Naoko Hiranuma - Sea of Light
There is a timelessness to music by Naoko Hiranuma, and her latest release, Sea of Light, allows you to take a deep dive into everyday heartbreak and resilience.
Prem Byrne - When the Honeymoon Is Over
- English (US)
Every relationship has two sides to it. The first is built on anticipation. It is where everything feels effortless and new. The second begins once the excitement settles. When routine replaces novelty. Imperfections become familiar. Love has to survive without the glow of first impressions. When the Honeymoon Is Over by Prem Byrne explores that transition.
Paper Swords - Breathe In The Light
- English (US)
Sometimes, late at night, when you stand by the balcony in your house, a feeling hits you strongly. A song starts playing like a statement, and you feel a shift in atmosphere where your act of listening becomes a slowing down, a reorientation. Breathe In The Light by Paper Swords exists in that space.
Ferdinand Rennie - This is Now
- English (US)
Ferdinand Rennie captures a timeless pop sensibility on “This Is Now,” a track that glides confidently between nostalgic elegance and modern polish.
Ava Valianti - The Conversation
There’s a particular kind of conversation that never actually happens. It is in those times when you practice the words, how they sound coming out of your mouth, you anticipate responses, build entire emotional arcs in your head, and still, at the end, choose silence. The Conversation by Ava Valianti sits precisely in that space.
Ava Valianti - Sophmore Slump
Ava Valianti holds a camera to the teenage lifestyle, a looker door slams here and crying in the rain; she gives us her all in Sophomore Slump, her latest release.
Marina Lang – Rose Garden
- English (US)
Think of this: You are at the club. The song that plays next has you jumping on your toes. You look around the room for your friends, and suddenly a sizzle of electricity crashes down your spine. You make eye contact with a stranger on the floor. The tune pulls you in for a dance. The song playing in the background: Rose Garden by Maria Lang.
Kevin Honold - Honey
- English (US)
It is a new morning. You woke up fresh today. Everything seems to fit in its place. You pick up a pen and jot down all the tasks you need to finish today. A song plays in your earphones: Honey by Kevin Honold.
MISS KARLSSON AND THE FOOD PROVIDERS - Car Radio
- English (US)
MISS KARLSSON AND THE FOOD PROVIDERS’ latest single “Car Radio” thrives on its sense of freedom and togetherness. It is easy to imagine this track playing during a long stretch of highway.
Thickshake - Through the Daylight
- English (US)
Imagine having the perfect world described to you in a song—that’s what Through the Daylight by Thickshake is!
Charlotte Hall-Squeeze
Remember those glory years when Stevie Nicks continued as a solo artist? Yes, I miss them too. Not any more though, Charlotte Hall comes pretty close to channelling Stevie, while adding her own magic to the mix. Imposter syndrome might not allow Charlotte to compare herself to a legend, but we can Squeeze that confession out of her. Nailed it. Yes, that’s her single. With a funky bass line getting us underway, Charlotte gives us all parts of disco, funk and early pop. The years when it was good because there was so much room for experimentation. Her unadulterated vocals allow a real honesty to the lyrics, floating by as the breezy song keeps us hooked to it. The subtle bass beat is just enough, not taking away from the rhythm section and most importantly, not from Charlotte’s voice. The synths build for the chorus section, an interesting and fun number that has that stickiness factored into the DNA. Even though the song is every bit pop, I like how Charlotte Hall hasn’t layered away the strumming of the guitar or the natural twang of the bass that helps the live instruments have some agency. The track is can contend on the best of her tracks list, Braid, I Feel Alive and Stratosphere being some that I really liked. So when you remember that raw chemistry from Love Actually or Perks of Being A Wallflower, this track is going to give that scene so much more momentum!
Jewelia-The Best We Can
Jewelia expertly draws the line between surreal poetry and stark reality. It is a balance difficult to approach, and master. Her songs do both, with the plain, sparkly background of live instruments, creating something rich and detailed for each story she pens. This is her latest single, called The Best We Can. With the instrumental highlights an expert way of navigating emotions, Jewelia knows exactly what a song needs. The chimes and creative pathways she takes make for a maudlin and enriching listen. The bridge to the chorus is one of my favourites in the year, trying to make the chorus unique but create a sequitur of cosmic proportions for the song. The strumming is still something that stays in the back of your mind, as the piano chords accent each line. For such a short song, it is incredible what her songwriting is able to achieve without compromising meaning and essence. The love song changes the way you look at the image, much more picturesque towards the end. A film this instantly reminded me of was Blue Valentine & The Ides of March. It displays an attempt at a relationship, the affection growing and waning-while the couple brings whatever their emotional spectrum is on the table. Jewelia has the talent for keeping these ideas real and with purpose-the messages ringing true but still arranged soulfully. You can hear more of these kinds of songs with her original No Lover, her cover of Sting’s Fields of Gold and even Second Best. Listen to her catalogue here: