Kitchen Lover - Haerts - Lavendine - Plain Mister Smith

Photo - Haydn Gwyn

Kitchen Lover - There Goes My Brains.

Brighton-based punk risers Kitchen Lover release the new single 'There Goes My Brains', ahead of the anticipated upcoming debut album, The Circus Sideshow Dream (due out September 19th).

Produced by Erik Miles (known for his work with SOFT PLAY, Baby Dave, Kate Nash), ‘There Goes My Brains’ highlights the band’s quirky, playful yet intense and driving punk aesthetic. The tracks grungy, fuzzy, garage rock guitar tones comparable to Queens Of The Stone Age, contrasts against a more loose and urgent delivery that harks back to classic 70s punk, resulting in a short and punchy, sub 2 minute fizzer. 

Speaking about the single, the band explain: “Cut from the same cloth as the man with the darkest heart, this boy can’t comprehend why his part time-lover won’t comply with his late night booty calls. The type we’ve all been victim of and probably perpetrator of too. The desperate little boy, completely unaware of his feelings, can only scream in despair and anger as his mind overloads with insecurity.” 

With support across the likes of Punk News, Earmilk, Notion, The Punk Site, Psychedelic Baby Magazine and New Noise as well as landing Amazing Radio’s A-list and heavy radio rotation across Europe and the US, the band have quickly established themselves as one to watch as they build towards the release of the album. The upcoming album ‘The Circus Sideshow Dream’ is due September 19th with Erik Miles not only producing the album but also contributing bass, organ, keys, and guitar throughout the record.  

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Haerts - The Lie.

This week, indie duo Haerts release “The Lie,” the second single from their upcoming album Laguna Road, alongside an evocative new video directed by longtime collaborator Julian Klincewicz (Beyoncé, Virgil Abloh, Tame Impala, etc.).

“The Lie” is an ode to bandmates and life partners Nini Fabi and Benny Gebert’s youth — a memory of young love — its freedom, its weight, and its strange wisdom. “It’s about the dreams and the pain that brought us together,” says Fabi, “the same forces that at times tore us apart.” Klincewicz’s video strips the visual down to raw emotion.

Julian Klincewicz adds about his creative partnership with Haerts: "Working with Haerts has been my longest running music collaboration, and one that always reinvents itself naturally - whenever I hear a new song, whatever direction it pulls, I always feel something deeply personal that inspires something visual, and there's always a two way understanding between Nini & benny. Sometimes it's a simple as a portrait - slowed down to feel every nuance of emotion. Sometimes it's like pulling a thread. With this video - the song strikes some deep personal chord, and there's a nakedness - uncovering one's emotions, just like taking off make up in the mirror."

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Lavendine - Who Cares If I’m Alone.

Pop-rock duo Lavendine made up of sisters Jacy and Jana Ayers released their most commanding single yet yesterday, “Who Cares If I’m Alone,” is accompanied by a visually stunning lyric video. This isn’t just a song, it’s a reckoning. Born from betrayal and forged on grit, the track is a defiant stand against dependence, silence, and settling for less.

Crafted with Grammy-nominated Mark Needham (Fleetwood Mac, The Killers, Imagine Dragons, Stevie Nicks) behind the production and mixing, and vocal production by Ed Seay (Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Blake Shelton), Lavendine rips the curtain back on isolation—and turns it into a war cry. Because sometimes, the strongest, bravest move you can make…is walking away.

“We’re beyond grateful that Mark Needham got his hands on this song,” Lavendine shares. “It had been sitting in our archives for a while, but we knew it was something special—and Mark brought it to life in a way only he could. He tracked, produced, and mixed the song himself, giving it the gritty, unapologetic rock edge it always needed. This track is one of our personal favorites because it captures the essence of our journey—the pursuit of our calling, even if it means walking the road alone. It also showcases the rock-infused sound we’re passionate about and plan to dive even deeper into moving forward.”

Lavendine continues “When we were writing this song, we were in a lonely place after so many hurdles and disappointments. But somehow, it birthed a knowing—that we weren’t going to stop, even if it was just her and I standing at the finish line of our calling and destiny. We realized we didn’t need a crowd. We just needed peace. Even if that meant being alone.”

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Plain Mister Smith - Miss Sunshine.

After a stretch of creative “bunkerdom,” Vancouver-based musical wanderer Plain Mister Smith emerges with “Miss Sunshine”, the first in a series of new singles leading to a full-length album set for a 2026 release.

Out now across music platforms, “Miss Sunshine” channels the quirky charm of Tame Impala and Pulp while nodding to the emotional precision of The Smiths and Howard Devoto. The track captures a bittersweet sentiment familiar to many: the heartbreak of watching the kindest, sunniest soul you know get taken advantage of and wishing you could help them see their worth.

Shimmering with a buoyant blend of psych-pop textures and breezy acoustic charm, “Miss Sunshine” by Plain Mister Smith beams with radiant optimism. With John Raham (Destroyer, Frazey Ford) on drums, Plain Mister Smith handling all other instrumentation, and a mix by Chris Perry, “Miss Sunshine” is a lush, kinetic ride through swirling strings, jangly guitars, and melodic twists. 

Built on a lilting guitar riff and dreamy melodic layers, the track evokes the golden glow of a late summer afternoon, spinning tales of hope and renewal with effortless warmth. Plain Mister Smith’s gentle vocals float through a rich sonic landscape, where vintage flair meets modern sensibility, offering listeners a sweet dose of lightness after a period of creative intensity. As the first of a string of new singles, “Miss Sunshine” signals a vibrant reawakening for the artist and invites the world to step into the sun alongside him.

Plain Mister Smith · Miss Sunshine

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Kissing Other ppl - BABAL - Margaux Regan - Interstella Boy

Kissing Other ppl - Kissing Other People.

kissing Other ppl, is the team-up of rising indie-folk artists Rachel Baiman and Viv & Riley. Together, they made a gorgeous, indie-folk album of interpretations of a variety of choice covers. The band is kicking off a two-leg tour, the first in August and the second in October, and it includes a set at western MA’s Arcadia Folk Fest. The artists combined have a monthly listenership of some 160,000 on Spotify alone. 

As the three began working out an arrangement for Lennon Stella’s “Kissing Other People”, sitting cross legged on the floor in Griffith’s living room, Griffith stealthily placed microphones, as well as a vintage camcorder in the room. What emerged was a completely live take of the song, organic and full of magic. The recording set the tone for what followed, an 8 track album of covers ranging from cult favorites like Magnolia Electric Company, Dr. Dog and Joan Armatrading, to modern but lesser-known writers like Waylon Payne.

With Griffith’s influence, the project explored more analog, indie and grunge sounds than any of the individual artist’s previous work. The recording captures the beautifully uncaged feeling of the collaboration, as Leva switches to playing drums for “Hold on Magnolia”, and Baiman plays a wildly dissonant guitar solo on “Woncha Come On Home”. Every idea was attempted, and every song was captured in real time.

Kissing Other PPL is a project about openness to exploration, collaboration, and creativity above technicality. It finds a trio of accomplished musicians that seeks to unlearn boundaries of perfection and find the best sound for the given song in the given moment.

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BABAL - Running In The Gutter (Album).

'Running in the Gutter’ is BABAL’S 13th album, but the first to be released by Fruits de Mer Records. The band will be unveiling the LP at this weekend's 'Son Of Sardonicus' festival in Cardigan this weekend.
 
“Could it be argued that Crass are joining force with Cardiacs to deliver a Beefheart take on Byrne? Possibly, but instead of attempting to work out the influences and wonder how to describe them, instead say this is classic BABAL with the band putting their troubles behind them and being at full strength. 

Long may they continue as for prog to survive it needs to be as uncompromising and challenging as this.” - Kev Rowland: Prog Archives.

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Margaux Regan - Radio Silence.

Following her successful debut, rising singer-songwriter Margaux Regan drops new single "Radio Silence" today August 8th. 

A reflection on unrequited love and longing, the power-building ballad is emotional in its progression and resonant in its vulnerable themes. From piano clad verses and poetic lyrics to a powerful chorus and standout bridge, the track achieves a range of moods and moves seamlessly through different tempos. Margaux’s voice impresses with sweet layered harmonies and strong belts that serve to enhance the track’s raw emotionality. Careful production and a mix of ad-libs and sound effects make the track a dynamic pop anthem.  

With “Radio Silence”, Margaux explores feelings of both jealousy and uncertainty. The track’s intense bridge declares, “I have a million questions that now you won’t answer / Like are you with her / You left me pacing in my own mind / Oh I bet you have someone you call.” 

Inspired by Gracie Abrams’s momentous hit “I love you, I’m sorry”, Margaux set out to create something relatable in subject matter yet unique to her own personal experience. “I wanted a strong bridge and a change of beat or tempo change… I wrote (Radio Silence) after having been ghosted by what I had believed to be a situationship, while still not having gained any clarity and still being confused where our connection stood,” says Margaux of the track’s inception. She continues on today’s dating culture, “I think this happens too often in our generation and I didn’t know any song talking about it that I could aggressively cry to.”

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Interstella Boy - Life In A Seaside Town.

It was during the lockdown that Richard Williams, sometimes ‘Will’ or ‘Dil’ began writing poetry and prose. He had a 38 year career in Mental Health as a CPN but had been diagnosed with a severe life limiting lung disease. It was suggested that singing may have a good therapeutic effect on the illness, so the poems became songs.

It was a chance meeting with Adrian, Paul Edwards’ father, where it was suggested that Paul may help Richard with his songs. His first album called Interstella under the name of Dil Williams was well received and clocked up substantial global airplay. It was a meeting with local music commentator ‘Stag’ Marks where it was suggested he change his name to Interstella Boy.

Under that name a second album ‘Terminal Earth’ was recorded, featuring the hit single ‘Warm Love’. ‘Anvil Sand’ is Interstella Boy’s third album with ‘Waiting for the Ding’ the first single release. A lovely textured layered vocals. However, it is ‘Life in a Seaside Town’ the focus track that stands out,  as we reminisce about time's gone, with 70s/80s welsh holidays by the seaside, compared with the current state of our beloved 'Porthcawl' - A music video created by TIWN's Kaysha Louvain features her very own family cine camera footage of her grandparents, uncles and mother that has encapsulated the essence of the song.

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Clover County - ARK IDENTITY - Jon Nolan & Good Co.

Photo - Luke Rogers

Clover County - Good Game.

This week, emerging Georgia singer/songwriter Clover County releases the new single “Good Game” from her upcoming debut LP Finer Things, out September 26 via her own label Undercover Lover Records in partnership with Thirty Tigers. Co-written by Will Taylor of Hovvdy (who also provides background vocals), the song finds Clover taking the high road — wishing her ex well with a dash of ‘bless your heart’ irony instead of putting him on blast.

