Ani Glass - Riverwoods - Nicki Bluhm

Ani Glass - Phantasmagoria.

Ani Glass ethereal new single ‘Phantasmagoria’  is out today 4th of July, it is the title track from her forthcoming second album. It comes with a beautiful and evocative video directed by Lowri Palfrey.

The single ‘Phantasmagoria’ weaves themes of water and sleep into a beguiling sonic landscape layered with mystical ethereal vocals invested with a restless need for stillness and comfort. Lush instrumentation is underpinned by synth pulses played by co-producer Iwan Morgan and swirling flutes played by Laura J Martin. “I’m the prophet of sleep and silence/Phantasmagoria/We’ll rest until summer” Glass sings touchingly, in the arms of chiming classical textures, there are echoes of early Goldfrapp or the enveloping vocal swoops of Enya. Yet, it’s a moment of warm, transcendent beauty and comforting self-realisation. Now we rest, the storm will pass.

In February 2020, just before the release of her debut album Mirores, Ani Glass (Cardiff-based artist Ani Saunders) was diagnosed with a rare benign brain tumour. The diagnosis marked the beginning of a personal journey that shaped her second album, Phantasmagoria (released on the 26th of September), a lush introspective concept album that delves deeply into her experience of navigating life with this diagnosis. With lyrics in Cymraeg (Welsh), Kernewek (Cornish), and English, as well as some BSL woven into her live performances,  Phantasmagoria brings together all languages and mediums at Ani’s disposal to express a poignant time in her life.

Crafting a elegantly drawn sonic world underpinned by electronica, samples and synth pulses yet informed by the spirit of Arthur Russell who inspired her to learn the cello, Glass crafts her most personal and inspirational work yet, she stretches her sonic tapestry with live instrumentation and innovative vocal performances, that push into the realms of the avant-garde and forward-looking pop, Phantasmagoria fascinates and invigorates at every turn, revealing intricate and innovative details with every listen.


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Riverwoods - Cruising (Feat. Jeanette Bengtsson).

"Cruising" is a classic soft rock tune about coping in the difficult times we live in, especially through somebody close to you. The song features brand new English lyrics by Jimmy Granstrom and Dave Prine to Lars Brundin's Swedish song "Du finns här" that he wrote with Herbert Tinz and Rebecka Molander. Lars is a singer/songwriter whose songs have been frequently played on P4 Malmöhus, one of Sweden's largest regional radio stations. His debut album Hotel Royal got a rave review by "Expressen", which is one of Sweden's largest newspapers. 

The singer Jeanette Bengtsson has toured the USA and Europe as part of the ABBA tribute band "Arrival From Sweden". She has also performed and recorded vocals with singer/songwriter Michael Stolt and his band featuring Roxette guitarist Jonas Isacsson. Jimmy and Lars also have a connection with Roxette, as their previous collaboration "Only Summer" resulted in airplay on the SiriusXM show "Nordic Rox" co-hosted by Per Gessle. 

Finally, Dave Prine came from a musical family (his "Uncle John" is indeed the legendary singer/songwriter John Prine). When he's not jotting down notes and chords, he works on endangered language revitalization. He's lent a voice to both the Navajo and the Ojibwe dubbing of Star Wars.

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Photo - Lauren Massie

Nicki Bluhm - Cumberland Banks.

Nicki Bluhm has just announced her eighth studio album Rancho Deluxe, due out October 3. A musical patchwork quilt that captures Nashville’s collaborative spirit, Rancho Deluxe finds Bluhm reflecting on well-earned lessons from nearly two decades in the music business. Along with the announcement, Bluhm shares her infectious new single “Cumberland Banks.” Laced with banjo (played by Mumford & Sons' Matt Mennefee) and dobro (played by Greensky Bluegrass' Anders Beck), it's a nod to her new home down South inspired by her time touring with the celebrated bluegrass group The Infamous Stringdusters.

Bluhm on the new song: "Canoeing down the Cumberland River was a favorite pastime of ours, until the day we found ourselves huddled under a bridge fearing for our lives in the midst of a Tennessee thunderstorm. This song is that story told in the form of a late-night summertime John Hartford and Roger Miller pick-along.”

Recorded as live takes over just five days, Rancho Deluxe takes its name from the Nashville home studio that Bluhm assembled with her co-writer, producer and partner Jesse Noah Wilson. Joined by first-rate musicians Kai Welch (Kacey Musgraves), Jess Nolan (Jenny Lewis) and Cameron Neal (Elle King, Shakey Graves), together they pulled from a swirl of influences, including folk-rock, western psychedelia and ‘60s West Coast soul music. The end result features songs that are rooted in resilience, relaxation and the relationships she's built with like-minded collaborators.

"This is a harvest record," shares Bluhm. "It's a collection of the fruits of my labor. I've taken all these life lessons and experiences, and I've learned from them. Jesse and I have an amazing arsenal of friends and family that we recruited to play on the record, and that interplay lends itself to a freedom in the studio. We were focused on catching the moment, being in the room together, and experiencing something communally."

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Himmelaya - The Indie Pea - Matthew Azrieli

Himmelaya - Lost Horizon (Album).

Time to take a trip to ‘Himmelaya’ – a new name, a new album (‘Lost Horizon’), a new collaboration between Astralasia’s Swordfish and friends - think motorik rhythms meet spoken word, kosmische meets krautrock. A huge project (spanning two LPs and a bonus double CD of extra tracks, alternative mixes and remixes that comes with every set) that has taken a long time to come together, with everyone contributing from their respective countries.

Over to Swordfish to explain things… ‘Himmelaya’ started with Jochen Oberlack (the man behind Bellerophon Records in Dusseldorf) getting in touch through Fruits de Mer. Initially it was going to be a purely instrumental project, but I wanted it to be more like classic era Ash Ra Tempel with Rosi from the 70s, something a little bit more.

Britt Rönnholm from the Swedish duo Us and Them (also Fruits de Mer Records regulars) was suggested to provide spoken vocals; it was well out of her normal comfort zone, but we both loved her voice, so it was all systems go. Although essentially a three-piece project, we have been blessed with friends’ and bandmates’ contributions, plus some bonus CD remixes by other artists, including nick nicely, Schizo Fun Addict and the Lost Stoned Pandas. 

One of the last pieces we started on - 'Shangrilaya' - was recorded at our slide player Pete Prakownik’s house; sadly he passed away the day after we recorded the gongs - its become a personal piece 'lost horizon' and taken its own course with twists and turns in its journey to Shangri-la (Britt’s vocals sum it up all up very beautifully).

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The Indie Pea - Echoes And Answers.

Following the warmly received debut The Questions, The Indie Pea is back with Echoes And Answers, the first taste of a new EP in the making. Vocalist Campbell Anderson explains: “There’s so much beautiful, unfinished material left from the sessions. We felt it deserved our full attention — and this single is proof of that.”

Echoes And Answers continues the band’s signature blend of shimmering indie rock and sweeping string arrangements. It’s a sound both grand and graceful — full of unexpected twists, yet instantly catchy. Their orchestral touches never overwhelm; instead, they elevate, adding cinematic weight without losing emotional clarity.

With this new chapter, The Indie Pea builds on the atmospheric depth and melodic vulnerability that made their debut so compelling. If this track is any indication, the upcoming EP promises to be something truly special.

TCBYML · The Indie Pea - Echoes And Answers

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Photo -  Joel Karim

Matthew Azrieli - I thought I saw you the other day.

This week singer-songwriter and founder of Baste Records, Matthew Azrieli presents his new single “I thought I saw you the other day”. A short and crisp tune containing melancholic vibes, the new track is now available to stream on most platforms. 
 
Inspired by folk-rock greats and coming straight from the heart, Matthew Azrieli’s “I thought I saw you the other day” is an intimate ode to missing an old lover or friend. A pensive, yet emotional tune clocking in at only one and half minutes, “I thought I saw you the other day” is the perfect bit of sonic sunshine needed on a dreary, rainy day. The new track is the second offering from the four track EP, Expectations, which is slated for release later this year.
 
Recorded by Jacob Cardinal-Lacroix (who received a Juno for his work with the band Half Moon Run), “I thought I saw you the other day” consists of twangy, alt-country melodies that also maintain a sleek, folk-rock demeanor. The forthcoming tracks on Expectations are sonic treasures that will hit instantly for fans of Mac Demarco, Father John Misty, and Bob Dylan.

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Ashley Monroe - Syante - Bliss My Heart

Photo - Erika Rock

Ashley Monroe - Magnolia.

Singer/songwriter Ashley Monroe has released “Magnolia,” the latest single from her forthcoming album Tennessee Lightning due out August 8 via her label Mountainrose Sparrow. Co-written with Waylon Payne and Brendan Benson, the new single arrives with an official video shot in Muscle Shoals, AL directed by Erika Rock. 

“Waylon Payne, Brendan Benson and I wrote this song back in 2015. It’s haunted me ever since. We were on a Bobbie Gentry train-of-thought that day… musing as to what she might be up to these days and talking about how much her music affected us. We let ourselves get deep into the Mississippi Delta. I definitely honed in on that part of my own soul. I like sleeping on sheets of satin too... but you sure can’t hide my gingham soul,” Monroe explains about the new single. 

About the video, she adds: "From the day we wrote this song, I saw the scenes I was singing about in my mind. And when it finally came time to shoot the video, I knew we had to go to the Delta. We didn't have time to go all the way to Mississippi, but we went to Muscle Shoals and with a little help from our friends, we were able to create exactly what I had envisioned."

Next month, Monroe will celebrate the 10th anniversary of her GRAMMY-nominated 2015 album The Blade with a one-night-only show at Nashville’s The Basement East on July 25, where she will perform the record in its entirety. In August, she’ll celebrate the release of Tennessee Lightning with a performance at The Grand Ole Opry on August 8 before heading to the UK and Europe for a run of co-headlining shows with Fancy Hagood.

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Photo - Chris Jensen

Syante - Save Ourselves.

Indian-American artist Syante is proud to unveil her solemn new single, “Save Ourselves”. Serving as her fourth ever single, the new track is now available on most streaming platforms via Future Youth Records. 

Underneath a glistening soundscape Syante sets the melancholic tone with her heavy lyrics, “It’s such a shame / paradise ablaze”. “Save Ourselves” was inspired by the recent wildfire tragedies that gripped LA, invoking a poignant message about treating our environment with more care. With mellow yet unwavering vocals, she delivers an earnest plea for listeners to wake up and realize the gravity of our situation. 
 
Syante speaks in greater depth behind the new single’s inspiration: “The inspiration for Save Ourselves began with a single moment that shook me: waking up in Los Angeles during the wildfires to a city blanketed in ash, the sky an eerie gray, and the air heavy with smoke. It felt post-apocalyptic — almost like waking up after a bomb had dropped. That experience made something click. It wasn’t just about climate change in the abstract anymore — it was here, now, and undeniably personal. That moment became the lyrical and emotional seed for the song. There’s a collective sense of apathy — a belief that someone else will deal with it, or worse, denial that there’s even a problem. This album is a direct response to that. It’s a call for accountability and awareness. It's about shaking people out of complacency.”

Created this May, “Save Ourselves” features a legendary contribution from Dr. Fink from Prince and the Revolution, with a majority of the production handled by his son, Maxwell Fink. Throughout the process of producing the new track, it was imperative that the soundscape mirror the haunting and emotional lyrics. As a result, the sonic outcome blends dreamy textures with haunting undertones, creating a delicate, yet beautiful track that contains a subtle darkness lurking underneath. 

