Pete Muller - Mike Guldin - Nic Panken - Seth James

Photo - Shervin Lainez

Pete Muller - Stopping Time.

Pete Muller shares the music video for his new single “Stopping Time,” a highlight from his album One Last Dance, out now via Two Truths Music. Featuring orchestration from the acclaimed genre-bending duo SistaStrings, “Stopping Time” is a plea against the clock that outruns us all, unfolding through a series of emotionally resonant vignettes. Its visual gives a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the poignant track, shot at Peter Gabriel’s Real World studio and New York City’s famed Power Station.

“‘Stopping Time’ unfolds like a dream—a series of vignettes exploring longing, beauty, the fleeting nature of memory, and the stories we construct to transform ourselves,” says Muller. “The video offers glimpses into how the record came to life, from our magical week at Real World in England to the subsequent overdubs at Power Station in New York City. The supremely talented SistaStrings add rich, tasteful texture, complementing Rob Mathes’s beautiful string arrangement.”

Recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath, England, alongside his band the Kindred Souls, Muller’s self-produced album One Last Dance is his most vulnerable songwriting to date, garnering praise from Americana UK, Americana Highways and more. Featuring special guests like Grammy-winner Allison Russell in addition to SistaStrings, the songs here are rich and character-driven, with performances fueled by the deep bonds between Muller and his bandmates. The end result includes highlights like the Latin-flavored title track with Russell, the empowering “Fire Child,” the uplifting "Dream Small" and the bittersweet "New York In The Rain."

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Mike Guldin - While I Can (Album).

Philadelphia-area singer-songwriter and guitarist Mike Guldin has released his new album, While I Can, via Blue Sky Tunes [listen here]. Produced by multi-Grammy winner Kevin McKendree and recorded primarily at McKendree’s Rock House studio in Franklin, Tennessee, the album blends Guldin’s reflective songwriting with the stylings of acclaimed Nashville studio band The Hot Links, delivering a collection rooted in American blues, soul, and roots traditions. 

Guldin built his career the traditional way — steady touring, regional stages, and years of writing songs that connect with everyday listeners. His work reflects the perspective of a working musician shaped by the Northeast club circuit and a deep respect for American roots music. For him, this project has a deeply personal meaning. Inspired by a conversation with his father during a difficult time, While I Can reflects the importance of pursuing the things that matter most while the opportunity still exists.

“I’m very excited to be working with Kevin, his label partner and marketing head John Heithaus, and their fabulous Blue Sky Tunes label and media partners on my new album, While I Can,” shares Guldin. “When my dad Vernie got sick, he told me, ‘Mike, if there’s anything you want to do in life, do it while you can.’ Certain life circumstances have dictated that I do just that. I’m very thankful to all the wonderful artists and the Blue Sky Tunes label team for making recording this album such a pleasure. Also sending huge thanks to all of our fans and family for their unwavering love and support. We hope you all enjoy the musical and lyrical journey that is While I Can.”

QUALIFIED RECORDS · While I Can

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Photo - Rakel Stammer

Nic Panken - Out in the Rain.

Nic Panken has released the final single from his forthcoming album ‘Near Divine or Merely Rhyme’ out April 10. “Out In The Rain” arrives ahead of Panken’s full band album release shows in NYC and Kingston, as well as a handful of East Coast dates supporting The Felice Brothers; shows are detailed below.
 
Panken, frontman for the long beloved Americana act Spirit Family Reunion enlisted an esteemed cohort to craft his solo debut, including Mat Davidson (Big Thief, Twain), Ken Woodward (Buck Meek, Sam Evian), Austin Vaughn (Cassandra Jenkins, Cass Mccombs), and David Christian (Karen O, Curtis Harding) to name a few. Co-produced by Jared Samuel (Yoko Ono, Kevin Morby) at Pale Moon Services (Dr. Dog, White Denim, Jana Horn), the resulting collection is a joyful cacophony of earthy Americana energy and earwormy, indie pop appeal, with Panken’s warm, woody vocals sturdy at the forefront. Today’s single follows the recently released singles “Dear Companion” and “2 Hearts.” 

