Lala Salama - Marla Mase - bauhofer - ALEIA - Serge & The Currents - Louis Mezzasoma

Lala Salama Celebrate Life on the Road with Joyous New Single ‘Spacewagon.’

Finnish indie-rock trio Lala Salama return with ‘Spacewagon’, a wonderfully unconventional love song dedicated to a Toyota Corolla. Released November 6 via All That Plazz, the track is the first taste of the band's forthcoming EP, due in early 2027, and captures the freedom, friendship and memories of nights spent travelling together. It's a road-trip anthem with a refreshingly down-to-earth twist.

Built around the steady, hypnotic pulse of a late-night drive, ‘Spacewagon’ gradually gathers momentum as its guitars grow louder and the trio push their sound towards something wonderfully raw and energetic. Born from a rehearsal-room jam, the song was recorded live by Rosa Jules, Aliisa Keränen and Elli Holmström, giving it an instinctive chemistry that suits its krautrock repetition and punk-edged finale. There's a hint of homesickness alongside the excitement of the open road, but above all it's about enjoying the journey with people you trust.

As Rosa Jules explains, the track is an ode to their Corolla and the road trips they've shared, while also representing a return to the band's roots as a rock trio. The recording became an opportunity to explore how they wanted their next release to sound, and the decision to let the song build towards a full-throttle finish has clearly paid off. Following the more wistful ‘Muistot haalistuu’, this is Lala Salama letting their louder, livelier side shine.

The trio already have an impressive reputation building around them. Their debut album, Miltähän me näytettäis yhdessä, earned four stars from Finland's Helsingin Sanomat and was named Album of the Week by Radio Helsinki, while their music has also received national airplay on YleX. Over in the UK, Clash praised earlier single ‘Summer Love’ as an “ultra-catchy shoegaze anthem”, which also reached number one on Hype Machine. ‘Spacewagon’ is another strong indication that Lala Salama are a band worth keeping firmly on the radar.

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Marla Mase Reimagines Pixies Classic Ahead of New EP The Midnight Show – Act I.

Brooklyn singer-songwriter Marla Mase returns with a bold new chapter in her ever-evolving musical journey, announcing the forthcoming EP The Midnight Show – Act I, due November 20, 2026 via True Groove Records. Dark, cinematic and visceral, the release is the first part of a two-act project exploring the contradictions, complexities and extremes of the human condition. Alongside the announcement, Mase unveils a striking reimagining of the Pixies’ classic ‘Monkey Gone To Heaven’, offering a fresh perspective on one of alternative rock’s most distinctive songs.

A fearless performer with a magnetic creative vision, Mase has spent three decades moving between music, theatre and performance art. A Brooklyn native, she emerged as a recording artist in the early 2000s and has since released nine albums, performing everywhere from the Bowery to Beijing. Her work refuses easy categorisation, moving effortlessly between rock'n'roll, spoken word, poetry and theatrical expression, often balancing vulnerability, humour and raw emotional intensity.

Recorded at Black Corleone Studios in Brooklyn, The Midnight Show – Act I was mixed by James Dellatacoma at the renowned Orange Music Sound Studio and mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtletone Studio. Across its 14 minutes and 52 seconds, the EP tackles love, independence, ageing and mental health, while confronting the consequences of carelessness and denial. Mase describes it as a clash between two inner voices: one energetic, fearless and angry, seeking to empower and protect, the other gentler and more melancholic, searching for understanding and compassion.

That tension promises a compelling listening experience, with Mase offering a cautionary reflection on the damage caused when we ignore what is happening within ourselves and the world around us. Yet, with characteristic humour, she is equally happy to dismiss the deeper explanation and call it “plain ol’ rock-n-roll”. Whichever way you approach it, The Midnight Show – Act I looks set to be another fascinating statement from an artist who has never been afraid to follow her own creative instincts.

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bauhofer Looks Beyond Earth for Answers on Thought-Provoking New Single ‘Anyone Out There’.

With the world seemingly facing one crisis after another, and the divide between rich and poor continuing to grow, singer-songwriter bauhofer captures a growing sense of frustration and helplessness on new single ‘Anyone Out There’. Exploring the feeling that humanity may no longer be able to solve its problems alone, the song gives voice to those looking towards religion, the universe or even extraterrestrial life for some kind of rescue.

There is a strong protest-song spirit running through ‘Anyone Out There’, recalling the socially conscious work of artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, alongside Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Fortunate Son’. Bauhofer channels anger, despair and a longing for change into a song that reflects the uncertainty of the times, while questioning how far society has drifted from finding solutions together.

Previously recording under the name BB The Artist, bauhofer has enjoyed international success, including a Top 10 position on the European Indie Charts with ‘River Seine’. Social commentary has been a recurring feature of his work, notably on gospel-influenced track ‘RIP Truth’, which examined the erosion of truth in the age of social media and artificial intelligence. His pandemic-era release ‘Together’ offered a message of unity and collective strength.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the new single, bauhofer says it grew from concern about the state of the world and a feeling of powerlessness, adding that he believes it reflects how many people are feeling right now. ‘Anyone Out There’ is a timely and thought-provoking release, turning widespread unease into a heartfelt musical appeal for hope, connection and a reason to believe things can still change.

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Photo Jenna Elson

ALEIA Turns the Pain of Unrequited Love Into Powerful New Single ‘Middle Name’

There is a particular loneliness in loving someone who never truly sees you, and Boorloo/Perth artist ALEIA captures that feeling beautifully on new single ‘Middle Name’, released November 6. Exploring the frustration of unrequited love and the gradual loss of self-worth, the track finds her delivering another deeply personal slice of confessional indie rock, balancing vulnerability with an unmistakable emotional intensity.

