Tag Archives: The Naked and Famous

Weekly Gems 135

milk. – I Hate the Way You’re Looking at Me (Lately)

milk.

Hot on the heels of The 1975 is Dublin-born alt-pop quartet, milk.. Their bright new offering, ‘I Hate the Way You’re Looking at Me (Lately)’ is full of looping synths, catchy riffs and lulling vocals that immediately lure you in for more.

Sounds like: The 1975, The Japanese House, No Rome

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Benji Lewis – Stay Around

Benji Lewis

Benji Lewis has been busy songwriting during 2020. Written with his new friend Tom Eggert and bonding over their love of home-made smoothies, ‘Stay Around’ is about the progression of love in every subsequent relationship.

Sounds like: The 1975, The Kite String Tangle, Antony Hegarty, Active Child, Gallant, Sam Smith, Solomon Grey, James Blake, Yazz, Jack Garratt, Disclosure, Lauv, Boy In Space, Zachary Knowles

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Asha Gold – Oscar

Asha Gold

UK R&B artist Asha Gold shares new single ‘Oscar’. It’s written about award-winning liars and cheats who deserve to be called out for their deception and good-for-nothing behaviour.

Sounds like: Nakala, Frank Ocean, Rosalia

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Solå – B Mine

Solå

Norwegian songwriter Solå strongly encourages us to value ourselves in new single ‘B Mine’. It’s a hazy piece of electro-pop that perfectly showcases her talent as both a intricate songwriter and performer.

Sounds like: Shura, Dagny, Chvrches, Empress Of, MUNA

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whatshisface – Magic Disaster

whatshisface

Intriguing newcomer whatshisface is on the precipice of jumping into our hearts. His new single ‘Magic Disaster’ is a gloriously melancholic invitation, brimming with dense and warming aesthetics, creating an altogether sweeping atmosphere.

Sounds like: James Blake, George Gretton, Billie Eilish

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Mungbean – Slow Motion

Mungbean

Introducing eclectic Ohio-based outfit Mungbean. Performed as only seasoned performers would, new single ‘Slow Motion’ has layered and heavy synths to accelerate the track’s dreamy and kaleidoscopic intention.

Sounds like: Snarls, The Naked And Famous

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Space Above x So Below – Golden

Space Above x So Below

Well, this is just a brilliant piece of music, isn’t it?

Dramatic and cinematic through and through, ‘Golden’ is the new collaborative effort from New Zealand-born and Los Angeles-based Space Above (aka Aaron Short, formerly of The Naked And Famous) and So Below.

Two talents in their own right, their contrasting expressions within the electronic worlds collide into a wonderful stroke of ‘space tech’ and ‘goth pop’.

Sounds like: Sigor Ros, Ulrich Schnauss, Bat For Lashes, The Naked And Famous, Ryan Vail & Elma Orkestra, Phantogram, Broods

Space Above
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So Below
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Weekly Gems 95

The Feather – Sister

The Feather by Gilles Dewalque

The Feather by Gilles Dewalque

Belgium folktronica artist The Feather shares his bass-licking new single, ‘Sister’.

Swerving synths, it’s a hypnotic indie-pop gem that depicts how social media affects us all, out now via [PIAS].

Sounds like: Cut Copy, Du Tonc, Hot Chip, Joe Goddard

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STRØM – Last Try

STRØM

STRØM

We stumbled upon the beautiful ‘Last Try’ by Swedish artist STRØM just a few minutes ago and had to share it.

Having recently moved to Berlin, STRØM continues to release music that combines elegant vocal melodies with euphoric percussion. Beautiful.

Sounds like: Ben Khan, TENDER, Solomon Grey, James Blake

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Yazmyn Hendrix – Be Me

Yazmyn Hendrix

With a cool name, Yazmyn Hendrix takes Ed Sheeran’s lead and uses her voice with a loop pedal to create magical music.

Her new single ‘Be Me’ is taken off her upcoming EP named ‘Saturn Returns’ and is her first break-up song, and subsequent coming out song.

Sounds like: Alicia Keys, Aurora

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Ani Glass – Mirores

Ani Glass

Welsh musician, Ani Glass (also a former member of indie-pop group The Pipettes) shares the visuals for her new single, ‘Mirores’ – the title track from her forthcoming debut album, released in March.

The quirky and illuminating visuals wouldn’t go amiss in a Petit Meller or Yelle music video, as she shares a journey from dark desperation to motivation and inspiration.