Now residing in Kingston, NY, Panken divides his time outside of music-making between working as a puppeteer, hosting his weekly radio show, and mixing sound at beloved local venue Tubby's. By immersing himself in the restorative power of the arts, every day is decorated with the potential to be present; to find new meaning and community through his various, purposeful practices. After years of relentless touring, Panken found solace in staying still, and it’s in this shift that he began crafting what would become his new body of work.

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Photo - Erin Valkner

Seth James - Motormouth.

Texas-bred guitarist, singer-songwriter Seth James has released his new album, Motormouth, via Qualified Records. Produced by multi-Grammy winner Kevin McKendree, the project delivers groove-driven, soul-infused songs that further solidify James as one of the most respected voices on today’s blues and roots circuit.

A longtime fixture of the Lone Star music community, James built his reputation the traditional way — performing in blues clubs, roadhouses, and festival stages across Texas and beyond. His sound respects the lineage of artists like Delbert McClinton while standing firmly on his own voice as a disciplined songwriter and bandleader. Through albums like Different Hat and Good Life, James has grown a loyal audience with his road-tested musicianship and authentic songwriting.

Recorded at McKendree’s Rock House studio in Franklin, Tennessee, Motormouth features an all-star lineup of musicians, including McKendree on piano and organ, Rob McNelley on guitar, Steve Mackey on bass, Lynn Williams on drums, and members of The Time Jumpers. For James, working alongside McKendree felt less like a traditional producer-artist collaboration and more like making music with family.

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JES x Spada - Mary Ocher - flyingdeadman - Brother Wallace - Futurebirds

JES x Spada - Everybody Wants to Rule the World.

Grammy-nominated artist JES and Italian producer Spada join forces for a bold reimagining of the classic Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Released tomorrow via Magik Muzik, the track blends JES’s unmistakable vocals with Spada’s refined melodic house production, bringing rolling basslines, crisp synth textures, and dynamic energy to a song that continues to resonate decades after its original release.

The collaboration highlights both artists’ strengths: JES’s ability to deliver emotionally charged performances and reinterpret familiar material with nuance, and Spada’s talent for crafting grooves that are both precise and captivating. The result is a version that feels immediate, cinematic, and club-ready, while remaining true to the iconic spirit of the original.

“I don’t do a lot of covers because I really have to feel a connection to the song,” JES shares. “‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ is one of those songs that sticks with you. When Spada sent me his version, I immediately felt it. His groove gave it new life but still left space for the emotion of the song. Working together was so natural, and I’m really proud of how it came together and the version we made.”

JES has helped to define the sound of modern electronic music, achieving #1 Billboard Dance hits and collaborating with artists like Tiësto, BT, Armin van Buuren, and ATB. Spada has built a global reputation for melodic house and techno productions that combine infectious energy with memorable hooks, earning support from tastemakers and festival stages worldwide. Together, they bring a fresh perspective to a song that continues to feel urgent and relatable, bridging timeless songwriting with undeniable electronic aesthetics.

JES · Everybody Wants to Rule the World

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Mary Ocher - Weimar (Album). 

The adventurous Berlin artist returns with a surprising piano record, written on a classic instrument from the 1870s, marking a departure from recent experimentations with post-punk, krautrock, ambient and field recordings.

Weimar draws on 20th-century minimalism, chamber-pop, and modern classical. Yet it remains unmistakably Ocher, thoughtful and grounded in emotional depth. Its title alludes to the current era, echoing the fall of the Weimar Republic a century ago and the shadow of fascism that rose in its wake.  

Born in Moscow to Jewish-Ukrainian parents and raised in Tel Aviv, she learned early on to question authority - and that it came at a hefty price. At twenty, after refusing the draft, she left for Berlin, where she became a central underground figure, known for her uncompromising mixture of music, art and politics and critical writing on nationalism and war.

Her recent releases include collaborations with Mogwai, King Khan, Die Tödliche Doris, Roberto Cacciapaglia and Felix Kubin, and homages to Delia Derbyshire and Dorothy Ashby / Omar Khayyam. 

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flyingdeadman - Mirages (Album)

French post-rock storytellers flyingdeadman have just streamed their new album 'Mirages'. The wait is over. The journey is now open. flyingdeadman are back to guide us through the eye of the storm with the official release of their highly anticipated album, 'Mirages'.

