Noonzy - Patterson Hood - Astari Nite - WILDES and St Francis Hotel - Nature TV

Photo - Tone Verswijvel

Noonzy - Mama Mia.

Antwerp-based musician Arnaud Stockbroekx, professionally known as Noonzy, today shares "Mama Mia", the latest offering taken from his recently announced EP Puppies released March 28 via [PIAS] Recordings.

The new single "Mama Mia" showcases a melodica of whirring synth waves, buoyant basslines, colourful percussion all overlaid with sentimental lyrics. Inspired by the warm, euphoric feelings you get when surrounded by friends, and asking yourself “How did I get so lucky to have these amazing people in my life?” Noonzy describes ‘Mama Mia’ as a track that bottles up “the kind of love where you are showering friends with compliments like “You’re the funniest, most beautiful, smartest person ever!” He adds, “the feeling is genuine but you are definitely drunk”.

Comprising five infectious, elegantly crafted avant-pop songs, the EP glides from love-flushed longing (‘Where/When’) to the pleasures and pitfalls of being a lone ranger (‘Fishy’) to a blazing desire for tangible relationships with people (‘Mama Mia’). Impulsively catchy, the songs twinkle and cascade with exuberant expressive basslines and hazy analogue synths, simultaneously evoking the carefree leisure of youth and the spiky anxieties of our modern disconnected age. 

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Photo - Jason Thrasher

Patterson Hood - The Forks of Cypress ft. Waxahatchee.

Drive-By Truckers co-founder Patterson Hood has shared 'The Forks of Cypress (w/Waxahatchee)', the latest single (featuring Katie Crutchfield) from his landmark new solo album, 'Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams', arriving via ATO Records on Friday, 21 February 2025. 
 
An official music video – filmed by Bradley Wagner and Juan M. Soria at the historic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY before Drive-By Truckers took the stage on their Southern Rock Opera Revisited Tour earlier this year and featuring aerial footage of Hood’s hometown of Florence, AL was provided by local pilot John David Apkarian of Wings Over Bama.

“The Forks of Cypress a real place, a few miles just north of my hometown of Florence, Alabama,” says Patterson Hood. “A former plantation house, once owned by a cousin of Andrew Jackson, it was struck by a ‘lightning cluster’ in 1966 – when I was two – and exploded into flames, burning to the ground in under five minutes. All that was left were these huge columns, in a rectangle on top of the hill overlooking the meadow. It was right by a very creepy rickety one one-lane bridge that the locals called Ghost Bridge. I drove past this (and crossed the scary bridge) every week of my childhood on my way to my Great Uncle’s house (where I spent every weekend). Later, as a teenager, kids would drive dates out to Ghost Bridge and tell ghost stories and make out. The bridge was torn down about a decade ago.  
“I wrote the song as pure fiction, inspired by those great story songs that Bobbie Gentry did, an ‘Ode to Billie Joe,’ etc., where she implies a story without really telling it. In my head, I heard Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) singing it with me and was blessed that she was willing to do so. She’s one of my very favorite artists, and such a lovely person. “The song was fleshed out wonderfully by Phil and Brad Cook (who played keyboards, dobro and bass on it), Dan Hunt on drums, and then Kevin Morby put the cherry on top with a stunning lead part. “Whipped cream and cherry.”

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Astari Nite - Unisex Games.

Astari Nite is delighted to announce the release of their vivid & unapologetic new video for the track, "Unisex Games". The video and single for "Unisex Games" can only best be described in the words of Astari Nite's vocalist, Mychael:
 
"Unisex Games" was written as a sort of tongue in cheek to the max song. I mean, relationships often find an invasive way of telling you how you’re going to spend your time whether you like it or not, right? So, make it worthwhile, have an imagination or get a hobby and try your luck at painting.

For what it’s worth, anyone I’ve ever come across has helped define my unusual ways to this very day and for that, I will always be thankful." Regarding the music video for "Unisex Games", Mychael goes on to say: "The start of the year was a f**king horror story. My therapist recommended doing something amusing and so I did. My bandmates met me at my hotel, and we played pretend for an hour or two making the “Unisex Games” music video. There is a certain kind of magic that takes place when you can find comfort in the people you surround yourself with. Being obnoxiously silly comes naturally for the four of us.

The happiness that is displayed in the video may help some people put a smile on their face for a moment during these chaotic times. This is why I chose to release the video a few weeks before the actual single that comes out on March 14th."

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Photo - Elena Garcia

WILDES and St Francis Hotel - State Trooper.

WILDES and St Francis Hotel today release new collaborative EP Kopfkino, and share a visualiser for previously unheard Bruce Springsteen cover and EP closing track, 'State Trooper'.

"State Trooper is one of our favourite Springsteen songs, but our cover of it came about quite indirectly," explains WILDES. "We were listening to a lot of Suicide around the making of the EP, their drum machines and industrial synths heavily influencing both our work, and Springsteen’s simple, but raw production of State Trooper from 1982. We eventually decided to put our stamp on the song by leaning on Springsteen’s initial inspiration from Suicide, and we ended up with an even darker, grittier, electronic version of this already atmospheric song. It’s an important full stop on the EP, capturing the era we were inspired by and the great artists that have impacted us both as musicians."

Together WILDES and St Francis Hotel bring with them a wealth of critical plaudits, and notable collaborations between them with acts including The Flaming Lips, Little Simz and Michael Kiwanuka.

For new EP Kopfkino, the pair delve into the mind's captivating power, exploring the spectrum of human experience from poignant introspection to exhilarating escapism, sonically noting the influence of 80s synth-pop bands such as Erasure, The Human League, and Depeche Mode, as well as trip-hop artists like Massive Attack and Portishead.

