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| Photo - Léa Grégoire |
Bleu Reine has just joined the Géographie label. Bleu Reine is the solo project of Léa Lotz, who skillfully blends shoegaze, dark folk, and dream pop. Poised to open a new chapter in her burgeoning career, she returned yesterday June 30th with a new single titled "Cavalier Seul"—the first track from her upcoming album, due for release in early 2027 via Géographie.
"Cavalier seul" is the first single from Bleu Reine's upcoming second album. Composed upon returning from a European tour, it evokes an ambiguous fantasy of freedom and loneliness in the form of a dreampop/shoegaze ballad bathed in hazy synths. This intentionally nostalgic and ethereal track could be the soundtrack to a last kiss or a first night train journey; a perfect addition to a playlist alongside other bittersweet symphonies that have nourished its writing, both right before and right after the year 2000.
(Léa Lotz) is a Paris based singer and producer taking an active part in the DIY alt scene since 2019. Her sound is rooted in both nostalgic grunge-coated dream rock and a fierce passion for layered synth pop, with a distinctive digital glow. As a solo live performer she recently supported international bands such as US Girls, They are Gutting a Body of Water, Cinder Well, Jozef von Wissem.
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The Hempolics return with A Fistful of Covers, a brand-new singles project produced and mixed by Grippa Laybourne and released on ZeeZee Records. This three-track series sees the band reworking some of their favourite songs as a tribute to timeless music, each paired with a signature dub version. All tracks are sung by original Hempolics lead singer Harry Collier, whose distinctive, moving, soulful voice brings a unique warmth and emotion to each reinterpretation.
Leading the release a few weeks back is a reggae-infused take on “No Ordinary Love” by Sade, flipped into a deep, bass-heavy groove. The smooth, emotive tones of the original shine in a fresh arrangement, now carrying a moving, upbeat Rub-a-Dub reggae flow. The second offering pays tribute to one of the band’s favourite artists, Shuggie Otis, with their version of “Aht Uh Mi Hed,” reimagined with a soulful, jazz-tinged reggae feel, driven by a four-to-the-floor rhythm and accompanied by a dub.
Rounding things off is “Nothing More To Say,” inspired by one of their favourite New York bands, The Frightners. It’s reworked with an upbeat, summer-ready Hempolics twist, complete with vibrant horns and feel-good energy. With A Fistful of Covers, they tap into nostalgia while delivering something fresh for selectors and new listeners alike, continuing to push boundaries while staying rooted in organic, analog warmth through their fusion of reggae, dub, soul and beyond.
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Alt-grunge solo artist Tender Claws shares the evocative new single ‘Twinge’ (July 1st) - a powerful and emotionally charged gut-punch that offers another compelling glimpse into her highly anticipated debut EP, Tear Him To Pieces, due for release on 7th August. Tender Claws, the stage moniker of Belfast-born artist Tess Corr, is an independent musician now based in the North West of England, draws inspiration from gothic aesthetics, introspective storytelling, and the darker facets of both nature and the human experience.
Across her material, Tender Claws crafts a sound that is as gritty and punchy as it is ethereal, alluring, and distinctly otherworldly. Blending fuzzy alt-grunge textures with expansive production, her music explores themes of escapism, vulnerability, and transformation, creating immersive worlds that feel both hauntingly familiar and beautifully untethered from reality.
The new single ‘Twinge’ (produced by Ben Harper - The Mysterines, The Zutons, Sister Sledge, Luvcat, The Luka State, The Kairos, Toy Car, and The Sherlocks) embodies this approach, combining a fuzz-soaked bassline, relentless drums, and a wall of guitars to generate a palpable sense of urgency, offset by shimmering synth flourishes and atmospheric depth. Anchored by Corr’s melodic, instantly catchy vocal delivery, the track carries a cathartic emotional weight that makes it both resonant and accessible while remaining true to its alternative-rock core.
Talking about the track, Tender Claws explains: “I wanted to write an upbeat, in-your-face song to, ironically, have some fun while processing the feelings stemming from a relationship that I had really hoped would develop into something more, ending quite abruptly. It left me quite devastated at the time. Despite things not going the way I wanted, I felt some freedom from being ‘released’ from a connection that was making me feel anxious and small in a way. When we play this one live, I don’t play guitar for a change, which gives me the freedom to move more on stage, which is a nice parallel to the message of the song. Dance away the heartache as Roxy Music once said!”
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"Yearbook," is the new single from CR & The White Lights, out today. It's the final preview of their forthcoming album, My Old Self, due July 17 via Magic Door Records. An earnest alt-country meditation on memory and the passage of time, "Yearbook" reflects on the people who once seemed destined to remain part of our lives—and the quiet realization that many have faded into the distance.
The song was inspired by an evening at CR's wife's childhood home, where she and her sister were flipping through old yearbooks. Watching them revisit old classmates and memories prompted CR to reflect on his own past, the friendships and relationships that once felt permanent, and the many people he hasn't seen or spoken to in years. Created by CR entirely from found footage sourced from the Internet Archive, I love the way the accompanying music video balances heartfelt nostalgia with understated humor.
Filled with blistering guitars, shimmering pedal steel, and hard-earned heartbreak, My Old Self showcases the band's blend of classic country storytelling and roots-rock energy.
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