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AVO Magazine's YouTube Music Playlist has been updated!
New additions (Week 32, 2025): 🍙 oicasë 🍙 蟹蟹 (Crabclub) 🍙 THE JUNGLES!!! 🍙 明日の叙景 (Asunojokei) 🍙 朔 (SAKU) 🍙 Ålborg 🍙 ANEMONÉ
These music videos were featured in AVO Magazine's 7 New Music Videos You Need To Check Out in the year 2025. Support the musicians! More he
AVO Magazine's YouTube Music Playlist has been updated!
New additions (Week 31, 2025): 🍙 Ta-rot 🍙 バトルフェイス富安 (Battle Face Tomiyasu) 🍙 MUJINA 🍙 Re:ELLA Station 🍙 ザ・シャンハイガニズ (The Shanghaiganiz) 🍙 Kensuke Sudo 🍙 AoAu
These music videos were featured in AVO Magazine's 7 New Music Videos You Need To Check Out in the year 2025. Support the musicians! More he
Existential Magazine’s August Music Roundup
With the month coming to a close, we’re sharing just a handful of our favourite new releases we’ve discovered this July! Sit back, put on our New Music Friday playlist and spend a few minutes enjoying fresh new tunes hand-picked by us.
Jethro Coups - ‘Hey You’
London based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jethro Coups gracefully leads us into our Roundup for the month, debuting his first ever single ‘Hey You’, a dreamy haze of acoustics, indie and alt-rock stylings blended into one wistfully ethereal cloud. Soaring in with gorgeously bright plucked acoustic guitar strings and a mystical, subtle synth fade, ‘Hey You’ immediately feels enclasped within a warm but tender bedding of sound, like the familiarity of a close friend beside you comforting through your darker moments. This looping acoustic guitar riff weaves its way through the building layers of sound, wrapped between rising synth glows and occasional vibrant pops before the second verse shifts into more instrumental additions. A steady beat pushes things along lightly whilst violin-esque strings join into the mix, later seeing the addition of an emphatic electric guitar riff for the bridge’s intermission. With a sound that’s constantly ebbing and flowing in a way that almost feels alive in its shifting streams, ‘Hey You’ is graced by the clean but emotionally-rich vocals of Jethro atop it all, hauntingly cascading through an agile range that complements the track’s rising and falling sonics. A poignant message only makes this touching track all the more lingering as Jethro tells the story of an personal, semi-lucid conversation had with a loved one at the end of their life, taking inspiration from his own grief. Between lines like ‘I’m still here, you’ve been gone for far too long, I thought you’d disappeared’, it’s impossible not to feel the aching resonance carried all the way through, whilst Jethro also tries to find some peace in continuing to live after those he’s loved have been taken away. Graceful in its sound and message, ‘Hey You’ glimmers out like a hopeful serenade sung to someone in their final moments, stripping them of their fear and giving them visions of serenity whilst in a way allowing the same to those who must live on without them.
Love Ghost & Dan García - ‘Glock’
Collaborating with the Mexican rapper Dan García, the well-known emo and pop-punk blend duo Love Ghost have just released their latest heavy-hitting new single ‘Glock’ that packs a punch - literally. Embracing gritty electric guitar strums and dominant, constantly consuming electronic beats, ‘Glock’ carries a lot of attitude in both its emo-rap vocal flow and vigorous instrumentals. With Dan García offering a raspy hip-hop-esque delivery atop this harsh sound while Love Ghost shift into more hoarse whispers and light screamo, ‘Glock’ is a track you’ll be completely infectiously hooked on through every twist and turn. Lyrically, ‘Glock’ is in one half written in Latin for Dan García’s harder trap segments, and shifts into more of an English emo rap styling for Love Ghost’s second half interruption. Inspired by both artist's love for competitive fighting, the lyricism speaks of unleashing your inner beast and embracing the person you try to keep within a cage, singing ‘the freak inside the cage, succumbs to all his rage.’ Unashamed and carrying a lot of pent-up aggression, ‘Glock’ is here to offer you that outburst we all need every so often, pulling you into it’s controlling soundscape and gripping you tightly with its bloody fists. Garnering similarities to that of MGK and CORPSE’s ‘DAYWALKER!’ amidst other acts like Scarlxrd and Ghostemane, ‘Glock’ is a highly addictive two minute slice of volatile energy, angsty tones and lyrics you can’t help but mouth along to regardless of whether it’s your first listen or your fiftieth.
Live in Color - ‘Yes To Me’
The Swedish pop-rock band Live in Colour have been gracing the music scene since 2018, continually combining emphatic pop hooks with the energy and velocity of rock, and their newest single ‘Yes To Me’ is the perfect introduction to what they have to offer. Fizzling in with a synth-beat pulsation and deep bass twangs, the instrumentals unite for an almost retro disco edge that immediately gets you ready to groove along, appreciating the vibrant energy seeping out the track’s three and a half minutes of euphoric tones. Soon accompanied by drum beats, bright keys and progressively growing synth undertones, ‘Yes To Me’ is an experience that finds itself the longer it plays out, building confidence not just in its instruments but also its message. The chorus explodes into a firework-esque explosion, with each instrumental reaching their dominant peak and shimmering into the most mesmerising entanglement together for a true burst of colour. In its clashing drums, backing vocals, synth pops and keyboard riffs, ‘Yes To Me’ falls into place, all the while their vocalist dances atop the soundscape with the perfect amount of clean charisma and self-assured repertoire. With a poignant message buried within its positive tones, Live in Color sing of choosing yourself even when it’s hard, letting go of someone no longer serving you despite harbouring a deep amount of love for them and moving forward alone for your own growth and benefit: ‘the hardest thing I’ve ever done is saying no to you… the hardest thing that I ever did is saying yes to me.’ Reminiscent of acts like Walk The Moon and Coldplay, Live in Color are here to keep breaking down genre expectations and deliver something utterly unique and completely inspiring, and we’re certain ‘Yes To Me’ achieved that and more.
Katie Belle - ‘Symptoms’
Katie Belle, the talented up-coming pop artist from Georgia, has been taking the music scene by storm since she entered, now bearing her newest edgy hit ‘Symptoms’ that’s utterly mesmerising. Wrapped between looping acoustic guitar strums and a half-clapped, half-thudding beat, ‘Symptoms’ immediately soars with an unrelenting groove you’re completely compelled to dance along with. A synth haze soon flows into the soundscape, adding an atmospheric air to the track’s infectious feel, all before the choruses’ deliciously sweet hooks ring out. As a funky bassline adds a new level of swagger to the song’s attitude while the beats grow more prominent and in-your-face, this dominant interlude really takes the reigns, urging you sing along loud even when you’re still learning the words. Katie’s airy but confident vocal delivery is the cherry on top, with a breathy verse adding allure before the choruses’ more self-assured, sultry lines exert an extra layer of dominance, together intertwining with the sound for a journey you’ll hardly be able to tear yourself away from. Singing of a passionate relationship filled with heat and tension as well as an almost toxic cyclical nature and addiction, ‘Symptoms’ captures that overpowering kind of love you just can’t get enough of, getting withdrawals from being apart. Perhaps knowing better of it, Katie sings ‘one more hit like an addiction’, displaying a knowing that this relationship is one that’s unhealthy and yet continually drawn back in for just one more time. If you’ve found yourself getting similar symptoms, Katie’s new pop-bop anthem ‘Symptoms’ is the perfect slice of infectious sound and memorable lyricism you’ll get a rush out of singing loud and on repeat for days.
Plant Dad - ‘Ophelia’
The newest single ‘Ophelia’ from the glowing indie-pop and dream-pop blender Plant Dad continues his staple resonant sunny feel, complemented by his band Jake Fine on drums, Jack Jahries on bass, Matt Hurd on guitar, and Will Lauzon on pedal steel. Led in with vibrant electric guitar strums and a thudding beat, as well as the most colourful pops of synth that shimmer through the atmospheric sound, ‘Ophelia’ right away feels like floating on a cloud. Settling into just the steady beat and intermittent guitar plucks for the verse, an intimate feel somewhat takes over, slowly building back up with an ever ebbing and flowing sound of delicacy and intricacy. The chorus re-introduces backing synth flourishes while an evolving electric guitar riff dazedly plays out, sung over by the lightly subdued vocals of Plant Dad, a hazy and airy indie and lo-fi laced delivery. Grazing through a dainty higher range and falling back to occasional melancholic lows, the way Plant Dad sings is completely mesmerising, a beautiful serenade that feels directed personally towards you while you listen along. A multi-faceted lyrical meaning makes ‘Ophelia’ all the more powerful, ringing out with what sounds like a typical love song for a typical goody-two shoes character, yet beneath it all Plant Dad truly sings of his own depression from the outside looking in. You’d never anticipate it from the warm sound and mesmerising lyrics, and yet upon a second listen it’s hard to think of anything else through poignant lines like ‘I’m worried about her, I said baby are you all messed up? Now she likes to ignore me when I ask her that.’ As Plant Dad almost tries to understand himself and his quirks, ‘Ophelia’ is perhaps that song we all need to see our beauty through our pain, falling in love with ourselves despite what holds us down. Produced by Sean Mercer and mastered by Mat Lefler-Schulmann, ‘Ophelia’ is a gorgeously easy-going blanket of sound you’ll find yourself comforted to be surrounded by, meticulously formed through the hard work of many.
Chasing Shadows - ‘Emily’
Since their 2016 musical debut, the up-coming quartet known as Chasing Shadows have been gracing the music scene with addictive tracks worthy of being played loud and on repeat, and their newest single ‘Emily’ is no exception. Channelling a broad mix of indie-rock and pop-punk textures, ‘Emily’ soars from the get-go with an infectiously bright but rocky sound perfect for dancing away late summer nights. As vibrant thudding drum beats and emphatic but rough electric guitar strums lead things in, the soundscape of ‘Emily’ is right away completely mesmerising, carving out a sound that’s easy to listen to but stylistically creative. The pre-chorus shifts into a dreamy haze, cascading through a colourful electric guitar riff and a shifted building drum beat, heightening everything for the atmospheric choruses’ peak. Capturing a real sense of nostalgia, the chorus soars through more light electric guitar strums, a continued clashing beat and closes out with a riff you just can’t get enough of. Their vocalist’s slightly raspy, rich tone complements the sound like he was made for it, delivering more casual verse lines before rising into a higher range for the choruses’ gorgeous hooks, offering an indie performance just as delectable as the greats. Deep bass twangs add a new layer of depth to the second verses impact, as the song progressively grows in what it has to offer. Telling a lyrical narrative of falling head over heels for a girl, ‘Emily’ is a sweet revealing of these hidden feelings, knowing that no one else compares: ‘tryna find another small town girl like you… nobody could replace you.’ With all their tracks ladened with contagious guitar riffs, thunderous energy and a constantly bounding tempo, ‘Emily’ is the perfect addition to Chasing Shadows’ growing discography - as well as your playlist.
the ghost tapes - ‘ballad for the twenty something’
The Northern-island based duo the ghost tapes have just two songs within their discography: their debut release ‘barely holding on’ shared last year, and their new offering ‘ballad for the twenty something.’ Taking their time to carefully curate and pen their releases, this new single is one stemming from personal experience and a sound clearly perfected to the tee. Initially led in by acoustic guitar strums and a soft electric guitar riff left to ring out, ‘ballad for the twenty something’ shines as something raw and real when it first commences, stripped-back to place almost the entirety of focus on their vocalist’s delicately sung lines. As he carefully weaves between the intimate sounds and displays an almost pop-punk-esque whine in his emotionally delivered lines, it’s hard not to be mesmerised by every word. Soft backing vocals add a haunting edge to the chorus, laying down a tranquil bedding to rest within, but it’s not long before this perfect image comes crashing down as gritty electric guitar strums and striking drum beats take over the new verse. The song becomes much more dominant and empowered within this shift, and it’s not long before a guitar riff adds an additional emphatic flair to their ever-growing sound. Merging opening soft-rock with clashing alt-rock that only becomes more industrial and fuzzy the longer the track plays out, the ghost tapes are here to not just give you a song to enjoy but an entire whirlwind of a journey to follow through with. Just as poignant as the initially paired-back sound would have you believe, the ghost tapes speak of an equally heavy narrative we could all do with hearing every once in a while, touching on the pressures that come to have your life figured out in your twenties. With lines like ‘compare yourself to everybody’ serving a sense of reassurance you’re not alone in your directionless career changes and relationship searches, this anthem is one everyone needs to be reminded of, as the ghost tapes hope to alleviate some of the pressure you place on yourself to have it all figured out.
