The Family Grave - Valerie Smith - Sébastien Tellier

The Family Grave - Daylight (Instrumental Version Remix).

The new single by The Family Grave is called Daylight, a dance-oriented remix of the track from their latest album 'Old Songs for Kids'. The band have also created a visual reel using the brilliant dancers of Ava Choreo. The Family Grave are an alt-folk outfit from Brighton (UK) known for "the quiet devastating power of [their] honest, intelligent songwriting" (Echo Rebel magazine) and whose music "proves that great songwriting is not just about catchy hooks - it's about baring your soul and sharing your truth" (Divine magazine). 

The original album version of the song Daylight is also being released alongside the remix. The song's lyric is about mental health and friendship: Dog barks late in the evening Man might howl at the moon The truth is gradually creeping Lighting up my gloom. The song will be released on digital networks (Spotify, Apple etc) from January 8th. There will be a Limited edition 12" single of Daylight and a CD, only available here. 

The remix of Daylight leans on the song's underpinning latin riff, to provide a solid beat that will welcome in another year with the upbeat emotional intensity that characterises the original album.  It takes the reflective nature of the original vocal and embellishes it with a rhythm that will make a listener beam with positivity.  Then it mixes in the thrilling jazz trumpet lines of Matt Ellis Devitt. 

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Valerie Smith - Maggie’s Journal (Album).

Renowned American bluegrass and roots artist Valerie Smith is celebrated for her powerful vocals and insightful songwriting. A Midwest native, she holds a bachelor's in music from the University of Kansas City and taught music in Missouri and Tennessee. This is something of an epic collection of songs and narrative, Beehive Candy recommends dipping into a good few tracks to get an overall feel, we are really impressed.

Maggie’s Journal is the story of my great-grandmother, Margaret Attebury Brooks-McCamis —based on her own words, written in a “Car Load Tablet” found decades after her death in an attic trunk by my cousins Kathy Jones Eads and Fonda Wells. Unveiling a life untold, the journal revealed Maggie’s early years in post-Civil War rural Missouri—married too young to a violent man, Maggie hid a kind and gentle soul beneath a hardened shell.  Her journal became the heartbeat of this 12-year labor of love. I set her raw, emotional entries to 14 original songs, blending folk, bluegrass, Americana, and roots—alternating them with readings from her journal with me voicing Maggie’s words. Her story, personal and unflinching, is a masterpiece of resilience, offering timeless insights into American history, women’s and children’s rights, education, and the enduring human spirit.

The project was produced by Donna Ulisse, who also partnered with me in writing many of the songs, along with writers Daniel Crabtree and Ann Miller. The instrumentation—featuring Cody Kilby (acoustic guitar, mandolin), Stephen Burwell (violin), Evan Winsor (upright bass), and Scott Vestal (banjo)—pulses with life, capturing the raw emotion of Maggie’s world, and the project was masterfully recorded and engineered at Tim Carter’s Tree House Studio in Ridgetop, TN, and Scott Vestal’s Digital Underground in Greenbrier, TN. David Lynch’s stunning CD design with a 32 page booklet and John Murray’s breathtaking artwork visually mirror the album’s emotional core.

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Sébastien Tellier - Parfum Diamant.

How far can a shared dream take you? French artist Sébastien Tellier stops by with a cinematic performance of “Parfum Diamant”, a synth-laced, dreamlike voyage lifted from his new album Kiss The Beast.

Today, Sébastien Tellier unveils his brand new track “Parfum Diamant” accompanied by a captivating, minimalist, color-focused COLORS SHOW, shot in Berlin. The studio version of the track appears on Kiss The Beast, the forthcoming album from the essential figure of the French Touch movement, set for release on January 30 via Because Music.

Reflecting on the inspiration behind “Parfum Diamant”, Tellier shares: “Recalling adolescent memories, naive first emotions, lying down gazing at the sky, sharing an ice cream… Capturing the magic of a man and woman united in quest beyond surrounding discord.”

From Paris to London, with Oscar Holter, SebastiAn, Victor Le Masne and Daniel Stricker, Kiss The Beast unfolds as an ambitious mosaic, carried by Owen Pallett’s strings, Nile Rodgers’ guitar, and the contributions of Kid Cudi and Slayyyter. An album where Tellier condenses and transcends his experiences: an extravagant love letter to pop, both intimate and universal. Alongside his new album, Sébastien Tellier announces his big return to the stage in 2026 with a tour in France and across Europe, with dates already selling out.

