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Best Music Blog for New Artists

Cambridge’s LAY / BYE ignited the modern rock scene with their expansive earwom, ACTIVE!

Posted on 6 May 2024

If any up-and-coming band can kick Royal Blood off their throne, it’s the Cambridge-hailing three-piece LAY / BYE with the polished hooks, fiery intensity, and unflinching resonance in their debut single, ACTIVE!

The debut holds no prisoners when holding the worst archetypes of the human experience to account; the flaying lyrics pick up more volition through the catchy delivery that forces you right into the electrifying nucleus of the single that stands as a testament to the trio’s ability to vindicate the masses.

After a Velvet Revolver-esque intro, the buzzsaw riffs and snarling basslines rip through the dynamic modern hard rock atmosphere honed by Robin Schmidt, known for his work with Nothing But Thieves, the 1975 and Sam Fender. The juxtaposition between the scathing energy within the rhythm section and the pop-pinched vocal hooks creates a dynamic strong enough to carry a rock revolution on its back.

The explosively expressive release is a sure sign of big things to come for LAY / BYE; their ability to fuse integrity with infectious earworm appeal is superlative.

Jump on the ACTIVE! hype by streaming the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mia Laren navigates passion and fatal dysfunction in her Latin Dance Pop track, My Heart

Posted on 2 May 2024

Since 2019, the Baltimore-born, Cali-based singer-songwriter, dancer and producer, Mia Laren, has rhythmically and emotionally moved her international fanbase; her latest Latin Dance Pop track, My Heart (can’t live or live or without you), captures Laren at her most infectious, intimate and powerful.

After an intro which nods to Gaga’s Alejandro, Laren opens her single up to a sensually electrifying, moodily hypnotic groove which constructs an exotically rich platform for her arcane harmonies to ascend from. The monocultural mould disintegrates around her infusion of folky Eastern mysticism and Latin guitars in the electro-pop mix which explores the tormenting nature of your heart beating for someone that will ultimately be the death of you if you keep clinging to the dysfunction in the name of passion.

It’s a rare feat to discover a release that is organically rooted in the heritage of Latin and folk yet transcends contemporary pop trends with a stylish flair that embodies couture pop, yet, five years after learning how to produce music on her laptop, Mia Laren achieved it with plenty of sincerity and authenticity to spare.

My Heart was officially released on April 24; stream the official music video on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Love, Builder of Worlds has unleashed their synth-punk manifesto, Scared for the Climate

Posted on 2 May 2024
Love, Builder of Worlds

With the release of “Scared for the Climate“, the independent artist, Love, Builder of Worlds, delivered an electrifying DIY alt-rock anthem that captures the essence of punk rebellion with the precision of a seasoned artist.

The single encapsulates a raw, urgent message wrapped in the infectious energy of funk-drenched synth punk—a stylistic nod to the dance-punk vibes reminiscent of Kathleen Hanna’s work in Le Tigre. The track’s short, snappy runtime is no barrier to its impact; instead, it enhances its punchy, protest-driven ethos. The lyrics hit hard and fast, their pseudo-hip-hop delivery layering a sense of immediacy over the compelling synth rhythms. The result is a powerful musical manifesto that does more than just sound an alarm—it’s a public safety announcement for the planet.

Love’s unique artistic background, as part of the Olólúfè Collective, infuses their work with a profound understanding of intersectional struggles. They navigate through genres—from punk rock to afrobeat—with the ease of a genre-defying originator, underscoring their commitment to challenging colonial binary frameworks through music.

Scared for the Climate is a fiery call to awareness, urging listeners to confront one of the most pressing existential threats of our time. Through this track, Love, Builder of Worlds, doesn’t merely aim to entertain but to galvanise action, making it a quintessential listen for those attuned to the pressing issues of our era and the potent power of music as a form of resistance.

Scared for the Climate is due for release on May 5th; stream the single on Bandcamp, SoundCloud and Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Meg Scane broke free from the shackles of throwaway culture in her folk pop single, Bottoms Up

Posted on 29 April 2024

Meg Scane’s latest single, Bottoms Up, is a striking testament to her unique ability to intertwine confessional candour with melodic ingenuity, ensuring that the rawness of heartache is as palatable as it is poignant. Wrapped in the artful echoes of chamber pop and infused with the intimacy of folk elements, Scane’s sound bears a thematic intensity reminiscent of Florence and the Machine, yet it thrives on a more personal scale.