From the stark, brooding art-pop of 'In The Floodlight' investigating personal growth and discovery, to 'Are You Gonna Speak?' which offers a shadowy glimpse into WILDES's soul, with raw cries for connection piercing a backdrop of throbbing synths and driving percussion. The EP's title track 'Kopfkino' explores the blurry lines between fantasy and reality, with WILDES's intoxicating vocals guiding listeners through a soundscape of intense rhythms and atmospheric flourishes.


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Photo - Ben Pender

Nature TV - Aways It Goes.

Brighton risers, self professed door to door heartbreak salesmen Nature TV release ‘Aways It Goes’ (Feb 19th), the second single to be taken from their upcoming debut album ‘Unlucky for Some’, due for release May 9th via indie heavyweights Heist or Hit (Her’s / Two Blinks, I Love You / Brad Stank). Released just ahead of the band's first, and almost completely sold out US tour, the band are riding high ahead of their appearance at SXSW 2025.

Building a reputation for their warming alternative-indie sound which overflows with sparkling melody and wistful melancholy, ‘Always It Goes’ perfectly captures the signature sound that sets Nature TV apart—a seamless blend of chilled beach-indie vibes and neo-soul sophistication. Produced by longtime collaborator Solo Major, the track weaves warming, modulated guitar tones with a deep, grounding bass and impeccably tight drums, crafting a soundscape that feels both buoyant and serene as it settles into a gentle groove. Against this restrained yet polished backdrop, the effortlessly melodic lead vocals float with grace, resulting in a track that feels refreshingly vibrant despite its undercurrent of melancholy.

Talking about the single, vocalist Guy explains: “This track is all about reflection. It’s about looking back and having a conversation with yourself about where things ended up for you and how things might have played out differently. Thinking if you had made different choices,or held on to someone else, instead of just letting go of some of the things that you’ve lost, things that could or maybe should have been different. But you’ve made your bed and now you’ve got to lie in it. It’s about making the most of where things are.”

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Berries - Aistis - Will Johnson - Oslo Twins

Photo Derek Bremner

Berries - Narrow tracks.

In their new video for “Narrow Tracks”, Berries splice fuzzy live footage together with shots of lead vocalist Holly Carter ripping up jigsaws, devouring books backwards, and walking the pavement like a tightrope in her crimson Converse. Each shot reflects the indecision and doubt that runs throughout the song’s lyrics, with many playing in reverse or at an unnatural speed.

“Doubts tingle with the facts, like passing trains on narrow tracks,” the band sing as the video cuts to live shots of the band performing at their BBC Introducing session earlier this year. The new release also acts as a lyric video, layering handwriting-style text over each shot.

The band explain the themes of the song: “'Narrow Tracks' is a song for anyone who struggles with OCD. It speaks of those tingling doubts, the constant stream of dark thoughts and the longing to be able to do the simplest of tasks, but ultimately it’s an optimistic track. It’s about fighting back and finding strength to keep those thoughts at bay.”

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Photo - Sophia Perras

Aistis - Nothing Here Ever Changes.

Art-folk songwriter Aistis delves deeper into theatrical arrangements and introspective lyricism in his most ambitious work yet. Using wit and candour as mortar and pestle to grind the ego into finer granules of inner truth, Lithuanian-Canadian singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Aistis returns with his third full-length album, Caviar For Seagulls.

With “Caviar For Seagulls” Aistis has conjured up a sweeping odyssey that delves deep into the complexities of the human experience. His latest compilation is a poignant testament to the power of storytelling, evoking the lyrical mastery of Leonard Cohen and David Berman. As Aistis weaves together folk traditions and theatrical flourishes, he creates an immersive world where vulnerability and theatricality entwine, giving birth to a deeply personal yet universally resonant collection of tracks.

From the whimsical "Nothing Here Ever Changes" to the soul-stirring "Rejoice", and the poignant ode to Leonard Cohen in "86/Dove", Aistis takes listeners on a sonic journey that is both deeply introspective and cinematically grand. Even in the midst of exploring the darker corners of human struggle, the artist finds solace in the words "A part of me believes the best is yet to come". This album is a masterclass in blending melancholy and resilience, crafting a sonic tapestry that is both sorrowful and hopeful. Aistis cements his status as a singular voice in alternative folk, leaving an indelible mark on the genre, with “Caviar For Seagulls”.

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Photo - Jackie Lee Young

Will Johnson - Floodway Fall.

Prolific Texas songwriter Will Johnson announces his 10th solo album, Diamond City, today, sharing the lead single “Floodway Fall.” The Centro-matic frontman and current member of Jason Isbell’s band The 400 Unit, writes: “The idea for ‘Floodway Fall’ cropped up before a summer 2022 rehearsal with Scott Danbom. We were still setting up, getting sounds and levels. I remember him looking out the window, loosely playing along on his fiddle, likely unaware that I was recording it. I quickly forgot about it, then stumbled across it a few months later and decided to see the song through. For the most part, it's a small town document of tension, travel, and ultimately undying love.”
 
The lead track on the album unfolds with Johnson’s distinct cinematic sound, bolstered by longtime collaborator Britton Beisenherz’s production contributions. In the past year Will Johnson has shared stages with Guided By Voices, Alejandro Escovedo, Little Mazarn, and Renée Reed. Next month his full band Will Johnson & Wire Mountain will play SoCo Stomp at C-Boy’s in Austin, TX on Wednesday, March 12th.

