The Northern Territories - Seasurfer - Frankie Wesson

Photo - Chris Ruiz

The Northern Territories - Arizona.

The Northern Territories reveal the final advance single 'Arizona', which is taken from the forthcoming new full-length "A Star in Orbit Still". The fourth album of the Swedish melancholic synth duo has been chalked up for release on May 23, 2025.

The Northern Territories comment: "As the title suggests, this song was started in Arizona, on a road trip through the desert on the way to Mexico, while passing cities like Sedona and Tucson on the way to Puerto Peñasco, on the Gulf of California", singer Stefan Sääf writes on behalf of the duo.

"Following our return to Europe, the working title 'Arizona' remained although the song changed somewhat. The idea to start the song a cappella was a last minute thought when we were mixing the track. We had just watched Bon Iver's amazing live version of 'Heavenly Father' and that might have inspired the idea to start with only vocals."

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Seasurfer - Collapsing.

Collapsing is the first single taken from the fourth Seasurfer album Electronic Monsters, which will be released on May 30th, 2025. The main single track is a remix by M!R!M, the solo project of Jack Milwaukee, Italian producer & multi-instrumental artist based in East London. Jack is one of Seasurfer's favorite musicians and the band is very proud about the dark, hypnotic twist he gave to the track.

The single also features Dirk Knight's own Seasurfer single mix and another remix by M/A/T, the electronic music project of Matthias Bischoff, a founding member of the former Hamburg SynthPop band Cyber, who's also been active as a DJ for many years.

Collapsing is an anti-war song. Seasurfer singer Apolonia, who wrote the lyrics, recalls: "When Dirk first sent me the track, the war in Ukraine just started. It was heart breaking to see yet again another useless war, destroying innocent people’s home’s, which could also be my or your home and how it was presented on television like entertainment… 'Watching our own demise'...In the song I ask the question again and again: why?"

Electronic Monsters is the fourth Seasurfer full-length and, after the Zombies album, the second with the current Seasurfer singer Apolonia. Other guest singers can also be heard on the album: the wonderful Gloria Endres de Oliveira, a multidisciplinary visual artist from Berlin with Brazilian origins, the singers Jana Marie and Jade from Hamburg, with ethereal voices and long reverb tails.


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Frankie Wesson - This is Motion (Album).

Singer-songwriter Frankie Wesson’s third studio album ‘This is Motion’ has been years in the making. This coming-of-age record, although boasting two award-winning singles, is more than just a collection of songs. From start to finish it takes you on a journey through periods of Wesson’s life, loves, losses and coming to terms with what never was. A present theme throughout this album is nostalgia in motion, moving from time to place, visiting and revisiting memories and relationships through an older and more grounded lens.

Not only does Wesson explore time in this way through her songwriting on this record but also genre. From soft, folky, almost orchestral soundscapes in songs like Delicate and Valentines. She continues to move through her emotions leaning into country, ambient pop and heavier pop/rock sounds, showcasing her songwriting skills in a range of ways throughout.

Swansea’s Soundboard magazine described Wesson’s music as ‘timeless; appealing to fans of Fleetwood Mac and Paramore alike without compromising or diluting any of the style that makes Wesson’s music her own’.

Frankie Wesson · This Is Motion

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mokina - Chambers DeLauriers - Miko Marks

Photo - Magda Benda

mokina - mirage (EP).

Montreal-born singer-songwriter and producer mokina reveals her gorgeous, new EP ‘mirage’. The five track display of gentle, dreamy, indie-folk arrives with three previously unheard tracks; title track mirage,  ‘heartbreaker’ and ‘dont wait por mim’. See below for

The record sees mokina dive into the complexities, illusions and delusions that often surround romantic connections. It sees them pull from her experiences of wxmanhood, pushing back against the constant critique and scrutiny wxman have come to accept as the norm.  Sharing more about the EP, mokina explained: As wxmen, we’re taught to carry shame for things that are simply human—desire, detachment, choosing ourselves. These songs are about normalizing those experiences and letting go of that inner guilt. They hold space for that emotional complexity, and say, ‘It’s okay—you’re allowed to feel this.'

The new EP acts as a flawless introduction to mokina’s heartfelt lyricism and evocative melodies. She co-produced the record with Jeremy Lachance, on the scenic Portuguese coast, near her home in Ferrel, with moments of English, French and Portuguese peppered throughout the record, paying homage to worldly experiences. The album’s raw and intimate sound is brought to life through the expert mixing of fellow Montrealer Niall Mutter.  

Two of mirage’s singles; ‘true’ and ‘sinner’ have already garnered critical acclaim, earning praise for their haunting beauty and captivating narratives. The visuals accompanying the project were filmed on location by Polish videographer Magda Benda, whose cinematic direction perfectly complements the music’s themes of love, lust and loss.


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Photo - Guy Brooksbank

Chambers DeLauriers - People Gonna Talk.  

Annika Chambers & Paul DesLauriers, aka the dynamic duo Chambers DeLauriers, are excited to announce the forthcoming release of their new album, Our Time To Ride, on August 22nd via Forty Below Records. They are also pleased to share their new single, "People Gonna Talk."

Our Time to Ride, was recorded at Studio MixArt in Montreal by producer Eric Corne (John Mayall, Sugaray Rayford, Joe Louis Walker), with further recording at Eric's Forty Below Studios in L.A. and Sound Arts in Houston, TX. It blends deep blues roots, soulful R&B melodies, and riff-driven rock with heartfelt storytelling, raw emotion, and dynamic musicianship. Rounding out their sound is their touring rhythm section, Gary Davenport on bass and Sly Coulombe on drums. Keyboard duties were handled by Sasha Smith and Jesse O'Brien, horns by Mark Pender and David Ralicke, and background vocals by Corne and Nicoya Polar.
 
