Features Archives - She Makes Music

Submission Spotlight

Helen Evans — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 16:00:00 +0000

This feature spotlights artists who have submitted their tracks/videos to She Makes Music. If you would like to be featured here then please send an e-mail to helen@shemakesmusic.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!

Female Genius

Experimental outfit Female Genius create hypnotic, vocal-driven music inspired by the spirit of late-’70s No Wave. Combining minimal bass loops with guitar, keyboards, percussion and free-form saxophone, their sound draws on the unconventional and confrontational qualities of outsider art. Featuring musicians with roots in underground groups including 3 Teens Kill 4, Live Skull and Missing Foundation, the band explore personal politics through their deliberately unconventional arrangements.

Taken from their album Jagged and Fractured, ‘Like a Stone’ confronts the disappearance of Indigenous women, women of colour, sex workers and women living in poverty across the United States. Vocalist Julie Hair draws attention to the thousands who go missing each year, many of whom receive little attention or investigation. Through the band’s stark, experimental approach, the track gives space to a subject too often overlooked.

Jagged and Fractured by FeMaLe GeNiuS

Harlow Reign

Melbourne singer-songwriter Harlow Reign blends dark pop with alternative rock, drawing inspiration from bands including Evanescence, Paramore and Killing Heidi. Her self-titled debut EP explores self-doubt, heartbreak, emotional struggles and the process of finding strength through difficult experiences.

Focus track ‘Save Me Now’ explores the battle against inner darkness and the overwhelming desire to escape it. Rather than focusing solely on those feelings of desperation, the song also acknowledges the persistent inner voice that refuses to give up. Combining emotionally direct songwriting with rock influences and contemporary pop production, Harlow captures the tension between wanting to surrender and finding the strength to keep moving forward.

Harlow Reign by Harlow Reign

Taylah Rose

Sydney singer-songwriter Taylah Rose writes about growing up, navigating relationships and learning not to settle for less than you deserve. Her latest single, ‘Boyfriend Material’, began as a conversation about her dating experiences before developing into a playful rejection of bare-minimum treatment.

Written alongside R&B artist and producer EMEREE, the track emerged from a discussion about queer and straight dating. Despite their different experiences, the pair realised they were ultimately searching for the same thing: somebody who genuinely makes the effort. Combining a driving bassline, R&B-inspired production and sharp pop lyricism, ‘Boyfriend Material’ celebrates raising your standards, regardless of who you’re dating.

Georgia Alexandra

British singer-songwriter Georgia Alexandra creates indie pop rooted in personal experiences, pairing emotionally direct lyrics with melodic hooks and guitar-driven arrangements. Her debut album marks a particularly independent chapter in her career, with Georgia creating almost the entire record herself, aside from contributions from friends on two backing tracks.

‘Did You Forget’ explores the painful realisation that somebody you love might not feel quite the same way about you. Written from the perspective of someone questioning whether their relationship ever meant as much to the other person, the track combines nostalgic 2010s pop influences with electric guitars and an emotionally charged vocal performance. At its centre is a simple but difficult question: did you forget what we had?

Cristina Peña

Spanish singer-songwriter Cristina Peña is based in London, creating music she describes as “vulnerable and honest but also complex and somewhat idiotic.” Drawing inspiration from artists including Samia, Phoebe Bridgers and Annie DiRusso, her songwriting combines emotional openness with a playful, unconventional approach.

The first single from her forthcoming EP, ‘Alien Song’ explores the experience of watching a friend fall in love with somebody already in a relationship and desperately wanting to escape his own circumstances. The track itself had an unusual journey, beginning with a few verses before Cristina lost direction and left it unfinished for several years. When she eventually returned to it, the remaining words came pouring out. What began as a simple acoustic folk song developed into something considerably stranger, with unusual sound effects, an otherworldly introduction and a nebulous bridge embracing the song’s alien theme.

Z.u.z

Swedish-Polish singer-songwriter Zuzanna Korba, performing as Z.u.z, introduces her solo songwriting with debut single ‘Hold On’. Written entirely by Zuzanna, the pop track explores the internal battle against self-doubt, fear and outside negativity, encouraging listeners to remain connected to their ambitions and sense of identity.

During recording, Zuzanna and backing vocalists Ebba Hagström, Johanna Johansson and Frida Nordh performed their vocal parts blindfolded, an unusual creative decision intended to prioritise emotion and intuition over appearance. The resulting track brings together powerful pop production and an underlying message about vulnerability, perseverance and continuing to pursue the things that matter, even when uncertainty threatens to take over.

Larkie

Seattle-based Asian-American alt-pop artist, songwriter and producer Larkie brings an unusually personal perspective to her music, drawing on her experiences as both a bereaved child and a grief therapist. Her songwriting frequently explores mental health, relationships and the complicated emotions surrounding loss.

On ‘Grief Comes In Waves’, Larkie reflects on losing her father and growing up without him, using the ocean as a metaphor for the changing nature of grief. The song moves between the devastation of realising he would never witness her milestones and the gradual process of learning to live alongside that absence. Set against danceable synth-pop production, it captures the contradiction of carrying profound sadness while still finding moments of hope and movement.

Lucy That Sings

South Wales independent singer-songwriter Lucy That Sings draws on decades of songwriting and live performance, creating music that places honest storytelling and personal connection above polished perfection. Her songs explore relationships and everyday experiences with a directness that reflects her preference for keeping music human.

‘Champagne By The Pool’ takes a particularly fed-up look at modern dating, inspired by Lucy’s experiences with people more invested in defending their own version of events than building a genuine connection. Rather than dwelling on those near misses, the song celebrates the satisfaction of leaving unsuitable relationships behind. Recorded with Red Chair and at Northhouse Studios, the track also features Lucy’s eldest child on drums, adding a personal touch to a song about knowing exactly who doesn’t belong in your life.

Champagne By The Pool by Lucy That Sings

IONA SKY

Cambridgeshire-based Anglo-American band IONA SKY combine pop and country storytelling with indie-rock influences, creating guitar-driven pop-rock built around atmospheric textures and emotive melodies. Formed in 2023, the five-piece bring together different musical backgrounds through their shared songwriting.

‘People Come and Go’ explores the bittersweet reality that relationships, experiences and circumstances are constantly changing. Balancing introspective verses with a driving, singalong chorus, the track reflects on how people enter and leave our lives and how even the most significant moments eventually become memories. Rather than resisting that inevitability, the song acknowledges both the sadness and beauty of life’s temporary connections.

People Come and Go by IONA SKY

CEDER

Swedish singer-songwriter and producer CEDER blends indie pop, indie folk and contemporary alternative pop, bringing together delicate acoustic instrumentation, warm production and emotionally reflective songwriting. Her music often explores vulnerability and everyday experiences, creating space for both melancholy and hope.

The title track from her latest EP, ‘As Long As We Dream’, introduces a lighter, more uplifting side to her sound without abandoning that emotional honesty. Layered harmonies, expressive vocals and cello details accompany a song about the freedom to keep dreaming, hoping and enjoying life. Balancing intimate acoustic textures with fuller pop production, the track celebrates holding on to possibility while finding pleasure in the present.

Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!

The post Submission Spotlight appeared first on She Makes Music.

Submission Spotlight

Helen Evans — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Alexa Kate

New York City pop artist Alexa Kate creates music rooted in emotional honesty, vulnerability and human connection. Her songwriting centres on the experiences that can leave people feeling isolated, with the hope of reminding listeners that somebody else understands what they’re going through. That same desire for connection extends beyond her music into the community she builds around it.

Her latest single, ‘good for long’, explores the unsettling feeling of waiting for something to go wrong, even when everything appears to be going right. It’s an exploration of the difficulty of fully enjoying happiness when part of you remains convinced it won’t last.

Alexia

Bergen-based independent artist Alexia combines dark electropop, alternative pop and club-driven electronic music, bringing together atmospheric production, pop melodies and darker electronic influences. Writing her own lyrics and taking an active role in her creative direction, she has developed a sound that draws from both contemporary pop and underground electronic music.

Taken from her EP Control, ‘God Complex’ explores the complicated relationship between confidence, insecurity and the pursuit of fame. Its energetic electronic production and club influences provide the backdrop for a song that examines the fine line between believing in yourself and becoming consumed by the desire for recognition.

Liv Dawn

Loch Lomond singer-songwriter Liv Dawn explores vulnerability, healing and the courage required to let somebody see every part of you on her latest single, ‘If We Make It’. Using the image of reaching a mountain summit together, the song reflects on everything two people might endure along the way and the hope of emerging stronger through their shared experiences.

Beginning as an intimate acoustic ballad with soft piano, delicate electric guitar and emotive vocals, the track takes an unexpected turn during its bridge. Drawing inspiration from ’70s rock, Liv introduces full-band instrumentation, driving drums and a guitar solo, transforming the song into an uplifting rock moment that also signals a developing musical direction.

Hunzz

North Wales queer-fronted five-piece Hunzz bring together funk, jazz and pop, combining smooth basslines, rhythmic guitar, keyboards and dynamic drums with saxophone, flute and layered vocal harmonies. Their music draws on classic influences while embracing the energy of contemporary pop.

Latest single ‘Slay’ was inspired by vocalist Rosie Hamilton’s experience of attending Tonnau music festival with her friends. Capturing the simple pleasure of dancing alongside people you love, the track celebrates stepping away from everyday responsibilities to enjoy music together. It’s a reminder of the connections that form on dancefloors and the importance of making time for those shared moments.

Zora Kirin

Berlin-based musician Zora Kirin returned to music with a particularly personal milestone: releasing her debut EP, The Bones Are Beautiful, on her 40th birthday. Having studied classical violin from childhood, she subsequently pursued writing, entrepreneurship and anthropology before finding her way back to music.

Describing her folk-inspired approach as “hopecore”, Zora explores the possibility of finding beauty without ignoring life’s difficulties. Focus track ‘Mulberry Tree’ approaches that philosophy from an unusual perspective: it’s a love song from beyond the grave. Rather than dwelling entirely on loss, the song encourages those left behind to continue seeking happiness. It reflects the central idea behind the EP: acknowledging life’s inevitable hardships while recognising that joy can still exist alongside them.

KEEP YA NOSE OUT

London alternative/electronic duo KEEP YA NOSE OUT combine punk attitude with an increasingly experimental approach to electronic music. Following their story-driven debut EP, the pair are moving towards a new chapter in which individual singles provide opportunities to explore different sounds and influences.

Their latest release, ‘YA DELETED’, takes aim at the patriarchy through a chaotic collision of jungle drums, distorted synth bass, punk guitars and furious shouted vocals, contrasted with R&B harmonies. Described by the duo as a diss track, the song channels its confrontational message into an energetic combination of genres, marking the beginning of a more experimental direction for the project.

Matilda Noe

Zurich songwriter Matilda Noe began writing music at nine, gradually accumulating hundreds of songs before deciding to release her first single, ‘Circle Line’. Recorded partly at home, with vocals captured inside a cupboard in her father’s music room, the track brings together atmospheric dream pop and intimate indie songwriting.

Built around just three chords, ‘Circle Line’ explores the frustrating experience of repeatedly missing what you actually wanted to say or do. Whether it’s hurting somebody when you meant to explain yourself or running away when you wanted to stay, the song captures the melancholy of feeling perpetually out of step with your own intentions and wondering why everybody else seems to get things right.