Following the cinematic premiere of "Before Chaos," the full-length odyssey has arrived as a self-released labor of love, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in its soaring, atmospheric landscapes. Created nearly fifteen years ago in Bressuire, in the Deux-Sèvres, having experienced several changes of line up, flyingdeadman evolves in trio. The idea is always the same to know how to share emotions and make the mind travel.

Since 2010, French post-rock storytellers flyingdeadman have carved a unique path through the instrumental landscape, evolving toward an aerial sound that is at once refined and full of rage. By brilliantly developing the art of the "chiaroscuro" - a contrast so dear to the genre’s most iconic acts - the band strikes a masterful balance between wild strength and delicacy. 

Their instrumental compositions, characterized by rich melodies and sensitive arrangements, are meticulously crafted to guide the listener through a world of evocative, sonic storytelling.

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Brother Wallace - Who Do You Love?

Brother Wallace has a gift for making soul music that feels like a mirror and a release all at once, the kind that hits you in the chest, then gets you back on your feet. Today, the West Point, Georgia-bred singer, pianist, and soul revivalist shares 'Who Do You Love?' alongside a new music video, offering another powerful look into his forthcoming debut album 'Electric Love', out 8th May via ATO Records.
 
Where previous singles have introduced Wallace’s high-voltage joy and lived-in reflection, 'Who Do You Love?' sharpens the focus to a single, human question — equal parts invitation and reckoning. Anchored by Wallace’s unmistakable voice and a band-in-the-pocket pulse, the track rides a propulsive, dance-ready groove that feels both classic and immediate, letting the hook land like a challenge you can’t dodge. The accompanying video leans into that same bold simplicity, framing Wallace and band in a stylised performance setting that flickers between hyper-saturated colour fields and graphic, leopard-print backdrops, with a grainy, vintage-TV texture that makes the whole thing feel like a lost soul broadcast—loud colours, big feeling, no distractions.
 
“‘Who Do You Love?’ is a check-in—one of those questions you can’t run from forever,” says Wallace. “It’s not just about romance. It’s about where you’re putting your time, your energy, your attention… and whether the love you’re giving is coming back to you.”
 
“Who Do You Love?” continues the rapid rise of Brother Wallace, whose debut moment has already arrived with rare momentum for a brand-new artist. The album’s title track “Electric Love” premiered internationally via Craig Charles’ Funk & Soul Show on BBC Radio 6 Music, while Wallace’s first-ever ATO single “Who’s That?” hit Top 20 at Triple A radio in the U.S. — an impressive feat for a debut release, and especially notable given it wasn’t originally planned for radio servicing.

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Photo - Brian Harding

Futurebirds - Sienna Life (EP). 

After nearly two decades in flight, the Athens, GA-born Futurebirds announced their first double album Far Out Country, set for release on June 5 via Dualtone Records. Produced by GRAMMY-winner Brad Cook (Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman), the record is split into two distinct worlds of Far Out Country I & II —a restless, sunlit "day" and a deeper, more interior "night" that blends psychedelic country-rock, indie, and something that feels less like a genre than a place.

In a rare physical-first approach, the band will release the full project as a double vinyl on June 5, with the second half of the album arriving on streaming platforms months later, making vinyl the only way to experience the complete record early. Today, the group released the Sienna Life EP featuring three songs from Far Out Country I – “Sienna Life,” “Sleepless in the Cage,” and “Ghost Moon.”

Fronted by three distinct singer-songwriters – Daniel “Womz” Womack, Carter King, and Thomas “Tojo” Johnson – the band writes in conversation, their voices shaped by a shared history but diverging perspectives. Across 18 songs, Far Out Country unfolds like an honest dialogue about their transition to fathers and family men navigating the tension between the road that made them and their lives back home.

About the double album, King explains: “We’re really excited to be releasing our first double record in the truest sense. Far Out Country I & II are the two different lenses of the 3D movie glasses. Our three different songwriting perspectives speaking with each other about a shared life, experienced unbelievably close together, and also far apart. It’s a daytime talk, and another one deeper in the night. Far Out Country is a place, not a sound. It’s a place outside ourselves that hopefully helps us see inside the house a little more clearly. New terrain is always best explored with friends. Always use the buddy system, and be safe out there. The full double album will be available on vinyl out of the gates, but digitally, I & II will live and breathe on their own, unfolding one-at-a-time. Come on out and find us.”