Goldthrone - ‘Scale It Down’
The second single ever ‘Scale It Down’ from Australia-based alternative-rockers Goldthrone closes out our Roundup for the month, displaying a ferocious hard-rock edge with alternative-rock angst. Led in by a slow and intimate guitar riff, ‘Scale It Down’ almost feels eerily and unexpectedly soft, but it’s not long before this tranquil intro is cut short and replaced with a heavy wall of sound. Opening with a chorus that bears thundering drums, gritty electric guitar strums and hoarse vocals, ‘Scale It Down’ right-away seeks to set its anthemic tone, pulling you right into its harsh soundscape from the get-go. The verse simmers down slightly, revolving around a looping electric guitar riff and more sombre steady drum beats, allowing their vocalist’s emotional richness to shine through in every raspy word sung. A pre-chorus takes even more of a step back, with haunting vocals over just guitar strums ringing out into the vast open soundscape, infusing moments of delicate personal resonance with a constant explosion of rock-y tenacity. As the track progresses, the soundscape does too, creating not just a song to be listened to but an experience to follow along ever ebb and flow of. Goldthrone have penned a narrative in ‘Scale It Down’ that’s just as meaningful as this ever evolving sound, writing of taking back your own power and accepting that sometimes things don’t always have meaning or reason to have happened. As many often seek to find closure in misfortune, ‘Scale It Down’ is a reminder that sometimes closure can be found within simply by letting go, and seeking answers that don’t exist can sometimes do more damage than good. For an abundance of emphatic rock in soaring riffs, shattering drums and poignant vocals, Goldthrone have got you covered in this smashing new tune.
Written by: Tatiana Whybrow
// This coverage was created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.
Existential Magazine’s July Music Roundup
With the month coming to a close, we’re sharing just a handful of our favourite new releases we’ve discovered this July! Sit back, put on our New Music Friday playlist and spend a few minutes enjoying fresh new tunes hand-picked by us.
Ayrton Jimenez - ‘Ends of the Earth’
Beginning our Roundup for the month is the new incredibly moving ballad-esque release ‘Ends of the Earth’ by upcoming artist Ayrton Jimenez, bearing his heart and soul on his sleeve with a deep fusion of blues, acoustics and an overall dreamy soundscape you’ll get lost in right from pressing play. Led in by a slow, reverberated electric guitar fingerpicking of a delicate riff, ‘Ends of the Earth’ is sonically minimal but powerful in its many layers, interweaving echoey guitar you’ll find an ease to sway along to right away whilst a steady beat and bright piano keys subtly emit an undertone of illumination amidst the melancholic bedding. Progressively building into the chorus with more striking guitar, emphatic piano and clashing beats, ‘Ends of the Earth’ almost seems to cascade through an unexpected high, with Ayrton keeping you on your toes the entire way through his three minute patchwork of sounds that masterfully alludes an atmosphere you’ll feel like you’re floating within. His deep, rich vocals complement the sound with such a profound emotional infusion, leaving each word lingering in your mind so powerfully you won’t be able to get enough. A narrative that’s more abstract soaks through the song’s haunting storytelling as Ayrton depicts lovers intertwining at the end of the world, singing ‘touch me, my broken bones are mending’, combining both pain and beauty into one. Romantic and dark all the same, ‘Ends of the Earth’ feels so deeply enclasped in love and loss, sharing an experience that from start to finish is beautiful but heartbreaking in a way you’ll never forget.
The Lonely Together - ‘Los Angeles’
Edinburgh dream-rock outfit The Lonely Together have slowly but surely making their musical rise, and with their newest single ‘Los Angeles’ they seek to share a snippet of their resonant sound channeled all the way through their gorgeous second album 'Endless Sunset Oblivion'. Softly opened with acoustic guitar strums, the vast soundscape of ‘Los Angeles’ immediately feels set, almost painting the scene of a warm summers day that’s both comforting and lonely all at once. Picked up a little by brighter guitar tones and steady thumping drums, the track cascades into the first verses’ mesmerising aura, with their vocalist’s deep and poignant performance achingly soaring through the track’s downbeat tones. Building into a chorus that sees instrumental heightening in volume and dominance, the guitar and drums pick up as well as the vocals pushed impact, together intertwining for a high that you can’t help but hurt with the emotional resonance of. Interweaved in such a nostalgically soaked sound is what feels like an internal monologue of scattered thoughts, writing about the city of Los Angeles and both its great heights and stark lows: ‘imagine living up in the hills, solving all your problems with pills… this isn’t what I came here to see, but there’s no place I’d rather be.’ The entire song is so deeply rooted in an intricate layering of sound, creating not just something to listen to and appreciate but an experience to live and feel through, with The Lonely Together showing off their powerful ability to make an older-leaning sound feel fresh, unique and utterly unforgettable.
DAWKS - ‘Right Place / Wrong Time’
The Hartlepool singer-songwriter Luke Dawkins has found himself gravitating musically to his own project DAWKS, most recently bearing his newest single ‘Right Place / Wrong Time.’ Enchantingly soaring right from the beginning with an acoustic guitar, finger-picked riff that leads into a soaring introductory chorus enriched by thudding drum beats and shaken percussion, continued guitar and an overall hazy atmosphere, DAWKS establishes a warmth you can almost float within immediately. The verse simmers into more slowed drum beats, deep bass twangs and gentle acoustic guitar strums, an intimate intermission for DAWKS heart-wrenching narrative to shine in his downbeat but airy lines. The chorus sees more of an intense vocal delivery, picking up in dominance and painfully releasing all the bottled up emotions kept within, a cathartic outburst of sorts that you can’t help but sing along with too. Lyrically exploring more melancholic themes, DAWKS journeys through the difficulties that come with feeling too late or left behind, prevalent even in lines like ‘counting stars in the place you once loved’ that show a stationary feeling of being locked in what once was while life seems to continue moving by for everyone else. Somehow even in its darkness ‘Right Place / Wrong Time’ carries through a comforting, uplifting undertone, working through these emotions and coming out the other side with an infectiously positive outlook of paving your own path.
Quiet Tongues - ‘She’s Velvet’
Since forming in 2018, Quiet Tongues have continually gone out of their way to be heard and make an impact, and their new single ‘She’s Velvet’ is just as strikingly thrilling as ever. From a gritty, emphatic electric guitar riff and clashing drums to lead things in, ‘She’s Velvet’ immediately feels like a track that’ll be ebbing and flowing the whole way through its two minute progression, evolving and getting deeply under your skin. Settling tensely into a quick-paced but subdued electric guitar riff, thudding drums and a delicate humming bassline, things feel intimate but on the edge of taking off at all times. Their vocalist provides a quickly-spoken, deeper delivery through the verses passive undertones, charismatically capturing your every thought and feeling. An atmospheric pre-chorus fades even further out into just distinct singular guitar strings echoing into the distance and steady drums setting the calm before the storm, disrupted by the chorus clashing headfirst into the anticipated action Quiet Tongues leave you salivating for. Ruckus and loud, the instrumentals glide through vigorous guitar strums, an underlying vibrant riff and thunderous drums, all dipped in a hazy edge that the entirety of ‘She’s Velvet’ embodies. Their vocalist also switches things up for a more hoarse and dominant performance, half-shouting along with a scratchy delivery you feel every ounce of passion and emotion behind. One hell of a guitar solo tears apart the bridge, with ‘She’s Velvet’ providing a continually high-energy concoction of sound that just grows even larger the longer you listen. With lyrics that seemingly talk of a fiery love, ‘She’s Velvet’ is an offering that’ll have you not just rocking along in sound but thoughtfully listening along to every poetically delivered line Quiet Tongues have to offer.
SAER - ‘NYC’
Combining a blend of experimental-pop and electronica through his atmospheric releases, the UK based singer-songwriter and producer SAER has now released his latest hair-raising single ‘NYC.’ Wrapped between a tinny, quickly tapped beat and striking synth keyboard notes, ‘NYC’ unravels with an ebbing and flowing instrumental-scape that almost floats through your earphones. Soon accompanied by vibrant, reverberated electric guitar strums that ring out into the vastness of the single and added thudding drum beats, ‘NYC’ progressively grows as you listen along, wielding an almost theatrical rise and fall. The chorus peaks as all the instrumentals reach their intertwined heights, hitting with slow smashing drums and deep, drawn-out guitar strums while SAER’s airy, agile vocal performance unleashes a strength and power behind every word. Settling back down to the verse, SAER falls into more haunting vocal lows, soulfully capturing every emotion behind his word and mesmerising you for all of it. A bridge intermission sees the introduction of a soothing cascading back and forth of electronic beats while tensely pattering drums simmer at a low, slowly bringing back in each instrumental while making the space for a haunting intimate vocal intermission that places the vocals and narrative front and centre while every instrumental layer soars around them. As SAER glides through this gorgeous single, he sings of the stunning aura of New York City, speaking of all the warmth it brings to be surrounded by its’ presence and the encapsulating home it has become. Find yourself transported there after listening along to the world SAER has crafted within his own ‘NYC.’
