10. Emilia Tarrant – Here You Are, Again
‘Here You Are, Again’ is immense in every sense of the word. It builds, grows, expands with every passing second; all the while setting itself up for a crescendo that sweeps you off your feet. The 19 year old singer-songwriter from Winchester started playing the piano at the age of 12 and has been writing songs ever since. She says: “songwriting is like writing a diary for me; each song comes from the heart and is a way for me to escape the daily stresses of life.” But Tarrant isn’t just a songwriter in the lyrical sense, she knows how to craft emotion, build feeling, and sculpt energy.
Her latest single is a picture perfect commercial pop record. It’s got all the right ingredients, and it’s brewed together with the exact blend needed. The second the ‘what if it was just in my head ‘ moment hits, you’re just washed with a wave of energy. Powerful pop music rarely sounds so good.
9. Morning Trips – We Have No Time (For Now)
On their latest single, Morning Trips have put together a piece of pop rock that makes you seriously wonder where this kind of music has been all this while. ‘We Have No Time (For Now)’ is just ridiculously catchy, powered by a chorus that has you shouting along at the top of your lungs. In many ways, it sounds straight out of the 2000s, a distinctive pop punk vocal performance and guitar work prevailing over the track. But its production has the 2020s in it as well, lending it a quality that’s fresh and nostalgic all at once.
The unique combination of reassuring yet up-tempo production ripple and resonate further with each riff. The band has a diverse creative palette, and no single style seems to lock them down. But boy am I glad they ventured into this theme and sound, because I just can’t get enough of this tune. As a diehard fan of music from the early 00s, hearing this on loop has been an escape that I sorely needed. An undeniable banger.
8. Leo Sawikin – Row Me Away
Leo Sawikin makes his own lane. Building soundscapes that sound wildly original, with a voice that’s distinctively his own, he’s got a style that sets him apart. ‘Row Me Away’ has a little bit of folk, a little bit of alternative rock, and even some grunge sprinkled in for good measure. There’s definitely an element of the Smashing Pumpkins to Leo, one that comes out in his voice and production choices.
Sawikin describes the song’s theme as one of escape — a departure to a place that is simultaneously familiar but new. That may sound like a contradictory feeling but, it’s actually a fairly relatable one. We’ve all had periods where we feel stuck, yearning to escape to a place that promises a better life. But it’s also difficult to drop it all behind for a world that could be so unfamiliar that it may promise an even more uncomfortable future. And so, in that goldilocks-esque middle ground of familiarity and freshness, lies the oasis that Leo years for.
7. Asha Jane – Proud
A track that’s as powerful as it is catchy, Asha Jane’s ‘Proud’ is a pitch perfect soulful ballad. The Cardiff based neo-soul artist has previously worked alongside artists like Kae Tempest (FKA Kate), Kizzy Crawford, Aleighcia Scott and Another Sky; and also performed at prestigious events like The Great Escape, Big Love, Wonder Fields and Sŵn Festival. On her latest single, Asha displays her vocal dexterity wholeheartedly — at some moments restrained and at others completely unleashed. She’s got a vocal range that’s truly outstanding. The chorus, which goes ‘Do you love me now that everyone else is proud’ is unforgettable, even more so with the vocal harmonisation of ‘proud’ that follows it.
Released during Pride month, the self-affirming deep neo-soul ballad brings up questions of sexuality, identity, and ultimately acceptance and self-worth. You’ll be left moved, wowed, and infatuated after just one listen.
6. Ziggy Alberts – circus
For all intents and purposes, circus is a lyrical journey that demands every moment of its listeners attention. On his latest single, Ziggy Alberts —a renowned folk artist who’s already made massive inroads into the mainstream—has poured every bit of his passion and heart into this reflective and deeply personal piece. The Australian singer-songwriter is a certifiable star with millions upon millions of streams and his work is only just getting the stardom it deserves. It hasn’t left my head since the first moment it stepped in, each little melody, key movement, and string work just meshes so beautifully together..
The Ben Howard-esque performer does all the right things, pretty much checking off every single box that makes a folk artist popular. He’s got an emotive voice, meaningful lyrics, and a beautiful acoustic and piano accompaniment. If you have a fleeting interest in the genre, Alberts is a must here and ‘circus’ is a great place to start.
