Author: Marcus Adetola

Exploring new music. Explaining it shortly after. Keeping the classics close. Neon Music founder.

Kids In Glass Houses’ Vulnerable marks a striking return for the Welsh quintet after an eleven-year hiatus. This pop-rock anthem delves into the complexities of modern love, blending nostalgia with fresh perspectives. The song’s retro-tinged sound harks back to ’80s pop-rock yet feels distinctly current. Vibrant synths and driving basslines create an uplifting backdrop for Aled’s smooth vocals. His delivery conveys both vulnerability and strength, mirroring the song’s emotional core. Lyrically, “Vulnerable” explores love’s dual nature as both exhilarating and terrifying. Aled’s words paint vivid snapshots of a relationship’s evolution, from the mundane Sundays transformed by a lover’s presence to…

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Annatoria’s Calling hits like a spiritual thunderclap wrapped in velvet. This track melds R&B’s sultry warmth with Afrobeats’ pulsing energy, creating a sound that’s both familiar and startlingly fresh. Annatoria’s voice weaves through the composition with effortless grace, a powerful instrument equally capable of conveying raw emotion and technical finesse. The production sparkles with sun-drenched textures, laying a lush foundation for Annatoria’s soaring vocals. Annatoria confronts faith’s complexities head-on in “Calling.” She sings of being left “stranded with much more than I could handle” and even admits to running from divine love. Yet these moments of weakness ultimately strengthen her…

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Dan Onkar’s Feel Alive is that irresistible track you can’t help but have on repeat. It’s one of those songs that hooks you right from the start. First time through, it was all about that bass line. Seriously, it’s ridiculous. I dare you to listen to this track and not start nodding your head. The beat is infectious, blending afrobeats and highlife in a way that had me googling flights to Lagos. But it was Dan Onkar’s lyrics that really got me hooked. He’s not trying to paint some perfect picture here. Instead, he’s laying it all out—the good, the…

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Lost Soldiers by Kianja marches onto the scene with the steady rhythm of a heartbeat, its Afrobeat-inspired grooves pulsing like blood through veins. The track’s unexpected military drum pattern transforms this summer anthem into a more introspective journey through the battlefields of modern masculinity. Kianja’s vocals float above the instrumental landscape like a soulful meditation. Warm guitar chords and subtle piano notes form a nurturing foundation, while a gentle bassline and atmospheric synthesisers create a space for vulnerability, inviting listeners into a sonic embrace. The London-born artist navigates the complex terrain of male emotional repression with the care of a…

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Too Fine drops like a smooth operator into the UK music scene, courtesy of Gabzy, JayO, and Odeal. This trio of rising stars have concocted a sultry brew that’s equal parts R&B, Alté, and Afro-swing, served up on a platter of RZ’s slick production. The track oozes with the confidence of young artists who know they’ve stumbled onto something special. Each vocalist brings their own flavour to the mix, creating a sonic cocktail that’s both familiar and fresh. Gabzy’s honeyed tones, JayO’s playful delivery, and Odeal’s rich timbre dance around each other, never quite colliding but always in perfect sync.…

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Can’t Walk Away simmers with the heat of summer nights and unresolved feelings. 49th & Main, the Irish duo of Ben O’Sullivan and Paddy King, team up with A Little Sound to craft a pulsating indie dance track that refuses to let go. Counter Records presents this earworm, destined for repeat plays on sweaty dancefloors and sun-drenched beach parties alike. The song’s hook burrows deep. Groovy beats collide with sticky melodies, creating an irresistible concoction. The vocal interplay between 49th & Main and A Little Sound crackles with electricity, their voices weaving a tale of lingering attachment and bittersweet nostalgia.…

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Taylor Kelly brings an introspective and soulful vibe to her music, reflecting her deep connection to jazz, soul, and funk. Born and raised in Rochester, NY, Kelly has become a staple of the vibrant Philadelphia music scene. Her latest release, The Spins (EP), is a seamless blend of genres. This six-song collection navigates the complexities of the human mind wrapped in infectious melodies and richly textured instrumentation. Taylor Kelly’s background as a skilled trumpet player and vocalist shines through in every track. Her smooth, powerful voice and intricate arrangements set her apart as a musician. The EP is a lyrical mouthful, complemented…

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Mae Stephens’ Small Town Syndrome nails the suffocating feeling of living in a fishbowl community. This track shows a different side of Mae Stephens, moving away from her earlier pop hits and diving into raw, personal territory. Her voice is a rollercoaster of emotion, bringing to life the daily drama of small-town existence. The music matches her restlessness—think jangling guitars and insistent drums that make you want to hit the road. Right from the start, She pulls us into her world: “I’m hiding here behind these walls, I’m dragging out my bravest face.” It’s like she’s letting us in on…

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Run Like Crazy by Baby J, a Wisconsin native turned Miami dweller, debuts with a track that radiates authenticity. This newcomer’s first offering eschews flashy production for raw, unfiltered emotion. Baby J’s voice captivates with its distinctive timbre. It’s a warm, textured instrument that conveys her personal odyssey with disarming sincerity. As she sings over understated guitar rhythms, listeners feel privy to an intimate confession. The song’s minimalist approach proves a masterstroke. It spotlights Baby J’s lyrics and vocal prowess, inviting us to lean in and truly hear her story of metamorphosis and bold steps forward. While faith plays a…

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Kat Von D’s Illusion slithers through the speakers, a slinky synthwave serpent coiling around the listener’s psyche. This track, plucked from her upcoming album “My Side of the Mountain,” doesn’t just flirt with darkness; it slow dances with it under a disco ball moon. Kat Von D’s voice floats like smoke, carrying lyrics that drip with the lingering ache of a love gone sour. The song’s pulsing electronic heartbeat echoes the stubborn persistence of feelings that refuse to fade, even when we know they should. “Illusion” doesn’t just wallow, it struts and shimmers, a glittery shroud draped over raw emotion.…

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