Waterpistol - Navisha - Pam Ross - Howling Bells - Sister Madds - Ava Claire

Photo - Patrick Starsky Thomas

Waterpistol - Felin.

Recently awarded BBC Horizons’ 2026 Launchpad Fund - in partnership with BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council Wales - Waterpistol return with their first release of 2026, ‘Felin’. Combining the guitar textures of ‘90s shoegaze with golden age rock ‘n’ roll, South Wales-based psych-rock ‘n’ rollers Waterpistol have been firmly set on embodying their influences in The 'Brian Jonestown Massacre', 'The La’s' and Liverpool cult favourites 'Shack' with previous singles “Shotgun” - which received airplay across BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales and Amazing Radio - and October 2024 single “Où est ton âme?” which saw the six-piece playlisted by DIY Magazine.

Formed in late 2022, the band played their first show together in April 2023 as support for CVC’s sold-out hometown show. Festival season followed in quick succession, and soon enough the band had several noteworthy appearances under their belt: FOCUS Wales, Green Man, Sŵn Festival and In It Together Festival.

This new venture with ‘Felin’ touches on the highs and lows of the creative process, the first glimpse of a wider collection of material already taking shape behind the scenes.

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Photo - Jenna-Elson

Navisha - You.

Driven by a warm, intoxicating and upbeat groove, Boorloo-based soul/funk singer-songwriter Navisha returns with ‘You’ this weekend. Wrapped in rhythm and sensual tension, the track leans into desire, temptation, and passion. A WAAPA graduate, 19 year old Navisha has become recognised for songwriting that balances raw heartbreaking ballads and feel-good rhythms. Her previous independent releases, including ‘See Through’, reached #12 on local charts and established her presence in the Western Australian music scene alongside her headline shows throughout 2025.

‘You’ centres on the theme of intimacy, young love and lived moments. The song explores the process of finding oneself through closeness and capturing affection as something felt rather than announced. In contrast to her earlier releases, the track leans into funk-influenced grooves, allowing rhythm to carry the emotional weight. Navisha’s velvety voice remains the central piece. Navisha shares:

“I wrote ‘You’ following the journey of finding myself when I realised I was in love as a teenager, which I think we can all agree makes you blind to anything else happening around you. Carefree with only one thing on my mind, the energy of the song plays on that exact sentiment - forgetting about everything else and just being immersed in the moment, and just Dance or Groove, or whatever makes your body feel good. The goal was to create a song that you can’t get out of your head, the same way you can’t get that person off your mind when you’re in love."

Navisha · You

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Pam Ross - Outside The Box (Album).

Americana music fans have reason to celebrate this weekend, as award-winning singer-songwriter Pam Ross delivers a double dose of new music with the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album, Outside The Box, and her uplifting new single, “Say It Two Times,” both arriving February 13th.

“Say It Two Times” showcases Ross’ signature blend of heartfelt storytelling and infectious, feel-good country energy. Written as a joyful tribute to love’s power to transform everyday life, the song captures the warmth of shared routines, family moments, and the reassurance that comes from hearing those three powerful words more than once.

“I wanted to write a happy love song about realizing how someone has changed your life and made it better,” Ross explains. “It’s about appreciating what you’ve got and recognizing how good things really are. I just wanted an upbeat, happy song. It was originally meant for my first album, but I decided to do some lyrical rewriting at the last minute and held onto it until it felt just right.”

The new single is featured on Ross’ second full-length album, Outside The Box, a seven-song collection that highlights her growth as both a songwriter and artist. The album blends contemporary country, storytelling-driven ballads, and upbeat anthems that reflect Ross’ authenticity and creative independence.


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Howling Bells - Strange Life (Album).

Howling Bells have released their acclaimed new album, ‘Strange Life’, via Nude Records. The UK-based Australian band’s first LP in 12 years, its release is accompanied by a new video for album track 'Sweet Relief'. The trio, comprising Juanita Stein (vocals, guitar), Joel Stein (guitar) and Glenn Moule (drums), will celebrate the LP release with a stripped-back set at Rough Trade Denmark Street this evening, with further in-store shows throughout the week. They subsequently embark on a full UK headline tour in March and April. Full tour dates are listed below.
 