Jenna - ‘Changes’
The Winchester based dream-pop darling Jenna has just began soaring through her own easy-going bedding of sound, debuting a first listen to her softened layers of musical talents in her first ever single ‘Changes.’ Drifting into the feathery soundscape, heavenly reverberated bright electric guitar strums ring out into a vast musical palette, complemented just by a steady pattering beat. With this angelic riff leading through the first verse, Jenna sings atop her light instrumentals with a clean, cathartically agile range, delicately leading off with her personal lyrical narrative. The pre-chorus tentatively pairs things back, switching the beat ever-so slightly for a hesitant moment of intimacy before the chorus subtly grows in intensity, offering more dominant beats, guitar strums and plucks and a more forward vocal delivery whilst the passive nature of the sound isn’t lost for even a moment. A bridge tones back to just soft synth beats whilst a layering of vocals harmonising takes centre stage, seeing a distorted, high-pitch vocal effect leading the way as it all seeps with a dreamy undercurrent. Though it’s not heavy on the heart to listen to, ‘Changes’ feels continually bittersweet the entire way through as Jenna sings of change and growth throughout a relationship. From the highs and first experiences to the lows that come with navigating the way people evolve and differ over time, ‘Changes’ speaks of a love that will always persist whether the two eventually drift away or stay together through the storms: ‘as the months get colder and the days get shorter, and as we both get older I’ll always be here.’
heavy on the heart. - ‘Not Now, Love’
Alternative-rock and pop-punk genre-blenders heavy on the heart. reign from Long Island, debuting just earlier this year with their first ever live show and single, before gracing us this month with their next offering ‘Not Now, Love.’ Storming in with vibrant electric guitar strumming and strong, clean female vocals that are always a refreshing change in tune for a pop-punk heavy release, the song immediately grabs your undivided attention, only further pulling you in with the addition of steady drums and underlying bass twangs. The chorus bursts into action after the verses’ slow building, encompassing clashing drums, an emphatic electric guitar riff and gritty strums while vocal hooks only make you more eagerly sing along to every quickly-learnt word. Moments in the release pair back for an atmospheric glow, hinging on drawn out electric guitar notes. echoed guitar strums and subdued drums, as heavy on the heart. know how to keep your interest piqued the entire way through a tumbling three minute ruckus journey of anthemic pleasure. Paired with the lyrical unwinding of two destined-to-be individuals yet to act on their evident spark, ‘Not Now, Love’ is almost a Romeo and Juliet-esque tale of waiting for the right moment to act and be together, of course without the tragic aftermath. Knowing that their chemistry is undeniable, these sure-to-be lovers almost weave between one another in an avoidance, carrying strong feelings but perhaps never wanting to ruin the foundations of what they already know and share: ‘I wonder how love can be the answer to an explanation, I’m not sure how but I feel endorphins up for the frustration.’
Ethan Senger - ‘Standing Still’
The soulful musician Ethen Senger just released his sophomore EP ‘Standing Still’, an exploration of unresolved emotional wounds from childhood; stagnancy due to fears of failure and the games people play while founding relationships. The leading single ‘Standing Still’ is the perfect introduction to this four-song body of work, an acoustic, indie-rock blend of stylings that’s tender but equally powerful. From the finger-picked, elaborate acoustic guitar intro, ‘Standing Still’ immediately sets the tone to be one of intimacy and complexity, a mesmerising lead-in before the verse shifts in sound. Wrapped up in steady drum beats and a slow acoustic guitar riff, the track tumbles along with a poignance and emotional resonance in every word, revolving around Ethan’s clean, soaring vocals that feel richly infused in personal meaning. A verse intermission shifts towards thunderous drums and vigorous acoustic guitar strums interweaving before lightly pairing back, seeing the introduction of piano keys and more dominant drums for the verses more impactful second half. The chorus peaks through this instrumental high, entangled in loud drums, raw acoustic guitar strums, bright piano keys and of course Ethan’s continued floating vocals that rise and fall through every high and low. The meaningful narrative of ‘Standing Still’ only makes its soundscape more hard-hitting as Ethan sings of being afraid to make strides forward, singing towards someone frozen in a fear of failure and being beaten down while still encouraging their progression: ‘you gotta live your life, don’t be scared if it feels so right. In this world time’s never on your side.’
Bunny Alex - ‘Habits’
Sharing her debut single ‘Habits’ and also closing out our roundup for the month is Bunny Alex, finding herself gliding into the music scene with her own softened sound laced between indie-pop and almost folk enriched layers, a haunting concoction that’s easy-going and soothing on the heart. Twinkling in with pulsating electronic beats that sparkle their way into your earphones, ‘Habits’ hums along through synth keys and continual steady beats, an interweaving of intricate sounds that all delicately collide for something intimate but tranquil all at once. The chorus fizzles into a euphoric high, tinged with a loudening of sounds, more dominant beats and synth spikes while Bunny Alex more powerfully spews her loved-up narrative with an agile and sugary sweetness to every word amidst dreamy backing vocals that leave every line lingering even more daintily. Her verses see more of gentle vocal delivery, floating through the subtle sounds and mesmerising you with every ebb and flow. As it flows through such an ethereal soundscape, it’s no surprise that ‘Habits’ offers an equally dreamlike narrative, speaking of that destined kind of romance that almost feels just like the movies. Youthful and a little magical in its expectations, there’s nothing other than a complete and utter feel-good take-away when ‘Habits’ finally ends, refreshing your perspective and reminding everyone that their love will be just as sweet.
Give a listen to these songs and more in our New Music Friday playlist this week, or see our Roundup Recap playlist for every song previously featured in one of our monthly roundups that you might have missed!
Written by: Tatiana Whybrow
// This coverage was created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.
Existential Magazine’s June Music Roundup
With the month coming to a close, we’re sharing just a handful of our favourite new releases we’ve discovered this June! Sit back, put on our New Music Friday playlist and spend a few minutes enjoying fresh new tunes hand-picked by us.
The Sons of James - THE REAL ME
Opening our Roundup for the month are the late '90s and early 2000s inspired alternative-rockers The Sons of James, tumbling into your ears with a ruckus new single ‘THE REAL ME.’ Jumping in headfirst with a blustering amount of drive and energy, ‘THE REAL ME’ immediately offers clashing drums, dominant rhythmic electric guitar and a deep bassline all smashing at once for an opening you can’t help but immediately feel enveloped in. The chorus pairs things back from this speeding pacing to allow for their anthemic chant-along lyrical hook to soar, seeing the drums offer more of a slow thudding and the electric guitar boasting a bright riff. A constant commotion is underway through the entirety of ‘THE REAL ME’ though, as this two minute wall of noise doesn’t hold anything back in its’ in-your-face approach and their vocalist’s raspy delivery truly ties it all together, leaving hoarse lines lingering against the track’s continual velocity. Penning a narrative with deeper meaning beneath their addictive sound, The Sons of James write of the universal struggle of accepting oneself, often concealing our true identities to instead fit in with the masses. As lines like ‘feeling lost in my own skin… ashamed and confused with who I am’ capture a raw insight into these deep-rooted insecurities, the entire pounding journey of ‘THE REAL ME’ is one with an unexpected take-away to accept who you are rather than mould yourself around the opinions of others.
LEUER - I Can’t Believe I Found You
Inspired by the likes of LAUV and Bon Iver, the upcoming synth-pop artist LEUER has been finding his own footing in the music scene and now boasting his newly released bombastic anthem ‘I Can’t Believe I Found You’ it’s without a doubt he’ll be going far. Led in with striking piano keys and whirring synth atmospherics, ‘I Can’t Believe I Found You’ right from the beginning is a constant push and pull of sound, pulsating in and out with delicacy and intensity to mirror the track’s emotional fluctuations. Dousing the chorus in even further dominant electronic booms and synth pops, LEUER delivers a sound that’s evolving around you as you listen, a journey of not just sound but beautifully written songwriting too. His electronically-seeping vocals add an extra flavouring of charisma to the release, smothering his emotional tone in infectiously catchy effects while moments still shine through with an intimacy that can’t be helped. Penning a narrative that’s soft and open-hearted whilst fluttering and excited too, LEUER explores the sensation of his heart being relit after giving up on love, stumbling across someone who once again leaves it beating: ‘I can’t believe that you found me.’ With a delicacy and fear in being hurt once again while he also finds himself pounding with joy, his lyrics also confess the raw reality of things: ‘what if I’m scared that I might lose you? Please don’t go, I don’t think I can take it.’ For an anthemic story through highs and lows, LEUER is the perfect guide for you whether you’re suffering through heartbreak or finding love again.
The Short Fall - Looking Over My Shoulder
The Australian-Filipino indie rock singer-songwriter The Short Fall first made his musical debut in 2012, but his newest release ‘Looking Over My Shoulder’ really shows off the way his work has been refined over the passing years. A dark, moody indie sound leads into this infectious sure-to-be crowd pleaser, with a resounding, pounding bassline storming its way through the verses’ downbeat rhythms front and centre of the entire releases’ energy. With a steady drum beat accompanying the strong bass strums and a loose electric guitar riff finding itself slotting into the building atmosphere, the snappy nature of ‘Looking Over My Shoulder’ only continues to build the longer you listen. An anthemic chorus pulls you in headfirst though, not just offering an easily memorable lyrical hook but instrumentals soaring at the height of their impact with clashing drums, vibrant guitar and a shift away from the track’s core bassline. A witty vocal delivery drips in flavoursome charisma throughout it all, bottling up the contagious feel of the track’s groove into lines you want to sing along with just as much self-assurance. Shredding up the bridge with an all-encompassing guitar solo, ‘Looking Over My Shoulder’ really has it all, and it isn’t afraid to show it off. Even beneath its’ wildly mesmerising sound is a message with an important depth to listen along to, as The Short Fall writes of the experiences of those migrants who have to run from war, famine and poverty with a candid sincerity: ‘how much longer do I keep looking over my shoulder?’ With such a weighty undertone, The Short Fall wonderfully balances a catchy, highly impassioned sound with a meaning you’ll have no choice but to listen to and unpack while you dance along.
Jay Moussa-Mann - Indiana Tonight
After releasing her self-titled independant pop album earlier this year, the exciting upcoming star Jay Moussa-Mann is already back with a new glowing single ‘Indiana Tonight’ perfect to light up your summer days. Bursting within her synth-pop sound, ‘Indiana Tonight’ sees bright soaring synth, vibrant keyboard chimes and a steady beat tumbling through the track’s experience, lacing a rock-y undertone of electric guitar strums for an added groove. Carrying this flourishing feel through her vocals, Jay’s soft but assured vocal tone leads the funky progression, bringing out a warmth and familiarity in her rich-toned delivery you’ll be absolutely mesmerised by. Shining with a 1970s romance woven in her lyrics, ‘Indiana Tonight’ stirs a nostalgia deep within of falling for someone outside of our more modern digital era of finding love, instead meeting in person and capturing all the thrills that come with a more old-school romance. Infusing feel-good instrumental spirits into a dazzling narrative filled with hooks you won’t be able to stop singing along with: ‘you’re giving me nineteen seventy nine, like you’re Harrison Ford.’ As a letter to the Indiana Jones franchise, Jay details this unravelling love-story, expressing how the pair have found themselves reunited up after time apart, struggling to find their place as the hero in their own story. It’s unique and it’s undoubtably addictive, urging you play it on repeat until you can’t stop yourself from singing along to every word, but Jay never offers anything less.
showalter - With My Companion
Stemming from a folk and blues background, the incredibly talented showalter is gracing 2023 with an abundance of new releases, and ‘With My Companion’ finds itself slotting neatly into his upcoming gorgeous ‘Lambsbread’ EP. Led in by the soft tones of ocean waves and a blissful summer breeze, ‘With My Companion’ simmers into its delicate, atmospheric soundscape with a warmth that you can’t help but feel immediately put into ease by. Centred around a finger-picked acoustic guitar riff that fluctuates with a poignance that can’t help but linger in every note, ‘With My Companion’ is a song that while instrumentally minimal, says everything it needs to in the few layers of melancholic tones it does bear openly. As the song progresses, some bright backing instrumentals create an added impact of evolution for the choruses’ woes, depicting a progression of the journey buried within. Complemented by showalter’s deep-toned vocals, the track carries such a heavy resonance in every single emotionally yearning word, unafraid to share his heart with the world in a release so very personal. Lyrically delving through our minds and the memories we carry with us, ‘With My Companion’ is a release both speaking of the most heartwarming experiences we wish to relive as well as the most tragic we wish we could bury, with both living in unison inside our minds almost expressing the duality of our ever-changing lives. There’s something both comforting about ‘With My Companion’ , as well as something that stirs what we often try to hide deep within, and for that the experience it provides is none other than one-of-a-kind.
