Alex Amor - Redder Moon - Elender - navy June - Foglights - Hope Douds

Photo - Lewis Vorn

Alex Amor - Heavenly Bodies (Album).

Scottish singer-songwriter Alex Amor today releases her debut album Heavenly Bodies via New York independent label VERO Music. Its arrival precedes performances at All Points East on Lorde’s headline day tomorrow, 22 August, and Rough Trade Denmark Street on 26 August. Written during a period of intense personal change - including a move from London to Brighton via an extended period at home in Glasgow - Heavenly Bodies finds Amor navigating what she calls “love, loss and liminal spaces.” Across the album, celestial imagery becomes a lens through which to examine distinctly earthly experiences, reflecting her fascination with cosmic symbolism and the idea that the patterns of our personal lives might mirror the rhythms of the universe.

The record represents a point of transformation for Amor. Following three EPs and more than eight million streams, Heavenly Bodies expands the raw indie-pop charge of her earlier work into a more immersive world of dream-pop and “cosmic Americana.” Its songs reckon with grief, self-actualisation, distance, longing and the shifting emotional terrain of adulthood.

The dreamlike ‘Meet On The Moon’ and ‘Roses’ both serve as paeans to late loved ones, while focus single ‘This Must Be The End’ channels what Amor describes as “complex female rage.” Throughout the record, vulnerability is balanced with control, allowing intimate confessions to unfold within shimmering guitars, soft-focus synths and quietly expansive choruses.

“When you put out an album, it’s really the moment where you say, ‘Hello world, this is me, this is my sound,’” says Amor. “My life has changed so much in the past few years, all of which has inspired this music. I just needed to come home to myself first; to feel grounded in what I was making before sharing it with others. It felt like a calling.”

Alex Amor · Heavenly Bodies

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Redder Moon - If You're Falling, Dive.

A dreamy, color-drenched world of night awaits in Redder Moon's dramatic new music video for "If You're Falling, Dive." Shadow play and shifting lights set the stage for metamorphosis and revelation as Redder Moon frontman Jeremiah James Gonzales's somber, yearning baritone evokes feelings of isolation and hope. The evocative and decidedly lonesome video also features hand-drawn animations and mysterious silhouettes, as Gonzales reveals his hidden face, before obscuring it again. Meanwhile, an expansive set of swirling synths and shimmering guitars provide the sublime bed for all that triumphant ache. "If You're Falling, Dive" is the perfect goth ballad for our lonely times.

The video drops in between stops on an extensive touring schedule, as Redder Moon prepare for their fall 2026 tour through the American southeast, midwest, and southwest. Having gigged and toured with the likes of NITE, Matte Blvck, and Vision Video, the duo is poised to become a household name in the world of post-punk and goth.

"If You're Falling, Dive" is the title track of Redder Moon's latest full-length album, which was mastered by Gordy Goudie of Simple Minds and Echo & The Bunnymen, and has kept the duo in high demand since its release in 2025. Redder Moon's members are songwriter Jeremiah James Gonzales and touring bassist Sergio Gonzales-Gonzales. The duo are cousins of Mexican American Latin origin.

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Elender - Ein Fest.

With their debut single, Fred Elender and his band Elender have already received airplay around the world in May this year. Now Fred Elender, the driving force behind the band, is releasing their second single: “Ein Fest” is another melancholic synth-pop anthem.

Elender was founded in 2014. The band blends a touch of ’80s flair and a hint of pop appeal into its dark sound, creating their distinctive, unmistakable style of “dark pop.” The new single “Ein Fest” is about sensuality, connection, and beauty. It tells of two people who love each other and feel a powerful attraction toward one another. 

It is about lust and desire for another person, particularly on a physical level. The title “Ein Fest” symbolizes a physical connection in which sparks fly. Their success so far has now prompted Elender to put together a live band, with the aim of eventually bringing their sound to the stage.

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navy June - routine avoidance.

Some situations are easier to avoid than confront, but eventually, the things left unresolved have a way of catching up. Wrestling with that uncomfortable space between holding on and moving forward, Boorloo/Perth-based band navy june return with a bittersweet single, ‘routine avoidance’, out this weekend.

Following the release of ‘mister’ back in January, navy june have been on the grind. Alongside appearances at Bloom Fest, Blues at Bridgetown and Spaced Out Fest, the band has shared stages with Old Mervs, Great Gable, The Vanns, Fool Nelson, Cheeky Leash, Death By Denim, Sophian, Ruby Hoo, Nana's Pie, Devon Street and Darcie Haven, while also receiving a WAM Song of the Year nomination.  

Now, with ‘routine avoidance’, navy june dance between intimate, acoustic-led folk and heart-crunching indie rock. What starts out with an understated, innocent folky bedroom softness gracefully blooms with fuzzed-out electric guitars, powerful drums topped with aching vocals and harmonies that pry at the heartstrings. 
  