Diamond City, out April 4th on Keeled Scales, surveys mythical places whose spirit dwells among barren Midwestern landscapes and stark Southern outlands, reflecting the hollows of Johnson’s childhood in southern Missouri and the spartan Texas expanse where he now lives. Like many towns that line America’s midsection, Diamond City’s fancy name belies its reality. As  with albums such as John Prine’s “John Prine” or Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska,” Diamond City’s vast fortune is found in its gritty folk tales — of hovering ghosts, open wounds, tender hearts, little jokes, and the everyday people and scenery that compose a cracked iconography. Like Muhlenberg County, Kentucky or Mahwah, New Jersey, Diamond City is a place that people may leave but never truly escape.

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Photo - Freya Davies

Oslo Twins - I Wake Up Slowly.

Bristol-formed, London-based outfit Oslo Twins today release new single 'I Wake Up Slowly' a riveting, pulsating new taste of forthcoming EP 'Tresor', out 14th March via Half-Normal Records.

Produced by band members Eric C. Davies and Claudia Vulliamy in their east London studio, new EP 'Tresor' highlights a rejuvenated sonic depth for the London outfit - drawing influence from Nation Of Language, Angel Olsen, This Mortal Coil, Everything But The Girl, Lamb, Chromatics, Grace Ives and Ladytron.

New single 'I Wake Up Slowly' is thudding and transportive - "Plunging in plum coloured sleep / Bruises from another dream" sings Claudia Vulliamy, drifting between the spiralling, minimalist synth-pop arrangements.

Speaking on the song's lyrical inspiration, Claudia Vulliamy said: "In a sense it’s about beginning to move after being stuck inside your head, going from something statuesque to something dynamic. That’s why the upbeat rhythm and pace of it, the syncopation and the repetition, felt essential. But it’s also about literally waking up and trying to remember something that felt significant to your sleeping self. For me, the deepest sleep produces dreams that feel deep purple, a colour that matches the sound of a deep, rumbling bass and sometimes feels like a bruise upon waking."

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Joe Kelly & The Royal Pharmacy - Cult Of Venus - Tora Luna

Joe Kelly & The Royal Pharmacy - Cast Me Down.

Newport's Prodigal Son Joe Kelly & The Royal Pharmacy announces his 2nd album, the terrific new ‘Cast Me Down’ which will be released on April 11th via 'Dirty Carrot Records’ When writing the bio for the "difficult second album" you are supposed to repeat the trope about having a lifetime to compose your debut LP and a few months to pen the follow-up.

Yet while the vinyl release of Joe Kelly & The Royal Pharmacy's acclaimed debut album World On Fire was less than a year ago, much of the record that follows quickly in its wake is the product of the same prodigious gestation period.

Written and recorded in parallel to World On Fire, Cast Me Down is the other side of the coin. A non-identical and more unruly twin, it takes some of the experimental instincts hinted at on album one and doesn't so much as throw everything but the kitchen sink at the songs as rip the kitchen sink clean off the wall, jump inside it and take flight.

It's a heady ride and although Cast Me Down opens with a welcome reprise of the indie Americana sound that characterised World On Fire, an unsettling loop of backwards guitar heralds the arrival of a sequence of songs that channels sixties psych-pop, the Arctic Monkeys at Rancho De La Luna, late-night West Coast soul, Unkle, The Raconteurs, Father John Misty, and side two of Abbey Road.

And that's just for starters. Backed once again by The Royal Pharmacy and produced and mixed by Jon Greening, Joe Kelly is also joined on Cast Me Down by special guest appearances from the golden larynx of Miss Erin McNamara and Scott McKeon from Welsh folk-rock heroes Rusty Shackle, who brings his formidable violin skills to the psychedelic denouement of Living Daylights.

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Cult Of Venus - Algorithm.

This weekend, Cult Of Venus released “Algorithm,” (Liberty Belle Records / Futures) a poignant protest song for this moment - critiquing social media as a violent surveillance tool and its poetry explores how we are all controlled by our platforms and our phones. Currently, she’s on a full USA tour as the main support to CHVRCHES’ Lauren Mayberry.

Cult Of Venus is a multi-instrumentalist performance artist who has played MOMA PS1, Fotografiska's Chapel Bar for David LaChappelle’s FAITH exhibition, The Women's March NYC and put on concerts in prisons, including Riker’s Island women's jail in New York City.

Besides the current tour, she has been touring the West Coast for the past months, playing sold-out shows opening for City Of The Sun.

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Tora Luna - Why Wouldn't You Say So?

Following their previous release 'Wait For Spring', indie duo Tora Luna return with the soulful 'Why Wouldn't You Say So?' on February 14th.

Drawing from the soulful harmonies of Motown and the raw energy of contemporary indie rock, 'Why Wouldn't You Say So?' unfolds as a powerful dialogue between guest vocalist Deslynn Smith and band member Dominic Johnson. The track, created by core members Alex Broadgate and Dominic Johnson, with contributions on piano from Ellie Parker, masterfully captures the unspoken tensions that simmer beneath the surface of modern relationships. Through interweaving vocals and carefully crafted instrumentation, the performance embodies the push and pull of unexpressed emotions, creating a narrative that resonates with anyone who's ever struggled to voice their feelings.

"We wanted to create a conversational tone through the use of two vocalists to echo the internal thoughts of each individual and their growing frustration with each other," shares Parker. This intimate approach extends beyond the vocals into the very fabric of the recording process. "Although difficult, I found playing without a click-track to be a more relaxing style of recording and, in hindsight, felt that this helped the song feel more conversational."

