Antje Duvekot - donteldad - Bleu Reine - Georgia Mooney - Laura Gibson - Theo Moss

Antje Duvekot Embraces Her Fierce Side on Bold New Single ‘Virginia, Unhinged’

Award-winning singer-songwriter Antje Duvekot returns with ‘Virginia, Unhinged’, a fearless and wonderfully uncompromising new single that explores female empowerment, midlife awakening and the anger that can build after years of putting everybody else first. The track is the title song from her highly anticipated forthcoming album, which Duvekot describes as a liberation record: raw, funny, profane, emotionally unfiltered and unapologetically unconciliatory.

Explaining the inspiration, Duvekot says the song is about “a woman who reaches her limits and stops caring what anyone thinks”. It captures the moment when a lifelong people pleaser discovers her own strength, alongside a previously buried anger at the expectations and roles she was taught to accept as a woman. It's a bold subject, delivered with the honesty and sharp observational instincts that have become hallmarks of her songwriting.

Born in Germany and moving to the United States as a young teenager, Duvekot began developing her distinctive perspective through the experience of growing up between cultures. Picking up a guitar in high school, she found inspiration in the confessional folk songwriting of Dar Williams and Ani DiFranco, discovering the freedom to turn personal observations into songs. That commitment to vulnerability has remained central to her work, allowing deeply individual experiences to connect with listeners on a universal level.

With six studio albums to her name, including the Seth Glier-produced No, Duvekot has built an impressive catalogue and collaborated with an equally distinguished collection of musicians. Her recordings have featured contributions from Anaïs Mitchell, Dar Williams, Rose Cousins, John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky, among many others. ‘Virginia, Unhinged’ promises a particularly exciting new chapter, with Duvekot embracing a fiercer, less conciliatory voice. It's refreshing to hear an artist so willing to challenge expectations and turn difficult emotions into something powerful, entertaining and liberating.

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donteldad Explores the Stories We Carry on Four-Song EP Ghost Stories

Cynthia Bourne, who records under the name donteldad, introduces a compelling new musical chapter with Ghost Stories, a four-song EP released on October 30. Also known through southern Indiana Americana/pop outfit Cynthia & The End Times, Bourne steps into her donteldad identity with a collection that feels like an intriguing addition to the worlds of folk-rock, alt-country and independent pop.

Written in collaboration with Hudsy, who also produced the recordings, the EP brings together four tracks: ‘Pep Talk’, ‘The Ghost’, ‘Go Drugs’ and ‘Dead to Me’. At just 14 minutes, Ghost Stories is a concise collection, but its carefully chosen title and song names suggest a songwriter interested in the complicated emotions, memories and experiences that stay with us.

‘The Ghost’ was the track Bourne originally suggested as the starting point for the project, providing the initial spark for the collection. It's always interesting to hear how a single song can open the door to a wider creative direction, and the collaboration with Hudsy has given Bourne the opportunity to explore that idea under her donteldad name.

With Ghost Stories, donteldad offers an appealing introduction to Cynthia Bourne's solo songwriting world. The combination of Americana roots, pop sensibility and independent spirit makes this a release well worth discovering, and we're looking forward to hearing where this new musical direction takes her next.

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Bleu Reine Explores the Weight of Expectations on Dark Pop Single ‘I Bet You Bet on Me’

Paris-based singer, songwriter and producer Bleu Reine (Léa Lotz) returns with ‘I Bet You Bet on Me’, the second single from her forthcoming sophomore album, En Sursaut, due February 5, 2027, via French independent label Géographie. A striking blend of dark pop and industrial undertones, the track has the atmosphere of a techno-thriller soundtrack, combining brooding textures with a distinctive electronic edge.

Written in a single sitting in 2025 at Ventre de la Baleine, a former industrial factory transformed into a music studio, the song explores the unsettling experience of being the racehorse everyone has placed their bets on. Beneath that intriguing image lies a deeper examination of expectations, ambition and the pressures placed on women. Bleu Reine uses the track to explore the complex mechanics of the Pygmalion effect and how the beliefs and expectations of others can shape the lives of girls and women.

Since 2019, Lotz has been an active presence in France's DIY alternative scene, developing a sound that brings together nostalgic, grunge-coated dream rock and richly layered synth-pop, illuminated by a distinctive digital glow. Equally comfortable working collaboratively and exploring her own creative space, she has also performed live and in the studio for various projects in France and beyond. As a solo performer, she has supported an impressive range of international artists, including US Girls, They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Lucy Kruger, Cinder Well and Jozef van Wissem.

Following her 2023 debut album, La Saison fantôme, released through Sanit Mils Records, and an extensive European tour, Bleu Reine has completed work on En Sursaut. ‘I Bet You Bet on Me’ offers an intriguing glimpse of what promises to be an adventurous new record, with its combination of atmospheric electronics, dark pop sensibilities and thought-provoking subject matter. Bleu Reine is an artist confidently carving out her own distinctive territory, and this latest single makes the forthcoming album one to look forward to.

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Photo - Sequoia Ziff

Georgia Mooney Turns Romantic Rejection Into Theatrical Beauty on ‘Australian Crawl’

ARIA Award-winning, London-based Australian singer-songwriter Georgia Mooney makes a wonderfully dramatic return with ‘Australian Crawl’, the invigorating first single from her forthcoming second album, Private Theatre. Turning an experience of romantic rejection into something grand, heartfelt and unexpectedly uplifting, Mooney delivers a mesmerising piece of maxi-folk that combines emotional honesty with a rich and adventurous musical palette. Imagine a Victorian ghost discovering indie-folk, and you're somewhere close to the magic of this captivating track.

The song grew out of a real-life declaration of love to a friend. Mooney wrote a speech expressing her feelings, then gave him two weeks to consider his response before arranging to meet beneath a fig tree in the botanical gardens. He arrived late and ultimately turned her down, but the experience left her with an unexpected sense of freedom. As she explains, she believes opening yourself up to loving someone is “the noblest of offerings” and that there was a sense of deliverance in knowing she had done everything she could.

