Lisa Crawley - Fake Dad - April March - Domi Hawken

Photo - Will Cook

Lisa Crawley - What You Can Do.

New Zealand-born, Los Angeles-based indie-pop chanteuse Lisa Crawley has an empowering indie/pop single, “What You Can Do,” released today March 14, 2025. It is the first single from her forthcoming EP New Girl Syndrome available in April 2025.

For the single, Lisa worked with John Spiker to merge the retro and modern adding layers to the piano focused track. The song is about the constant questioning of identity outside of your career. As a musician, it can be a struggle to say ‘no’ to work or people that don’t serve you: “You can only do so much baby / You’ve got your work cut out for you / Take a breath, in fact go and take two / You are more than what you can do”

“I’ve been labeled a ‘workaholic,’ but saying no can be scary,” explains Lisa. “Creating space to explore other parts of myself is confronting but important.”

A New Zealand-native, Lisa Crawley has live/performed in her home country (lead of ‘Girl’ in the Tony Award Winning musical “Once” in Auckland), Melbourne (receiving acclaim for the EP Up In The Air) as well as London, Canada (Banff Centre songwriter residency) and landed in the U.S. in 2020 just in time for quarantine! Through numerous albums, EPs and singles, her refreshingly honest onstage presence and emotionally authentic pop songs enchant the hearts and minds of an ever-growing global audience.

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Fake Dad - Odyssey 2 Venice / Little Fake (featuring Alice Ivy).

Andrea de Varona (she/her) and Josh Ford (he/him) aka Fake Dad are a Los Angeles based, NYC bred indie rock meets dream pop duo. Formed in 2020, the two met at a college party in the East Village and have been inseparable ever since. Melting their own unique artistic visions to build a shared sonic shorthand, Fake Dad create an intoxicating and colorful musical fusion complete with catchy pop-laden hooks, crunchy, 90s inspired guitars, grooving bass lines, and buoyant synths. With a distinctive production sound and a signature vocal delivery, the two write and record expansive musical moments from their apartment. Although Andrea and Josh come from different musical backgrounds, they share a common goal: to create music that understands you.

In the past year, Fake Dad have been fixated on posers. Specifically, rock music posers—there’s just something fascinating about music made by an artist who’s pretending to be someone they’re not. In the different subgenres of rock especially, “fake” can be a dirty word. But as Andrea and Josh dug into some of their favorite artists from before their time, it became clear that playing a character is pretty deeply entwined with the legacy of rock music.

In their superb new EP released today, Holly Wholesome and the Slut Machine, Fake Dad have created characters that live in their made up world of angry, burger-flipping clowns, star-crossed knights, and masked sleep paralysis demons. Throughout the process, Andrea and Josh realized that they were using the fiction to unpack very real aspects of their lived experiences—including their identities and sexualities as romantic partners in a straight-passing relationship.


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April March - Surfing Castafiore.

American indie pop songstress April March, who earned fame with her take on French pop, drops a new surf rock single from her forthcoming full length, ‘Villerville’, produced by Norman Langolff and due this summer. As a student, April March first attended Parsons School of Design and then California Institute of the Arts. It was at CalArts where she met director and musician Steve Hanft. Hanft, known for having directed the original Bong Load video for Beck's multi-platinum hit “Loser”, is currently directing new Bong Load videos for March.

As an animator, March began her career as a Disney trained animator first hired by Paul Reubens for Pee-wee’s Playhouse. She then went on to animate everything from Ren & Stimpy, to Bugs Bunny, not to mention Frank Zappa and Madonna. As an illustrator March collaborated with Jack White for “We’re Going to be Friends”, his children’s book based on one of The White Stripes most enduring and loved songs.

As a musician, March has collaborated with artists including Brian Wilson, Yo La Tengo, Jack White, LL Cool J, Ronnie Spector, Jonathan Richman, Andy Paley, Tony Allen, Plastilina Mosh, Steve Hanft, Bertrand Burgalat, French duo Staplin, Aquaserge, and more.

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Domi Hawken - The Moment I Need You The Most.

Fresh from the success of her debut EP Sociable Pariah, London's dark rock poet Domi Hawken returns with a haunting exploration of obsession in 'The Moment I Need You Most' the first insight into her sophomore EP Water and The Wine.

