Tag Archives: US

Weekly Gems 179

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girl in red – hornylovesickmess

girl in red by Jacqueline Landvik

girl in red by Jacqueline Landvik

Norwegian grammy-winning artist, Marie Ulven – aka girl in red – shares the video from her album favourite, ‘hornylovesickmess’.

A directorial debut from Euphoria star, Hunter Schafer, the video sees Ulven laying in a bus bed, savaged by self-reflective flashbacks depicted through tangles of red tape amongst a construction site.

Sounds like: Clairo, Mallrat, Wallows, Conan Gray, Frances Forever

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Suave Punk – Petals

Suave Punk by Caitlyn Phu

Suave Punk by Caitlyn Phu

Los Angeles-based Korean artist Justin Kim – aka Suave Punk – releases the deliciously grungy ‘Petals’, out now on Pack Records.

He brings his full bodied shoegaze in the new single – thick, crunchy guitar layers and sultry effect-laden vocal lines. Addictive stuff.

Sounds like: My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Cocteau Twins

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Magsy – Truth Is

Magsy by Alek Blik

Magsy by Alek Blik

Rising pop artist Magsy releases ‘Truth Is’, out now.

Firmly routing himself nicely amongst the pop heartthrobs of 2022, it follows on from the phenomenal ‘Noisy Mind’ and once again showcases Magsy’s passionate vocals over a plush instrumental of relaxing synths and groovy beats. A recipe for pop perfection.

Sounds like: Majid Jordan, Years & Years, Troye Sivan, No Rome, LANY

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Meagan De Lima – Queen

Meagan De Lima

Introducing Meagan De Lima, a Toronto-based singer-songwriter who crafts heart-centred R&B that spans from her family’s rich cultural and musical heritage.

Forming a natural affinity for music at a young age, her new single ‘Queen’ is dedicated to her mother.

Sounds like: Ariana Grande, Jojo

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Celestial North – When The God’s Dance

Celestial North

Delve into the cosmic world of Celestial North.

Lake District-based, Scottish-born, her musical world is an ethereal-pop landscape bathed in folklore and soaring cinematic melodies. You can listen to her spell binding new single ‘When The Gods Dance’ below.

Sounds like: Niki & The Dove, Bat For Lashes, Kate Bush, Oh Land

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WEEKLY GEMS 171

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Slouch Online – This Is All Just Part of the Show

Slouch Online makes delectable R&B/hip-hop sounds from Los Angeles. Playing with new sounds, Slouch Online was inspired by new samples and the drive to make an upbeat song. He even says that during the songwriting process, “sometimes I don’t even remember how it all came together”. 

Sounds like: Kid Cudi

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Shaefri – Joanne

This song is a direct response to Shaefri seeing Leanard Cohen live. Speaking of the experience, Shaefri says, “The way he portrays Suzanne as a torturous siren inspired me to want to almost write a “little sister” for her, ‘Joanne’, and take the character further, displaying her as a gritty, tough woman in unimaginable circumstances, and explore how she has to walk a line between siren and self-preservation. I wanted to paint a more realistic picture of how certain actions and consent can be misinterpreted or ignored and how abuse can so easily take place, especially in sex work.’

Sounds like: Sasa Zola

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VÉRITÉ – Teenage Dream

VÉRITÉ looks back at her adolescent years with rose-tinted glasses in her whimsical cover of the Katy Perry classic. She wanted to reframe the song with her fresh, youthful perspective and altered lyrical content, “Put your hands on me in my skintight jeans, be your teenage dream tonight”.

Sounds like: Birdy

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UNDREAM – Monster (ft. IOVA)

UNDREAM is a talented Swedish producer with a dark, ambient soundscape. The ‘Monster’ single is intentionally uncomfortable and eery. Based on the silent horrors of lying in bed awake and alone, there’s a childlike feeling of being chased within the music.

Sounds like: Billie Eilish

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Desmond Myers – Shadows

Desmond Myers describes new single, ‘Playing With Fire’, as an epic voyage of self-discovery. He started writing the track in a time of uncertainty and new parenthood, interspersed with ideas and realisations around like in the music industry.

Sounds like: Victor Solf

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Jonah Kagen – Catching A Dream

Single artwork for JP Saxe, “If The World Was Ending (Other Remix)”

Jonah Kagen has released pop-infused single, ‘Catching A Dream’. Of the single, he says,“Catching A Dream” is about the place you go to in your mind when you just want to escape your reality. I really wanted to try to bring out that feeling of escapism and paint a picture of this magical place where nothing weighing you down in the real world could ever follow you. I hope you all love it and that it allows you to escape for a minute.”  