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Wanderer - Brand New Box of Matches - Ulver

Wanderer - Time (EP) / Wake Up / The Door.

We came across Wanderer by chance on Soundcloud and it's always something special when curiosity for whatever reason leads us to a musical discovery that just sounds so good from the offset. Not having anything sent by a agent or PR company we have gleaned the following from their website. They have put up quite a few songs in recent days & weeks, here's a selection.  

Wanderer is an introspective musical project hailing from Germany, delving into the depths of psychedelic dream pop and indie rock. Their sound weaves a rich tapestry of floating synth pads, atmospheric guitars, and deep, hypnotic bass lines. Through their music, Wanderer explores themes of cosmic solitude, enduring love, and the profound journey of self-discovery.  

They also have a Manifesto: We are wanderers of invisible roads, crossing worlds within worlds — planets turning in silence, each carrying echoes of something lost. We move through cities of noise and mirrors, through the grand marketplace of vanity, where everything shines, but little is real. Here, souls barter their longing for the comfort of forgetting. Yet some keep walking. Not rushing, not chasing — just moving forward, guided by a pull they can’t explain. Beyond the surface, past what can be named or sold, there are quiet doors. They do not open with force.

Wanderer · Wake up

Wanderer · The Door

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Brand New Box of Matches - Cold Tonight Here in Georgia.

Brand New Box of Matches is an award-winning independent bluegrass band out of Knoxville, TN. Elizabeth Sherman’s lovely vocals shine on haunting ballads and raucous honky-tonk inspired tunes, while Ryan Hardison’s catchy banjo & guitar playing along with his wry lyrics will have your toes tapping and face grinning.

The duo has three full length albums on CD and all the major streaming services.  2022’s Strike One is a collection of classic bluegrass and country tunes, 2023’s Flame & Water is a completely original album that covers everything from relationships to ghost stories to substance abuse.  Their original album, Light It Up!, was released on April 5th, 2024 and several songs off the album received significant radio play across North America, Europe and Australia.

Their latest original single (it's been out awhile but we love it), Cold Tonight Here in Georgia, is an exciting bluegrass tune that features Elizabeth’s powerful vocals and while Ryan provides some hot banjo picking. Written by Ryan Hardison & Elizabeth Sherman of Brand New Box of Matches in Knoxville, TN.

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Photo - Haavard Joergensen

Ulver - Neverland (Album).

Eclectic Norwegian cult act Ulver wish everybody a Happy New Year! by gracefully releasing their complete new album "Neverland" digitally on the day of New Year's Eve! Only the digital release of "Neverland" has been shared on December 31, 2025, while the physical release will arrive later on February 27, 2026. "Neverland", the fourteenth studio album by Ulver is the sound of an escape. A journey into undiscovered lands.

Following three albums – "The Assassination of Julius Caesar" (2017), "Flowers of Evil" (2020), and "Liminal Animals" (2024) – rooted in more traditional song and production structures, "Neverland" marks a new chapter in the revered Oslo band's history.

"With 'Neverland' we embraced a more 'punk' spirit – more dreaming, less discipline – freer, quite simply", the band comments on the creative process behind the album. Bursts of daybreak synths and whooshes of sound set the atmosphere, before the wolves start digging into the dynamics of ambient calm and anarchic mysticism. Dreamy and transportive textures develop into trippy percussive energies, and as the album unfolds, a lush and vibrant, and at times exotic space opens.

Apart from a few recurring distant voices and vocal chops, "Neverland" is a largely instrumental record, reminiscent of the mood and structure of that place where late '90s IDM sounds met the meandering structures of post-rock.

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Sydney Quiseng - Paul Boddy - The Gold Needles

Photo - Kelsey Runge

Sydney Quiseng - When a Good Thing Ends.

Echosmith frontwoman Sydney (Sierota) Quiseng, who is making a name for herself in the Country/Americana space, has released her new solo single “When a Good Thing Ends.” Capturing the dizzying heartache of watching something you love slip away and learning to let it go, “When a Good Thing Ends” showcases the emotive vocals and signature storytelling that have cemented Quiseng as an indie-pop superstar.  