Named after the swimming stroke, ‘Australian Crawl’ captures the bittersweet business of telling someone you love them without expecting those feelings to be returned. Its driving rhythm and beautifully blended musical colours bring to mind early Martha Wainwright and Sharon Van Etten, while the refrain, “Still it felt good to say it… touch the ocean floor… push off and Australian Crawl”, provides a wonderfully evocative image of finding the strength to keep moving.

Recorded with UK producer Marcus Hamblett (Laura Marling, Villagers, The Staves), the single is a richly layered tapestry of analogue and electronic sounds. Hamblett's extensive synth collection sits alongside Mooney's Appalachian dulcimer, while piano dances with bass clarinet before a soaring guitar solo breaks through the arrangement. It's an inventive, beautifully produced recording that gives Mooney's emotional storytelling plenty of room to flourish. ‘Australian Crawl’ is a compelling introduction to Private Theatre and a reminder that even the most painful romantic experiences can inspire something genuinely beautiful.

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Photo - Holly Andres

Laura Gibson Begins an Exciting New Chapter With Beautiful Solo Single ‘Sylvia’

Acclaimed indie-folk singer-songwriter Laura Gibson has announced an exciting new chapter in her career, signing with two highly regarded independent labels, Portland's Fluff & Gravy Records and London's Loose Music. Both have impressive reputations for championing exceptional songwriting talent, with Fluff & Gravy's recent releases including Anna Tivel and Alela Diane, while Loose Music has been home to artists such as Neko Case, Courtney Marie Andrews and Sturgill Simpson. Gibson is clearly delighted with the partnerships, describing both labels as home to true music lovers and thoughtful people whose releases she has admired for years.

To celebrate the announcements, Gibson has shared ‘Sylvia’, her first new solo music since 2018's Goners, released through Barsuk/City Slang. Recorded live at Portland's legendary Jackpot! Studio with engineer Zach Bloomstein, the track features just Gibson and her guitar, allowing the intimacy of her performance and the strength of her songwriting to take centre stage.

Gibson describes ‘Sylvia’ as one of her favourite songs she has ever written, explaining that its lyrics took shape gradually over several years and through significant personal upheavals. At its heart is a story of two women: one who readily embraces pleasure, and another who believes discipline might offer salvation. Both recognise something genuinely good in the other, yet struggle to see that same goodness within themselves. Gibson's own reflections on the search for moral certainty and the importance of connection between women give the song an especially thoughtful emotional depth.

There is something particularly appealing about hearing an accomplished songwriter strip everything back to voice and guitar, trusting the song to speak for itself. ‘Sylvia’ offers a wonderfully intimate introduction to this next phase of Gibson's musical journey, combining lyrical intelligence with a warmth and vulnerability that have long made her work so distinctive. With two passionate independent labels now behind her, it's exciting to see Laura Gibson back making music and sharing it with the world.

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Theo Moss Looks Back on Lost Connections With Refreshing New Single ‘Spinning’

Indie rock and alt-pop artist Theo Moss makes a compelling impression with ‘Spinning’, the first single from her forthcoming second EP. Produced by Melina Mae Cortez Duterte (Jay Som), the track combines raw, honest songwriting with gritty guitars and an infectious alternative-pop energy. Drawing on the spirit of 1990s alternative rock and early 2000s indie pop, it offers an exciting glimpse of an artist confidently exploring new creative territory.

At its heart, ‘Spinning’ is about the changing nature of friendships and the longing to recapture a connection that once felt effortless. Moss explains that the song grew from wanting to experience the same closeness with someone from her hometown that they shared in the past, despite the distance and changes that life brings. It's a feeling many will recognise: wishing we could return to an earlier point in our lives and preserve certain relationships just as they were, while understanding that growing and moving forward is part of life.

Moss's musical journey has taken an interesting route. Having spent more than 12 years studying violin and immersing herself in classical music, she eventually found the confines of that environment restrictive to her creativity. Her developing sound now embraces a much broader palette, bringing together alternative rock guitars, indie-pop melodies and a more direct, personal approach to songwriting.

‘Spinning’ is a refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable introduction to this next chapter. The combination of emotionally open lyrics, gritty instrumentation and polished production makes for a track that rewards repeated listening, while Duterte's production gives Moss's sound plenty of character. There's a real sense of artistic freedom here, and we're looking forward to hearing how she develops this promising direction across the forthcoming EP.

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Tig - James Felice - Last Relapse - Adam Wright, Lacy Green & Thomm Jutz - Charlie Horn

Tig Captures the Bittersweet Beauty of Nostalgia on New Single ‘Ferris Wheel’

Australian singer-songwriter Tig (Natasha Lieschke) explores the bittersweet passage of time on her beautiful new single, ‘Ferris Wheel’. Drawing on the emotional honesty of artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen, the song is a nostalgic reflection on friendship, growing apart and the memories that keep us connected. Inspired by an annual tradition with friends at a small independent music festival in regional Victoria, it takes its title from a magical moment when the Ferris wheel pauses at its highest point, offering a view of the stars and distant hills beyond the festival lights.

For Tig, that fleeting experience became a metaphor for the desire to press pause on life, holding onto the people and moments that matter before everything changes. As she explains: “That’s the kind of pause button I sometimes wish I had for life, just a few quiet minutes to take in the view before it all changes again.” It’s a wonderfully relatable sentiment, giving the song an emotional pull that reaches well beyond its personal inspiration.

Produced and mixed by Oscar Dawson at Eddie’s Studio in Rye, Victoria, ‘Ferris Wheel’ also represents a significant creative step for Tig. Having performed the song live for more than a year, she finally found the expansive sound she had imagined. Originally written as an intimate piano piece, it gradually developed into something far more powerful, with Dawson’s soaring guitars and drummer Hannes Lackmann’s explosive performance adding urgency and a thrilling sense of release. Tig even encouraged Lackmann to play louder with each take, pushing beyond her usual understated recording approach.