Triggerlip - Bugs
Returning with a darker chapter of their music, Triggerlip who you may know for supporting the likes of Turnstile and Citizen are now looking to delve into new depths for their music within ‘Bugs.’ Wrapped inside a smashing angsty sound that interlaces the rawness of pop-punk, the grit of straight-up punk, the roots of emo and storming rock undertones, ‘Bugs’ is a little heavy and deeply fuzzy in both sound and message. A momentary instrumental explosion starts off the quickly pulsing track before swiftly simmering down into a deep, integral bassline and steady drum beats, keeping things paired-back for a subdued vocal delivery almost as though everything is awaiting its’ moment to kick off. It’s not long before the chorus sees that bombastic high either, leaping into shredding electric guitar, unapologetically clashing drums and vocals that hoarsely attempt to regain their control and dominance over the loud wall of sound, dancing between spoken-sung lines and aggressive post-hardcore-esque screams. The bridge creates a moment of unexpected tranquility, with vast atmospherics in reverberated electric guitar plucks and vocal layering, creating a journey through ‘Bugs’ that’s continually keeping you on your toes from start to finish. Lacing in a narrative that speaks of self-loathing and addiction, this pained experience is one that resonates through their constant thrashing of sound, but Triggerlip hope in sharing their narrative they’ll help their audience feel a little less alone - and we think it’s more than a success.
Hotel Art - Raised on Television
Loud and ready to make an impact, the upcoming act Hotel Art find themselves falling between a nostalgic 90s rock flair and modern alt-rock flourishes, and their debut offering ‘Raised on Television’ really solidifies why they’re surely going to be a big hit. From a deep, storming bass to a clashing steady drum beat, the infectious vibe of ‘Raised on Television’ is established almost immediately, carrying through twangs from the past we don’t often see making a reoccurrence. Their vocalist elongates his deep-toned, sung words, carrying an easy-going feel to nod and sing along with whilst adding a staple distinction to Hotel Art’s sound in such a clearly memorable delivery reminiscent of older brit-pop. The track picks up with bright piano chimes and differing bass twangs for the choruses’ interlude, only a slight change and yet it works wonders for keeping you hooked through all three minutes they have for you. A bridge shows off a flavourful electric guitar solo, with Hotel Art determined to show off everything they’re capable of in this first offering that defines everything to come. Taking a lyrical approach that seems to both criticise and satirically cover an upbringing through television, Hotel Art seem disdained by a life that isn’t quite as it’s shown on the big screens: ‘why is there no music when we kiss?’ With its’ sound also falling into influences from the past, the entire feel of Hotel Art seems to be almost rooted in an upbringing that’s wading through modern advancements, relating to both audiences young and old and surely a needed addition to everyone’s music libraries before they make it big.
CS Hellmann - Up Til Dawn
Nashville based songwriter and guitar aficionado CS Hellmann wields a sound inspired both by blues and striking rock stars, growing up with an influence from AC/DC to the Beach Boys, and his newest offering ‘Up Til Dawn’ shows off everything that sets him apart. A loud and self-assured sound tumbles you into the track showing off some seriously addictive tones as a rich electric guitar riff finds itself the front and centre of everything, complemented by steady drum beats and bright backing twangs, all perfectly setting the atmosphere for CS to dive into the opening verse with his soaring vocals. Beautifully floating between melancholic lows and impassioned highs, CS carries through emotion in every way his vocals turn, both softly delivered and deeply powerful all at once. The chorus brings back the infectious guitar that faded out for the verses, encompassing an atmospheric high of instrumentals and vocals all intertwined into a neatly anthemic moment you’ll be vigorously singing along with regardless of the saddening undertones. After the death of a friend, CS found himself picking up old notebooks and starting to write songs again, and ‘Up Til Dawn’ is one of many emotionally penned releases rooted in his own pained experiences. From the mundane routine of every day, feeling trapped within his town and an overall sense of loneliness, CS’ words cling to an unhappiness within his current life and a yearning for something more: ‘wondering what I’m fighting for… up till dawn, restless feet, my mind is racing I can’t sleep.’ An epic electric guitar solo tears up the bridge with a performance that’s hard not to dance along with and yet still clearly weighed down all the same, with the song offering a constant battle between low and high. Relatable to most and paired with an invigorating instrumental journey, there’s nothing not to love about the vibrant but enriching journey ‘Up Til Dawn’ has to offer.
Jacob and The Starry Eyed Shadows - Broke and Borrowed
After a year long hiatus, the upcoming pop-punk group Jacob and The Starry Eyed Shadows have a new offering ‘Broke and Borrowed’ that’s here to remind they’re a band you shouldn’t be skipping out on. Lead in by an intro of bright, storming electric guitar strums and energetically-infused clashing drums, the track immediately shines with a vibrancy sure to pick you up and give you something to dance along to. Settling for the verses interruption however, the track at first simmers to just a steady beat and deep bassline complementing their vocalist’s spoken-sung delivery of a true authentic lyrical journey. Soon adding a colourful electric guitar riff, the track builds upwards with a force to be reckoned with before a pre-chorus moment allows the tension to stew, taking just quick beats and a few instrumental dashes to be the calm before the storm. Things erupt into an infectious chant-along chorus, seeing all the instrumentals hit their peak in both volume and atmospherics, clasping a dominant guitar, electric drums and fierce vocals to all intertwine. As a defiant anthem, the lyrics seem to speak of following your dreams and rejecting life’s attempts to knock you down, finding solace in the company and motivation of another person encouraging you to follow things through. It’s tinged in the harshness of reality that’s not always sunshine and roses whilst still offering a positive outlook to treasure and remind yourself of why you should continue, and with such a gripping sound you won’t want to stop ‘Broke and Borrowed’ for even a moment.
Libby Thompson - Low Bar
The glowing alternative-pop artist Libby Thompson just released the second single from her upcoming EP, made in collaboration with Grammy-award-winning producer Dave Gutter and Bensbeendead. As thudding beats and cymbals lead things into ‘Low Bar’, the track immediately captures an easy-going atmosphere you feel right at ease within, and the swift addition of a subtle but vibrant electric guitar riff only further adds to that warmth. With Libby’s striking vocals weaved between the tranquility, she sings in a rich, low-toned depth throughout the verses’ more lowkey intermissions before switching into a higher range with an agility you could only dream of for the choruses’ high. Accompanied by an instrumental progression, the track adds looped backing vocals, shimmering sound effects and an overall enchanting aura you feel completely lost within - in the best way possible. Singing of her own experiences and that of her friends’, ‘Low Bar’ tells the perhaps all-too familiar story of those compromising relationships many find themselves swept up within, tolerating low standards until eventually it becomes ridiculous to keep maintaining a one-sided romance: ‘I guess I never really knew you at all.’ Combining with the playful, uptempo sound, the narrative tells this painful narrative in a lighthearted manner as Libby manages to come out stronger on the other side, almost comedically telling the world not to accept such behaviour as ultimately everyone can do better than such inconsistent affection.
The Press - SNOWBALL
Closing our roundup for the month is the absolutely electric new offering from The Press entitled ‘SNOWBALL’, a furious genre-blending progression that’ll have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Placing a grippingly loud and thunderous bassline at the core of their soundscape, ‘SNOWBALL’ plows through your eardrums with a dark, quickly strummed twang from the moment you press play. Accompanied by a slightly subdued tumbling beat and later added shaken percussion, the verse really shines as a unique concoction of instrumentals alike nothing you’ve ever heard before, if anything most closely reminiscent to ‘Seven Nation Army’ if it were a masterpiece of genre-strafing and individuality. The chorus soaks up a change in sound, for the first time placing the bassline in the background and allowing electronic flourishes to overlap it between electric guitar strums and more, a mishmash of sounds that together works a mesmerising treat. Their vocalist’s gripping delivery weaves it all together though, a dark but charismatic commandeering attitude swells through his every word, lacing a moody angst between it all. The chorus adds a distorted effect to the words sung whilst the vocalist dips into an unexpected higher range, leaving you caught on every single line desperate to hear more. Speaking of a building, obsessive crush inside of its lyricism, ‘SNOWBALL’ clasps a narrative of falling for someone in such a way you’re almost consumed by it - and frankly, ‘SNOWBALL’ is a song sure to consume you.
Give a listen to these songs and more in our New Music Friday playlist this week, or see our Roundup Recap playlist for every song previously featured in one of our monthly roundups that you might have missed!
Written by: Tatiana Whybrow
// This coverage was created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.
Existential Magazine’s May Music Roundup
With the month coming to a close, we’re sharing just a handful of our favourite new releases we’ve discovered this May! Sit back, put on our New Music Friday playlist and spend a few minutes enjoying fresh new tunes hand-picked by us.
Saint Nothing - State Of The (He)Art
Beginning our Roundup for the month is the genre-bending solo artist Saint Nothing, marking a new chapter in his musical endeavours with his single ‘State Of The (He)Art.’ This flavourful new offering champions a creative flair only the most talented of artists wield as Saint Nothing looks to interweave an alternative-rock core with synth and electronic pulsations, building up an atmospheric layering of sound erring the gap between catchy and melancholic. Led in by thumping beats and hazy synth, ‘State Of The (He)Art’ at first is heavily enveloped in its more electronic roots, creating a soft bedding for Saint Nothing to float across with clean, reverberated and at times distorted vocals. As the chorus finds itself rooted in strong guitar riffs and thunderous drums, the deep rock undertone of ‘State Of The (He)Art’ shines through with a ferocious strength that cannot go ignored, if anything only making the emotional centre of the release all the more poignant. Paired with lyrics that detail a connection that’s withered with the hands of time, ‘State Of The (He)Art’ carries the woes of a broken love and the sombre truth that sometimes once you leave things too late you can no longer repair what’s slipped away. ‘State Of The (He)Art’ is an experience above all else, a song so utterly enveloped within its’ desire to create something new and unlike anything you’ve heard before that it breaks boundaries, no longer just a four minute listen but an evolutionary journey of sound you can’t help but hold with you for long after pressing play. Saint Nothing isn’t afraid to be unique, and ‘State Of The (He)Art’ is just the start of what we’re sure is an upwards trajectory to come.