Beneath its warm melodies, the track carries a captivating aura to it. 'routine avoidance’ lingers in the uncertainty that follows heartbreak, exploring the difficult process of growing beyond someone while remaining haunted by unanswered questions and everything left unresolved. Rather than offering easy closure, the track finds beauty in that emotional in-between, where resilience is built one step at a time. Speaking on the track, Ruby Barton-Taylor states: “‘routine avoidance’ tells the story of heartbreak, resilience, and taking back control. It's about being torn between wanting their validation and needing to let go, spiralling through grief, anger, and obsession while searching for a way to move forward.”

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Foglights - Nous Deux (EP).

Foglights is a new band featuring Eva Cord of The Cords and Archie Ingram AKA Stone Anthem. The debut 4-track EP ‘Nous Deux’ is available digitally and on cassette. The single ‘The Rain Felt Kind’ was released in July and featured here on Beehive Candy. The full EP released yesterday 21st August.

Foglights’ songs channel restless energy into washed-out guitars, hypnotic melodies, and offer a lyricism that cuts straight through the noise.  They combine elements of Eva and Archie’s music: the psychedelia and denseness of Stone Anthem and the pure, heartfelt indie pop of The Cords. The duo reflect their relationship within the music, being two individual artists with the same vision: to create from the heart, with honesty and vulnerability. Shining the lights through the darkness. 

The Cords released their debut album on Slumberland and Skep Wax last year and are currently working on a second long-player.  Stone Anthem released their debut album ‘Solux Rex’ on Glass Modern Records earlier in 2026. 

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Hope Douds - Coastal Cowgirls.

“Coastal Cowgirls” is a bright, carefree country anthem made for the girls chasing sunshine, salty air, and a little summertime escape. Blending Hope’s Southern roots with the carefree energy of the coast, the song captures the feeling of leaving worries behind and trading the everyday for turquoise water, warm nights, and a little wild cowgirl spirit.

Hope brings that energy to life with playful lines like, “Rope them all in like a wild horse out on the beach / Want all the turquoise vibes ’gainst the sparkling Atlantic sea / All the coastal cowgirls / Come, follow me.” The song paints an instantly vivid picture of beach days, sparkling water, sun-kissed skin, drinks by the shore, and a whole lot of yee-haw energy.

At its heart, “Coastal Cowgirls” is an invitation to embrace the carefree side of country living. It’s for the girls who can bring their country roots anywhere, trade their ball caps for a beachside state of mind, and turn a simple summer getaway into an adventure. With its playful attitude and feel-good spirit, the song arrives as a natural fit for summer playlists and the final stretch of the season.

Hope Douds brings a distinctive blend of Southern storytelling, polished musicianship, and classic country influence to her music. A Georgia native, Hope grew up surrounded by cattle farms and the Blue Ridge Mountains, with music woven into her life from an early age. Her mother’s involvement in worship and church choirs helped nurture that foundation, while Hope went on to study choir, musical theater, show choir, and vocal performance before pursuing a degree in Musical Performance.

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Kate Prascher - Nicole Atkins - Earthquake Lights - Next Week’s Washing - beabadoobee - Kelly Hunt - Baileigh Jane - The Spongetones

Photo - Sander Randall

Kate Prascher - Retrograde.

Kate Prascher has released the final single from her highly anticipated sophomore album ‘Sunday Afternoon,’ out August 28 on First City Artists (Alexa Rose, Carly King). On “Retrograde,” Prascher’s delicate howl is comforting and consuming as ever. She shares, “‘Retrograde’ is a kind of lullaby and spell for the times when things seem to be moving backwards. True to its name, this song took reflection and patience to get right in the studio, but the addition of Ben Garnett and his resonant guitar licks, pointed the track in the right direction.”

Co-produced by Diana Walsh (Amanda Shires, Jason Isbell, Wild Rivers), Prascher’s new album boasts the eerie elegance she’s known for, while calling esteemed comparisons to mind—the classic country soprano of Allison Krauss; the dark, dusty Americana of Gillian Welch; the bright melodicism of Madison Cunningham. Prascher will perform her new material at Big Lawn Festival in Poughkeepsie on August 22, and at O+ Festival in Kingston October 9-11. 

Prascher was raised in Memphis, a childhood steeped in spiritual storytelling. “Where I’m from, it’s expected for the people in your life who’ve passed to show up again, one way or another,” she says. In adulthood, she carried that experience to New York City and embraced the lively vibrance of the city’s Bluegrass scene, taking mandolin lessons from Michael Daves and joining open sessions at staple venues like The Jalopy, Mona's, Sunny's. Prascher wrote about half the songs on ‘Sunday Afternoon’ while she was living in Brooklyn—the rest, after she left. 

“I’m interested in how environment informs identity,” she shares. “Leaving New York was a reckoning for me. I moved there out of ambition. If I left, could I still consider myself ambitious?” Now based upstate, she’s grateful for the opportunity to answer that question. “My life is less about chasing one thing, and more about grounded rituals, the practices of work and creation. I can hear myself more clearly. I know what I want to say.” 