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Slaney Bay - Cult Canyon - Octavian Winters

Slaney Bay - That's Cool.

Described as fusing soft, introspective lyricism with effervescent, ear-worm riffage, South-West London four-piece Slaney Bay have carved out a distinctive space in the alt-indie landscape. New single 'That's Cool' reinforces their creativity and observant lyricism, back in 2023 they created considerable interest, the latest single should stir up plenty more. The band are Cait Whitley (vocals), Joel Martin (bass), Will Nicola-Thompson (guitar) and Jonny Burraway (drums).

Some more background - Hotly tipped by Dork (Hype List 2023) and Under The Radar (23 for 2023), Slaney Bay made an early impression with their debut EP A Life Worth Living (November 2022), earning early support from Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1 and Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Their third EP, The Long Way Home, received further backing from BBC Radio 6 Music, playlisting on Radio X, and multiple placements on Made in Chelsea. Since then, the band have drawn praise from Dork, Under The Radar, Billboard, The Independent, The Line of Best Fit and Rough Trade.

Live, Slaney Bay have supported the likes of Coach Party, Bleach Lab, Sinéad O’Brien and The Clockworks, alongside selling out a 250-capacity headline show at Colours in London. The band have also played multiple EU festivals including Left of the Dial (Rotterdam) and They’re Gonna Be Big (Paris) to full capacity rooms. Slaney Bay were also long-listed by industry panels for both Glastonbury Festival and the Isle of Wight Festival in 2025.

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Cult Canyon - Smoke Tricks (Album).

Perhaps you are familiar with Chicago-based musician Josh Chicoine via his 2000's band The M's, who released three albums on Polyvinyl and performed at SXSW, Lollapalooza, ACL, and Pitchfork, or his more recent groups Sabers and Cloudbirds. His most recent project, Cult Canyon, features a revolving cast of friends and collaborators including Alison Chesney (aka Helen Money), Susan Voelz and Max Crawford (both of Poi Dog Pondering fame). 
 
Cult Canyon's debut LP (following 2024's Golden Line EP) Smoke Tricks was released digitally (and on limited edition vinyl via Rattleback Records) on Friday, March 13 & Beehive Candy are more than happy to play catch up and share this superb release.

Josh Chicoine tells us - Cult Canyon came out of a deep need to create and to stay creative. I love making things and exercising the creative spirit, sharing it with people, and collaborating with other artists.  It’s a thrilling little thing to make a little song and offer it to other people so they can alter it with their talent and passion. We need little things too.  Music making is world-building, and a relief from an actual world that increasingly is practically begging us to be outraged every day. Art and music binds us, challenges, informs, and astounds.  What better calling?

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Octavian Winters - Elements of Air.

Contrasting eerie, tension-building dissonance with moments of cascading, iridescent bliss, ‘Elements of Air’ is the stunning new single from San Francisco’s Octavian Winters: one of the most exciting new bands on the North American dark post-punk scene.

Produced by William Faith, and released on the band’s own Stratis Capta Records just ahead of Western US tour dates with Germany’s Pink Turns Blue, ‘Elements of Air’ showcases the band’s trademark blend of propulsive Californian deathrock, gritty post-punk, and serpentine goth rock, alongside the more haunting, expansive textures of ethereal darkwave. Frontwoman and lyricist Ria Aursjoen says: “…‘Elements of Air’ is about how we see the world, our chosen frame of reference, and how much power that holds over us — including the power to destroy things we value. The direct inspiration was someone I knew who chose to view the world through a lens of hate, and how that ultimately cost the friendship.”

Guitarist Stephan Bryan Salit adds: “…‘Elements’ really exhibits my love for tension and release. Dissonance and harmonic resolve. This one is pure alchemy…” Octavian Winters was born into the ghostly isolation of San Francisco, 2022. Their sound mirrors the surrealism of that time, weaving threads of the visceral and ethereal together into shimmering instrumental layers, with vocals that alternately soar and dive.

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Konradsen - Liya Shapiro - Bandits On The Run - Layla Kaylif - Plain Mister Smith - Gráinne Duffy

Photo - Marthe Thu

Konradsen - Hunt, Gather (Album).