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Bliss My Heart – Sinner Sinner.

A low pulse, a raw voice, a tension that simmers beneath every beat. In “Sinner Sinner”, Bliss My Heart delves into the murky space between desire and self-control, where vulnerability becomes a hidden strength.

Blending gritty rock energy with sleek electro textures, the track walks a tightrope between power and fragility — intense, haunting, and strikingly cinematic.

It doesn’t just play — it lingers, it breathes, it burns slow and deep.

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From the Dirt - Juliet Lloyd - Chwaer Fawr - Mollie Elizabeth

From the Dirt - Colored Edge of Memory (Album).

From the Dirt is an Americana band from central Maryland fronted by Daniel Kenny, with Jeff Karn (Mandolin), Megan Leigh (harmony vocals), and Eddie Dickerson (fiddle). Their harmony-soaked songs reveal Bluegrass, Celtic, Americana and rock & roll influences. The songwriting is imagery and wordplay, with songs of heartache, addiction, love, loss, and loneliness.

The new Album, Colored Edge of Memory  was produced and recorded by Jerry Brown (Doc Watson, Lucinda Williams, Watchhouse / Mandolin Orange, Steep Canyon Rangers) at The Rubber Room studio in Chapel Hill, NC. Guest musicians include Joseph Terrel (Mipso) on guitars, Joe MacPhail on drums and keys, Rick LeFleur (banjo), and Robbie Link (Townes Van Zandt) on upright bass.

In “Silver Maple Spinners” we hear a dream of a lost love - back as a ghost - set against a tense Celtic rhythm. “Afterwards, on the Greyhound” is an atmospheric tale of strangers, together in their loneliness, with a crescendoing outro of fiddle virtuosity. Bluegrass songs such as “Angeline” and “Trainwreck at the Bluegrass Jam” pick up the tempo and reduce the tension, while “Quitter” and “Trick of the Dark”, songs of addiction and loss,  raise it up again. “Luthier” is a tour-de-force anthem about the joy of playing music together, the beauty of woodworking, and the threads that tie us to those who have come before. 

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Juliet Lloyd - Reno Cure.

Ahead of her first ever UK tour starting next week, acclaimed US singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd just launched a new single ‘Reno Cure’. Written with and produced by Todd Wright (Lucy Woodward, Butch Walker, Toby Lightman), ‘Reno Cure’ is an epic, emotionally packed, Americana-tinged track that sees Juliet once again dealing with the ending of her relationship.

“I thought I was done writing about divorce,” says Juliet. “My last album, Carnival, was full of songs inspired by the experience of going through it, the aftermath, and moving on. Turns out I wasn’t quite done with the topic. Last year, I read a book about the famous “divorce ranches” in Reno, Nevada in the 1950s. At the time, Nevada had the loosest divorce laws in the country. All you had to do was reside in the state for six weeks, and you could get a no-fault divorce.”

Shortly after releasing her sophomore album in 2007, US-based singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd walked away from music completely for more than 10 years, feeling burned out and unhappy with her career progression like so many other independent artists. After going through a divorce in 2019 and in the midst of a global pandemic, she found herself pulled back toward the siren call of songwriting and again making the leap to pursue it full time. Her latest album ‘Carnival’, released in 2024, is in many ways the culmination of those decisions, and the reintroduction of an artist who now has the wisdom of experience.

There’s an unmistakable urgency you can feel when a song is written and performed from a place of complete honesty. That feeling permeates ‘Carnival’. “I’ve always been envious of writers who say they write songs because they have to, because they had these things they just had to get out of themselves,” Juliet says. “I had never really felt that way until this album. I’ve become someone who writes because they have to.”

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Chwaer Fawr - Diwedd (Album)

Chwaer Fawr is the solo project of 'Mari Morgan', known for her time with Rogue Jones, Bitw and Saron. Her debut album (released this weekend), oxymoronically titled Diwedd ('end'), is a quiet turning point marking both a conclusion and a beginning. Written and recorded slowly, at home and with friends, Diwedd grew organically and patiently. After years of playing in other people’s bands, this time it's her own quietly defiant voice that's front and centre.

Sung entirely in Welsh, Diwedd explores the tension between innocence and responsibility, between personal vulnerability and quiet resistance. It hints at the duality between the wonder of new motherhood and the anxiety of the modern world, threading in themes of peace, hope, and the urge to rise above it all. Birds and flight are recurring images throughout as symbols of freedom, fragility, and defiance. The album doesn’t seek resolution, but offers space to sit with discomfort, wonder and change.

Musically, Diwedd lives in a wonky, artful corner of alt-pop. It balances off-kilter textures with melodic clarity, gentle warmth and sharp detail. The record features contributions from a reliable circle of collaborators, including Llŷr Pari (Gwenno, Omaloma), Alex Morrison (Cate Le Bon, H. Hawkline), and Gwion Llewelyn (Aldous Harding, Villagers), with production from Gruff ab Arwel (Bitw, Y Niwl), who helps shape its tender strangeness.

Despite it's title, 'Diwedd' isn’t a full stop; rather, it’s the exhale after a long breath in. It marks the end of the slow, steady making of a debut, and the start of a more personal musical chapter. The album is both a personal journal and a quiet protest, not against one thing, but against forgetting what matters. It might not shout, but it stays with you. Sometimes, an ending is the most powerful way to begin.

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Mollie Elizabeth - Dirty Blonde (EP).

This weekend, the 21-year-old Washington State-based artist Mollie Elizabeth released her debut EP, titled Dirty Blonde via Neon Gold / Virgin Music. Known for her whimsical, melancholic, and empowering songs, the Pacific Northwest artist describes her music as “tiny worlds”, a refuge shaped by her upbringing in the Washington woods, suffused with old-Hollywood elegance and emotional depth. 

Mollie co-produced her newest song, “Doe Eyes”, along with her Dirty Blonde EP with Dean Reid (Lana Del Rey, Marina) and co-written with Reid and GRAMMY-nominated Casey Smith (Olivia Rodrigo, Ashe, Benson Boone). 

Mollie Elizabeth about her debut EP: “I always knew my first collection of work that I put out would have a story to it, a through line that connected all of the songs together. “Dirty Blonde” represents the tale of most every relationship I've ever experienced, romantic or otherwise - it starts out with a story of self love and discovery, taking yourself out for dinner and gathering crushes on the beach, before galavanting into the riptides of love and loss. I hope you can find your story in it too!”

Mollie Elizabeth · Dirty Blonde

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Abbey Lane - Freedom Fry - Rodney Crowell - Briscoe

Abbey Lane - Burning Out.

‘Burning Out’, is the latest dulcet single from Abbey Lane, out this week. With 13 years of experience behind her, Abbey Lane has developed a distinct voice marked by smooth instrumentals and masterful vocals, a combination that continues to turn heads.

Now, in her first-ever self-produced track, Abbey strips things back with ‘Burning Out’, crafting a gentle, intimate soundscape. Guided by soft synths and a subtle electronic beat, her delicate vocal delivery leads listeners through a song that is both minimal and emotionally layered  deep in its simplicity.

This meditative track allows the lyrics to take centre stage. Written for anyone feeling overwhelmed or unsure of their place in the world, ‘Burning Out’ offers solace and a moment of stillness in a chaotic world. As Abbey shares:

"This track is for anyone having a quarter life crisis. I wrote it in a confused time of feeling lost in my twenties, where some friends are getting married and having kids, others are living day to day travelling the world, and I was conflicted between knowing what I should want and where I should be."

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Photo - Michelle Shiers

Freedom Fry - Best Friend (Album).

French American indie-pop duo Freedom Fry has released their fourth studio album, Best Friend, along with the official music video for the album’s lead single and title track. Featuring chilling synths, psychedelic beats, and hypnotic vocals, “Best Friend” is a moody dance track about a toxic friendship. The spellbinding chorus features the playful children’s rhyme “cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye” setting the tone for the rest of the album. The accompanying video features paper mâché versions of the group’s members Marie Seyrat and Bruce Driscoll kidnapping the real versions of themselves a la the film Coraline.

“The album came together as we started setting old poems like Poe's ‘The Raven’ to music, exploring timeless themes through a darker lens,” shares Freedom Fry. “The title track ‘Best Friend’ perfectly captures that shift.”

Best Friend is an exploration of timeless themes like friendship and nostalgia through a darker lens, offering a slightly different vibe than the indie-pop Freedom Fry have become known for. The 8-track independent collection also includes the dreamy single “A Farewell,” which has been featured in Apple Music’s New In Alternative playlist. Full track listing below.

Based in Los Angeles, Freedom Fry is comprised of the married duo of the Paris-born Seyrat and U.S.-born Driscoll. Since the release of their 2018 debut album Classic, Freedom Fry has created their own musical universe – writing, producing, and recording their vastly growing catalogue. Freedom Fry’s songs have been remixed by the likes of Sofi Tukker and Penguin Prison and championed by KEXP, WXPN, the BBC, SiriusXM’s Alt Nation, Howard Stern himself, Billboard, Clash, Flaunt Magazine, NYLON, Vice, and more. The duo’s songs have also appeared across television and films, with their 2021 single “Le Point Zéro” featured in the film M3GAN. They also scored the music for the BAFTA Award-winning TV show Lovely Little Farm (available on AppleTV+) and wrote the show’s theme song “Animals.” Whether it’s an emotional folk ballad or a fun pop banger, Freedom Fry has an unquestionable knack for melodic mastery and catchy, timeless tunes.


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Rodney Crowell - Sometime Thang.

Rodney Crowell will release Airline Highway on August 29, 2025 via New West Records. The 10-song set was produced by Tyler Bryant and recorded & mixed by Trina Shoemaker in New Orleans, Louisiana. Crackling with live-wire energy, the album follows his 2023 Grammy Award-nominated The Chicago Sessions. The wise and vibrant Airline Highway features contributions from some of the most exciting young blues and country artists working today, all of whom count Crowell as a foundational influence. 

Ashley McBryde co-wrote and sings on “Taking Flight,” Lukas Nelson co-wrote and sings the opener “Rainy Days in California,” Blackberry Smoke guitarist Charlie Starr sings on “Heaven Can You Help,” while Rebecca & Megan Lovell from Larkin Poe add harmonies and slide guitar throughout. With a career spanning more than fifty years, Crowell is still questioning how and why he makes music, still setting new rules and quickly breaking them. “This record is a document of me falling in love with these musicians,” says Crowell. “That’s one of the great perks of this job—falling in love with the people you’re playing with. And we caught that on tape.” 

This week, album highlight “Sometime Thang.” has been shared. Crowell says, "Once upon a time a famous movie star made a move on my girlfriend. The mis-title (and spelling) came to me right away. The girlfriend and I have been married over three decades and once in a while the actor shows up in television commercials. No doubt the dude was handsome. But I never thought he was much of an actor. I'm just saying." 

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Photo - Justin Crook

Briscoe - Roughnecks.

Texas duo Briscoe announced the release of 'Heat of July', the bold new album, out on 19th September via ATO Records. Celebrating the great outdoors and their flesh-and-blood roots as husbands and family men, Heat of July marks a major sonic leap for lifelong friends Philip Lupton and Truett Heintzelman, the Austin-based duo known for their signature intertwined vocals and relentless touring alongside acts like Noah Kahan and Dave Matthews Band. 
 