“‘When a Good Thing Ends’ captures the heartache of watching something slip away, even when you see it coming,” shares Quiseng on the new single. “It’s that dizzy feeling of moving forward when your heart’s left behind. It’s a song for anyone learning to let go.”

From co-writing Echosmith’s quadruple-platinum hit “Cool Kids” to forging her path as a solo artist in Nashville, Quiseng’s journey has been defined by reflection, resilience, and self-discovery. Arriving on the heels of recent single “Coffee Shop in Kyoto,” “When a Good Thing Ends” is a new chapter in her story, offering listeners an unfiltered look into her heart and mind that carries forward the authenticity listeners have always connected with. Continuing her evolution as a solo artist, the universally relatable track leans into the emotional weight of endings to explore the uneasy space between holding on and moving forward when something meaningful begins to fade.

In celebration of her new music and the start of her journey as a mom-to-be, Quiseng and Echosmith will be performing at The Mint in Los Angeles on January 19 for a special, one-off show to celebrate her baby shower. The intimate evening will feature a full concert from Echosmith, solo songs from Quiseng, and a few fun surprises to celebrate this joyous moment with their hometown fans. 

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Paul Boddy - Soul Gone Blu' (EP).

Paul Boddy; Pennsylvania Blues Hall of Fame inductee, and SlideWinder Blues Band front-man, has been working on a solo E.P. This collection of Northern Soul songs helped define music for Paul while growing up in England in the 60’s and 70’s. The rhythm section is comprised of Aaron Comess on drums (Spin Doctors) Jack Daley on bass (Lenny Kravitz, Prince, Dana Fuchs) & Rob Clores on the organ (Black Crowes). Guests include Sonny Landreth, Jessie Wagner, Lynn Lockamy, The Cinelli Brothers, Mikey Jr. & Early Times.

One Hundred Years has been reimagined with Early Times providing dueling vocals and guitars, originally recorded by Freddy (later spelled Freddie) King on the Federal label. James Brown’s Chonnie-On-Chon permits Paul to stretch out on the slide guitar while answering to Mikey Jr’s soulful harp.

Every Dog’s Got His Day takes us south to NOLA where Eddie Bo penned this big hit. Paul is again joined by his good friend Mikey Jr. on harp. Tina and Ike Turner’s Cussin’, Cryin’ & Carryin’ On was a bit out of reach for Paul’s voice, so he is helped out here by Jessie Wagner from Little Steven’s band and Lynn Lockamy. So Is The Sun is a collaboration between Paul and members of The Cinelli Brothers. Marco Cinelli is singing with Paul, while Tom Jones plays the Harmonica parts.

Lastly, Need Your Love So Bad is a revisit of Peter Green’s masterful slow Blues. This track features Paul’s soulful fretted guitar during the intro solo. Then Sonny Landreth takes over on the slide in the middle section and the outro.

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The Gold Needles - Keep On Telling Me Why. 

Big Stir Records kicks off their 2026 release year with a single from the final 2025 album The Gold Needles' Mood Elevator as a potent reminder of just how much the new record from the British indie rockers brightened the end of the year. “Keep On Telling Me Why,” the fifth track from the acclaimed new album sees it's standalone release, today January 2 on all digital platforms worldwide.

The instrumental work on this track is infectious, hooks abound, and it has a party feel despite the lyrics touching upon the thorny subject of infidelity. It isn't a judgmental song, but an exploration of its causes and conclusions. 

Perhaps more importantly, it's an energetic rocker with an instantly memorable chorus and a fitting finale to the quintology of singles from Mood Elevator, which can now boast fully half of its tracks seeing standalone releases and noteworthy airplay in the US, UK, and beyond.  

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The Heavenly Bodes - Diët Spanglë - Maria Taylor ft. Dashboard Confessional - Delafaye

Things have as expected calmed right down on the new music front, so we will probably have a few quiet days before the new year. Here's some recent arrivals at Beehive Candy that we really want to share and we will be back if any surprises come our way before the year end. 

Photo - Ollie Carr

The Heavenly Bodes - A Shelf You Can Applaud At A Distance (EP).

Already digitally released the debut EP by The Heavenly Bodes is due for release on 10" vinyl hand cut in Kernow UK by Sam Stacpoole on 27th December 2025.