Northern Norwegian duo Konradsen the project of Jenny Marie Sabel and Eirik Vildgren - have now released their new album ‘Hunt, Gather’ via Norwegian independent label 777 Music. Konradsen will celebrate the release of their third album with a unique headline show at Oslo's MUNCH Museum on 10th April. Featuring collaborations with Gia Margaret, Angie McMahon, Bruce Hornsby and Beharie, 'Hunt, Gather' sees Konradsen expand on their distinctive indie/folk-pop - where organic instrumentation meets subtle electronics, and intimate songwriting unfolds with cinematic scope.

Written between studio sessions and Jenny’s home in Northern Norway, the album reflects a shift toward a more instinctive, atmosphere-led process. Across its ten tracks, Konradsen explore themes of adulthood, responsibility and the search for grounding - choosing closeness, protecting relationships and asking difficult questions about the lives we build.

Konradsen's music treats everyday detail with cinematic patience - folding observations, overheard voices and small domestic details into arrangements that feel intentional without ever sounding forced. Jenny Marie Sabel’s voice carries a rare steadiness - intimate without tipping into sentimentality - while Eirik Vildgren’s production feels tactile, curious and understated. Across their discography, they’ve built a space where emotional clarity and subtle production sit side by side, creating songs that stay close to the body while thinking far beyond it.

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Liya Shapiro - Another Woman.

Liya Shapiro is a London-based singer-songwriter exploring the depths of love, identity, mental health and emotional fragility through her music. Having studied the history of art, fashion, and anthropology, each field tangibly shapes her artistry: art informs the way she hears and interprets sound; fashion fuels the visual identity she directs; and anthropology helps her explore the human condition. Through layered storytelling and intentional creative direction, she builds a world that is deeply personal and reflective of her journey to self-worth. 

The title-track from her upcoming EP, “Another Woman,” channels that same introspection, diving into the ache of unrequited love. Written after she thought she had already healed, the song was sparked by discovering that the person she once loved had moved on. “Watching someone you once loved be with someone else when you never even got the chance. Knowing it’s irrational, that you don’t even love them anymore, but feeling it anyway.” The lyrics confront that contradiction head on, as she sings, “I don’t love you anymore, not at all. But why does it still hurt somewhere deep in my heart when I see you embraced by another.” The song captures not just the emptiness of unshared love, but also the way struggles with self-worth can intensify that longing. While the single reflects on past pain, it also hints at transformation. The EP as a whole explores both closure and new beginnings, she’s now another woman, not only looking back, but moving forward.

Sonically, “Another Woman” captures this uncomfortable ache. The track’s chamber rock sound mirrors that emotional ebb and flow, showcasing soft, melancholic verses that swell into a crescendo, delivering something that is raw and frustrated, yet cathartic. Her vocals feel effortless yet theatrical, full of character and feeling, while the live-recorded instruments add a visceral authenticity.

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Bandits On The Run - Rough Magic.

Between their innovative arrangements, instrument swapping, scope of emotions and experiences conveyed in their songwriting, and an eclectic group of old friends and collaborators, NYC-based trio Bandits on the Run are truly living up to what they call their “ethos of artmaking” on their new album, Rough Magic.
 
With rotating lead vocals and varied instrumentation, Adrian Blake Enscoe (guitar & suitcase drum), Sydney Shepherd (cello), and Regina Strayhorn (accordion) combine to evoke the 60s and 70s spirit of bands like Fleetwood Mac while also carrying the sonic inventiveness of the modern folk power pop acts like First Aid Kit and Bonnie Light Horsemen, and trios like I'm With Her featuring impeccable harmonies and elevated songwriting so good they make the balancing act seem simple. The band's sophomore full-length, Rough Magic, is about friends — how we connect with them (or fail to), how we fight with them, and most importantly, how we love them. It's a testament and a celebration of what's possible when making something from nothing with your nearest and dearest. Relationships, old and new, are the heart of this LP.

“The cheat code for us has always been that if you surround yourself with good people, chances are the art will be something you're proud of,” Strayhorn shares. “And we are so incredibly proud of Rough Magic.” The song strips away the band's frequent kaleidoscope of instrumentation to the bare essentials  just guitar and three vocals; their rawest selves speaking straight to the listener. “'Rough Magic' is a message to slow down, release, and trust the timing is just right to share what's inside you. And that those who see your magic will be there sharing in it with you. And what better thing could one dream up than that?”