The basic tracks were tracked live off the floor in Montreal, capturing the raw energy and chemistry of a Chambers DesLauriers performance. "Eric made sure we were all super comfortable, and things flowed," says Paul. "We had the luxury of feeling like we were just playing live." Once the foundation was laid, lead guitar, vocals, keyboards, horns, and background vocals were layered in. Annika recalls Paul recording most of the solos for the album in one night. "He was in the zone. They were asking him if he needed to take a break, and I said, 'No, just let him keep going, he's on a roll!'"

The new single, "People Gonna Talk," is an upbeat, groove-heavy mix of country, blues, and rock 'n Roll; this track is all about staying true to yourself. With a feel-good vibe that calls for line dancing, it reflects today's judgmental world and encourages listeners to let go of the noise. Imagine Mavis Staples meets The Rolling Stones - a blend of soulful grit and rock swagger that creates an anthem for living authentically.

Chambers Deslauriers · People Gonna Talk

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Miko Marks - Let The Music Get Down In Your Soul.

Miko Marks has released “Let The Music Get Down In Your Soul” via Redtone Records. The song, originally released in 1979 by gospel great Rance Allen of The Rance Allen Group, is one of Marks’ favorites. “When I was around 16 years old in Detroit, Michigan, I was lucky enough to perform with him in a gospel play called 'Mama Don’t,'” she recalls. “This was one of my rare stage performances at that time, and to be able to sing with one of the greats in gospel music is a priceless memory. It reminds me of how music has, and always will be, a healer. As we navigate uncertainty and these tumultuous times in our country, I hope this song can be a sweet respite for the listener to retreat and find a little joy."
 
“Let The Music Get Down In Your Soul” follows Marks’ January 20th release of “Peace of Mind (Live at Feldman’s),” another hope-filled, uplifting track. “‘Peace of Mind’ reminds me to pause for my peace as I navigate my life from day to day,” she explained. “Feelings of worry, fear, anxiety, and stress can really take me to dark places where I feel overwhelmed, and sometimes I'm unable to see my way out.

This song reminds me to take time to step away, to get a larger perspective. As the world hurries and worries itself along, we're part of something bigger and more constant than our struggles, our careers, our politics,” she continued. “Right now, we feel so divided and angry as a nation. Regardless of where we fall politically, we all need to find peace of mind in place of rage, blame, and despair. When I sing this song, I am always able to find the serenity and calm that I need, and I hope the listeners are able to tap into the same. Of all the songs in my live set, this is the one most likely to draw out some of my tears, and you can hear it in this live version,” she added. “They're tears of release and hope and of gratitude for the present and for days to come.”

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Kat Greta - The Happy Fits - Jimmy Dale Richardson - Voom

Kat Greta - Set You Up.

Melbourne/Naarm-based artist Kat Greta is stepping into bold new territory with her latest single ‘Set You Up’, released Friday, May 2 an explosive, percussion-driven anthem and her first fully self-produced release. Backed by earthy chants, rolling grooves, and undeniable energy, ‘Set You Up’ is a rallying cry for connection, built to be felt in the body as much as in the heart.

Known for her blend of contemporary pop, soft rock, and worldly folk influences—as well as her magnetic stage presence and fierce drumming—Kat Greta channels that same power into ‘Set You Up’, a song that pulses with communal spirit. Chant-like call-and-response vocals meet layered percussion in a track designed to bring people together, whether in the crowd, on stage, or listening solo with headphones. Mixed by Nathan Zammit, the single hums with a raw, unfiltered urgency that’s impossible to sit still through.

“Set You Up is about community, connection, and the energy that comes from people coming together,” Kat shares. “It’s built on rhythm—layered percussion, call-and-response moments, and a raw, unfiltered energy that makes you want to move.”

To bring the track’s heartbeat to life visually, Kat teamed up with director Dayne Edward for the music video—featuring none other than her own family. Filmed entirely via Zoom, the video captures Kat and her loved ones drumming together from afar, proving that distance is no match for rhythm when connection is the goal. “I wanted the video to reflect the spirit of the song—raw, real, and full of energy. Having my family involved made it even more meaningful, showing that music is something we share, no matter the distance.”'

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Photo - Anna Koblish

The Happy Fits - Everything You Do.

Indie/rock darlings The Happy Fits just unveiled their sprightly new single “Everything You Do” along with an energetic new video. The track marks their first new music to release in nearly three years as they make their anticipated return and kick off an exciting new chapter for the band. With a newfound spirit and vigor, “Everything You Do” is an intoxicating, heartsick anthem with infectious hooks, earworm melodies, and dynamic instrumentation heralding a roll-down-the-windows summer vibe.

“I read somewhere that the amount of married US adults dropped from 67% in 1990 to 53% today,” stated frontman Calvin Langman. “At the same time, over 50% of millennials are taking on multiple jobs and ‘polyworking.’ I’m no data scientist, but why is it so damn expensive to be in a relationship these days? Maybe it’s just my social circles and algorithm, but there’s a shared feeling amongst the hoi polloi of being overworked, underpaid, and underloved. It’s not that we don’t want to be in relationships, it’s just that we simply can not afford to love. ‘Everything You Do’ is my own internal battle of fighting for my heart vs. being practical and rational. Knowing me, the heart always finds a way to win…”

They continued, “For the grand premiere of the bigger, better The Happy Fits 2.0, we knew we had to show what we do best: perform! The video was shot in the basement of the punk-world-famous First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, along with a skeleton crew of guys who knew how to squeeze every ounce of vibe out of that space and into the video. Ironically, we were kicked out two hours earlier than we expected due to an Agnostic group who had rented the space after us, claiming they rented it earlier than it said on the call sheet. They seemed pretty sure about this for a group of people who aren’t sure about a lot. Nonetheless, over 11 hours of shooting, we got the dozens of takes needed for our first performance-based music video ever, and the first look into the future of The Happy Fits.”

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Jimmy Dale Richardson - Pretending / Beltline Boogie.