The finished track beautifully balances melancholy and hope, capturing the feeling of missing people while trusting that the bonds we share will endure. ‘Ferris Wheel’ is about the friendships that shape us, the traditions we treasure and the memories we wish we could revisit. Tig has transformed a simple festival experience into a moving, cinematic song that reminds us to appreciate those precious moments while we have them.

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Photo - Michael Koshkin

James Felice Prepares to Unveil Ambitious New Solo Album Homeworld Blue

James Felice is set to release Homeworld Blue this Friday, November 13, an ambitious sophomore solo album that takes his songwriting into wonderfully expansive new territory. Produced by Nate Walcott of Bright Eyes and recorded in Omaha, Nebraska, and Los Angeles, the record builds on the intimacy of Felice’s debut with lush orchestration, pounding piano, horns and strings. At its heart remains his fascination with the small, strange and deeply human stories unfolding against the vastness of the universe.

Prior to the release, Felice shares ‘Golden Age’, the album’s final pre-release single, following ‘Let Yourself Live’ and ‘Midflight’. Describing its inspiration, he imagines the song as “a post-apocalyptic self help seminar delivered by a delusional positivist”. He adds that some people simply cannot be brought down, whatever personal or global tragedy comes their way, admiring their seemingly unshakeable optimism. It's an intriguing premise that captures the album's mix of human observation, imagination and humour.

Felice began writing Homeworld Blue in 2022, during a period when touring life remained largely on hold. Working in a modest attic home studio, he spent weeks writing dozens of songs and imagining a record that would take him beyond familiar musical boundaries. That ambition brought him together with Walcott, whose experience as an arranger and orchestrator helped transform the initial ideas into something truly cinematic.

Recording began in Omaha with Felice and a small rhythm section, before Walcott spent the following two years developing the arrangements in Los Angeles. The finished album moves beautifully between intimate restraint and sweeping grandeur, incorporating drums, bass, harp, horns and full orchestra. Felice will celebrate its release with two special January performances: January 23 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City and January 28 at Sid The Cat Auditorium in South Pasadena, both featuring a ten-piece band conducted and arranged by Walcott. Homeworld Blue looks set to be a remarkable next chapter for an artist unafraid to find extraordinary stories in the everyday.

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Last Relapse Make a Welcome Return With Refreshing Indie Rock Single ‘Throw Away the Key’

Last Relapse have certainly caught our attention with ‘Throw Away the Key’, a wonderfully refreshing indie-rock single that combines infectious musicality with a genuine emotional depth. The band's return is particularly welcome, with singer and guitarist David Holding recently getting in touch with Beehive Candy and putting the group firmly on our radar. Beautifully produced, the track is lifted by its heartfelt vocals, which give its melodic indie-rock sound an extra layer of feeling.

Originally from Georgia, Last Relapse feature David Holding on vocals and guitar, Justin on drums, Adam on guitar and Michael on bass. The band first played together between 2006 and 2012, releasing their album Machine in 2010, before reuniting in 2025. ‘Throw Away the Key’ has an interesting history of its own, having been the first song David ever wrote, back in 2006 when he was just 16.

Recorded in 2008–2009 and finally released on October 23, 2026, the song explores the complicated emotions of pulling away from someone while desperately trying to hold on. That tension gives the track its heart, with David's expressive vocal performance bringing real sincerity to a subject many listeners will recognise.

There is something especially appealing about hearing a band reconnect with a song that has been part of their story for so long. ‘Throw Away the Key’ feels fresh and immediate, balancing an accessible indie-rock/pop sound with genuine emotional weight and excellent production. It's a thoroughly enjoyable return from Last Relapse, and one that leaves us keen to hear what comes next.

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Adam Wright, Lacy Green & Thomm Jutz Celebrate the Songwriting Craft on ‘Shakespeare’s Bones’

There is something wonderfully refreshing about musicians coming together simply for the love of making music, and that spirit sits at the heart of the collaboration between Adam Wright, Lacy Green and Thomm Jutz. What began with friendship and a shared passion for songwriting has developed into a remarkable creative partnership, resulting in an album that celebrates the joy of playing together and the magic of a great song.

The story began when Wright and Jutz reconnected at a 2023 celebration of life for their mutual friend Peter Cooper. Their renewed friendship soon led to a prolific songwriting partnership, producing almost 80 songs. After Jutz met Lacy Green at a performance in North Carolina, the connection between all three became clear, and a new collaborative chapter began. Gathering at Jutz's studio, they recorded live, capturing vocals and performances with minimal preparation and no expectations. That spontaneous approach gives the project its natural, unforced character.

The album's title track and radio focus single, ‘Shakespeare’s Bones’, was written by Wright, Green, Jutz and Dean Fields during an inspired songwriting session ahead of their appearance at Tin Pan South. Jutz recalls that the four musicians challenged themselves to write as many songs as possible before their gig, producing four in total, with this track coming first. Its central idea is a heartfelt acknowledgement that every songwriter stands in the shadows of those who came before, while hopefully inspiring those who follow.

Both the song and album celebrate the enduring influence of great artists, the importance of creative friendships and the shared experiences that make music so special. ‘Shakespeare’s Bones’ is a fitting tribute to the masters of songwriting, but also a reminder that the best music often comes from simply getting together, trusting the creative process and seeing where it leads. A lovely concept, and one that makes this collaboration particularly appealing.

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Charlie Horn Finds Beauty Amid the Heartache on ‘High Tide Already’

Charlie Horn confronts grief with remarkable honesty on ‘High Tide Already’, the fourth single from his forthcoming solo album Rhythms Unexplained. Released just three days ahead of the album, the track is a deeply moving meditation on loss, acknowledging the strange and often overwhelming emotions that arrive in its wake. Yet, rather than allowing the subject matter to become unbearably heavy, Horn wraps it in some wonderfully sumptuous synths, creating a glistening musical backdrop that offers both comfort and emotional release.