ALEIA has been steadily building a reputation through her debut EP Public Humiliation, released in November 2025, and recent single ‘Willpower’, whose accompanying video has attracted more than 37,000 views. Blending alternative pop and indie rock with delicate songwriting and an undercurrent of angst, she has already earned support from Triple J, Triple J Unearthed, ABC Perth, RTR FM, PBS, Happy Mag and The AU Review, among others.

Musically, ‘Middle Name’ is a brooding and compelling listen, built around waves of overdriven electric guitar and a steady, commanding beat. ALEIA’s breathy vocals move effortlessly between the restrained tenderness of the verses and the soaring intensity of the choruses, creating a striking contrast between the song’s heavier instrumentation and its fragile emotional heart.

At its core, the single explores the painful experience of feeling overlooked by someone who claims to love you but never takes the time to truly understand you. As ALEIA explains, the song reflects her own early experiences of dating and questioning whether it is better to be alone and happy than in a relationship that leaves you unfulfilled. With its honest songwriting and powerful delivery, ‘Middle Name’ is a striking reminder that to be loved is to be seen.

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Serge & The Currents Find the Bright Side of Heartbreak on ‘Finished From The Start’

Melbourne-based guitar-driven pop project Serge & The Currents return with ‘Finished From The Start’, a lively indie pop-rock single exploring the bittersweet realisation that a relationship has reached its end. Combining bright melodies and energetic instrumentation with lyrics about disappointment and unreturned affection, it’s a refreshing reminder that even difficult experiences can produce compelling music.

Fronted by guitarist, songwriter, composer and educator Sergio Ercole, Serge & The Currents brings together classic songwriting and modern pop influences. With more than four decades of experience performing, composing and teaching classical and Latin guitar across Italy, the United States and Australia, Ercole brings a distinctive sense of what he calls ‘future nostalgia’ to the project, balancing familiar musical warmth with a contemporary edge.

‘Finished From The Start’ captures the frustration of trying to make a relationship work when the effort is never returned. Electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards and fast-moving drums give the track an infectious, upbeat feel, creating an appealing contrast with its more bruised lyrical message. Ercole’s cherry red Gibson 335 is also central to the song’s guitar-led character, adding another layer of personality to its sound.

As Ercole explains, the song is about recognising when a connection simply isn't going to work, despite the effort and hope invested in it. Ultimately, it becomes a lesson in accepting reality and knowing when to walk away. With its infectious pop-rock energy and relatable emotional honesty, ‘Finished From The Start’ makes for an engaging return from Serge & The Currents.

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Photo - Melaine Nibel

Louis Mezzasoma Keeps the Blues Alive With a Fresh, Fearless Roots Sound.

Louis Mezzasoma takes a wonderfully free-spirited approach to roots music, moving effortlessly between gritty blues, country-folk and roots-rock. His sound is soulful, visceral and full of character, drawing on the traditions of the blues without becoming trapped in nostalgia. There is a raw honesty to his music, with voice and instruments working together to bring both darkness and light into sharp focus.

Although he may not have grown up on the muddy banks of the Mississippi Delta, Mezzasoma developed his love of the blues through a guitar teacher with a deep passion for the genre. He went on to study jazz and contemporary music at the Saint-Étienne Conservatory, but it was his natural curiosity and appetite for live performance that really shaped his musical identity.

A series of experiences helped define his journey, from soaking up the atmosphere of Scottish pubs during an Erasmus year to meeting French fingerpicking master Alain Giroux. Countless performances using his full one-man-band setup further sharpened his distinctive style, while opportunities to open for respected artists including Charlie Parr, Lucky Peterson, Sugaray Rayford and Popa Chubby offered valuable experience alongside some formidable company.

Mezzasoma continues to follow his own road, avoiding familiar musical shortcuts in favour of spontaneity, freedom and genuine expression. His music may be rooted in tradition, but it feels wonderfully alive, combining elegance and refinement with an electric edge. For anyone who loves their blues with a little country spirit and plenty of individuality, Louis Mezzasoma is an artist worth discovering.

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Adjustable Mustard - Eliot Bronson - Donna Lewis - T.R. Burge & The Temple - CATTY - Resa Saffa Park

Adjustable Mustard Explore Psychedelic Possibilities on New Album Denatured Blue.

Nashville-based married duo Adjustable Mustard return with their second full-length album, Denatured Blue, released November 6, 2026. Recorded at Will White's Dumpster Dog studio, the nine-track collection finds collaborators Katie Pitts and White building on their instinctive approach to songwriting while delivering their most focused and fully realised record to date. Rooted in blues, country and psychedelic rock, it's an adventurous journey through vintage influences and wonderfully imaginative soundscapes.

The album's unusual title has its own story. Originally considered as a possible name for the band, ‘Denatured Blue’ had been forgotten until Pitts stumbled across the phrase scribbled on an old sheet of paper among lyrics and sketches. Its rediscovery coincided with the early stages of the album, which began recording in December and was completed around the time a major ice storm swept through Nashville. Winter has become the duo's natural creative season, providing the space to retreat into the studio and allow new ideas to develop.

That spontaneous philosophy lies at the heart of Adjustable Mustard. White describes the songs as something the pair receive rather than deliberately write, with production becoming a process of decoding those ideas without interfering with their natural direction. White handles guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, while Pitts provides the lead vocals, with White also taking the lead on one track and adding harmonies throughout. Some songs have been developing for years, while others emerged almost entirely during recording.

Musically, Denatured Blue draws inspiration from the late-'60s San Francisco psychedelic scene, with Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, Moby Grape and Blue Cheer among the touchstones. Intricate harmonies, swampy slide guitar, Hammond organ, fuzz-heavy riffs, piano and dreamlike ambience all contribute to its richly textured sound. Opening with the extended psychedelic crescendo of ‘Introduction’, the album sets out its adventurous intentions from the very beginning. Adjustable Mustard clearly have a special creative chemistry, and Denatured Blue promises a fascinating new chapter in their musical journey.

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Photo - Andrew Thomas Lee

Eliot Bronson Embraces Hope and Renewal on New Album Arrive.

Award-winning Atlanta singer-songwriter Eliot Bronson released his seventh studio album, Arrive, yesterday November 6, 2026, via his own New Pain Records label. Produced by Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers at the band's Nashville studio, the record showcases Bronson's gift for cinematic storytelling, memorable melodies and finding extraordinary meaning in everyday experiences. Anchored by his warm, lived-in vocals and heartfelt delivery, Arrive represents an exciting new chapter for an artist continuing to grow creatively.

Bronson describes the album as a record about coming home to yourself, finding presence through pain and learning to embrace life with all its beauty and imperfections. While his previous two releases explored more introspective and atmospheric territory, Arrive takes a brighter, more hopeful direction. The emotional honesty remains, but there's a renewed sense of openness, confidence and generosity running through the songs.

Having spent the last two years writing prolifically, Bronson feels his latest material has emerged from a different place. Rather than being driven primarily by grief or personal struggles, these songs reflect a sense of abundance and creative freedom. He describes them as sad but not broken, angry but hopeful, and more like an offering than a search for approval. That change in perspective ultimately encouraged him to approach one of his musical heroes, Oliver Wood, about working together.

It's a collaboration that has clearly meant a great deal to Bronson. Despite having crossed paths over the years, the pair had never worked closely until Bronson travelled to Nashville in September 2025 to share his new material and develop a vision for the album. Wood subsequently described Arrive as a departure from anything Bronson had done before. With six previous solo albums behind him, songs featured in television series including Yellowstone and Criminal Minds, and years of touring across North America and Europe, Bronson has earned his place as a distinctive independent songwriter. Arrive sounds like a particularly meaningful milestone in that journey.

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Donna Lewis Reimagines a Pop Classic as She Celebrates 30 Years of Now In A Minute.

Three decades after becoming a global star with “I Love You Always Forever”, Welsh-born singer-songwriter Donna Lewis is celebrating the enduring legacy of her debut album, Now In A Minute. Released in 1996, the record introduced the world to her distinctive voice and songwriting, while its lead single became a worldwide phenomenon and made history as the first song to surpass one million spins on US radio. It remains one of the most loved and recognisable pop ballads of its era.

Remarkably, the song continues to find new audiences, attracting hundreds of millions of streams and inspiring a fresh generation of artists. Reinterpretations by Nora En Pure and Betty Who, alongside collaborations involving Digital Farm Animals, Romy of The xx and Fred again.., have helped give it a life far beyond its original chart success. A viral performance with Japanese Breakfast in New York has added to that renewed interest, confirming its remarkable cross-generational appeal.

Lewis has never stood still creatively. Her 2024 album, Rooms With a View, made with electronic artist and producer Holmes Ives, explored a deeply personal period following her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. More recently, Wanderlust, her 2026 collaboration with longtime musical partner David Lowe, delivered a cinematic collection of dream-pop, shimmering electronics and nostalgic melodies, exploring love, heartbreak and rediscovery.

Now, to mark the 30th anniversary of Now In A Minute, Lewis is returning to the album that started it all with a complete reimagining titled In A Minute Now. Due in February 2027, the new collection is introduced by anniversary versions of three songs: “Without Love”, “Nothing Ever Changes” and “Fool’s Paradise”. It promises a fascinating new chapter in the story of an artist whose music continues to connect across generations.

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T.R. Burge & The Temple Find a Way Through the Darkness on Debut Album Godache.

Manchester’s T.R. Burge & The Temple released their debut album, Godache, yesterday November 6, delivering a deeply moving ten-track journey through grief, loss and the possibility of renewal. Designed to be experienced from beginning to end, the record travels through darkness and reflection before gradually offering the prospect of finding a way through. It is an ambitious and emotionally honest introduction from a band with plenty to say.

Although T.R. Burge & The Temple officially came together in Manchester in 2024, the project has been developing for much longer. Following several years as a solo artist, Burge assembled a lineup featuring Aninka Rosa on violin and vocals, Pete Leaver on drums, and Frederic Lyenn Jacques on bass and keyboards, whose previous experience includes more than a decade with Mark Lanegan’s band.

The album’s story stretches back eight years to Burge’s time moving between Manchester and Berlin. Producer Martin J. Fiedler became involved through an unlikely encounter in a Kreuzberg bar, where an early demo was played to him through a pair of headphones. That chance meeting eventually became the foundation for a record that took three years to complete, with recording, mixing and production centred around Berlin’s Klangbild Studios. The connection between the two cities is woven into the finished album, with one track initially recorded in Manchester before making the journey to Germany.

Grief is the emotional thread running throughout Godache, reflecting the personal losses experienced by several members during its creation. Burge describes the album as “deep, dark, emotional”, taking listeners into the abyss while hoping to bring them out the other side. It sounds like a powerful and uncompromising debut, one that embraces difficult emotions while leaving room for hope.

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Photo - Nat Traxel.

CATTY Takes a Wickedly Funny Swipe at Internet Fame on New Single Tax Evasion.

Rising Welsh pop talent CATTY returns with ‘Tax Evasion’, a gloriously cheeky and irresistibly catchy take on fame, fortune and the absurdities of internet celebrity culture. Arriving ahead of a sold-out UK headline tour this month, culminating in a major show at London’s Scala on November 26, the single finds CATTY embracing her most unfiltered and theatrical instincts.

Already attracting attention online, including endorsements from SZA and Absolutely, ‘Tax Evasion’ playfully imagines life as a “middle class internet sad sensation”, complete with private cars, VIP treatment, champagne and the glamour of Chateau Marmont. With references to everyone from David Bowie and Sharon Stone to Katy Perry and Timothée Chalamet, CATTY gleefully throws herself into a fantasy of superstardom, while keeping her tongue firmly in her cheek.

The song also has a sharper point beneath its playful exterior. CATTY explains that it grew from a studio conversation about the difficulties facing musicians without nepotism or generational wealth. As she puts it, having that financial security and an easier start would probably make her a very different person, particularly when the next pay cheque is always a concern. It is an honest observation delivered with a wonderfully mischievous pop sensibility.

Bratty, theatrical and packed with personality, ‘Tax Evasion’ further establishes CATTY as an exciting voice in contemporary Welsh pop. Following 2026 single ‘Pavlov’s Dog’, alongside the EPs Bracing For Impact and Healing Out Of Spite, she continues to build a distinctive musical world where sharp observations, humour and memorable hooks go hand in hand.

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Photo - Henriette Sagjord

Resa Saffa Park Finds Her Most Personal Voice Yet on New Album Kendra.

Norwegian singer-songwriter Resa Saffa Park releases her new album, Kendra, via Ja. Group, delivering a captivating collection of cinematic indie shaped by jazz, trip-hop, noir-pop and soul. With echoes of artists such as Tamino, Michelle Gurevich and Portishead, alongside inspiration from Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Nirvana and Mitski, Resa has developed a sound that is unmistakably her own.

A graduate of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Resa returned to her hometown of Oslo to write Kendra, creating much of the album in her apartment over the course of a year. Across its twelve tracks, she explores how relationships shape our understanding of ourselves, drawing on soured friendships, new love and questions of identity. The result is her most confident, precise and emotionally honest work to date.

There is real variety in the stories she tells. ‘Forever as Her Friend’ examines a friendship falling apart, while ‘Standing Still’ tackles the fear of losing direction and self-worth. ‘Love Is a Lonely Feeling’ turns heartbreak inwards, reflecting on her relationship with her own creativity, while ‘I Can See The World’ celebrates the everyday happiness of falling in love. ‘Under The Sun’ is a particular highlight, bringing Resa's voice together with the unmistakable baritone of Madrugada frontman Sivert Høyem in a tender reflection on life's fragility.

Produced primarily by Bård Berg, with additional contributions from Martin Vinje, Daragh Patrick Wearen and Øyvind Mathisen, Kendra combines piano, guitars, synthesizers and live strings to create a richly atmospheric backdrop. Resa describes music as the safest place she knows, and her belief that songs should come from a genuine need to create rather than a desire for attention is evident throughout. Kendra is a thoughtful, beautifully realised album that puts emotional connection and artistic honesty first.

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Kynsy - Dutch Uncles - Kate Schutt - Drop Dead Poppies - DAYLA - Alex Little

 Photo - Jack Dallas Champion

Kynsy Embraces Dark Romance on New Single ‘eleanor’

Dublin-born, London-based songwriter and producer Kynsy, aka Ciara Lindsey, returns with ‘eleanor’, a striking new single that offers an exciting glimpse of the music following her 2024 EP Utopia. Blending jagged indie-rock textures, brooding atmospheres and an irresistible pop sensibility, the track brings her distinctive sound into sharp focus while revealing a growing confidence behind the production desk.

‘eleanor’ explores the intoxicating pull of someone admired from afar, despite knowing that the attraction is likely to end in heartbreak. Kynsy describes it as a dark, poetic take on teenage infatuation and unrequited love, wrapped in the romantic, reckless atmosphere of the early-2000s TV series Skins. There's a compelling tension between the song's emotional vulnerability and its restless, fractured sound.

Co-produced with drummer Rory Gilmore, also known as producer and DJ Body Clinic, and guitarist Tyler Darrington, aka T. Evann, the track draws on the adventurous energy of Sorry's debut album. Its combination of glitchy electronics and rock instrumentation reflects Kynsy's desire to explore more left-field production while retaining the immediacy of a great indie-pop song. The decision to work alongside her live-band collaborators has clearly paid off.

With three EPs already released and support from NME, DIY, Dork, BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music, Kynsy has steadily built a reputation as an artist unafraid to experiment. ‘eleanor’ is an assured and intriguing return, showcasing both her songwriting instincts and her ambitions as a producer. We look forward to hearing where she takes this sound next. 

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Photo - Luke Cooper

Dutch Uncles Announce New Album Polygon Hotel with Playful Single ‘No Note’

Manchester art-pop favourites Dutch Uncles have announced their seventh studio album, Polygon Hotel, due for release on 19 February 2027 via Memphis Industries. The news arrives alongside first single ‘No Note’, a wonderfully off-kilter introduction to a record that promises some of the most adventurous and rewarding music of the band's 18-year career. A UK headline tour will follow in March.

Accompanied by a gloriously bizarre video featuring early PlayStation-inspired animation from cult artist Miles Buckle, ‘No Note’ sees the band battling themselves outside a Greggs before liberating a speedboat from a junkyard. Musically, it's just as entertaining, combining dancing marimbas and seasick tubular bells with a wonderfully strutting, almost pub-rock riff. Beneath the playful arrangement, however, lies a more serious reflection on time lost to social media and the frustration of feeling unable to escape its grip.

Following 2023's True Entertainment, which marked a fresh chapter after a six-year gap between albums, Polygon Hotel finds the Stockport-formed sextet continuing to explore their wonderfully unpredictable musical territory. Produced and mixed by the band themselves, with mastering by Felix Davis (Geese, Lime Garden), the album promises labyrinthine melodies, gloriously unusual rhythms and songs that move effortlessly between personal reflection, surreal humour and darker observations.

Frontman Duncan Wallis describes ‘No Note’ as a lament for the time invested in social media, and the uncomfortable realisation that so much of our attention has been handed over to platforms controlled by people with questionable intentions. There's even a little irony in the fact that, despite being about wasted time, the lyrics took just five minutes to write. Dutch Uncles have always excelled at making the unexpected sound irresistible, and ‘No Note’ is a terrific reminder of why they remain such a distinctive force in British art-pop. We can't wait to hear Polygon Hotel.

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Photo - Natalie Deryn Johnson

Kate Schutt Captures the Heartache of Leaving the Arctic on ‘I’ve Got To Go’

Award-winning singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Kate Schutt returns with ‘I’ve Got To Go’, a wistful and haunting Americana ballad inspired by Austrian writer Christiane Ritter’s 1934 memoir, A Woman in the Polar Night. Imagined as a letter from Ritter to her husband, the song explores the emotional conflict of leaving behind a remote Arctic wilderness that has transformed her, knowing that conventional family life and everyday responsibilities await back home.

Ritter spent an extraordinary winter in a tiny hunter's hut in a remote fjord of Svalbard, alongside her husband and his hunting partner. As the long polar darkness gave way to the brightness of spring, the arrival of a ship meant her time in this remarkable landscape was coming to an end. Her husband would remain, while she faced the journey back to Austria, her child and the life she had left behind.

It is the unanswered questions surrounding that departure that inspired Schutt's songwriting. Did Ritter really want to leave? Had she considered staying for another year? And what did it feel like to know that an experience so profoundly life-changing might never happen again? As Kate explains, curiosity is at the heart of her creative process, with songwriting allowing her to explore feelings and questions that might otherwise remain unresolved.

The song also carries a deeply personal connection. Having travelled to the Arctic twice herself, spending around three weeks there on each occasion, Schutt knows how difficult it can be to leave. She recalls being so affected by Svalbard's extraordinary landscape that she wanted to miss her flight and stay long enough to witness the changing light and seasons. That genuine emotional connection gives ‘I've Got To Go’ an added depth, making it a beautifully reflective song about freedom, belonging and the bittersweet experience of leaving somewhere that has changed you.

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Drop Dead Poppies Bring Grit, Groove and Emotional Honesty to new album 'Selling The Farm'

Toronto quartet Drop Dead Poppies have released their new album, Selling The Farm, a bold and adventurous collection that blends psychedelic rock, Southern rock and classic '70s influences with deeply personal songwriting. Full of grit, groove and freewheeling rock 'n' roll energy, the record explores life's complicated moments, embracing vulnerability, uncertainty and resilience without losing its sense of musical adventure.

One of the album's most powerful moments is ‘Lies’, inspired by vocalist and guitarist Poppy Miers' experience with stage 3 melanoma. Written as an imagined conversation between Miers and the cancer growing inside her body, the song explores the fear, denial and eventual acceptance surrounding her diagnosis. Miers describes the track as a strange way of confronting and accepting the experience, capturing the battle between the mind's determination to expose the truth and the seductive pull of denial. It's a remarkably personal piece that gives the album much of its emotional weight.

Formed in 2022, Drop Dead Poppies feature Miers alongside David Sufrin on drums, Mike Strizic on bass and Paul Phelan on guitar, slide and pedal steel. Together, they have developed a sound that combines the raw power of classic rock with hazy psychedelic textures and the earthy swagger of Southern rock. Their growing live reputation has taken them to celebrated Toronto venues including the Horseshoe Tavern, Dakota Tavern and Monarch Tavern, as well as festivals such as Riverfest Elora, NXNE, Come Together Festival and Gussapalooza.

With Selling The Farm, Drop Dead Poppies capture the chemistry and spontaneity of their live performances while demonstrating a real willingness to push their songwriting into more personal territory. It's an album that balances muscular musicianship with emotional honesty, and confirms the quartet as an exciting band with plenty of creative ambition. A compelling new chapter for a group clearly finding its own distinctive voice.

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DAYLA Turns Modern Dating Frustrations into Art-Pop with ‘No1’

London-based artist DAYLA shares the official video for her latest single ‘No1’, a playful yet emotionally honest exploration of modern dating, unrequited feelings and the dangers of getting caught up in romantic ‘what ifs’. Directed by Naomi Ngoo, the video follows DAYLA wandering through the streets of Soho and Chinatown, dressed in a distinctive star costume and searching for solace among the city's crowds. With its nods to Hollywood Boulevard mascots and teenage Indie Sleaze culture, it captures the feeling of being conspicuous yet completely unknown.

First written in Los Angeles and completed following the end of a six-year relationship, ‘No1’ transforms romantic uncertainty into something wonderfully catchy and sensual. The song explores limerence, the thrill of an unexpected winter spark and the realisation that sometimes a crush is simply a lack of information. Its wishful title provides a clever contrast with the reality of feeling overlooked, while DAYLA's unfiltered delivery gives the track plenty of personality.

For DAYLA, writing the song was a way of turning frustration into something creative. She hopes it will encourage anyone caught in a one-sided romantic situation to stop investing in someone who isn't matching their feelings and redirect that energy towards themselves. As she explains, we may think we become better at navigating love as we get older, but ultimately we all want the same thing: to love and be loved in return. It's an honest sentiment wrapped in an upbeat, free-spirited pop song.

DAYLA returned in September with ‘TV- 90s kid’, ending a six-year hiatus and earning support from Fault Magazine, Loud Women, Ones To Watch and The Most Radicalist. That dreamy art-pop single offered a nostalgic escape for millennials facing the realities of modern adulthood, and ‘No1’ continues to showcase her distinctive blend of emotional candour, playful attitude and imaginative production. It's great to have DAYLA back, and this latest release suggests there's plenty more to come.

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Alex Little Turns Inner Turmoil into Catchy Indie-Punk on New EP 'Conversations In My Head' 

Vancouver songwriter Alex Little returns with Conversations In My Head, a new three-track EP released yesterday via Light Organ Records. Packed with punchy guitars, new-wave hooks and a wonderfully infectious punk attitude, it finds Little turning anxiety, self-doubt and life's awkward moments into songs that are as catchy as they are revealing. With echoes of Blondie, Buzzcocks and the quirky spirit of the B-52's, there's plenty of familiar musical DNA, but Little's funny, candid and unmistakably personal songwriting gives the collection its own identity.

Following 2025's Spider in the Sink, which explored fear and the unsettling feeling of being at odds with your own mind, the new EP takes an equally honest look at the gap between what we know and what we actually believe. The title track is a perfect example, pairing a slick, mid-tempo guitar groove with a stream of anxious thoughts about appearance, awkward social encounters and the fear of losing a friendship. It's painfully relatable, but Little delivers it with enough wit and energy to keep things far from gloomy.

‘Look Away’ takes aim at the wider world, confronting the silence and denial that allow harmful behaviour to continue unchecked. Sinister in mood but irresistibly danceable, it's a sharp and engaging piece of songwriting. ‘Validation’ then brings the focus back inward, exploring the familiar desire for reassurance from others, even when we know we should be confident in ourselves. Its triumphant musical feel makes a clever contrast with the vulnerability at its heart.

With a musical upbringing surrounded by records from The Replacements, David Bowie, The Beatles and Iggy Pop, Little has clearly absorbed some wonderful influences. Her journey through Vancouver's punk scene, including time behind the drums in Vapid, has helped shape a sound that is energetic, melodic and refreshingly direct. Conversations In My Head is a terrific little collection that turns life's mental battles into memorable rock songs, confirming Alex Little as a songwriter with plenty of personality, honesty and infectious musical instinct.

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Bau Cat - Le Bien - Purple Pilgrims - PINS - Arkells - Joe Ray McDonald

Bau Cat – Ordinary People / Conversations with America.

Prestatyn three-piece Bau Cat return with a fantastic double A-side release, Ordinary People / Conversations with America, ahead of their four-track EP Price of Life, due out on 6th November via Libertino. Known for their energetic, playful and joyful live performances, the band have already earned attention from BBC Introducing, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio 6 Music, KEXP and Radio X.

The two tracks showcase different sides of Bau Cat's songwriting. Ordinary People draws on the melodic warmth of The Beatles' Rubber Soul, while reflecting on the challenges of making a living as working-class musicians in an increasingly expensive music industry. It's a heartfelt and wonderfully relatable song, summed up perfectly by the band's description: "This one's for all the ordinary people out there like us, failing so beautifully."

Conversations with America takes a wider look at an increasingly divided and troubled world. Inspired by The Cure, Blondie and R.E.M., it opens with a driving bassline and distorted megaphone before developing into something wonderfully melodic and hopeful. Despite its darker observations, the song ultimately delivers a message of love and togetherness.

There's plenty to admire about Bau Cat's ability to combine thought-provoking subjects with infectious melodies, humour and an uplifting musical spirit. Beehive Candy love the energy, honesty and individuality of this double A-side! A terrific introduction to Price of Life and a band well worth keeping an eye on.

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Le Bien - Lucy.

French collective Le Bien continue their musical evolution with Losers, the first instalment of an exciting two-part EP series, arriving on 27th November 2026. Following their 2025 debut release Sheeplanding on Tadam Records, the band return with a wonderfully offbeat collection that turns life's everyday frustrations into something surprisingly joyful.

Born out of setbacks, including a cancelled tour and the departure of their original label, Losers embraces boredom, anxiety, pleasure and addiction with plenty of self-deprecating humour. Rather than becoming weighed down by its subject matter, Le Bien counter their sharp observations with upbeat rhythms, quirky musical flourishes and an irresistible invitation to dance away life's neuroses.

The band's increasingly collaborative approach is at the heart of this new chapter. Drawing inspiration from spontaneous jam sessions in an underground French bar before developing the material in Marseille, their music captures a wonderfully raw, communal energy. There's a particularly appealing combination of primal rhythms, infectious melodies and a sense of togetherness that feels made for sharing.

Losers sounds like a refreshing and adventurous step forward for Le Bien, demonstrating that even life's less glamorous moments can inspire something exciting. Beehive Candy love the playful spirit, infectious energy and wonderfully unconventional approach of this release.

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Photo - Olivia Renouf

Purple Pilgrims – Look to the Moon.

Aotearoa-based dream-pop duo Purple Pilgrims, sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon, return with Look to the Moon, the latest single from their forthcoming third album, Given to the Night, due 27th November via Flying Nun Records. Accompanied by a beautiful new music video directed by Britt Walton, it's another captivating glimpse into the sisters' wonderfully atmospheric musical world.

Described by the duo as "a mantra, a sisterly love song — a communion with the universe, an anthemic prayer", Look to the Moon explores the connection between love, nature and the wider universe. Their signature kaleidoscopic sound is full of dreamy textures, beautifully layered vocals and an enchanting sense of otherworldliness.

Recorded during an off-grid countryside retreat in New Zealand, Given to the Night explores the spaces between dreams and reality, light and darkness, with the sisters allowing intuition and spontaneity to guide their creative process. Previous singles Innocence Lost and Outside have already offered tantalising glimpses of this intriguing new direction.

Look to the Moon is a gorgeous, immersive piece of dream-pop that highlights the extraordinary musical connection between these two sisters. Beehive Candy absolutely love its hypnotic atmosphere, beautiful harmonies and uplifting sense of wonder.

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PINS – No Tears.

Manchester post-punk favourites PINS return with No Tears, the second half of their new double A-side release, following recent single All Over. It's an exciting taste of what's to come from the four-piece, who have also announced their fourth studio album, If I'm Alive Now, Then I Was Dead, arriving 12th February via Haus of PINS.