Nestled in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside, producer Gus White's converted barn studio provided the perfect setting for bringing this vision to life. The track blossomed from humble beginnings - "a chirpy, simplistic chord progression" tucked away in Alex's voice notes - into a rich tapestry of sound. The accomplished ensemble features guest musicians including Parker's emotive piano work, guest musician Chloë Meade's soaring violin, Edward Cross's soulful saxophone, and Gus White's intuitive drumming, all weaving seamlessly around the powerful vocal interplay between Smith and Johnson.

Tora Luna · Why Wouldn't You Say So?

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better joy - Glazyhaze - Frog - Phonseca

better joy - quiet thing.

Following her first new music of 2025 with ‘waiting on time’, Manchester-based Bria Keely, better known as better joy, has shared her new single ‘quiet thing’ taken from her forthcoming debut EP ‘heading into blue’ released on 28th March.
 
Building through gritty guitars and honeyed vocals to a euphoric chorus, new track ‘quiet thing’ is a captivating and buoyant new track. A reflective and personal song, lyrically it illuminates the understated beauty of the normal and quiet times in relationships.  
 
Bria says, "’Quiet thing’ is one of those songs that has taken on so many different lives since its original conception. I was originally inspired by someone close to me, who at the time was describing the quiet type of love he needed from his partner when going through a tough time. It got me thinking how important it is to not take the quiet moments in relationships for granted. I suppose I wanted to write an ode to those moments, but I didn’t want it to be sweet-sounding; I wanted the lyrics to be against music that had a bit of grit to offset the sweetness.”
 
New single ‘quiet thing’ is taken from better joy’s forthcoming debut EP ‘heading into blue’, produced by Mike Hedges (The Cure, U2, Manic Street Preachers). The 6-track EP features previous singles ‘waiting on time’, ‘carnival’ and ‘what a day’ alongside new single ‘quiet time, as well as two brand-new tracks, ‘couldn’t run forever’ and ‘can I land the plane?’. It is the first full-length project from better joy and is both a perfect introduction to better joy’s alt-pop sound and an exciting taster of more to come this year.

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Glazyhaze - Nirvana.

Glazyhaze will release their second album 'SONIC' on 21st March. Now they share new track 'Nirvana', which offers a blend of fresh pop energy and dreamy feels. The heart of 'Nirvana' is the interplay of two distinct vocal lines: one raw and direct, the other soft and melancholic, creating a contrast that adds depth and emotion to the song. Built on shimmering guitars and playful rhythms, it explores the complexities of desire, the inner struggle between longing and letting go, and the bittersweet, fleeting nature of perfect moments.   
 
The accompanying video, set in a greenhouse transformed into a cosy library, features two protagonists playfully interacting and exchanging books. The video's light-hearted, dreamlike atmosphere complements the song's warm sound. 'Nirvana' follows previous single 'Forgive Me', a haunting shoegaze ballad that explores the bittersweet of love and heartbreak.
 
Forthcoming album 'Sonic' was written and recorded between Italy and London, produced, mixed and recorded by Paolo Canaglia and mastered by Maurizio Baggio, the album explores the complexity of love, narrating a journey of self-discovery and emotional contrasts. It is a more ambitious and mature album, characterized by a more personal sound and writing that embraces shoegaze, post-punk and alt-rock sounds.

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Frog - 1000 Variations on the Same Song (Album).

Following the critical and commercial success of 2023's ‘Grog,’ cult New York duo Frog return with ‘1000 Variations on the Same Song,’ their sixth album, which features their recent singles.

An eclectic, emotional, and lyrically vivid collection, the songs see Daniel Bateman refer to My Chemical Romance, Gucci, Stillwell deals, fatherhood, and the 6 train (“I was listening to a lot of Mozart, Kodak Black, and Prince, but it doesn't really sound like any of those.”). Musically, songs like “TOP OF THE POPS VAR. I” and “DOOMSCROLLING VAR. II” touch on the agitated Indie Rock that defined their earlier work, while the Alt. Country of ‘Count Bateman’ and ‘Grog’ can be heard on ‘WHERE U FROM VAR. III’ and ‘ARTHUR MCBRIDE IN THE LOWER EAST SIDE VAR. X.’ Elsewhere, singles like ‘JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI’ and December’s ‘DID SANTA COME VAR. IX’ introduce a smoky lounge element to Frog’s sound, but as Bateman explains it, these are all just variations on the same song:

“1000 Variations on the Same Song is a theme and variations—there are times in your life as a songwriter where you'll start a bunch of stuff that all sounds alike, which can be a problem, something that you want to excise from yourself. This time I decided to embrace it and take it as far as it could go.”

Since Frog returned in 2023 with the addition of Daniel’s brother Steve Bateman on drums, they’ve received significant critical acclaim and enjoyed sold-out shows in the Tri-state area. Their 2025 dates will see the band joined by Frog co-founder Tom White on bass and will take them to new cities for first-time-ever shows, as well as to the KEXP studios for a session with Larry Mizell, Jr. on March 25th.

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Photo - Paul Stevenson, Visual Hybrid

Phonseca - When Night Equals Day.

‘When Night Equals Day’ is the superb new single from Indie Synthpop duo, Phonseca, which brings together Bristol’s much respected keys/synth player Matthew O’Connor and radiant Swedish vocalist Kristina Sheppard.

Matthew has a rich musical background, bringing his talent to bands across the musical spectrum from House to Shoegaze, Psyche to Soundtrack, Electronica, Britpop and Rock. Both touring and featuring on albums released on labels as diverse as Rocket Recordings, Invada Records and Dishy Recordings, his creative input has featured on many projects. Inevitably the urge to form a more personal musical landscape saw him starting to write his own music. This began the process which resulted in ‘Between A Dream’, the debut Phonseca album, which came out in 2019.

