Eclectic is a word to describe Robots In Love, but their eclecticism reaches further than the experimental music. From a vocalist who has performed on a boat in Poland, atop a mountain in Japan and a warehouse in Brooklyn to a bassist who has played some of the biggest festivals like Lollapalooza, and a drummer who recently supported The Chemical Brothers, Robots In Love is a force of nature. Blending diverse styles and influences, Elenor Rayner (vocals), Brett Lemmon (guitar), Tony Lumsden (bass) and Alex Burchell (drums) ooze obscurity and eclecticism from every pore as Robots In Love. With ..read more

Imagine the scene: a dark, slightly eerie night in Helsinki, Finland with a cheery gathering in the house ahead. Enter three musicians set to cause a bit of mayhem. Picking up some acoustic instruments, Pekko Manzin (vocals and guitar), Bryan Ugartechea (bass) and Sirpa Immonen (drums) begin jamming – not necessarily mayhem but a degree of enthusiasm rippling across the crowd. All members of the punk group Daggerplay, this evening was a night filled with songs Manzin penned but weren’t suited to Daggerplay. Joined later by Rudy Laakso (percussion), Juhis Grönlund (mandolin) and Perttu Kesäniem ..read more

Like time travellers, Austria-based rock group Portobello Express pull the thread of good music across (or from) different eras, decades, space, distance and generations. Dipping into vintage psychedelic and heavy rock sounds, Portobello Express has its roots in the late 60s and early 70s but is inspired to ignite passion for this style among contemporary audiences. Bound by their fierce love for music, Betty Nagl (vocals), Patrick Slowhand (bass), Andy Abraham (guitar) and Berti Baumgartner (drums) are making waves across the globe with their intriguing music. Known for their inspired melodie ..read more

Meeting via their school volleyball team, Jonah Spitz and Ethan Chase bonded over a shared love for writing and performing music. Soon, the US-based lads were sharing their natural talent with the world in Spitz’s debut single ‘LAUGH’. While Spitz only began releasing music in 2023, he has already reached audiences on an international scale ranging from the UK, France, Germany and his native USA. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘BRACELET’. Despite his young age and having only two singles in his repertoire, Jonah Spitz oozes sophistication and elegance far exceeding his ye ..read more

Known as the Revolutionary Rap Architect, V of 40M ignites the flame of hope and empowerment in his passionate music. Leading the change for the Black Independence people’s movement known as Forty Million Strong (40M), V is turning heads across the globe. We speak with V about his latest single ‘The Score’, creative processes and good advice. OSR: What drew you to music? V of 40M: The Creator. OSR: You recently released your single ‘The Score’. What can you tell us about ‘The Score’? V of 40M: ‘The Score’. V of 40M featuring 40M Tye and Hippie G, produced by LABACK. Revolutionary vibes only, b ..read more

With bold sassiness and a smile to die for, singer-songwriter Alutepena Hughes-John intoxicates listeners with her style and sound. Previously the lead vocalist of the band Anthroppic and Lethia’s Natorium, Hughes-John is the “crazy ukelele lady” you never knew you needed and now you don’t want to ignore. Embarking on a solo project – well, sort of, given the consistent performance of session musicians Max Read (guitar, bass and keyboard) and Karl Thompson (drums) – the UK-based songstress carves a niche for herself in the UK music scene with a ska-influenced style. The latest addition to her ..read more

Some bands make an impression but few ignite a passion for life in the way Love Ghost does. A firm favourite of The Other Side Reviews, the US-based group draw together various genres into a boundary-breaking sound – think pop-punk, rap, nu-metal, pop-rock, alternative rock and even a hint of Afrobeat. We speak with frontman Finnegan Bell about their new EP The Speed of Dreaming, what music means to him, future plans and more. OSR: Cliché, but what drew you to music? How did Love Ghost come about? Bell: Honestly, I was a pretty isolated kid and for me, music was sort of a saving grace. I reall ..read more

From Charlotte Church and Luke Evans to the Treorchy Male Choir and the Welsh fans at any rugby game, it makes sense that Wales is dubbed “the land of song”. Hailing from rural Wales, singer-songwriter Mared is a glorious gem glittering amidst a music scene that sometimes makes you cringe. Deeply connected to her Welsh roots, the critically acclaimed award-winning artist takes the heart of Wales far beyond her UK borders reaching audiences on a global scale. This is my introduction to Mared, so join me as I delve into her discography. Following her well-received 2024 single ‘pe bawn i’n rhydd ..read more

Diving Horse is a band from Glasgow, Scotland that cultivates a combination of synth-pop calling back to ‘80s bands like the B-52s and indie melodies reminiscent of Sub Pop bands in their heyday. Their new single, ‘I Don’t Need the Lord’ touts declarative lyrics with dancefloor aestheticism and a penchant for wigs. Their Instagram posts promote the single with band members dancing in costumes that look to have been salvaged directly from the 1970s. In a post answering the question of what the single is about, they say that “it’s mostly about being yourself.” And so the song pushes against the ..read more

Known for his role as lead guitarist of the band Shameless, James Davis breathes life into the supergroup band The Project. Joined by veteran musicians Jeff Plant (vocalist of Shameless) and Pump5 drummer Andrew Bonter, Davis steps back 20 years to the 2000s fusing pop-rock, hard rock and tinges of metal. The Project blipped on our radar in late 2023 with the well-received single ‘Over You’; and they continued to filter into our ears with 2024’s ‘Hope’. Join us as we cross our fingers, shut our eyes and jump headfirst into their new single ‘no hard feelings’. Bottling the sounds of Bon Jovi, G ..read more