Circle Line by Matilda Noe

Cindy L. Chatwin

Utah-based songwriter and author Cindy L. Chatwin explores womanhood through vulnerability, identity, grief and generational strength on her album Beautifully Crazy. Combining soft rock, indie influences and poetic storytelling, the record examines the different emotional experiences women navigate throughout their lives.

Focus track ‘You Are a Warrior’ is dedicated to women carrying responsibilities, struggles and emotional burdens that often remain invisible to others. Rather than presenting resilience as an absence of difficulty, Cindy’s songwriting acknowledges exhaustion while recognising the strength required to continue through challenging circumstances. It’s a reminder that feeling worn down doesn’t diminish everything somebody has already overcome.

Psycho Jenny

North Kent’s Psycho Jenny are a women-powered alternative grunge band with a DIY approach to their music and visual identity. Having spent their early months developing their sound through live performances, the four-piece have chosen one of their earliest compositions to introduce themselves officially.

Debut single ‘Burn’ combines dirty basslines, grungy guitar riffs and raw, angst-filled vocals to explore rebellion against expectations and imposed standards. Written more than a year before its release, the track was selected because the band felt it captured the energy, sound and anger at the heart of Psycho Jenny. It’s an introduction built around the qualities they’ve been developing together onstage.

Cassidy Taylor

Independent artist Cassidy Taylor explores the disconnect between appearing sociable and feeling like you genuinely belong on her self-produced single, ‘Life of the Party’. Despite its upbeat, danceable sound, the song draws from a period when Cassidy felt she hadn’t yet found the people she truly connected with.

Written and recorded in Montreal, the track contrasts that loneliness with the happiness of eventually finding her community. In a particularly fitting detail, two of those friends – fellow artists Kirstin Corbett and Kyle Jensen – contribute backing vocals to the recording. Their involvement gives the song’s message an additional layer of meaning, turning a reflection on not belonging into something created alongside the very people who helped change that feeling.

Life of the Party by Cassidy Taylor

Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!

The post Submission Spotlight appeared first on She Makes Music.

Submission Spotlight

Helen Evans — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Ria del Mouro

Portuguese and São Toméan singer-songwriter, author and visual artist Ria del Mouro creates what she calls “Mermaid Pop”, combining pop with sounds inspired by the sea, water and nature. Based in Munich, her work moves between dark, seductive melodies and wider explorations of femininity, stigma and social expectations.

At the centre of Ria’s artistic world is the siren, which she uses as a symbol for women who have been misunderstood and vilified. Latest release ‘Mermaid Arcadia’ turns that idea towards embracing the parts of ourselves that might be considered whimsical or unconventional. Rather than treating difference as a weakness, the track celebrates finding strength within it – and the realisation that there are plenty of others swimming outside the mainstream alongside you.

Vanessa Moussa

Sydney-based vocalist, songwriter and vocal producer Vanessa Moussa blends indie folk with alternative blues influences. After years spent co-writing, producing and performing alongside other artists, her solo project gives Vanessa the opportunity to place her own voice, stories and musical influences firmly at the centre.

Taken from her self-titled EP, focus track ‘Come to Be’ captures the unexpected experience of finding love when you weren’t searching for it. Rather than questioning something simply because it wasn’t part of the plan, the song is about trusting the feeling when somebody unexpectedly fits into your life – that moment of realising you never went looking for them, but you’re very glad they arrived.

Vanessa Tottle

Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland electronic artist Vanessa Tottle creates dense, atmospheric music where industrial grit, trip-hop grooves and darkwave textures meet. Working with loop-driven instrumentation, heavy bass and evocative vocals, she builds immersive soundscapes rooted firmly in shadow and low frequencies.

‘Invisible Rose’ combines moody darkwave synths with downtempo trip-hop, but some of its most distinctive textures come from outside the studio. Vanessa incorporates field recordings captured at a Wellington hotel bar, including background conversation and the sounds of a cocktail being prepared. Woven into the track’s basslines and vocal layers, these everyday noises become part of its late-night atmosphere, grounding its electronic world within the sounds of a real place.

Invisible Rose by Vanessa Tottle Music

Eliane Nora

German singer-songwriter Eliane Nora creates music from her home in Lapland, Finland, combining indie pop with medieval and baroque-inspired elements. With electric ukulele at the forefront and cello also appearing throughout her recordings, her music looks towards the past while finding ways to move forward.

‘Horizon’ was written during a period of uncertainty, when Eliane found herself caught between countries and existing within an almost dreamlike state. The song captures the fear that can accompany stepping into the unknown, alongside the decision to move forward despite it. Bittersweet but ultimately hopeful, ‘Horizon’ is about recognising that certainty isn’t always necessary before choosing to take the next step.

Horizon by Eliane Nora

Imy Ellis

Independent pop artist Imy Ellis creates atmospheric songs shaped by relationships, film, television and the contrasting seasons of her East Coast upbringing. Her music draws on dark, dreary winters and fleeting bursts of summer, bringing those different moods into colourful and emotionally driven pop.

Second single ‘Clementine’ explores the familiar “manic pixie dream girl” trope and what happens when a real person becomes somebody else’s idealised romantic fantasy. Turning her attention towards the consequences of placing a partner on a pedestal, Imy looks beyond the appealing image to consider what happens when expectation and reality inevitably begin to separate.

Noam

London-based singer-songwriter Noam creates dreamy indie shaped by a life lived between cultures, weaving instruments including oud, kemence and darbuka into a contemporary sound that feels both nostalgic and rooted in the present.

‘Kiss from the Sun’ was written as the end of Noam’s visa approached, bringing uncertainty to the life and relationships she had built around her. Blending oud and 12-string guitar into a hazy summer atmosphere, the track reflects on the strange feeling of knowing something meaningful might not remain yours forever. Rather than allowing that uncertainty to consume the present, the song became a reminder to stop counting how much time might be left and experience it fully while it’s still there.

sadspacelord

Georgian independent singer-songwriter sadspacelord creates English-language alternative pop and indie rock with cinematic influences. Working entirely independently from a small studio in Georgia, she writes and develops the project herself, building the musical path she wants to pursue without a label, manager or team behind her.