Unravelling like a psychological thriller, the track weaves between moments of desperate longing and frenzied obsession, all while showcasing her signature blend of punk swagger and folk storytelling. Drawing from a rich tapestry of influences ranging from from Leonard Cohen's poetic introspection to Led Zeppelin's raw energy, her latest offering showcases her ability to craft narratives that transcend simple heartbreak, instead exploring the darker corners of human psychology. "To me, the song is unhinged," Hawken reveals with characteristic frankness. "It isn't about pining over someone you're in a relationship with - the protagonist is desperate, maybe the person she's singing about barely knows her, their relationship being completely overblown in her mind."

The production mirrors this descent into fixation, building from deceptively calm verses to frantic crescendos, punctuated by moments of stark silence that feel like gasps for air. Accompanied by a self-directed music video shot on VHS, Hawken creates a deliberately jarring visual experience that amplifies the track's unsettling narrative. "I wanted the music and the video to reflect this: the idea of being unstable, dramatic, almost going crazy with this scenario she's created purely in her imagination," she explains.

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Course - Amanda Ekery - Janita - Close to Monday - Junior Scaife

Course - Hue Mirror.

Chicago-based synth/pop group Course has announced their new album Hue Mirror will release on April 25th. Their third full-length offering, Hue Mirror marks their most raw, vulnerable, and poignant collection of songs to date, written by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jessica Robbins in the wake of a traumatic, life-altering diagnosis. Today they shared the lead single and title track “Hue Mirror,” a song that captures a moment of whirlwind confusion, fear, and shock.

Since their debut, Course has established themselves with a sound that mixes lushly layered melodies and electronic instrumentation into dreamy, atmospheric soundscapes across two acclaimed albums: 2021’s A Late Hour and 2023’s Tight Feathers. They earned praise from the likes of Consequence of Sound, Chicago Tribune, American Songwriter, Under The Radar, and Atwood Magazine who raved “Course has quickly established itself as a reliable source of exhilarating, radiant, and shimmering indie pop.” In recent years, however, Robbins found it increasingly difficult to ignore the pain that had been creeping up her spine ever since college, turning her everyday activities - walking, sleeping, holding her guitar, even breathing - into a struggle.

Hue Mirror began taking shape last year during several months of intense uncertainty, before Robbins received the medical news that would change her life forever: a diagnosis for an aggressive autoimmune disorder called Ankylosing Spondylitis. An incurable disease that targets the spine and joints causing long term damage, severe chronic pain and discomfort, the news left Robbins in shock as she began coming to terms with a future that is now shrouded in ambiguity. Dreaming of a life that didn't involve so much discomfort, she continued writing songs with renewed conviction and resilience, confronting her illness with bold, beautiful music that pulled no punches. As the inflammation in her body intensified, so did her decision to create the best album of her life, one that would turn the uncertainties of her future into something raw, real, and undeniably present.

“‘Hue Mirror’ is the first song I wrote after my AS diagnosis on April 11, 2024,” stated Robbins. “My head was spinning. I was in a haze when I wrote this. I wasn’t given much explanation about the disease, just that they were ordering a strong drug to suppress my immune system and lower the inflammation. I felt confused and scared, not understanding what was happening. I wrote this song during that time of uncertainty about my future. The song touches on the idea of how medicine for this disease comes at a cost, the pain I had been enduring for so long, and the unpredictability of not knowing when the next flare will hit. No matter how much you work out, take medicine, or eat healthy, this disease is here forever. It will never go away. I want to raise awareness for this disease, which affects so many but remains relatively unknown to the general population. It took me a decade to get a diagnosis, and nobody should have to go through that.”

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Photo - Ross Wightman

Amanda Ekery - Stitching.

Amanda Ekery's forthcoming album Árabe is due in May and explores Syrian and Mexican shared history on the El Paso border through enchanting vocal jazz / pop and remarkable, personal essays, her first single, "Stitching" is something quite special and is released today.

The fourth full-length release by vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Amanda Ekery,  Árabe invites audiences to explore Syrian and Mexican shared history and culture on the El Paso border - the story of Ekery’s life, lineage and identity. It features twelve original songs and accompanying essays with the stories and history behind each track covering everything from food, gambling, and evil eyes, to immigration law, biracial identity, and the fraught relationship between immigrant entrepreneurship and workers’ rights.

Each track conjures a rich creative world informed by research and Ekery’s distinct personal style. Ekery spent over 5 years developing Árabe, conducting interviews with her family and the Syrian Ladies Club of El Paso, working with Yale SWANA scholar Dr. Mark Eggerman, researching Syrian and Mexican immigration and migration, and completing an artist residency at the Arab American National Museum located in Dearborn, MI which is home to the largest population of Arabs outside of the Arab world.

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Janita - I Want You I Warn You.