The album was championed in the UK on BBC Radio 6 Music by both Gideon Coe and Steve Lamacq. With Steve Lamacq featuring it in his "Recommends" show. It also picked up lots of airplay and excellent reviews around the world. Matthew’s classical piano training has an influence on his work. This was the catalyst for first writing with Kristina, initially working on songs for a Disney project which followed a chance meeting at a wedding fayre, where they had stalls directly opposite each other. Since its release, the pair have spent the past few years promoting the debut album while writing/recording the second ‘Everything Lasts Forever’, which is now ready for release via Old Bad Habits Label.

‘When Night Equals Day’, the second single to come from the new album, captures the emotional heartbeat of Phonseca’s indie synthpop, electronica sound. The track’s unhurried pulsing beats, icy ambient synths, desolate piano and sweeping drones make for a deep, contemplative listen. A wintry, never ending glacial atmosphere pervades the track, conjuring lonely and dark winter nights. What begins as a fragile cry for help, evolves into something more resilient. Then by the refrain ‘When Night Equals Day’, it’s realistically introspective again.

“As with the whole album, these songs have a nocturnal feel and this one is no exception”, says O’Connor. “Lyrically I was inspired by classic songs like Kraftwerk - Computer Love and Soft Cell - Bedsitter and other songs too that are so evocative the images freely play out in your mind. The title refers to the Spring equinox, and by complete coincidence this was when we were recording the vocals at Invada. It’s my favourite lyric and possibly my favourite song on the album and another amazing vocal from Kristina, completely embracing the song and meaning”, he further reveals.

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Carla Aakre - Alpenstock - Milly Mason - Siula - Keegan Powell & The Jetpacks

Carla Aakre - life.

Carla Aakre, the Helsinki-based indie folk singer-songwriter, releases her highly anticipated single, "life," today February 14, 2025. This emotionally resonant track is the second single from her forthcoming debut album, Things I Forgot to Tell You, set to release on May 2, 2025. Blending her signature heartfelt lyricism with lush, analog-inspired arrangements, "life" serves as an uplifting and reflective anthem. The song explores themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the beauty of existence, showcasing Carla's ability to connect deeply with her listeners.

"‘life’ is a celebration of the small moments that make us human. It’s about embracing the highs and lows with grace and finding hope in the most unexpected places,” Carla says of the track.

Aakre Carla Aakre has rapidly gained recognition for her warm, cinematic sound, drawing comparisons to Phoebe Bridgers, Regina Spektor, and Fenne Lilly. With her introspective storytelling and evocative vocal delivery, she captures the beauty of fleeting moments, making her music both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Carla’s music has been featured on BBC6 Music, Amazing Radio UK & USA, and CT Das Radio (Germany), where she’s received 47 plays to date. Highlighted by Glamglare, The Line of Best Fit, Ones to Watch, and Mystic Sons, Carla has been praised for her heartfelt lyricism and captivating soundscapes. Her previous singles have landed on alexrainbirdMusic (1.6M followers), The Line of Best Fit’s New Music Discovery, and Grrrl Music’s New Music Friday, contributing to significant streaming growth.

"life" embodies everything that makes Carla Aakre a rising star in the indie folk scene—intimate yet anthemic, deeply reflective yet universally relatable. It’s a track that will stay with you long after the last note fades. Things I Forgot to Tell You releases on May 2, 2025, and Carla is already gearing up for a series of live performances, including a Kieku Records Showcase in Finland and potential appearances at key European festivals.

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Alpenstock - Love is Love

With their first three singles, the band Alpenstock from Biel, Switzerland, has caused quite a stir—especially among Pink Floyd fans and the prog rock scene. On Spotify, the group, led by mastermind Charles de Ribaupierre, has reached 16,000 listeners within just a few months. Their sound is now being played on various radio stations, from Swiss broadcasters like Munot and Option Musique to rock, vintage, and prog rock stations worldwide.

Now, it’s time for another single before the debut album arrives on March 28, 2025. "Love is Love" is another anthem that will also be featured on the upcoming LP. The song explores humanity's dependence on spirits, gods, and the horned one, all wrapped in Alpenstock’s signature psychedelic sound.

The music was written by Charles de Ribaupierre, whose shocking yet deeply moving life story (see biography below) is an inspiration. His journey proves that dreams can still be pursued and fulfilled—even in the face of serious illness and at the proud age of 72.

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Milly Mason - The Girl That I Was Before.

Milly Mason is a youthful singer-songwriter from Cardiff whose songwriting shows a maturity beyond her years. During the pandemic of 2020, Milly Mason picked up the guitar and fell in love with creating her songs, as well as playing them live. This week we have the release of the third single off her upcoming EP, due out in early summer 2025.

Milly’s musical influences include fellow singer-songwriters Amy Macdonald, Bruce Springsteen and Tracy Chapman, and closer to home, she is particularly influenced by artists such as Rusty Shackle and Martyn Joseph.

When asked about about the new single, Milly said “This song, despite not being autobiographical, is one that delves as deep into my creative inspiration as any song I have written. One of the best things about songwriting is being able to write based on the stories made up through imagination. This is true for The Girl That I Was Before. Once brought to life in the studio with a greater musical depth, it became the song it needed to be.”

Her ability to blend experiences from beyond her age with her fresh, youthful sound is admirable, and her confidence in doing so is even more remarkable.

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Siula - Night Falls on the World.

Cardiff – Cinematic pop duo 'Siula' return with Night Falls on the World, a spellbinding new single that blends haunting synths, pulsing rhythms, and poetic lyricism. Released via Libertino, the track is a melancholic yet electrifying meditation on endings, resilience, and the ever-turning cycle of light and darkness.

With Iqra Malik’s ethereal vocals floating over Llion Robertson’s immersive production, Night Falls on the World captures the tension between despair and hope, weaving a sonic landscape that feels both nostalgic and futuristic. Dreamlike yet urgent, the song is an invitation to lose yourself in the night—until the first light of dawn emerges.

Siula · Night Falls on the World

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Keegan Powell & The Jetpacks - Beginning Of Life (Live) / My Maker.

Canadian musician Keegan Powell delivers a double dose of captivating soundscapes with the release of his latest singles, "Beginning of Life" and "My Maker." With his band, The Jetpacks, Powell revisits these tracks from earlier phases of his career, reimagining them into their definitive forms. The result is a seamless blend of nostalgia and reinvention that captures the raw energy of their live performances.

Initially inspired by the mesmerizing "Eminence Front" by The Who, the song took shape the night before a studio session. Originally recorded for his 2019 EP Is+Was, the track evolved over the years, with Powell describing it as "a blueprint for a song that would never end." The band’s reprise of the track in 2024 cements its place as an eternal, ever-evolving anthem.

"My Maker" takes a different path. Written in a sudden burst of inspiration, Powell only later recognized its profound theme of rejecting immortality. "As endless as eternity seems to be, I have to laugh in its face and ultimately thank Mother Nature for the chance to live," he explains. Originally featured on his 2023 album Fear Be Gone, the song captures an indifference to the inevitable while embracing life with fierce resolve. The band's performance immortalizes their synergy, recorded live in just a few hours at Aaron Goldstein's studio in Toronto. These two tracks are like the first and last chapters of a story coming together to form something entirely new. – Keegan Powell.

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molto morbidi - Yoshika Colwell - Frenchie - CocoRosie - Lucette

Photo - Sam Nolin

molto morbidi - Casual Shapeshifting.

French avant-pop artist molto morbidi (Swan Wisnia) has shared her new single, 'Casual Shapeshifting'. In November, she announced her new EP Chocolate Ashtray, is set to be released on  April 11th, 2025, via No Salad Records. To mark the announcement, she shared the EP's title track, ‘Chocolate Ashtray,’ which received support from BBC Radio 6 Music's Deb Grant, Amy Lamé and Gideon Coe.

On 'Casual Shapeshifting,' molto morbidi leans into a cartoonish, spacey sound—a blend of synth-pop and bossa nova, punctuated by a modified Flexatone beat that gives the song its quirky, kawaii flavor. Behind its lighthearted feel, the song grapples with the paradoxes of being a people pleaser—a tension Swan knows all too well, navigating the line between self-sacrifice and a deeper need for validation.

The EP follows the release of her 2024 debut album String Cheese Theory, which featured UK alt-pop artist Ed Dowie and French improv legend Quentin Rollet, Chocolate Ashtray sees molto morbidi continue to carve out her own unique space in the world of art pop.

For fans of idiosyncratic artists like Cate Le Bon, Kate NV, and Stereolab, the EP reflects molto morbidi’s distinctive, raw, and honest approach to music. The record has evolved from her personal experiences, including a pivotal moment in 2017 when music became a vital outlet. 'It was the only thing that kept me going,' says molto morbidi, reflecting on a time when she struggled with depression and found solace in creating music. This period saw her dive into electronic production, discovering the freedom and empowerment of crafting as molto morbidi, using Ableton Live as her gateway. 

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Photo Tilly Wace

Yoshika Colwell - Last Night.

Today Yoshika Colwell shares her new Single & Video "Last Night"

The first new track since Yoshika's collaborative EP with The Vernon Spring, "Last Night" is a cosmic, other-worldly offering that explores “an enjoyable kind of confusion; desire, sensuality and the forbidden,” and is accompanied by a dreamlike music video.

Yoshika will be performing live in the United States for the first time in Austin, Texas as an official SXSW artist.

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Photo - Will Brown

Frenchie - Distance.

French-English singer-songwriter Frenchie today releases new single 'Distance' - the latest taste of her upcoming self-titled debut album 'Frenchie' - out 28th March.

Produced by one of UK jazz's shining lights Femi Temowo - who has worked as a producer, guitarist, arranger and composer for Amy Winehouse, SAULT and Gregory Porter, self-titled debut album 'Frenchie' moves with a rare beauty and assuredness, traversing soul, jazz and alternative R&B to stunning effect.

Written with fellow Londoner - musician and songwriter Aaron Taylor, new album taster 'Distance' examines the complexities of connection, and explores how silence and unaddressed issues can create an emotional chasm, even as time passes. Delivered with a poised, timeless pop sensibility and taking cues from the work of Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder and The Meters, Frenchie commented on the lyrical inspiration behind 'Distance':

"This song delves into the themes of distance, silence, unspoken words, and the passage of time. In the chorus, my aim was to challenge the phrase that ‘distance makes the heart grow fonder’, offering a counterpoint by suggesting that distance can, in reality, make the heart feel estranged. I collaborated on this piece with the very talented Aaron Paul Taylor, and our intention was for the song to resonate across various relationships, be it romantic love, friendships, or family dynamics."

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Photo - Ginger Dunnill

CocoRosie - Yesterday.

Today CocoRosie, the sister duo of Bianca and Sierra Casady share the third track, “Yesterday,” from their upcoming eighth studio album Little Death Wishes (out March 28th on Joyful Noise). The album includes the track “Girl In Town” with Chance the Rapper. In advance of their European tour, they will celebrate their album release with an event aptly titled: CocoRosie's Jubilation Ball: A Tits Out Ecstatic Rave Celebration at Brooklyn’s rollerskating rink Xanadu here.

Last month CocoRosie announced Little Death Wishes with the existentialist and meaning-seeking song "Cut Stitch Scar." Written while Bianca was gripped in heartbreak, the song mirrors the false starts of grief as it barrels between sparsity and density. “Take a leap of faith," Bianca sings with her trademark quaver “there may not be a plan for you.” About the single, the Casadys tells us: “Cut Stitch Scar” touches the very core of our universal waywardness and the precarious and precious nature of being human.”

They add: “Yesterday is a nostalgic sunshine scene of the crude reality of broken families. We hear it as backyard-BBQ music, setting a place for every misfit family member at the table."

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Photo - Sebestian Buzzalino

Lucette - Too Soon For Sorry.

Today, Lucette shares “Too Soon For Sorry,” the latest single from her forthcoming EP Nice Girl From The Suburbs (out March 21). Mirroring the push and pull of realizing what you had once it's gone, "Too Soon For Sorry" opens as a slow, yearning love song before gradually building to a frenzy of fuzzed out guitar wails. The song was featured this week at Atwood Magazine, who called it "the kind of cathartic confessional that sends shivers down the spine" and "a haunting late-night confession wrapped in a haze of longing and self-destruction."

Lucette on the new single: "'Too Soon For Sorry' is a classic tale of undervaluing someone while you have them. It’s about wanting them even more in the aftermath of a break up. Hearing their name through casual acquaintances, over cigarettes outside of the bar, and wishing they were there instead of hearing how they’re doing from a stranger. I think a lot of us have been there. It's about admitting when you're the problem in a breakup, wishing you could fix it, but knowing it’s too soon to heal that wound, and too soon for sorrys."  

"Too Soon For Sorry" follows the Canadian singer-songwriter's two previous singles – a pedal-steel-filled boot-stomper filtered through a slacker-pop lens called “Back in the Blue” (feat. Mariel Buckley), and “Heading for the End,” which finds Lucette (aka Lauren Gillis) living in the complexity of being human while still resisting people pleasing stereotypes. Expanding the musical inclinations she first began exploring on her acclaimed 2019 release Deluxe Hotel Room, Nice Girl From the Suburbs is brimming with self-awareness and a sense of shared humanity. The six-song EP mixes self-pity with clever self-deprecation, as the wry observer in Lucette turns her sharply intuitive eye onto herself.

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NO KING - Joni

NO KING - Roadside Rhythms.

The long-awaited debut album from NO KING is finally here! Roadside Rhythms will be available on all streaming platforms and on CD from February 21.

Roadside Rhythms features eight tracks that reflect the band's unique and dynamic style. It is a powerful blues rock record with captivating songs where both the lyrics and solo work take center stage.

NO KING is known for their energetic and captivating performances. The band delivers a refreshing mix of powerful blues rock infused with funky influences. The sublime guitar work, the distinctive sound of a snarling Hammond organ with Leslie, solid drums, and a groovy bass come together to create an unforgettable musical experience.

Inspired by legendary blues, rock, and funk icons, NO KING proves—with a nod to their influences—that you don't need "King" in your name to deliver a royal dose of blues rock.

The album was recorded at Woodstock Recording Studio in Enschede, a location where artists such as Philip Lassiter and King of the World have also recorded. With Roadside Rhythms, NO KING has created an album that perfectly captures the power of blues rock, personal storytelling, and musical connection.

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Photo - Charlotte Patmore

Joni - Things I Left Behind.

American-born, London-based songwriter Joni announces her debut album, Things I Left Behind, ahead of an April 11th release via her twin homes of Keeled Scales in North America and Hand In Hive in the UK/Europe. She also announces a sold-out Brooklyn show supporting Hannah Cohen at Union Pool on April 16 and a London headline show in celebration of her new album on May 8 at Servant Jazz Quarters.

Alongside the news, she shares the album's beguiling title track, a captivating account of how so much of growing up is centered around losing people, places, and things; how we constantly leave pieces of ourselves behind as we move forward. Underpinned by a shuffling drumbeat that keeps the song forever moving forward, Joni’s voice feels suitably alluring against a subtle swirl of guitars and varying tonal shifts that lend the track a bewitching edge. The track comes produced by Jackson Firlik (B. Miles, Great Barrier).

Speaking about "Things I Left Behind," Joni calls it "a reflection on how we're all made up of the things we've lost and left behind. People. Places. Experiences. While writing the lyrics, I was having all these vivid images from my past rush by, almost like lights when you're driving in a tunnel. Little things and big things. Scraping my knee as a kid. Falling in love for the first time. Losing love. Taking mushrooms and calling my childhood best friend. Lying on the grass at night. It's painful to realise you can't hold onto these things physically, but ultimately comforting to know that they sort of become you and you carry them along in some way."

When Joni says that “pain is the price you pay for loving someone” it’s coming from a place of deep experience. Having relocated to London from LA with her long-term partner, and closest musical collaborator, the singer-songwriter suddenly found herself thrust into a deeply unsettling break-up, one that left her isolated in a brand new country, and also one that pulled back the curtain on a host of unhealthy patterns she had become accustomed to within the relationship.


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The Hengles - Books of Moods

The Hengles - Cover Up (Album).