Says Juanita Stein of the newly released song, “Sweet Relief’ is a song about a friend of ours who has suffered with addiction issues. It’s about finding coping mechanisms for whatever struggles and challenges life may throw your way. Also, it’s a note to self, to remain empathic for anyone who might be struggling with this. After all, none of us is immune to life’s extreme shades. Some of us are just more equipped to respond.”  On the album, she explains, “In the decade or so between our last album and now we have lived multiple lives. Starting families, working other jobs, forging new communities and experiencing huge loss. All these experiences have gifted us shades and colours to create new musical canvases. Strange Life has been a decade in the making. In this time we’ve sat quietly and watched as the world around us has shifted dramatically. A wild and fast-paced carousel of music, art and politics has taken our breath away. Yet, we have remained curiously ambitious and stalwart in our commitment to our art and our sound. Strange Life is a testament to all of this.” 

Since their beginnings, breaking through with their acclaimed self-titled debut back in 2006 amidst a landscape of scrappy British indie and skinny-jeaned male dominance, the Australian trio - vocalist/guitarist Juanita Stein, her brother and guitarist Joel Stein and drummer Glenn Moule - have been something of an anomaly. They might have moved to the other side of the world in pursuit of the dreams that soon became a reality, playing at an NME Tour and then in stadiums supporting Coldplay whilst whipping up acclaim from the most credible ends of the music press. They may have seen various members come and go, but Howling Bells’ hypnotic indie rock always stood apart from the pack and was very much a reflection of their unbreakable union. Influenced by the likes of Tom Waits and Sonic Youth, as well as Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, and Björk, their recipe created a heady, immersive stew - equal parts sepia-toned romance and gritty rock 'n' roll thrills.


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Photo - Rosie Sco

Sister Madds - Table Manners.

Glasgow 5 piece Sister Madds announce their debut EP Are you Hungry? (Feb 27th) and share the vibrant new single ‘Table Manners’ out now. Sitting somewhere between the fizzing edge of alt-rock and the hooks of pop-rock, the band blend late-00s songwriting influences (think Lily Allen and Kate Nash) with hard-hitting, punk-esque musicianship. The result is a bold, bratty and fierce sound, drawing comparisons to The Beaches and No Doubt, with flashes of Alvvays and Wet Leg. Known for their boisterous live shows packed with energy, charm and a touch of chaos, Sister Madds have firmly established themselves as a force within the Scottish music scene.

Produced by Jamie Holmes (Hayley Kiyoko, Lucia and the Best Boys, Gerry Cinnamon, Bully), ‘Table Manners’ captures the band at their most confident — all punchy, glam-rock-tinged guitars and irresistibly catchy, vibrant lead vocals. It’s fun, pointed and packed with the sharp energy that defines Sister Madds’ sound.

Speaking about the single, the band explain: “Table Manners' is a tongue-in-cheek tune that uses the idea of food etiquette as a metaphor to talk about modern day relationships. It's a witty take on modern-day online dating. More and more, there's a growing lack of humanity in the dating world, and people have endless 'options,' which makes the environment pretty hard to navigate. This song doesn't hold back, calling out bad manners in the world of love and saying what we really think.”

SISTER MADDS · Table Manners

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Ava Claire - Salt Mine.

Singer-songwriter Ava Claire releases her new single, “Salt Mine,” out now. Solely written by Ava herself, this vulnerable, introspective ballad traces the evolution of a young woman moving from simply existing in circumstances to fully embracing her destined path.

“I was at a transition of sorts in my life. I was 16, starting to apply to colleges, graduating high school early, writing constantly, and playing as many gigs as I could book. One particularly stressful day, I just looked around and asked myself, 'What am I doing?' 'Would I be happier on another path?' 'Should I move to Montana and write songs in a cabin in the woods?' Salt Mine was born in that moment,” Ava shares.
 
Ava Claire has been a storyteller since she first set poems to music at age eight. After teaching herself guitar via YouTube and making her Music Row debut at the iconic Bobby's Idle Hour at just 11, she has spent the last decade carving out a space for herself in the heart of Music City.

“Salt Mine” showcases Ava Claire's ability to craft music that tells stories while connecting hearts, offering a song that is both a reflection and a rallying cry for anyone seeking their own path.

Ava Claire · Salt Mine

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Konradsen - Howling Bells - Tyce Delk & Trinity Lake - Dani Ivory

Photo - Marthe Thu

Konradsen - Efficiency (feat. Beharie).