Here it is! The great new recording by Fun-Guy Records recording star Jimmy Dale Richardson. Jimmy is one of the top stars in the world of roots rockabilly throughout the US and Europe. He's performed at Summer Jamboree in Italy, Rockin' Race in Spain and Hemsby in the UK. His powerful tenor vocal and exciting and unique guitar work always impress wherever he plays.

“Pretending” is a haunting yet beautiful ballad with expert singing and guitar playing by Jimmy, while being backed by Reverend Horton Heat and band. Other great musicians are featured as well on this fantastic stereophonic recording. “Pretending” features the great songwriting ability of Jimmy Dale Richardson! It’s romantic and dreamy, yet dark. Super cool!

“Beltline Boogie” is a rocking and swinging little number with Reverend and band backing up Jimmy. It’s all about ‘getting your kicks” on the Route 66 ‘Beltline’ alignment road that runs through and around Oklahoma City. This cool monophonic recording also features some fantastic slappin’ bass by Jimbo Wallace as well as some exciting guitar solos by Jimmy. It is bound to be a rockabilly dancehall favorite!


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Voom - Crazy Feeling.

Voom are on a roll with the release of another great single, Crazy Feeling. Filled with all the catchiness and uplifting galore of every Voom song you've ever loved. We're super excited for the new album Something Good Is Happening, and we know you're gonna love it too! Auckland indie-rock band, Voom, who, after years of releasing and performing music to their cult-like following, have announced a brand new album, ‘Something Good Is Happening’ out May 16th via Flying Nun Records.

The release of the latest Voom album has taken just short of two decades to be officially announced. Is this pace glacial, or considered? Sloth-like, or discerning? The Tamaki Makaurau-based foursome will tell you the nineteen years since their much-loved 2006 record, Hello, Are You There?, have been spent jamming and gigging, writing, rewriting and sifting, reflecting on what surely must be some of the strangest times in human history to present fans with their latest offering. Something Good is Happening is the child of strange seasons and tides, strange minds, pedals and fingers.

After accumulating literally hundreds of demos over the years, Flying Nun Records thought it was about bloody time Voom got at least some of these songs packaged up and released into the wild. The band agreed, and so have been painstakingly whittling and curating and bashing these tracks into shape, to form the 2025 album Something Good Is Happening. Each track has walked a different path into being a part of this record. 

Written and recorded in a variety of locations, with a plethora of different equipment, over decades of seasons and life stages, but always steered by the unsteady hand and watchful ear of frontperson Buzz Moller — seen by some as one of NZ’s most treasured songwriters. All members of Voom (Buzz Moller, Murray Fisher, Nick Buckton, and Josh Sorenson) are multi-instrumentalists and producers in their own right, consequently this combination of minds has helped forge the sound and vibe of this new album.

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Perpacity - Paco Cathcart - Jo Davie - VANNGO

Perpacity - Lille Flamme.

If there is such a thing as brooding, understated power, then Lille Flamme is all of that. Add in the gorgeous vocals and deep harmonies and Beehive Candy is more than happy to lead with this single today.

The new Perpacity single ‘Lille Flamme’, which also includes the B-sides ‘Sjælekamp’ and ‘Bedrager’ officially releases on all platforms today 2nd of May 2025 through Town And Towers Records.

The new single is the third single release from the upcoming Perpacity album ‘Poverty Of The Flesh’. Sung in Danish, it embraces the band's Nordic roots. The single delves into sibling love, their shared history, and the strength that lies within it.

Two B-sides accompany the single, which are also in Danish: ’Sjælekamp’, which reflects the struggle to escape the abyss of overwhelming hopelessness and despair, and ‘Bedrager’, about that one person no one wants or should ever have in their life.

Perpacity members are Ian Harling and Martin Nyrup residing in the UK and in Denmark respectively. Each has over 20+ years of musical experience, ranging from writing music and live performance to studio work and music production. Perpacity creates haunting melodies and driving beats, characterized by their unique dark electronic landscapes.

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Paco Cathcart - Down on Them (Album).

Paco Cathcart, the longtime New York underground fixture who has previously released a rich discography under the name The Cradle, has now released Down on Them, their first record under their own name.

Where The Cradle records showed Cathcart to be a master of lo-fi solo recording, Down On Them sees them engage with studio fidelity and a full band, composed of Paco bassist Miriam Elhajli, Keyboardist Ellie Shannon, and Drummer Bailey Wollowitz (fantasy of a broken heart, Water From Your Eyes).

The album's release has been preceded by the singles "Bottlenneck Blues" and "Invasive Species," and today Paco is providing a final preview of the LP with the Spanish-language single "Ella Vive Sola."

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Photo - Georgia Peace

Jo Davie - Nothing Comes Free (EP).

Rest your head and listen to the stories Jo Davie has to tell in her debut EP, ‘Nothing Comes Free’, a rich anthology told through gorgeous indie-folk and her spellbinding voice, released today Friday, May 2.

For as long as it’s been around, music has been used to tell stories, and since graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium in 2017 with First Class Honours and the University Medal, Jo Davie has been channeling her ancestors, telling tales through songs live on stage at festivals like Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), The National Folk Festival (ACT), and the Caloundra Music Festival (QLD), connecting with an audience and giving them something to bring home with them.

Her focus on human connection has resulted in her earning the Carol Lloyd Award at the Queensland Music Awards, selling out her shows, and supporting ARIA-winning artist Katie Noonan across a variety of venues, all while working on her PHD.

Now, she is releasing her debut EP - a 6-track journey into the wonderland of her mind, played across a variety of instruments from strings to synth. It begins with ‘Throw Me A Rope’, a slow jam woven from a lilting voice that rises and falls with the grace of a songbird and instruments with a noncorporeal nature brought in through the fuzz of the guitar and soft echoing effects. This tells the story of a love left away from harbour but not let out to sea, how it feels to want to either be loved or ‘let go’, but not left drowning in the middle.


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VANNGO - Heartbreaker USA.