Marking a fresh chapter for Faith Vern, Lois MacDonald, Kyoko Swan and Abbi Phillips, No Tears finds the band embracing a more organic, analogue sound. Recorded at London's Holy Mountain Studios, the track combines yearning, heartfelt lyrics with gritty guitars and gorgeous 60s girl-group harmonies, building into a wonderfully emotional celebration of love, friendship and the people we've been along the way.

With more than a decade of acclaimed releases behind them, PINS demonstrate that they still have plenty of creative fire. There's a lovely warmth and vulnerability to No Tears, while retaining the raw energy and distinctive attitude that have always made the band such an appealing proposition.

Beehive Candy love this track. It's a beautiful, heartfelt return from PINS and a promising glimpse of an album that looks set to mark a significant new beginning for the band.

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Photo - Scarlet O’Neil

Arkells - Handshake Thugs.

Nine-time JUNO Award winners Arkells are back with a timely surprise single, ‘Handshake Thugs’, their first new music since the release of their latest album, Between Us, earlier this spring. Featuring the No. 1 singles ‘Next Summer’ and ‘Money’, the album explored the noise of modern life and the search for meaning, themes the band now push further with a sharp-edged song aimed at leaders who divide people while protecting their own power.

Written in early September, recorded just weeks later with producer Gus van Go, and already finding its way into the band's live set during their UK tour, ‘Handshake Thugs’ is a direct and uncompromising statement. Frontman Max Kerman explains that while society often imagines thugs as troublemakers on the streets, the real ones are those at the top, making deals for themselves and putting their own interests first. He describes the track as “a song for the 99%, inspired by the 1%”.

Arkells are now bringing their Between Us tour back to Canada with a fresh run of their distinctive City Takeover shows. Giving fans the chance to see the band across three nights in three different local clubs, the intimate events put live music and personal connection at the heart of the experience. Previous sold-out takeovers have taken place in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

The latest dates begin in Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Ottawa, before the band round off the year with eagerly anticipated holiday shows in Niagara and St. John’s, Newfoundland. With ‘Handshake Thugs’, Arkells prove they are still ready to speak their minds, delivering an energetic new anthem that takes aim at the powerful and stands firmly with everyone else.

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Joe Ray McDonald - Harvester (Album).

Canadian alt-country talent Joe Ray McDonald returns with Harvester, an impressive 11-song collection arriving almost exactly a year after his 2025 breakthrough album Cowboy Cake. Based near Ottawa, McDonald is a remarkable roots musician, combining the heartfelt storytelling of Townes Van Zandt with flashes of dazzling guitar work reminiscent of Billy Strings. Once again, he has recorded virtually everything himself, showcasing an extraordinary range of musical ability.

Building on the success of Cowboy Cake, McDonald has pushed his sound further, placing guitar playing firmly at the centre of Harvester. He describes the new record as a blend of Jerry Reed's virtuosic picking and Townes Van Zandt's emotional depth, with a lighter touch than its predecessor. The result promises plenty of musical variety, balancing impressive musicianship with songs that have genuine feeling and personality.

One standout is ‘Palomino’, whose intricate arrangement and evocative lyrics capture McDonald's cinematic approach to songwriting. ‘In The Morning’ is equally special, inspired by the experience of looking after his family's farm at around 20 years old. A series of mishaps, including frozen pipes, a blown tractor tyre and a heavy snowstorm, eventually gave way to a moment of calm when the song came to him.

That combination of lived experience, vivid storytelling and exceptional guitar playing makes Harvester a compelling next step for McDonald. He's an artist with a real gift for bringing traditional roots influences into his own distinctive world, and this latest collection should further establish him as one of Canada's most exciting alt-country voices.

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Puffy Saigon - Full Flower Moon Band - Sarah Louise - Jim Basnight

Puffy Saigon - Foster Child (Album).

Puffy Saigon explore an eclectic world of psychedelia and poetic expression. Conceived primarily as a studio project, Puffy Saigon brings together a fascinating blend of contrasting sounds, languages and influences, wrapped in striking, enigmatic lyrics inspired by magic realism and 20th-century European and American poetry. Drawing on an eclectic musical palette that embraces British and American psychedelia, West Coast electro-acoustic experimentation and the atmospheric late-period work of Talk Talk's Mark Hollis, the album also finds inspiration in the likes of Scott Walker, John Martyn, Skip Spence, Laura Nyro, Peter Hammill, Nick Drake, Neil Young and David Crosby. The result promises a richly textured and imaginative listening experience that refuses to be confined by conventional boundaries.

Behind Puffy Saigon is the multifaceted David D'Amore, an artist whose creative journey spans several decades of live music and visual art. His musical career has taken him from European tours with Wild Way during the 1980s to performances at Rome's legendary Folk Studio and Piper. Alongside music, D'Amore has established himself as a painter, draftsman and photographer, exhibiting at prestigious venues including Rome's 2RC Gallery, the Palazzo delle Esposizioni and New York's Frank Bustamante Gallery.

Much like his music, D'Amore's visual work resists easy categorisation, instead exploring the complexities of the human experience in all its shades and contradictions. Suffering, joy, fear, desire, ambiguity, loneliness and sexuality all find their place in an artistic world that embraces the beautiful, the uncomfortable and everything in between. This deeply human perspective gives Puffy Saigon its distinctive creative identity, bringing together a lifetime of artistic exploration in a project driven by curiosity and emotional honesty.

After almost fifty years of live performances, D'Amore has now chosen to step away from the stage to concentrate exclusively on studio production, a decision rooted in what he describes as a spiritual necessity. "We are pouring everything into composition and arrangements: recording each track takes months of work, and repeating those same memorized pieces in concert would drag us into a routine, preventing us from keeping our creative tension high." It's an approach that places artistic freedom and experimentation firmly at the heart of Puffy Saigon, allowing D'Amore to pursue his musical vision without compromise.