Northern Norwegian duo Konradsen - the project of Jenny Marie Sabel and Eirik Vildgren - just released their new single ‘Efficiency’, alongside an animated visual by Jacob Grönbech Jensen (Kelly Lee Owens, Prins Thomas). Arriving shortly after their recent collaboration with Gia Margaret, 'Nick of Time', the track provides a second glimpse of a new body of work expected later this year. Konradsen will mark the beginning of this new chapter with a special show at Oslo's MUNCH Museum on 10th April.

Written while the duo were also composing for a short film rooted in Jenny’s home village Storfjord, ‘Efficiency’ grew out of a request for something “slightly souly” in 6/8 - inspired by jazz singer Solveig Slettahjell’s version of ‘Borrowed Time’ by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The song ultimately wasn’t used in the film, but the constraint proved pivotal, pushing Konradsen into a register they might not have explored otherwise.

Produced with Hans Olav Settem and Marith Othilie Thorvik, ‘Efficiency’ features guest vocals from Norwegian singer-songwriter Beharie. Set against softly strummed guitars, sparing strings and unhurried percussion, his expressive delivery deepens the song’s emotional centre: a portrait of love that persists through routine rather than drama:

"'Efficiency' portrays a kind of love that isn’t always immediate or all-consuming, but one that endures nonetheless — a relationship where time, patience, and a willingness to see the beauty in each other’s imperfections are essential. It touches on a phase many people recognize: when the distance between two people can feel greater than before, yet the bond remains strong." 

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Photo - Orlando Cubitt

Howling Bells - Melbourne.

UK-based Australian trio Howling Bells has just released their latest single 'Melbourne', marking the final release before the arrival of 'Strange Life', their first album in over 12 years, on 13th February.
 
Juanita explains: "Melbourne is a song about deep yearning and ultimately grief. It explores a unique inner conflict many of us feel when we leave our homes and families to start anew somewhere else. This aching can be especially intense when we’re faced with something traumatic and all we want is the safety and warm embrace of the familiar. I experienced a heightened version of this when I returned to Melbourne a few years ago to play some shows, having not been back for a while. 

It felt slightly surreal and tragic being there without any family to share this with, as they had also left Australia over the years. Then, within 24 hours of touchdown, I got a call from a hospital in England telling me that my father, who was ill, had taken a turn for the worse, and so I had to pack up and return to the UK before I’d even played a show. It was brutal. I felt a thousand things that day, from the physical weight of having to lug around 2 huge suitcases full of merch I was planning to unload, to sitting alone in tears at the airport in Singapore during the layover. 

All these experiences left me with a deep well of sadness and a longing to return to my homeland to find what it is I’d now lost forever. This is something I carry around with me every day. All it takes is the glimmer of the sun at a certain time of day, or the occasional scent of an eucalyptus tree, or the sharp twinge of nostalgia when I hear the melody of a particular song, to remind me of the sadness and beauty that is now my Australia".

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Photo -  Josef Lloyd

Tyce Delk & Trinity Lake - Adaline.

Rising country star Tyce Delk shared a special duet version of his streaming hit “Adaline” with Oklahoma country-pop artist Trinity Lake. Her soulful vocals complement the blues-infected country ballad, which surpassed 1 million streams in under a week and currently sits at over 23 million U.S. streams to date (Luminate). “Being able to give 'Adaline' another life as a duet has been awesome,” shares Delk. “Trinity added another level to this song that it needed, couldn’t have thought of a better person for it. Thankful she was up for it!” 

Lake adds: “I’ve been such a fan of Tyce and this song since he first started promoting it on social media. It’s been so cool getting to know Tyce on a personal level, and I’m super grateful he asked me to be a part of this reimagined version!” 

Late last year, Delk released his debut EP Enough Ain’t Enough to praise from MusicRow, Country Central and Holler, who exclaimed, “The second you hear [Tyce] stretch out and land that opening ‘Baby’ on his debut single, ‘Adaline,’ he blows every other country singer around out of the water. His voice has a depth and power and an ability to lift a song up and send it somewhere otherworldly that few other singers in modern-day country music have.” Grounded in Delk’s Red Dirt New Mexico roots with Western swing touches and radio-ready hooks, the EP paired high-energy country stompers with tender ballads that showcased his rich, emotive voice.

