Wasia Project – Is This What is Love?
Wasia Project's latest release is a rolling, melodic, and ambitious pop anthem. Band members William G. Hardy and Olivia Hardy are not only ideal collaborators, but also brothers, and “Is This What Love Is?” brings brooding vocals to the forefront of a piano-driven backdrop. Place. Noticeable jazz inspiration can be heard in this track's shuffled drum feel and experimental string parts, and its soaring melody line adds a euphoric atmosphere to the proceedings at times. At its core, it is an exploration of the nature of uncontrollable emotions, and its title reflects the quest to understand despair, doubt, and dramatic love. (Kyle Rosniak)
Cassiet – When she told me
“When She Told Me,” from Cassiet’s upcoming debut album This World Fucking Sucks, is an emotional reflection on loss, and the alternative rock artist’s thoughts on his father’s death in 2021. Serves as a much-needed outlet to help deal with death. On the surface, the track is grungy and far more energetic than you'd expect given its theme, but the soft lyrics contrast against the booming guitars, unconventional screamo elements, and uplifting layered harmonies. A true reflection of how she handled her upheaval. Emotions during such difficult times. Overall, “When She Told Me” proves that Cassiet is an artist who can use her music to express her authenticity and rawness. (Kyle Rosniak)
Welly – Shopping
Brighton's Welly are back with their first single of the year, their first release since 2023's 'Live in a Village Hall' project. His charismatic vocals and sarcastic lyrics are instantly captivating, and when combined with his infectious rhythms, upbeat guitars and his 80s synths, they create a memorable track. Filled with groove and lots of fun, “Shopping” is sure to get your hips moving. (Gemma Cockrell)
Sam Akpro – Temperament
Sam Acpro is back with “Disposition,'' his first single of 2024 and the follow-up to last year's “Death of Entertainment.'' The new track is an amalgamation of layers, cycling through intense guitar riffs before giving way to a driving beat, followed by dreamy, atmospheric synths in the next section. Somehow everything fits together seamlessly, flowing from one phase to the next without any sense of disharmony, never feeling like it's trying to do too much at once. (Gemma Cockrell)
Eden Rain – Closer
On “Closer,” her first effort since last year’s second EP, multidisciplinary artist Eden Lane poetically navigates the emotional turmoil of love and grief. Every line of dialogue strikes with unparalleled sincerity, laying bare all hopelessness and helplessness. “You put me on the other side of the glass/To keep me away from what you pass,” she poignantly says. Stunningly minimalist and delicate instrumental textures provide an ambient backdrop, while the Leeds-born songwriter's unleashed vocals fuse melancholy with a hint of nostalgia. Her accompanying music video leans even further into Eden's captivating creative vision. (Emily Savage)
No windows – Zodiac 13
“Zodiac 13,” from No Windows' upcoming EP Point Nemo, is hauntingly and painfully relatable from the get-go. “It's been a hellish week / And I'm still finding my feet.” And it continues to resonate as the track progresses, from emotional lyrics about battling winter loneliness to light, pure vocals that fade into a cathartic instrumental breakdown in the second half. These layers are stripped down to a simple, gentle guitar strum along the closing line, leaving the listener with a tentative and hopeful notion of a new beginning. (Gemma Cockrell)
Tooth decay – landscaping
More than a year after their debut release as a full band, Leeds-based ambient pop band Bug Teeth's latest single is a shimmering, synthesizer-driven soundscape that explores topics of grief and memory through the eyes of the natural world. We are exploring how this happens. You can retain the feeling of beauty and motherhood. Frontperson PJ delivers his vocals in a nervous manner. Perhaps it reflects the suddenness of death and loss for which we could never have prepared. “Landscaping” builds to a buzzing climax of intricate percussion that struggles to float above the cataclysmic textures the group creates, with PJ’s introspective vocals carefully nestling into the surrounding instruments. (Kyle Rosniak)
pecq – in the dark
Boasting collaborations with Arlo Parks, Porij, and Barry Can't Swim, electro duo pecq have already established themselves as versatile multi-creatives. Now, fresh off the release of their latest EP 'Red Moon, Rare Nights', Londoners' new single 'In the Dark' draws on these diverse creative influences. A lively expression of eclecticism, the film combines Hannah (Jakes) Jacobs' classic origins with Nicholas (Nico) O'Brien's innovative production approach, combining pensive lyricism with an unrelentingly hilarious take on loneliness and avoidance. creates a fascinating dichotomy between the frenetic dance kicks expressed in (Emily Savage)
Mun – Listen now
Eclectic soundscapers Mewn's new album 'Ask Me Now' is the latest teaser of their unique sound. Beginning with a monotonous electric piano and spacey drums, the track is melancholic throughout, with its rolling melody conveying a moving gloom before building to an epic climax. It's a move away from the Manchester-based band's earlier songs and a slightly rougher edge, and now they're playing black, his country and new music with a spaceier edge that invites the listener into a cacophony of sounds. He chooses to build a softer sound reminiscent of his Lorde. Moody synths and punchy drums. Deeply intended to elicit emotion, Ask Me Now is music worth taking the time to experience its delicate complexity. (Kyle Rosniak)