This track breaks free from the shackles of today’s throwaway culture, challenging the transient nature of contemporary hits and relationships with its enduring message about the sweetness of lasting love. The fervent declaration that deep, abiding affections still hold a revered place in both music and life couldn’t be more convincing.

Scane’s journey from her debut album, Blind Trial, at just sixteen to her performances from The Midlands to Puglia, Italy, paints her as a dedicated artist fuelled by passion—a passion that also sustains her through the arduous hours spent mucking out horses to fund her studio time. Between her determination and her talent, she has everything it takes to become one of the most seminal indie pop artists of her generation.

Better Sides of You was officially released on March 8th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Move Over Amanda Palmer, Naomi Castellano is the New Girl Anachronism in Her Debut, Hide and Seek

Posted on 27 April 2024

Naomi Castellano’s debut single ‘Hide and Seek‘ reveals an artist who has been seemingly playing hide and seek with her own vast talents. Her debut resonates with the essence of Tom Waits, Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, The Last Dinner Party, and Mitski, showcasing a high-fidelity cultivation of these influences that will leave listeners in awe. Castellano’s music, entrenched in a genre-fluid nostalgic reverence, promises to captivate this generation’s penchant for artful expressionism.

Her quirky anachronistic tendencies lend ‘Hide and Seek’ a timeless depth, where nothing feels antiquated—from the smoky jazz grooves that billow between the robust pillars of chamber pop swells, to her Joni Mitchell-esque vocal range comfortably sitting in the alto, and not to forget the baroque flourishes that tint her artistic sensibilities.

With a background in classical music and a love for jazz, indie, alternative, and folk-pop, Castellano’s songwriting echoes the influences of Ani DiFranco, Fiona Apple, Norah Jones, and Sia. Utilising strings and keys, she created hypnotic transportation into a daydream, making ‘Hide and Seek’ not just a song, but a sublime sonic journey.

Naomi Castellano is undeniably holding the future of alternative music in her deft hands, and with such a compelling start, it’s clear she has exactly what it takes to stand at the vanguard of a new era of musical innovation.

Hide and Seek was officially released on April 17th, stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mild Horses unleashed avant-garde chaos in his genre-defying electronica release, Eye of the Behemoth

Posted on 25 April 2024
Eye Of The Behemoth by Mild Horses

Mild Horses, the experimental brainchild of Matthew Leuw, previously known for his roles in various underground bands, including Norwich’s Crest and Brighton’s Coin-op, has returned with ‘Eye of the Behemoth’.

The single seizes the listener with its lo-fi synth melodies grounded on a solid backbeat, before erupting into a drum n bass rhythmic firestorm. Not merely content to rest here, it pushes the boundaries further with sharp horn stabs, marking a bold foray into avant-garde territory. As the track progresses, the intense energy momentarily retreats into more subdued, jazzy grooves that infuse the piece with psychedelic tranquillity, setting the stage for a climactic resurgence. The finale of this instrumental odyssey is a masterclass in musical composition—returning full circle with a powerful beat that perfectly encapsulates the track’s dynamic range.

‘Eye of the Behemoth’ is not just another experimental track; it is a statement of artistic integrity from Mild Horses. This single does exactly what it promises—immersing its audience in an artfully crafted storm of sound that resonates long after the last note fades. It’s an assertive piece that boldly declares Mild Horses’ niche in the eclectic landscape of contemporary music. For fans of genre-defying soundscapes, this release is an essential experience, offering both challenge and reward in its complex layers.

Stream and purchase Eye of the Behemoth ahead of its official release date of May 10th on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Vouchers struck a raw nerve with the melodic malaise in their alt-post-punk seminal release, Dead History

Posted on 24 April 2024
OYEZ! by The Vouchers

The Vouchers’ standout single, Dead History, from their debut album OYEZ! doesn’t break the post-punk mould; it is a sublime continuation of the disorder initiated by Joy Divison, infused with the melodic malaise of Dinosaur Jr.

Driven by the creative synergy of Mark Langston, Tom Brown, and Matt Clifton, the three-piece intertwines satirical observational poetry with a distinctive North East twang, resulting in unapologetically raw, eloquently monochromatic chemistry.