Sounds like: Petite Meller, Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis

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REYKO – Surrender

REYKO

London-based pop outfit REYKO shares the visuals for ‘Surrender’.

Filmed on the English South East coast, it’s a slow and steady track that expresses their elusiveness in a peaceful and dreamy manner.

Sounds like: Billie Eilish, Saint Etienne, CAPPA

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Mint Julep – Fantasies

Mint Julep

We’re very excited to share ‘Stay Fantasties’ by wife and husband duo, Hollie and Keith Kenniff aka Mint Julep, an expertly manicured electric-pop venture that stands in stark contrast to the nebulous and experimental Helios and Goldmund outputs for which the latter member is known.

The vulnerable track shimmers underneath an amalgamation of textures and is out now on Western Vinyl.

Sounds like: Beauty Sleep, Tame Impala, Electric Youth, The Naked And Famous, Cocteau Twins, Helios

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Nathaniel Stewart – Lone Wolf

Nathaniel Stewart - Lone Wolf

Portland-based Nathaniel Stewart shares ‘Lone Wolf’, a track about dealing with loneliness and finding out who you are.

With skyscraping melodies and enduring drums, prepare to drift away.

Sounds like: M83, Nick Murphy

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FARR – Heal Me

FARR

From one lonely artist to another…introducing transatlantic duo FARR (by way of Los Angeles and London) vocalist Roméo and producer Linden Jay (who has also produced for Rejjie Snow, LION SNOW, RITUAL and more).

Born from London loneliness, the soulful new track, ‘Heal Me’, was written with Carl Barat and Olly Burden and is full of heartfelt longing for missed loved ones.

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

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SHY Martin – Slow

SHY Martin by Hampus Hjellström

SHY Martin by Hampus Hjellström

Renowned songwriter SHY Martin (Bebe Rexha, Astrid S, Kygo, Ellie Goulding, ALMA, Jess Glynne) picks up her beloved guitar again and shares the delicate, stripped back ballad, ‘Slow’.

Rich and organic, it shows another side to the popstar-in-the-making.

Sounds like: Halsey, Emily Burns

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Steph Sandor – Circles

Steph Sandor - Circles

Los Angeles-based pop artist Steph Sandor is quite frankly over this shit.

Her pulsing new single ‘Circles’ is a straightforward pop statement shared from a place of vulnerability and frustration. It’s out now on BonFire Records

Sounds like: Chelsea Cutter, CAPPA

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Blanks – Sweaters

Blanks - Sweaters

Dutch YouTuber, Blanks shares his falsetto-led single ‘Sweaters’.

With a unique way of interacting with fans – Blanks actually writes music with his fans, not just for his fans – his pop music captures and engages.

Sounds like: COIN, Two Door Cinema Club, Joan, Great Good Fine Ok

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Weekly Gems 51

Mark Diamond – Steady

Mark Diamond - Steady

Seattle-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Diamond shares slow-burning pop song, ‘Steady’.

At just 25, Diamond already oozes so much self-love and confidence, and with this being a debut, we are blown away by his frank approach to welcoming such feel-good emotions.

‘Steady’ is out now via Stardog Records/Republic Records.

Sounds like: Tom Petty, Hootie & The Blowfish

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Stats – Lose It

Stats - Lose It

UK-born band Stats embrace spontaneity by transfusing genres in their music, such as 70’s art rock, 80’s synth grooves, and cosmic disco-pop.

The new single ‘Lose It’ is about temptations to simply vanish into thin air, a desire that most of us have probably faced in life. Let’s hope Stats don’t disappear anytime soon.

Expect their ‘Other People’s Lives’ album shortly.

Sounds like: Arcade Fire, Pet Shop Boys, Nimmo

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Suzi Island – Halo

Suzi Island - Halo

Brighton trio Suzi Island shares vibrant new single, ‘Halo’.

Produced by Larry Hibbitt (Nothing But Thieves, Sundara Karma, Sea Girls, Marmozets), ‘Halo’ has a bittersweet sound throughout and is a clear bound forward for Suzi Island following their last two singles.

Sounds like: Nothing But Thieves, Sundara Karma, Sea Girls

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Kita Menari – Pretty Sure

Kita Menari by Joram Kaat & Rens Polman

Kita Menari by Joram Kaat & Rens Polman

Kita Menari is the synth-pop project of Dutch artist Micha de Jonge.

