Abby Posner - HMS Morris - Bitw - Big Little Lions - Oscar LaDell - Sheva Elliot - Sandhouse

Abby Posner - Rest and Rise (Album).

Los Angeles singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Abby Posner makes a truly impressive return with Rest and Rise, a beautiful, deeply personal and wonderfully crafted album that showcases her exceptional songwriting, musical versatility and artistic vision. Arranged in two parts, Side A, “Rest”, and Side B, “Rise”, the 12-track collection takes the listener on an emotional journey through heartbreak, grief, self-discovery and, ultimately, renewal. Inspired by personal experiences and a period of significant change, Posner explores themes of love, loss, queer identity, ageing and the sometimes complicated process of finding yourself again.

What makes this album so special is Posner's ability to turn deeply personal experiences into songs that feel both intimate and universally relatable. There is an honesty and vulnerability running throughout, balanced beautifully by a sense of hope and optimism. Rather than offering easy answers, she embraces life's contradictions and reminds us that something wonderful can emerge from even the most difficult chapters.

Musically, Rest and Rise is equally rewarding. While retaining elements of Americana and folk, Posner confidently explores indie-rock influences, inventive arrangements and adventurous production. Her musicianship is exceptional, having produced, engineered, mixed and performed almost every instrument herself, including the distinctive cello banjo, which adds another fascinating dimension to the album's sound.

Abby Posner has created something genuinely special here. Rest and Rise is an album full of heart, character and musical imagination, demonstrating an artist who continues to evolve while remaining completely true to herself. Beehive Candy really love this album! It's an absorbing, uplifting and beautifully realised collection of songs that deserves to be heard. A wonderful release from an immensely talented artist, and one we will certainly be returning to again and again.

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HMS Morris – SACI HACS (Album).

Almost three years after Dollar Lizard Money Zombie, Cardiff's wonderfully inventive HMS Morris return with their fourth studio album, SACI HACS, released yesterday 30th October 2026 via Bubblewrap Collective.

Described as an “enigmatic sack of peculiar hacks”, the album explores the little tricks, personal rituals and everyday survival techniques we all develop to navigate modern life. There's plenty of wit, wisdom and playful absurdity along the way, but above all, it's about finding joy in life's unpredictability.

Musically, HMS Morris are on gloriously adventurous form, blending art-rock, electro-rock and dramatic pop with warped electronics, playful instrumentation and infectious melodies. It's chaotic, colourful, wonderfully eccentric and packed with surprises, yet there's a warmth and emotional heart running throughout.

SACI HACS is another fantastic example of a band refusing to stand still or follow the rules. Full of imagination, personality and unexpected delights, Beehive Candy absolutely love this album!

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Bitw – Gaddo Glaw (Album).

Welsh musician Gruff ab Arwel returns with his solo project Bitw and a wonderfully unconventional new album, Gaddo Glaw, released on 30th October 2026 via Klep Dim Trep. A true DIY artist, Gruff has always done things his own way, combining lo-fi pop, quirky creativity and a healthy sense of humour.

Made almost entirely alone using a borrowed Portastudio, Gaddo Glaw is his most homemade and personal release to date, and his first entirely in the Welsh language. Beneath its deceptively accessible pop melodies lie reflections on climate change, global conflict and an increasingly uncertain world. There's plenty of darkness in the subject matter, but also warmth, honesty and a wonderfully understated charm.

What makes this album so appealing is the contrast between its bleak outlook and its infectious musical spirit. Gruff may have given up on hope, but he's certainly not given up on making great music, finding comfort in the simple things, particularly love.

Gaddo Glaw is an intriguing, heartfelt and refreshingly original record from an artist who continues to follow his own path. Beehive Candy really appreciate the individuality, honesty and DIY spirit of this album.

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Big Little Lions – World Goes By.

Multi-award-winning duo Big Little Lions continue their run of monthly releases with World Goes By, released on Thursday 29th October.

Written for anyone who has ever felt they don't quite fit in, the song explores the loneliness, heartache and emotional struggles that can come with feeling different or out of place. It's a relatable subject, delivered with the warmth, sensitivity and heartfelt songwriting that makes Big Little Lions such an appealing musical partnership.

World Goes By is a thoughtful and beautifully engaging release, offering a gentle reminder that we're not alone in feeling a little out of step with the world around us. Another lovely addition to their growing collection of monthly singles, and one that deserves a listen.

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Oscar LaDell – Tell Me True.

US-born, Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Oscar LaDell delivers a beautifully soulful and heartfelt new single with Tell Me True, released on 30th October ahead of his forthcoming album Untouchable.

Exploring the heartache, unanswered questions and lingering memories that follow a relationship breakdown, LaDell combines velvety yet gritty vocals with melancholic piano and vintage acoustic guitar to create a wonderfully atmospheric blend of blues and soul. His smoky, expressive voice carries real emotional weight, bringing a genuine sense of vulnerability and passion to every note.

There's a lovely warmth to Tell Me True, despite its bittersweet subject matter, and its stripped-back arrangement allows the songwriting and vocals to shine. It's a moving reflection on love and loss that feels both intimate and instantly relatable.

Oscar LaDell is clearly an artist with plenty to offer, and this latest release has certainly whetted our appetite for the forthcoming album. Beehive Candy love the soulful delivery, beautiful musicianship and heartfelt emotion of this one.

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Sheva Elliot – River Run Dry.

Los Angeles-born Americana singer-songwriter Sheva Elliot makes a powerful impression with her new single and accompanying video, River Run Dry. An upbeat, infectious Americana rock anthem, the track is all about letting go, embracing change and discovering the freedom and strength that can come from surrender.

Blending roots-rock, Americana twang, gospel and good old-fashioned rock and roll, Elliot delivers a fantastic combination of gritty instrumentation, soulful melodies and powerhouse vocals. There's a wonderful mix of attitude, passion and emotional depth here, with her rich musical influences shining through while maintaining a distinctive sound of her own.

Elliot has a real gift for combining heartfelt storytelling with music that makes you want to turn up the volume. River Run Dry is uplifting, full of energy and packed with soul, showcasing an artist who clearly knows how to deliver a memorable song.

A brilliant release and an exciting taste of what's to come from her forthcoming album. Beehive Candy absolutely love the energy, vocals and infectious spirit of this one.

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Photo - Hannah Jane Murrell

Sandhouse – Pollyanna (EP). 

South London duo Sandhouse return with their second EP, Pollyanna, released on 30th October via Broke Records. Featuring four tracks, including the previously unheard focus single Into Nothing, this is a darkly captivating release that showcases the duo's adventurous approach to alternative music.

Blending warped indie rock, grunge guitars, hazy trip-hop beats, psychedelia and nocturnal alt-pop, Sandhouse create a wonderfully atmospheric and distinctive sound. The EP explores complicated emotions, healing and the pressures of modern beauty, with vocalist Anna Sutherland's seductive, darkly playful lyrics adding plenty of character and intrigue.

Focus track Into Nothing is a particularly fascinating highlight, exploring the loss of individuality in the pursuit of an idealised version of ourselves. Its flickering electronics, inventive guitar effects and distorted basslines create an absorbing musical backdrop for its thought-provoking subject matter.

Pollyanna is an intriguing, beautifully unconventional EP that shows Sandhouse aren't afraid to push boundaries or explore the darker corners of human experience. Beehive Candy love the creativity, atmosphere and wonderfully twisted musical imagination on display here.


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Cat Nova - Tindersticks - Viv & Riley - QUESTA - Big Mess - Schaefer Llana

Cat Nova - Heaven When It's Easy.

Cat Nova is back with another hauntingly reflective tune about love, with the beautiful 'Heaven When It's Easy' Before taking a hiatus from music to complete a doctorate, write a book, and establish herself as a clinical psychologist, Cat spent a decade as a much-adored frontwoman of Oxford-based indie rock bands the Courtesy Kill & At Risk (the latter’s catalogue recently re-issued for streaming by indie label Quickfix Recordings), supporting the likes of Kasabian, King Adora & other 00’s luminaries at the now legendary Zodiac in Oxford.

This, and previous releases Parallel World and IFLY mark a new chapter for the singer-songwriter, who has traded (at least for now) her primary writing instrument/accompaniment from the guitar to a piano, with sparse instrumentation that allows the melodies to take centre stage. Drawing inspiration from artists including The Cure, AFI, Cigarettes After Sex and Garbage, her instinctive songwriting process blends atmospheric indie pop rock and her trademark open-hearted, somewhat doomed romantic lyricism with an intimate yet cinematic feel. 

"Sometimes songs just download into my head while I'm driving or walking. The melody and lyrics arrive almost fully formed, and I have to quickly record a voice note before they disappear. Other times, writing lyrics is a way of processing emotions and experiences before the music follows."

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 Artwork - Sidonie Osborne Staples

Tindersticks - Loving, leaving.

This week Tindersticks have announced their 15th studio album, Dog roses, out March 12, 2027 via City Slang Records. Alongside the announcement, the band released the album’s opening track and first single “Loving, leaving.” Opening with an undeniable glockenspiel-and-organ hook, with the faintest hint of saxophone underneath, “Loving, leaving” is the sound of a band trading 20 years of habit for new instincts. From synth-flecked atmospheres to a hazy dream-pop period piece and a lush orchestral high point, Dog roses finds Tindersticks pushing into new territory while drawing on the distinctive musical interplay that has defined their sound for more than three decades.

“With our last album, 2023’s Soft tissue, we felt like we were looking over the fence into a new landscape, maybe even leaning over,” Stuart Staples explains. “Making 15 albums we have learned that sometimes there are steps forward, sometimes there are leaps. Soft tissue was a great step, but it was time to try and leap over that fence.”

Written and recorded between December 2025 and August 2026, Dog roses emerged from a period of change for the band where they left behind their beloved studio home of 20 years, an ambient, almost church-like space, for a hidden underground studio. As Staples describes, “A place where old methods didn’t seem to work and new solutions had to be found.”.

Produced and recorded by frontman Stuart Staples, the album features the effortless feel of Earl Harvin’s drums, Dan McKinna’s adventurous bass, David Boulter’s unexpected touches and choices, and Neil Fraser’s guitar always pushing at the song’s edges.

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Photo -  Libby Rodenbough

Viv & Riley - Sourwood.

A couple of days ago Durham-based indie folk duo Viv + Riley released “Sourwood” via Free Dirt Records, a new single inspired by the brilliant autumn colors of Virginia’s sourwood trees and the parallels between the natural world and our collective human experience. Written by Appalachian songwriter Vivian Leva, the track reflects on aging, loss, and the beauty of life. Recorded live to tape in Frome, England, with producer Dom Monks (Big Thief, Adrianne Lenker, Paul McCartney), the track features the duo singing together into a single microphone. A homemade music video for “Sourwood” premieres alongside the release, and follows the duo’s same raw, unfiltered approach that runs through much of their other work.

“‘Sourwood’ was inspired by the sourwood trees that erupt into orange and red blazes in the mountains of Virginia every fall. I was thinking about how these trees display such vibrant beauty before they inevitably lose their leaves and become bare each winter,” Vivian shares. “There is something that seems parallel to the human experience too, how people spend their lives growing, creating, and connecting, but also lose many of those things as they grow old. 

“‘Sourwood’ is a shared moment of companionship with someone in their autumnal season of life as they look back on the things they’ve done and the people they’ve lost, and wonder how many springs are in their future. It was recorded live to tape in Frome, England with producer Dom Monks, just the two of us singing into the same mic, a few feet apart.”

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Photo - Hannah Zimmerman

QUESTA - She Gave Me.

Rising creative force QUESTA has released his dreamy new pop rock single and music video “She Gave Me.” Juxtaposing dark lyrics with joyful melodies to capture a toxic relationship fueled by control, “She Gave Me” explores the imbalance of a one-sided relationship. Drawing inspiration from the dystopia of A Clockwork Orange, the Freudian, tongue-in-cheek visual follows QUESTA as he undergoes intense conditioning to become a better person – someone completely different from who he really is.

“‘She Gave Me’ touches on the idea that there is no such thing as unconditional love. In many instances there is a cost to pay or at least an expectation for receiving love,” shares QUESTA, the musical alter ego of singer-songwriter Emilio Cuesta. “The song is also about being too immature to be in a relationship and not being ready to receive love in the first place because you might not be able to give it back. Ultimately, as I learned in the relationship I was in, the milk – or the love - was never free and she needed me to be someone I was not ready to be.”

As an actor and filmmaker, QUESTA brings a visual sensibility to his lyrics, recordings, and live performances – creating music that feels equally at home on stage and on screen. His recently released single “Sophie’s Plan,” a hazy, dream pop diary entry which laments leaving a failing relationship as the loneliness is worse than the toxicity, embraces his melody-driven sound and infuses vintage psychedelic folk-rock with modern sonic elements.

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Big Mess - Report Card (Album).

We have the brand new album by Scott Allen's band Big Mess called Report Card, which is out now and streaming everywhere on Underflow Records. Report Card is a concept album exploring the universal experience of high school through its many personalities, social hierarchies, awkward encounters, and unforgettable moments.

From overachievers and underachievers to bullies, outcasts, class clowns, and hopeless romantics, the album examines the roles we play during adolescence. Some identities are assigned to us, others we choose, and a few we spend adulthood trying to outgrow.

Rooted in American high schools at the turn of the millennium, Report Card reaches beyond any particular graduating class. Music, fashion, and cultural references may change, but the desire to belong, the fear of embarrassment, first love, heartbreak, and uncertainty about the future remain remarkably familiar. Through humor, irony, nostalgia, and the occasional uncomfortable truth, the album celebrates a time when insignificant moments felt monumental and important lessons often went unnoticed until years later.

Ultimately, Report Card is about more than looking back. It’s about recognizing how those formative experiences continue to shape who we become. The names and faces may change, but the characters and stories remain surprisingly familiar. After all, we may graduate from high school, but some part of high school never quite graduates from us.

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Photo - Photo - Kaylee Vaughan

Schaefer Llana - Court Street.

Schaefer Llana will release her label debut, Full Circle, on November 13, 2026 via Strolling Bones Records. The 10-song set was produced by Llana and Starlin Browning and recorded at Matt Patton of the Drive-By Truckers’ Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, Mississippi. The captivating debut is lush and literate, meditative and dreamy, and radiates a languorous Southern heat as it drifts between past and present, connection and isolation, love and loss. Llana delivers her songs with a tender, almost casual ease, and the result is a cinematic slice of alt-Americana. 

Met with early critical acclaim, Glide Magazine said “Full Circle carries an understated power. The songs don’t strain for drama; they unfold naturally, carried by Llana’s relaxed vocal delivery and arrangements that seem to shimmer in the humid air.” Of her performance at the Americana Music Festival last month, Pandora said she “exuded atmospheric intimacy, hypnotizing the room with a set of spellbinding siren songs. While her performance occasionally channeled the ghostly, nocturnal coo of Hope Sandoval and the peerless vocal control of Paula Frazer, Llana operates in a sonic stratosphere entirely her own. It was an otherworldly, magnetic display that left the crowd deadlocked in silence, hanging onto her every word.” 
 
Born in Missouri, Llana moved to Mississippi as a child where she spent her formative years first singing in church. After high school, she headed deeper into the cradle of American music to study at Delta State University. It’s there where she fell in with a likeminded crew of artists and writers and landed a job working at the recording studio Dial Back Sound. 

She says, “Matt Patton gave me real opportunities early on. I worked at the studio for several years as an engineer and would record background vocals for anyone who came to record there.” That’s how she met Jimbo Mathus, best known as a founding member of Squirrel Nut Zippers (and more recently for his work with the Black Keys). Mathus was a fellow Mississippi native who took an immediate shine to her voice, first asking her to sing on records he was producing and then later inviting her to join his band on the road for several years. Full Circle features two songs written by Mathus and he also appears on its lead off track. 

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The Gentle Spring - Sam Scherdel - The Clumps - Rachel Cribby - Eliza Hull - Soot Sprite

The Gentle Spring - Down With Love.

Just released we have the first single "Down With Love" by The Gentle Spring from their forthcoming second album "Northernhay". The witty lyrics of this upbeat single feel like they could be a riposte to the lovelorn romance of The Field Mice (songwriter Michael Hiscock’s first group). But the music and the arrangements sound like a reprise of that much-loved band – Down With Love is melodic, infectious, pure pop.

Michael Hiscock, co-founder of legendary indiepop band The Field Mice, along with his new cohorts Émilie Guillaumot and Jérémie Orsel have created an album that combines wisdom, wistfulness, reflections on love and celebrations of community - all threaded through a set of songs whose melodic power and sheer catchiness recall The Field Mice at their best.  

The music is more upbeat than on debut album Looking Back At The World. The shimmering acoustic guitars and sinuous bass are still present, but this time Michael’s and Émilie’s voices are accompanied by drums and percussion. With this new recipe, the songs sometimes remind you of early Microdisney, and sometimes The Pet Shop Boys, with deadpan, considered, unvarnished, but deeply emotive human vocals, and an insistent rhythm that drives on regardless.  Depending on where you are situated, you could dance to Northernhay, or you could sit very still and just immerse yourself in it.

The album title, Northernhay, is a clue to the inspirations that drive the songwriting.  It is the name of a winding street that led from the Croydon suburbs where Michael lived as a kid, leading out to a wilderness, surprisingly close to the city, where foxes are seen, where the streetlights don’t penetrate - where you can get lost: one of those places where you first discover that the world is awesome, mysterious, deeply romantic and unknowable. 

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Photo - Rizzo (Ianthe Warlow)

Sam Scherdel - Kyoto Snow.

Following a breakthrough single approaching four million Spotify streams and widespread press and radio acclaim, South Yorkshire singer-songwriter Sam Scherdel returns with ‘Kyoto Snow’, out now via Broke Records / Ostereo. After losing his job in 2022, Scherdel faced a defining moment: with no label backing him, he began independently funding his own recordings and releases, determined to turn his music into a viable career. What began as a leap of faith has since developed into an extraordinary journey of success, driven by relentless work, self-belief and a growing audience that has carried his music far beyond his Yorkshire roots.

From a residency at SXSW in Austin, to opening for Duran Duran at BST Hyde Park, to going viral on TikTok, having his music played on Love Island and now having a recording contract with Broke Records and Ostereo the forthcoming EP, Boy Who Fell To Earth, is set to be another big moment for Scherdel as he continues to build an exciting career. 

Produced by Colin Elliot at Sheffield’s Yellow Arch Studios, ‘Kyoto Snow’ explores the search for beauty amid difficult, emotionally toxic circumstances. Built around the image of something fragile and fleeting, the track captures a relationship beginning to fracture and the desperate desire to hold on to what remains.

Sonically, the track leans into folk and Americana influences, while retaining the melodic pop sensibilities, indie accessibility and emotionally driven songwriting that have been central to Sam’s rise so far. A blossoming soundscape places Sam’s captivating, raspy vocals front and centre, with organic instrumentation weaving around them to create a warm, vibrant and effortlessly catchy listening experience.

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The Clumps - Easy.

The Clumps just released their new single “Easy” marking their first release with AWAL and the first taste of an EP due in early 2027. Still early in their story but already building serious momentum, the four-piece have amassed 3.3 million streams on previous single “Worthless”, grown to 100,000 monthly listeners, and recently played Eurosonic and Soho Calling in London.

Built around a collision of grunge, post-rock and noise, “Easy” looks at the psychological toll that can sit behind pursuing something you care about — the pressure, exhaustion and uncertainty that are often flattened into the idea that following your passion should somehow feel effortless. “Nothing left, Hold your breath, While they tell you everything, They never said it was easy” — The Clumps

Behind the scenes, that momentum is being matched by an expanding international team. The Clumps work with Made Management, whose roster includes Aurora and Sigrid, alongside ACT Booking / Live Nation, as they begin building towards a wider European presence through 2027. Musically, the band draw from the weight and abrasion of ’90s alternative rock without leaning too heavily on nostalgia. Their sound pairs heavy, immediate guitars with atmosphere, tension and an increasingly strong sense of emotional restraint. “Easy” is the first indication of where that next phase is heading, with further new music to follow ahead of the EP next year.

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Photo - Kelsey Gale

Rachel Cribby - Frankenmuth, MI.

Rachel Cribby has shared the second single 'Frankenmuth, MI' from her debut album ‘I Can’t Wait To Forget This Later,’ to be released November 20 on First City Artists (Coco, Alexa Rose, Eliza Edens). Cribby wrote the song about a peculiar town in Michigan designed to architecturally mimic Bavarian Germany, famous for its chicken and fudge. Cribby shares, “It is objectively a bizarre place, but as a kid, it was my personal paradise. I wrote this song after I stopped by on my way home from Traverse City a few years ago. The town hasn’t really changed that much since the 90s. But it really does turn out you can never go back.”

Produced by Daniel Ledwell (Jenn Grant, Oh Pep, Ken Yates), ‘I Can’t Wait To Forget This Later’ shimmers with early aughts alt pop appeal—brisk melodies laden with sharp, darkly comical lyricism reminiscent of Aimee Mann, Rilo Kiley, or Liz Phair. Today’s offering follows the lead single “Rich Boy Luck,” a zipping and incisive assessment of privilege that landed on several playlists.

The Canadian-born, Detroit-based songwriter’s sardonic style is for more than listener’s amusement; it’s her healing method of choice. And in recent years, she’s needed one, having lost her father and left her beloved Montreal in quick succession. “It’s not like my twenties weren’t tumultuous,” shares Cribby. “I had plenty to sing about. I was dumped more than I can count and maybe did a bit of dumping myself. But something has happened to me in my thirties, where all of the big life stuff that I thought I could ignore by moving away, by trying to become a completely independent and self-assured person, smacked me in the face. And then it promptly started to eat me alive.” 

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Photo - Michelle Grace Hunder

Eliza Hull - Balcony.

Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Castlemaine-based multi-award-winning songwriter, musician, advocate and writer Eliza Hull O.A.M shares her new single and video 'Balcony' from forthcoming album You'd Think We'd Be Used To Change By Now (4 Dec/independent). 

Written and recorded in London with Sneaker Pimps' Liam Howe (fka twigs, MARINA), 'Balcony' flits between bittersweet nostalgia and sky-high euphoria, sonically drawing from atmospheric 90s trip-hop; "a song about trying to hold onto something beautiful long after it has passed". 'Balcony' arrives with the announcement of intimate album preview events the week of album release across 2x dates in so-called VIC, featuring acoustic performance, signing and conversation to be paired with ABC Melbourne's Jacinta Parsons at the Naarm/Melbourne event. 

‘Balcony’ penned quickly to capture something instinctive and almost fleeting is Eliza Hull's aching love letter to a long-past summer that can't ever be recreated, tracing the emotional tension between what was and what is: revisiting being young, free and naïve, surrounded by friends, falling in love with a particular moment in your life and desperately wanting to return to it. 

Drawing on the gently-haunting atmosphere of British 90s trip-hop and electronic music, 'Balcony' features live instrumentation in minimalist drums and reverb-drenched guitars, first-demo vocals and dramatic, sweeping strings melding to create an organic, cinematic feel that will resonate will fans of Portishead and Goldfrapp. 

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Soot Sprite - Cautious Optimist (Reckless Version) 

Brighton rockers Soot Sprite have today dropped ‘Cautious Optimist (Reckless Version)’ and also announced their ‘Carbon Copy’ EP, which is due out November 20th via Specialist Subject. 

‘Cautious Optimist’ first appeared as the closing track on Soot Sprite’s critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Wield Your Hope Like A Weapon’. Ahead of their UK headline tour, the band have reimagined the song as a rousing anthem, released alongside the announcement of ‘Carbon Copy’, an EP of reworked tracks from the record. 

Soot Sprite front woman Elise Cook says: I originally wrote this about 6 years ago now when I was essentially given an eviction notice at the height of a pandemic. It would mark the 11th time I had moved in about 10 years period and having recently upped and moved across the country from Torbay to Brighton it retains its relevance! 

It’s about the rocky uncertainties around your home space, and how shaping your life round the music industry feeds into that. How sometimes you feel burnt out by it all and find yourself idealising a life with regular stable work to provide a stable home. Ultimately it’s not been for me, and that always comes at a cost. Getting to realise this song from a somber solo pursuit to this defiant anger with the whole band has been so fun, and reminds me why I chose these people to play in Soot Sprite. Everyone elevates it.

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Winona Oak - Phoebe Rea - Matty Simpson - Project Earthbridge feat. Myla Arden

Winona Oak - Bloom (Album).

Swedish singer-songwriter Winona Oak has released her second album ‘Bloom’ alongside the focus track ‘Anemone’ via Nettwerk. New album ‘Bloom’ marks a new chapter and is a testament to survival, showcasing both her emotional and musical growth and devotion to connection. Allowing herself to slowly open up again with honesty and hope after a period of grief and heartbreak, her new record lets the listener into a deeply personal world where beginnings emerge from endings. Throughout the last year, she has worked on new music and a more organic progression in her raw and unvarnished sound, whilst still writing candidly about the highs and lows of life; loss and repair, heartbreak and love, resistance and patience. 
 
Winona Oak has thoughtfully introduced her second record over the last year with a host of singles, including ‘Do You Hate Me Now’, ‘Horses’, ‘Stay the night’, ‘Breaking Point’, ‘Bones’, and most recently ‘Next Mistake’ featuring Maye. Alongside the full album, she shares the cinematic focus track ‘Anemone’, which is a moving ballad that builds delicately through beautiful instrumentation. 

Winona says, “Like a flower emerging after a long winter, blooming isn’t instant - it’s the result of surviving the darker seasons. Bloom reflects the transformation - the idea that even after pain life still finds ways to grow. It’s a gentle but powerful reminder that healing isn’t about forgetting the past, but about allowing yourself to open again to the light."


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Phoebe Rea - Meet Me There.

Originally from Oxfordshire, Phoebe Rea is a singer-songwriter, pianist and keys player whose music brings together nu-jazz, alternative and art-pop with a strong focus on live musicianship and emotional honesty. Classically trained in piano and violin, she studied at the BRIT School and Goldsmiths, University of London, where she became immersed in London’s jazz scene and found the collaborative community that continues to shape her music. Her songwriting explores identity, self-worth, relationships and growth, often using music as a way to uncover what she really thinks and feels.

Her new single, “Meet Me There”, begins a new chapter following her debut EP Anybody Else?, which explored perfectionism, toxic cycles, co-dependence and self-sabotage. For her upcoming music, Phoebe knew she wanted to move beyond some of the darker themes of her earlier twenties and start “leaning into the light”. This led to using the idea of phototropism, (the way plants react to and grow towards light), as a theme for the new project, embracing warmth and growth after “digging her roots into the ground” with the previous EP.

At the heart of “Meet Me There” is Phoebe’s grandad, who passed away over three years ago, and the pieces of him that she continues to carry into her own life. “I find him whenever I see a good view or go on a good walk, or when I decide to go to an exhibition and firstly have to stop at the museum cafe for a coffee and cake because that’s what we used to do with him,” she shares. “I find him in my desire to see the world. He’s a constant reminder to make the absolute most of life because he was so good at living.”

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Matty Simpson - Explode.

Hamilton, Ontario singer-songwriter and guitarist Matty Simpson shares “Explode,” a restless, emotionally charged single that blends the raw energy of grunge and punk with the introspective storytelling of Americana and roots rock. Caught between exhilaration and uncertainty, the track explores the overwhelming nature of love and the fear of surrendering control.

Inspired by a period of listening to both heavier rock bands and introspective singer-songwriters, “Explode” emerged from Simpson’s desire to bridge those musical worlds. The title comes from the lyric, “you made my heart explode,” capturing feelings so powerful that they become both beautiful and destabilizing.

“It was an attempt to write a love song and be more positive during a phase where I was writing mostly about sadness and heartbreak,” Simpson explains. “It ended up being about someone who is so deeply in love, that it is debilitating and even self-destructive. Love can be that way, too. Love is complex and so is writing about it.”

That emotional push and pull shapes the song’s arrangement. Its heavier, grunge-inspired passages contrast with quieter moments that leave room for reflection. One of Simpson’s favourite lyrics, “Hey, don’t talk so loud, I’m trying to hear the softest sound,” arrives after a loud chorus crescendo, creating a shift that emerged naturally during the songwriting process.

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Project Earthbridge - Just One Bite (feat. Myla Arden)

"Just One Bite" is upbeat "girl power rock" with a straightforward message - "Don't ask for my number, if you stay for just one night, there's no feast here for you boy, if you look for just one bite". Project Earthbridge consists of the Swedish duo Jimmy Granstrom (music and/or lyrics) and Thomas Karlsson (music/production) as well as invited collaborator(s), which will vary between songs. 

Project Earthbridge's songs have been played on the radio in at least 12 countries on five continents, from Australia and South Africa to Sweden, France, Belgium, Peru, England and the USA. The singles "Alicia" and "Made Of Stars" were selected for rotation on P4 Sörmland, which is a major Swedish radio station equivalent to a regional BBC radio station in the United Kingdom. Green & Granstrom's "Only Summer" (with English lyrics co-written by Jimmy) was played on the SiriusXM The Spectrum show Nordic Rox, co-hosted by Roxette singer/songwriter Per Gessle, on September 8 2024. 

More recently, Elin Engdahl and Elitronic's "Bound For Glory" - with lyrics co-written by Jimmy - was played on "Nordic Rox" on October 5, 2025. Most recently, the Project Earthbridge single "Love Will Always Be Near" (featuring Aubrey Illurimo) was released in December 2025, with significant airplay around the world, from Australia, Colombia and Uganda to France, Greece, Italy, Germany and the U.K.

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Strange Dream - Nofar Margaliot & Waterman Project - At Baron Lane - Siv Jakobsen feat. Marit Larsen - The Sunshine Rebels - Blank Instrument

Strange Dream - Levanter.

Strange Dream contacted us a week or so ago and we were massively impressed with their latest track Levanter, and are pleased to share it after it's release this weekend. The band tell us "Levanter takes its name from the warm wind that blows in from the east across the Mediterranean. In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist it's a presence that's always close by but never seen, known only by the mark it leaves. This track borrows that idea: a hypnotic, driving groove built around exactly that feeling." 

Some background on the band: Strange Dream is a Manchester based psych band blending hypnotic rhythms, jangling guitars and reverb soaked melodies into a sound that’s both timeless and unmistakably modern. Drawing influence from bands such as Allah Las, BJM and Night Beats, the band crafts immersive songs built on driving grooves, layered guitars and hazy atmospheres.

Originally formed in 2023 as a studio project, Strange Dream focussed on writing and self producing a handful of singles. Following a short hiatus of recording the band returns with renewed creative focus and is now bringing their sound to the stage for the first time.

With a live set built around high energy performances, Strange Dream is currently seeking support slots and festival opportunities in Manchester and across the northwest. For fans of: 60’s Garage Rock, Modern Psychadelia, The Black Angels, Allah Las, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Velvet Underground. 

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Nofar Margaliot & Waterman Project - Fake Love.

Released a couple of days ago 'Fake Love' is one of those songs that stands out immediately and then goes on to build into a beautiful alt pop song. Nofar Margaliot sings in Hebrew and English and on the next album 14 of the songs are recorded in English and on the strength of this one may well reach a larger international audience. Some more background on the song. 

Israeli singer-songwriter Nofar Margaliot and Alon Wasserman's Project feature Fake Love, the first single from their forthcoming joint album. The song is about clinging to the crumbs of love: small gestures that give great hope, even when the connection itself does not give what we need. At the center of it is an image of plastic flowers, which look like the real thing but life is lacking.

Alternative pop with singular singing, guitars and piano in the stecto, in a sensual and melancholy atmosphere reminiscent of Amy Winehouse's Back to Black spirit. Nofar and Alon wrote the words and melody together. Alon also played, arranged, produced and recorded; Daniel Wortheimer is responsible for the mix and mastering.

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At Baron Lane - Door.

With their new single “Door,” At Baron Lane deliver a fresh, upbeat indie-pop song. At Baron Lane are a four-piece indie band from the greater Zurich area, extending as far as Lachen in the canton of Schwyz. Since celebrating the release of their debut album “in Paradise” at Amboss Rampe in Zurich in 2019, the band has continued to refine their songwriting and successfully demonstrated their skills live at countless concerts.

The quartet has already performed at venues including Schüür in Lucerne, Exil Club in Zurich, and Werk21 at Dynamo in Zurich. With the single “Future-Men,” released in June 2025, the band also secured its first airplay on various indie radio stations, both locally and internationally.

Inspired by groups such as Parcels, Twenty One Pilots, Metronomy, l’Impératrice, and Duran Duran, At Baron Lane explore the boundaries of indie pop. Their music remains catchy despite its many influences, while retaining a distinctive At Baron Lane sound—with melodies that stay in listeners’ heads long after the music ends.

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Photo - Jørgen Nordby

Siv Jakobsen feat. Marit Larsen - On You.

Acclaimed Norwegian songwriter Siv Jakobsen this weekend announces her new album Scandinavian Dread, out 12th March 2027 via The Nordic Mellow/Virgin Music Group, and shares new single 'On You' feat. Marit Larsen. Scandinavian Dread is Jakobsen's fourth studio album and the follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2023 album Gardening.

Taking a wry look at the "sad girl" label attached to her music, Scandinavian Dread makes room for gratitude, grief and the humour of everyday life. Where Gardening explored past hurt, its follow-up finds Jakobsen considering what comes next: the comfort of a loving relationship, the pressures of ambition, and the small domestic pleasures that help her through the Norwegian winter. "Oh, you think I’m sad? Fine. I’ll give you sad," she jokes of the title, though the songs tell a more expansive story.

Co-written with her longtime friend and collaborator Marit Larsen, who brings a sparkling pop sensibility and guest vocals to the recording, new single 'On You' finds Jakobsen at her most bright-eyed and thankful. Celebrating a love that feels effortless after one that demanded too much, the song looks back with a new perspective, past experiences deepening her appreciation for what she has now. Anchored by acoustic guitar, it opens out into strings, layered vocals and an uplifting chorus, as Jakobsen sings: "I’m not trying, we are an effortless blend / In the thick of you now, never losing - you are my luminous mender."

Discussing the new single,  Jakobsen says: "On You is an ode to gratitude and pure joy - to finally finding the right person and realising that every road and dead end somehow led you to them. I wrote it with my good friend and collaborator Marit Larsen, wanting to create a song that could act as a bridge between my previous album, Gardening, and the next, Scandinavian Dread. It also became a very effortless blend of our individual voices as artists and songwriters, so having Marit join me on the recording felt both natural and obvious."

Marit Larsen added: "On You feels like—and sounds like—a breakthrough for my dear friend Siv. It is an emotional release bathed in light, hearts beating; the perfect song to take with you into the low autumn sun, with leaves crunching under your soles. The song reveals a side of Siv that’s usually reserved for those of us in her innermost circle."

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The Sunshine Rebels - Hop On, Hop Off.

Chicago’s latest indie-rock sensation The Sunshine Rebels arrives with their debut single “Hop On, Hop Off”. The neo-psychdelic inspired track is now available via digital streaming platforms worldwide. 

Inspired after a trip to the British Isles, “Hop On, Hop Off” drips with an intense and classic swagger, sonically self-described by the band as “Radiohead meets 10,000 Maniacs through a Beatles lens”. There’s a dash of Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders as well, which is evident in Sangeeta Driver's spunky and powerful vocals. Consisting of droning pedal tones, chaotic travel themes, and scattered vintage pop culture references, The Sunshine Rebels’ latest track is intentional yet surprising— leaning cleverly into a vintage aesthetic yet still remaining uniquely its own.

“Hop On, Hop Off” was created at Chicago’s Electrical Audio. Although recording for the tracks took place as recently as the Summer of 2026, The Sunshine Rebels have been cooking up these tunes for quite a while. The result is the forthcoming album, slated for unveiling in early 2027 – consisting of tracks that have been in conception since as far back as the early 2000’s.

“Hop On, Hop Off” was recorded live, with no click tracks or autotune, creating a rare and organic experience that is hard to find in today’s current soundscape. The new single is the precursor to what is to come on the forthcoming album, a decadent sonic treat leaning into 80s rock, alternative indie, and elements of post-punk revival.

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Blank Instrument - Jumping at Ghosts (Album).

Blank Instrument, Boorloo/Perth-based singer-songwriter Kim Franklin returns with her debut album ‘Jumping at Ghosts’, just released on Friday, (October 23). Spanning 11 tracks, the album brings together themes of love, grief, uncertainty, mental health and hope through Franklin’s intimate, reflective songwriting. Made possible by the generosity of her late friend Julie, ‘Jumping at Ghosts’ grew from songs Kim Franklin began writing in early 2023, without initially intending to make a full album. Musically, the album evolved through experimentation, drawing on folk, soul, blues and piano ballads. About this album, Franklin states:

“Over the 2 and a half years that I’ve been working on these songs, they have made their truth known to me. They were born from a place in my subconscious and in understanding them, they have helped me become a better person. How I feel about my songs, my voice, myself, has been transformed through recording this album.”
 
The transformation Kim describes has also been reflected in the response to the album’s first releases. Kim’s releases have reached #1 on the AMRAP Country/Blues/Roots Chart and #4 Overall, alongside airplay on ABC Country, ABC Perth, RTR and community radio across AUS. They've also drawn support from Backseat Mafia, Scenestr, AAA Backstage, Good Call Live, The Point Music News, Lock Mag and more.

Now, it all comes together across 11 tracks, with ‘Jumping at Ghosts’ moving through heartbreak, uncertainty, grief, love and mental health while holding onto hope and the possibility of renewal. The album opens with its first three singles, ‘Brand New’, ‘Know Nothing’ and ‘Green and Blue’, exploring new beginnings, accepting uncertainty and learning to remain present through grief.

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