Experience a trip down memory lane with The Hengles' latest album, Cover Up. This Dutch indie band revitalizes classic hits from The Move, Golden Earrings, and The Kinks. With their unique energetic style, The Hengles breathe new life into these rock and roll classics. Cover Up is essential for enthusiasts of indie and classic rock. Ensure you add this dynamic album to your collection.

Amsterdam based band The Hengles, boasting a history of 5 years, have successfully launched 22 singles, 3 EPs, and two albums. A new album with their own original material, as we've come to expect from them, is currently in the works, with a planned release this fall.

1.Useless Information - Original by The Move
2. That Day - Original by Golden Earrings
3. Hidden Persuaders - Original by Reverend And The Makers
4. Ivory Tower - Original by The Long Riders
5. This Time Tomorrow - Original by The Kinks
6. Sarah Smiles - Original by Bram Tchaikovsky
7. Jessica - Original by Adam Green
8. On The Way Home - Original by Neil Young

TCBYML · The Hengles - Cover Up

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Books of Moods - Space (Part 1).

Books of Moods is an indie art-rock project born in Paris, led by Hugo Sailer.

Drawing inspiration from iconic acts like The Beatles, The Velvet Underground, David Bowie, and Arcade Fire, the project merges the sounds of the '60s, '70s, and early 2000s.

With dreamy, nostalgic melodies, Books of Moods invites listeners into a world shaped by dreams, landscapes, travels, and encounters.

Each song offers a tranquil escape, creating vivid stories that encourage relaxation and reflection, like a musical "Madeleine de Proust."


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Jetstream Pony - Denuit - Moe Joe

Jetstream Pony - Bubblegum Nothingness.

The UK dreampop supergroup Jetstream Pony are back with a new single / video "Bubblegum Nothingness. " This first single is a blast of shambling pop goodness ala Shop Assistants, Heavenly, and a touch of the Primitives. Their new album 'Bowerbirds and Blue Things' comes out on March 28th, 2025.

Jetstream Pony are based in Brighton/Croydon UK, and come from a love of post-punk and power-pop, featuring Beth Arzy (The Luxembourg Signal/Trembling Blue Stars/Aberdeen) on vocals and percussion, Shaun Charman (The Wedding Present/The Popguns/The Fireworks) on guitar and vocals, Kerry Boettcher on bass and Tom Levesley on drums, recently joined by Mark Matthews (The Dentists/The Treasures of Mexico) on guitar.

The band released their debut single "Like You Less"/"Had Enough" in late 2017 on Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten to enthusiastic reviews and radio play around the world, including BBC6 Music. Two sold out singles followed along with gigs around the UK and Europe, leading to the self-titled debut album on KUS/Shelflife in May 2020. The album received fantastic reviews, selling out two pressings before reissue (twice) by Spinout Nuggets and rmaking many best-of-year lists. Mini-album "Misplaced Words" and single "Sixes and Sevens" developed the sound, balancing indie-pop with something darker - twelve string guitar and harmonies, but also heavy bass and sometimes a two drummer rhythm section.

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Denuit - TEARS fall.

"TEARS fall, the delicate dance between strength and vulnerability, joy and sorrow". In the stillness of a hotel room, after the echoes of a show had faded, TEARS fall was born.  Written in the warmth of Brazil, this song is a quiet reflection on the fragility of life and love — how both can be breathtakingly beautiful and yet heartbreakingly fleeting. It’s a song that holds the bittersweet truth of our existence—the delicate dance between strength and vulnerability, joy and sorrow. A powerful, aching reminder of the poetry in every moment, even when it slips through our fingers.

"TEARS fall" unveils itself with a music video directed by the duo, immersing viewers in a world where pop imagery meets gothic aesthetics—a perfect reflection of their musical identity. Their sound blends contrasts: warm and cold, pop and synthwave, tenderness and violence. This video adds another layer to their ever-evolving artistic universe, which is already captivating thousands of fans across France, Germany, and South America. Their vision extends beyond music, shining through a unique line of t-shirts, jackets, jewelry, and pins that embodies their signature chiaroscuro light and shadow.

Step into the shadows with Denuit, where Darkwave collides with Electro Pop in a sound they call Night- Wave. Picture the raw pulse of Perturbator fused with the dreamy glow of La Femme, wrapped in lyrics that glide between English and French. Fueled by passion and a spark of light in the darkness, this duo creates music that pulls you under with hypnotic beats and haunting vocals, only to lift you back up with moments of shimmering beauty. Denuit is more than music—it’s a dive into the night, wild and immersive, with a balance of edge and revelation.

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Moe Joe - Happy With My Volksie.

Founded in June 2020 by Sarp Keskiner (TR) and Jan Mittendorp (NL), Bone Union Records aims at documenting a neglected musical scene in Turkey not just by releasing archival material from mid-90’s to this date; but also releasing brand new materials of Turkish artists.

Though the scope of the releases mainly are based on recordings of traditional and urban blues acts; the range of releases vary with inclusion of folk, funk, dub, noise, free improvised music and electronica works of artists that are looking for a new perspective by expanding the limits of experimentation on fundamentals of blues. Thus, taking a mission of supporting unique musical efforts based on creative collaborations, the label aims at establishing a common ground for mutual cultural exchange based on music between Netherlands and Turkey.

This time Moe Joe, saluted and praised as “the ever first traditional electric blues band founded in Turkey” brings a raunchy approach to its interpretation to urban blues. Recorded live in 2008; this unreleased original composition of the band stands out as a concrete example of its quest to urbanize their sound, though this recording also stands as a sample of their keen precision on conserving their trad essentials.

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