His new single ‘Pretty Sure’ is an infectious slice of indie-dance-pop with a big nod to classic Passion Pit-.esq synth effects.

Kita plays Eurosonic Noordeslag on 19 January, so check him out if you can.

Sounds like: Goldroom, Passion Pit, MGMT, Phoenix, The Naked And Famous, Silversun Pickups, Matt & Kim

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Playlist: So Below

So Below

We’ve been fans of New Zealand talent, So Below, for a while now.

We wanted to find out what helps So Below write her incredibly reflective, dark electronic pop, so what better way than her expressing it in a playlist?

“In this playlist I feel like a have a memory or feeling associated with each song, they all have a nostalgic quality to them. Like The Dodos track for example makes me think of sitting on my mums roof at her old house in Auckland and drinking beers with my friends in summer. Or the Trentemoller track makes me think of waiting at the bus stop for the bus to go to work and its pouring down with rain. All such great songs!”

Sounds like: Raindear, Kate Boy, The Naked And Famous, MUNA, Ofelia K, Monogem, Bo Rocha

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Tigertown – Warriors

Tigertown by Alex Tracey

Meet Australia’s finest new musical export, Tigertown.

Tigertown’s new track ‘Warriors’ manages to reach new euphoric heights. Much like glitter itself, it brightens up and idealises the concept of love, but who cares as everyone loves glitter and love, right?!

The track is out today on Neon Gold and they will be touring with Tove Lo in July and VÉRITÉ in August and September.

Sounds like: Of Monsters and Men, Passion Pit, The Naked and Famous, Tove Lo, St. Lucia, Crystal Fighters

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Apsley – Fear

Apsley - Fear

We wrote about Idaho-based Apsley (aka Jacob Apsley) earlier this year and we’re excited to share his latest release, ‘Fear’.

The track has more of an demanding tone than Sold, reminding us of an early The 1975 with its muted guitar riffs and echoey, falsetto vocals.

Sounds like: Fenech-Soler, SOHN, Aquilo, The 1975, Friendly Fires, Delphic, The Chain Gang of 1974, The Naked and Famous, H A R T E B E E S T, Tourist, Bastille, Great Good Fine Ok, Hurts, X&Y, Young Empires

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Apsley – Sold

Apsley - Sold

Apsley – Sold

Idaho-based Apsley (aka Jacob Apsley) releases his debut track, ‘Sold’, and it’s a stunner.

Originally a drummer (he started at the tender age of six), Jacob later picked up the piano, guitar and singing skills that we today witness on ‘Sold’.

‘Sold’ is about seeing life as it really is, and not being shackled to the conforms of society. With that in mind, we recommend you whack this song on your headphones and go for a walk outside.

Sounds like: Fenech-Soler, SOHN, Aquilo, Friendly Fires, Delphic, The Chain Gang of 1974, The Naked and Famous, H A R T E B E E S T, Tourist, Bastille, Great Good Fine Ok, Hurts, X&Y, Young Empires

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Fenech-Soler – Kaleidoscope

Fenech-Soler

Fenech-Soler

Four-piece-turned-brother-two-piece, Fenech-Soler explode back into our lives with a video for the brilliant, ‘Kaleidoscope’, the lead track from their brand new EP.

The video follows a girl on a bedtime journey of multi-coloured proportions.

Still streamlining indie pop, Fenech-Soler once again share with their listeners, joyous and upbeat music, and the timing feels perfect.

Order the EP on iTunes here.

They play Oslo in Hackney on 27th October, so get yourself down there.

What else is to say? The Duffy brothers are back!

Sounds like: Bag Raiders, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, Friendly Fires,The Whitest Boy Alive, Delphic, The Chain Gang of 1974, The Naked and Famous, H A R T E B E E S T, The Jezabels, The Knocks, NONONO, Duologue, Tourist, Bastille

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XYLØ – Fools Paradise

XYLØ by Anna Maria Lopez

XYLØ by Anna Maria Lopez

Sibling duo, XYLØ, are back with ‘Fools Paradise’.

It’s another catchy electronic track from XYLØ, with radio-ready melodies and lustful vocals that instantly capture a false state of happiness.

‘Fools Paradise’ is available on iTunes via Disruptor Records/Sony Music.

Sounds like: ASTR, Broods, Prinze George, GEMS, Lana Del Rey, Oh Wonder, The Naked and Famous

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