Latest single ‘Plastic Star’ turns its attention towards artificial perfection and our attachment to carefully constructed illusions. Reflecting on appearances and consumer culture, the track considers what happens when something polished and seemingly flawless becomes an object of admiration despite having little substance underneath. It’s a song about looking beyond the perfectly manufactured surface and questioning what we’re actually being encouraged to value.

Caras Collateral

Caras Collateral began as a side project for members of touring hardcore band Set The Bar Low, giving them an opportunity to move in an entirely different creative direction. Drawing from bands including The Breeders, Cocteau Twins and Veruca Salt alongside contemporary influences, their sound brings together shoegaze, pop and grunge.

First new single in over a year, ‘solder’ marks a step forward for the band while exploring the unsettling feeling of being unable to trust your own nervous system. Vocalist Zoe Pankratz describes doing everything you’re supposedly meant to do yet still finding yourself unable to function properly. Against that vulnerability, the band build ear-catching riffs, hazy textures and a singalong chorus, establishing a clearer direction for where Caras Collateral are heading next.

solder by Caras Collateral

EMI

Sarajevo independent artist and classically trained pianist EMI creates alternative pop that combines organic instrumentation with modern electronic production. Taking a hands-on approach to writing and producing, her music occupies the space between intimate songwriting and expansive, cinematic soundscapes.

‘U Don’t Know’ explores the quieter frustration of feeling unseen by somebody within a relationship. Rather than approaching that disconnect through grand confrontation, EMI wraps the emotion in dreamy synths, organic textures and an intimate vocal performance, capturing the loneliness that can exist when somebody is physically close to you but doesn’t seem to truly understand what’s happening beneath the surface.

U don't know by EMI

Asteria Queen

Independent artist Asteria Queen begins her musical journey with debut single ‘A Quiet Voice’, creating songs from personal experiences and emotions in the hope that listeners might recognise something of themselves within them.

‘A Quiet Voice’ centres on those moments when you feel unheard or overlooked but something inside you continues quietly insisting that you shouldn’t give up. Turning that internal encouragement into music, Asteria explores finding strength without pretending difficult feelings aren’t there. At its heart, the track is about connection: taking something deeply personal and sharing it in the hope that somebody experiencing the same emotions might feel a little less alone.

Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!

The post Submission Spotlight appeared first on She Makes Music.

Submission Spotlight

Helen Evans — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Cosvar

Romanian trans artist, producer and singer Cosvar creates dark, alternative electronic music where spirituality, embodiment and queerness intersect. Balancing introspection with movement, their work explores identity, presence and transformation while creating something that can be experienced both emotionally and physically.

‘Stripper’ is the focus track from new album Exuvia, a project rooted in that same relationship between inner reflection and outward expression. With a simple message at its heart – “love yourself” – the track embodies Cosvar’s interest in self-awareness and acceptance while retaining the danceable energy running throughout their music.

Strawberry Punch

Winnipeg all-femme queer band Strawberry Punch blend the sweetness of ’60s girl-group pop with ’90s indie rock and riot grrrl garage punk. The four-piece rotate instruments during their live shows, bringing together shimmering guitars, four-part harmonies, raw energy and an ear for memorable pop hooks.

Closing their self-titled debut album, ‘Bathsheba’ begins in the territory of unrequited love and obsession before building towards an eruption of female rage. Drawing parallels with the biblical figure Bathsheba, the song considers the ways lust and desire have historically been used to villainise women, turning a haunting album finale into an exploration of blame, obsession and femininity.

Strawberry Punch by Strawberry Punch

Isla Mae

Based between Leeds and Cambridge, singer-songwriter Isla Mae moves freely between pop, indie, folk and jazz, using songwriting to transform both personal reflections and everyday observations into stories. Her latest work continues that genre-fluid approach while returning to the fictional storytelling she explored on her first EP.

Self-recorded and produced by Isla, ‘Round and Round’ observes the kind of relationship where two people seem unable to stop finding their way back to each other. Blending pop with folk, jazz, soul and R&B influences, the track looks at the repetitive pull between a couple whose story never quite seems to reach its ending.

Facelift

Sydney pop-punk band Facelift grew from vocalist and songwriter Sarah Bonnet’s desire to recapture the community she remembered from the city’s pre-COVID scene – house shows, record-store gigs and friends simply getting together to play energetic music. Joined by Marty Cornford, Tahlia McLennan and Joshua Mackay, Facelift bring that DIY spirit into everything they create.

Debut single ‘Ceiling Fan’ explores feeling trapped while everyone around you appears to be moving forward. Sarah began writing the song during an earlier period of stagnation, only to find its meaning resurfacing years later as her long-term band ended and other parts of her life shifted. Forming Facelift and finally releasing the song became her own first step towards moving on.

Shy Blossom

Southwest Florida indie alternative band Shy Blossom blend rock, folk and pop into atmospheric music made for self-described deep feelers, overthinkers and hopeless romantics. Fronted by singer Adriana McDonald alongside bassist Nicole Alberti and drummer Julie Copithorn, the band centre emotionally raw songwriting within a cinematic alt-rock sound.

Written during the isolation of COVID, ‘Eternity’ was the first song Adriana ever wrote on guitar and eventually became the foundation of Shy Blossom itself. Exploring loneliness, reflection and the search for connection through atmospheric instrumentation and vulnerable vocals, the track now introduces the band’s next musical chapter – and marks the first Shy Blossom song created with a producer.