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Photo - Tori McGraw

Full Flower Moon Band - Party Hard.

Full Flower Moon Band Announce Fourth Album After Dark With Powerful New Single ‘Party Hard’ - Australian rock outfit Full Flower Moon Band, the project of songwriter, guitarist and frontwoman Kate ‘Babyshakes’ Dillon, are set to return with their fourth album, After Dark, arriving February 25, 2027. The announcement comes accompanied by new single ‘Party Hard’, following September's release of ‘Endless Summer’ and offering another tantalising glimpse into the darker, heavier direction of the forthcoming record. Having evolved from Dillon's original bedroom project into a formidable live band, Full Flower Moon Band have carved out a distinctive place in contemporary Australian rock, combining heavy guitars, psychedelic swagger and sharp, often darkly humorous songwriting.

Despite its seemingly carefree title, ‘Party Hard’ carries a deeply emotional message. Initially conceived with a spirit of abandon and celebration, the song took on an altogether different significance when Dillon learned, on the day she wrote its chorus, that a fan had died by suicide. Reflecting on the track's unexpected emotional weight, she explains: "The chorus is me trying to inspire someone to ‘ask for forgiveness and not permission’ to live the life they want, and to the fullest. It ultimately became a more gravitational anthem than I expected." It's a powerful sentiment that gives the single an added poignancy, transforming its celebratory instincts into an uplifting call to embrace life.

The forthcoming After Dark was shaped by an intense period of personal and creative discovery, beginning with a month Dillon spent in New York after receiving the prestigious Grant McLennan Fellowship. Removed from the familiar surroundings of Brisbane, the experience brought a mixture of isolation, uncertainty and heightened creative energy, providing the inspiration for much of the album's songwriting. Returning to Australia, Dillon subsequently relocated to Melbourne and embraced a fresh approach to making music, working closely with producer and drummer Jim Rindfleish to explore new possibilities and allow the songs to develop more organically.

Moving away from the hands-on involvement she has traditionally maintained throughout recording sessions, Dillon instead embraced a more collaborative creative process, giving After Dark room to evolve in unexpected directions. Reflecting on the experience, she describes the record as something both challenging and essential: "Making any album, I sit inside of it. This one felt intimidating, fateful and necessary." With ‘Party Hard’ already revealing a compelling combination of emotional depth, muscular rock energy and adventurous songwriting, Full Flower Moon Band look set to deliver another fascinating chapter when After Dark arrives next February.

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Sarah Louise - Sit With The Feeling.

Sarah Louise Embraces Emotional Honesty on Dreamy New Single ‘Sit With the Feeling’ - British singer-songwriter Sarah Louise combines heartfelt storytelling, soulful vocals and acoustic influences to create contemporary pop rooted in love, resilience, hope and human connection. Her new single, ‘Sit With the Feeling’, signals an exciting new chapter, introducing a dreamy, atmospheric sound shaped by personal experiences, heartbreak and renewal.

At its heart, the song encourages listeners to embrace their emotions rather than suppress or run from them, recognising how life's toughest experiences can shape who we become. Central to its message is Sarah's signature metaphor of heart-shaped pebbles, a reminder that life's storms don't break us, but shape us. Through honest songwriting and emotive pop, she offers a reassuring message about finding beauty in unexpected places and remembering that we're never alone.

‘Sit With the Feeling’ is taken from Sarah's forthcoming EP, Person I Needed, produced by Neal Handforth and due for release on 27th November. The collection promises to further explore the emotional honesty and self-discovery that have become defining features of her songwriting, inviting listeners to embrace every season of their own story.

Already boasting multiple UK and European iTunes No.1 singles, Sarah continues to build an international following. Her song ‘Sunflower’ has attracted more than 22 million Instagram views, introducing her music to audiences around the world, while performances at Nashville's iconic Bluebird Café and venues, festivals and theatres across the UK have established her as a compelling live performer.

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Jim Basnight - Think of Me / Looking into The Moonlight.

Jim Basnight Celebrates Guitar-Driven Rock and Roll on New Single ‘Think of Me’ - Veteran singer-songwriter Jim Basnight returns with ‘Think of Me’, a lively slice of garage-inspired jangle pop taken from his latest album, Under the Rock, which received nominations in five categories at the 2026 Josie Music Awards. Released worldwide last week, the single showcases a joyful festival of rock and roll guitar interplay, with Basnight joined by guitarist Bruce Hazen, whose playing features throughout the album and its accompanying non-album tracks. As Jim explains, it's a celebration of guitar-driven rock and roll, wrapped up in a great garage pop tune.

The track also features excellent contributions from Glenn Hummel on drums and Garey Shelton on bass, while Beth Peabody and fellow Jim Basnight Band member Cathy Sorbo provide tremendous vocal harmonies. Together, the musicians deliver an infectious combination of jangling guitars, driving rhythms and melodic hooks that captures the enduring appeal of classic garage and power pop.

The release is accompanied by ‘Looking into The Moonlight’, a previously unreleased non-album track with an equally interesting musical history. Originally recorded at Nuci's Space in Athens, Georgia, the song features John Carlucci, better known as Speedie John of Little Steven's Underground Garage, on bass, alongside Laura Carlucci on keyboards and Allen Wagner on drums, with Chris Byron handling engineering duties.

Basnight subsequently took the recording to Grammy Award winner Garey Shelton's studio in the Seattle area, where Bruce Hazen added guitar and Jim Basnight Band members Sean Peabody, Beth Peabody and Suze Sims contributed backing vocals. With two contrasting but complementary tracks, the release offers another enjoyable glimpse into Basnight's enduring passion for melodic rock and roll and the collaborative spirit behind Under the Rock.


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