Following the powerful anthem We’ll Rise LA! that captured the resilience of a city recovering from disaster, VANNGO returns with a bold, electrifying new single, Heartbreaker USA. Where We’ll Rise LA! served as a rallying cry for survival, Heartbreaker USA dives deep into the wild, impulsive side of love, loss, and longing, all wrapped in VANNGO’s signature raspy vocals, soaring guitars, and southern-tinged rock swagger.

Heartbreaker USA marks a natural evolution for VANNGO, an LA-based indie singer-songwriter whose sound bridges alt-rock grit, soulful storytelling, and raw emotional depth. With cowbells, organs, and a driving beat that feels tailor-made for American highways and neon-lit nights, the track pulses with urgency and vulnerability.

“If We’ll Rise LA! was about rebuilding after the fire, Heartbreaker USA is about the fires we start ourselves,” VANNGO says. “It’s messy. It’s beautiful. It’s about losing yourself for a moment, even when you know the crash is coming.” Written and recorded in the wake of releasing We’ll Rise LA!, Heartbreaker USA showcases VANNGO’s ability to pivot emotionally without losing his fierce authenticity. The song opens with a hypnotic riff that feels part dive bar, part desert highway and a full-throttle ride through vulnerability and reckless abandon.

Produced with a stripped-down sensibility that keeps the soul intact, the track leans into VANNGO’s grunge, alt-country, and southern rock influences without ever feeling like a throwback. It’s classic in spirit, but modern in execution, the kind of song that could sit forever in a jukebox in a forgotten corner of Route 66.

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9Bach - Alex Amor - Izabella Lily

9Bach - Llaw 101 Mix.

Welcome back 9Bach although in all honesty this is our introduction to the band, and what an fabulous intro this is. The vocals shine above the subtly developing rhythmic beats that beautifully works alongside the soaring singing. OK then it's time to search out their back catalogue, something that Beehive Candy loves to do on occasions like this.   

The acclaimed Welsh band 9Bach is set to make their long awaited return to the music scene after a five-year hiatus, with a new single exclusive to Bandcamp and a series of live performances coming up in May & June 2025. 9Bach stand as one of Wales' most visionary bands, establishing themselves as a unique creative force on the music scene. Led by Lisa Jên Brown, they have broken new ground by combining Welsh musical heritage with contemporary sounds.

Groundbreaking Collaboration with Andy Gangadeen: In 2025, the band reached a completely new stage in their musical journey through collaboration with Andy Gangadeen - an artist with extensive experience working with leading bands, among them, Chase & Status and Lava La Rue. This marks the first opportunity to hear their exciting musical partnership, bringing "powerful big beats and up-tempo grooves" to 9Bach's unique sound.

This new material draws deeply from Lisa and Martin’s personal roots in the acid house movement of the '80s and '90s. It was an amazing time of togetherness. Although Martin and Lisa didn’t know each other then, they both connect on a level where those powerful beats of a London warehouse party or rave in a North Wales quarry puts them both back in that joyful place of freedom and euphoric pulse to move your body. It’s a powerful energy they crave to relive through their own music.

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Photo - Lewis Vorn

Alex Amor - Seeing Angels.

London-via-Glasgow singer-songwriter Alex Amor makes a luminous return with her new single ‘Seeing Angels’. The release follows a triumphant, sold-out show this week at London’s Folklore Hoxton, capping off recent dates supporting rising pop talents Good Neighbours and Gretta Ray.

New single 'Seeing Angels,' produced by Peter Brien (Kojaque, Kean Kavanagh) is a captivating return for Amor. Her rich Glaswegian lilt drifts through gauzy indie-folk and sunlit country-pop tones, with songwriting that feels both effortless and finely honed. Beneath the track’s soft glow lies a quiet resilience - a story of rediscovery and emotional clarity, where tenderness becomes transformative and love gently realigns what once felt adrift.

“‘Seeing Angels’ is about the healing nature of women—our ability to guide, nurture, and mend broken hearts," Alex explains. "It speaks to the way we become a source of strength in love, offering steady hands and acting as a compass pointing north, leading toward better days. Finding the wrong person can be devastating, but choosing the right partner can change everything. This song is about that kind of love—the kind that turns your world upside down, alchemises your pain, and makes you believe in something greater. Makes you believe in angels."

A tapestry of laid-back grooves, shimmering guitars, and vocals that feel both close and distant, like a memory half-remembered, 'Seeing Angels' is the first new taste of Alex Amor's first full length project, which she is currently adding the finishing touches to.

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Izabella Lily - Freedom.

Swedish-Finnish artist Izabella Lily returns with her third single “Freedom,” a modern folk rock anthem filled with lyrical depth and spiritual introspection. Following Izabella’s debut “Varandra”, 2nd single Indi rock genre “Fields of Green” and a recent live appearance on Sveriges Radio P4 Gothenburg & iHeart Radio, Izabella continues to build momentum with this evocative new release.

"Izabella Lily delivers a raw folk indie single with poetic lyrics and spiritual depth, with a heart beating for social justice. "Freedom" follows her Sveriges Radio debut and previews her 2025 EP. Rich acoustic textures meet modern indie production in this moving anthem about the kind of love that is selfless and sacrificial— that which empowers us to use our freedom for the good of others."

“The track brings genuine and authentic beauty, with acoustic instrumentation that perfectly complements the soft essence of the song. The melody is captivating and conveys a welcoming feeling, while the vocals bring emotion and sincerity, essential characteristics of the genre”.

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Pistol Daisys - James Lloyd Smith - Domi Hawken

Pistol Daisys - Calling Your Name.

Following the breakout buzz of “St Glasgow” and the emotionally raw “Crying in Marseille”, Scottish alt-pop trailblazers Pistol Daisys return with a shimmering new single full of heartbreak, groove, and unexpected truth. “Calling Your Name,” out 30 April 2025 via OneRPM Records, draws inspiration from co-frontwoman Belly’s own experience — an unforgettable night out in Kuala Lumpur that left more questions than answers and planted the seed for what’s now one of the band’s most personal and powerful songs yet.