Ragnara

British-based cinematic pop artist and songwriter Ragnara blends contemporary production with orchestral textures and subtle folk influences. Her songwriting explores the ways people process emotion through memory, symbolism and the stories they construct around themselves.

Dark-pop single ‘Afterlife’ began with its opening synth before developing into a cinematic exploration of desire, illusion and the unknown. Its protagonist enters a world that resembles a film set, where everything feels staged, while questioning whether she has found the afterlife she imagined or something altogether darker. Rather than offering an answer, the track sits within the uncertainty between surrender and self-preservation, questioning whether what we desire is always what we actually need.

Amy Aytchi

Glasgow independent artist Amy Aytchi builds her forthcoming album around an ambitious narrative: an overwhelmed young woman runs into a storm, is struck by lightning and develops a mysterious illness called cyclosis, forcing her to revisit buried trauma as she gradually transforms into a tornado that unleashes itself upon her town’s wrongdoers.

‘Young Girl’ explores the difficult transition from childhood into womanhood and the realisation that, despite remaining fundamentally the same person, others begin to perceive you differently. Inspired by Amy’s childhood relationship with her great-grandfather – when gender roles felt largely absent from their time together – the track reflects on growing older, changing expectations and the eventual distance that developed between them.

Nordly

Swedish/Danish duo Nordly turn towards their most personal story on latest single ‘LEO’, written directly to their son Leonel. The track captures the collision between intense anxiety and overwhelming love that accompanied their journey towards becoming parents.

After receiving confusing and unclear information from healthcare professionals during pregnancy, the couple found themselves navigating a period filled with uncertainty and worry. Those emotions fed directly into ‘LEO’, alongside the profound connection they already felt with their unborn son. Rather than smoothing over the difficult parts of the experience, the track holds fear and love alongside one another, ultimately celebrating the strength and life that emerged from such an uncertain time.

Claudia Tripp

Originally from Kalgoorlie and now based in Perth, singer-songwriter Claudia Tripp brings contemporary pop production together with country storytelling. Having begun writing songs as a child, she continues to centre emotionally recognisable experiences within her country-pop sound.

‘High Stakes’ explores the gamble involved in opening yourself up to love when you know exactly how much it could hurt if everything falls apart. The central lyric – “loving you is high stakes” – came to Claudia during her early days in Nashville and became the starting point for a song about vulnerability, excitement and deciding that some emotional risks are still worth taking.

daschan

London-based artist, songwriter and producer daschan creates ethereal alternative pop built around atmospheric production, layered vocals and introspective storytelling. Her work explores presence, memory, heartbreak and the ways our minds can become caught between what has already happened and what might happen next.

Written in Kazakhstan while daschan was ending a relationship, ‘time’ initially felt like a message of strength intended for somebody else. Looking back, she realised she had written the reminder for herself. Inspired by ideas around living in the present, the track reflects on the tendency to become lost in past pain or future anxieties while overlooking the beauty that exists now, turning heartbreak into a meditation on gratitude, presence and emotional renewal.

Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!

The post Submission Spotlight appeared first on She Makes Music.

TRACK BY TRACK: Horror Movie by Molly Willis

Helen Evans — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Molly Willis is a UK-based singer-songwriter who has spent the last six years transforming the madness and isolation of the early 2020s into her dreamy, horror-inspired debut album.

Horror Movie, an indie-rock and dreampop record that evokes Julee Cruise, Lana Del Rey and Marianne Faithfull, has been an intensive deep-dive into the history and philosophy of the horror genre, and an act of emotional alchemy distilling bipolar disorder and psychosis into something that feels appropriately wide-ranging yet cohesive.

“I confess I wasn’t a big horror nerd before I wrote this album, but after I’d written the title track, I realised I had the beginnings of an album. I spent the next several years educating myself on horror—I did mega-binges of 25 movies in a weekend sometimes, watching giallo, Hammer Horror, 90s slashers, 50s B-movies, and trippy, queer vampire movies from the 70s.”

“The track listing is designed to take you from the edges of the story right into the centre. People with psychosis can seem really normal at first. It starts with a crush, then it descends into something much darker going on. I’m very conscious that I’ve portrayed myself as the villain of my own story, and making this album has been a reckoning with the ways in which I contribute to my own disorder.”

We asked Molly to do an in depth track by track breakdown of Horror Movie for us. Read it below.

Groovy

The album opens with ‘Groovy’—a “psychedelic doo-wop ballad” about wanting someone you know you can’t have, but deciding to enjoy the fantasy of them anyway. ‘Groovy’ is romance with self-awareness. Crushes often come layered with shame, or with a feeling that you don’t have a right to feel the way you do, but here, the desire and fantasy is laid out un-selfconsciously, with several nods to the unreality of it all.

You’ve Been On My Mind

‘You’ve Been On My Mind’—produced almost entirely by Willis herself—arrives as a confession. The stripped-back production, consisting only of synths, some jazzy inversions on electric guitar and layered harmonies as the main vocal is deeply evocative of Lynchian soundtracks and Julee Cruise’s seminal Floating Into The Night. It carries the dreaminess of the opener, with a quieter vulnerability.

In theory, the story could’ve ended here. The truth has been spoken. But, as the album unfolds, it becomes clear that the romance and the fantasy are a red herring. The person who’s been on the narrator’s mind is just a distraction.

Hypocentre

‘Hypocentre’ represents a sharp left turn in the album. The listener has been lured into a false sense of security with soft, dreamy production and here, the alternative, desert rock sound leaps into the world of Horror Movie. Here, the lyrical content shifts to darker, more self-destructive material.

“I’m getting bored now, entertain me” is snarled at the listener, before the chorus talks of “never feeling better” than when isolated and “dying young or living dead”—the first of several obvious nods to famous horror films peppered throughout the album’s lyrics (this time to George A. Romero’s 1968 masterpiece Night of the Living Dead).