Produced by Grammy-nominated Brad Cook (Waxahatchee, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats) and featuring a “folk supergroup” featuring Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange) and studio musicians who have performed with artists including Bon Iver, Houndmouth, and Hiss Golden Messenger.  With sweeping arrangements and vivid storytelling, the album elevates Briscoe’s raw, rootsy foundation into a polished folk-rock masterwork.
 
This week, Briscoe released 'Roughnecks', a song inspired by a photo of Truett’s great-grandfather, who made his living working gas lines and in the oilfields of Texas. “The song tells the story of a man who spends his long and strenuous hours of work in the fields reflecting on his past decisions and the girl he left behind, with instrumentation and lyrics that pay homage to the trades that are so integral to our Texas heritage”, stated Truett.

The track is a perfect introduction to the new sound from a fully-formed duo chasing down a broader horizon. An album written while on the road, as they travelled across North America, playing everywhere from Canada to Cancun. "We learned how to write music from behind the wheel," Philip says, thinking back to the show-filled schedule that helped transform Briscoe from Texas' best-kept secret into national torchbearers of timeless American Roots. Adding, "Coming up with melodies in our heads, without a guitar or piano nearby, was a necessity for us during those tours. We were on the road so much that we had to become more mobile with the creative process." 

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Jeanines - Haunted Like Human - Michael Lane

Jeanines - How Long Can It Last (Album). 

This is a gorgeous album that we had the pleasure of receiving a couple of months back. For Beehive Candy this ticks so many positive boxes, therefore without any further words lets skip to the background and we hope you get to love at least some of these songs: Skep Wax Records are delighted to be teaming up with Slumberland Records (US) to release a new album from New York indiepop heroines (and hero) Jeanines, How Long Can It Last. 

Over the course of nearly a decade making music, Alicia Jeanine and Jed Smith have charted a distinctive course through the history of pop, evoking influences as varied as the 60s folk of early Fairport Convention and Vashti Bunyan, the sunshine pop of Margo Guryan and Laura Nyro, and indiepop touchstones like Dear Nora, Marine Girls and Dolly Mixture.

The new album finds Jeanines grappling with themes of personal upheaval and self-excavation, adding weight to their finest set of songs yet. With Alicia’s lyrics incisively interrogating connections, ruptures, and time and its reverberations, songs like "Coaxed a Storm," "What's Done Is Done," and "On and On" combine rich melody with co-composer Jed’s crisp arrangements (along with contributions from longtime live show bassist Maggie Gaster) to stellar effect.

Where How Long Can It Last really shines is, as always, in the songs.  While the themes are sometimes heavy, the melodies and harmonies are simply heavenly, elevating these economical songs to give each the feeling of a lost classic.  From the first notes of opener "To Fail" to jaunty closer "Wrong Direction," this album announces itself as the work of a band in full command of their art (and craft).

Jeanines · How Long Can It Last

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Haunted Like Human - Married in Savannah.

Mythology evokes images of gods, titans, demons, and beasts of every kind. Yet, it’s the spark of humanity that keeps us telling and retelling myths. It’s these stories of seduction, inheritance, and hubris that Nashville-based folk duo Haunted Like Human rekindle in the 14 songs on their third album American Mythology, out October 17th. 

Since the release of 2021’s Tall Tales & Fables, Dale Chapman and Cody Clark have been refining their sound rather than departing from it.The result is a shapely set of songs that borrow from universal lore in order to reveal intimate truths. “I feel like it’s my background in fiction that really started us down the path of centering storytelling. It’s what I know and instinctually reach for, and we’ve found a way to make that a cornerstone of what we do,” says Chapman. 

Take lead single “Married in Savannah,” out today June 27th. It’s a bittersweet folk-pop number about watching someone close to you change. The themes are universal whether describing a lover, a friend, or anyone else. “What a shame to see a wild thing be tamed,” Chapman sings, their voice akin to Florence Welch’s mezzo-soprano. Grounded in the context of Southern religion, the song offers rich details about the chapel’s blue stained glass and the groom “shining like his family name.”

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Photo - Melissa Lane

Michael Lane - Lovely.

Lovely" is a song born from a rain-soaked silence — a tribute to the unseen, the abandoned, and the tender grace of those who keep believing in love, even when the world forgets their name.

At the heart of this piece is Lovely, a soul with a scarred past and gentle eyes, rescued not only from the storm but from the long ache of being unwanted. Diggersworld, a haven nestled in the quiet countryside, becomes more than a refuge — it becomes a poem of belonging. A place where weary paws find soft earth, and where trust, like spring, slowly blooms again.

This song is a lullaby for the broken, a homecoming hymn for all creatures who have waited too long. It's a reminder that every being — no matter how small, how weathered — deserves to be held, to be cherished, and to finally sleep without fear. "Lovely" is not just a song. It is a soft promise. A doorway. A wag of the tail in the dusk. A heartbeat that whispers: You’re safe now. You’re home.

Successes such as two top 50 songs in the German charts, four albums, international tours and the single "Liberty" as the official song of the Four Hills Tournament 2015/2016 made the German-American famous. Several songs have already found their way onto Spotify, Apple Music and TIDAL editorial playlists, and are featured by well-known tastemakers such as Alex Rainbird Music, Starbucks Playlists and Double J Music. In addition to his work as a musician, Michael Lane is currently also active as a songwriter for Production Music and as a music producer in his remote "Studio Waldblick“.

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Dubmones feat. Earl 16 - WILDES feat. Tonguetied - Margaux Regan

Dubmones feat. Earl 16 - I Believe In Miracles (Dreadzone Remix)

Here it is and we are very proud about it. Dreadzone and the remix of I Believe In Miracles…; what an anthem !

Dubmones producer André Meyer (production, bass) and Manougazou (production, guitar) were happy to work on Ramones In Dub, The third official single release of the album was by “I Believe In Miracles” feat. Earl 16 (member of Dreadzone). 

