Saint Etienne x Confidence Man - WHITEHORSE - Kai Korven - bat zoo

Photo - Rob Baker Ashton

Saint Etienne x Confidence Man - Brand New Me.

When two cult favorites come head-to-head to record a single together, you'd expect the results to be special - but "Brand New Me" is so much more than the sum of its parts. It's a pumped-up cartoon of a pop record with hooks for days and the latest single to be taken from their forthcoming, and last, album, International, out this Friday, September 5 on Heavenly Recordings.

Saint Etienne first met their Heavenly label mates Confidence Man at Kite Festival back in 2022, and it was love at first sight. Confidence Man had been weaned on a diet of Saint Etienne and Vegemite whilst growing up in Australia, while Saint Etienne were genuinely dazzled by Confidence Man's shiny, new, exciting cocktail of electro-pop hedonism. Plans were instantly hatched to work together, and the result is "Brand New Me".

Sarah Cracknell and Janet Planet’s voices are a natural pairing, and when Sarah steps in for the spoken word parts, "Brand New Me" begins to feel like the lovechild "Nothing Can Stop Us" always hinted at.

Talking about the collaboration, Sarah of Saint Etienne said: I got a message from Danny Mitchell at Heavenly Recordings, Saint Etienne’s spiritual home, about an Australian band they had signed called Confidence Man. Danny told me they were fans of our music and would love to meet and chat about a potential collaboration. We met backstage at a festival and immediately hit it off, kindred spirits! Making 'Brand New Me’ was a lot of fun and I think it’s a perfect mash up of both our band’s styles.

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WHITEHORSE - Red Riptide.

WHITEHORSE is the new band from Thomas Haywood, the former frontman of The Blinders. Their new single ‘Red Riptide’  is out now, watch the video below. Riven with urgency, with guitar licks like knives being unsheathed, dexterous basslines, scampering drums and a vocal that simmers, broods and reaches crescendo. It’s about being completely clear-headed and in a place of certainty in your mind, and the rushing feeling of violence that comes with determination when you’re cutting through the chaos and staying true to a vision you’re so certain of.

Formed in Sheffield in late 2024 by Haywood alongside Bobby Bouché, John McCullagh & Nathan Keeble, and James Keith. The light of experience has meant a rapid start to what has quickly been established as an exciting outfit fronted by profound lyrical songcraft and a trademark performative ability.

From their debut single ‘Doesn’t Come Close’, WHITEHORSE immediately caught the attention of BBC Introducing Sheffield, who quickly spotlighted the band with airplay and a festival slot. This momentum followed a run of sold-out one-off shows and a dry run of UK dates in March 2024. Their sound blends delicacy with visceral power, channelling “swirls of feeling” through poetic lyricism and vivid imagery, then forward rolling into simple explosive streams of a song.

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Photo - Cate Oxford

Kai Korven - Bug on Head.

Toronto composer, songwriter, and producer Kai Korven invites listeners into a whimsical, heartfelt world with his new single, "Bug on Head." Playful, dynamic, and elating, the track blends indie pop and folk sensibilities with theatrical storytelling, capturing the warmth of friendship and the joy of creative collaboration.

"'Bug on Head' is really about the voices of my friends," Korven explains. "This is by far the song I've collaborated with the most people on, and the depth of light and joy that comes from their voices is really present in the track. It feels like a burst of light – like everybody's invited to join in! Look at us!"

The song emerged from a melody Korven heard in the spring of 2024, influenced by his immersion in Irish jigs and reels. From the line I had a fever dream about a bug, the whimsical narrative took flight, evolving into an allegorical tale that reflects on emotional mechanisms and codependent relationships with humor, warmth, and honesty.

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bat zoo - The Upward Bird (EP).

Emerging artist bat zoo unveils his long-awaited debut EP The Upward Bird, a six-track meditation on memory, vulnerability, and transformation. Blending R&B, soul, folk, and experimental electronic textures, the project captures the full range of bat zoo’s artistry - emotional, cinematic, and unapologetically human.

“This EP is me learning to hold chaos and beauty at the same time. Each song was born in solitude, but they all point to connection—ancestral, romantic, or cosmic. The Upward Bird is about shedding, rising, and finding light in the mess.” - bat zoo.

From ancestral reflections to cathartic explosions, The Upward Bird is as much a personal diary as it is a universal soundtrack to growth.

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Whitehorse - Basement Revolver - The William Shakes

Whitehorse - Nighthawks.

Background - Retro psychedelic pop bubbles up on “Nighthawks,” a new song out now from Panther In The Dollhouse that questions the constructs of perpetrator and victim on the streets. “Nighthawks” is a companion piece to the slow-burner “Evangelina,” (from the album Leave No Bridge Unburned), in which the namesake character is a sex worker superhero, in celebration of those who challenged Canada’s prostitution laws at the Supreme Court of Canada in 2013.