Sounds like: Bastille

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Kat Frankie – Shiny Things

Kat Frankie by Elina Kechicheva

Kat Frankie by Elina Kechicheva

Sydney-born multi-instrumentalist Kat Frankie shares the folktronica-esq single ‘Shiny Things’. Filmed with romanticism and grandeur in mind, the story tells of the inextricable relationship between beauty and decay.

Sounds like: First Aid Kit, HAIM, Feist, Fiona Apple

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Weekly Gems 170

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Eloise Viola – Trying To Love Ya

Eloise Viola

London-based singer-songwriter Eloise Viola oozes positivity and self love. With a degree in Psychology and recent modelling with sustainable clothing brand Positive Outlook Clothing, Eloise Viola is more than one of the hottest artists in the pop scene.

Her funk-rich, disco-leaning single ‘Trying To Love You’ is out now.

Sounds like: Dua Lipa, Gracey, Call Me Loop, Mabel

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BLYNE – Randomness

BLYNE

Forging their own pop path, Berlin-based artist & producer duo BLYNE share new single ‘Randomness’. It’s another great example of bedroom pop coming out of Germany, with bright synths and youthful vocals.

Check it out below.

Sounds like: Arca, Aphex Twin, ANOHNI, Oneohtrix Point Never, Charity Children, Pnau

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Tommy Lefroy – Vampires

Tommy Lefroy

Alt-pop girls Tommy Lefroy – aka Tessa Mouzourakis and Wynter Bethel – share the soothing ‘Vampires,’ just in time for Halloween.

It’s a laidback rock track from the transatlantic duo. About staying with someone through trying times, it really exposes delicate and soothing vocal delivery.

Sounds like: Phoebe Bridgers, Big Thief, Weyes Blood, Soccer Mommy, Fenne Lily, Emma McGrath

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Carol Ades – Through

Carol Ades by Cash Danielsen (Love Artists Agency)

LA-based Carol Ades (pronounced addis) shares ‘Through,’ the title track of her debut EP.

With echoes of a soundtrack for a 90’s cult film, ‘Through’ marks a powerful reclamation of personal artistry for the New Jersey-born talent, who has penned penned fan favourite hits with Demi Lovato, Benny Blanco and Ava Max.

It’s about a break up that Ades went through last year where she traveled to London during the pandemic to win back the old relationship, but this didn’t go to plan and she ended up being stuck in London during the lockdown.

Sounds like: Avril Lavigne, Maggie Rogers, Wolf Alice, Ava Max

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Wil Owen – After Dark

Wil Owen by Celyn Morris

Wil Owen by Celyn Morris

Bristol-based Wil Owen shares ‘After Dark,’ a song he worked on with Tamu Massif (Fenne Lily).

As raw as it gets, the delicate plucks of acoustic guitar and breathy vocals conjure up a reflective and honest image of a crowd of people in a room, completely isolated from each other.

Sounds like: Bombay Bicycle Club, Bon Iver, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Damien Jurado, Ben Howard, Fenne Lily

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Weekly Gems 169

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DejaVilla – Castle with a View

DejaVilla

DejaVilla is a Jamaica-raised duo made up of David Marston and Sarah Couch. The pair distill the sounds of riddim-tinged electronica with future R&B and worldly aromas. Ahead of their forthcoming studio album ‘Castle With a View,’ DejaVilla unveil the title track to the LP ‘Castle With A View’ due for release Friday, July 16 via Ultra Music.

Sounds like: Katy B, Lily Allen, Jorja Smith

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Mogli – ECHO

Musician and impressive creative force Mogli returns with new single ‘Echo’ . Accompanied by a brilliant dystopian film, created and scored by Mogli, the project bookends a difficult time for Mogli as a musician and as a person.

“I broke out of a toxic relationship and moved to Berlin. Consequently, I was completely on my own trying to find out who I was while battling depression. I passionately dove into touring and working which inevitably led to burn-out. Writing this album became my catharsis, I was able to face my fears. Being brave enough to make yourself vulnerable heals you and brings you happiness.” – Mogli

Sounds like: Phoebe Bridgers. Ex:Re, IDER

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N.O.A.H – Echoes Of The Night

N.O.A.H. is the Irish three-piece behind single ‘Hands Up’. Following huge support from their homeland, N.O.A.H say, “We wanted to try to represent this transitional year for us, in the same way the story of Noah effortlessly separates the old from the new. We feel that EOTN symbolises this change and is a foundation for what is to come from the band”.

 

Sounds like: Coldplay, U2, The Killers

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Airmow – ROUGE

‘ROUGE’ is atmospheric, groovy and spooky – all at the same time. It’s a cinematic new single from Cloudkid signing Airmow. The background boasts sounds associated with film = high-speedy chase noises and beats that sound like whispers.

Sounds like: Coldplay, U2, The Killers

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tstewart  – buena

With photography from Bonobo and his years as Machinedrum, the new Mercury KX signing knows exactly what to do with his new project, tstewart. Using the project as an intentional alter-ego, ‘buena’ is the first single ahead of a wider album that’s inspired by this calmer, restful facet that contrasts to Machinedrum’s heavier beats.

Sounds like: Machinedrum

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Johnny Kulo – Wrong

This is funky, warped, delicious music. The Berlin-based, Indian artist and producer, Johnny Kulo bridges old-school soul and modern R&B with new single ‘Wrong’. His intensely laid-back grooves brim with luscious harmonies and catchy melodies.

Sounds like: Jordan Rakei

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Curse of Lono – Think I’m Alright Now

Taken from Curse Of Lono‘s third album, ‘Think I’m Alright Now’ is an addictive psychedelic rock song that talks of hope. Finding his way in a near-impossible year, in which Felix Bechtolsheimer lost his father, his uncle and his ex-partner, this song was born.

Sounds like: Steve Earle, Chuck Prophet and David Ramirez

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Astral Swans – Astral Swans

Processed with VSCO with c4 preset

Following on from his comeback singles, ‘Flood’ and ‘Spiral’, the enigmatic singer and songwriter Matthew Swann (aka Astral Swans) now drops his new self-titled album. Channeling bold, technicolour flavours, each song of Swann’s latest full-length operates as an absurdist short story filled with his wry observations of the sad beauty of mundane moments.

Sounds like: Rosali

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LEAP – Energies

‘Energies’ by LEAP (aka Jacky Balfour Scott) is an honest song written to explore his experience being sectioned in a psychiatric ward. It’s a classic alternative rock dive into the current day with hard-hitting themes explored through fiery vocals.

Sounds like: Nothing But Thieves, Yungblud, Sam Fender

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LYR – Cascade Theory

Comprised of a set of talented musicians and Simon Armitage’s (the current poet laureate) spoken word, LYR have delivered another intellectually stimulating release. ‘Cascade Theory’ looks into the social phenomenon of observation and exposure.

Sounds like: Erland Cooper

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Gavin Haley – Self Control Feat. Izzy Bizu

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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 134

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Caspian Pool – Insider

Caspian Pool

French synth-dance duo Caspian Pool likes to keep us on our toes with their wide-ranging selection of electronic music. Cue the colour-fuelled visuals for the foot-thumping ‘Insider’.

Sounds like: Nimmo, The Chemical Brothers, Hercules & Love Affair, Goldfrapp, Joe Goddard, Chvrches, Digitalism, Holy Ghost!, Boys Noize, Little Dragon, Cut Copy, Icona Pop

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Psyence – Retrospect

Psyence by Mark Vyse

Psyence by Mark Vyse

Anthemic alt-rock band Psyence returns with psychedelic sensibilities in rousing new single ‘Retrospect’, reminding us that every bitter end has a new beginning.

Sounds like: Queens of the Stone Age, Kasabian, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, The Blinders, Wolfmother

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Beharie – Me & My Lonely

Beharie

Distinctive Norwegian voice, Beharie shares his soulful, folk and ambient blend in the form of ‘Me and My Lonely’. Pastoral and beautiful, the track orbits a peaceful finger-picked acoustic riff.

Sounds like: Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Bombay Bicycle Club

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Flechettes – Chasing Youth

Flechettes

Wigan-based four-piece Flechettes share the radio-ready and uplifting ‘Chasing Youth’, with blazing indie-pop guitar riffs and catchy vocals, making for a seriously dynamic record.

Sounds like: Sea Girls, Red Rum Club, The Blinders, Stanleys, Garden Party

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Chillhum – Dancing (Alone)

Chillhum

22-year-old producer, songwriter and musician Ethan Bedell – aka Chillhum – shares ‘Dancing Alone’, a stripped back and melodic blissed-out track that celebrates the joys of being alone.