Now Dreadzone remix strikes again. Nuff said – let us Dub.  

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WILDES feat. Tonguetied - Wipe Away The Tears.

London artist WILDES (Ella Walker) has this week shared the new track 'Wipe Away The Tears' feat. Tonguetied. 'Wipe Away The Tears' conjures a kind of shimmering mist where WILDES’ voice cuts through the delirium, before seeming to surrender to it. It walks the line between fantasy and reality. Drawn from the aftermath of a relationship, she began writing it when her ex appeared for all the world to be doing better than ever on social media; the truth of his feelings was now unknowable to her, far beyond her reach. 

Ella explains: "A direct address to a very important relationship, Wipe Away the Tears asks many questions I never actually received answers for. Radio silence often prompts confusion and curiosity, especially when the person in question was so significant in your life. Co-written and produced with Elena Garcia (Tonguetied), this song exudes the hurt, anger and chaos of this relationship as it was being taken away from me".
 
“Tell me something, tell me straight / If you’re so scared of losing me / You cut me off despite your face / Do you like to numb the pain?”
 
WILDES found meteoric success as a 19-year-old with her debut single 'Bare'. A preternaturally gifted singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, her voice cast a long, unforgettable silhouette across haunting musical landscapes. She would go on to release two highly acclaimed EPs, 'Let You Go' and 'Illuminate', which won the West London artist streams in the tens of millions; she would be mentioned in the same breath as London Grammar, Mazzy Star and PJ Harvey. Walker’s reimagining of 'Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right'' even caught the attention of Bob Dylan himself, who passed on his compliments and invited her to his show. 

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Margaux Regan - Nothing's Gonna Hurt You.

Rising singer-songwriter Margaux Regan dropped her debut single "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You" on June 20th, marking her official entry into the music world with a deeply personal anthem that transforms vulnerability into hope.

Carried by her tender and wistful voice, Margaux Regan arrives with her signature ability to craft relatable songs straight from the heart that feel like intimate conversations with a best friend. Her debut single is a tender country-pop track that serves as both personal catharsis and universal comfort, anchored by an instantly memorable chorus hook that showcases her natural gift for melody. The track's centerpiece—a gentle, ascending melodic line—mirrors the song's uplifting message while Margaux's vocals float effortlessly over warm acoustic guitar progressions.

Drawing inspiration from Zach Bryan's narrative storytelling approach in "Tourniquet" and the evocative title of Cigarettes After Sex's "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby," Margaux created what she describes as "a lullaby for someone going through hard times." The song emerged from one of the most challenging periods of her life, written as she began to rediscover joy after battling depression for nearly a year.

"I wanted it to be country and have a catchy chorus but also have the emotional aspect," Margaux explains. "It's about offering comfort to others who might be struggling, using music as a way to say 'you're going to be okay.'"

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AJ Rosales - Her Mountain Majesty - Far Caspian

AJ Rosales - Phasedrift.

AJ Rosales sixth album entitled Phasedrift has just been released. With a slightly more organic approach to production, these songs showcase the diverse palette that he is known for, while venturing into sonic territory that signifies drifting towards a new musical identity. Five singles have been released already: Phosphene, Leitmotif, Happenstance, Wait, and Thunderclouds! You can hear his previous releases: Manifestations, Ultramarine, Resistor, the Earth and Shoal EP, and Daughter Product (Fatigue), which have all garnered critical acclaim.

AJ's style is not easy to classify, but his progressively acoustic tendencies tend to dominate his compositions. His rhythmic, expressive and emotive delivery gets peppered with experimental colors, and an infusion of soulfulness. He draws comparisons to Pete Townshend, Cat Stevens, Nick Drake, and Bob Mould, however he delivers his own unique hybrid sound, blending multiple genres into a cohesive and modern sensibility that sounds like "AJ". 

Phasedrift was engineered by Doug McBride at Gravity Studios in Chicago and mastered by Greg Calbi (Lou Reed's Berlin and David Bowie's Young Americans) and Steve Fallone (Evermore by Taylor Swift) at Sterling Sound in Edgewater, NJ. All songs, instruments, and vocals by AJ Rosales.


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Her Mountain Majesty - Above the Water (Album).

Above the Water, the debut album from indie rock/folk band Her Mountain Majesty, is now available on all streaming platforms. With echoes of Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and Brandi Carlile, the record delivers a fierce, emotionally charged soundscape rooted in lyrical honesty and soul-stirring grit.

Written and fronted by singer-songwriter Andi Lee Scher, Above the Water is an unflinching portrait of grief, healing, and personal rebirth. Recorded live over just four days at Bear Creek Studio, the album pulses with raw urgency—capturing the energy of a band in perfect sync. From the aching vulnerability of breakout track “Too Hard to Love” to the triumphant closer “Bread,” the album chronicles a journey through the wreckage of an emotionally abusive relationship toward a hard-won sense of self. Along the way, listeners encounter confessional anthems like “Above the Water” and “You Can’t Save Me (Church),” songs that don't just seek resolution—they wrestle, unravel, and rise.

“Above the Water is a celebration of resilience, healing, and a renewed commitment to self after wading through the messiest part of my life,” says Scher. “Many of these songs were written in the middle of the healing process and feel like they revealed themselves to me to tell me what I needed to hear in moments of deep grief, heartache, and uncertainty. Despite its dark undertones, this album serves as a reclamation of self, a rebuilding of life, and a return to the thing I love most – music. As I sing in ‘Made Up My Mind,’ ‘I have weathered all these storms, and by god, I’m gonna sing these songs.’”

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Far Caspian - Autofiction (Single).