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Photo - Rebecca Miller

Layla Kaylif - Call Of The Yoni (Album).

This weekend, Layla Kaylif releases her new album Call Of The Yoni. Dripping in alt-rock, singer-songwriter vibes, the new album is an immersive experience for all that come across it. An organic mixture of world music built on Arabic instrumentation, chamber strings, and lyrics-forward composition, the new album by Layla Kaylif focuses conceptually on the "7-in-1 woman". Each track is a part of a continuous cycle that dissects different arenas of the female experience: innovation, eros, sovereignty, spirituality, roots, sight, and transformation. 

The English-Arab singer-songwriter's new magnum opus Call Of The Yoni is a testimony to what genuine womanhood looks like. With each track completing a piece of the puzzle, the singer showcases her most vulnerable side yet. Aptly released during Women’s History month, the album features seven introspective tracks that analyze what womanhood means while offering a unique perspective on feminism.

Layla Kaylif is an English–Arab singer-songwriter and filmmaker known for her genre-bending, lyrics-first approach that blends poetry, pop, and cinematic storytelling. After studying Arabic at Oxford University, she signed with Edel Records and released the international hit "Shakespeare in Love", which received critical acclaim as BBC Radio's Record of the Week and a top ten success across Southeast Asia. 

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Plain Mister Smith - Lucian & Frances Ft. Tyson Motsenbocker.

Plain Mister Smith returns this weekend with a delicate indie-folk track called “Lucian and Francis.” Simply put, the track focuses on the majestic paintings of Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon, who often depicted raw, yet realistic portrayals of the human body.

Available now on most streaming platforms, “Lucian and Francis” is a chill tune that features the fluorescent vocals of Tyson Motsenbecker. His presence on “Lucian and Francis” packs a punch, as his textured vocals create a luscious sonic soundscape throughout. Featuring a pleasant mash of synths, mesmerizing guitar strums, and a poised drum beat, the new single by Plain Mister Smith feels like a perfect anthem to usher in the springtime.

Plain Mister Smith’s music continues to be simple, yet effective, focusing on cut and dry themes that penetrate deep within the soul. The new track perfectly captures the rush of dopamine and elation these legendary painters carved out. At its core, “Lucian and Francis” is a great tune for fine art buffs, as it highlights the amazing artwork humans can create with just a brush and some paint.

A veteran of Canadian indie scenes, Plain Mister Smith (formerly of Moev and Cinderpop, and current cellist with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra) blends indie pop, baroque folk, and psychedelic sensibilities. His sound draws inspiration from an eclectic range of artists including The Beatles, Bryce Dessner, Matt Maltese, Led Zeppelin, and The Zombies, and even 20th-century classical composers like Prokofiev, who subtly influence his layered, string-laced arrangements.


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Photo - Barry McCall

Gráinne Duffy - Streets of Love.

Gráinne Duffy continues her steady rise as one of modern blues and roots music’s most compelling voices with the release of her new single, “Streets of Love” off her forthcoming Spring release, recorded at 64 Sound Studio in Los Angeles and co-produced by Justin Stanley and Marc Ford (The Black Crowes.)

Gráinne explains "This song was inspired by a beautiful bike trip around Amsterdam. I was there to see Lucinda Williams playing one of my favorite venues, The Paradiso. While I was cycling around I was watching the life of the people on the streets and all the beautiful interactions people were having, waving hi to one another, lovers kissing goodbye on the street, friends meeting each other at the traffic lights with their kids in the wooden baskets in the front and it was all so peaceful and humane. I loved that feeling of being an observer of that kind of humanity which exists everyday around us. We are constantly in these times bombarded with all the negative aspects of life from war to murder to horrible injustices in the world that we can forget that there’s actually another way to see the world in the very ordinary everyday exchanges between people which are often beautiful and full of love. That’s what this song is about really, my internal hippie speaking out I suppose! "

The Spring release was made in Los Angeles with producers Justin Stanley and Marc Ford (The Black Crowes), and you can hear that lived-in, analog warmth right away. It’s got some serious players behind it including drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney), bassist Jørgen Carlsson (Gov’t Mule), keyboardist Peter Levin (Blind Boys of Alabama), Marc Ford, and Duffy’s longtime collaborator Paul Sherry. Duffy’s story starts back in County Monaghan, Ireland, where music filled the house instead of television — everything from Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton to B.B. King and Fleetwood Mac. You can still hear that mix in what she does now: blues at the center, but always pulling in other colors.