The production feels like a mash-up between Khruangbin and a Josh Homme side-project, with a riff that could get indie rock festival crowds chanting under any weather.

Horror Movie

The title track is the transition point between the album’s narrator directing her mania at others and towards her beginning to look inward. In the chorus, she declares that “you scare me more than a horror movie”, but it’s not clear if she’s talking, at this point, towards the lover of the first few songs, or about the face in the mirror.

The song is a mid-tempo indie rock ballad whose production ticks along between organic guitars and drums and tracks that are intentionally designed to sound programmed, before it swells into a guitar solo that feels like you’re being swept up in the fear and fantasy the song discusses. The whole thing feels like teetering on the edge between lucidity and madness, romance and obsession, reality and unreality.

Like A Lady

Every album needs that one song to act as an anthem. On Horror Movie, ‘Like a Lady’ is that song. A searing, satirical, and sad take on experiencing class difference while suffering with mental ill health during the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘Like a Lady’’s verses paint a picture of insecurity and envy. “Why d’you set me up like I’m a joke?” and “I want to be easy to love”. The song speaks of building dreams on fragile foundations, but reaching for the stars anyways, knowing the Earth beneath her could crack.

The chorus erupts into the fantasy itself: if I were privileged, would I have no worries at all? Of course, the thing about envy is that it flattens the subject of that envy to its most simplistic version. There would probably still be worries. But this track is something of a companion piece to ‘Groovy’ in that, for a second, it asks: “Who cares? Let me dream.”.

Older Eyes

‘Older Eyes’ is an abrupt but necessary comedown from the heights of ‘Like a Lady’. The latter’s glittering synths and pounding 80s drums are stripped back to just an acoustic guitar, a vocal, and the occasional glint of piano keys or hum of some strings. ‘Older Eyes’ is a lullaby-of-sorts. It unpacks a relationship that was both formative and toxic, where someone who was supposed to take care of you neglected or betrayed you, and you didn’t even realise until much later. What do you do with that pain then? Is it even worth talking about? The song seems to think not. But its existence seems to disagree.

What Kind Of Woman

With ‘What Kind of Woman’, we get another moment of the pain and darkness fuelling this whole project being directed outward. This time, it’s about gender.

Written in the shadow of a million social and physical media trends asking girls and women which pre-defined archetype of femininity they belong to and many, many years of experiencing and witnessing violence only to be told to cover it up with prettiness, ‘What Kind of Woman’ rages against the entire concept that womanhood can be defined.

The distorted guitars evoke contemporary indie rockers like Blondshell and Mitski, and their forebears Hole, Liz Phair, and the riot grrrl movement, and the vocal is designed to cut right through like a punch, before exploding into a wail: “What kind of woman am I?”. It’s a question no one has an answer to, and this song won’t let you forget it.

I’m A Liar

‘I’m a Liar’ is an interesting follow-up to a song whose central question is: “What kind of woman am I?”. Is ‘I’m a Liar’ the answer?

Maybe. Mostly, it’s a Grouper-inspired ambient indie track about self-reflection and accountability. The lyrics list all the ways a person might contribute to their own downfall, from indulging too many racing thoughts, to doing too many drugs, to believing that new age philosophy alone can rescue you. Like ‘You’ve Been On My Mind’, it feels like a confession, and like the album coming full circle on itself on a much deeper level.

Escape Routes

And, suddenly, after all that… it’s time to party. Horror Movie does its listener the service of not offering any concluding wisdom to the journey they’ve just been on. There are none, and to provide some would be trite. Instead, ‘Escape Routes’ mines italo disco and Prince to ironically celebrate the same escapism that started this whole mess in the first place. Positioned as the final song, it could feel like either self-forgiveness or the cycle starting all over again. Could it possibly be both?

Horror Movie by Molly Willis

The post TRACK BY TRACK: Horror Movie by Molly Willis appeared first on She Makes Music.

Submission Spotlight

Helen Evans — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 19:09:46 +0000

lagaiaff

Based in Madrid, Italian-Spanish artist and performer Lagaiaff creates alternative pop that moves between electronic sounds and three languages: Spanish, Italian and English. Her music embraces the different sides of her identity while leaving plenty of room for instinct and experimentation.

Latest single ‘guai’ was written during Lagaiaff’s time in Spain as she began caring less about how other people perceived her and focusing instead on experiencing life, having fun and following her instincts. Energetic and deliberately a little chaotic, the track is ultimately about embracing the unexpected parts of yourself rather than trying to keep them contained.

særa

Budapest-based singer-songwriter særa blends atmospheric, spacey indie-pop with an ’80s flavour and intimate storytelling across French, English and Hungarian. Her three-track EP Embarquement Nécessaire explores one-sided relationships, situationships, emotional abandonment and break-ups through dream pop and alternative electronic sounds.

‘L’Aéroport’ captures the confusion of a completely unexpected breakup through the metaphor of an airport. One person suddenly doesn’t follow the other through security, leaving no opportunity to turn back or make sense of what has happened – only the need to keep moving forward. Despite its painful inspiration, særa packages the experience into something altogether funkier: music for dancing while crying, or simply dancing.

Take Four

Sheffield four-piece Take Four bring together soul, funk, blues, R&B and jazz, drawing inspiration from both classic and contemporary artists. Initially brought together through a mutual friend and a shared love of music, the band’s early cover sessions gradually developed into writing original material together.

‘Red Dress’ explores the contradiction between wanting freedom from other people’s expectations while still craving their admiration and approval. Drawn from several personal experiences, the red dress itself becomes a symbol of endings, beginnings and dreams – looking back at the past while imagining a future that has yet to arrive, and recognising how easily the present can disappear between the two.