5. TerraTara – Waiting for the Rain
‘Waiting for the Rain’ is a song for the times, carrying resonant themes that strike a deep chord with all who have been affected by the rising tide of climate change. Specifically, this reggae track describes painfully and impassionedly about the forest fires in the United States and Western Canada. The upbeat reggae tune has a jingle to it, an almost folksy longing that prevails like a song invoking for rains. The usage of the mandolin, sprinkled in little bits across the track adds the very tangible feeling of rain throughout.
Recorded at Reel Time Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, TerraTara considers herself fortunate enough to be in the area itself! Enjoying the air and vibe of the place, the vision for the song followed soon after. ‘Waiting for the Rain’s uniquely transcendental mixture of reggae and folk is a genre in and of itself. A calming and arousing tune all at once.
4. ONE:FIFTY – XTC
Based out of Berlin, ONE:FIFTY bring a spacey, dark, and atmospheric air with their brand of pop/hip-hop. On XTC, the duo bring to life themes of toxic temptation. They draw parallels with love and drugs, equivocating how the two can both make us addicted to yearning for that next high. That dependency that we have for a drug addiction extends to a toxic lover as well. The highs are far too powerful to allow ourselves to even consider quitting.
Sonically, XTC is the kind of experience you’d be desperate for after a few drinks late into the night. The surrealist soundscape, littered with reverb and echo feels like a drug trip on its own. The final rap verse is very reminiscent of a Suicide Boys type performance. ONE:FIFTY have their own blend of hip-hop and pop music, one that’s produced and tuned in such a way that it feels like a drugged up experience, and the best kind at that.
3. HOL – bones
Singing about heartbreak, but with the maturity of acceptance, 18 year old HOL’s latest single ‘bones’ is a fun and endearing piece of pop rock that’s perfect for the moment. Having already garnered support from the BBC and Amazing Radio, she’s well on her way to rockstardom. But on bones alone, you can hear such a multitude of things to fall in love with. From an emotive and energetic electric guitar riff to an anthemic chorus, it feels like an almost resurgent piece of rock in an otherwise drab landscape for the genre.
As someone who loves seeing people reinvent rock, ‘bones’ is just a jolt of joy. It’s so thoroughly unique in an otherwise stale and unexperimented space. Pop rock tends to either be by the numbers efficient mainstream music or hopelessly unimaginative drivel, but in the case of bones its the complete opposite. It takes the best from tradition and puts its own youthful spin to it to create something entirely
2. Carson Aday – Ode To The Strokes
You’d be forgiven for thinking this song was written by The Strokes. Carson has so deftly managed to replicate their sound, progression, and very identity into his tribute track to the iconic rock outfit for many in the 2000s. ‘Ode To The Strokes’ is sonically identical, and even in name perhaps has a secondary tribute to the latest album’s defining track ‘Ode To The Mets’.
But lyrically, the songs about Carson’s personal life. In particular, he drew inspiration from the moment his girlfriend of three years told him she was transferring to a college that was eight hours away. You can tell that he’s poured his heart and soul into each word, melody, and beat on this project. Ode to The Strokes is amazing because it’s its own track. Despite clear and heavy interpolation from the legends themselves, Carson finds a way to make it his own piece. Regardless, if you have a fleeting affection for The Strokes, you’d do yourself a favour by listening to Carson’s latest.
1. Serena Clara – Motherlove
The debut single from Serena Clara’s upcoming EP, ‘Motherlove’ is a dreamy concoction of ethereal and melancholic vocals alongside spacious production and walloping synths. The production is like a heartbeat, racing up and down and creating a series of ebbs and flows that allow for a rollercoaster experience in a single sub three minute journey.
The chorus in particular, which builds after an ominous synth based progression accompanied by nigh tribal beats is a cathartic and crashing crescendo that is as smooth as it is loaded with swagger. Serena’s utterance ‘when motherlove is dead’ sounds almost spiritual .Inspired by themes of trauma and growth, this single tells a powerful story about self-identity.
It’s an absolute ride of an electropop song that has as much meaning as it does power.
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