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Photo - Barbara FG

Nicole Atkins - Trippin’ on Teardrops.

Nicole Atkins has shared the official music video for her latest single, 'Trippin’ on Teardrops.' Filmed on location in a historic turn-of-the-century mansion in her home state of New Jersey, 'Trippin’ on Teardrops' marks the opening track on Atkins’ eagerly awaited new album 'Drama', arriving via Sun Records/Wicked Game Records on 18th September.
 
“I wrote ‘Trippin’ on Teardrops’ during a long period of time where I was having all these insane sleep issues,” Nicole Atkins says. “Never being able to fall asleep and then waking up sometimes after two days of sleep. It was like a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from. Burnout? Maybe. Depression? Mostly because of sleep issues. And it was at a time where it seemed like the world was business as usual and I was watching it all go by in my dreams".   
 
“After wrestling with what this song wanted to be for a while, I had the chorus. Like an SOS. Then my good old pal Peter Morén from Peter Bjorn and John was visiting Nashville, and we were writing, and I showed him this chorus, which he loved, and I just put down the verse words which I thought I’d replace because I was almost embarrassed at how pitiful they sounded but that was just the state of my life at that time. Lonely and dreaming and wishing things were different. The person I was missing most was myself, but sometimes it just takes a good friend to shine a light to get ya through it.” 

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Earthquake Lights - Too Late feat. Nicole Zuraitis.

Ahead of their upcoming fourth studio album’s 2027 arrival, New York’s Earthquake Lights share “Too Late” (feat. Nicole Zuraitis), a soulful, sophisticated new single that pairs timeless songwriting with modern alternative rock production. Drawing equally from classic soul, neo-classical composition, and contemporary rock, the track tells the story of two people drifting apart, with each voice offering a different perspective on the same relationship. The result is a poignant meditation on longing, regret, and the quiet realization that some moments cannot be reclaimed.

Inspired by the music of Norah Jones and vintage soul records, “Too Late” began as a melody at the piano before gradually revealing the emotional story it wanted to tell. Rather than approaching the lyrics first, the band allowed the music to dictate the narrative, ultimately shaping a duet that feels both intimate and universal.

“We always write the music first and fit the lyrics into the melody,” vocalist/pianist Myles Rodenhouse explains. “This one started at the piano, sung to gibberish and the phrase ‘It's too late.’ I further fleshed it out with the band before we asked Nicole to collaborate and sing on the track.”

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Next Week’s Washing - Where Did I Go Wrong.

Toronto indie quintet Next Week’s Washing share “Where Did I Go Wrong,” an exhilarating new single that pairs soaring shoegaze textures with driving alternative rock. Serving as the latest preview of the band’s forthcoming second EP, the track captures the uncertainty of growing up in a rapidly changing world, exploring the self-doubt, anxiety, and search for identity that define a generation growing up in unprecedented times.

“It’s about trying to find yourself and becoming the person you want to be at a strange time in the world,” explains singer Miles Duffy. “There’s a level of anxiety and self-doubt that comes with being young nowadays, and we felt like it’s an important thing to write about because we’re all experiencing this culture firsthand.”

Written from the perspective of young people navigating an increasingly uncertain future, “Where Did I Go Wrong” reflects the quiet internal questions that often accompany growing older. Rather than offering easy answers, the song embraces uncertainty itself, examining what it means to search for purpose while constantly questioning your place in the world. That perspective has become a defining principle behind the band’s songwriting, as they continue documenting the emotional realities of their generation through honest, relatable storytelling.

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Photo - Erika Kamano

beabadoobee - Memories.

beabadoobee has released “Memories,” the latest song from her hugely anticipated forthcoming album Pylon, due for release on September 18, 2026 via Dirty Hit / Interscope Records. beabadoobee recently gave “Memories” its live debut during a short run of US shows that included talked-about performances at Lollapalooza and Hinterland festivals, as well as a headline show at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Bea describes “Memories” as “one of the happiest songs on the album,” but one where she falls deep into a spiral of romanticizing bygone moments, “clinging onto ideas that should make me happy but actually make me feel sad, because I wish they were just moments I lived in forever.”

The song is indicative of the raw and sometimes uncomfortably real songwriting on Pylon, a record that’s more wide-ranging and complex than anything that she has ever put out—a tannic rock record that is, at various points, angry, lonesome, ecstatic, depressed and deeply, pathologically in love. Laus, who poured her life into songs as a teenager for the world to hear, says the album is the result of writing alone in hotel rooms, which “reminded me a lot of how I wrote songs at 17, alone in my bedroom, feeling sad.

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Photo - makemade

Kelly Hunt - All The King’s Horses.