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Realmonte - Lala Salama - The New Pornographers - Ashley Monroe - Alys North - The Clockworks

Realmonte - Go Go Go.

With their new single “Go Go Go,” Realmonte from the canton of Basel-Landschaft in Switzerland invite you on a musical excursion that stylishly blends past and present. The band has created a captivating earworm that not only gets stuck in your head instantly but also makes your heart beat faster.

Over the past years, Realmonte have built up a solid fanbase through countless live performances. When they’re not writing their own songs like “Go Go Go,” they enjoy taking on current hits and reinterpreting them. They run these songs through a retro filter—refined, soulful, jazzy, with a touch of swing and a bluesy note. The result is a charming mix that revives the spirit of the 1950s and 60s without losing its modern edge.

With their own track “Go Go Go,” the band stays true to this style while delivering an energetic piece that combines vintage aesthetics with a contemporary pop attitude. The musicians certainly have the skill. Among those in Realmonte is Ramaon Vaca, a bassist who has played with countless bands and is still well known from the Basel indie pop heroes of the 1990s, Phébus.

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Lala Salama - Muistot haalistuu.

Helsinki-based Lala Salama released their new single Muistot haalistuu on Friday, March 27, marking the band’s first new song since their acclaimed debut album Miltähän me näytettäis yhdessä. The single also opens a new chapter for the band’s line-up, with Elli Holmström, known from Drug Store Raid, joining as bassist.

Muistot haalistuu brings out a more wistful and atmospheric side of Lala Salama. Moving between dream pop, shoegaze and indie rock, the song centres on the pain of letting go, memories that slowly begin to fade, and the feeling that when something ends, something new may also begin to take shape.

“We’re super excited about this new phase and about Elli being part of it. This song is maybe a kind of in-between point, and it’s really from here that we start properly building the new Lala Salama,” says guitarist and singer Rosa Jules.

“The song was born in a space of transition. It captures the feeling of leaving something meaningful behind: a person, a moment, or an entire phase of life. At the same time, it reminds us that even when something disappears, new possibilities begin to open up.”

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The New Pornographers - The Former Site Of (Album).

A woman is trapped on a cruise ship. A preacher decides to go down with his town. A man at the florist finds himself lost in the meaning of the arrangement. These and other people at personal and societal extremes are the subjects of ten timely, timeless short stories collected as meticulously crafted pop songs by The New Pornographers on their new album, The Former Site Of, released yesterday March 27 on Merge Records.

The album, like Continue as a Guest, finds The New Pornographers—bandleader A.C. Newman, Neko Case, Kathryn Calder, John Collins, and Todd Fancey expanding their already rich catalog in surprising fashion. Joined for this album by legendary session drummer Charley Drayton (Divinyls, The Cult, The Rolling Stones, Fiona Apple), the space contained in a New Pornographer’s song has never been this clearly articulated or generously textured, giving a distinct pulse to the characters whose lives spill out in Newman’s tender, evocative lyrics.

The Former Site Of adds new depth to the sound Newman shook loose through building and recording in a home studio, fine-tuning the band’s creative process far beyond the lockdown-era necessities of remote collaboration. “Having time in my studio really opened things up,” he explains. “I don’t like wasting my bandmates’ time, and always felt guilty when I’d give them a song, ask them to do something, then completely change the song and ask them to do it again. Now I can get the skeleton of a song together first—just a couple of elements, the key feeling, really as little as possible—before bringing it to the band and running from there.”

Two albums into this shift, The New Pornographers are creating universes of intricately textured sound and narrative detail, every layer keyed to reveal an unexpected new facet. As on Continue as a Guest, one of the more readily apparent layers is the way a song forms itself around a featured instrument. On The Former Site Of, it’s a mandolin which, in Carl Newman’s hands, lends lead single “Votive” its sense of acceleration as it builds from the atmospheric sweep of its synth and keyboard opening to a classic, wide-open jam.

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Ashley Monroe - Dear Nashville (Album).