“‘Good Game’ was inspired by a D-3 college athlete with a god complex — someone my friends and family couldn’t stand, and honestly, neither could I by the end,” shares Clover. “I was deep in his insecure manipulations for way too long, and breaking free felt like winning a championship. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of a breakup song, especially since, right after we split, everything started falling into place for me…while he moved back into his parents’ basement. So I leaned into a ‘bless your heart’ kind of energy – wishing him well, because Lord knows he’ll need it.” 

Produced by Carrie K (Noah Kahan, Maggie Antone, Koe Wetzel), the album is a coming-of-age soundtrack that explores romantic, familial and platonic love with a winking charm and an observing eye. Already, Clover has shared the album’s first single “Virginia Slim,” which arrived last month alongside the album announcement. Equally inspired by the classic country of Dolly Parton and the ‘90s rock of Sheryl Crow as she is by her contemporaries like Waxahatchee and Hovvdy, the album blends the twang of timeless country songwriting with tongue-in-cheek observations on modern love. 

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Photo - Maggie Kane

ARK IDENTITY - Can't Stop Loving You.

Toronto indie pop singer-songwriter and producer ARK IDENTITY returns with "Can't Stop Loving You," a confessional, melancholic new single that captures the ache of a love that lingers long after it's ended. The track is the latest offering from the artist's upcoming EP Deluxe Nightmare, out October 24th.

Drifting between dreamy textures and vulnerable lyricism, "Can't Stop Loving You" leans into the still-burning embers of a past connection. For Noah Mroueh, the artist behind ARK IDENTITY, this song cuts deep. "This song captures the bittersweet ache of a love that just won't fade," Noah shares. "It's a raw, honest look at the lingering feelings after a breakup, the kind where you're trying to move on but your heart keeps pulling you back."

As with much of ARK IDENTITY's work, the soundscape is immersive and hazy—pulling from dream pop's ethereal textures and indie pop's emotional immediacy. Lush synths wrap around sparse percussion and Noah's soft, aching vocals, evoking the solitude of late-night drives or quiet moments of reflection.

"This song is incredibly personal for me. It's about that universal feeling of trying to move on from someone you deeply cared about, but realizing a part of you just can't let go," Noah explains. "That 'crack in the pavement' moment, where something small triggers a flood of memories – I think everyone can relate to that."

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Photo - Roland Nicol

Jon Nolan & Good Co. - Sea Glass.

Today, Jon Nolan & Good Co. released “Sea Glass,” the latest single from Slow Cooker, Nolan’s forthcoming album with Good Co., his band of hometown friends, out September 19 via Strolling Bones Records. On the album, the New Hampshire native underscores his relatable storytelling with eloquent folk-inspired songcraft accented by flourishes of country and rock brought to life during cozy and relaxed jam sessions which took place in his hometown of Newmarket. Released alongside a gorgeous, heartfelt music video, “Sea Glass” beautifully captures this spirit using imagery of ocean-worn glass and driftwood to reflect on how love, grief, and time shape who we become.

The music video stars two of Portland, Maine’s most respected and prolific musical figures—Jon Roods (Rustic Overtones, Paranoid Social Club) and Anna Lombard (Gypsy Tailwind, Love by Numbers)—and was co-directed by Nolan and Jay Boyington. Boyington’s rich, cinematic style brings the beauty of Maine as a spectacular backdrop that’s as layered as the song itself. The story of the video follows a fictional romance between a lobsterman (Roods) and his mysterious new neighbor (Lombard). What begins as a lighthearted and visually lush montage of new love evolves into a more emotional journey—mirroring the song’s metaphor of sea glass: once whole, then broken, reshaped by time and turmoil, and ultimately rediscovered with even more beauty.

“Sea glass is a lovely metaphor for life and relationships,” says Nolan. “Not everything that is beautiful is built in comfort. Trust is so often built in repair. Things get broken and tossed around by the world, and still come back more interesting, more textured, more valuable—that felt deeply human. Jon and Anna brought that to life with incredible heart. They are fierce and fearless creatives. I’m so happy they were willing to join me in this endeavor.”

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Saintseneca - Dear Boy - Sons of Sevilla - Alex Krawczyk

Photo - Nick Fancher

Saintseneca - Sweet Nothing.

Saintseneca just released the official video for “Sweet Nothing,” the second single from their forthcoming album Highwalllow & Supermoon Songs that will be released on October 31 via Lame-O Records. The band also announced they will support Bright Eyes on tour later this month, marking a full circle moment as they reconnect with Mike Mogis who mixed the new album.

About the song, frontman Zac Little explains: “On my honeymoon, years ago, I found this little riff. It seemed to lead somewhere, but the edges rolled off into nothingness - a faded out map. I’d find fragments and try to line them up to no avail. Disparate states that just almost match up - but not quite. Like how you can tell the continents used to touch. I laid it in the drawer to sleep. 

The big heavy things - transcendent, effervescent, crushing, or crushing. It’s hard to find a tune buoyant enough to carry them. Then Patti Smith’s dream cowboy paid me a visit - straight off the M Train, and blessed me with a chorus. ‘I’m sure I could write endlessly about nothing. If only I had nothing to say.’” 

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Photo -Jaxon Whittington

Dear Boy - After All.

The latest offering from LA indie rockers Dear Boy is a barn burner.  "After All" (featuring Alithea Tuttle of Rocket) is just out, and reunites the band with producer Aron Kobayashi Ritch (Momma, Been Stellar, Snail Mail). The single also serves to announce the arrival of their sophomore album, Celebrator, set for release on October 17th via Last Gang Records.