Memphis artist Kelly Hunt has shared the second single from her forthcoming album, 'Requiem for a Sleepless Night,' out September 18 on Compass Records. Gentle and melodically surprising, “All The King’s Horses” takes an alternative angle on a classic tale, with Hunt’s fluttering vocals as emotionally arresting as her lyrical premise. 

“The Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme popped into my head one day out of the blue,” she shares. “It had always struck me as a cautionary tale: this is what happens when you take risks—you end up in pieces, beyond repair. But the more I pondered, the more I wondered...what if he had a very good reason to climb that wall? What if whatever was on the other side was well worth the risk? What if he’s a hero, not a fool?” 

…a heart is better busted wide
Than a wall that you just hide behind 
Better to climb and take the fall 
Than to never love no one at all. 

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Baileigh Jane - Smash Your TV.

Baileigh Jane returns with “Smash Your TV,” a breezy, soulfully psychedelic slice of beach rock arriving Friday, August 21. Coastal without feeling escapist, “Smash Your TV” is rooted in the idea that sometimes freedom is remarkably simple: turn down the noise, step outside and pay attention.
  
At its heart, “Smash Your TV” serves as a reminder that life is taking place beyond the screen and beyond the stories we construct inside our own heads — somewhere physical, strange, multidimensional, and alive. Baileigh Jane’s answer is simple: go meet it. Rather than offering another version of digital-age cynicism, Baileigh approaches the sentiment with lightness. The song finds its optimism in presence — in reconnecting with the body, the natural world and the parts of ourselves that can become harder to hear beneath the constant hum of everyday life.

Dreamy guitars and twang-tinged riffs drift through a loose, soulful groove, giving “Smash Your TV” the feeling of an afternoon near the water with nowhere particularly urgent to be. Its laid-back exterior carries a deeper undercurrent: an invitation to let go of rigid thinking, rediscover wonder in small things and become more receptive to the world as it is happening.

For Baileigh, that balance between introspection and ease is increasingly becoming a defining part of their sound. Recent releases have drawn more visibly from their Florida roots, bringing the coast into both the music and the world surrounding it. Where previous single “Do You Feel the Same Way” began establishing that landscape, “Smash Your TV” sinks further into it, embracing the unhurried spirit of shore life.

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The Spongetones - The Music At The Close.

Power Pop Hall Of Famers The Spongetones continue their 2026 series of all new singles with the latest installment: the darkly cautionary tale "The Music At The Close." In true Spongetones style, the tune packs hooks and harmonies galore into a three-minute pop gem telling the tale of a doomed voyage that may just be a metaphor for modern times. 

A thrilling change of pace from the hits that have preceded it on the indie airwaves this year ("Lifetimeline," "(I Really Need) To Kiss You" and "So Long"), it's out August 21 on all digital platforms.

“The Music At The Close” makes it four. Kicking of with minor key guitar arpeggios and the tellingly timely lyrics “Ignorance and innocence, the belles of last year's ball / Look on in consternation as we play the hand they dealt,” it's a distinctly different animal from the last few singles. Where “So Long” boasted Zombies-like whimsy, “(I Really Need) To Kiss You” radiated youthful exuberance, and “Lifetimeline” floated on sweetly psychedelic swirls of sound, the new song bespeaks a kind of tensely apocalyptic resignation. 

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SHEAL - Tilia - ILA - T.R. Burge & The Temple - Alyssa Gallarneau

SHEAL - Press Rewind. 

SHEAL is the stage name of Nova Scotia-born, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Sheilagh McNab, who returns with her newest single, “Press Rewind,” an intimate, nostalgic reflection on childhood, home, family, and the places that continue to shape who we become. Written by SHEAL and produced, mixed, and mastered by Eric Vanier, the track pairs her emotive vocals and piano with Vanier’s drums, percussion, bass, and electric guitar, creating a warm, cinematic folk-pop sound that feels both reflective and deeply personal. Following a string of releases that have earned airplay on CBC Radio and SiriusXM, SHEAL turns inward on “Press Rewind,” revisiting memories of growing up in Nova Scotia through the perspective of an adult and parent.

At the heart of “Press Rewind” is the feeling of coming home and seeing the past through new eyes. The song was inspired by SHEAL’s childhood memories, her experiences of returning to Nova Scotia, and the perspective that comes with raising children of her own. As she explains, “Press Rewind” is about “looking back on my childhood and, now that I'm a parent, returning to those memories with new perspective — thinking about how I was raised and what I appreciate about that experience.” The ocean imagery woven throughout the song is particularly intentional, reflecting her deep connection to the East Coast and the pull of home. 

That connection comes alive in the song’s imagery of salty air, wind-swept trees, familiar roads, and the feeling of finally being almost home. The line, “We’ll drive to places that I used to know, and stay all day until the sun goes down,” comes directly from SHEAL’s own life. Each summer, she returns to Nova Scotia with her daughters, reconnecting with a longtime friend for an August day at the beach filled with conversation, laughter, food, swimming, and the kind of timelessness that makes everyone forget to check the clock. Those experiences have become some of her favourite memories — and now, she gets to create them with her own children.