In between Far Caspian’s 2021 debut LP Ways To Get Out and 2023’s acclaimed follow-up The Last Remaining Light, Johnston established his own label–Tiny Library Records–to release music from artists he often collaborates with, including 22° Halo, SOMOH, and Niall Summerton. Shortly after, he also set up his own recording studio in Leeds, UK (his current place of residence), where he produces and mixes for a number of UK-based acts. This work with other artists, while unrelated to the album, proved to be a vital step in the making of Autofiction. 

While Far Caspian is performed live as a six-piece, Johnston has spent years writing, producing, and recording a full band production for it all on his own, and that began to take a mental toll. With a mounting feeling of stress and pressure, he nearly decided to quit his own project; but after producing albums for Green Gardens and Ellur, Johnston’s spark for Far Caspian reignited. Newly inspired to enjoy the process, he returned to some demos he had started for Autofiction and completed the majority of the album in January 2025. 

Johnston used his new studio experience to approach the making of the album with a fresh mindset: “After producing Ellur, I was able to just say to myself: ‘I’m going to produce this Far Caspian album now. I’m presenting myself with these demos I’ve had for a while. Let me see what I can do with them as a producer, not as a songwriter.’” With influences ranging from Broken Social Scene to the Japanese band Supercar, the instrumentation of Autofiction feels light, textured, and always energetic. It was recorded entirely in Johnston’s studio, where he himself produced, mixed, mastered, and played every instrument heard on the LP.

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Natalie Holmes - Kramon feat. Meredith Adelaide - Kerala Dust - Rachael Sage and The Sequins

Natalie Holmes - Bird Song.

Alt-pop artist Natalie Holmes is set to release her highly anticipated second album, Opposite Day, on 17/10/25. Following the success of her debut self-produced album, Vitamin Be (2022), Natalie’s new project takes listeners on a kaleidoscopic journey through the paradoxes of human existence. Like Alice down the rabbit hole, we tumble together through accidental worlds of style and sound that mirror the disorienting beauty of being alive today.

Reaching her arms wide, ’Opposite Day’ involves a team of outrageously talented musicians - Boci, violin; Rob Pemberton, drums & mix, Alex Heane, bass & William J Stokes, co-production - Holmes proudly prepares to release this collection of genre- blurring alt-pop that ping-pongs between introspective ballads and upbeat anthems. With influences ranging from Caroline Polachek & Aurora to The Japanese House & Bon Iver, Opposite Day continues to showcase Natalie’s signature blend of ethereal vocals and thought-provoking lyrics.

Prepare to be taken through a sea of strange yet magical imagery with ‘Bird Song’, as Natalie hits on the strange concept that whenever we are feeling low, someone else is feeling high. Perhaps there’s a give and take to it, and we are constantly passing around the baton of joy. Quirky vocal samples and weaving classical guitars lure you into this clockwork fantasy of snow rooms and birds nests, moving through worlds of vocoder, lush drums and ethereal pads.

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Kramon - Morning Vapors feat. Meredith Adelaide.

This weekend singer-songwriter, renowned tv and film composer, and multi-instrumentalist Kramon returns with dreamy new single, “Morning Vapors”. Available on most streaming platforms, the track is a luscious groove paying homage to the healing powers of Mary Jane.

What began as a hazy stoner’s anthem, “Morning Vapors” quickly turned into a re-evaluation of life conceptions and what it means to connect to a higher power. Invoking feelings of escapism and tranquility throughout its sonic haven, the new track is a mesmerizing offering filled with abstract lyrical quips and psychedelic 70s guitar rock sounds. Together, the blistering drum patterns of David Goodstein merge fruitfully with Meredith Adelaide’s smooth vocals, creating a captivating listen for all. With production styles casting a backdrop filled with indie pop surrealism, the vocals of Hunter Hawkins and Meredith Adelaide can be compared to those of Mazzy Star or Beach House.

What makes the upcoming album Evolutions unique is that it is entirely a collaborative effort between various musicians from different generations. Its main contributors are Hunter Hawkins and Meredith Adelaide, whose vocals and lyrical excellence spruce up each track, creating a refreshing vibe throughout. At the helm of the project is the incredibly talented Josh Kramon– who’s primarily known for composing the soundtracks behind some of television's most notable screenwriting (Veronica Mars, High Potential, iZombie, Lethal Weapon). Just recently on May 14th, Josh proudly accepted his second BMI Award for Film and Television, due to his aforementioned contributions.

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Photo - Andrin Fretz 

Kerala Dust - The Orb, TX.

Kerala Dust have just shared a new track, "The Orb, TX", the latest to be taken from their forthcoming third album, An Echo Of Love, released via Play It Again Sam on August 22. Alongside the new single, the band has announced details of a huge North American tour. Having previously released album tracks "Bell" and "I Remember You A Dancer", "The Orb TX" is a gritty blend of electronica, blues, and psychedelia. 

Fresh off a headline tour across Europe and standout sets at Printworks London and DGTL Amsterdam, the trio continue to captivate with their signature live energy. Previous support from BBC Radio 6 Music, Clash, and KCRW has cemented them as genre-blurring innovators. This track deepens the groove, inviting listeners into a cinematic desert rave.

Talking about the track, Kerala Dust said: "The Orb, TX is about shedding the past, loss, and seeking love over and over again."

Kerala Dust’s new album, An Echo of Love, is a dynamic blend of art rock, electronica, and Americana, reflecting constant change and musical experimentation. The album’s fluidity is mirrored in both its shifting lineup—adding keyboardist Tim Gardner and drummer Pascal Karier—and its diverse recording locations, including Tuscany, Austin, Berlin, Zurich, and Rome. Lead member Edmund Kenny describes the album as capturing a state of mind, shaped by his personal experiences, especially after a tumultuous period following the band’s 2023 tour.

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Photo - Anna Azarov

Rachael Sage and The Sequins - Just Enough.