A fourth-generation farmer, rancher and musician, Delk's soulful storytelling springs from a lifetime of wide-open skies and family heritage. Growing up amidst the rhythms of crops and cattle, and the melodies of swing-era music passed down through generations, Tyce’s artistic identity is steeped in generational legacy.

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Dani Ivory - Anymore.

Dani Ivory’s new single “Anymore” arrives with quiet intensity, capturing the moment when clarity finally cuts through confusion. Built around a rich piano line and unflinching vocal performance, the track unfolds like a confession, turning heartbreak into resolve. It’s tinged with folky, Americana-esque guitar textures, seamlessly blended with soul and pop elements, giving the song a warm, grounded feel without losing its modern edge.

The song centers on reclaiming autonomy and spirit after emotional control, with Ivory delivering lines that feel lived-in and resolute: “When I had a hunch you were creepin’ behind closed doors / I’m not yours / No, no, no, no / I’m not yours anymore.” Rather than dramatizing the breakup, Ivory leans into restraint, allowing honesty to do the heavy lifting.

Ivory shares, “I wrote ‘Anymore’ after leaving someone who mistook control for love. It’s about waking up from the fog of infatuation and excuses and realizing you’re done letting someone else’s insecurity cage you. It’s a reluctant release — part mourning, part reckoning — and ultimately a return to my true self. Even when you know it’s good for you, letting go can still hurt.”

That release shows up in the song’s smallest victories — the freedom to exist without fear or expectation: “When I step out on the street, I can be who I want to be / Makeup-free in my faded, beat-up jeans / ’Cause I ain’t got no one threatenin’ to leave.” Ivory also reflects on the future she once imagined, now left behind: “You had my heart beatin’ and even wedding dreamin’ / Until the sweetness turned sour.”

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Anna Smyrk - ZOCO - Howling Bells - TCBYML

Photo - Michelle Grace Hunder

Anna Smyrk - This is a Drill.

Naarm/Melbourne based singer-songwriter Anna Smyrk shares a poignant moment of catharsis with new single ‘This is a Drill’. The impressive indie-folk offering arrives along with news of a debut album on the way.  Spectacular Denial with be out on the 20th of March via Community Music 

Written in the wake of her father’s passing, ‘This is a Drill’ is born from the unrelenting impact of grief. The track moves from a quiet ache to a raw emotional unravelling, echoing the unpredictable ways that the pain of loss can take hold. Sharing more, Anna explained: “This is a Drill is a song about not being ready to feel my feelings. It’s about the strange, foggy state of denial, where everything feels a little unreal, like normal life is happening on the other side of a heavy curtain, like each day is a drill for the real thing.”

Arriving as a striking, indie folk slow-burner, courageously honest lyricism carries a tender reminder of the ways we cope or don’t when life cracks open. It’s both a whisper and a wail, a confession and a release. Produced and mixed by Anna Laverty (Courtney Barnett, Nick Cave), 'This Is a Drill' captures the suspended, dreamlike space between shock and acceptance. 

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ZOCO - Searching.

Following their debut singles “Restless” and “Diamond In The Rough,” ZOCO the international rock project founded by multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter Marco Zocco returns with “Searching.”  A wistful, yet cathartic anthem, “Searching” explores universal yearning for fulfillment, reflecting on trust issues, doubts about satisfaction, and the complexity of dreams and aspirations. “Searching” serves as the latest offering from ZOCO’s upcoming debut EP LUMANISTA (Part 1), a collaborative project with distinguished rock players, due January 9, 2026. 

Marco’s gritty vocals deliver his conversational songwriting which convey the philosophical pondering, desperation and frustration of an age old question: will we ever find satisfaction. In “Searching”, ZOCO explores both the excitement of coming across something promising and the worry that it will not be in the future, leading the loop we all feel at times “will I ever find something perfect for me? Something perfect for both now and the future? Is such a hope doomed to delusion? Written in ambiguous terms, this could relate to anything the listener is “Searching through” as the chorus sings, whether romantic, spiritual, financial or other. 

However, this contrasts with brighter production elements and captivating guitar riffs, giving the song a steady pace and hopeful undertones and suggesting that time can heal these wounds. Like “Restless” and “Diamond In The Rough,” “Searching” also highlights ZOCO’s intelligent and thought-provoking songwriting paired with top-notch production and musicianship. The upcoming LUMANISTA EP comes to life with the help of some high-profile collaborators–production by Gunnar Nelson (Nelson), executive production by Kerry Brown (Smashing Pumpkins) and co-production by Jake Pace and Carmine Rojas (David Bowie, Rod Stewart). 

ZOCO · Searching

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Photo - Orlando Cubitt

Howling Bells - Chimera.

Howling Bells have recently announced the release of 'Strange Life', their first album in over 12 years, on the 13th February 2026 via Nude Records. Ahead of this they have now released another single 'Chimera.'

Since their beginnings, breaking through with their acclaimed self-titled debut back in 2006 amidst a landscape of scrappy British indie and skinny-jeaned male dominance, the Australian trio - vocalist/guitarist Juanita Stein, her brother and guitarist Joel Stein and drummer Glenn Moule - have been something of an anomaly. They might have moved to the other side of the world in pursuit of the dreams that soon became a reality, playing at an NME Tour and then in stadiums supporting Coldplay whilst whipping up acclaim from the most credible ends of the music press. They may have seen various members come and go, but Howling Bells’ hypnotic indie rock always stood apart from the pack and was very much a reflection of their unbreakable union

Juanita explains: "Chimera is a strange word. It means a few different and curious things; in this context, however, I’m using it to mean something of an absurd nature, unattainable, a fantasy. Such is the relationship we have with music at times. This song speaks to my experience as a musician, surviving the perpetual ups and downs of the game. But if you’re lucky enough, you have someone who can cut through the noise and help you realise that the fantasy is half the joy. That the longing is part of the journey and that our achievements along the way are deeply meaningful. At its core, 'Chimera' is a song about hope and relinquishing control".

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TCBYML - Alt Songs (Compilation Album).

Alt Songs is the first TCBYML compilation to bring together everything that defines our current sound — a vibrant, uncompromising mix of indie, alternative, punk, and post-everything energy. Twelve bands, each distinct in tone and vision, yet bound by one shared truth: music that feels real. Featuring: Velcro Sunset · Moving Into Tucson · Song 1 · A Better Place · Death Sells · Uitwaaien · Amber Hotel · Public Divide · The Indie Pea · June Rest · Sun Is Out · Shiverfield.

From the melodic rush of Moving Into Tucson and the cinematic pulse of Amber Hotel, to the lo-fi storms of A Better Place and the hardcore intensity of Uitwaaien — this collection never sits still. It drifts through the wistful haze of Velcro Sunset, the fierce pulse of Death Sells, and the jagged charm of Song 1. It swells with the orchestral glow of The Indie Pea, the sharp hooks of June Rest, and the sunlit shimmer of Sun Is Out. Add the tense explosions of Shiverfield and the razor-edged urgency of Public Divide, and you get a portrait of where alternative music lives right now. This collection captures a moment in motion. — raw, restless, and utterly alive. The moment a label stopped curating genres and started following its gut.

Over the years, TCBYML has evolved from a broad platform into something much more personal — a close-knit community of artists who don’t just share a roster, but a belief: that sincerity beats polish, that imperfection can be power, and that a great song still matters more than anything. Alt Songs isn’t just a playlist, it’s a pulse — the collective heartbeat of a label rediscovering what it truly loves. Each track is a chapter in that rediscovery: fierce, melodic, restless, and alive.

TCBYML · Various Artists - TCBYML presents Alt Songs

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Pebbledash - The Melody Chamber - Vendredi sur Mer - Hélène Barbier - Howling Bells - Jesca Hoop

Photo - Emily Cardona

Pebbledash - O, The Wind.

Just ahead of the anticipated upcoming EP To Cast the Sea in Concrete (5th November), Cork risers Pebbledash share the haunting indie-folk sweller ‘O, The Wind’. Following the bands sync on the new Netflix series House Of Guiness, ‘O, The Wind’ showcases the blend of traditional Irish folk, shoegaze and post-punk that has seen Pebbledash so widely acclaimed. Led by the haunting vocals of Asha Egan McCutcheon, the track unfolds into an ethereal, dark and emotionally affecting soundscape, intertwining biting, fingerpicked electric guitar with atmospheric swells of strings and synth, warm bass lines, and driving, shuffling drums. The result drifts effortlessly between genres, enveloped in a beautiful haze of reverberated echoes and subtle field recordings.

Speaking about the track, Cormac Donovan O’Neill explains – “I think we all felt that this song represented a major departure for Pebbledash in terms of the barriers of genre we were willing to cross. 

The track’s opening section foregrounds the emotional tumult of Asha’s lyrics exploring isolation in an urban landscape and the surrealism evoked by this floating through time, delivered in the ornamented manner of a traditional sean nós tune accompanied only by soft wheeze of air passing through a harmonium’s body and Fionnbharr’s spare guitar figure. But from there, we wanted the bass and drums to carry Asha’s stark lyricism atop an off-kilter groove more akin to the likes of DJ Shadow or Portishead, propelling the listener in unforeseen directions before the song returns home in its final moments, the vocal standing alone amidst a landscape of Terry Riley-esque arpeggios and eerie sampled vocals. 

We were incredibly excited to share this song as a statement of our development, attesting to the outer reaches of our sound we sought to explore in recording this EP.”

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The Melody Chamber - 1+1.

Richmond, Virginia's The Melody Chamber, a southern gothic new romantic jangle-pop band have just released their third single "1 + 1."  The third single is the perfect blend of Psychedelic Furs meets early R.E.M.. The band came together by happenstance with Wallace Dietz of Silent Boys fame working in the same studio as Dan-O Deckelman and him walking by and hearing a song from another studio and striking up a conversation. 

Dan-O coming from a hardcore and metal background was working on a very Elvis Costello pop track invited Wallace to collaborate and the two just gelled quickly and the songs started to pour out. (There are multiple album already written from what I hear).

The self-titled debut album is out on November 7th, 2025 from HHBTM Records (USA) on vinyl and Too Good To Be True (Europe) on vinyl and CD.

HHBTM Records · 1+1 -The Melody Chamber

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Vendredi sur Mer - Si t’étais là.

Yesterday, Swiss’ Vendredi sur Mer released the single “Si t’étais là”, her first after her album Malabar Princess. The much lauded album includes “Arrêter le temps” featuring the pianist/composer Sofiane Pamart, “Malabar Princess”, “Hard” (feat. Hanni El Khatib) and “Tout résonne,” which are included in the upcoming album! Vendredi sur Mer will be supporting on stage during her 11-date American tour starting in March 2026, tour dates to be announced shortly!

The title track “Malabar Princess” sounds like a nostalgic ode to her native Switzerland and the Swiss Alps in particular. Malabar Princess marks a return to the softness and nostalgia of her early work, following a more combative phase. Born from a writing residency in Montréal, the album reflects her return to the mountains and a search for self. Sam Tiba and new collaborators Adrien Gallo and Owlle helped guide this evolution toward more organic, intimate sounds. Malabar Princess is a sincere, poetic album where the artist fully reveals herself, blending desire and truth. 

“Arrêter le temps” shows Vendredi sur Mer and the renowned French pianist/composer Sofiane Pamart bringing a touch of emotion, making this piano-voice duet a breath of fresh air on the album. Blending touching lyrics and a melancholic instrumental in perfect harmony, the track feels like an open letter, destined to resonate deeply with every listener.

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Photo -  Dominic Berthiaume & Delphine Snyers

Hélène Barbier - Kindness in a cup.

The new single, "Kindness in a Cup," is out now from Hélène Barbier's forthcoming 'Panorama.' The Montreal singer's latest full-length features Meg Duffy (Hand Habits) and showcases Barbier's charismatic and cool songwriting.

Panorama (from Bonsound and out in November), showcases a totally charismatic balance between intellectualism and nonchalance. Parallels may be drawn to Cate Le Bon though Barbier shifts between English and French over cool grooves and vines of guitar that wouldn't be out of place on a Television record. 

What Barbier does is distinct and enviable. It's rock music but it's made by someone who is clearly a consummate artist. Beneath the artful minimalism here there is a kind of maximal meaning and emotional charge that crystallizes with repeated listens. Now we have the pleasure of sharing the second single, "Kindness in a Cup" built around a hypnotic bass line, the track culminates with sublime violin arrangements, perfectly highlighting the singer and bassist'ss distinctive vocal patterns.

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Howling Bells - Heavy Lifting.

