Bliss’.

Using an old voice recording of Hyde’s, the electro-pop number is about distracting yourself from the mess of life, until finally letting someone in to see the mess and accepting their offer to help.

Sounds like: Sigrid, Billie Marten, Emilie Nicolas, Skott

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TENDER – Living

TENDER - Living

Originally planned to be released in this month, UK duo TENDER has made the decision to still share ‘Living’, inspite of the fact it serves a well recognised backdrop to these “unprecedented times”.

Speaking about the track, they explain,

“It’s about inspired by isolation, before we were isolating. It’s a song about locking yourself away with sadness. Hiding your emotions, in fear of showing how you feel to the world. The segregation only pushing you further into despair.”

Sounds like: MOTHXR, Jungle, Glass Animals, HUNTAR, Caribou, Air, The National, Tame Impala, Boxed In, Honne

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Chris James – Melancholy

Half American, half German songwriter-producer turned YouTuber Chris James shares his new single ‘Melancholy’.

Growing up in California, but moving to Germany at a young age, James is on a journey to showcase positivity and fun through his upbeat lyrics and melodies.

Sounds like: Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Calum Scott, Liam Payne

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Briskey – Don’t Want To Talk About It

Briskey - Don't Want To Talk About It

It may only be April, but the summer-tinged tracks are making their way out of the studios. Or maybe we’ve got this completely upside down, as Australian artists are coming out of summer and moving into their winter.

Anyway, cue Briskey and his new single ‘Don’t Want To Talk About It’. An emotionally-driven song that tinkes with alt-pop, dance, electronica, and even includes a cheeky sax solo.

Sounds like: Hayden James, Goldroom, Bag Raiders

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Weekly Gems 75

ROOM8 – Only You Feat. The Sound of Arrows

ROOM8

Production duo ROOM8 have just shared their new single, ‘Only You’, featuring The Sound of Arrows on vocals, and taken from ROOM8’s album ‘Transduction’, released in October.

The love song interprets the feeling of being uneasy with people out in the world. It’s sway-inducing, timeless synth-pop, worthy of a slot on Stranger Things.

Sounds like: Electric Youth, St Etienne, Aeroplane, Lindstrøm, Ronika, RAC

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UNSECRET – Joyride Feat. Butterfly Boucher

UNSECRET

Who is UNSECRET you ask. Well, it turns out that no one really knows. It could be a producer, it could be a collective. We are not entirely sure, but one thing we do know is that UNSECRET’s new single with Australian singer, Butterfly Boucher is a summer corker!

Conjuring up an image of a ‘Joyride’ in new single of the very name, the retro beat is in a pop race with Boucher’s luscious vocals and anthemic lyricism.

Sounds like: The Knocks, Goldroom

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Ali Horn – Dreamers

Ali Horn

Ali Horn shares his psychedlic new track, ‘Dreamers’.

The ever so radio-friendly track echoes sounds from The Flaming Lips and Beck, in a kalaedscopic state, with a generous nod to the sound of the 60’s.

With a pulsating beat that builds through its verses into an uplifting chorus, it carries the listener through a lyrical journey much darker in content than the music would have you believe at first.

Sounds like: The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Beck, Pavement

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Amahla – Have Mercy

Amahla

Starting with a beautifully addictive bassline, ‘Have Mercy’ by Amahla immediately draws you in, allowing you witness to Amahla’s authentic, modern soulful approach to songwriting.

The honest track – a conversatin between two people about social progress – ebbs and flows between solemn verses and stirring chorus hooks, and has a live performance feel.

Sounds like: Mary J Blige, Erykah Badu, Grace Carter, Caswell, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R

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Delena – One Night

Delena

Ukrainian-born, London-based singer-songwriter Delena has been declared as one of the most exciting names in pop by a number of key pop publications, so who are we to argue?

Her new single ‘One Night’ is another intense slice of the action with an 80’s style drive and female attitude.

Sounds like: Dagny, Halsey, HAIM

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Gavin Haley – Show Me

Gavin Haley

Gavin Haley shares his incredibly emotive new pop single, ‘Show Me’, out now via Red Bull Records.

A former pro cyclist, Harley discovered an incredible drive to create his own music following a cycling injury.

A geniune lovesong about a love lost, Haley creates another perfect slice of indie-pop in the new single, a gentle burner that builds to a poptastic climax.

Sounds like: Shawn Mendes, Gareth Pugh, Jack Hawitt

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Weekly Gems 73

Elina Eriksson – Discover Her

Elina Eriksson

Swedish LGBTQ songwriter/producer Elina Eriksson shares her debut single, ‘Discover Her’, after finding out that a girl she was living with during her time in London, was cheating on her.

Clean and simple in its cut, the nostalgic-pop song has a positive feel throughout, despite the song’s adverse lyrical content.

Sounds like: IDER, Kllo

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Arche – My Only

ARCHE

French indie pop quartet Arche shares the visuals for their first official release, ‘My Only’ – an atmospheric slice of weird, psychedlic dream-pop.

The video features the boys in mismatched outfits, amongst a vintage, nineties backdrop. Watch below.

Sounds like: Tame Impala, Tropic Harbour, Summer Heart, DIIV

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R.LUM.R – How This Feels

R.LUM.R

Introducing Nashville creative, R.LUM.R. His music is R&B, underscored by a hip-hop attitude, pop dalliances, and a progressive rock vision.

In ‘How This Feels’, R.LUM.R urges an honest interpretation of the song by its listener. It is taken from his forthcoming album, due this fall via Island Records.

Sounds like: The Weeknd, Blood Orange, LA Bouquet

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JVLY – me&her

JVLY

Australian artist JVLY shares his smooth’n’mellow tune, ‘me&her’, which features some co-production from Swiss producer DRKTMS.

In the song, JVLY channels some serious dream-pop vibes (think Men I Trust) with buzzy analogue synths, that he neatly stumbled upon whilst trying out his brand-new analogue synthesizer.

Sounds like: Men I Trust, Kllo

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Noah Kenton – Walk Feat. Jahn Rome

Noah Kenton

L.A.-based artist Noah Kenton continues his musical journey with the crossover alt-R&B bop ‘Walk’.

Cutting his teeth as an indie-pop singer-songwriter, he traversed to a colourful, crossover sound after his interest in production allowed him much more creative freedom.

The track also features Maryland lyricist Jahn Rome, who brings a welcome, rhythmic energy to the track.

Sounds like:

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Tim Rose – Left on Read

Tim Rose

DIY musician Tim Rose shares his video for ‘Left on Read’, the third release in a series of visuals culminating into a short film and showcases his obsession with smooth and soulful guitar licks.

The track considers dating through your smartphone and the pitfalls associated with getting to know someone through technology.

Sounds like: Parliament, Shawn Mendes

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Jordan Esker & The Hundred Percent

Jordan Esker & The Hundred Percent

Meet Florida fourpiece, Jordan Esker & The Hundred Percent.

They’ve just released their EP, ‘My Own Misreable’, which is gospel/synth-rock meets organ-led emo/soul and a kind of heartbreak only fans of The National will understand.

Sounds like: The National, Sea Girls

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