As genre chameleons, Whitehorse's brazen sonic breadth encompasses a driving Americana image with psychedelic surf, arid border rock, lo-fi ingenuity and icy 80's sparseness. Panther In The Dollhouse brings another twist to Whitehorse’s studio approach with the addition of NYC hip-hop production duo Like Minds (Kanye West, Snoop Dogg), as well as the return of Gus Van Go and Werner F as producers/engineers.

“Nighthawks” (recently performed live in a 5-star Minneapolis diner of the same name) is one example of Panther In The Dollhouse’s deep dive into body politics. Throughout the album, Whitehorse explore issues of consent, self-determination and, ultimately, freedom, largely from the perspective of women. Alongside “Boys Like You,” the grindhouse ballad of “Die Alone” and the peroxide burn of “Trophy Wife,” Panther In The Dollhouse paints a conflicted picture of domesticity and adulthood. Seedy, slinky and suggestive, the characters that populate Panther In The Dollhouse do what they can, what they must and – often – what they really shouldn’t (but can’t resist).   

In their six years, Whitehorse has been known as a folk duo, a neo-noir Americana outfit, and as live looping mad scientists. Now, Whitehorse lets loose with a brand new full band, on glorious display in Part 1 of their CBC's First Play Live session. See "Nighthawks," "Evangelina" (never before performed live) and other songs here. 

Whitehorse have also just been announced to perform as part of the upcoming Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame induction of Neil Young, Bruce Cockburn and others. Further details of Whitehorse’s role in this ceremony will be released soon. Panther In The Dollhouse will be released to the UK August 4th, 2017. Website here, Facebook here.

There's an addictive feel right from the start on 'Nighthawks' a rhythmic, melodic and psychedelic pop song. The shades and shadows on the video add additional atmosphere to this brooding piece.


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Basement Revolver - Johnny Pt. 2.

Background from Basement Revolver - 'Johnny Pt. 2' follows last year's EP and debut single 'Johnny'. This new track continues the story. Johnny Pt. 2 was written almost directly after I broke up with “Johnny” - it was the heartbreak caused by an end, the wish that I could have been better, and the desire to continue a friendship.

When a friendship wasn't possible, I wanted them to know that heartbreak or not, I would be there if needed - I would put aside all the things that broke our relationship and the things that gave me identity for a chance at friendship. In hindsight, I have since learned a lot about myself, and that I don't need to disappear in order to have people that I care about in life.

The song comes from our forthcoming second EP 'Agatha' out this July 21st on Yellow K Records in the US and fear of missing out in Europe. Facebook here.

Having been bowled over by last years debut single 'Johnny', the arrival of 'Johnny Pt. 2' has expectations set high. The story may continue however this is no copycat piece. The song is alt rock with the vocals carrying the melody and the music adding depth. The band have a distinct sound, they can also pen and perform to a consistently high standard.

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The William Shakes - Leaden Messengers.

Background - The William Shakes Share New Video For "Leaden Messengers" Off Their Debut EP How Goes The Night? The William Shakes is as much a concept project as it is a band. Written, produced, and fronted by Mark McGettrick, The William Shakes decontextualizes Shakespearean prose to the tune of alternative indie pop. The debut release How Goes The Night? EP explores five Shakespearean characters: Banquo (MacBeth), Helena (All’s Well That Ends Well), Horatio (Hamlet), Cordelia (King Lear), and Cassius (Julius Caesar). 

Inspired by David Bowie’s use of the “cut-up” technique for writing lyrics, McGettrick thought it would be fun to test the method on Shakespeare’s words and characters. His “cut-up” process was as follows: Select the character, Isolate their lines, Randomize their lines, Curate into new lyrics, and Compose an original melody. The songs were originally conceived as an acoustic project for the February 2016 RPM Challenge, but he quickly realized they needed the weighty production of a full band.

The William Shakes have now released a new music video for "Leaden Messengers," the second single off their How Goes The Night? EP. The track kicks off with a Hives-inspired drum beat, but interestingly retains the cadence of Shakespeare's prose throughout. "Leaden Messengers" is based on the words of Helena, the protagonist of Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well. Lyrically, it explores the feeling of wanting to profess your love for someone, but not being able to find the right words; words are the metaphorical leaden messengers.

Completely self-composed and produced, Mark proudly performs guitar, bass VI, bass, percussion, and vocals throughout the How Goes The Night? EP. It also features musical collaborations with New York, Boston, and Los Angeles artists Carrie Ingber, Rob Sistare, Matt Diekmann, and Jason Dunn. Website here, Facebook here.

'Leaden Messengers' is the second song we have featured by The William Shakes. Vocals are a focal point, however the band ensure the music is crisp and energised and round the song off with some fine harmonies.


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