Author: Marcus Adetola

Hazlett’s newest and first single in 2024, Bones Shake, burrows under your skin like a haunting earworm. The indie songwriter’s coming-of-age folk anthem shakes loose pent-up emotions with raw, candid lyricism over a sparse yet hypnotic bed of broken guitar tones. The understated verses smoulder with introspection until the ethereal, rowdy chorus releases a cathartic exhalation of self-discovery. “I think running away gets a bit of a bad name,” muses Hazlett about the track’s restless spirit. “Sometimes the further you get away, the clearer it all becomes to piece things together and make your comeback.” This act of perspective-seeking fills every lyric,…

The notion of self-care often feels like a quaint relic in our frenetic, always-on world, an idea we endlessly postpone due to the unrelenting demands of work, family, and the sheer grind of daily existence. Our devices’ incessant buzzing and our constant connection to the world have conditioned us to the point where the radical act of simply unplugging can feel like a herculean feat. It’s into this landscape that Joya Mooi’s latest sonic offering, Don’t Answer, arrives like a balm for the perpetually overstimulated soul. With her soulful vocals gliding over a breezy, undulating soundscape, she invites us to savour…

On his latest single, Tangled, London-born R&B singer-songwriter Thomas Jay shows a fearless willingness to peel back the layers and expose the messy, uncomfortable truths that often lurk beneath the surface of heartbreak. While countless artists have donned the breakup ballad cape, few possess the emotional dexterity to navigate the tangled web of feelings with such nuance and authenticity. Thomas Jay’s vocals, smooth as aged whisky, effortlessly blend with the sparse instrumental accompaniment, evoking a nostalgic nod to the soulful R&B sounds of the early 2000s. Yet Tangled is far from a mere exercise in nostalgia; it is a multifaceted journey through…

The steady strum of steel strings paints a weathered trail across the sonic frontier. On Numb, Bad Flamingo summons a restless spirit with haunting vocal inflections that echo like a wandering bard’s lament. Lo-fi guitar phrases bleed melancholy hues, each winding riff a calloused chronicle etched into the grooves. The washboard’s gritty cadence kicks up clouds of desert dust, while breathy utterances seduce like a siren’s call from a seedy saloon. As the sombre procession unfolds, layer upon layer accrues emotional heft like a gathering storm of unrestrained yearning. The faint licks slither like rattlesnakes through bone-dry arroyos before the second…

Boy In Space’s latest offering, The Last Time, isn’t just a breakup anthem; it’s a visceral, coming-of-age rite of passage set to a soulful yet modern soundtrack. Just as his previous hit Finally Fine Without You chronicled an achingly intimate journey through heartbreak’s depths, this new track encapsulates the defiant resilience forged in the wake of that pain. The song’s stripped-back intro instantly transports you to that all-too-familiar scene: mascara bleeding from sleepless nights spent agonising over what went wrong, acoustic guitar providing the melancholic soundtrack to your innermost turmoil. Robin Lundbäck’s soulful croon cuts like a knife as he laments, “Darling, you…

With her latest single, Jake From Minnesota, Bea Stewart extends an invitation to an intimate tête-à-tête, regaling us with a deliciously hazy vignette of a clandestine tryst. The closing track from her ‘sorry, I’m so sensitive’ EP is an airy, smitten confession tinged with melancholic longing. Musically, the song buoys Stewart’s lilting vocals with an effervescent folk-pop orchestration that dances like sunbeams filtering through curtains. Plucky guitar lines intermingle with gossamer keys and a restrainedly propulsive rhythm section, conjuring an aural dreamscape befitting the track’s wistful narrative. But it’s Bea Stewart’s adroit storytelling that emerges as the true showstopper. With…

The sweet bliss of being in love! In her new song, Here, Ellie Byers exquisitely captures that giddy feeling. We’ve all experienced that vulnerability—wanting to let someone in but struggling to peel back those layers of protection. Then, when you finally do meet that special someone who makes you feel safe and understood, it’s like the world opens up. Ellie Byers conveys that emotional release so vividly. With tender guitar strums, airy synths, and a grounding beat, the music wraps you in a warm embrace as her ethereal vocals pour out: “You’ve made love feel so easy, and my life has…

Rising Afro-fusion pop stars, BNXN and Ruger’s latest single, POE, is a sonic kaleidoscope, bursting with infectious energy as pulsating Amapiano beats intertwine with a dreamlike sonic panorama, igniting an irresistible allure. Beneath this captivating musical canvas, the flirtatious lyrics depict a playful courtship, where the artists’ magnetic charisma pursues an elusive muse, teasing and tantalising with each verse’s cadence. There’s a subtle tension simmering beneath the surface, like a building crescendo that keeps you hooked until the very last note. BNXN’s soulful vocals weave in and out, harmonising with Ruger’s delivery to create a beautiful counterpoint. Their voices intertwine…

Common Loons make a striking debut with their indie-folk single Proof. From the outset, the listener is immersed in a rich sonic landscape crafted with atmospheric guitars and the band’s sublime three-part harmonies that move like birdsong across still waters. The vocals are undoubtedly the centrepiece, with the three voices of Kacie, Eva, and Jerome blending into a hauntingly beautiful chorus that evokes feelings of tranquility. The lead vocals pass seamlessly between members, each distinct tone lending nuance and emotion to the impassioned melodies. Lyrically, Proof is a poetic triumph. Common Loons paints vivid scenes of nostalgia and introspection with a…

Hailing from Massachusetts, sad-rap artist Snøw unveils Disconnected, a harrowing exploration of love’s darkest crevices. This poignant offering resonates like a raw nerve, its sombre piano melody intertwining with Snøw’s emotive vocals, urgency dripping from every syllable. The lyrics? A scalpel dissecting the cadaver of a toxic relationship. Snøw divulges, “This song analyses how poisonous bonds contort personas, rendering lovers unrecognizable.” Indeed, Disconnected mirrors that disorienting unraveling. Snøw laments, “You hurt me more than you should’ve/Now it’s gone to your head,” his voice a trembling confession. The refrain’s plea, “I just need to disconnect,” echoes like a desperate mantra amidst tangled sheets. Yet,…