Nelleke - Send The Rain
Netherlands indie-folk up-comer Nelleke graces us all with her newest single ‘Send The Rain’, an enchanting offering instilled in acoustic tones both warm and saddening all the same. The soundscape soars in a stripped-back, finger-picked acoustic guitar introduction, interweaving hazy sounds and bright chimes for a sense of things building. We couldn’t help but feel ‘Send The Rain’ were reminiscent of the wind, a weary pulsation of sound transporting you to a riverside, watching the plants sway in the growing breeze. The track itself also finds its resolution in this heightened momentum towards its closure, incorporating speeding guitar plucks and a vigorous drum beat, all beside differing sound effects reminiscent of ocean waves and whirring winds, before things absolutely thrive in an afterglow of bright and comforting tones. Nelleke’s vocals are a light in the dark too, with the track already shining on its own but made so deeply emotionally enriched by her haunting delivery of each word. Soothing backing hums and harmonies create another sense of light padding to the song’s soft nest of noise, leaving ‘Send The Rain’ to be a musical patchwork you can’t help but cherish. Tender and close to her heart, ‘Send The Rain’ saw Nelleke penning a thoughtful reflection inside the lyricism of this touching track, finding herself looking for a sense of closure, clarity and new beginnings in a fictional confrontation with one who once hurt her. It’s heavy and yet optimistic, combining both the weight and pain to have been left fractured but a magnitude of strength to repair what was taken from her. Nelleke’s work is stirring, a complete embodiment of living artwork both in its individual use of stylings and poetical lyrical narrative.
son.person & Duke Smith - just the intro / play no games
Memphis’ based artists son.person and Duke Smith found themselves joining forces this month for a calming two and a half minute lo-fi, hip-hop based single ‘just the intro / play no games.’ Led in by deep bass twangs and swiftly complemented by gentle percussion, bright synth-esque keyboard keys and an electronic beat, ‘just the intro / play no games’ sets up an easy-going instrumental bedding to sway along to, catching you up in the single’s serenity. Rapped in a hip-hop styling atop of by one of the two artists, the track offers an interesting blend of stylings, nestling you into its soft tones but leaving you with addictive earworms from start-to-finish in the pair’s catchy lines delivered with a charismatic edge. The second of the two concludes the release with their own hip-hop approach, a little softer and more soothingly spewing words as opposed to the initial lines that carry more of a wit and confidence in delivery. This poetic ode to the future wraps up an uplifting, self-motivated meaning behind its’ carefree flow, as the duo write about falling in love without any of the games of modern day romance: ‘I don’t play no games, I don’t got no shame.’ Declaring ‘I’m good for you, I think I can better your situation… we push and pull, got the north and south on the magnet baby’, the single throughout carries a self-assured attitude, brushing off the negative opinions of others and always finding confidence within itself. For a little pep and motivation of your own, look no further than the mellow atmosphere of ‘just the intro / play no games.’
Inkakai - Drown
The mysterious, masked Japanese-American alternative group Inkakai have been storming up the music scene since 1997, now sharing a re-recording of a smashing single they put together in 2012, ‘Drown.’ Led in by an atmospheric fade, ‘Drown’ immediately incapsulates a vastness to its thunderous soundscape. Somehow within its vigorous drums and storming electric guitar the tone never shifts from anything other than soaring, wielding a sound that unclasps itself from the shackles of any one genre expectation and thrives within its own experience. With moments that strip things back as well as build things up, ‘Drown’ is a constantly evolving experience of sound topped off by their vocalist’s impressively large range, championing hoarse lows and more emphatic highs with ease and pure emotion. Lyrically ‘Drown’ is a track wielding a mass of pain and heartbreak, as well as braving its way through a sense of abandonment. Though it’s unclear quite how things came crumbling down, ‘Drown’ attempts to find its footing after the loss of someone they loved dearly, hinting throughout at how they walked away: ‘what the hell went wrong? you keep going on, it’s like you don’t even care.’ We personally found that ‘Drown’ was all the more poignant in how it can be interpreted however you wish though, with lines like ‘I carry on, now without you’ equally weighty for those suffering through grief as well as heartbreak. With a motivational message of pushing through and standing strong, Inkakai hope to give their listeners a sense of light and strength at the end of a dark tunnel they might not feel they can get to the other side of: ‘locked down the days that you’ve been gone, I can take it.’
Talia Grace - Soliloquy
As the acoustic artist Talia Grace finds herself writing to create art that leaves feeling people less alone, her newest single ‘Soliloquy’ certainly achieves that goal and more, as she sings of experiences many can find their hearts aching to empathise with. With an incredibly stripped-down soundscape, rich piano notes ring into the vast emptiness of sound, complemented just by Talia’s haunting vocal delivery that leaves the entire experience to feel ever-so personal. Comparable to the experience of watching an artist sat on a stage singing out into an empty venue, ‘Soliloquy’ is the true definition of intimate in its delivery, sure to linger with you long after hearing Talia’s powerful words for the first time. If it weren’t clear from its tender sound, ‘Soliloquy’ is also a real open-hearted lyrical admission, bundling up all of Talia’s feelings and fears and introspectively reflecting on who she is, where she’s going and her sense of self-worth. In confessional lines Talia admits ‘I’ve never felt irreplaceable’, interweaving her insecurities within the track’s heartfelt words and struggling to value herself as those she’s loved live on without her: I feel like I’ve wasted all the love that I’ve given, because they’re all out there living doing fine without me.’ There’s also a self-awareness that shines brightly throughout too, as Talia admits ‘I’ve made some mistakes, I don’t always give more than I take’, leaving the narrative of ‘Soliloquy’ to just feel so distinctly human and raw. Filled with pained, universally relatable lines, so much of ‘Soliloquy’ will soothe your own doubts, assure you you’re not alone in your fears, and just remind everyone listening that being human is accepting and loving ourselves for who we are regardless of our flaws and troubles.
Tophouse - The Mountain Song
Nashville based four-piece Tophouse just shared their newest offering in ‘The Mountain Song’, a piece that instills their genre-bending roots of being a rock band infused with old fashioned bluegrass. Cascading in with bright piano notes, ‘The Mountain Song’ immediately captures an absolutely radiant sense of joy and sunshine in its gorgeous tones, picked up by an entire orchestral arrangement of instruments that build throughout this four minute theatrical-esque piece. From a pounding steady drum beat to the peppy, quickly played string instruments, backing harmonies and more, ‘The Mountain Song’ is a song constantly evolving and growing as it bounds through its undeniably infectious storytelling. In slower moments, the haunting strings come to a slow amidst picked notes and deep piano left to reverberate out, as well as the most wonderful, whimsical of highs that see instruments linked and interacting with different lyrics as to paint a real vivid picture of the scene at hand. Just as gorgeously colourful in its lyrics as it is its sound, ‘The Mountain Song’ delivers upon a real transportive narrative enriched by the beauty of nature in it all. Interweaving the highs and lows of life with that of the changing weather, the hike up a mountain and the fleeting animals spotted along the way, ‘The Mountain Song’ is a gorgeous piece of art that’s appreciative of the bumps along the way: ‘it was a long one, and there was a time or two we felt like giving up. But every fall and stumble made us stop and see the wonder.’ From other beautifully pained scenes, ‘we climbed a mountain, and I picked wildflowers and put them in her hair, and at the top we found a meadow, and danced barefoot in the grass’, Tophouse truly know how to transport you to the most serene of places and leave you instilled with nothing but pure admiration to just be breathing and experiencing life. ‘The Mountain Song’ truly feels alive, it breathes with you and takes you on an entire trip of your own within mere minutes, taking you out of the woes of everyday life and allowing you a moment of fresh air to thrive within for as many times as you need it.
Levina - Trip To Mars
The London-based singer and songwriter Levina boasted her newest single ‘Trip To Mars’ this month, a striking alternative-pop addition to her impressive growing discography. Laced in soft beats and a radiant, underlying electric guitar riff to set things off, ‘Trip To Mars’ right from pressing play feels infectiously upbeat but a little minimal for an added personal and intimate flair. Picking up for the chorus the beats rise to a more central focus alongside bright keyboard chimes and a thumping bassline, all still wispy and whimsical but addictive regardless. These delicate but groovy tones are complemented gorgeously by Levina’s vocals, as she glides across the warm bedding of sound with her own dainty, rich tone cascading through a higher range with ease. Her soundscape may be utterly mesmerising in the most floaty, serene of ways, but Levina knows how to integrate a hard-hitting narrative amongst her colourful tones too, and ‘Trip To Mars’ certainly delivers one that most can relate to. Offering an escape from the weights of the world, ‘Trip To Mars’ quite literally fantasises of a journey away from the overwhelming every-day, complaining that ‘24 hours ain’t enough’ as she finds herself burnt out from trying to do it all. Pleading to ‘turn the lights off, stop the world spinning, let me live it while I’m in it’, Levina’s entire narrative finds itself yearning to appreciate the little things in the present moment but being too consumed by everything that needs to be done to take a second to breathe. Hoping that ‘Trip To Mars’ will give listeners a few minutes to recharge and recenter themselves while reality keeps spinning, Levina not only cathartically opens-up within this three minute alt-pop dream but also offers a comforting hand for those feeling so wrapped up they can’t quite take a step back without the push.
Howlite - Still I Find
After a pandemic-induced hiatus, the alt-pop trio Howlite have finally made their long-awaited return with a new single ‘Still I Find’, their first new offering since 2021. Commencing with deep piano notes and pulsating synth layers, ‘Still I Find’ finds itself floating in an atmosphere of utter bliss, falling between tender and catchy all the same. As the striking electronic elements progressively build in dominance and volume through this three minute journey, ‘Still I Find’ marks itself to not just be a song but an entire experience that’s integral in listening to the entire development of. As the bridge takes a moment for bold, striking synth keys to soar, ‘Still I Find’ through and through feels like a single laced in utter individuality whilst still bearing resemblance to familiar acts like CHVRCHES. Their female vocalist dances through the soundscape with an ease, her words powerful and pushing through a higher range whilst embodying wispy, soft undertones. Bearing a narrative open to interpretation, ‘Still I Find’ is enriched by lyricism that’s thought-provoking and easy to relate to. With a handful of ways to take their words, we saw ‘Still I Find’ to be a narrative on yearning for someone seemingly wrongly fitting for you, as lines like ‘our stars don’t quite align’ seem to acknowledge their differences with a sadness. Yet the chorus hook ‘still I find, hope inside’ feels almost determined to prove otherwise, seemingly aware they’re mismatched and wanting to beat the odds regardless of it. Whichever way you choose to take it, one thing is for sure and it’s that ‘Still I Find’ feels strongly motivational, pushing you to always take leaps for what you want and find hope within.
