Divorce Court 140 Opening with celestial piano chords and a weightless vocal, 140 initially occupies a dream-like space, free from the bounds of earth’s gravitational field. A low slung analogue synth styled bass line comes in during the second minute, and the contrast introduced by the song’s percussion and bass gives Divorce Court’s new single an even more orbital feeling. The use of synths and reverb here reminds me of the work of Com Truise. Rather than embracing the straight lines of electronics, however, here the sound is blended with the kind of dream pop vibes more commonly found in t ..read more

Aaron Title New Moon (Riptide) Hailing from DC, Aaron Title is a singer, songwriter, and producer focused on combining lo-fi indie pop, R&B, and electronic into immersive soundscapes. New Moon (Riptide) opens with lightly filtered vocals, atmospheric synth notes and crisp drums, but the song is quickly propelled forwards by chunky, bubbling low-end bass. The result is an introspective, optimistic sound that takes cues from progressive house and electro, with lyrics that depict the experience of picking yourself up amidst turbulent time. I found the energy and mood of Title’s song addictiv ..read more

Laveda Troy Creeps Drenched in atmosphere, Laveda’s Troy Creeps seeps into your ears with glittering acoustics married to bruised and cracked vocals. You can hear Laveda’s influences, which include the Sundays, My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive, in the slow beauty that gradually unfurls here. Layered guitars and pounding drums build to the song’s wall-of-noise shoegaze dream-pop climax. Founded by duo Ali Genevich (vocals/guitar) and Jake Brooks (vocals/guitar/synths), Laveda released their debut album, What Happens After, in 2020. Through the summer and autumn of 2021, Genevich and Brooks spe ..read more

Dámì Sule So Far (Poem) Dámì Sule is the musical project of Nigerian-born, Manchester-baserd singer and rapper Emmanuel Damilare Sule. Leveraging the inspiration he finds in poetry, and artists such as George the Poet, Dámì seeks purpose through a blend of meaningful words and music. The resulting music is hard to categorise - there are elements of rap and hip hop here, but the scope of Dámì’s sound feels much wider. Having started in music in 2017, Sule has since garnered major industry support with features from the likes of Complex, DMY and GUAP, and airplay from Worldwide FM, BBC Introduc ..read more

Olivia Reid Runner’s High Runner’s High is the new single from NYC-based musician Olivia Reid, who “blends indie acoustics with exploratory electronic pop soundscapes”. Which basically means her music strikes a beautiful mid-point between pop and folk, akin to those Taylor Swift and Justin Vernon collaborations, but in one tastefully cohesive individual. Here on Reid’s new single, the running is as much a metaphor as anything — a depiction of the necessary struggle in achievement… As an artist, she reflects on the fact the race isn’t about the competition, but the feeling, as she sings, “All ..read more

Housewife Fuck Around Phase Housewife’s Fuck Around Phase has the unapologetic sound befitting a song whose title pretty much guarantees it no radio airplay. Housewife is the musical project of 20-year-old Toronto-based singer Brighid Fry. She originally made her name in 2017 with an eponymous EP, which went on to win a number of awards including a Canadian Folk Music Award and a Toronto Independent Music Award. Having continued to build her name with 2020’s EP Better Daughter, and her 2022 release You’ll Be Forgiven, Fuck Around Phase is Fry’s first new music of 2023. Rambunctious, grimy bas ..read more

San Cisco Lost Without You Lost Without You is the kind of song that really shines for one specific glorious reason: It has a bloody fantastic chorus. San Cisco buzz with the kind of sunny West Coast vibes befitting of their name, but they actually come from Fremantle, in Western Australia. Having carved out a career creating indie-pop, the three-piece have been making music together for ten years, and are on the verge of releasing their fifth album. Fittingly, the band split their recording sessions for their new material between Fremantle and Los Angeles, working with producer Jame Ireland ..read more

REGALJASON Ascend The musical approach that REGALJASON applies to his new single, Ascend, feels expansive in the styles and inspiration deployed. R&B stylings meet art-pop vocals in a way that lands right at the intersection of Miguel, Autre Ne Veut, and the Dirty Projectors. Born in Jamaica, raised in Panama and now in London following a stint in LA, REGAL channels the sounds he has absorbed along the way. Ascend is REGAL’s first release of 2023, and sees him throw down an inspirational song about rising above the adversity he has faced along the way: “As an independent artist, I face m ..read more

Vitesse X Right Now Vitesse X is an electronic music producer from the US. Having originally started in music in New York, playing in bands and spinning records as a DJ, she pursued a solo career to explore her sense of self. With a focus on the sense of euphoria that comes from the dance floor, her music pursues the sense of opportunity and possibility that comes from losing yourself, communally and collectively, within music. Taking inspiration from early electronic music, like Kraftwerk’s Tour de France, 90s rave and ambient techno give Vitesse X’s music a feel that combines the mechanical ..read more

Bishat You Ain’t Sh*t You Ain’t Sh *t is the new affirming put down record from Swedish/Ethiopian artist, songwriter, and producer Bishat. The lead single from their forthcoming debut EP, Who Hurt You?, it’s deliberately positioned as a potential-petty-but-oh-so-necessary tribute to setting boundaries and removing the power from those that play games. With syrupy vocals and warm bass tones, You Ain’t Sh *t evokes the reassuring feeling of having someone tell you that your frustration is justified. The floaty, carefree way in which Bishat delivers her vocal feels like a weight lifted — freed b ..read more