Here's a little background on this highly listenable and noteworthy band.. South Cornwall garage-psych-rockers ‘The Heavenly Bodes’ emerged through chance meetings at kernowbeat (formerly kernow psych society) shows in Falmouth. Formed in 2023 through a collective love of all things pebbles & acid-garage - a slew of limb injuries put the brakes on proceedings until summer 2024.

Cutting their teeth with opening slots for NZ Flying Nun heavyweights The Chills as well as LA fuzz stalwart Charles Moothart & His Fast Band. The band have been writing and performing continuously, with headline shows for Bad Vibrations and Label Mates, and festival slots including Glasgow’s Freakender.

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Diët Spanglë - They Think We're Stupid (EP).

It looks like we are staying in Cornwall as this gorgeous EP arrived at Beehive Candy just before the weekend, there is something quite special happening musically in England's South West, long may it continue. We are told Penzance based Cornish supergroup Diët Spanglë just released a surprise EP. 

Though the band has been together in some form or another for nigh on 8 years, "They Think We're Stupid" is this rag-taggle bunch of aging misfits debut recorded release. A veritable Venn Diagram of the West Cornwall music scene Diët Spanglë take on the challenge of covering their own songs - from the bandsDië Spanglë, Tremoans & Pondlife - then re-inventing them into an arguably more popular form!

Diët Spanglë are: Pondy - mandolin / bass / vox, Paulo - bass / harp / vox, Nige - baritone sax, Kenny - drums, Leo - guitar / bass / vox, Jojo - vox

With songs that consider potential alien landings in Pendeen, West Penwith, festival etiquette in the modern age where campsites are adorned with bunting to mark the territory of friendship groups. A song called Stoopid where wit meets cynicism in a takedown of consumerism and another purporting that the world's troubles could be settled by wrestlers this is clearly worth a listen, surely you agree? 

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Photo - Maria Taylor

Maria Taylor ft. Dashboard Confessional - Colorblind.

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Maria Taylor releases a cover of Counting Crows’ “Colorblind” featuring Dashboard Confessional. The recording, produced by Mike Bloom, was given to Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz as a birthday gift two years ago. 

About the recording, Taylor explains: “A couple of years ago, as a birthday present to Adam Duritz, a group of friends decided to cover a few of his songs. Chris Carrabba and I met at Adam’s New York apartment years ago. We kept in touch and talked about collaborating someday. I texted Chris and told him that I was going to cover my favorite Counting Crows song, ‘Colorblind,’ and asked if he would want to sing it with me. He thought it was a great idea! That same night I went into my little home studio and recorded the dreamy guitars and vocals. 

I asked my good friend, Mike Bloom, to take it over from there and produce it. Chris sang it a week later and we finished it just in time to give to Adam for his birthday! Recently I came across this track and was reminded of how much I love it. I love the song, the production, and collaborating for the first time with Chris. I really love how our voices sound together. And to package it up beautifully, my friend (and artist) Alvaro Ilizarbe let me use his amazing art as the single cover. It was a collaborative project from start to finish.” Taylor’s cover of “Colorblind” marks her first proper song release since 2022 as she prepares to release new music next year.

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Delafaye - Twenty Dollars / I Can't Feel You.

Delafaye is well and truly back, returning with his last single 'I Can't Feel You', now comes 'Twenty Dollars', both recorded at his home studio in Jeffersonville, Indiana, with them being two of the most pivotal songs from his new EP 'Blue Light' which is coming in early 2026. 

The moniker of Andrew Shockley, born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Delafaye, now based in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and who records at his home studio named ‘Beechwood’, is an indie folk singer-songwriter, whose deeply relatable songs often come laced in melancholy, providing honest, raw, modern day reflections straight from the heart.


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Strawberry Alarm Clock - Dark And Twisties - Frank Rabeyrolles & Marin Esteban - Scarlet Tantrum

Strawberry Alarm Clock - Blow Your Mind / Live Water.

We have a brand new single out today December 19 from psychedelic rock legends Strawberry Alarm Clock that's much more a sign of things to come than a blast from the past. The single features not one but two never-before-heard tracks from the band: “Blow Your Mind” and “Live Water,” both bristling with fresh energy and previewing a brand new SAC album on the way in 2026. 