Howling Bells have announced 'Strange Life', their first album in over 12 years, will be released on the 13th February 2026 on Nude Records. Having recently released their comeback track 'Unbroken', a brooding yet soaring anthem, today they share 'Heavy Lifting', a song featuring loose-limbed drums and bluesy intonation as Juanita takes aim at the entitled and the opportunist.
 
She explains: "'Heavy Lifting' is a hazy and grunge-fuelled declaration. Like anyone who’s worked at the thing they love tirelessly, you build up great resilience. The callouses on your hands, the muscles you’ve strengthened, the swagger in your stride. 'Heavy Lifting' is a song about the thousands of miles you walk to acquire this kind of confidence; this is not anything that can be stripped away from you".
 
The single is accompanied by a video directed by Orlando Cubitt. Howling Bells will return to the stage for a very special full band sold-out show at the iconic Lock Tavern in Camden on 5th November, with more live dates to be announced soon.

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Jesca Hoop - Memories Are Now.

Ahead of tomorrow’s (24 October) release of her new reworks album, Jesca Hoop shares a new video for ‘Memories Are Now’. Tomorrow, California-born, Manchester-based singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop will release Selective Memory - a live, unplugged reworking of her acclaimed 2017 Memories Are Now (Sub Pop). Joining the cast of stripped back album versions for her first three releases, this new collection finds Hoop and her two bandmates, Chloe Foy and Rachel Rimmer, capturing the record in its entirety live in Hoop’s Manchester home.

Opening the door to an intimate performance space, Selective Memory shines a new light on one of Hoop’s most beloved albums. Raw and immediate in its delivery, the record brims with luminous harmonies, lyrical richness and unguarded emotion. It is sweet and bitter, fresh and raw, and very much of the moment.

Though a return to songs first written over a decade ago, Hoop notes their continued urgency: “Though I wrote these songs 12 years ago, strangely they feel so very relevant to me today. And the album ends in one hell of a protest song… if I do say so myself.”

Ahead of the album’s release, today she is sharing her new version of the album’s title track, ‘Memories Are Now.’ Stripped of its original production, this reimagining lets the song’s core message stand in sharp relief - a defiant declaration of autonomy and strength. As Hoop sings, "Clear the way. I'm coming through. No matter what you say, I've got work to be doing. If you're not here to help, go find some other life to ruin. Let me show you the door."

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The Happy Fits - Great Lakes - BirdBelly - Howling Bells

The Happy Fits - Lovesick (Album).

Indie/rock darlings The Happy Fits have released their anticipated new album Lovesick, which is available everywhere now. Their first full-length album in over three years, Lovesick arrives in the wake of an emotional maelstrom of events that turned the band’s world upside down in every way imaginable. Rather than let it break their stride, the quartet leaned into the turmoil, transforming all the heartbreak and uncertainty they experienced into their most exhilarating, adventurous, and cathartic record yet.

The band also shared their brand new music video for “Lovesick #1 (Misery),” a scathing kiss-off anthem that begins deceptively as a melancholic, heartsick ballad before exploding into an emphatic, rock-fueled scream-along. Frontman Calvin Langman stated, “‘Lovesick #1 (Misery)’ is probably the most accurate depiction of what it’s like for me when I become limerent for someone. I bask in the desperation. I become melodramatic over everything. I can’t sleep at night. There’s a great irony in how much I truly love how painful it all feels to not have something I want so badly. I am all the characters in the full album of ‘Lovesick’ but I am most like the one in ‘#1 (Misery).’”

“The making of the video was greatly inspired by teen rom-coms of the early 2000’s,” Langman continued. “We really wanted to play into troupes of that miserable, besotted feeling we can have when you love someone but it’s completely unrequited. So what do you do? Invite your best friends over to scream, dance, and thrash around your bedroom decorated in all of your favorite things. The set decorating was one of the best parts about making this video because I had a trunk filled with all of my teenage and childhood memories that we meticulously displayed all over the guest bedroom in my apartment, along with some amazing eBay and thrift store finds. 

In a sense it felt like healing some part of my youth because I could look at this collection of stuff, like my Paramore fan club card, old family photos, and talent show awards, and be so grateful for the things I was obsessed with at the time. We made sure to include every band member’s interests as well, like video games, old summer camp pennants, albums that impacted us as musicians, a lava lamp, and fun action figures all placed throughout the bedroom in an eye-spy like way. There’s a few Happy Fits easter eggs in there too if you keep your eyes peeled.”


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Great Lakes - Don't Swim Too Close.

The new single and title track from the upcoming Great Lakes album Don't Swim Too Close was released a couple of days back. Great Lakes is Ben Crum with an all star cast on this album which also features Sam Cohen (Kevin Morby), Jmes Richardson (MGMT), David Gould (Cardinal), and Kyle Forester (Woods). The album is out on November 7th, 2025 from HHBTM Records. 

Background on the song - "I wrote it while recovering from a severe concussion that left me depressed and questioning my future. I honestly didn't know if I was going to come back from it, and it scared me. Luckily, I did get better, and the song ended up being an ironically uplifting country/rock toe-tapper; with heavy lyrics ("I was feeling hopeless, but also helpless and alone / and more than a little dangerous to my soul") set to a groove reminiscent of Doug Sahm, Jerry Jeff Walker, or CCR". 

Over 25 years and eight records, Crum has built a reputation for sharp songwriting and interesting stylistic shifts. Don’t Swim Too Close is no exception, as Crum draws from a classic rock tradition, echoing both the Americana spirit of Neil Young and The Band and the proto-indie rock of Television and the Velvet Underground. 

HHBTM Records · Don't Swim Too Close

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Photo - Karly Ford

BirdBelly - Desert Khaki.

After Alberta-based singer/songwriter Cynthia Hamar unveiled her new identity BirdBelly last month with the single "Black Horses," this weekend she is sharing "Desert Khaki," the second preview of the debut BirdBelly album The Wind The Wood, set to be released on October, 17. Both songs are featured below.

"Desert Khaki" adds more atmospheric vibes to BirdBelly's stellar production values—imagine Stevie Nicks collaborating with The War On Drugs. As Cynthia describes, “'Desert Khaki' is a meditation on moving through a season of unknowns—on the pause, the quiet space we hold when the world is loud and divided. In that waiting, we can feel invisible and insignificant, like a pebble on the beach getting hammered by waves—hidden, yet still part of the whole. It’s about holding that space long enough to understand before we speak, so that when we finally answer, what comes out is love.”

BirdBelly marks the latest stage in Cynthia Hamar’s artistic evolution that began in her teens with homemade cassettes and later, two albums comprised of raw, personal folk-pop.


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Photo - David Titlow

Howling Bells - Unbroken.

Howling Bells return with their first new music in over a decade, a single, 'Unbroken', out now on Nude Records. A brooding yet soaring anthem, 'Unbroken' sees weighty guitars and sweeping melodic pay-offs wrap around singer Juanita Stein’s unmistakable voice, carrying lyrics full of dreamy persistence that still aim skywards: “Always been lost in a big dream”. As Stein says, “You can either call it childlike or stupidity, but you have to have that in order to believe that something greater can happen. Surviving as a band for over two decades requires extraordinary grit and, to some degree, irrationality. None of it really makes sense, except for the will and the love of the music itself. Unbroken is very much a testament to all of this.” 
 
The band’s first release since their 2014 album, ‘Heartstrings’, 'Unbroken' was recorded with Howling Bells’ long-time friend and collaborator, producer Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode, Elbow) at his Agricultural Audio Studios. The single comes with a performance video that sees Stein, her brother and guitarist Joel and drummer Glenn Moule reunited on stage once more.

'Unbroken' marks a powerful re-entry for a band that helped shape the mid-2000s alternative landscape. Formed in Sydney and relocated to London, Howling Bells first captured ears and imaginations with their self-titled debut in 2006 - a noir-rock classic that fused moody atmospheres with melodic bite. Influenced by the likes of Tom Waits and Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac and Bjork, their recipe created a heady, submersive stew - equal parts sepia-toned romance and gritty rock’n’roll thrills.  They continued to develop over three more albums - 2009’s ‘Radio Wars’, 2011’s ‘The Loudest Engine’ and 2014’s ‘Heartstrings’. 

There was no dramatic dissolution or even an announcement of an intended hiatus but, as Juanita explains, “life just happened”, and the Bells rang silent for a decade. In the interim, all have continued with various projects: Juanita releasing four acclaimed solo albums; Joel making music as Glassmaps, and both he and Glenn intermittently playing in Brandon Flowers’ solo band. Most crucially, all three also continued to be firm friends who always left the door open for more.

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