Sounds like: Gaspar Narby, Couro, Flume, Ed Sheeran, Flume, Louis The Child, Petit Biscuit, Troye Sivan, Robotaki

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Bre Kennedy – Where Did Summer Go

Bre Kennedy by Lindsey Patkos

Bre Kennedy by Lindsey Patkos

Songwriting heavyweight Bre Kennedy winds down for the cooler months with her acoustic track ‘Where Did Summer Go’, a nostalgic ballad that symbolises the passing and loss of time and dreams that never got to see the heat of summer.

Sounds like: Charli Adams, Taylor Swift, HAIM, First Aid Kit

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Izza – Lows

IZZA by Sam Rockman

IZZA by Sam Rockman

Dark-pop artist Izza chronicles the ups and downs of dealing with anxiety and depression in a world where people are obsessed with the perceived perfection of their online selves, in new single ‘Lows’.

Sounds like: Dua Lipa, Gracey, Call Me Loop, Mabel

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Weekly Gems 133

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Beau Turrentine – Animals

Beau Turrentine by Jessica DiMento

Beau Turrentine by Jessica DiMento

Nashville-based singer and songwriter and all-round rock’n’roller Beau Turrentine shares his new single ‘Animals’, taking a closer look at how unpredictable and animalistic human nature can be.

Sounds like: Tame Impala, Jack White, Orville Peck

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Kip Macklejar – The Coal Miner’s Daughter

Kip Macklejar

Continuing the rock vibes is Kip Macklejar and his new single, ‘The Coal Miner’s Daughter’. Surprisingly, Kip is from Copenhagen, and this is not your usual Scandi-music affair – you won’t find any ethereal dreamscapes here.

Sounds like: Jack White

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Lazy Queen – Last Call

Lazy Queen by Fabian Framdal Fjeldvik

Lazy Queen by Fabian Framdal Fjeldvik

Reckless Norweigian punks, Lazy Queen shares ‘Last Call’. Reminiscent of raw garage demos recorded in garages in the early Noughties, the track sees lead singer Henrik take an objective view on personal struggles surrounding addiction & mental health.

Sounds like: Nothing But Thieves, The Hunna, The Amazons, Nirvana, Death Cab for Cutie

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SHARDS – 2020 (I want to go home)

SHARDS by Giles Holroyd

SHARDS by Giles Holroyd

Time for some authentic indie from Liverpudlian four-piece SHARDS. Their new single ‘2020 (I want to go home)’ sums up how we’re probably all feeling about the year in a hazy and nostalgic manner.

Sounds like: The Charlatans, Sundara Karma, Black Honey

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Playlist: Slow Shudder

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Slow Shudder

Seattle’s Slow Shudder releases her lockdown single, the self-produced, mixed and mastered, ‘Time Now for Ghosts’.

The track is inspired by unusually vivid dreams that sparked introspection about past relationships that never felt fully resolved. To celebrate the creative process of making the single, Slow Shudder has put together a playlist for us.

Ninajirachi – Alight

I’m a huge Ninajirachi fan. “Alight” is one of my favorite songs from 2020. The lyrics get me every time, as does the melody that effortlessly goes from introspective to soaring. The production is absolute fire. Just perfection.

Dizzy Fae – I’m Good

Dizzy Fae is such a star. Her artistry is next level. The production on “I’m Good” is so fresh. Highly recommend her entire discography, super inspiring all around.

The Motion – 3AM

I met Max when we were both at uni at Goldsmiths and I LOVE his music so much. “3AM” is my jam. The crunchy drums, the minimal slowed bridge when the melody skyrockets! Stunner of a song.

Zack Villere – Hair Cut

I’ve been listening to zack villere since his project, froyo ma, and he’s one of my all-time faves. His production is consistently super original and his writing is so versatile.

Claud – WISH U WERE…

OK so I love the original of this one but I CANNOT HANDLE how good this remix is. I think I’ve listened to it every day since it came out. All of Claud’s songs are phenomenal. If you don’t know their work already, go listen to all their songs and treat your ears.

Knapsack- valid thru the year

Knapsack is such an incredible artist. I’m obsessed with their new album, “the buzz of a lifetime”. The overall narrative arc stirs up tons of memories for me, their lyrics are perfection, and their production is unlike anything else.

Matilda Eyre, PALMR – Water

I met Matilda Eyre at a music production workshop in London a few years back and we’ve been friends ever since. She’s an exceptionally skilled vocalist, songwriter, performer and producer. “Water” is such a tune – amazing melodies, ultra cool production, and so interesting structurally. Love!