Etham - I Won’t
Reading based singer-songwriter Etham shines in the most sincere of soundscapes, and his newest offering ‘I Won’t’ continues to boast not just his musical prowess but the profound impact of his writing. In a gorgeous piano ballad, Etham finds himself powerfully singing along to every deep, reverberated key that softly sets the bedding for his vocals to shine. Softly delivering the melancholic lows of the track, Etham sings against the downbeat piano, just him and the keys intertwining for an intimate journey between him and his lover. Soaring clean and confidently through a higher range at the track’s peaks, Etham delivers a mesmerising performance throughout, and yet a human touch of strain leaves his words feeling all the more emotionally wavering for an achingly real impact. Writing about love, loyalty and sacrifice, ‘I Won’t’ is a truly profound slice of the realism of relationships and the work that must be invested to make any love outlast the battles it comes with. With Etham pleading that ‘we’re on the same side, all of your demons are mine’, the lyrics beg to guide his partner through while they try to push him away, pained by their suffering and determined to be the force they need even if they won’t yet accept it. As lines like ‘when you give up, I won’t’ have the strength that his lover is wavering in, every moment of ‘I Won’t’ speaks of an unshakable, unconditional love even in their darkest of days. Paired-back and powerful, ‘I Won’t’ is a beautiful admission of the depths you’ll go to for a real love, showcasing an honest perspective on how relationships won’t always be perfect but with the right person they’re worth waging through.
psykhi - Dyed In Wool
Closing up this month’s roundup with the lead single off his newest EP is psykhi, a Ghanaian creative who prides himself on his introspective lyricism and equally interlinked sound, and this striking front-piece ‘Dyed in Wool’ shows off his skillset beautifully. Encapsulated within the bookends of an 80s-esque keyboard vibrant in its bright tones, a subtle steady beat and deep bass-twangs that set a pulsating core for the song to sway along against, ‘Dyed in Wool’ right away finds its flair outside of the expectations and restrictions of falling into just the one genre. A stripped-back but addictive verse keeps your whole attention looped in its simple but effective groove, before the chorus swiftly free-falls into an atmospheric high of keyboard, smashing drums, hazy vocals and more that all infectiously pull you into your next high. psykhi’s vocal performance feels utterly unique melded within it, offering a soft tone but confident in delivering every line, like a wispy version of the charismatic indie you may be used to. More than just a treat in sound, ‘Dyed in Wool’ also offers up a message worth lingering on, as psykhi revolves a narrative around the common phrase ‘dyed in the wool’ meaning someone who is steadfast in their opinions and stubborn to change them. Directing his frustrated words towards someone of this nature that’s too proud to admit they’re wrong, psykhi sings that ‘Think you’re flawless since you feel this way, tell me what’s expected’ with a hint of snark, hoping to open up the eyes of those who will hear him and show that letting go of your opinions can be freeing. With the rest of the EP termed to be a collection for the outsiders, psykhi is certainly an upcoming force to be reckoned with bearing a sound that really can’t be placed under any one label, and for that we’re sure he’ll continue to leave his mark on many.
Give a listen to these songs and more in our New Music Friday playlist this week, or see our Roundup Recap playlist for every song previously featured in one of our monthly roundups that you might have missed!
Written by: Tatiana Whybrow
// This coverage was created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.
Existential Magazine’s April Music Roundup
With the month coming to a close, we’re sharing just a handful of our favourite new releases we’ve discovered this April! Sit back, put on our New Music Friday playlist and spend a few minutes enjoying fresh new tunes hand-picked by us.
Close Drive - Variegation
Beginning our Roundup with a warm and comforting acoustic indie-esque soundscape, the four-piece Close Drive bring out a familiar sense of nostalgia in their newest single ‘Variegation.’ As soft drum beats pad the sound with a home-y steadiness, acoustic guitar finger-plucks and light strums pull on your heart strings and your locked away memories with a delicate tug, together interweaving a sound that’ll transport you back in time to some of your fondest of times. Their vocalist soars across the tender assortment with a bright but rich delivery, capturing every needed essence of optimism and appreciation that a song so introspective could ask for. As Close Drive lyrically delve into the stages of life that connect both humans nature together, ‘Variegation’ becomes much more than just a song but an entire narrative on what it means to be alive in itself, questioning and blooming into an identity enriched by a cherishing outlook for nature: ‘all my leaves are changing.’ As it looks on changing as you grow and finding yourself in time and experience, ‘Variegation’ is an enriching journey of self-love, grounding oneself and the day-to-day beauty gone amiss: ‘wrapped up in that feeling, that new sun’s got me singing.’ For a little much-needed warmth sprinkled into your life, Close Drive have you covered in this beautifully flourishing new single.
Oliver Pinder - late July
Following his previously acclaimed singles ‘Stressed’ and ‘beautiful second’, the indie-pop artist Oliver Pinder now comes soaring back in time for glorious summer days with a single titled ‘late July’ dashed in romantic butterflies and red-tinted skies. As a wonderfully indie-esque beat keeps the track light and bouncy, delicate acoustic guitar strums add an edge of emotion to a paired-back but easy-going release. Oliver’s vocals add another layer of depth to the sound, capturing his personality as well as his own emotional connection to the song whilst still delivering gorgeously clean lines. Writing about falling in love and the anxiety that comes with it, Oliver’s lyrics are bare and heartfelt, compiling his own experiences of loving and losing: ‘I know I shouldn’t be feeling these things, but I can’t help myself, oh God.’ Questioning ‘do you feel the same about me yeah?’, Oliver’s lyrics seem to err on an edge of not feeling quite enough for the one he’s falling for, second-guessing any kind of reciprocation as though it’s an unrealistic dream. But his beautiful words ring deep, singing that ‘you feel like the summer to me, I wish I knew what you were thinking’, finding comparisons to things that bring him joy in the presence of the one he’s yearning to be with. Everything about the narrative of ‘late July’ is beautiful and yet real, capturing the nerves of wanting to come clean, let someone in and potentially have it all come crashing down, whilst desperate to finally make a move regardless. If you’re looking for some comforting words while you work up the courage to admit your feelings for someone, then Oliver definitely has you covered in ‘late July’ with a bed of sound you’ll find solace in even if his words don’t relate.
Red Shakes - Doubt
Dreamily nostalgic, the newest single from the indie rockers Red Shakes comes in the form of ‘Doubt’, an anthem about rebutting the unwarranted advice of others. Led in by distinct reverb-heavy electric guitar strums and a thudding beat, the soundscape errs between soft toned but still upbeat enough to urge you dance along, creating quite the vast atmosphere for things to fall into place. Their vocalist dances across the soundscape offering bubbly but emotionally enriched vocals, capturing an edge of natural hoarseness at times for an even more impactful delivery. Adding a vibrant riff for the choruses’ warm intermission, there’s no moment of ‘Doubt’ that you won’t be completely immersed in the comforting bedding Red Shakes have wrapped around this relatable offering. The lyrics add just another layer of depth to this already striking release, speaking of the frequent giving of unwanted advice: ‘I just don’t need the advice.’ As Red Shakes plead to be left to make their own mistakes, lines like ‘you always try to save me the mistake, but you learned the exact same way so it should be mine to make’ wish to be allowed to live and learn alone even if there’s more hardships along the way. Leaving you with the takeaway of a motivating chorus, Red Shakes preach that ‘when in doubt, don’t you worry you’re gonna figure it out’, and we couldn’t think of a more wonderfully positive message to remind listeners whether they’re also looking to make their own mistakes or just need the comforting reassurance it’ll be okay regardless.
Joe Bygraves - Someone Else
Twenty seven year old singer-songwriter Joe Bygraves soars within his own bright but emotionally-infused indie-pop sound, and since gracing stages opening for stars like Paloma Faith and Jools Holland he’s now ready to bear his newest sure-to-be hit ‘Someone Else.’ This powerful ballad doesn’t waste a moment from the second you press play, atmospherically leading into the track with gliding vocals, steady drums and striking electric guitar that all-together builds quite the vast introduction to a song determined to be heard loudly and impact-fully. The verses settle for a delicate beat and casual guitar strums, placing Joe’s absolutely resonant vocals front and centre of everything to put on a performance you can’t help but feel emotionally entangled within. Coursing through a higher range with flecks of richness, every line is delivered with a sincerity that leaves ‘Someone Else’ sure to stay with you long after listening. The chorus adds a moment of heightened bliss, seeing the instrumentals and backing vocals once again all uniting for an intermission of pure cascading sound, leaving you feeling like you’re floating amiss the soundwaves. Lyrically, ‘Someone Else’ seems to be stricken with the pain of letting go after heartbreak, torn between his desire to continue yearning for them while knowing better than to continue lingering on someone who’s moved on. The Chorus hook ‘find me someone else to fall in love with’ aches with this need to move forward, his heart still calling for them but knowing it’s time to let go. Sure to relate to most, ‘Someone Else’ is the breakup anthem we’ve all needed at one point in time, hurting but allowing you to start accepting things have reached their end.
TELGATE - GAMMON
Cardiff queers known as TELGATE reign with a sound of pure and utter individuality, bringing all the groove and charisma needed to catch eyes on their glam-rock guitar-driven releases, and their latest offering ‘GAMMON’ does all of that and more. As a funky fuzz-wah electric guitar riff and steady drums lead things in, the soundscape is one fused in stylistic choices from the past, but with all of the flair and rich tones of modern musical releases. But outside of its 70s approach, what makes ‘GAMMON’ most engaging is its constant evolution as the soundscape ebbs and flows between more stripped-back moments; building thudding beats; eccentric riffs; angsty punk-esque elements; scene-setting backing vocals and a constant err between easy-going and thunderously loud. The sound is just the start though as lyrically TELGATE are here to impactfully deliver a message that’s unapologetically anti-capitalist and anti right-wing, bringing back the days of politically charged rock akin to that of ‘American Idiot’ but with a more detailed message and intricate sound. As they make an exhilarating statement on the state of current British affairs, TELGATE not just write some of the most progressively critical lyricism but deliver it with vocals that dance between a gorgeous, clean glam-rock sung tone and more angsty, shouted segments that are enraged and preaching to the masses: ‘the power’s in your hands darling, and the time is closer than you’d think… the country will be yours once more, and the king will be crowned the king of the queers.’ TELGATE are truly one of a kind in sound, but merged with an approach to sincere songwriting rooted in empowering and seeking change, they’ll surely be unstoppable.