With its swirling vocal harmonies, louder than life guitars and Ben Grey’s distinctly clever yet emotional wordplay, "After All" captures what makes Dear Boy so beloved in Southern California, while pushing the band into new sonic directions. The sound is reminiscent of 90’s Brit Pop and Alternative, but is also on the bleeding edge of modern rock and roll.  And for lead vocalist Ben Grey, the track is a long-overdue addition to their catalog: "It is crazy to have been a band for this long without contributing a primal-teenage-bedroom-rock riff. Happy to finally right a wrong."

The collaboration with fellow LA alternative band Rocket brings a layered vocal chemistry that elevates the track into dream-soaked territory. The partnership stems from a genuine friendship that runs deeper than music. "We first played with Rocket on New Year's Eve a few years ago and became fast friends. We're both from the Valley, went to the same pre-school, a tale as old as time," Grey explains. "But truly, they're an important band, and I think Alithea has one of the defining rock voices of this generation. We feel so honored she sang on After All. It's the Catherine Wheel/Throwing Muses moment we've always dreamed of."

The lyric-forward single is bittersweet in its captivating breakdowns and emotional hook, with the track moving through powerful dynamic variations and catchy melodies. The words, somehow both contemplative and untamed at the same time. “I feel everything / It’s better than nothing / I want coffee rings / On my future coffin.” With a stadium sized anthemic chorus and the song’s shoegaze-kissed textures, "After All" channels the moody pulse of '90s Britpop and fuzzed out Alternative through a modern LA indie lens—a perfect fit for fans of alt melancholia with a nostalgic edge.

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Sons of Sevilla - Street Light Moon.

Today, Sons of Sevilla the UK duo have released "Street Light Moon" the title track of their upcoming album, out on September 6 via Ubiquity Records. Produced by GRAMMY-winner Adrian Quesada (of the Black Pumas), "Street Light Moon" is an eclectic piece that paints the tripped-out picture of a nighttime sky, who's moon has been replaced by a burning street light. 

Charting their own musical geography, the duo of brothers drew from an entire world’s worth of influences: the family-owned British pub where brothers Henry and Reuben Smith grew up, watching their parents sling drinks as songs by John Prine and J.J. Cale played over the speakers; the marina in Gibraltar where they spent three weeks aboard an old fishing trawler, writing the album's songs as waves splashed against the dock; to the recording studio in Austin, Texas, where they recorded Street Light Moon.

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Alex Krawczyk -  Love Through Sound.

This is all we know, so this is all Beehive Candy can tell you (beyond we think this is a fabulous song). Alex Krawczyk is a singer-songwriter from Toronto, Canada. 

Her debut album Le Olam came out in 2022. She has released several singles and is working on a new album. 

Love Through Sound is her newest single and is was written as a thank you song to the Grateful Dead for their many decades of inspiring music. 



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Portland - Cane Rouge - Levi Robin

Photo - Titus Simoens

Portland - Champain.

Portland, the indie band led by Jente Pironet, announces their new album Champain this week and immediately releases the title track. While the latest single "Lay Me Down" was a grand-sounding pop gem with expansive guitars, "Champain" floats quietly in the opposite direction. Jente sings softly and thoughtfully, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, while producer Tobie Speleman (Blackwave., The Haunted Youth) adds extra color to the song with his vibraphone, and the rhythm section sounds delightfully crisp.

"Champain" is about raising a glass to a happy ending at the end of a dark period. But what if the journey was too intense? What if it was all just too overwhelming? Can you really celebrate with a big smile when the wound heals but leaves a deep scar?

The new album Champain will be released on November 7 through [PIAS] Recordings. It’s an album that wears the scars of recent years on its sleeves, but at the same time expresses an irrepressible zest for life. It reads as an utterly honest travel diary of a wandering soul, from stage to hospital to writing desk and back again. Of falling—hard and deep—and getting back up again. Of a singer and a band who persevere. And the result shows: Portland has never sounded more energetic, mature, and rich than on their new record. 

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Photo - Phil Roberts

Cane Rouge - Lights Out.

Newcastle’s rising alt-rock trio Cane Rouge deliver raw emotion, explosive energy, and bold evolution on their sophomore EP, Lights Out, dropping Friday 10th October. The EP’s title track, Lights Out, has just been released as a single and video.

Formed in 2023, Cane Rouge bring together the formidable talents of Ant Clarke (vocals/guitar), Dale McGee (drums), and Joe Harrison-Brown (bass). Fusing 90s grunge grit, punk urgency, and a touch of indie edge, the band have quickly carved a name for themselves through high-octane live shows and an unapologetically raw sound.

Since their live debut in April 2023, Cane Rouge have been turning heads across the North of England. Known for their intense stage presence and emotional delivery, they’ve earned praise in local tastemaker mags like NARC. and DIRGE, while receiving consistent airplay on SparkFM, Nova Radio, FutureHits, and BishopFM—a testament to their growing buzz in the UK alternative scene.

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Levi Robin - When The Sun Comes Out.

The new single "When The Sun Comes Out" from acclaimed singer-songwriter Levi Robin, has been released today. The new track "is a triumphant farewell to darkness and deceit, embracing truth, peace, and the healing power of kindness." He further confides, "It speaks of a brighter future—a time when the clouds of confusion and contradiction will part, revealing a world where honesty flows freely and our hearts sing openly."  "When The Sun Comes Out" is a beautiful and soul-stirring stripped down indie folk embrace. 

Levi Robin's journey of exploration and curiosity has taken him down many roads. The soul-baring folk artist’s distinctive musical style combines deeply personal and transformative lyrics with emotive stirring vocals, creating a sound that is filled with meaning and connection.

