UK acoustic vibes blending long riffs and summertime world-music rhythms with conceptual depth. Akiva Zneimer takes us back to the lightness of the warmer seasons, with a song fusing rap and melody to that alt-folk bounce of a style once made underground famous by the likes of Will and the People.
UK--Europe
“Working in public healthcare is a huge privilege. You’re exposed to the full spectrum of human emotion and experience, and that needs an outlet. For me, songwriting is the most natural way to process and unpack those experiences.”
Dreamy lo-fi indie guitar tones and honest vocals guide us into something ambient but organic, as musician and songwriter Charlie Bulmer introduces the authenticity and passion of his music, with worn out sweater.
Lush organic piano, strings and guitars light up an indie pop warmth that’s heartfelt, timeless, and naturally uplifting. UK songwriter and acoustic musician Euplasia kicks off an extensive 12-month release schedule for his new album, and ‘You Wonder’ is an inspiring introduction to the project.
Following on from his single Play It Again, Darnell recovers from the fall out of post-Big Brother life, and leans into the world music festival energy of the moment, with the catchy hook and high-octane production value of Follow.
Great songwriting, good vibes, a seamless voice that’s born to perform and connect in this way. Maria Monroy brings back the upbeat and colourful energy of indie pop’s past, with the catchy and live-band-backed Getaway.
Something cool, calm, and uncompromising – a strong groove, alternative but all-consuming, with delicate vocals that are intimate and honest in their self-reflective realism.
Something cool emerges here, less density of lyric but lines that feel vast and impactful. It’s a shoulder-sway of an alternative track, a twist of organic trip hop adding further to the versatility of Tom Downing’s repertoire, and a personal favourite. We’re along the lines of the unexpected indie pop gems of Big City Life somewhat, only it’s new as ever, interesting, and musically satisfying.
Stripped-back realism that the music worlds needs to cherish right now. Tia Gostelow continues her Low Lights series, with the intimacy, gentle fingerpicking, and light and breathy vocals, of Always.
Visa Anxiety are perhaps unexpectedly cool, somewhat quiet and uncertain, but ultimately uplifting in their careful contrasting of tentativeness and confidence. The band are playfully honest, interesting, and creatively rooted amidst the sounds that get things moving towards the end of a long week. I look forward to hearing more.
Classic songwriting with a vintage twist of organic design to match – Bandtraxs and Frankie Boulter capture the essence and optimism of Christmas, with the re-release of an ageless independent single, called Sorry Baby (Christmas).
Introducing a bold and scathing look at the inescapable tsunami of tech-bro tycoons controlling the culture. UK alt-rock band The Hong Kong Dollars showcase the best of their passion and unity at the helm, with the mighty and unignorable single Kings & Queens.