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Tilia - Cocoon.

With her album Daybound Drift, which has now reached more than 500,000 streams, Zurich-based musician Tilia has established herself as one of the most exciting voices in Swiss dream pop. 

With her new single 'Cocoon', she now ventures into quieter, darker soundscapes. The idea for the song came to Tilia during a cocooning yoga workshop. 

The notion of withdrawing—not to hide, but to quietly transform—stayed with her. 'Cocoon' captures precisely that moment. Sonically, the song remains introspective and melancholic before opening up at exactly the right moment.

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Photo - Taike De Wilde

ILA - Sorry.

Antwerp based ILA returns with 'Sorry', the latest single from her forthcoming album Motherland, due for release on 9th October 2026. The new single arrives following recent European tour dates supporting The Streets, with ILA now preparing for an extensive EU run this autumn, including four UK shows in November.

Produced by Mikko Gordon (The Smile, Idles, Arcade Fire, Beck), ‘Sorry’ sees ILA turning heartbreak into resilience, finding strength where there was once only pain. Visceral, gritty and yet carrying an infectious and accessible core, the track balances its driving backdrop of biting guitars, tight drums and meaty bass with vexing, yet melodic vocals to create an evocative blend of alternative-rock, grunge, indie and post-punk elements. ILA describes the track as: “Turning heartbreak into resilience, finding strength where there was once only pain.”

‘Sorry’ arrives as the band prepare to enter a new chapter following the success of their 2024 debut album Ayna, with Motherland making ILA sound bigger, more ambitious and more emotionally expansive than ever. The upcoming album Motherland comes two years after the acclaimed debut Ayna and is the first ILA record written as a four-piece - Frontwoman Ilayda Cicek, the line-up features Sam Smeets on bass, Cas Kinnaer on drums and Stynen on guitar.

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T.R. Burge & The Temple - This Bird Is Flown.

T.R. Burge & The Temple return with "This Bird Is Flown," alongside the announcement of their debut album Godache which is set to release November 6th.  The song was born close to home, inside Burge's own flat in “Little Ireland”, a corner of central Manchester steeped in a strange, layered history, one that even brushes up against the early stirrings of the Russian Revolution. Its lyrics trace back to a single dream image, later filtered through a period of heavy reading into esoteric ideas, which crept into the finished imagery almost without invitation.

In Burge's own words: "The lyrics relate to a dream I had in which a woman was standing on the edge of a promenade of some kind, looking out at the ocean. She looked as if she was mourning the loss of something. Someone who had left. It was a very vivid and emotionally charged image. The rest of the imagery in the song then built around this. When recording this song at Klangbild studios in Berlin, Pete, our drummer, Liam, our mate/technician, and I had the best day ever, drinking some beers and listening to Martin J. Fiedler and Aninka create, play and overlay the violin parts. It was heaven. I'll never forget hearing that in the moment come to life."

The song doesn't sit still. That restlessness was deliberate: violinist Aninka Rosa had been pushing for more contrast in the band's writing, and Burge built the track around that idea directly, letting tension rise and drain away across a series of distinct movements rather than holding one mood throughout. Recording, Mixing and Production took place, as much of the band's work does, at Klangbild Studios in Berlin, under longtime collaborator Martin J. Fiedler.

T.R. Burge and The Temple · 02 This Bird is Flown

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Photo - Iam Gum

Alyssa Gallarneau - For The Record (Album).

Alyssa Gallarneau is a singer-songwriter currently splitting her time between Chicago, Illinois, and Bloomington, Indiana. Creating a distinctive blend of pop, singer-songwriter and folk influences, Alyssa pairs evocative storytelling with modern production and emotionally rich songwriting. Known for her vivid lyricism and thoughtful use of symbolism, she has developed a style that is both intimate and immersive.

For The Record, Alyssa's debut album, explores themes of love, faith, longing and self-discovery through a collection of songs rooted in lived experience. Written across several months and three countries, the record took shape in locations that naturally inspired its stories. From the mountains of Mexico during a mission trip to the familiarity of home, Alyssa embedded visual motifs and metaphors that point to deeper meanings in her songs. "I approached many songs as if they were a scene in a film," Alyssa explains. "I wanted the album to reward repeated listens, and hopefully reveal new details each time through."

The album began in 2025 after acclaimed artist Mark Morrison introduced Alyssa to renowned UK producer Ian Barter, whose credits include Amy Winehouse, Paloma Faith, Dermot Kennedy and Rhys Lewis. Following an immediate creative connection, Alyssa travelled to London twice to record For The Record in Barter's personal garden studio, with the pair bonding over their shared faith throughout the process. Alyssa then signed a deal with Mark Morrison's MackLife Records, to distribute the album via Stem, a division of Concord, the world's leading independent music company.

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Savannah Pope - August - Ariana Fig - Scott C. Park

Savannah Pope - Panopticon.

We have a fascinating, thought provoking & addictive new track “Panopticon" from Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and visual artist Savannah Pope. “Panopticon” examines the lingering power certain people can hold over us long after a formative experience has ended. Written from Pope’s own history with body image and sexual trauma, the song captures the disorienting feeling of still being watched, measured, and judged by ghosts. 

The accompanying video is a piece of art. Drawing from Rococo painting, chiaroscuro, fashion editorials, dressing-room mirrors, and what Pope gleefully calls “Rococo drag,” the video holds fantasy and brutality in the same frame. A measuring-tape sequence turns the scrutiny of the dressing room into a surreal examination of how bodies are observed and constructed. Like the song, the film is lush, severe, beautiful, and unexpectedly funny.

Savannah Pope is a Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and visual artist creating at the intersection of art rock, cinematic pop, glam, cabaret, and performance art. Known for her opera-like voice, immersive visual worlds, and visceral songwriting, Pope has supported Andy Bell of Erasure across North America, performed three sold-out nights at Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre, and sold nearly 100 tickets for her New York headline debut at Joe’s Pub. 

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August - Midlife.

August are a four piece indie folk band from the UK. During the lockdown of 2020 Chris Carey and Sara Murray started writing songs together remotely as a therapeutic activity. Both had been in bands in their twenties and never lost the passion for making music, but careers and families had made it hard to keep it going. 

They soon had an album's worth of material and were joined by multi instrumentalist and solo artist, Simon Hedges ( formally of Airbus), and drummer Matt Cowley ( Dreadzone, Tony Christie. Big Boy Bloater and his solo project, Tremsprings). Simon then introduced the band to the incredible producer, Luke Oldfield, who produced their first album, Not the 90's at his legendary Tilehouse Studios. 

Their new EP Midlife is also produced by Luke Oldfield. The three songs on the EP challenge traditional, accepted and ingrained narratives around female power and value, and question who gets to be the narrator of our human story. The song is inspired by a visit to Delphi and hearing the story of the women who were chosen to be the oracle. They were women in their 50's and they lived an average of 7 years. The cave they made the oracle made prophecies from was on top of a crack in the earth, where poisonous gas escaped and gave the woman hallucinations and altered her voice. And over time it killed her.  

I was 53 when I visited the site and the story of these Pythia, as they were known, hit me as a powerful metaphor for all women's lives under patriarchy. They were given elevated spiritual positions but had no freedom. They were given power but no agency. There are no records of these women so we don't know their names.

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PHOTO - NATALIE NGUYEN

Ariana Fig - So Long, Sinnerstate! (Album). 

Hamilton, ON-born singer-songwriter Ariana Fig shares her debut full-length album, So Long, Sinnerstate!, a vibrant folk-pop collection that explores identity, ambition, and the winding road between who we are and who we’re still becoming. Marking her first full-length release after two independently released EPs, the record finds Fig expanding both her songwriting and sonic palette, pairing deeply personal reflections with stories inspired by literature, film, and imagined perspectives to create her most universal body of work to date.

“In a time for music where it seems like pumping out quick and fast singles is the way to go, I think there’s something pretty punk rock about releasing an album independently in 2026,” Fig says. “I’ve made two EPs under my own label, and I thought it was time to tell a larger story and let people know more about who Ariana Fig the artist is through my music.”

The album’s lead single and title track, “So Long, Sinnerstate!,” was inspired by the music she was listening to while writing, particularly MJ Lenderman’s Manning Fireworks and Briston Maroney’s JIMMY. It’s a nostalgic track that reflects on the dreams of her younger self while looking toward the future with equal parts uncertainty and hope.

Centred on navigating identity, So Long, Sinnerstate! marks a turning point in Fig’s songwriting. Rather than writing solely from personal experience, she drew inspiration from books, films, and imagined perspectives, allowing the songs to speak beyond autobiography and resonate on a broader level.


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Photo - Danielle Macleod

Scott C. Park - Revival (Album).

Scott C. Park returns with Revival, an ambitious album that finds the Scottish songwriter at his most confident, playful and sonically adventurous yet. Veering between wiry indie rock, psychedelic pop, folk melancholy and ragged alternative rock, Park trades introspection for instinct, creating a record where every track inhabits its own vivid world while remaining unmistakably his own.

While Park's debut album Crossing the Line chronicled the emotional fallout of leaving his faith, Revival looks towards what comes next. Rather than dwelling on loss, the record is about rebuilding: rediscovering joy, creativity and the values that remain once old certainties have fallen away. "My first album was about leaving my faith," Park explains. "This album is about rebuilding—not a value system in terms of ethics, but rebuilding what gives me joy, what gives me pleasure, and how I feel about feeling that pleasure.”