Red Dress by Take Four

Reva K

Musician, producer and graphic designer Reva K blends ’90s-influenced pop-rock with melodic guitars, hook-driven songwriting and a distinctly DIY approach. Written and produced entirely by Reva, debut album Welcome to 20 Something captures the contradictions of young adulthood through humour, honesty and introspection.

Focus track ‘In Too Deep’ reflects on toxic relationships and the patterns that can become clearer only once you’ve escaped them. Looking back can bring uncomfortable questions about how warning signs were missed, but Reva rejects the idea that vulnerability makes somebody foolish. Instead, the track recognises how pain can leave a person open to somebody willing to take advantage of it.

Godarxk

South Korean artist Godarxk creates bossa nova and jazz-inspired indie-pop with a playful approach to storytelling. Latest single ‘San-Check’ takes its title from a wordplay on the Korean word san-chaek, meaning “a walk”, combining san – mountain – with the idea of checking in with yourself.

The song was inspired by the image of a dog so enthusiastic about going for a walk that it grabs its own leash and confidently heads out into the world. Beneath the humour is a simple reminder that life doesn’t always need to be completely figured out. Sometimes taking a breath, checking in with yourself and simply going for a walk is enough.

Mallow Avenue

Mallow Avenue is the project of Bristol songwriter and producer Phoenix, whose music draws from folk, psychedelia, jazz and pop. After stepping away from music partly because of the pressures and expectations surrounding women getting older, she is returning at 31 with a renewed determination to share the songs she wants to make.

‘All of Our Luck’ is a folky chamber-pop track featuring a violin rescued from Phoenix’s wardrobe after years without being played. The song explores those difficult but necessary conversations that sometimes have to happen within a relationship, marking both a musical return and a reminder that there is no expiry date on creativity.

Greazy G

Estonian solo artist Greazy G brings the high-energy world of Phonk out of the DJ booth and into a performance-led live setting. With a background in dance, she combines dark, fast-paced electronic sounds with movement and an emphasis on the physical energy shared between artist and audience.

Latest single ’12’ continues that approach, rooted in the driving Phonk sound at the centre of Greazy G’s musical identity. Built for movement and high-energy environments, the track reflects an artist interested in treating electronic music not simply as something to play, but something to perform.

Gretchin

London indie-pop singer-songwriter Gretchin takes a detour into country-pop on latest single ‘Cowboy’, written and produced alongside her brother Joe Hamberger. Inspired by the likes of Shania Twain and Ella Langley, the song began after a night at a buck and bull – and Gretchin’s own experience of dating a cowboy. A London-based one, admittedly.

Part breakup anthem and part imaginary final comeback, ‘Cowboy’ gives Gretchin the opportunity to say everything she didn’t manage to say at the time. Like replaying an argument in the shower and suddenly discovering the perfect cutting response hours too late, the track turns heartbreak and a bruised ego into something playful, empowering and made to be danced to.

Tashi Tashi

Berlin-based DJ and producer Tashi Tashi creates high-energy, groove-driven techno built around rolling bass, sharp percussion and a vivid sense of momentum. Her music balances funk and grit with a measured but forceful approach designed firmly with movement in mind.

Latest release ‘Cvnty Bells’ takes that energy into slower and more seductive territory. Drawing on Tashi Tashi’s love of hypnotic sounds and acid, the track settles into a persistent groove built to linger long after its final beat.

Cvnty Bells by Tashi Tashi

Sapling

Based between Providence and Worcester, Sapling describe themselves as a “bitchpop and art rock” band, combining pop hooks with experimental chaos, complex instrumentation and a sense of humour that refuses to take itself too seriously.

‘No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service’ began with a deceptively simple riff that proved surprisingly difficult to finish before a full horn section helped transform its direction. The resulting summer song – there are bongos, so naturally it qualifies – is about being thoroughly sick of dealing with your own problems but still having to get up and continue with the day. All proceeds from the track will be donated to New England Justice For Our Neighbors, which provides free legal support to immigrants seeking humanitarian visas in Massachusetts.

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service by Sapling & Friends

Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!

The post Submission Spotlight appeared first on She Makes Music.

Submission Spotlight

Helen Evans — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Maisie Jean

Self-produced experimental pop artist Maisie Jean pairs scathing lyricism and raw emotional delivery with ambient electronic soundscapes. Her second album, No Gear, All Idea, explores identity, independence and navigating the creative process as a young woman, mixing melodrama and female rage with a sharp sense of wit.

Focus track ‘Cowboy’ puts Maisie’s own spin on country music within her signature electronic world. Inspired by an ex who considered himself a free-spirited rebel but treated her badly, the song found its final spark when he unexpectedly appeared at one of her shows after their breakup – wearing a cowboy hat. The absurd encounter gave Maisie both a good laugh and inspiration for some of her favourite lyrics.

Ryn-Ro

London singer-songwriter and guitarist Ryn-Ro has been playing guitar since the age of seven, alongside a lifelong love of singing, writing and performing. Now beginning to establish her own musical identity, she combines guitar-led songwriting with the sounds and emotions that excite her as a young artist.

‘Wipe Your Tears’ explores what happens when distance suddenly separates you from somebody close to you. Reflecting on missing someone, adapting to change and trying to preserve a connection when circumstances have shifted, the track balances its emotional subject with an underlying sense of energy.

Emily Coupe

Australian-born, Los Angeles-based pop artist Emily Coupe has been immersed in music since childhood, beginning with violin at the age of five before developing her own path as a singer-songwriter.

Latest single ‘Firefly’ finds Emily embracing a sultry, Latin-tinged strand of pop, creating a track made for warm evenings and summer drives. Sitting within a contemporary pop world while introducing rhythmic Latin influences, the song offers a vibrant introduction to Emily’s current sound.

.ivy

Electronic artist .ivy brings her classical vocal training into the art-pop world, creating ethereal compositions built around atmospheric electronic production and introspective lyricism. Her music is designed as a dreamlike escape, blurring the boundaries between the everyday world and something altogether more otherworldly.