One of 2025's greatest and most delightful musical surprises came along with the scares of the Halloween season as genuine psych-rock pioneers Strawberry Alarm Clock returned with the superb new single “Monsters,” in truth a song for all seasons, and its trippy B-side “White Light”. Now they're back again, readily proving that those tracks were no one-off fluke with two more tunes pointing the way to a new full-length album on the way in 2026. 

The new single pairs the ultra-catchy and irresistibly boisterous “Blow Your Mind” with the lushly beautiful “Live Water,” both crafted by the near-complete 1967 lineup of the band. Taken together, the two tracks give every member time to shine, and they display an inventiveness and energy that goes far beyond nostalgia, Strawberry Alarm Clock is most definitely in top form, with much to offer the modern world. 

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Dark And Twisties - Ungrateful Women (Album).

Seasoned Alt-Folk troupe 'Dark And Twisties' release their debut LP 'Ungrateful Women' today 19th December 2025. Prepare to be swept into a world of beauty and shadow with Dark And Twisties, the alt-folk band that’s making waves with their evocative harmonies and story telling. Drawing inspiration from both nature’s power and the depths of the human experience, the group brings a unique sound that intertwines the dark beauty of traditional folk with modern, ethereal sensibilities. Dark and Twisties are; Sarah Birch, Kate Ronconi, Sarah Passmore, Danny Kilbride and Huw Rees. 
 
They have received a rapturous reception since bursting into the scene just months ago, weaving stories old and new into strange and beautiful songs with glorious harmonies and skilful musicianship. With an uplifting sadness the Dark And Twisties produce harmonies, counter melodies and  a beautiful arrangement to tell this modern folk tale for all of us : perfectly flawed and flawlessly perfect.

Dark And Twisties continue to build a loyal following across the alt-folk scene with intimate live performances and harmonies that transport listeners into a different realm. Their music is a perfect fit for those who love the eerie, the beautiful, and the transcendent. “Known for their ethereal storytelling and masterful harmonies, Dark and Twisties seamlessly blend traditional folk influences with modern, atmospheric elements. Their music feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking, resonating with fans of eerie, transcendent sounds.”

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Frank Rabeyrolles & Marin Esteban - To Figure Out.

To Figure Out marks the first collaboration between Frank Rabeyrolles and Marin Esteban, a rare dialogue where the former’s shadowy lo-fi pop meets the latter’s cinematic folk. The track moves in weightlessness, woven with muted guitars, airy textures, and suspended melodies, like a whispered question still searching for its answer.

It carries the handcrafted, introspective sensibility of Frank Rabeyrolles, a discreet yet essential figure of the French independent scene, as well as the ambient poetry of Marin Esteban, a composer who has spent years shaping an intimate, luminous atmospheric folk.

To Figure Out is a point of convergence: a piece that explores what we grasp about the world, about ourselves, and about everything that continues to elude us, carried by the quiet, persistent tenderness that binds the two artists.

Frank Rabeyrolles · To Figure Out

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Scarlet Tantrum - Insignificant.

Scarlet Tantrum delivers a devastating emotional punch with “Insignificant,” a haunting alt-rock/indie confession that captures the quiet kind of heartbreak, the kind that doesn’t shout, but slowly erodes your sense of worth. Hailing from North Carolina, Scarlet Tantrum draws from deeply personal experiences to tell the story of feeling unseen by someone who was supposed to provide safety, love, and validation. Instead, neglect crept in silently, convincing her that her pain wasn’t real, until it was impossible to ignore.

Co-written and produced with Jess Soelberg, the track balances delicate, aching melodies with swelling cinematic tension. Soft, fragile verses build into a crushing chorus that feels like a cracked-open diary, exposing every raw nerve. Her vocal performance sits at the center of the storm, intimate, wounded, and brutally honest.

Lyrically confronting emotional neglect, gaslighting, and longing, “Insignificant” resonates with anyone who has ever felt disposable in a relationship. It’s a song about the damage silence can do, and the strength it takes to finally walk away. With its moody production, vulnerable lyricism, and immersive atmosphere, “Insignificant” marks a new creative chapter for Scarlet Tantrum, one defined by emotional clarity, fearless honesty, and artistic depth.

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