Revival was shaped by a deliberately stripped-back approach. Park abandoned the heavily layered demos of his previous record in favour of live performances, resonant drums and arrangements that allow each song's character to shine: "I wanted each track to have more definition, each one to be more of a vibe unto itself—like an arrow rather than a club.”

That philosophy runs throughout the album. The sardonic indie rock of 'Marlene' sits comfortably beside the psychedelic pulse of 'That's Love', the knotty, rhythmically restless 'Nananaw' and the swaggering sleaze of 'Preach', while songs such as 'Porch Golfing' and 'Pepperblack 40' introduce outsider protagonists with warmth and humour. Elsewhere, 'Work of Art' and 'No-one's up in Heaven When I'm There' confront the lingering effects of religious repression and loneliness, before the title track brings the album to a bittersweet, cathartic close.

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Just Jody Project - Forget Them Wendy - Sam Paige - Efro - Niki Kennedy - Jasmin Stone

Just Jody Project - No Need To Sing The Blues (Album).

For more than 55 years, Just Jody Project has lived at the intersection of craftsmanship and creativity, shaping a distinctive multi‑genre sound through a lifetime immersed in music. His work is defined by an extraordinary collection of custom‑built guitars and handcrafted stringed instruments—each one a reflection of the curiosity, skill, and artistic devotion that fuel his signature style.

That sonic identity reaches new heights on No Need to Sing the Blues, the debut 10‑track independent album that blends smooth melodies with rich musical textures and expressive performances. The project is elevated by close collaborations with world‑renowned producer and multi‑instrumentalist Chris Birkett, whose classical arrangements add cinematic depth, and acclaimed pianist/keyboardist Bill King, whose Hammond B3 performances infuse several tracks with soulful warmth and vintage character.

Drawing inspiration from heavy metal, hard rock, blues, reggae, jazz, and folk rock, Just Jody Project channels decades of experience into a sound that is both eclectic and deeply personal. The album’s layered arrangements, handcrafted instrumentation, and genre‑spanning influences create a warm, immersive listening experience that celebrates authenticity, exceptional musicianship, and the enduring power of live performance.

Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Just Jody Project continues to expand his musical world—one handcrafted instrument, one collaboration, and one heartfelt composition at a time. 

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Forget Them Wendy - Apple Pie.

Forget Them Wendy are an indie pop/grunge duo made up of Newcastle-based songwriter Laura James, and Edinburgh-born producer and guitarist Oliver Price, now living in London. The band take their name from a line in J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan: “Forget them, Wendy. Forget them all. Come with me where you'll never, never have to worry about grown up things again.” Shaped by their shared love of 90s records from bands including The Cranberries, Smashing Pumpkins and The Breeders, the pair combine indie pop melodies with grunge influences and playful, self-aware songwriting.

Their latest single, “Apple Pie”, sees Forget Them Wendy showing a softer side, with acoustic guitar taking centre stage. Written in the height of summer, the track is inspired by those hazy, lazy days that seem to stretch on forever. Laura sings, “‘Life’s an apple pie, let it float on by’”, a line she admits she doesn’t really know the meaning of, but somehow knows is important.

In true Forget Them Wendy fashion, “Apple Pie” doesn’t stay quite as laid-back as it first appears. Towards the end, the track takes an unexpected turn, becoming more psychedelic before coming to an abrupt stop. The final moments reference Paul Bowles’ novel The Sheltering Sky and its themes of death and impermanence, bringing a darker thought into a song initially inspired by endless summer days. Maybe the summer won’t last forever after all. The duo’s chemistry runs throughout both their music and creative process. Laura describes the project as “about owning who you are, even if you’re not entirely sure who that is,” as well as “liking someone so much you forget who you are.” “You mean me?” asks Olly. “No,” Laura replies.

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Sam Paige - I Am Sam (Album).

Sam Paige’s debut full-length album, I Am Sam, is an intimate introduction to an artist who has never been afraid to put her most honest thoughts into words. Across nine tracks, Paige delivers her most personal and fully realized work to date, blending the heart of country storytelling with modern pop sensibilities — memorable melodies — and unfiltered honesty. Rather than hiding behind perfection, I Am Sam embraces the complicated, messy, and sometimes uncomfortable parts of growing into yourself.

At the center of the album is the standout track “Anxiety,” a deeply candid exploration of the invisible battles that can exist beneath an otherwise composed exterior. Paige captures the contrast between how someone appears to the outside world and what is happening internally, turning anxious thoughts into something listeners can immediately recognize. “There's a pounding in my chest / There's an aching kind of stress / Thoughts spinning / But at least I'm awake / Mirror says I'm doing fine / But it's a little different in my mind.” The song becomes one of the album’s most vulnerable moments, allowing Paige to transform a deeply personal experience into something listeners can see themselves in.

That honesty carries throughout I Am Sam. Paige’s songwriting has a conversational quality that allows deeply personal experiences to feel universal. Her lyrics explore self-doubt, identity, relationships, growing up, and the pressure to understand yourself before you necessarily have all the answers. The album becomes less about having everything figured out and more about giving yourself permission to be a work in progress.