Ashley Monroe has spent nearly 25 years building a life and career in Nashville, writing songs, making records, and earning the respect of her peers. But even with all she’s accomplished, Monroe has often felt invisible in the very town she’s devoted her life to. On her surprise-released album Dear Nashville, she puts those conflicted feelings front and center.

“I had a writing session on the books with Luke and I’d woken up that morning with a storm in my heart, like, ‘My gosh, have I done this all for nothing?’” she says. “When I got to Luke's house that day, I knew I had to address my hurt feelings and get it out of my system. I told him the idea of ‘I Hate Nashville’ and he loved it. That song put everything into motion. We felt the window of all the muses open, and decided that I’m going to say what I feel and make it a whole project.”

Those emotions come through immediately in “I Hate Nashville,” a title that masks her deep love for the genre. “Country music is the reason I’m alive,” she declares.

“This album started with Ashley bringing the title, "I Hate Nashville," to the room one day,” Luke Laird explains. “The music is what brings most songwriters to this town – but when it comes to the business, that’s when people can get burned out.  So Ashley and I talked that day about our love for country music, the songs and the people – we had such a good day talking about all of our favorite Nashville memories and what led us both here. I love how honest Ashley is in her writing and just how pure her singing is. She really is the triple threat: artist, songwriter, and producer. We had so much fun making this record. No rules… just what felt right.”

Ashley Monroe · Dear Nashville

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Alys North - Replace You With.

Alys North is an emerging artist we think you’ll genuinely enjoy. Alys new single is called Replace You With and was released yesterday. Dynamic, raw, and fiercely authentic, Alys North brings a storyteller’s fire to every stage she steps onto. Raised in a small Northern Territory town, before honing her skills and passion in Brisbane, Australia, Alys can now be found carving out her sound in venues and streets around Cardiff and the UK.

Known for lyrics that land with striking honesty—the kind that stops new listeners in their tracks, Alys’ songwriting is unfiltered and unafraid, offering a powerful mix of vulnerability and grit. For her growing audience, each performance is more than a show—it’s an invitation into the real, unpolished life of an artist who refuses to hold back.

Alys blends heartfelt songwriting with a raw, authentic vocal style, creating music that connects immediately. In the build up to today's release, this track has been played on stations in both the UK and Oceanic scenes, with early charting on Amazing Radio (up to #27 from initial entry at #32!), as well as 'B' Playlisting on Amazing Radio UK, and a fantastic debut and reception through BBC Introducing, which has led to placement on the BBC Radio Wales A List!

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Photo - Nicholas O’Donnell

The Clockworks - The Entertainment (Album).

Galway via London fourpiece The Clockworks have this weekend shared their second full-length musical project with brand-new album ‘The Entertainment’ out now via V2 Records. The Clockworks introduced themselves and their cinematic sound with debut album ‘Exit Strategy’ in 2023 and their self-titled EP ‘The Clockworks’ in 2022, gaining acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music and BBC Radio 1. With a sonic palate that pulls from seemingly disparate regions of the musical landscape, namechecking Daft Punk next to Pixies, next to Ennio Morricone, they are also influenced through their passion for film and literature. Lyrically, singer and lyricist James McGregor writes with purpose, integrity and emotion, balancing light with darkness and finding poetic intrigue in everyday life. 
 
New album ‘The Entertainment’ was largely written and recorded in isolation and is a project that looks to loneliness and connection in its exploration of life in the modern world. The framework for the album came intuitively and fast, carving out a sonic landscape built around tension and release; moments of darkness juxtaposed with glimmers of light. A raft of cinematic inspirations were on the moodboard - Bladerunner, Drive, the works of Fellini – alongside cover art inspired by an old LIFE Magazine cover featuring the first theatre to show 3D films. Their second record is not so much a concept album, but more a ‘work of friction’. The band say;
 
“The whole album seems to be filled with push and pull, black and white. There is such a conflict and contrast between everything. Even just recording the music, we did it all separately and then put it back together.” “We had the idea to record in a way that was in keeping with what the album is talking about, and to try and do it in isolation completely. We wanted creatively to turn in and see what we could do, so then when we did bring it all together, the parts had all this tension to play with.”
 
“We had this really strong identity for the album from the start, which meant that we could then spend so much time on the details. It’s like if you have all the beats of the film, then you can tell the actors to go and improv between them.”

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