Growing up in Orange County, California, as a teenager Levi became deeply dissatisfied with what he and many describe as “the conveyor belt trajectory of the school system.” With nothing but a shirt on his back and guitar in hand, he took a chance on a different path - a musical one. Levi confides, “From being a runaway to encountering eastern spirituality, from psychedelia to unearthing my own ancient Judaic roots, songwriting has been a uniquely integrating constant.”  Songwriting became a powerful way to translate his deepest feelings into melody and verse. Taking inspiration from an eclectic array of artists including Bach, Stravinski, Mingus, Hendrix, Dylan, Beck, Gaye, D'Angelo and Radiohead, and more, Levi Robin creates his own mindful and genre-defying musical releases. 

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La Nouvelle Musique - Monterey J - Rachel Ruzumna - Cassidy-Rae

La Nouvelle Musique - La Nouvelle Musique (Album).

London based duo, La Nouvelle Musique, mix psyche folk elements with an ethereal vocal style that falls somewhere between Vashti Bunyan, Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star) and Nico. Made up of husband-and-wife Joanna Beck and Ian de Silva, the baroque orchestration on some of La Nouvelle Musique’s songs also reflects a big screen aesthetic. Singer/Bass Player - Joanna is also a composer and performance artist who creates electro acoustic music, sonic art, and has scored for theatre and film. 

Production wise La Nouvelle Musique work as a self-contained unit, writing, recording and producing their music at Berwick Street Studios in Soho London, where Ultravox recorded 'Vienna' and The Sex Pistols made their version of 'My Way'.  

Their self-titled debut album, which follows their recent acclaimed ‘Premonitions’ EP, is a sumptuous and haunting collection of deeply effecting tracks that drips with nostalgic mysticism. The album was released on vinyl on 30th June via Fruits de Mer to much acclaim, including a rave 5-star review from Shindig Magazine and is now released digitally, alongside new single ‘Spirit Level’.

‘Spirit Level’ is a hypnotic song about the passing of time and the difficulty many people face day to day just to keep their emotional equilibrium. It’s also about the beauty of nature and how if we sometimes take a moment to focus on it, it can give us a sense of perspective and peace. The track operates in a Velvet Underground style psych-rock territory, with an epic wall of effervescent electric guitars kicking in as it wildly escalates. 

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Photo - Alessandro Favero

Monterey J - Welcome 2 South London (Album).

South London-based jazz and neo-soul songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Monterey J just released his anticipated sophomore album Welcome 2 South London.

An ode to the sprawling creative underbelly of South London, the album features some of the best talent from south of the river, aiming to champion and tell the story of a thriving artistic community. As well as his own saxophone, bass, guitar, piano and synth work across the album, the album features a cast of talented instrumentalists; Joey Robbins (drums), Tay Harvey (bass), Dan McConkey (tenor sax) as well as as guest appearances from Telica (guitar), Marika (vocals), Hillarynx (vocals) and Southsidefinn (rapper). Fronted by Monterey J’s own elegant vocals and brilliant alto sax work, the album captures a series of compelling, groove orientated tracks. 

Recorded across Cable Street Studios and Lightship 95, and produced by Grammy-nominated Teo Marangon (best known for his work on Keyon Harrold’s Foreverland), Welcome 2 South London showcases rich musicality - from its sprawling jazz flavoured instrumentals, to melancholic, melodic and inventive songwriting that capture a true and pure essence of artistic creativity through rich soundscapes which bring together elements of neo-soul jazz and R&B. 

Speaking about the album, Monterey J explains: "This project tells the story of my personal experience in the creative community of South London. After producing and recording my previous album almost exclusively on my own, I decided to experiment with the process of collaboration, treating these songs as if they were a story told by a multitude of different voices. In my experience, South London is a place of great artistic freedom with a touch of healthy competitiveness and I really wanted to share my journey through music showing both the highs and the lows of navigating through an exciting time of my life in the city. 

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Rachel Ruzumna - Sunday Blues.

Indie-soul artist Rachel Ruzumna just unveiled her evocative new single, “Sunday Blues.” The song offers a candid and intimate glimpse into a quiet, soul-searching Sunday morning—marked by solitude, a lingering hangover, and the emotional echoes of the night before.

Written in the aftermath of a night that left her emotionally bare, “Sunday Blues” channels the unvarnished weight—both physical and emotional. “It’s that heavy, hollow feeling,” Ruzumna shares. “Where you just want someone, anyone, to be beside you, even if you don’t know who.”

With unfiltered lyricism and soul-soaked vocals, “Sunday Blues” captures the bittersweet beauty of longing. More than a reflection of a single moment of sadness, the song stems from a lifelong sensitivity to the emotional weight of weekends—when the high of Saturday fades into the quiet ache of a spent, yearning Sunday. “Since childhood, Sundays have always felt hard for me—filled with that creeping dread of the week ahead, of endings and beginnings and quiet loneliness,” says Ruzumna.

“Sunday Blues” blends melancholic melodies with soulful instrumentation, offering a sound that is both soothing and heart-wrenching. It’s a meditation on vulnerability, a soundtrack for anyone who’s ever felt the ache of needing comfort in a world that’s too quiet.

Rachel Ruzumna · sunday blues

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Cassidy-Rae - Good Day.

Good Day is the new single from Cassidy-Rae and it delivers the hit soundtrack to better moods, brighter mornings, and unforgettable sing-alongs. The song you didn’t know you needed! 

Cassidy-Rae is an artist to watch with mesmerising vocals, an electrifying stage presence, and authentic performances on guitar and keyboard. Her talent has earned her accolades like the Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards Best Female Vocal 2022, ICMA New Female Country Artist 2023 and Gympie Muster Talent Finalist 2023.

Described as "one of country's most energetic young talents" by KIX Country, Cassidy-Rae's journey has been marked by success after success. From winning Sutherland's Entertainer of the Year to achieving back-to-back number one iTunes charting singles, she’s a rising star with an unstoppable momentum.

Her singles have graced popular playlists like Spotify's Fresh Country, Apple Music's Today's Country, and Aussie Country, just to name a few. She's been featured on Top 30 charts, premiered on Country Music Television, and gained attention from esteemed publications like CountryTown Australia and Amnplify. Her success went global when USA’s country music singer-songwriter & ACA’s New Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett, raised a glass joining the ‘Cheers Y’all’ movement.

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moonsea - Indigo Syndicate - Cedarsmoke - Yndling

Photo - Barbara-Luyza

moonsea - Power Cut.

moonsea invites you into a flickering world of feeling with her new single 'Power Cut', released yesterday. Born in Manchester, UK, moonsea spent her school years in Auckland before moving to Melbourne in 2013 to study medicine, where she began to experiment with music production and released two EPs under her first artist project Sympholily: Lights (2017) and Baby Blue (2020). Since then, she's blossomed into moonsea and found her signature sound: a blend of classical, electronic and pop rock sounds soaked in nostalgia. 

Her newest single is a tender ballad with an old soul, pulling you into its universe with bird-like synths twittering over lilting keys and guitars. 'Power Cut' is easy to get lost in, with its ephemeral layering, vivid storytelling, and moonsea's angelic vocals. This single feels like a slow dance, an intimate moment between two people who were meant to be.

A love song to the magic built into the mundane, 'Power Cut' pays homage to the romance that can be found in all parts of life with the right person, and makes a wish for it to never fade. 

"As a child I always felt there was something a bit exciting about a power cut… in those hours of darkness, huddled on the living room floor with our half-burned candles, it felt like time had stopped and we’d entered an alternate reality. This was a universe for telling secrets and holding hands, and I had the distinct feeling that anything might happen. I imagined what it might be like to be in such a situation with someone you were secretly in love with… The rest of the song blossomed from there."

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Indigo Syndicate - Wondering Why.

Indigo Syndicate’s “Wondering Why” offers a charming, reflective take on life’s unpredictability - questioning how we end up where we are, why certain things happen, and holding on to the quiet hope that things can still change. Inspired by a true story, the song opens with a jazzy, floating guitar that immediately sets a chill, yet contemplative tone. It’s the kind of track that gently pulls you inward, inviting you to reflect on your own journey, your dreams and your detours, as the lyric, “Hopes higher than the price I paid, to change my tires, bleeding dry, could barely fill my tank,” hits with quiet honesty.

With this release, Indigo Syndicate reminds listeners they’re not alone in the struggle. “We wanted people to hear this song and relate to how hopeless following your dreams can feel sometimes. It's not the happiest topic, but at the same time, it's meant to help others feel less alone when the world is getting them down.”

It’s a message that clearly resonates. With four features on “New in Alternative” this year alone, and their last two singles landing on Live Nation’s “Ones To Watch,” Indigo Syndicate continues to strike a chord with a growing audience that craves substance as much as style.

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Photo - Thomas Oliver

Cedarsmoke - Picasso Blue.

Fall into the melancholic waves of 'Picasso Blue', the newest single from Cedarsmoke, which was released yesterday. The single comes with the announcement of their third full-length album, 'Under The Rainbow', out October 31. Since their 2016 debut, Cedarsmoke has left their impact on the Brisbane/Meanjin folk scene, with radio plays the country and attention from iconic music platforms such as Triple J, Triple J Unearthed, Double J, MTV,  Pilerats, The Music, AU Review, AAA Backstage, Hysteria Mag, Scenestr and more. Most recently, Cedarsmoke had the pleasure of supporting Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey at the Gold Coast's Home of the Arts.

With storytelling front-and-centre in their songs and their genre-bending sound that drifts between folk, indie, and country, every single release is an evolution of their sound.  The second taste of their upcoming album is 'Picasso Blue'. Inspired by Pablo Picasso’s Blue Period, it begins with the suicide of Picasso’s friend, Carles Casagemas, and then ripples out into other art forms like the works of James Joyce, Stanley Kubrick and Miles Davis. 

The sombre nature of the blue period is reflected in the song, with its slow country guitar, hazy vocals, with a musical howling in the background that lends the song its lonely feel. This song marches on through the face of adversity, with its muted, slow drumbeat, taking on an almost dreamlike quality. Singer-songwriter Jon Cloumassis shares that, 

"Musically, this song was a chance to experiment. As each verse was set in a different world lyrically, the aim was to pair the new setting with a new arrangement, dramatically shifting the sound from a gentle melancholy to an experimental psychosis. "

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Yndling - Fences.

In anticipation of her upcoming sophomore album Time Time Time (I’m in the Palm of Your Hand), Yndling released the new single “Fences” yesterday August 1st. An insightful reflection on self-isolation and inner struggle, 'Fences' considers how rumination can be a hurdle on the path to recovery. The track strikes a balance between echoing electronic effects and ethereal organic instrumentals, retaining an atmospheric sound in its development. Producing a range of light and swirling vocals, Yndling explores the patterns of introspection that can become self-defeating, as she recognizes that real improvement can be counterintuitive.

In her own words Yndling explains, "Fences is about self-isolation and kind of the patterns your brain works itself into when you're struggling with those kind of emotions, and how your mind works against you sometimes. It's produced with a blend of programmed and live drums, giving the verses a claustrophobic feel whilst the choruses open up."

Clad with ascending chord progressions and eccentric effects, the monotonous, anxiety-riddled verses open up to an airy and more hopeful chorus. Yndling's sweeping voice prevails through a soundscape of shimmering synths and soothing electric guitar riffs. Produced with a blend of programmed beats and live recordings, the track is both emotionally raw and rooted in atmospheric electronica.

Yndling · Fences

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Ben Arnold - Ezra Bell - Pearly* - Larches

Photo - Andy Bilinski

Ben Arnold - Catch The Lightning.

Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter Ben Arnold has announced that his new album XI will come out on September 26 via ALP Recordings. Produced by Shane Smith (Los Lobos, Amos Lee), the roots-rock record finds the longtime musician bridging the gap between personal insights and universal statements. Along with the announcement, he released the first single “Catch The Lightning,” which combines anthemic heartland rock with early ‘90s power pop to reflect on Arnold’s decades-spanning journey so far. He also shared the official music video, which utilizes Artificial Intelligence to portray Arnold’s experience growing up in Center City Philadelphia, falling in love with music and doing whatever it takes to make it work. 

“‘Catch The Lightning’ was the last song sung and mixed for XI, and it obviously came not just from my own nostalgia, but also a sort of self-helpy viewpoint,” shares Arnold. “Slowly acknowledging the possibility that if I allow in all the colors of the rainbow, after all the shit storms, then maybe I can walk the path forward with a little more ease and satisfaction. It's probably the most orchestrated song on the record, and I couldn't be more thankful for my buddies Shane Smith and Barrie Maguire who helped me to get my vision more into focus.”  

Arnold wrote the songs on this record between his hometown of Philadelphia and hotel rooms in upstate New York where he began traveling every month to visit his terminally ill mother. The grief and introspection of this experience found Arnold turning his gaze both inward and outward, penning songs about the personal battles he was facing himself as well as tracks about the current state of our country that live in the same world as the folk protest songs of the 1960s. No matter which category they fall into, they all feel pertinent to this specific time in Arnold’s life. Sonically, the album finds Arnold pulling from folk, blues, soul, rock & roll and classic pop for a distinctly American sound – taking inspiration across musical traditions, genres, time periods and places.  

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 Photo - JCPenney

Ezra Bell - Tommy’s Lullaby (New Video).

Ezra Bell, one of the 21st century’s most organically successful folk/Americana bands, has released the official music video for their single “Tommy’s Lullaby.” The somber track was first released in August 2024 just weeks before the unexpected death of the band’s lead singer and lyricist Ben Wuamett.

Since their inception over a decade ago, Ezra Bell has created its own sound featuring an unusual mix of street-hard lyrics with folk-pop and Americana sounds sprinkled with elements of rock, blues, jazz, and R&B.

“The song is a conversation with God,” shares the band. “Tommy, our bass player, came up with that beautiful bass part and Ben's words just started flowing. The music video captures the loneliness that hides in plain sight. Even in a room full of people, we are often alone. God's message to us: a love like ours is better from a distance.”

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Pearly* - Not So Sweet.

Pearly’s cathartic title-track second single, ‘Not So Sweet’ navigates the feeling of realising a person is not always as good as they appear to be. While lyrics were written by a 17-year-old Phaedra it sat for years until guitarist Joel put it to one of his proudest musical compositions, finally completing the song, giving the song the depth Pearly* felt it deserved.

Early "Dunedin Sound" influences — especially that of The Clean — caught producer Nick Roughan’s (Skeptics) ear, realising that Pearly* were on to something special. Not So Sweet is a moody, magnetic contrast to Superglue, and is accompanied by a music video directed by Kieran J. Dodd with assistance from Cooper Sharplin, with Matilda Macandrew on DOP duties.

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Larches - Tuckered Out.

Larches began as the project of Jacob Cona, a musician from Athens, GA raised on Elephant 6, R.E.M., and the B-52’s. 

What was originally started as a band to perform the debut album, “Attack of the Telephones,” Larches has turned into a collaborative creative endeavor with Adrian Franco and Robby Fox. 

The band are touring this summer to promote their self-titled EP. Their recorded material aims to capture the energy found playing live together up and down the Pacific Northwest.


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The Herron Brothers - Ok Bucko - Oliver Marson

The Herron Brothers - This Machine.

The Herron Brothers have released their new single “This Machine”. The band will also head out on tour in the UK this September. Inspired by train carriage messaging, a love for filmmaking, and country twangs, “This Machine” marks the first new track from The Herron Brothers since their EP ‘Plum’ arrived earlier this year. Following seamlessly from their previous offering, the track finds Paul and Steven ruminating on the machine that we all exist within, weaving in discussions of friendship, birth, loss and everything in between.

“I started the song exactly one year ago on a train journey to York,” shares Paul, “I’d seen the electronic sign that said “This train is formed of four coaches,” and immediately had the main bit of the chorus pop in my head. “Train” became “Machine” and “Machine” sort of became everything, like the machinations of life, family, birth, death, all the things that nature processes in its cogs, giving zero shits about the individual people it is moving.”

The brothers pair offset weighty themes with slightly lighter instrumentation, adorning their lyrics with chirpy keys and bright strums. The result is an indie-pop balladry specific to The Herron Brothers. “We’re still blazing the trail for what will eventually become the barrier-breaking genre of middle-aged-harmony-based-thoughtful-indie-alt-pop,” adds Steven, “which the kids are gonna love.”

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Ok Bucko - They Live.

Ok Bucko has announced a new cassette on Seattle’s Youth Riot Records, out on August 22nd, and released the first single 'They Live'.

Ok Bucko is a Seattle based power-pop band. They reach through the past to construct music for the modern moment. On this self-titled EP, Ok Bucko melds their influences from DIY punk to shoegaze and grunge; pulling along everyone who can get down with a catchy hook and fuzzy guitars. 

The band comprise of Miranda Hardy on guitar and vocals, Chelsea Rodgers on keys and backing vocals, Khyre Matthews on bass, and Zeke Bender on drums.

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Photo - Hannah Woollam & Eric J Liddle

Oliver Marson - Jeremy.

London-based avant-crooner Oliver Marson today announces his new EP 'Into The Darkness' - out 14th November on High Road Records. With the EP announcement, Marson is now sharing the gothic art-pop grandeur of new single 'Jeremy' alongside an accompanying visual directed by Eric J Liddle (Walt Disco, No Windows).

A chaotic descent into the absurdity of modern self-optimisation, 'Jeremy' was inspired by a real-life article on the rise of LSD microdosing in the workplace. Having already drawn comparisons to Sparks, Nick Cave, and Alex Cameron, 'Jeremy' is a slice of lurid pop from the edge of a nervous breakdown.

“My sister sent me the article and just said: ‘You should write a song about this," Marson explains. “It opened with: 'It’s Monday morning and Jeremy begins his day. He takes a cold shower, drinks a cup of tea with a bowl of muesli, does some stretching and takes 10 micrograms of LSD before leaving for work.' I thought that was a fascinating and terrifying idea. There’s this pressure to perform in an office at 200% at all times, so much so that people are forcefully disassociating from their reality. The second part of the song is a descent into that paranoia and madness."

Over warped guitars and theatrical orchestration, Marson follows his protagonist from caffeine-fuelled precision to paranoid collapse. As he puts it: “The song is essentially a commentary on toxic extremes of self-optimisation, especially in the corporate world. It's about how people might try to transcend human limitations for success, only to lose themselves in the process. With inspiration drawn both from real-life reportage and art rock soundscapes, it paints a vivid, empathetic, yet critical portrait of modern disconnection."

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Emily Popli - Natalie Holmes - The Indie Pea

Photo - Tyler Core

Emily Popli - Alight.

Singer-songwriter Emily Popli releases her new single Alight, the track is a powerful duet featuring the prolific vocals of Matt Giraud.

Written from the perspective of a partner struggling to make ends meet in their relationship, “Alight” carries out an emotional mantra that packs a punch. The soulful vocals of Emily Popli and Matt Giraud accompanied by the melodic electric guitar give the track a passionate feeling. With production styles mixing pop, folk and soul, the vocals of Emily Popli can be compared to those of Kacey Musgraves or Adele. Overall, "Alight" holds out hope for clearer waters ahead, as Emily Popli insists that the flames in her relationship will never burn out.
 
What makes the upcoming album Lilith Fair Kid unique is its unapologetic honesty, as Emily Popli shares true stories of struggles she’s undergone and relationships that have changed her. Emily Popli named the album after the women who helped shape her as a musician. Taking bits and pieces from Sheryl Crow’s vocal style and Sarah McLachlan’s songwriting, the songs display a heartbreaking yet brave vulnerability as she details an ongoing struggle with depression. Emily Popli has something she needs to get off her chest, and “Alight” provides the perfect platform for that.

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Natalie Holmes - To Be A Woman.

Natalie Holmes has quickly gained the attention of Beehive Candy with the brand song (and video) To Be A Woman once again impressing us again in a big way. 

The song is a raw and honest reflection on the beautifully tangled experience of womanhood. It's laughable how drastically our perception of ourselves and the world’s perception of us can shift from day to day. This is not a song about being feminine, it is a song about having to navigate the word ‘woman’ and everything it holds.

The rules are always changing, yet the pressure to follow them remains constant. Natalie honours both the frustration and the quiet, surprising joy within. Lilting, angelic, and swimming in sarcasm, this other-worldly piano ballad is scattered with playful percussion, strings and harp, as well as interesting harmony and vocals that’ll stir your insides like soup.

Lilting, angelic, and swimming in sarcasm, this other-worldly piano ballad is scattered with playful percussion, strings and harp, as well as interesting harmony and vocals that’ll stir your insides like soup. To Be A Woman is ahead of Natalie’s next studio album “Opposite Day” due out Friday 17th October.

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The Indie Pea - Mirrored Days.

The Indie Pea raises the bar once again with “Mirrored Days” a shimmering follow-up that leaves no doubt about the strength of their upcoming EP.

If previous single Echoes And Answers felt like a breakthrough, Mirrored Days is a full-blown arrival. Lush, melodic, and emotionally precise, the track balances clarity and complexity with stunning ease. Strings swell, guitars shimmer, and Campbell Anderson’s vocals cut right through — reflective yet resolute.

The Indie Pea first turned heads with their debut EP The Questions, a rich and thoughtful collection of songs that introduced their unique blend of atmospheric indie rock and orchestral pop. That release laid the groundwork — but this new material shows a band coming into full focus.

With Mirrored Days, The Indie Pea proves their debut was no fluke. This is the sound of a band confidently stepping into its next phase, crafting songs that echo long after the final note.

TCBYML · The Indie Pea - Mirrored Days

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