Alt-folk-pop singer-songwriter Rachael Sage and her longtime band The Sequins have released their upbeat new single “Just Enough” from their upcoming full-length album Canopy – out later this year via MPress Records. “Just Enough,” a self-produced, starry-eyed love song that peddles positive vibes with a neo-folk flair replete with wah guitar and ‘60s-style backing vocals and handclaps.

“‘Just Enough,’ at first listen, seems like a romantic love song and, to some degree, it started out that way when I was first writing it,” shares Sage. “But the longer I’ve played it live out on tour, the more now it feels like it’s equally a mantra to oneself about being enough as you are: lovable enough, accomplished enough, attractive enough, smart enough… all the things that a best friend or any loved-one might acknowledge in you are truly, unconditionally and authentically enough. The song has also just got a fun, groovy, and lighthearted feel to it musically and my hope is it gets everyone up off the couch, dancing and feeling as free as possible. I think we all need that right about now!”

Sage’s upcoming album Canopy is equal parts emotional exhale and invitation to a more compassionate future, as well as a masterclass in radical inclusivity and self-acceptance. Featuring recently released title track “Canopy,” which imagines a world where shelter is a given for everyone rather than a luxury for some, the collection offers a much-needed musical reprieve from our current cultural upheaval. “Creating safety and inclusivity in times of divisiveness can be a radical and powerful act; it takes courage to stand up for justice and for our fellow human beings,” Sage adds. “Acceptance, inclusivity and safety are big themes on my forthcoming album Canopy.”

RachaelSage · Just Enough (Single Version) [feat. The Sequins]

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Greta Gaines - Pharmacists - Nelson Bragg

Photo - Stacie Huckeba

Greta Gaines - Coming to Fruition.

Greta Gaines is excited to announce the August 29th release of her new album. Bird Before Light. To get the party started, she has released the first single, “Coming to Fruition.” About the track Greta stated, "I wrote this song in direct emotional response to my older son leaving for college. It's a bittersweet song about the joys of having all of your hardwork in child raising come to fruition mixed with the grief that comes with letting go. "I'll miss your sunshine, but you can't stay all mine"  is a line of resignation in the song timged with pride and hope. I know that it's time for my children to fly from the nest, I just want them to feel how much they are loved here at home before they do."

Gaines has never been content to pursue any single or solitary endeavor. An acclaimed singer, songwriter, activist, extreme sports competitor, mother, and mentor, she has always been driven by determination, craft, and creativity. With eight critically acclaimed albums to her credit, she’s taken on the role of a trailblazer courtesy of her various and varied activities and initiatives. In doing so, she has consistently challenged herself, drawing inspiration from her own emotions and personal perspective while also allowing her fans and followers to reflect on their ideas, instincts, and imagination. 
 
The new album, Bird Before Light, is no exception. “It’s about getting out of my comfort zone as a songwriter, one who typically writes alone and in solitude,” she explains. “It explores certain themes that I find myself wrestling with in midlife — empty nesting, newfound anxiety, resistance to change, grief, and betrayal — while also pursuing faith, finding the simple joy that comes with sharing time with old friends, and immersing myself in the beauty of nature and the natural world.”  

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Pharmacists – In the Middle.

Pharmacists return with their fourth single, In the Middle - a poignant, introspective track that gently explores themes of trauma and hope. 

Songwriter Will Porteous penned the piece following the loss of his father, Mark, who passed away after a six-week battle with meningitis when Will was just 22. Before that, Will endured the emotional toll of boarding school, an experience that left lasting scars. The opening lines of the song confront this pain head-on.

At its heart, In the Middle is about holding on to whatever joy and hope remain, and finding a space both literal and emotional - for refuge and reflection.

Pharmacists have forged a powerful combination with a blend of soaring choruses and emotionally raw lyrics that resonate with the real-life journeys so many face. This is indie rock at its most honest and moving.

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Nelson Bragg - Mélodie de Nelson: A Pop Anthology.

Big Stir Records proudly joins forces with Nelson Bragg to bring you the definitive career summary of the acclaimed LA singer-songwriter's catalog. The new album  Mélodie de Nelson: A Pop Anthology will be out June 20 on Vinyl, CD and Streaming worldwide. The record is far more than a “Best Of” collection: featuring the all-new indie hit single “We're Gonna Laugh About It” along with rarities and freshly remixed tracks, it's Nelson's handpicked assortment of the best power pop tunes from his solo catalog, each one a radio-ready stunner.

Nelson Bragg is a beloved fixture of the LA pop scene, known to international audiences (and Beach Boys fans) for his years as part of the Brian Wilson Band during the late-career renaissance that yielded the definitive edition of the legendary SMiLE album. He's also served as an essential collaborator on drums, percussion and vocals for an array of local and global pop luminaries like Stew & TNP, Anny Celsi, Chris Stamey, The Mockers, and legendary Wrecking Crew members Hal Blaine, Don Randi and Jerry Cole. Along the way, he's created and released a trilogy of acclaimed solo albums: Day Into Night (2006), We Get What We Want (2012), and Gratitude Blues (2021).

Those albums serve as the starting point for the new collection, but there's much more to it than a simple roundup of popular favorites. The title Mélodie de Nelson may be a cheeky nod to Serge Gainsbourg, but the music it contains evokes the best offerings of Bragg's personal pop pantheon: The Beach Boys and The Byrds, of course, but also college rock titans like The dB's, R.E.M. and Bob Mould. “Melody” is certainly the operative word, and the songwriting on display makes a strong argument that Bragg is now, and has long been, one of its most gifted practitioners.

“For this collection, I wanted to focus on pop songs,” says Nelson. “I felt that I could release the best power pop album ever if I focused on that genre only out of my catalog. So while this is technically a 'Best of Nelson' or a 'Greatest Hits' or whatever silly title one could use, what it really is, is the best of my pop and folk rock. I think that makes for a better album and listening experience. These songs hang together pretty well, and proud I am of them!”

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