CAM - Your Loss
Birmingham based contemporary R&B artist CAM delivers music with a soul, creating easy-going soundscapes that you can’t help but feel warm and comforted within even when paired with more downbeat messages, and his newest offering ‘Your Loss’ is here to prove why he’ll be going far. Swept up in gorgeously rich piano, regular beats and the occasional synth, there’s an atmosphere of utter reverie that clouds the experience of listening to ‘Your Loss.’ Picked up with more peppy piano for the chorus, there’s nothing but warmth and vibrancy littered in the journey of this three and a half minute song, sure to pick up any bad mood and leave you feeling refreshed. CAM’s vocals top off what is already a stunning base of soothing tones, delivering a confident and self-assured vocal performance enriched by oozing smooth R&B stylings, floating in low toned, relaxed catharsis. Though its soundscape is one of utter ease, CAM writes a more heartfelt message of moving on from someone who didn’t value him how he deserved, preaching self-confidence in the choruses hook: ‘it’s your loss, coulda had the best thing ever.’ As other lines show a little more of the aching, ‘used to sit beside the phone, knew that you would never call, overthink drive myself crazy’, it’s without a doubt that ‘Your Loss’ is the perfect pick-me-up for those feeling dejected and unappreciated in finding themselves and valuing their worth once again - as well as just relating to some of CAM’s more pained lines for a comforting hand to hold in heartbreak.
Grayson Foster - Like A Fire
Born in the Carolinas, singer-songwriter Grayson Foster encompasses a whimsical indie sound just as naturally gorgeous as his roots, and his newest offering ‘Like A Fire’ continues that atmospheric edge he’s so effortlessly perfected. Beginning with just a soft thudding beat and delicate intermittent electric guitar strums, the track feels paired back but not melancholic, instead reigning in a gorgeously vast ether where every note rings out and every line captures an undeniable warmth. The dreamily ethereal track only continues to build though, with the beats becoming more prominent, the guitar more frequent and other hazy instrumentals that add a continued growth to the fluctuating journey Grayson has built. All tinged in reverberation, there’s such a profoundly impactful blow in every carefully crafted sound that makes ‘Like A Fire’ feel as though it’s dripping in magic. Vocally, Grayson tops it all off with a performance that begins more tender and deeply rich, before showing off the true emotionally-charged power he can evoke in a dominant closing chorus bearing his heart for everyone to see. As Grayson speaks of love, attraction and posterity in the lyrical narrative, ‘Like A Fire’ tells a strikingly visual and heartwarming message of all of the beauties that come with finding the one who evokes such a sense of unwavering bliss: ‘I need the heat of your heart and I can’t get enough.’
Reno & Rome - Live Without You
Heard on E4’s Made In Chelsea, Suffolk indie quartet Reno & Rome continue to keep listeners dancing with every sparkling, groovy new release, and their latest ‘Live Without You’ is here to provide the perfect indie and power-pop blend for those nights you’re ready to sing away the pain. Bearing a narrative that’s rather bittersweet, Reno & Rome write about falling in love without any reciprocation: ‘Don’t know if I can live without you… guess you didn’t see me, I waited patiently.’ Left in the dark and looking to confess their feelings whilst met with the cold shoulder, you’d never imagine that such an aching rejection could be paired with a sound so bright and funky. Encompassed in addictive guitar twangs, a deep bassline, synth pops, steady beats and a vocalist buried up to the neck in charismatic flair, ‘Live Without You’ immediately seeks to hook you right from pressing play and it certainly doesn’t falter in achieving that goal. Absolutely entangled in differing instrumentals, all of which soaring through the three and a half minute soundscape, ‘Live Without You’ quite literally has it all and it doesn’t for a second offer anything but the most uplifting of sounds. Picked up even further by the choruses’ interlude, the guitar cascades into a passionate riff along with vocal hooks sure to get you chanting along while you ponder your own unnatainable love.
The Romantidote - Better In Time
Performing as the musical alter ego of Scottish singer-songwriter Calum Bolland, The Romantidote emerged in 2019 with a distinct sound that while fluctuating between an array of styles continues to consistently bear authenticity at its core, and his latest release ‘Better In Time’ showcases perfectly how. Serenading the listener with gorgeously intimate and intricate acoustic guitar strums, ‘Better In Time’ both captures a warmth like the hug of a friend whilst erring on achingly intimate as you’re left alone with just the tender strums and a haunting vocal performance preaching a narrative interwoven in pain. Picked up with the hum of a harmonica, strings and piano as the track continues to intermittently ebb and flow between instrumental highs and paired back lows, this acoustic-folk journey is one that’ll linger with you long after first listening if not just for its message, but also its soul-stirring sonically crafted experience. Lyrically, ‘Better In Time’ offers a real open-hearted internal monologue of thoughts and feelings, with The Romantidote pouring a mass of built-up emotion from the bleak pandemic years, getting sober and the person he loves, tinged both in the melancholia of life as well as its beauty. From its weary lines like ‘you are not as alone as you feel, but there’s fear in your mind’, it’s clear this heartfelt release is one that’ll likely resonate with many, giving hope amidst sadness for better days to come. If there’s one thing to take away from ‘Better In Time’, it’s without a doubt its poignant chorus hook that serves as a reminder we should all repeat to ourselves when needed most:‘softly say, we get better in time.’
Picture House - Opposite Form
Creative duo Picture House may be a new project, but with seven years of work together as a pair it’s evident that they’re more than prepared to take on this indie/dream pop endeavour, with their debut single ‘Opposite Form’ setting up their stage for great things to come. Hazy electric guitar strums leads things in, soon accompanied by soft drum beats, deep bass twangs and an emphatic guitar riff that together pad the soundscape whilst maintaining a constant atmosphere of fuzzy reverie. A little paired back for the verses with just bright electric guitar plucks, low-sulking bass and pattering beats makes for a minimal but uplifting setting to lose yourself in, leaving you to fantasise about the summer air and setting sun inside a song that evokes feelings of pure bliss. Penning a heartfelt lyrical journey, Picture House write a narrative reflecting upon personal growth and change from learning to set boundaries, reject unkindness and learning your own limits: ‘I was fine when you said that, but now I feel so empty.’ Much of ‘Opposite Form’ feels like it’s learning to love itself, as the pair seem to write of treating yourself with the same kindness and advice you’d offer others, not allowing the critiques of others to continue to impact your journey: ‘Worry about yourself, think of no one else when the truth can be unkind, when it cuts you down to size.’ For a positive burst of motivation from an act that are only on the up from here, look no further than Picture House’s debut ‘Opposite Form.’
Venice Heath - Different
Closing out our Roundup for the month is Venice Heath, an indie outfit that draw inspiration from the brightly sounding greats like Tame Impala, Jungle and Foals but with their own indie-rock and psychedelic edging that’ll leave their newest offering ‘Different’ a staple addition to feel-good summer playlists everywhere. Soaring inwards with cascading electric guitar that vibrantly rings into the vast echoey soundscape Venice Heath have built, there’s an immediate dreaminess to the track’s resonance captured through this heavy reverb on every element, making more of a song to be experienced than just to be heard. As the verses’ look to haunt you with this deeply resounding tingling of sound that looms on the electric guitar, analog synths and vocals, its impactful switch-up for the chorus will leave you mesmerised by what ‘Different’ has to offer. Fading from this grand atmosphere and into a more front-and-centre wall of sound, ‘Different’ stirs from its previous melancholia to a more groovy centrepiece sure to get you on your feet and chanting along. Drum beats keep an exciting pacing while the emphatic guitar riff finds itself the most integral element of it all, creating a sound so bright and airy you’ll need it on repeat to really understand the magnitude of what you just experienced. For a sound so deeply rooted in haziness, it’s wonderfully fitting it has such a whimsical message of the classic 'what if' of unspoken feelings that will make you daydream with hope. Lost in their imagination and what could be, ‘Different’ escapes reality for a world of its own, which makes perfect sense when Venice Heath seem to be crafting their own musical universe alike no one else out there.
Give a listen to these songs and more in our New Music Friday playlist this week, or see our Roundup Recap playlist for every song previously featured in one of our monthly roundups that you might have missed!
Written by: Tatiana Whybrow
// This coverage was created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.
Existenial Magazine's March Music Roundup
With the month coming to a close, we’re sharing just a handful of our favourite new releases we’ve discovered this March! Sit back, put on our New Music Friday playlist and spend a few minutes enjoying fresh new tunes hand-picked by us.
Five Door Sedan - Darlin’ You
Born out of Berklee Online School of Music where both the writers attend, Five Door Sedan are here to share their debut single ‘Darlin’ You’ that utterly defines their incredibly promising indie sound, showcasing craftsmanship well beyond their years together. Beautifully leading into the release with a first verse of just groovy electric guitar riff and their vocalist’s impressively clean delivery, ‘Darlin’ You’ right away feels a little intimate but bright, and the pre-chorus only picks up even further into addictive indie-goodness. From a funky bassline to subtle clashing drums, there’s not a moment of the sound you won’t feel both emotionally intwined within whilst also urged to get on your feet and dance away the woes. The chorus atmospherically flourishes though, taking a truly romantic stylistic approach that feels as though it encourages slow dancing away the pain that the sound so effortlessly seems to bury, and with a saxophone taking reigns on the bridge you’ll surely never be disappointed in any moment of this show-stopping release. With their lyricism deeply close to the heart, ‘Darlin’ You’ doesn’t seem as sweet and innocently wrapped up in romance as its soundscape sets it up to be, pained by a heartbreak and yet still appreciative to have loved and lost: ‘Why do we laugh when it’s so hard? What is a life without the pain?’ Seemingly encapsulating a toxic partnership, ‘Darlin’ You’ errs on the bittersweet edge of still carrying the heavy amounts of love for someone you know you’re better off without: ‘darling you, you cut me open and tear me apart.’ All in all, this four and a half minute journey is a gift that doesn’t stop giving, and truly a remarkable first feat for Five Door Sedan.
Tim Nova - I Believe in You
After spending 2022 writing and self-releasing his music, Tim Nova returns to 2023 with a new single ‘I Believe in You’ that boasts a positive message you won’t be able to shake. Channeling a bright indie sound, ‘I Believe in You’ shimmers in tones that seep with a vibrancy and bursting spirits, immediately welcoming you into its nearing three minute journey and offering a place to take respite from the world. Gorgeous electric guitar reigns in striking slow riffs, with a pounding drum and atmospherically built synth that all together can’t help but feel a little reminiscent of Coldplay and yet so distinctly Tim’s own sound. His soaring vocals lace between the sound like they were made to complement it, bundling an emotional resonance that makes ‘I Believe in You’ all the more comforting. With a message pleading for people to support their loved ones in their dreams and aspirations, ‘I Believe in You’ engrains some of Tim’s own experience as a striving artist, looking to connect to an audience who may be more wary of untraditional paths and struggling to comprehend the choices of those they care for. But even if it doesn’t reach them, ‘I Believe in You’ still proves to be an uplifting and relatable message that many can listen to and feel appreciated within even if their loved ones don’t carry the same perspective, finding solace in Tim’s words and the growing foundations he’s built for himself as an artist: ‘Do you ever feel like giving up? …All you wanna hear them say is “I believe in you?”’
TWINFLAME - I’M NOT HIM
Having spent the last three years conceptualising TWINFLAME, the duo look to take upon a new wave of queer artistry, vulnerability, and world-building, and their newest offering ‘I’M NOT HIM’ shows off the utter velocity of their vision. Blending between genres, ‘I’M NOT HIM’ seems to fall within a category of its own, bearing an edge of emo amidst alt-rock, electronic and indie stylings moulded into one distinctly catchy and original single. Deep moody beats litter the soundscape of the verse along with other electronic effects, complemented only by their vocalist’s self-assured spoken-sung performance seeping with a confident sultry edge. As the beat finds itself replaced by clashing drums for the choruses interlude, ‘I’M NOT HIM’ takes a moment to fall more into rocky roots and harsh backing vocals add another subtle element of spice to a song that has much to offer. As this release builds upon their central mission as a pair to empower queer individuals who feel misconceived by mainstream society, ‘I’M NOT HIM’ lyrically channels the adversity that comes with fully embracing your life as a queer person whilst on the surface still providing something utterly addictive and sure to be played on repeat. As lines like ‘I don’t want this sh*t to happen just behind the door’ emphasise the difficulty many face in feeling they cannot outwardly be themselves, TWINFLAME are here to encourage you to embrace your queer identity and be wholeheartedly yourself for everyone to see.
Heart Foundation - Bad News (Do Better)
Brothers Sam and Luke found themselves forming their own impressive alt-rock and indie duo in Heart Foundation, coming together after years of recoding music out of their bedroom for only their childhood ears to hear, and debuting with new single ‘Bad News (Do Better)’ will surely get them on everyone’s radar. Sweetly leading with acoustic guitar strums and vocals that soar with a hint of reverb, the track feels reminiscent of that of a modern Oasis, infusing rock into more of an indie bedding that’s utterly mesmerising. Picking up with some drum beats and a lurking bassline, ‘Bad News (Do Better)’ can’t help but sound rather minimal in the soundscape, somehow fleshed out and yet still completely raw and tender beneath it. Their vocalist soars in the gentle swaying, with a deep and resonant tone catching every fleck of emotion behind the words delivered, truly making it an experience that’ll resonate with you for a long time to come. Utilising an analog recording process through tape machines, hardware reverbs and vintage synthesisers, it’s no surprise that ‘Bad News (Do Better)’ is a song that captures a sense of being lost in time, enriched with a nostalgia that the sound alone invokes. Feeling dipped in a woeful melancholia and regret through saddening beats and strums, its no surprise that the lyrics only further emphasise that with intimate storytelling seemingly journeying through a breakup the fault of the protagonist who can’t help but reminisce and wish they’d done things differently: ‘I’ve been a cold lover, I’ve took you for granted, your heart went up in flames and it’s still not landed.’
HIGHWAYVES - PLASTIC
For fans of The 1975, Beabadoobee and Yungblud, the genre-blending up-comer HIGHWAYVES bears a distinctly unique sound of their own amidst shoegaze, rock, and indie sensibilities all shining through their new single ‘PLASTIC.’ With striking drum beats, rich electric guitar twangs and the occasional shimmering synth, ‘PLASTIC’ is a song that captures the pure grittiness of rock whilst leaning into the addictive flavouring of indie all at once. As the chorus absolutely soars into an atmospheric high, the instrumentals all peak in volume and brightness with intermittent bursts of drawn out notes to truly allow for HIGHWAYVES pop-punk reminiscent vocals to shine too. Lyrically exploring the aching sadness that comes with watching a friend lose interest in you, ‘PLASTIC’ can’t help but harbour a resentment towards how their friend has changed while distancing themselves from you, whilst also edging on a sense of heartbreak for their loss in a completely platonic way: ‘you’re plastic now, you’ve let your colours out.’ Anyone who’s lost a friend will find themselves resonating with something HIGHWAYVES has to say whether it tells a story you relate to entirely or not, and it doesn’t hesitate in offering a very real and personally pained experience moulding together a mass of emotions run high. It’s without a doubt HIGHWAYVES has a sound alike no other, and ‘PLASTIC’ is a truly exceptional mix of catchy instrumentals with a message that matters.
Natalie - Evil
Anti-genre producer, songwriter and vocalist Natalie has been breaking down the limitations of genre since her 2018 debut, seamlessly infusing pop toplines with alternative R&B production and now reigning with a new single ‘Evil’ that’s taken an electronic-pop edge. With an almost eerie bell melody leading things into ‘Evil’ , it immediately makes its presence known as a darker more mysterious track with a lot to unpack beneath its surface. Synth bass takes complete control of the soundscape thereafter though, pounding in resonance whilst drums lean into more of a subtle creeping edge themselves, together minimal and yet incredibly powerful in how they infuse for a production evolving throughout. All commandeered by Natalie’s sultry, self-assured vocals, her higher vocal range can’t help but profoundly contrast the track’s lower tones in a way that makes the entire performance completely mesmerising. As Natalie looks to talk on her own experiences and give more representation to sapphic relations within her lyricism, ‘Evil’ lyrically journeys through the notion of sapphic desire being sinful, mocking this behaviour through her outlandishly exaggerated lyrical perspective. Adopting almost a demonic perspective to mock societal norms, lines like ‘turn a good girl evil’ take back the power that’s been stripped away for far too long, almost embracing the perspective for wholehearted irony. Natalie displays a meticulous awareness of not just how to craft a good sound, but how infuse a lyrical message that fits so perfectly within it that the sound could almost speak alone, and for that we truly think ‘Evil’ is a piece of art worth appreciating for yourself.
Molly Baker - Beautiful Chaos
Taking the music scene by storm with her newest offering off of her upcoming debut album, Molly Baker’s latest single ‘Beautiful Chaos’ bridges indie-pop and indie-rock with one hell of an anthemic tune to be played loud and on repeat. Gritty electric guitar lurks in the background of ‘Beautiful Chaos’, with a dominant drum beat finding itself the focal point of the soundscape, keeping the speeding pacing at a high and your adrenaline even higher. Molly’s gorgeous vocals complement the head-banging soundscape, confidently delivering every line and adding a perfect hint of clean vocals to an otherwise instrumentally raw release. The chorus only picks up further, exploding with the catchiest lyrical hook and a sound sure to get you on your feet if you weren’t already. Written about the painful ride from the first day of high school to ultimately graduating, ‘Beautiful Chaos’ wraps up all the good and bad memories of the all-too-familiar youthful adventures we’ve all been on at one point. Whether your memories are as fond as Molly’s or not, ‘Beautiful Chaos’ is sure to make you feel a little bit of the pep and nostalgia of your younger days and a brimming motivation to take hold of your life even in similarly stressful but beautiful situations: ‘I’ll miss having too much to do and too little sleep… even when we feel dead inside, we’re still having the time of our lives.’ Relive your own high school days or find some solace in Molly’s, with ‘Beautiful Chaos’ undoubtably becoming a song you’ll want on loop indefinitely.
Tom Fleur - I Dread To Think What I’d Do (Without You)
Inspired by 60s Girl Groups and The Smiths, the upcoming artist Tom Fleur’s second ever single ‘I Dread To Think What I’d Do (Without You)’ shines in a nostalgically glistening soundscape that’s sure to whisk you away to a place above the clouds. Packed with reverb, this gorgeous single creates a bedding of ethereality right from the beginning, with soaring electric guitar, steady drums and Tom’s floating vocals all intertwining for a magical sound that provides the same enchanting experience of uncovering an old vhs once lost in the past and now uncovered and cherished for the secrets it had tucked away. As every word echoes into the vast soundscape there’s not a moment of this listening experience that feels real, like rose-tinted glasses cloud your vision throughout the nearing three minute duration, encouraging you look around and soak up the beauty around you. Lyrically exploring the mundane moments with your loved ones, ‘I Dread To Think What I’d Do (Without You)’ soars with an appreciation for the everyday, finding happiness in the littlest things so long as they’re shared with those you care for. There’s not a moment of this brightly shining single that doesn’t radiate warmth and the purest of hearts, sure to pick you up in your lowest of moments and remind you to look no further than those around you for a shed of light in the dark: ‘you’ve fallen asleep watching the news, at peace in the living room, on a lazy afternoon.’ Find yourself falling for a sound that captures an essence of the past as well as treasuring the present, all in ‘I Dread To Think What I’d Do (Without You).’
Torpey - Why Won’t The World Stop Turning
A little reminiscent of greats like Oasis comes the up-comer Torpey boasting a gorgeous acoustic release ‘Why Won’t The World Stop Turning?’ Began soft and sincere, seeing just acoustic guitar plucks and strums intricately laying the bedding of such a tender but powerful release, things are paired-back but not limited by it. Backed up by Torpey’s vocals that profoundly ring into the vast soundscape, he provides a deep rich tone with a confident delivery you can’t help but ache along with the emotionally impactful enchantment of. Things gently build as they progress, adding delicate percussion along the journey before one final atmospheric moment sees all instrumentals soaring into their own high alongside dreamy backing vocals to match. With a message that seems shackled down by the weight of the day-to-day, Torpey sings of wishing for the world to stop turning and time to stop passing, needing a break from the ever-going stresses: ‘Why won’t the world stop turning when the lights go dark? …I need a break from this motion, I’m lost alone and the world won’t end.’ This message feels seeped in melancholia, carrying a bleakness and desperation made all the more hard-hitting by Torpey’s delivery of it all, and somehow all of that is that makes ‘Why Won’t The World Stop Turning’ so beautiful. If Torpey’s acoustic anthem reaches out to you, you’ll surely find comfort in such a gorgeous sound and a narrative all-too relatable to most.
Daragh - Don’t Let It Get To You
Closing out our roundup this month is the heart-on-its-sleeve ‘Don’t Let It Get To You’, the latest single by upcoming artist Daragh, or otherwise known to be the recording project of Daragh Murphy who takes inspiration from the realities of everyday life. With sincerely strummed, bright electric guitar and a softly padding drum beat, ‘Don’t Let It Get To You’ commences with an air of easy-going tranquility that can’t help but put you at ease. Leading you through a mesmerising journey taking on the sonics of 80s British guitar pop alongside more of a crisp modern-day contemporary pop sound, ‘Don’t Let It Get To You’ can’t help but feel a little whimsical and nostalgic all whilst being refreshingly new and unique. This bedding of familiarity and softness urges you rest in-between the arms of its instrumentals, comforted in each striking note and made to feel reassured by each line. Daragh’s vocals beautifully glide across this slow sound, carrying an amiability in character and a deep, rich tone in delivery that together make for an authentic and deeply personal resonance in every line that’s sung. Boasting a message that most need to hear, Daragh writes of a protagonist learning to deal with the opinions and criticisms of others, channeling the difficulties of letting go of the negative and taking on board the feedback truly worth listening to: ‘Don’t let it get to you, it’s just somebody else’s opinion.’ In a world consumed by social media and its flooding mass of unwarranted opinions, ‘Don’t Let It Get To You’ is a song sure to remind you that it’s important to know what to move on from and how to free yourself from the all-consuming critiques of others.
Give a listen to these songs and more in our New Music Friday playlist this week, or see our Roundup Recap playlist for every song previously featured in one of our monthly roundups that you might have missed!
Written by: Tatiana Whybrow
// This coverage was created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.