On “My Tattoos,” Paige turns physical self-expression into a reflection on emotional identity. The song examines the relationship between confidence and insecurity, suggesting that the things we choose to put on our bodies can also represent the experiences we carry within us. “I find a little more truth every time the ink dries on my tattoos.” The tattoos become more than decoration — they represent memories, choices, growth, and the freedom to claim every part of yourself.

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Photo - Adrien Bossa

Efro - Lipstick Stains.

Rising solo artist Efro returns with her new single ‘Lipstick Stains’, a heat-hazed ode to Summer, which arrived 14th August. Another example of Efro's stylistic, instantly recognisable sound, 'Lipstick Stains' pairs psychedelic textures with gritty, vintage-inspired production and lo-fi charm, settling into an effortlessly laid-back groove.

Built around fuzzy bass, biting guitars, distorted keys, boxy drums and subtle washes of synth, the track fuses hazy indie-rock with an alternative edge, shifting between psychedelic flourishes and understated lo-fi aesthetics. The result recalls artists such as PJ Harvey, Sun Room and Dope Lemon, while echoing the timeless cool of Lou Reed and The Strokes. Evoking the warmth of summer, 'Lipstick Stains' reflects on fleeting romance and the memories that linger long after the season has passed, wrapping its wistful nostalgia in a sun-faded glow.

Speaking about the single, Efro explains: “Lipstick Stains began as a visualisation of a perfect endless idealistic summer. I first started writing the lyrics by having in mind the things that make summer what it is, long days at the beach, listening to the waves crashing, summer love. Then I came up with the bassline keeping the song moving no matter what and later came the bridge with the song reaching its climax there, kind of portraying those more spontaneous summer moments we all know and love. It’s a love song about summer.”

Originally from Athens, before studying in Brighton (UK) and now based in Berlin, Efro has developed a distinctive sound that fuses indie garage rock energy with sun-soaked, surf-leaning textures. Efro’s debut EP ‘Year of Yearning’ established an early identity rooted in indie rock nostalgia and emotional directness, acting as a foundation for a growing catalogue shaped by introspection and melodic instinct.

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Ezra Tsai Photography

Niki Kennedy - Gardenias.

On her soaring new single "Gardenias" Toronto singer-songwriter Niki Kennedy begins a new chapter in her musical story, offering hope in the face of grief, a message complemented by a gorgeous, string-laden arrangement. “Gardenias” is a preview of Niki's full-length debut album The Space In Between, out Oct. 2, and is an example of the open-hearted approach she has applied to her music since beginning to work on the album. Niki explains, "I wrote 'Gardenias' to honour my grandmother, and it took a long time as I wanted it to convey joy rather than grief. It finally became a celebration of her life and I hope it can help others who have lost loved ones find some peace."

Finishing "Gardenias" has been part of Niki's transformation over the past few years. Like many emerging young artists, she realized she had fallen into the trap of chasing expectations set by others as she established herself through a handful of independent singles.

Niki ultimately decided to try something different—ignore what she “should” be doing, and simply start writing songs that drew from her life experiences, often in a vulnerable manner she had never attempted before that unmasked and confronted her insecurities, frustrations and fears. Niki has channelled all of it into The Space In Between, which showcases her entrancing voice in inventive arrangements rooted in modern adult pop with hints of country, R&B and reggae.

She says, “I didn’t go into this process trying to ‘write an album,’ but to capture the messy human journey of figuring it all out. At the end of it, I had a collection of songs that felt true to this chapter of my life and artistry. I chose 12 of them for this album, and it was at that point that I went into the studio with long-time friend and collaborator Shane Stephenson, who mixed the record and helped me bring it to the finish line.”

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Jasmin Stone - Faceless.

Available this weekend on streaming platforms worldwide, Jasmin Stone’s “Faceless” is the latest offering from Jessicat Records. The new single arrived after the video clip for the track.

Exploring the lack of humanity demonstrated in recent times, "Faceless" reflects on the feelings of isolation and being trapped behind a screen, and how this impacted society in various ways. The music video for “Faceless” helps bring this to life, by showcasing various characters in everyday life, engaging in parallel realities. Although all of the characters seen in the video appear to be coexisting, there is an ever growing feeling of distance that can be felt throughout. 

Sonically, "Faceless" shares a clear inspiration to 80s soundscapes. Jasmin Stone perfectly bridges the gap between futurism with more “ancient” styles, creating an ethereal world that’s all her own. A cross between Air or Goldfrapp, the single’s ties to dream pop could not be more clearer.

Jasmin Stone is an acclaimed multi award winning songwriter composer and multimedia artist renowned for her distinct cinematic approach to indie pop. With an extensive experience in the film and television industry, she has established herself by weaving deep narrative elements and striking visual storytelling into her musical creations.

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