Best known as a member of Cincinnati psych-rock outfit In The Pines, Horn takes a noticeably different direction with his solo material. Where the band's sound is characterised by expansive, swirling psychedelia, his own songs favour stripped-back arrangements and intimate, emotionally revealing storytelling. ‘High Tide Already’ is a particularly affecting example, balancing the weight of its subject with beautifully judged melodies and a production that gives every element room to breathe.

Recorded at the In The Pines creative headquarters, a synthesizer repair shop in the basement of a decommissioned Masonic Temple in Dayton, Kentucky, Rhythms Unexplained has a wonderfully lived-in quality. There is a world-weary atmosphere running through Horn's songwriting, reflecting some difficult personal experiences without ever feeling forced or overly dramatic. Listeners drawn to the emotional candour of Big Star's Third, Conor Oberst's Ruminations or the darker corners of Kurt Vile's musical world will find plenty to appreciate.

‘High Tide Already’ is a beautiful piece of work, with its shimmering synths providing a striking contrast to the vulnerability of Horn's lyrics and the emotional territory he explores. Most importantly, it understands that accepting loss doesn't mean diminishing its significance. Instead, Horn finds a way to acknowledge the pain while allowing moments of beauty and light to emerge. It's a compelling introduction to Rhythms Unexplained and leaves us eager to hear the full album.

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Shiloh Lindsey - Sad Cypress - Brit Drozda - Shadowgrass - Kramies

Shiloh Lindsey Turns Life-Changing Experiences Into Powerful New Album The Western Veil.

Canadian singer-songwriter Shiloh Lindsey makes a deeply personal statement with new album The Western Veil, a raw and moving exploration of life after everything familiar has been turned upside down. Moving through mortality, heartbreak, resilience, anger and the challenge of starting again, the record finds Shiloh embracing alt-country, Americana and folk-rock while learning to accept change rather than trying to return to the past.

The album emerged from an extraordinarily difficult period in Shiloh’s life. A motorcycle accident in October 2024 nearly cost her a leg, leading to seven surgeries, a serious infection and extensive bone reconstruction. Alongside this physical ordeal, the end of a six-year relationship brought further upheaval, forcing her to confront grief, uncertainty and questions of identity. Songwriting became a way of documenting the experience as it unfolded, rather than searching for easy answers.

As Shiloh puts it, The Western Veil isn't about offering a guide to surviving hardship, but rather a record of someone moving through it in real time. The title itself represents what she describes as a wiser, more intuitive part of herself, sometimes finding its way into songs before she fully understands their meaning. It is a fascinating idea that gives the album an added sense of discovery and emotional honesty.

That spirit comes through particularly strongly on ‘Said & Done’, the record’s defiant yet bittersweet focus track. Written in the raw aftermath of her accident and relationship breakdown, the song began almost by chance after an evening spent sharing beers with a longtime friend and neighbour. Once alone with her guitar, Shiloh found the first verse and chorus arriving almost immediately. It sounds like a powerful example of music emerging when it is needed most, and promises a compelling centrepiece to an album shaped by extraordinary personal change.

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Sad Cypress Conjures a Haunting World of Mystery on New Single ‘Three Wishes’

Cardiff-based artist Sad Cypress recently returned with ‘Three Wishes’, a dramatic and atmospheric new single that draws listeners into a wonderfully dark musical world. Opening with a plucked acoustic motif that seems to swirl through shadowy waters, the track gradually reveals its mysterious character through dark folk textures, almost classical arpeggios and a haunting vocal performance. With echoes of later-period Kate Bush and the theatrical melodrama of Shakespears Sister, it makes for an intriguing and richly detailed listen.

There is a wonderfully unsettling quality to ‘Three Wishes’, with its evocative arrangement and shivering vocals creating an atmosphere that feels perfectly suited to the darker side of the season. Rather than offering easy answers, the song leaves plenty of room for interpretation. As Sad Cypress explains, “Three Wishes is a hall of mirrors – what do we want and why do we want it? I can see lots of different interpretations and I'm sure I'll discover more.”

The single will be accompanied by a fan-funded music video, with imagery drawing inspiration from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It follows ‘The Other Side’, which earned praise from BBC Radio Wales presenter Adam Walton, who described it as “mysterious and beautiful”. Her previous double A-side ‘Sirens/It Means Alot to Me’ also attracted positive attention, with Real Gone Rocks highlighting its impressive sonic journey and comparisons to PJ Harvey, Father John Misty and Nick Drake.

Based in Cardiff, Sad Cypress has steadily built an audience through performances across South Wales and South West England, including a headline appearance at Folk At The Moon, Devauden Festival and an Oxfam fundraiser at Bristol's The Mount Without. She recently presented a one-woman show at Cardiff's Porters, introducing a new creative alter ego. Building on her debut album Magic Mountain, Sad Cypress continues to develop a distinctive artistic identity, and ‘Three Wishes’ offers another fascinating invitation into her world.

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Brit Drozda Finds Hope in Life’s Changing Currents on ‘Go as a River’

Palm Beach, Florida-based singer-songwriter Brit Drozda shares a deeply moving new single, ‘Go as a River’, a cinematic love song inspired by Shelley Read’s acclaimed novel of the same name. Exploring loss, resilience and the power of love to carry us through difficult times, the track reflects on accepting life’s changes and finding the strength to keep moving forward.

Drozda was profoundly affected by Read’s story of a young woman navigating heartbreak, tragedy and the challenges of perseverance. Its exploration of love, loss and the impermanence of relationships struck a personal chord, inspiring her to consider how the people who touch our lives continue to shape us, even when circumstances change.

The title gradually became more than a literary reference, turning into a personal mantra for Drozda during some difficult periods of her own life. As she explains, it represents perseverance, resilience and hope: just as a river alternates between still pools and rushing currents, life continues to move forward. It is a beautiful sentiment that gives the song its emotional heart.