“It was my first time at Zouk,” Belly shares, referring to KL’s infamous superclub, “My heart wasn’t broken—that was Lorna in Crying in Marseille—but I was surprised by a young six-foot-tall man. I thought we hit it off. One minute we were dancing, and the next, he was gone. When I was leaving, I saw him kissing a man. I called his name, but he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—hear me. That was the last time I saw him.”

Having moved from a conservative upbringing in the peaceful coastal town of Kota Kinabalu to study at Taylor’s University, Belly found herself immersed in a world of late nights, neon lights, and emotional curveballs. “Calling Your Name” captures that jolt of reality—when surface-level charm gives way to something more profound, complicated, and harder to process.

Musically, the track is vintage glitter laced with modern grit—a sparkling lovechild of Blondie and ABBA with a punk-pop bite reminiscent of The Gossip and the flamboyant honesty of Lady Gaga. The result is a dancefloor-ready confession: raw, reflective, and totally irresistible. “It just goes to show that it's an ever-changing world,” Belly says, “What appears to be one thing on the surface doesn't show you the whole truth. “Calling Your Name” is for those who want to keep an open mind… and maybe get a snog off the right guy.”

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James Lloyd Smith - Lake Walk.

Kent-based indie-folk songwriter James Lloyd Smith is set to release another charming and laid-back single, with ‘Lake Walk’ available across all major streaming platforms now. Blending the peaceful nature of Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell with the lo-fi and DIY methodology of Sufjan Stevens, ‘Lake Walk’ is an ode to simple living in the English countryside, which James explains has a strong impact on his music.  Born during an introspective time in his life where he became withdrawn socially, he takes solace and peace from long evening walks around the lake at Hever Castle & Gardens in Edenbridge, a routine that shaped the essence of the song's atmosphere.

“The Kent Countryside, sometimes known as The Garden Of England has had a huge influence on my sound,’ James explains. ‘“ try to write music that to some degree reflects how the landscape makes me feel,’ he added, calling the song a ‘thank you letter to the edifying quality of the natural world.”

James Lloyd Smith’s authenticity is what shines on ‘Lake Walk’ as the song is self-produced on the now-obsolete 2011 MacBook Pro, while the beautiful guitar work actually stems from a £10 parlour acoustic guitar he bought on eBay. The production lends some wonderful layers to the track, with a glockenspiel melody that James said was inspired by The Beach Boys’ legendary album Pet Sounds, as well as brushes on a snare drum that underlie a piano, double bass and electric bass. “I wanted to keep the palette of sounds fairly natural drawing from folk music and 1960’s baroque pop as inspirations,”  he adds.

Adding to the authenticity are the locations that James used for recording the track. His ode to the comfort found in the natural world is recorded in the places he frequents, including his bedroom, friends’ houses, and college classrooms. In Particular, he arranged a recording session at his friend’s house just to record the single’s double bass. “I think recording outside of the traditional studio setting gives music a different context and quality.”

James Lloyd Smith · Lake Walk

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Domi Hawken - Water And The Wine.

Domi Hawken, London’s dark rock poet, has just released her second EP, Water And The Wine following the success of her debut Sociable Pariah. An emblem of her creative expansion and a testament to the deep well of influences she draws from, the evocative and haunting record is out now.

Armed with nothing but a VHS camera and an unflinching vision, Hawken has transformed her debut into a launchpad for something far more ambitious. Water and The Wine is a sonic landscape that varies from climactic instrumentation to vulnerable, exposed folk, showcasing Hawken's growth as an artist and her willingness to try new things artistically. Across three songs, the EP is a tour-de-force that demonstrates true versatility and flexibility from both Hawken and her band.

"With my first EP, we followed a system; I would write the songs, then Matt Robson and I would record it together, with him mostly trying to bring my ideas to fruition," she recalls. "With this second EP, we approached things differently, getting the other members of the band more involved. I remember recording a demo myself of 'Water And The Wine' and sending it to my drummer Cyprien Jacquet to see what he could do with my ideas. When he sent the first version back, he asked me, 'Is this what you wanted?' and I replied, 'No, this is so much better than what I wanted.' From that moment, I was a lot more relaxed with letting the guys put their ideas and their stamp on the songs."

Moving beyond her previous approach, Hawken has embraced a more collaborative method with her band members Matt Robson, Cyprien Jacquet, and Kobi Pham. The result is a grittier, more creative sound that benefits from the collective input of the entire band. While Hawken maintains her involvement in production, the process has become more collaborative, with Pham handling the precise mixing before Robson adds his signature rough edges.

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Dubmones - Scott C. Park - Emily Hines

Dubmones - Dubmones (Album).

This takes me back to Dread Zeppelin and in a good way. Rather than trying to be clever, the mixing of The Ramones and Dub actually breathes new life into both dimensions, it's subtle & in your face at the same time & like the aforementioned D.Z. works at all levels.

Inspired by theory: what if a punk rock band like The Ramones would have met at another part of the globe, but at a similar decade?

Inspired by theory: what if a punk rock band like The Ramones would have met at another part of the globe, but at a similar decade? What if they wouldn’t have formed in NYC but Kingston, and how would they had expressed their anti-stance while being inspired by Toots & The Maytals and King Tubby instead of MC5 and the Stooges? A probably bizarre theory – even though they all share a common origin that just took different paths at different parts of the globe: Rock’n’Roll.

But bizarre theories and creating a musically vision are nothing new to the Dubmones: emerged from the entourage of 2008’s dubXanne (The Police In Dub), this latest project does give an insight how it might have sounded if The Ramones would have created their songs in a different way, by still keeping its original attitude and band’s message.
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Scott C. Park - Rose Pink Sky.

Scott C. Park’s debut full-length, Crossing the Line (due 23 May 2025), is a raw, deeply personal body of work that lands with quiet confidence and undeniable authenticity. Scott allowed this record to unfold organically, creating an eclectic yet focused indie rock album, unburdened by genre expectations. There's a warmth and looseness here - think Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and early Pavement, but with a melodic sensibility that pulls from Nirvana and early Sheryl Crow.