Jay Wile – Can’t Wait

I first heard Jay Wile’s work earlier this year and I was instantly hooked. Love his songwriting, his production, and his voice. “Can’t Wait” is such a dream, as are all his other songs.

Liyv – Toro

Liyv and I met in early 2018 and we’ve been close friends ever since. I’ve been a fan of hers since before we met and am repeatedly amazed by her talent, originality, and commitment to exploring new territory in her music. “Toro” is just one of many gorgeous songs within her exceptional body of work. I’m inspired by her every day and can’t wait for her to release the music she’s been making recently.

Holliday Howe – Rather Forget

Holliday Howe is another friend of mine from Goldsmiths and I’m such a massive fan of her songs. I could write a 10 page paper about how much I love this song. It breaks my heart every time I listen to it. The music video makes me cry every time.

Slow Shudder – Time Now for Ghosts

This song means a ton to me and I’m so happy that it’s out in the world! I hope people enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed writing and producing it.

Sounds like: VÉRITÉ, Robokid, The Postal Service, Imogen Heap, Hannah Diamond, Clairo, Annie

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Weekly Gems 132

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Alex Frew – Antisocial Love Song

Alex Frew

Toronto-based singer/songwriter Alex Frew shares some nostalgic visuals for his new single ‘Antisocial Love Song’. It has a modern emo aesthetic with a pop tinge. Watch below.

Sounds like: Halsey, Gaspar Narby

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Seraphina Simone – O M D

Seraphina Simone by Tara Rowse

Seraphina Simone by Tara Rowse

The wonderful Seraphina Simone returns with her deeply personal and moving single ‘O M D’. It’s a ruminating love affair that sees Simone tackle the minefield that is life in your early twenties.

Sounds like: Celeste, Lana Del Rey, Laurel, Chløe Black, VÉRITE, Blondie

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Danny George – Thinking Out Loud

Danny George

Introducing UK/Stockholm based producer/artist Danny George. His new single ‘Thinking Out Loud’ is a harmony-led ode to dating in your twenties, from a male point of view.

Sounds like: BAD CHILD, Bronze Whale, Ayelle, Zanski, TWO LANES

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Mokita – Ready Yet

Mokita - Ready Yet

Multi-instrumentalist and all-round talent, Mokita shares his emotionally-charged pop/EDM single ‘Ready Yet’, continuing to explore songwriting themes such as depression, anxiety, and relationships.

Sounds like: EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND

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Aimée Steven – Today

Aimée Steven

Uniquely talented songwriter Aimée Steven is sharing her view on the fragility of the current world in new single ‘Today’. Taking a classic approach to the single, it’s reverb-drenched and full of retro charisma.

Sounds like: Goldfrapp, PJ Harvey, Anna Calvi

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Hedara – We’re Not The Same

Hedara

Hedara has just released ‘We’re Not The Same’, the final track from her stunning, effortlessly powerful new EP ‘Sad Girl Syndrome’, full of piano-led, electro-pop.

Sounds like: Jessie Ware, Kiesza

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FIERO – Reunion

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FIERO by Collin Erie

FIERO by Collin Erie

Slotting in perfectly amongst some of the wonderful female-led acts music has to offer in 2020 is FIERO – a duo comprised of Los Angeles-based Kelsey Bulkin and Nashville-based Joseph Bogan.

They have just released their new EP, ‘Reunion’ – a collection of four indietronica based songs. With their breezy vocals that glow with a vintage aesthetic, you feel wrapped in a warm musical blanket, that invigorates the ultimate euphoric and dream-pop state.

Speaking about the new EP, the band says,

“Everything in existence is one. this oneness has never been more clear than now with the cause and effect of individual actions affecting the whole. when you see more of life you realize everything eventually comes together or collides or collapses. all appearance of separation or division are temporary and are serving an eventual and inevitable reunion. the oneness cannot be divided; not in any real sense. these songs are sensitive and pulsing as the heart is as it journeys through the wilderness into that promised land. fiero means bold and i like to think of it as the abandon that comes when you have nothing left to lose and everything feels cheap except what’s in your heart.”

Sounds like: Shura, Anna Of The North, Say Lou Lou, Wet, Paperwhite, Scavenger Hunt, HAERTS, Prinze George, MS MR, Mr Little Jeans, Men I Trust

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