"Being in lust or in love can be such a deliciously un-peaceful and volatile feeling. Inside you’re going absolutely batty, but outside you’re trying to keep it cool as a cucumber. The director of this video, Alice Teeple, is a dear friend of mine and also a free spirit––fearless with her artistry. 

Her mere presence egged me on to let loose and express the mania and mayhem that goes on in the mind. Truth be told, it’s not just love or lust that drives me bonkers these days. I think that this video works on a number of different levels, not the least of which is this: I’m a woman—passionate, opinionated, rebellious, in a world that would prefer me to be humble and docile. The video shows that this woman is not about to be held down by anything." —Janita

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Close to Monday - Turtles.

Close to Monday, synth-pop’s next wave of innovators Ann and Alexander, release their highly anticipated "World Turtles" EP.  Anchored by the spellbinding lead single Turtles, the project weaves evocative narratives with intricate, driving production along with an urgent message about ocean conservation.  The  EP also features four of their most pivotal titles from their 2024 monthly single series. Altogether,  this five-track collection solidifies the duo’s reputation for blending emotional depth with transportive soundscapes.

Accompanying the release, the band unveil the visually arresting music video featuring captivating projections of vast oceans and giant sea turtles, complemented by an enchanting light show. The visuals are designed to mesmerize and raise awareness about the beauty and fragility of marine life, further amplifying the duo’s message of awe-inspiring wonder beneath the waves.

Timed perfectly to coincide with Earth Hour (March 22) and World Water Day, "World Turtles" is not only an artistic statement but also a powerful call for environmental action for ocean conservation.  To amplify the message, Close to Monday are collaborating with iSea, asking their fans to donate in supporting vital efforts to protect the world’s oceans. "Now more than ever, it is crucial for artists to seize the opportunity to promote environmental protection and inspire their audience to take action. After all, nature has always been a source of inspiration for art," Anastasia Charitou, Communication Officer, iSea.

At the heart of the EP, Turtles pulses with the kinetic energy of late-’70s Berlin discotheques, colliding with the sharp edge of ’80s synth nights and the vibrant spirit of ’90s club culture. The track's driving rhythms and cascading textures create an urgent yet hypnotic state. It’s the soundtrack to a late-night odyssey, where the adrenaline of the dance floor dissolves into the surreal calm of the ocean, inviting listeners to lose themselves in its restless currents.

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Junior Scaife - Nobody Gets My Love.

Junior Scaife returns with two strikingly soulful sides produced and co-written by Penrose staunchman, Anthony Masino. As one of the most gifted vocalists on today's soul scene, Junior Scaife injects profound soulfulness into every syllable.

With its vibey groove and infectious background melody "Nobody Gets My Love" marries the visceral rawness of late sixties Detroit sides ala Hestor and Wylie with a relaxed West Coast je ne sais quoi.

On the flip is "Too Much Too Soon", a rugged ballad dripping with wah wah and class, sure to turn heads on the low-rider scene.

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Joni - Vera Ellen

Photo - Charlotte Patmore

Joni - Still Young.

Today, American-born, London-based songwriter Joni shares "Still Young," a new single from her forthcoming debut album, Things I Left Behind, out April 11th via her twin homes of Keeled Scales (North America) and Hand In Hive (in the UK and the rest of the world).

"Still Young", Things I Left Behind's penultimate track, was also the song that kickstarted the process of writing the album and, as such, holds an important place on the record. A brooding four minutes, 'Still Young' is indicative of the charm that Joni exudes: the confessional lyrics, a weary heart, but elevated by an endearing and compelling sense of pop nous that shimmers throughout.

"I originally wrote this song for my little sister who was going through a rough patch," Joni explains, "but then somewhere down the line she got her life together and things were kind of unraveling for me... I remember being on tour and thinking that the perspective had shifted and I was really just singing the song to myself. I think it’s good to be in touch with younger versions of yourself and to carry them with you as you move through life."

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

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Photo - Gabrielle Mary

Vera Ellen - sangria (demo).

2024 was a big year for rising Aotearoa songstress, Vera Ellen. The year found her awarded the coveted Taite Music Prize for her 2023 album ‘Ideal Home Noise’, touring 14 dates across mainland China, and flying through 10 sold-out arena shows around Australia with Crowded House… all while hard at work in the studio with longtime producer and collaborator Ben Lemi, working on what’s to come.

Today Vera shares delicate forbidden-love-anthem ‘sangria (demo)’, A fan-favourite from recent sunny festival sets at Laneway Festival and Twisted Frequency. This track is performed, recorded and mixed by Vera herself, and in keeping with its DIY essence, it’s paired with a self-edited music video.