Each track feels lived-in, performed with the synergy of a well-oiled live band rather than a polished studio machine. And while Scott cites influences ranging from John Frusciante to Courtney Barnett, the record feels distinctly his own, rooted in personal stories and shaped by a willingness to follow musical instinct rather than trend.

The album title Crossing the Line carries multiple layers, each explored with lyrical nuance. The first half of the album deals with the pragmatic slog of daily life and human experience, crossing the line from youth to adulthood, while the second half deals with the transition from faith to skepticism. It’s deeply autobiographical, but never alienating, Scott’s reflections are specific yet universally resonant.

One of the more poetic threads comes from his familial maritime tradition. “Crossing the line” refers not just to personal thresholds, but also to an old merchant navy ceremony for sailors crossing the equator, where roles are reversed and traditions are honoured.

Opener and last single ‘Rose Pink Sky’, is a meditation on the soul-crushing routines of adulthood, working a day job, chasing funding, holding onto creative dreams through the haze of fatigue. The lyrics are filled with wit (a huge ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ joke in verse two) and the guitar solo is, in Scott’s words, “like a slingshot rollercoaster launch”, exhilarating, explosive, and deeply satisfying.

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Photo - Ellie Carr

Emily Hines - My Own Way.

Nashville-based songwriter Emily Hines announces her debut album These Days, out August 1 via Keeled Scales. Today she shares the lead single "My Own Way." "This is the last song I wrote for the record. I wrote it on my porch in Nashville. I felt stuck in place and needed to sing myself out of it."

"This recording ended up playing an important role in shaping the sound of the album. At first, we weren’t planning to track any live drums on the record. We enjoyed playing with drum machines, and the cassette presented some challenges to recording live drums. But we got in an experimental mood one day and asked our friend John-Ruben Medina to play on it for us. We were so happy with how it sounded that it inspired us to record live drums on some of the other songs as well."

A self-described chronically-sincere farm girl, Hines grew up on a farm in rural Ohio before moving to Nashville where she played in other songwriters’ projects before recording her own songs on a 4-track cassette recorder.

Hines worked with producer Henry Park. Together they drew inspiration from acts like Duster, Laura Marling, and Karen Dalton to record simply and add layers one at a time.

Emily Hines · My Own Way

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Monday’s Monsoon - The Salt Collective - The Gentle Good

Monday’s Monsoon - Sink/Swim/Fly (Album).

As albums go, this is one of those that needs to be heard in full, rather than the odd track peppered in a playlist somewhere. Monday's Monsoon have delivered a standout album in the crowded market place of modern folk and indie music. In fact trying to put them in any one or two genres is difficult they cover far more than that, doing so with some beautiful, thoughtful songs and lyrics. Highly recommended by Beehive Candy.

About the band: Monday’s Monsoon are a London-based band weaving together dreamy, folky indie rock with introspective lyricism and soulful songs that traverse hope and longing. Drawing influence from artists like Elbow, Fink, John Butler, and Radiohead, the band has carved out a sound that feels both grounded and ethereal — built for deep introspection yet filled with roaring moments of triumph that demand to be shared.

Their music explores nostalgia, trust, and the quiet strength of human connection, wrapped in warm guitars and soaring melodies. Whether through headphones or on stage, Monday’s Monsoon create space for their audience to feel part of something both vast and comfortingly close.

Their recent album launch at The Amersham Arms marked a milestone in the band’s journey, cementing their reputation for captivating live performances — shows that crackle with energy, sincerity, and a sense of belonging.

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The Salt Collective - Last Day That We’re Young.

The international super group the Salt Collective returns with a six-song EP of fresh recordings due for release May 23. The groundwork for the new EP actually dates back to 2000, when Collective leader, Stéphane Schück, first met the late Scott Miller (Game Theory / Loud Family) in San Francisco, seeding the inspiration for the project.

The multifaceted Paris- and North Carolina-based ensemble kicks off the EP with the single “Last Day That We’re Young,” a recently completed, anthemic version of a beloved Game Theory song tracked initially in 2005 with Miller himself on guitar.

When asked about how this recording came to be, Schück explains: “We have to go back to December 31, 1989. The last day of the 80s. My friends and I had an important question to answer: What song were we going to leave the 80s with? We'd entered the decade at the age of 12 and were going to leave it at 22. This question consumed us for 6 months . . . until we all agreed it would be “Last Day That We're Young” by Game Theory. We launched the track at 11:58 p.m. and went into the 90s with Scott!

In 2005, when Scott came to France to produce one of my albums, I told him this story, which made him smile. I think it was quite an unexpected revelation. I couldn't resist asking him if we could play “Last Day That We're Young” together. Scott knew how important that song was to me. . . . We [hit record] and he played these two wonderful riffs."

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The Gentle Good - To Be in Summer.

Written in an off-grid cottage during a year- long residency in the Cambrian Mountains, The Gentle Good’s new album ‘Elan’ is a psychedelic portrait of the Elan Valley in Powys, Wales. Featuring songs in both Welsh and English, ‘Elan’ explores the landscape, history and politics of the valley, which was flooded at the end of the Victorian era to create a series of reservoirs for drinking water.

The third single from the album, ‘To Be in Summer’ is about the romantic notion of the rural idyll, how we are drawn to such places and fantasise about a never-ending summer. The song is partly inspired by the famous romantic poet Percy Shelley, who was so enchanted by the scenery of the Elan Valley he tried his best to move to there to live.

The title comes from the Welsh word ‘Hafod’, which translates literally as ‘to be in summer’. A ‘Hafod’ is a summer dwelling, linked to the traditional practice of moving livestock to the upland pastures in summertime. The practice, known as Hafod and Hendre (old town), was common for centuries in Cwm Elan. The new album ‘Elan’ will be released on the May 16th 2025.

The Gentle Good · To Be in Summer

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Penny & The Pits - The Boneshakers - Kacimi & Initials MB - Skinny Lister

Photo - Nicole Cecile Holland

Penny & The Pits - Pool Party.

Penny & The Pits is the new project from Maritime stalwart Penelope Stevens. Perhaps best known as one third of the feverish art rock band Motherhood, Stevens is also a vital organizer, collaborator and visual artist in New Brunswick’s weird art and music underground.

Liquid Compactor (album due out on June 27), the debut statement from Penny & The Pits, is the result of Stevens putting their voice front and center for the first time. It’s a gritty, adventurous punk-rock album that processes feminist joy, rage and revenge. Across the album’s ten tracks, Stevens tears through a series of personal and collective traumas with a pulpy sense of exuberance. “I spent a lot of time making challenging work that would test both myself and the listener,” they reflect. “Now, I’m trying to make music that feels good; music that connects the heart to the body.”

That connection is felt immediately on lead single ‘Montenegro On Ice’, a rollicking song about the lure of hard memories and the lengths we go to avoid them. It’s a heady number with a buzz on–confidently skewing the line between vintage Deerhoof and present-tense St.Vincent. ‘Pool Party’, the second single, is an allegorical surf-punk banger about solidarity. It portrays a badass group of femmes who ‘crew up in the deep end’ and ‘shave their heads like Sinead’.

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The Boneshakers - I’ll Kick A Brick (For My Man).

The Boneshakers are back with “Live To Be This”, their 11th studio album and their most electrifying release to date, dropping on July 18, 2025, via renowned Blues Label Gulf Coast Records.

The pair recently signed to Gulf Coast Records and have this to say: "This album is a love letter to the music that shaped us, gritty, soulful, and alive. In a world of digital perfection, Live To Be This is all about real musicians playing with feeling, and we couldn’t be more excited to have some of our favorite artists joining in on the fun as special guests.” – Jenny Langer. "Little did I know that Jenny and I would find ourselves in such great company via Mike Zito’s very cool Gulf Coast Records. Just beautiful, positive energy pouring from all involved, living for music and the musicians. A great new home for the Boneshakers! - Randy Jacobs

The new album follows the band’s previous chart-topping success with “One Foot In The Groove”, which dominated the US Soul Blues radio charts and reached #1 on the UK Blues radio charts. “Live To Be This” vows to bring a raw, electrifying energy that harks back to the band’s original sound, fueled by the emotive vocals of Jenny Langer, who joined as lead vocalist in 2020. Langer, an International Blues Challenge (IBC) winner (Best CD), brings her powerhouse vocals to the forefront, delivering standout performances across every track. Fans won’t have to wait long for a taste of the album, the first single, "I’ll Kick A Brick (For My Man)", just dropped on April 25, 2025.

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Kacimi & Initials MB - Dernier invité.

French chanson meets psych-pop elegance in “Dernier Invité”, the brand new collaboration between Kacimi and Initials MB. Just released (April 25) this bittersweet track blends vintage textures, lyrical storytelling, and timeless flair. A hypnotic invitation into their singular sonic world. his is the first of two joint singles, to be followed by “Aquarelle” on May 23rd. 

Both tracks were recorded in the heart of the French countryside, in Initials MB’s lair – an enchanting 18th-century house nestled in Nord-Isère. The music carries the aura of a life outside of time, blending cinematic pop, psychedelia, and garage rock, much like the two artists’ respective solo productions.

Kacimi and Initials MB go way back – to the buzzing Lyon rock scene of the late 2000s, with their bands The Rebels of Tijuana and The Small Ties. Now reunited, they’ve crafted two songs that started as instrumental compositions by Initials MB and were transformed into haunting lyrical pieces by Kacimi, sung in the language of Ronnie Bird and infused with his signature fuzz-driven sound.

“Dernier Invité” (Last Guest) is a fuzzed-out garage track that pays tribute to soldiers on the battlefield – a powerful and timely anthem in today’s troubled world. Here, the fuzz guitar returns as a sonic weapon for peace. Stay tuned for the second single, “Aquarelle” – a nostalgic English-style country folk song, where pedal steel and swirling organs evoke a faded memory from the late 60s.

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Photo - Josh Massie

Skinny Lister - Song From The Yonder.

Skinny Lister step into Spring with their chest-swelling new single "Song From The Yonder". With Lorna and Dan digging deep to channel their inner Kirsty MacColl and Shane MacGowan, the title-inspiring track of their upcoming new album, ‘Songs From The Yonder’, is a striking duet to stir the soul.

Set to a score of swaying celtic arrangements that lift and lilt the listener along their journey, the song acts as an open and earnest conversation between the couple about love, life, and longing.

Opening-up about "Song From The Yonder", Dan Heptinstall says: “‘Song From The Yonder" is a proper conversational duet between Dan and Lorna. It’s a song about longing and returning from distant travels to where the heart is. It’s also a song about looking beyond petty disagreements, putting things in perspective and embracing the things that connect us.

We’ve not properly explored this duelling vocal approach since "George’s Glass" from our album ‘Down On Deptford Broadway’, and it was a lot of fun to return to writing and recording a track with this kind of dynamic. It’s also a good companion to a track like "Six Whiskies" - with its ‘end of the night’ ‘drunken waltz’ feel.”

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North Mississippi Allstars - St. Catherine's Child - Fast Followers - Alexandra Alden

Photograph by Michael Emanuele

North Mississippi Allstars - Stay All Night.

North Mississippi Allstars return with Still Shakin’ on June 6, 2025 via New West Records. The 11-track album was produced by Luther & Cody Dickinson. Still Shakin’ follows their acclaimed 2022 album Set Sail, which No Depression said was “their most soulful, funky creation to date.”

To make their twelfth album, the North Mississippi Allstars went back to the beginning—namely, their 2000 debut, Shake Hands with Shorty. Luther Dickinson says, “Still Shakin’ is a celebration of our life-changing first album, which we released 25 years ago, and a love letter of appreciation to everyone who supported us and kept us in the game all these years. In the spirit of our debut, we recorded Mississippi classics that despite inspiring us to start the band in 1996, we have yet to record.  We also wanted to feature our fantastic band mates Joey Williams and Rayfield “Ray Ray” Hollman who inspire us to no end.

Their contributions elevate NMA to new heights.” Still Shakin’ is a daringly inventive expansion of that album, showing how much the Dickinson Brothers have grown in the last 25 years. The point wasn’t to re-create the sound of Shake Hands with Shorty, but to recapture that spirit of invention and excitement. Back in the day, the Allstars came up with the phrase "Modern Mississippi Music" to describe their collision of styles and attitudes: an obsession with Mississippi Hill Country and Sacred Steel cross-bred with their punk/psychedelic jams. Still Shakin’ embodies that idea with every note and incorporates wild explorations, weird experiments, and unexpected influences into their sound.

“Though always a Junior Kimbrough favorite, NMA has never recorded 'Stay All Night' until now, featuring Junior’s son Robert Kimbrough on vocals and guitar (recorded at Duwayne Burnside’s Juke Joint, just down the road from Junior’s old spot) and NMA bandmate Joey Williams (Blind Boys of Alabama) as well Jojo Hermann (Widespread Panic).”

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St. Catherine's Child - New Eden.

Transatlantic indie folk/Americana artist St. Catherine's Child (Ilana Zsigmond) released her touching new single ‘New Eden’ on April 25th, the second single off her highly anticipated debut album This Might Affect You, (out June 15th) following the release of ‘Negative Space’ last month.

Approaching the difficult perspective of romantic love in the face of grief, St. Catherine’s Child’s latest offering is a heartfelt piece which explores the chasm between crushing sorrow and joy from one’s partner. The suddenness of her father’s passing was the creative motivation for the single, stemming from the realisation that in spite of the anguish and pain, life has to move on no matter how dark. In a touching reflection, her signature wistful voice floats above tender indie-folk instrumentation as she navigates the importance of the people who helped her hope and dream while still grieving.

“New Eden is about meeting my partner mere months before I lost my father, about the uncomfortable dissonance that formed between such incredible happiness and utter sadness,” Zsigmond explains. “Life doesn’t ask you if you’re ready before it moves on, but that does mean hope and love spring absolutely eternal, no matter how dark it gets on the journey.”

‘New Eden’ will be the second offering from St. Catherine’s Child’s debut album This Might Affect You, set for release June 2025. A chronological journey through her experience with her father's illness and subsequent passing, the album's A-side documents the period leading to his death, while the B-side explores the aftermath and her healing process. In a departure from her previous solo writing approach, St. Catherine's Child orchestrated a collective catharsis, collaborating with ten different songwriters who had also experienced recent loss. "I just didn't think I could manage it by myself," she reflects. "It was just too heavy. I feel so much deeper in my community now because we've all made this thing together."

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Fast Followers - Figure It Out.

This really is a fine song, where creativity and natural talent combine. The lyrics engage, the band have the hallmark of session musicians making it all seem easy, the final result however is as mentioned a fine, no make that delicious and captivating song.

Emerging from the sonic chambers of DC's vibrant music scene, Fast Followers materialized in 2024 when a group of session players gathered in the studio during what witnesses describe as "the most fortuitous power outage in District history." This shape-shifting collective blends keyboard-driven melodies with an alchemical fusion of alt, prog and classic rock DNA, somehow managing to sound like the love child of a 70s radio station and a time-traveling indie band from tomorrow.

Their debut EP—birthed during a feverish weekend of instrument-swapping and triangle solos that the recording engineer claimed "didn't just fill the room, it transformed it." —captures the raw electricity that happens when classically-trained fingers meet garage band hearts. Fast Followers doesn't just cross decades; they fold the musical timeline into an origami crane and then teach it to play synthesizer. This is their invitation: tune in, turn up, and follow them down the rabbit hole.

"Figure It Out" by Fast Followers We've figured it all out: Chemistry, Telecommunications, Biology... Nothing's impossible anymore. Or is it? Will we ever reach our limit? This keyboard-driven track on the debut EP from Fast Followers has a bouncy vibe that hints at the fusion of musical influences that come together when this band powers up.

Fast Followers · Figure It Out

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Alexandra Alden - magnolia.

Malta-born indie artist Alexandra Alden returns with her evocative new single, ‘magnolia,’ a song that delicately explores themes of vulnerability, resilience, and cultural identity. The single is the first glimpse into her upcoming album When is it too late?, set for release this autumn.

The song’s genesis can be traced back to a romantic dawn encounter with magnolia blossoms in a small Welsh town, followed by a spontaneous night on Brighton beach during The Great Escape Festival. Just as the magnolia flower blooms before its protective leaves appear, ‘magnolia’ captures the fragile yet unwavering strength of stepping into the unknown. ‘magnolia’ celebrates beauty breaking through the cracks.

The accompanying music video is a collaboration with animator and director Gideon van der Stelt, the ŻfinMalta National Dance Company, and Malta’s Museum of Archaeology. Van der Stelt, whose work explores liminal spaces and isolation, developed a visual narrative that blends historic frescoes with contemporary movement, creating a dreamlike meditation on the anticipation before a performance. Shot during the 2024 edition of Intimate Żfin - coinciding with the inaugural Malta Biennale - the video showcases choreography by ŻfinMalta’s Artistic Director, Paolo Mangiola, illustrating the tension between stillness and transformation.

Alden’s upcoming album, When is it too late?, takes inspiration from Sylvia Plath’s fig tree metaphor, exploring the weight of choices and the paths left untaken. This deeply introspective collection follows her previous albums, Wild Honey (2018) and Leads to Love (2021), and represents her most fully realised work to date. Drawing on her multicultural upbringing and nomadic experiences, the album’s sonic landscape is a fusion of indie and ambient influences where British and American new-wave folk meets Mediterranean warmth, appealing to fans of artists like Laura Marling, Billie Marten, Adrianne Lenker, and Weyes Blood.

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