Remarkably, ‘Go as a River’ almost remained unheard, with the song initially living only in Drozda’s voice memos. As she began developing it, however, the lyrics and melody helped her recognise the love in her life that had carried her through challenging moments. That realisation became the track’s central message: even when people or circumstances change, the love we experience can remain with us, offering strength and hope for whatever lies ahead. It’s a heartfelt and uplifting release from an artist with a genuine story to tell.

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Shadowgrass Join New West Records and Team Up With Lindsay Lou on New Single ‘When You’re Coming Home’

Progressive bluegrass outfit Shadowgrass have signed to New West Records, with their highly anticipated label debut album scheduled for release in 2027. The announcement arrives alongside a new single, ‘When You’re Coming Home’, featuring the wonderful Lindsay Lou. The band explain that the song began with a hummed riff, with the lyrics developing later. It truly came alive in the studio when Lou added her vocals, bringing an entirely new dimension to the track.

Shadowgrass have a remarkable story, having first come together during a casual jam session at the Grayson County Fiddlers Convention in Elk Creek, Virginia, back in 2014. Mandolinist Luke Morris, banjoist Clay Russell and guitarist Kyser George were still in elementary and middle school, aged 14, 13 and just nine respectively, when the foundations of the band were laid. Fiddle player Madison Morris and stand-up bassist Evan Campbell subsequently joined, completing the current line-up.

Now in their early twenties, and with two acclaimed recordings behind them, Shadowgrass have grown from youthful ambition into an increasingly exciting presence on the national stage. Their sold-out shows and explosive festival performances reflect a band whose musical connection has been forged over more than a decade together. As they put it, having grown up alongside one another, they are more like siblings than bandmates.

Drawing inspiration from everyone from Dr. Ralph Stanley and Flatt & Scruggs to Watchhouse, Joni Mitchell, the Grateful Dead and Widespread Panic, Shadowgrass bring a wonderfully broad musical imagination to progressive bluegrass. Their combination of breathtaking instrumental skill, adventurous songwriting and infectious energy is helping redefine what a modern string band can achieve. With New West Records behind them and ‘When You’re Coming Home’ offering a tantalising taste of what lies ahead, 2027 promises to be an exciting year for Shadowgrass.

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Kramies Embraces a New Creative Direction With Atmospheric Single ‘We’re All Dead’

Kramies returns with ‘We’re All Dead’, a captivating new single that signals an exciting creative shift for the acclaimed singer-songwriter. Arriving four years after his critically praised self-titled LP, which earned multiple Album of the Year accolades and prompted Billboard to dub him “The Dreampop Troubadour”, the track also marks a year since the release of its follow-up, Goodbye Dreampop Troubadour. This time, Kramies steps beyond familiar labels to explore fresh musical territory.

Previous releases have featured an impressive cast of collaborators, including Jason Lytle (Grandaddy), Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), Jerry Becker (Train), Tyler Ramsey (Band of Horses) and Todd Tobias (Guided By Voices). For ‘We’re All Dead’ and his forthcoming EP, Kramies has joined forces with longtime friend and producer Derek Lee LaJoie. Playing and singing almost everything himself, alongside drums from regular collaborator John Panza, Kramies spent two days working with LaJoie to capture the track's distinctive atmosphere and emotional depth.

The result is an ethereal, richly textured piece that feels both ambitious and wonderfully intimate. Kramies admits that the song's meaning only became clear after its creation, eventually revealing a powerful message about the importance of kindness. As he explains: “The only thing that matters and that people remember is the kindness you gave and the kindness you received. Other than that, we’re all dead.”

Across a career spanning almost fifteen years, Kramies has developed a distinctive gift for eerie, otherworldly songwriting. His 2022 self-titled album immersed listeners in a dreamlike landscape, while 2025’s Goodbye Dreampop Troubadour, made with Grammy-winning producer Mario J. McNulty (David Bowie, Prince), explored dusky soundscapes and nostalgic melancholy. ‘We’re All Dead’ finds him moving forward once again, retaining his unmistakable atmospheric touch while opening the door to something new. It's a compelling return from an artist who continues to evolve.

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Lala Salama - Marla Mase - bauhofer - ALEIA - Serge & The Currents - Louis Mezzasoma

Lala Salama Celebrate Life on the Road with Joyous New Single ‘Spacewagon.’

Finnish indie-rock trio Lala Salama return with ‘Spacewagon’, a wonderfully unconventional love song dedicated to a Toyota Corolla. Released November 6 via All That Plazz, the track is the first taste of the band's forthcoming EP, due in early 2027, and captures the freedom, friendship and memories of nights spent travelling together. It's a road-trip anthem with a refreshingly down-to-earth twist.

Built around the steady, hypnotic pulse of a late-night drive, ‘Spacewagon’ gradually gathers momentum as its guitars grow louder and the trio push their sound towards something wonderfully raw and energetic. Born from a rehearsal-room jam, the song was recorded live by Rosa Jules, Aliisa Keränen and Elli Holmström, giving it an instinctive chemistry that suits its krautrock repetition and punk-edged finale. There's a hint of homesickness alongside the excitement of the open road, but above all it's about enjoying the journey with people you trust.

As Rosa Jules explains, the track is an ode to their Corolla and the road trips they've shared, while also representing a return to the band's roots as a rock trio. The recording became an opportunity to explore how they wanted their next release to sound, and the decision to let the song build towards a full-throttle finish has clearly paid off. Following the more wistful ‘Muistot haalistuu’, this is Lala Salama letting their louder, livelier side shine.

The trio already have an impressive reputation building around them. Their debut album, Miltähän me näytettäis yhdessä, earned four stars from Finland's Helsingin Sanomat and was named Album of the Week by Radio Helsinki, while their music has also received national airplay on YleX. Over in the UK, Clash praised earlier single ‘Summer Love’ as an “ultra-catchy shoegaze anthem”, which also reached number one on Hype Machine. ‘Spacewagon’ is another strong indication that Lala Salama are a band worth keeping firmly on the radar.

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Marla Mase Reimagines Pixies Classic Ahead of New EP The Midnight Show – Act I.