The video is composed of lo-fi footage captured in earlier days of summer; commemorating time spent on a national tour with fellow Flying Nun alumni Voom and Reb Fountain, as well as being on the road with Aotearoa icons Crowded House, playing to their masses of Australian fans at iconic venues such as the Sydney Opera House.

About the song Vera shares “‘Sangria’ is an ode to all the romantic halfwits who know about wanting something they shouldn't have. The intoxicating mix of alcohol and the familiar scent of an old lover. Saying 'to hell with it!' and doing the thing you mustn't in the name of a particularly inviting moon.”

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Hannah Rose Platt - Kerala Dust - Kedr Livanskiy

Hannah Rose Platt - The Edinburgh Seven.

Hannah Rose Platt is back with the brand new track “The Edinburgh Seven”. Showcasing the darker, grittier underbelly of her upcoming album ‘Fragile Creatures’ (coming 25 April), the visceral new single can be streamed on all services now. As she prepares for a major breakthrough with her medical-themed new album, this fascinating latest excerpt finds Hannah examining the story of the “The Edinburgh Seven”.

The first group of matriculated undergraduate female students at any British university, The Edinburgh Seven studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh back in 1869. Though pioneering for their time, they were prevented from graduating and qualifying as doctors because of their gender - with an angry mob even gathering at the Surgeons’ Hall the following year to prevent them from sitting their anatomy exam. Delving into this turbulent chapter of history with a song of rage and resistance, Hannah echoes the period with a raw, pulsating piece of music. Of “The Edinburgh Seven”, Hannah says:

"Writing “The Edinburgh Seven” was my way of channeling the untold, fierce story of these incredible women into something that feels raw, alive, and rebellious. I wanted to capture their defiance in a sound that’s gritty and visceral—imagine Tarantino making a film about their journey, marching through a hostile crowd of men throwing dirt and hurling insults as they made their way down Nicholson Street to sit their anatomy exam. The song is swampy rock with a bite, reflecting their fight for a place in medicine when society tried to shut them out. In writing this, I wanted to give them a voice, honor their courage, and bring their story into the modern world with all the grit, determination, and swagger it deserves."

Produced by Ed Harcourt, “The Edinburgh Seven” is a gritty, swampy rock anthem that brings the rebellious spirit of the first female medical graduates to life and channels the bold, trailblazing energy of these pioneering women who broke down barriers in 19th-century Scotland. Infusing a Tarantino-esque cinematic flair colliding via the defiance of these doctors, the resultant track is a powerful celebration of breaking through glass ceilings, delivered with swagger, grit, and unapologetic strength.

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Photo -  Argiris Liosis

Kerala Dust - Bell.

Kerala Dust have just shared a brand new track, "Bell", a hypnotic blend of blues, psychedelic rock, and techno – it marks their first new music since their last album, Violet Drive.

Talking about "Bell" which lingers like a hazy memory - cinematic, pulsing, and impossible to shake - Kerala Dust said: "This song came to us in fragments over a couple of recording sessions. Echoes of the blues from a week of tape recording in Austin, Tx, it’s about the way we bury parts of ourselves – memories, emotions – only to find them resurfacing when we least expect."

"Bell" is a clear statement of Kerala Dust’s evolution and musically signposts where they’re heading blending art rock, electronica, Americana, desert blues while harnessing dance floor energy.

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Photo - Paizuka Komarov

Kedr Livanskiy - Myrtus Myth (Album).

Musician / producer, Kedr Livanskiy (Yana Kedrina) releases her fourth studio album this weekend via 2MR. On Myrtus Myth, she draws on mythologies both public and personal to craft an expansive experimental pop album and Dante-esque journey through the self.

"Working on an album is an exploration of yourself. Making a decision to write an album is like an invitation to wake up; an invitation to get to know yourself, to find out who you are and what truly excites you - through sound. This is a discipline of the spirit, cleansing the channels through which inspiration enters the blood.

The last couple of years have been incredibly difficult for many people on earth, and for me in particular, a lot has changed. This album is a reflection on painful topics through the prism of the mythical, dreamlike and otherworldly. But this work itself, for me as a person, is an escape from reality into the world of the nooks and crannies of the subconscious, dreams, the transcendental and fantastic.

The music in this album is inspired not only by life itself and musical references, but in many ways by literature and literary images, myths, and poetic symbols. All together it forms an Odyssey - the hero's journey. The album is imbued with the idea of a deep kinship of the soul with the universe, the awareness of all-unity, the search for a place for a person in the cosmic and personal. Love as salvation." - Kedr Livanskiy


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