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| Photo - Rob Baker Ashton |
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 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 |
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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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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