Brooklyn singer-songwriter Marla Mase returns with a bold new chapter in her ever-evolving musical journey, announcing the forthcoming EP The Midnight Show – Act I, due November 20, 2026 via True Groove Records. Dark, cinematic and visceral, the release is the first part of a two-act project exploring the contradictions, complexities and extremes of the human condition. Alongside the announcement, Mase unveils a striking reimagining of the Pixies’ classic ‘Monkey Gone To Heaven’, offering a fresh perspective on one of alternative rock’s most distinctive songs.

A fearless performer with a magnetic creative vision, Mase has spent three decades moving between music, theatre and performance art. A Brooklyn native, she emerged as a recording artist in the early 2000s and has since released nine albums, performing everywhere from the Bowery to Beijing. Her work refuses easy categorisation, moving effortlessly between rock'n'roll, spoken word, poetry and theatrical expression, often balancing vulnerability, humour and raw emotional intensity.

Recorded at Black Corleone Studios in Brooklyn, The Midnight Show – Act I was mixed by James Dellatacoma at the renowned Orange Music Sound Studio and mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtletone Studio. Across its 14 minutes and 52 seconds, the EP tackles love, independence, ageing and mental health, while confronting the consequences of carelessness and denial. Mase describes it as a clash between two inner voices: one energetic, fearless and angry, seeking to empower and protect, the other gentler and more melancholic, searching for understanding and compassion.

That tension promises a compelling listening experience, with Mase offering a cautionary reflection on the damage caused when we ignore what is happening within ourselves and the world around us. Yet, with characteristic humour, she is equally happy to dismiss the deeper explanation and call it “plain ol’ rock-n-roll”. Whichever way you approach it, The Midnight Show – Act I looks set to be another fascinating statement from an artist who has never been afraid to follow her own creative instincts.

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bauhofer Looks Beyond Earth for Answers on Thought-Provoking New Single ‘Anyone Out There’.

With the world seemingly facing one crisis after another, and the divide between rich and poor continuing to grow, singer-songwriter bauhofer captures a growing sense of frustration and helplessness on new single ‘Anyone Out There’. Exploring the feeling that humanity may no longer be able to solve its problems alone, the song gives voice to those looking towards religion, the universe or even extraterrestrial life for some kind of rescue.

There is a strong protest-song spirit running through ‘Anyone Out There’, recalling the socially conscious work of artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, alongside Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Fortunate Son’. Bauhofer channels anger, despair and a longing for change into a song that reflects the uncertainty of the times, while questioning how far society has drifted from finding solutions together.

Previously recording under the name BB The Artist, bauhofer has enjoyed international success, including a Top 10 position on the European Indie Charts with ‘River Seine’. Social commentary has been a recurring feature of his work, notably on gospel-influenced track ‘RIP Truth’, which examined the erosion of truth in the age of social media and artificial intelligence. His pandemic-era release ‘Together’ offered a message of unity and collective strength.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the new single, bauhofer says it grew from concern about the state of the world and a feeling of powerlessness, adding that he believes it reflects how many people are feeling right now. ‘Anyone Out There’ is a timely and thought-provoking release, turning widespread unease into a heartfelt musical appeal for hope, connection and a reason to believe things can still change.

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Photo Jenna Elson

ALEIA Turns the Pain of Unrequited Love Into Powerful New Single ‘Middle Name’

There is a particular loneliness in loving someone who never truly sees you, and Boorloo/Perth artist ALEIA captures that feeling beautifully on new single ‘Middle Name’, released November 6. Exploring the frustration of unrequited love and the gradual loss of self-worth, the track finds her delivering another deeply personal slice of confessional indie rock, balancing vulnerability with an unmistakable emotional intensity.

ALEIA has been steadily building a reputation through her debut EP Public Humiliation, released in November 2025, and recent single ‘Willpower’, whose accompanying video has attracted more than 37,000 views. Blending alternative pop and indie rock with delicate songwriting and an undercurrent of angst, she has already earned support from Triple J, Triple J Unearthed, ABC Perth, RTR FM, PBS, Happy Mag and The AU Review, among others.

Musically, ‘Middle Name’ is a brooding and compelling listen, built around waves of overdriven electric guitar and a steady, commanding beat. ALEIA’s breathy vocals move effortlessly between the restrained tenderness of the verses and the soaring intensity of the choruses, creating a striking contrast between the song’s heavier instrumentation and its fragile emotional heart.

At its core, the single explores the painful experience of feeling overlooked by someone who claims to love you but never takes the time to truly understand you. As ALEIA explains, the song reflects her own early experiences of dating and questioning whether it is better to be alone and happy than in a relationship that leaves you unfulfilled. With its honest songwriting and powerful delivery, ‘Middle Name’ is a striking reminder that to be loved is to be seen.

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Serge & The Currents Find the Bright Side of Heartbreak on ‘Finished From The Start’

Melbourne-based guitar-driven pop project Serge & The Currents return with ‘Finished From The Start’, a lively indie pop-rock single exploring the bittersweet realisation that a relationship has reached its end. Combining bright melodies and energetic instrumentation with lyrics about disappointment and unreturned affection, it’s a refreshing reminder that even difficult experiences can produce compelling music.

Fronted by guitarist, songwriter, composer and educator Sergio Ercole, Serge & The Currents brings together classic songwriting and modern pop influences. With more than four decades of experience performing, composing and teaching classical and Latin guitar across Italy, the United States and Australia, Ercole brings a distinctive sense of what he calls ‘future nostalgia’ to the project, balancing familiar musical warmth with a contemporary edge.

‘Finished From The Start’ captures the frustration of trying to make a relationship work when the effort is never returned. Electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards and fast-moving drums give the track an infectious, upbeat feel, creating an appealing contrast with its more bruised lyrical message. Ercole’s cherry red Gibson 335 is also central to the song’s guitar-led character, adding another layer of personality to its sound.