Dead History captures the essence of The Vouchers’ distinct approach; the track is a sonic labyrinth where angular hooks meet the cold tonalities of an ennui-laden atmosphere, and sparse lyrics become poignant bursts of clarity. The minimalist lyricism of Dead History might initially seem understated, but every word hangs in the air of the release that ticks all the right post-punk boxes.

If you’re looking for a new indie band to get behind, you’ll need to keep the pace as The Vouchers make their inevitably rapid ascent.

Stream and purchase Dead History on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chill Hop meets RnB Dream Pop in Eth4n’s emotion-driven release, Daisy

Posted on 23 April 2024

Driven by emotion and experimental innovation, the standout single, Daisy, from Eth4n’s debut EP, Inerrata, is a hazily melodic installation of aural hypnosis that demands you submit to the catharsis from the first note.

With saturated in delay guitars giving the seminal release a vintage tape deck recording feel and the mellow electronic elements rounding out the RnB dream pop/chill hop hybrid instrumentals, Daisy unravels as an intoxicatingly artful release.

By borrowing the serene dream pop timbres of AIKA’s vocal harmonies, the bitter-sweet exploration of how affection gives us a temporary lust for life strikes all the right evocative chords, especially when Eth4n’s effect-laden pseudo-trap vocals enter the mix and inject swathes of dynamism into the vignette of tentative idiosyncratic affection.

The Australian-born, London-based experimentalist may pull inspiration from the likes of Frank Ocean and JPEGMafia, but rather than assimilating their styles, he runs with the influence into brand-new sonic territory that you’ll be compelled to join him in every time you need sanctuary.

Stream Eth4n’s Inerrata EP on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hyper-pop originator, KAWAII HOE, delivered hyper-surreal alchemy with their debut single, Kaleidoscope Love

Posted on 23 April 2024

KAWAII HOE’s debut single “Kaleidoscope Love” synthesises the future of hyperpop with layers of 8-bit nostalgia in a boundary-pushing production. With a backdrop that cuts across familiar trends, KAWAII HOE charted a course to untouched alt-pop territory; the sticky-sweet anthem uses a throbbing backbeat and heavy basslines to create a compelling contrast with the crystal clear, autotuned vocals that endlessly ascend into otherworldly euphony.

The single doesn’t merely add to the cacophony of generic love songs; KAWAII HOE transforms the quest for love into the epicentre of their narrative, presenting it with a purity and serenity that belies the intense musical undercurrents.

KAWAII HOE weaves together influences from icons like 100 gecs, Charli XCX, and Dorian Electra, creating a quirky and unapologetically experimental tapestry, stitched by hyper-surreal alchemy. We can’t wait to hear the next installation of ingenuity after this exceptionally promising debut.

Kaleidoscope Love was officially released on March 23rd; stream the release on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

FCF’s U AND I is a dynamically exhilarant dancefloor catalyst

Posted on 21 April 2024

“U AND I” by FCF is a revolutionary dancefloor catalyst that ignited the sphere of alt-electronica and added intense anticipation around the producer’s upcoming LP.

The track launches with a tender progressive house pop prelude, where deep reverberating basslines and soulfully intoxicating vocal lines set the stage for the impending infectious aural oblivion to come. As the mix escalates, it transitions into a hypersonic entrancing hit that promises not just to bring listeners to the brink of euphoria but to climax with them through an exhilarating fusion of psytrance electronic layers and Spanish guitars. But don’t think the peak is reached here; before long, FCF introduces adrenalizing rap bars that evoke raw tribal energy, seamlessly interwoven with reprising female vocal harmonies. This blend is not just innovative; it’s evolutionary; while some artists are content with constructing floor fillers, FCF went one step further by dropping a track that could start a riot on even the most subdued dancefloor.

FCF, hailing from Lisbon and inspired by artists like Rosália and Travis Scott, has a proven track record of breaking boundaries in electronic music. His eclectic influence—ranging from techno and house to hip-hop and reggaeton—allows him to craft tracks that challenge the conventional frameworks of music production.

“U AND I” exemplifies FCF’s unparalleled ability to fuse fire, fervour, soul, and rhythmic magnetism into a coherent whole that resonates across diverse audiences.

U AND I was officially released on March 2nd; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast