Indiepop legend Tammy Ealom of Dressy Bessy fame debuts the new solo project and single / video Junk Mail under the name The Tammy Shine.
On February 20, 2026, one of indie rock’s most enduring and vibrant figures will reintroduce herself to the world. Tammy Ealom, best known as the snarling frontwoman and creative force behind Denver’s legendary Dressy Bessy, presents her debut solo album The Tammy Shine, Ok Shine Ok. Released via Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records (HHBTM), the album marks a pivotal moment in Ealom’s three-decade career. Ok Shine Ok is the first time she has taken complete command—writing, performing, engineering, producing, and mixing the record entirely on her own.
The Tammy Shine presents a collection of songs that are as gritty as they are glossy, embodying the DIY ethos that has defined her life since childhood. Ealom’s songwriting on Ok Shine Ok is a masterclass in blending disparate genres, a skill she developed through her father’s eclectic record collection. Her first personal purchase was Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall, a polished masterpiece of pop production.
Seeing her enthusiasm, her father gifted her a stack of vinyl that included the album Hang On Sloopy by The McCoys. Perhaps the most compelling narrative of Ok Shine Ok is Tammy’s role as the technical architect of the album. In an industry where female artists are often assumed to be just the "voice" or the "face," she has quietly become a formidable studio engineer.
============================================================================
This week, The James Hunter Six shares the dreamy new single "Here And Now," arguably the most beautiful tune on the band's new album Off The Fence, which releases on January 16 with Easy Eye Sound. A moving song written for his wife, Jessie Perez Huntsman, "Here And Now" showcases Hunter's ability to conjure up his own musical atmospherics as a guitar player, with his lilting, evocative fretwork recalling the great instrumentalists of the ’60s.
James Hunter on the new single: "I first got talking to Jessie at a gig I was playing in New York. A year later she came to a show in Wilmington. We struck up a friendship, stayed in contact and had our first date in Jamaica, NY after I had played in New York with Van Morrison. She drove from her cousin's wedding in New Jersey to meet me, and we hung out for a couple of days before I had to fly home. She dropped me off at JFK, and I checked in while she looked for a parking spot. It took her a long time to find one, and the departure time was getting closer. With perfect timing, just as I was reluctantly making my way to the departure gate, she threw herself at me from behind in a frantic rugby tackle. We embraced, and I saw a tear in her eye. I told her I loved her, something I'd never done on a first date. And I've felt that way ever since. This song's about her."
British singer, songwriter and GRAMMY-nominated James Hunter has been a legendary fixture in the scene for over three decades, with MOJO dubbing him “The United Kingdom’s Greatest Soul Singer." His eleventh studio album delivers another dose of timeless rhythm & soul, marking 40 years since his recording debut. Featuring twelve self-penned gems, each song is delivered with Hunter’s customary blend of smooth vocal control coupled with heart-worn grit and wit. The band has already shared two singles, including the infectious blues blaster “A Sure Thing” and a rare duet with legendary Irish singer Van Morrison called "Ain't That A Trip."
============================================================================
Toronto indie pop artist ARK IDENTITY (Noah Mroueh) returns with "Falling Apart," a late-night anthem that captures the ache of modern heartbreak in the digital age. Built around a heartbeat-on-the-edge pulse, the track unfolds with hypnotic layers of synth, reverb-soaked guitar, and ARK IDENTITY's signature ethereal vocal delivery – a sonic mirror of what it feels like to come undone through a screen.
"We all experience heartbreak at least once in our lives," Noah shares. "The song's lyrics were inspired by modern-day breakups that mostly unfold through screens and text messages. In some ways, it's a reflection of how people can grow apart in the digital age."
Originally titled "On My Cell Phone," the song evolved into "Falling Apart" – a title that felt truer to its emotional weight. Recorded in a single session, the song came together almost effortlessly. "It just poured out," Noah explains. ""One of those rare days where every sound seems to find its place before you have time to overthink it. The rhythm section gives it a heartbeat-on-the-edge pulse that ties the whole track together."
The production choices were intentionally imperfect. The choruses carry a low rumble – almost like interference – that mirrors the experience of losing connection both literally and emotionally. "I didn't want it to sound too clean; heartbreak isn't clean," Noah adds. "It's messy, blurry, and human."
============================================================================
Melanie Crew and Ross Palmer - Some Other Stories (Album).
We are really pleased to feature Melanie Crew and Ross Palmer. They tell us "Music doesn’t need to raise its voice to be powerful" and describe their sound as "gently harmonised voices and palette of fingerpicked acoustic and shimmering electric guitars" This is musically everything they want to say, and I have to say it is absolutely gorgeous. Sometimes talent can excel quietly, this is a case in point!
Melanie and Ross began playing together when Melanie was bitten by the songwriting bug and began to play her songs live. Ross – also a songwriter and veteran of many folk and roots bands – sat in on guitar and started to sing some harmonies. Before they knew it, their personal partnership was also a musical partnership. Since then, they’ve released an EP, Away from the City, a debut album, Quiet After Midnight, and now Some Other Stories, their second full-length record as a duo.
Produced and largely recorded at their South London home, Some Other Stories contains 11 self-written songs and one arrangement of a traditional. Drawing on influences from Fairport Convention to Elliott Smith, it pushes the themes they explored on Quiet After Midnight into new territory. The songs contemplate the connections we make with each other and what happens when those connections break down. They examine the people we are and how we become those people. They look at the past with a kind eye and to the future with cautious optimism.
While handling the majority of instruments between themselves, Melanie and Ross brought in a team of exceptional players to add light and shade to their songs, including Adam Beattie and Colin Somervell on double bass, Basia Bartz on violin, Nick Frater on piano and Hammond organ, and Ben Handysides on cello. Ross’s Great Days of Sail bandmates Yo Zushi and Russell Parton also feature in the choir on the traditional ballad Our Captain Cried All Hands. Jon Clayton recorded some of these musicians, and Dave Milligan mastered the album. These wonderful people helped Melanie and Ross to tell their stories.
============================================================================
This is a sensitive and very touching song from The Promise who tell us "Love is hard. Despite the best efforts of the couple it doesn’t always work out. The grief may last a lifetime. This song is about reaching the final stages of that grief – when all that’s left is the last drop."
Artist Background - We are a folk rock indie band formed in 2025 to carry forward our collective love of music and of making music together.
Andrew Curran (songwriter and vocalist) is also a paediatric neurologist with 38 years experience working at the front line of the NHS. Flo, Julia and Aiden are rising stars in the folk scene in the South West (England) with numerous appearances throughout the region including Glastonbury festival. Noah and Fraser are established musician and producers in the Manchester area. Noah is also Andrew’s son.
============================================================================
Multi-instrumentalist, charting songwriter, and featured actor Scott Argiro, known musically as Argyro, releases his brand-new single and official music video “Lifeline” today Friday, December 5th. The song marks the final release of an exceptionally strong year for Argyro—one that has seen him expand his presence across music, film, and entertainment.
“Lifeline,” originally featured on Argyro’s acclaimed album Glitterati, stands out as one of his most emotionally resonant and lyrically urgent works. Built on themes of unity, compassion, and human connection, the track showcases Argyro’s hallmark multi-instrumental performance—drums, bass, keys, guitars, vocals—and his instinct for blending introspective songwriting with cinematic pop soundscapes. The accompanying music video, also premiering December 5th, visually amplifies the song’s message with a bold, heartfelt narrative that reflects the tension and hope embedded in the lyrics.
Argyro’s 2025 has been marked by continued chart accomplishments, with multiple tracks from Glitterati landing international airplay and streaming traction. His music’s blend of melodic pop, rhythmic pulse, and thoughtful lyricism has drawn comparisons to artists like John Mayer, Rob Thomas, and Chris Isaak, while firmly establishing Argyro as a standout voice with a sound all his own.
============================================================================