As Ercole explains, the song is about recognising when a connection simply isn't going to work, despite the effort and hope invested in it. Ultimately, it becomes a lesson in accepting reality and knowing when to walk away. With its infectious pop-rock energy and relatable emotional honesty, ‘Finished From The Start’ makes for an engaging return from Serge & The Currents.

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Photo - Melaine Nibel

Louis Mezzasoma Keeps the Blues Alive With a Fresh, Fearless Roots Sound.

Louis Mezzasoma takes a wonderfully free-spirited approach to roots music, moving effortlessly between gritty blues, country-folk and roots-rock. His sound is soulful, visceral and full of character, drawing on the traditions of the blues without becoming trapped in nostalgia. There is a raw honesty to his music, with voice and instruments working together to bring both darkness and light into sharp focus.

Although he may not have grown up on the muddy banks of the Mississippi Delta, Mezzasoma developed his love of the blues through a guitar teacher with a deep passion for the genre. He went on to study jazz and contemporary music at the Saint-Étienne Conservatory, but it was his natural curiosity and appetite for live performance that really shaped his musical identity.

A series of experiences helped define his journey, from soaking up the atmosphere of Scottish pubs during an Erasmus year to meeting French fingerpicking master Alain Giroux. Countless performances using his full one-man-band setup further sharpened his distinctive style, while opportunities to open for respected artists including Charlie Parr, Lucky Peterson, Sugaray Rayford and Popa Chubby offered valuable experience alongside some formidable company.

Mezzasoma continues to follow his own road, avoiding familiar musical shortcuts in favour of spontaneity, freedom and genuine expression. His music may be rooted in tradition, but it feels wonderfully alive, combining elegance and refinement with an electric edge. For anyone who loves their blues with a little country spirit and plenty of individuality, Louis Mezzasoma is an artist worth discovering.

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Adjustable Mustard - Eliot Bronson - Donna Lewis - T.R. Burge & The Temple - CATTY - Resa Saffa Park

Adjustable Mustard Explore Psychedelic Possibilities on New Album Denatured Blue.

Nashville-based married duo Adjustable Mustard return with their second full-length album, Denatured Blue, released November 6, 2026. Recorded at Will White's Dumpster Dog studio, the nine-track collection finds collaborators Katie Pitts and White building on their instinctive approach to songwriting while delivering their most focused and fully realised record to date. Rooted in blues, country and psychedelic rock, it's an adventurous journey through vintage influences and wonderfully imaginative soundscapes.

The album's unusual title has its own story. Originally considered as a possible name for the band, ‘Denatured Blue’ had been forgotten until Pitts stumbled across the phrase scribbled on an old sheet of paper among lyrics and sketches. Its rediscovery coincided with the early stages of the album, which began recording in December and was completed around the time a major ice storm swept through Nashville. Winter has become the duo's natural creative season, providing the space to retreat into the studio and allow new ideas to develop.

That spontaneous philosophy lies at the heart of Adjustable Mustard. White describes the songs as something the pair receive rather than deliberately write, with production becoming a process of decoding those ideas without interfering with their natural direction. White handles guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, while Pitts provides the lead vocals, with White also taking the lead on one track and adding harmonies throughout. Some songs have been developing for years, while others emerged almost entirely during recording.

Musically, Denatured Blue draws inspiration from the late-'60s San Francisco psychedelic scene, with Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, Moby Grape and Blue Cheer among the touchstones. Intricate harmonies, swampy slide guitar, Hammond organ, fuzz-heavy riffs, piano and dreamlike ambience all contribute to its richly textured sound. Opening with the extended psychedelic crescendo of ‘Introduction’, the album sets out its adventurous intentions from the very beginning. Adjustable Mustard clearly have a special creative chemistry, and Denatured Blue promises a fascinating new chapter in their musical journey.

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Photo - Andrew Thomas Lee

Eliot Bronson Embraces Hope and Renewal on New Album Arrive.

Award-winning Atlanta singer-songwriter Eliot Bronson released his seventh studio album, Arrive, yesterday November 6, 2026, via his own New Pain Records label. Produced by Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers at the band's Nashville studio, the record showcases Bronson's gift for cinematic storytelling, memorable melodies and finding extraordinary meaning in everyday experiences. Anchored by his warm, lived-in vocals and heartfelt delivery, Arrive represents an exciting new chapter for an artist continuing to grow creatively.

Bronson describes the album as a record about coming home to yourself, finding presence through pain and learning to embrace life with all its beauty and imperfections. While his previous two releases explored more introspective and atmospheric territory, Arrive takes a brighter, more hopeful direction. The emotional honesty remains, but there's a renewed sense of openness, confidence and generosity running through the songs.

Having spent the last two years writing prolifically, Bronson feels his latest material has emerged from a different place. Rather than being driven primarily by grief or personal struggles, these songs reflect a sense of abundance and creative freedom. He describes them as sad but not broken, angry but hopeful, and more like an offering than a search for approval. That change in perspective ultimately encouraged him to approach one of his musical heroes, Oliver Wood, about working together.

It's a collaboration that has clearly meant a great deal to Bronson. Despite having crossed paths over the years, the pair had never worked closely until Bronson travelled to Nashville in September 2025 to share his new material and develop a vision for the album. Wood subsequently described Arrive as a departure from anything Bronson had done before. With six previous solo albums behind him, songs featured in television series including Yellowstone and Criminal Minds, and years of touring across North America and Europe, Bronson has earned his place as a distinctive independent songwriter. Arrive sounds like a particularly meaningful milestone in that journey.

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Donna Lewis Reimagines a Pop Classic as She Celebrates 30 Years of Now In A Minute.

Three decades after becoming a global star with “I Love You Always Forever”, Welsh-born singer-songwriter Donna Lewis is celebrating the enduring legacy of her debut album, Now In A Minute. Released in 1996, the record introduced the world to her distinctive voice and songwriting, while its lead single became a worldwide phenomenon and made history as the first song to surpass one million spins on US radio. It remains one of the most loved and recognisable pop ballads of its era.

Remarkably, the song continues to find new audiences, attracting hundreds of millions of streams and inspiring a fresh generation of artists. Reinterpretations by Nora En Pure and Betty Who, alongside collaborations involving Digital Farm Animals, Romy of The xx and Fred again.., have helped give it a life far beyond its original chart success. A viral performance with Japanese Breakfast in New York has added to that renewed interest, confirming its remarkable cross-generational appeal.

Lewis has never stood still creatively. Her 2024 album, Rooms With a View, made with electronic artist and producer Holmes Ives, explored a deeply personal period following her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. More recently, Wanderlust, her 2026 collaboration with longtime musical partner David Lowe, delivered a cinematic collection of dream-pop, shimmering electronics and nostalgic melodies, exploring love, heartbreak and rediscovery.

Now, to mark the 30th anniversary of Now In A Minute, Lewis is returning to the album that started it all with a complete reimagining titled In A Minute Now. Due in February 2027, the new collection is introduced by anniversary versions of three songs: “Without Love”, “Nothing Ever Changes” and “Fool’s Paradise”. It promises a fascinating new chapter in the story of an artist whose music continues to connect across generations.

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T.R. Burge & The Temple Find a Way Through the Darkness on Debut Album Godache.

Manchester’s T.R. Burge & The Temple released their debut album, Godache, yesterday November 6, delivering a deeply moving ten-track journey through grief, loss and the possibility of renewal. Designed to be experienced from beginning to end, the record travels through darkness and reflection before gradually offering the prospect of finding a way through. It is an ambitious and emotionally honest introduction from a band with plenty to say.

Although T.R. Burge & The Temple officially came together in Manchester in 2024, the project has been developing for much longer. Following several years as a solo artist, Burge assembled a lineup featuring Aninka Rosa on violin and vocals, Pete Leaver on drums, and Frederic Lyenn Jacques on bass and keyboards, whose previous experience includes more than a decade with Mark Lanegan’s band.

The album’s story stretches back eight years to Burge’s time moving between Manchester and Berlin. Producer Martin J. Fiedler became involved through an unlikely encounter in a Kreuzberg bar, where an early demo was played to him through a pair of headphones. That chance meeting eventually became the foundation for a record that took three years to complete, with recording, mixing and production centred around Berlin’s Klangbild Studios. The connection between the two cities is woven into the finished album, with one track initially recorded in Manchester before making the journey to Germany.

Grief is the emotional thread running throughout Godache, reflecting the personal losses experienced by several members during its creation. Burge describes the album as “deep, dark, emotional”, taking listeners into the abyss while hoping to bring them out the other side. It sounds like a powerful and uncompromising debut, one that embraces difficult emotions while leaving room for hope.

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Photo - Nat Traxel.

CATTY Takes a Wickedly Funny Swipe at Internet Fame on New Single Tax Evasion.

Rising Welsh pop talent CATTY returns with ‘Tax Evasion’, a gloriously cheeky and irresistibly catchy take on fame, fortune and the absurdities of internet celebrity culture. Arriving ahead of a sold-out UK headline tour this month, culminating in a major show at London’s Scala on November 26, the single finds CATTY embracing her most unfiltered and theatrical instincts.

Already attracting attention online, including endorsements from SZA and Absolutely, ‘Tax Evasion’ playfully imagines life as a “middle class internet sad sensation”, complete with private cars, VIP treatment, champagne and the glamour of Chateau Marmont. With references to everyone from David Bowie and Sharon Stone to Katy Perry and Timothée Chalamet, CATTY gleefully throws herself into a fantasy of superstardom, while keeping her tongue firmly in her cheek.

The song also has a sharper point beneath its playful exterior. CATTY explains that it grew from a studio conversation about the difficulties facing musicians without nepotism or generational wealth. As she puts it, having that financial security and an easier start would probably make her a very different person, particularly when the next pay cheque is always a concern. It is an honest observation delivered with a wonderfully mischievous pop sensibility.

Bratty, theatrical and packed with personality, ‘Tax Evasion’ further establishes CATTY as an exciting voice in contemporary Welsh pop. Following 2026 single ‘Pavlov’s Dog’, alongside the EPs Bracing For Impact and Healing Out Of Spite, she continues to build a distinctive musical world where sharp observations, humour and memorable hooks go hand in hand.

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Photo - Henriette Sagjord

Resa Saffa Park Finds Her Most Personal Voice Yet on New Album Kendra.

Norwegian singer-songwriter Resa Saffa Park releases her new album, Kendra, via Ja. Group, delivering a captivating collection of cinematic indie shaped by jazz, trip-hop, noir-pop and soul. With echoes of artists such as Tamino, Michelle Gurevich and Portishead, alongside inspiration from Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Nirvana and Mitski, Resa has developed a sound that is unmistakably her own.

A graduate of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Resa returned to her hometown of Oslo to write Kendra, creating much of the album in her apartment over the course of a year. Across its twelve tracks, she explores how relationships shape our understanding of ourselves, drawing on soured friendships, new love and questions of identity. The result is her most confident, precise and emotionally honest work to date.

There is real variety in the stories she tells. ‘Forever as Her Friend’ examines a friendship falling apart, while ‘Standing Still’ tackles the fear of losing direction and self-worth. ‘Love Is a Lonely Feeling’ turns heartbreak inwards, reflecting on her relationship with her own creativity, while ‘I Can See The World’ celebrates the everyday happiness of falling in love. ‘Under The Sun’ is a particular highlight, bringing Resa's voice together with the unmistakable baritone of Madrugada frontman Sivert Høyem in a tender reflection on life's fragility.

Produced primarily by Bård Berg, with additional contributions from Martin Vinje, Daragh Patrick Wearen and Øyvind Mathisen, Kendra combines piano, guitars, synthesizers and live strings to create a richly atmospheric backdrop. Resa describes music as the safest place she knows, and her belief that songs should come from a genuine need to create rather than a desire for attention is evident throughout. Kendra is a thoughtful, beautifully realised album that puts emotional connection and artistic honesty first.

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