Introducing South London-based five-piece, Margot.
Formed by five friends in 2018, the band employs very much a DIY ethic, self-producing their recordings in their home studio.
Their neo-psychedelic single ‘Walk With Me’ is written about empathy, depression and the power of listening, talking, and understanding.
It’s out now via Full Time Hobby.
Sounds like: War on Drugs, Band of Horses, Real Estate, Swimming Tapes
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Marble Empire – Hold Me Up
London-based multi-instrumentalist & producer Marble Empire (aka Matt Berry) shares his new single ‘Hold Me Up’.
Written about going back to his ex-girl despite disliking her, the song is pleasantly upbeat and warm in his delivery.
Sounds like: Ben Khan, Kaytranada, Mura Masa
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Phil Good – Everything’s Good
Everything is far from ok at the moment, but perhaps we need a bit of light relief ahead of the weekend.
Cue Phil Good 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
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Artio – All Things End
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.
Sounds like: Skies
Phoebe Ryan – Reality
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.
Sounds like: Grimes, ROZES, EXES
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Sea Girls – Do You Really Wanna Know?
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
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Gia Woods – Naive
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.
Sounds like: Zolita, WENS, Sizzy Rocket, L Devine
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Milq – Summer Again
Canadian self-proclaimed “boy band” Milq share their nostalgic tune, ‘Summer Again’.
With extremely strong echoes of LANY and joan., their new single is inspired by the romanticising of young love and past experiences.
Sounds like: LANY, joan.
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Kidnap – Start Again (Macious Remix)
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.
Sounds like: Lane 8, Rüfüs Du Sol, Ben Böhmer
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Sirens of Lesbos – How Many Miles
Sirens of Lesbos by James Bantone
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’.
Sounds like: De Hofnar, MYNGA
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St. South – Growing Up
St. South is the moniker for Australian singer-songwriter-producer-multi-instrumentalist Olivia Gavranich.
She is known for creating blissful, nuanced and soulful electro on her own terms. Taken from her debut full-length album ‘Get Well Soon’, the visuals for ‘Growing Up’ refine the simplicity of life, out there in the world.
Sounds like: CAPPA, Tusks, Haux, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Henry Green
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Sea Girls – Do You Really Wanna Know?
Quite possibly their most commercial (and arguably most catchy) release to date, ‘Do You Really Wanna Know?’ is a beacon of hope during these anxiety-inducing days.
Expect their emotionally charged, deeply personal, hook-laden debut album ‘Open Up Your Head’ to be released on 14 August via Polydor.
Sounds like: Marsicans, The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Swimming Tapes, Slow Riot, Two Door Cinema Club, Sundara Karma
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Ayelle – Fast Life
Ayelle by Polly Hanrahan
Rising R&B artist Ayelle returns with ‘Fast Life’; a lesson in self-care, especially important during these trying times.
Part of the lesson includes yoga, drinking tea. as Ayelle explains, “…making time for yourself to slow down and conquer fomo“. Listen below.
Sounds like: Banks, 4AM, Wet, IYES, Tove Lo
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Kidsmoke – The Bluest You
Welsh Indie-pop quartet Kidsmoke releases the hypnotizing new single ‘The Bluest You’ on Libertino Records.
With a sensational and emotional build, the track picks apart the impact of mental health on loved ones, taking a more sombre tone than previous releases.
Sounds like: Boy Azooga, Penelope Isles, Swimming Tapes
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LU KALA – Want You
Pop-powerhouse and rebel LU KALA returns with her empowering new single ‘Want You,’ co-written and produced by Terrence Lam (Drake/Rihanna, Alessia Cara, Kaskade, Meghan Trainor).
Paving the way for female strength, she is ready to face herself when it comes to self-sabotage. Are you ready too?
Sounds like: Tones & I, Paloma Faith, Duffy, Macy Gray, Vera Blue, Thelma Plum, Ava Max
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pluko x Panama – higher
Bedroom producer-turned main stage act, 19-year-old pluko teams up with Australian vocalist Panama for a lush indie electronic single, ‘higher’.
Amassed glistening synth-work, ethereal vocal work, and a steady, rhythmic drum beat, this is is a treat for the ears.
Sounds like: Bon Iver, ODESZA, Petit Biscuit, Ásgeir
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CLUBHOUSE – Weekend
Who cares if it’s not shining right now, because it is sure as hell shining wherever these five go.
The release of ‘Weekend’ – a jazzy summer bop that creatively balances simplicity and swagger – kicks off the summer for rising pop band CLUBHOUSE.
Sounds like: Surfaces, Peach Tree Rascals, Tom Misch, Yakul, Easy Life, Still Woozy
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cactus? – Shitdisco
Cactus? by Riccardo Michelazzo
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
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Stevie wolf – Paper maché doll
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.
Sounds like: Myylo, Phil Good
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On’yu – Done Without
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
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Alexander 23 – Loving You Gets Hard
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.
Sounds like: Lauv, Chelsea Cutler, Shoffy, Nolie
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Linney – Cool
Pop sensation Linney returns in 2020 with ‘Cool’.
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.
Sounds like: CAPPA, Paperwhite, Poema, Scavenger Hunt
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Mazoulew – Circles Feat. Bonnie Wylde
London-born, Italian-residing Mazoulew has been making music for 15 years.
Inspired by varying genres of Motown, acid jazz and drum&bass, the UK producer fuses these sounds with minimal and melodic electronic beats.
His new single features the ethereal vocals of Bonnie Wylde.
Sounds like: Kidnap, Model Man, Jessie Ware, Lane 8
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NZCA LINES – Pure Luxury
NZCA LINES (aka Michael Lovett) shares his kooky and cosmic track, ‘Pure Luxury’.
It’s a rehashed response to the notions of luxury, status, and the insanity of pursuing material wealth in the face of environmental catastrophe.
Sounds like: Metronomy, Gold Panda, Ronika, Hot Chip, Ben Khan
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East Harbor – Miss the Old You
It’s always a good sign when you turn the volume right up when initially listening to a track.
Florida-based quartet, East Harbor does just that in their infectious new single, ‘Miss the Old You’. Turn up and listen below.
Sounds like: La Bouquet, The Band CAMINO, The 1975, Manchester Orchestra
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Surf Rock Is Dead – Immaculate
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
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Hotly tipped SEA GIRLS (we could have told you that agggges ago!), share the video for ‘Ready For More’, taken from their new EP ‘Under Exit Lights’, released on 6 March.
Channelling inner confusion, singer Henry Camamile explains about the Sophia & Robert (Odelay Films – Pale Waves, The Kooks)-directed video,
“…it is a thinly veiled dark message in vibrant frenzied and down the rabbit hole way.
“The video for ‘Ready For More’ is one part Alice, one part Harley, and I think a lot of me. At the time of writing it I was so unsure of who I was, what I was doing or if I could trust myself. I was my own worst enemy.”
Live
16 Apr BIRMINGHAM, O2 Institute [SOLD OUT]
17 Apr MANCHESTER, O2 Ritz [SOLD OUT]
18 Apr GLASGOW, The Garage [SOLD OUT]
23 Apr LONDON, The Roundhouse
Sounds like: Marsicans, The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Swimming Tapes, Slow Riot, Two Door Cinema Club, Sundara Karma
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Surf Rock Is Dead (SRiD) is comprised of Chicago native Kevin Pariso and Melbourne native Joel Witenberg.
The new single ‘Diabolik’ is a vent about the crazy and hindsight-amusing roommate situations that you find yourself in. It’s a fusion of jangly surf-pop and lo-fi post-punk.
Their debut LP ‘Existential Playboy’ is out on 1 May.
Sounds like: Day Wave, Hazel English, Swimming Tapes, The Cure
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A new breed of indie is raiding our airwaves of late. Annie Mac-championed indie band Sea Girls, share the visuals for ‘Violet’.
Directed by Michael Holyk, the video is shot in a haunting dis-used railway ticket station in Woolwich. Speaking of the video the band says, “We may have songs with darkness, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look to the light. ‘Violet’ is wildly optimistic and for the video we find ourselves in an abandoned building and this time we aren’t feeling sorry for ourselves.”
Raucous and addictive, these guys know how to make an indie banger time and time again.
LIVE SHOWS
OCTOBER
Wed 2ND NOTTINGHAM, Rescue Rooms (SOLD OUT)
Thu 3RD BRISTOL, The Fleece (SOLD OUT)
Fri 4TH SOUTHAMPTON, The Loft (SOLD OUT)
Thu 10TH LONDON, O2 Forum Kentish Town (LTD REMAINING TICKETS JUST RELEASED)
Fri 11TH LEICESTER, O2 Academy 2 (SOLD OUT)
Wed 16TH HULL, The Welly (SOLD OUT)
Thu 17TH MANCHESTER, Academy 2 (SOLD OUT)
Fri 18TH LIVERPOOL, O2 Academy 2 (SOLD OUT)
Sat 19TH STOKE, The Sugarmill (SOLD OUT)
DECEMBER
Fri 6TH MA, BOSTON, Great Scott
Sat 7TH PA, PHILADELPHIA, Kung Fu Necktie
Mon 9TH WASHINGTON DC, DC9
Tues 10TH NEW YORK, The Mercury Lounge
Thurs 12TH CA, LOS ANGELES, Hotel Café
JANUARY 2020
Tues 21ST BELGIUM, ANTWERP, Twix
Wed 22ND GERMANY, COLOGNE, MTC
Fri 24TH THE NETHERLANDS, NIJMEGEN, Merleyn
Sat 25TH THE NETHERLANDS, AMSTERDAM, Paradiso
Sun 26TH THE NETHERLANDS, ROTTERDAM, Rotown
Tues 28TH DENMARK, COPENHAGEN, Hotel Cecil
Thurs 30TH GERMANY, BERLIN, Privatclub
Fri 31ST GERMANY, MUNICH, Strom
FEBRUARY
Sun 2ND ITALY, MILAN, Circolo Magnolia
Tues 4TH GERMANY, FRANKFURT, Zoom
Wed 5TH FRANCE, PARIS, Point Ephemere
Sounds like: Marsicans, The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Swimming Tapes, Slow Riot, Two Door Cinema Club, Sundara Karma
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STRUAN – Awake
We’ve been desperately searching for some sweet, nostalgic heartbreak songs to play on the radio during our late night drives and we’ve just found one – ‘Awake’ by STRUAN.
Surprisingly written with this in mind, STRUAN explains he created ‘Awake’ because he was out in Los Angeles and couldn’t sleep thinking about his ex.
Sounds like: LANY, Great Good Fine Ok, Joan, The 1975
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Beauty Sleep – The Dark
Rising Belfast dream-pop trio Beauty Sleep creates magical, synth-driven music. The three met at a friend’s party and bonded over a mutual love of G&Ts and music.
They are gearing to release their debut LP, ‘Be Kind’ is set for release on 17th May on Quiet Arch records. Listen to ‘The Dark’ below.
Sounds like: All Tvvins, Pleasure Beach
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Caswell – Surface
Following a stint of live shows last year, including Latitude Festival, Caswell releases ‘Surface’, a song of self-discovery and re-empowerment to reach a potential she didn’t realise she had the whole time.
It’s a crisp and clear rendition with definite musical intentions, and sets the tone for her second EP, to be released in April.
Sounds like: Låpsley, Skott, Lorde, Charlotte Cardin, Jorja Smith, JONES, Ray BLK, Sigrid, Maggie Rogers
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O Future – VOYEUR
Meet O Future (fka OOFJ), an electronic duo mixing electronics with symphony orchestra and voice consisting of Jens Bjornkjaer originally from Denmark and Katherine Mills Rymer from South Africa, now located in Los Angeles.
O Future’s new single ‘VOYEUR’ gains pleasure in watching other people’s vanity from afar in what the duo calls a “global turn on”, and with a gorgeously, exciting looping bass line throughout, what’s not to enjoy?
Sounds like: Grimes, Georgia, Santigold
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Sea Girls – Open Up Your Head
Current favs, Sea Girls, share their latest single, ‘Open Your Head’ – it’s about unconditional love and is another brilliant addition to their stellar back catalogue
Can’t wait for their album? In the mean time you can catch them at one of their live dates in the UK this February and March…
Sounds like: The Kooks, The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Swimming Tapes, Slow Riot, Two Door Cinema Club
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Leaone – Prairie Fires
Meet Leaone (pronounced ‘Lee-own’).
After landing support from the Arts Council England’s International Development fund, Leaone found himself working from Transmitter Park Studios in Brooklyn New York, alongside multi-instrumentalist and producer Tom Marsh (of Lana Del Rey’s band) and Abe Seiferth (Yeasayer, Bears In Heaven, James Murphy), on a body of new material.
The result is ‘Prairie Fires’, a deeply devastatingly emotive song that Leaone wrote at a time when he had to leave behind a blossoming romance.
Sounds like: The National
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Girl Crush – Baby Steps
Last but definitely not least is Girl Crush, the music and fashion project of Swedish/British duo, Ottilia Kjulsten and David Sugar.
These two have a special interest in lost youth, lust-stricken heartbreak and a future that never arrived, which they define as “promcore”. Their new single ‘Baby Steps’ is out now via Brilliance Records.
p.s. Want to be as cool as these guys? Then buy one of their limited edition pieces of merchandise which they offer with every track release.
Sounds like: Niki & The Dove, LOVE SICK, So Below, Ralph, Anna of the North, Call Me Loop, SUMif
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Following an epic 2018, the upcoming 2019 is looking like a very exciting year for the young UK-based band, Sea Girls.
Their new single ‘All I Want To Hear You Say’ once again firmly instals in our ears, what the Sea Girls’ “sound” is – ambitious and unrelenting guitar-fronted, radio-ready bangers with thought-considering lyrics.
Sounds like: The Kooks, The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Swimming Tapes, Slow Riot, Two Door Cinema Club
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It’s yet another banger from British indie rock band, Sea Girls!
Much like the source of its inspiration, ‘Eat Me Whole’ is impulsive and feisty in nature, and was written when vocalist Henry Camamile witnessed a vibe-killing disagreement at a party.
Live dates
18th April Heartbreakers, Southampton (supp. The Academic)
19th April The Garage, London (supp. The Academic)
21st April The Cellar, Oxford (supp. The Academic)
22nd April Mama Roux’s, Birmingham (supp. The Academic)
6th May Liverpool Sound City
17th-19th May The Great Escape, Brighton
15th July Citadel Festival, London
20 – 22nd July Truck Festival, Oxfordshire
4th August Belladrum Festival, Scotland
25th August Reading Festival
26th August Leeds Festival
UK Headline Tour
4th October Bodega Social Club, Nottingham
5th October King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
11th October Mama Roux’s, Birmingham
12th October The Leadmill, Sheffield
13th October Think Tank, Newcastle
18th October Scala, London
19th October The Haunt, Brighton
20th October Joiners Arms, Southampton
21st October Thekla, Bristol
+ further dates to be added. All gigs are 14+ except Scala 16+
Sounds like: The Kooks, The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Swimming Tapes, Slow Riot, Two Door Cinema Club
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