Upbeat alternative pop track ‘be my angel’ turns its attention towards the digital world and the increasingly uncertain relationship between online spaces and reality. Exploring how technology can blur and distort our perceptions, the track places a distinctly modern concern within .ivy’s immersive electronic soundscape.

Flame

Edinburgh-based band Flame weave grunge, shoegaze, folk and funk through heartfelt songwriting and textured melodies. Since forming in 2024, the band have developed their sound through the Scottish live scene, transforming individual musical ideas into something shaped by their collective chemistry.

Latest single ‘Heat’ is a remastered and reimagined track that originally began as part of a solo project. Recorded live in an Edinburgh rehearsal studio, its new incarnation reflects the transition from solo creation to full-band collaboration, expanding its alternative folk and rock foundations into something musically and emotionally bigger. Vibrant guitars and powerful vocals accompany a song centred on passion, yearning and transformation.

Amelie Davie

Melbourne singer-songwriter Amelie Davie draws inspiration from the changing experiences of everyday life, transforming personal moments into songs she hopes listeners can recognise within their own stories.

‘wishbone’ was inspired by a long-distance relationship and written after Amelie learned that her then-partner would be moving away. Her uncertainty over whether she was worth the effort required to maintain the relationship becomes symbolised by a nine-hour drive, while the central wishbone motif carries a more poignant meaning: something has to break before a wish can be made. Featuring spoken audio from the former partner who inspired the song, ‘wishbone’ captures both a relationship and a version of herself beginning to fall apart.

Josie Oliver

Singer-songwriter Josie Oliver enters a new musical chapter with ‘killing flies’, a track created between her bedroom and Hook Studios in the Oxfordshire countryside. Drawing together organic instrumentation and textured electronic elements, the single explores the uncomfortable space where heartbreak has not quite happened yet, but already feels inevitable.

The song began at the end of a summer as Josie noticed the small, quiet signs that her relationship wasn’t going to survive – much like the flies disappearing from the kitchen around her. Beginning as an intimate guitar-led confession before expanding into percussion, swelling guitars and fractured synthetic textures, ‘killing flies’ mirrors the constant movement between comfort and pain that accompanies a relationship beginning to collapse.

April Day

Bay Area indie-rock artist April Day began exploring her own songwriting after previously performing in a cover band in Arizona. Having spent years immersed in different genres and live music, debut single ‘Floater’ marks the beginning of a more personal creative chapter.

Written while April was overwhelmed by decisions and the unavoidable changes that come with growing older, ‘Floater’ explores avoidance, vulnerability and resistance to change. Inspired by her own experience of moving to the Bay Area and struggling to confront a new reality, the song recognises that escaping difficult circumstances can only work for so long. Eventually, as its central metaphor suggests, the waves will catch up with you.

Floater by April Day

Liv Margaret

Nashville independent pop-rock artist Liv Margaret uses bold songwriting and powerhouse vocals to question the unspoken rules of modern culture. Across her music, she examines internet fame, algorithms, perfection and the pressure to perform a particular version of yourself for the outside world.

‘Fake It’ tackles the expectation to project a flawless life, inspired by Liv’s frustration at watching people exaggerate their success – and recognising the temptation to do exactly the same. Pairing driving guitars and modern pop production with a classic rock attitude, the track pushes back against performance culture and makes the case for choosing authenticity over appearances.

Stormy-Lou

Kaurna/Adelaide pop-punk outfit Stormy-Lou revisit their own past on ‘OLDER’, breathing new life into a song that first appeared in their live sets back in 2021. Now a five-piece, the dual-fronted band combine Alex Taylor’s post-punk vocals with Mik Stoker’s dynamic harmonies as they return to their playful pop-punk roots.

Originally written at the apparently “ancient” age of 19, ‘OLDER’ looks back at teenage life while considering how our priorities and understanding of ourselves shift as we grow. Reworked five years later with more energy and a distinctly mid-twenties perspective, the track balances nostalgia with the recognition that growing up doesn’t mean abandoning the joy of who you used to be. Think bikes, sleepovers, back aches and coming-of-age movie energy.

Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!

The post Submission Spotlight appeared first on She Makes Music.

Submission Spotlight

Helen Evans — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:02:58 +0000

Lynds

Leith-based solo artist Lynds describes her music as “folk-grunge lullabies”, combining velvety vocal melodies with witty, emotionally honest lyricism. Drawing inspiration from artists including CMAT, Olivia Dean and Carole King, she brings together softness and grit in her distinctive songwriting style.

Debut single ‘State of Stability’ explores living with bipolar disorder and the fluctuating realities of mental health. Through a deeply personal perspective, the track introduces an artist willing to turn difficult experiences into open and relatable songwriting.

State of Stability by Lynds

Miila Mor

London-based indie artist Miila Mor creates dreamy, atmospheric music that moves between indie-pop, ambient electronica and alternative soul. Inspired by artists including Mazzy Star, The xx, Elder Island and Beach House, her sound pairs intimate songwriting with hazy synths and textured production.

Latest single ‘Where The Edges Are’ explores the blurred space between uncertainty and desire. Capturing the feeling of being drawn towards something while simultaneously questioning where its boundaries lie, the synth-driven track wraps emotional ambiguity in a dreamy, late-summer atmosphere.

Maddie Nisbet

Originally from a small town in Fife and now based in Glasgow, 20-year-old singer-songwriter Maddie Nisbet uses music to make sense of the contradictions and complexities of growing up. Her songs embrace the dramatic, messy and occasionally tongue-in-cheek while remaining rooted in emotional honesty.

Indie-pop single ‘Death of the Radio’ explores the pressure to conform to expectations that were never truly your own. Examining the ways femininity can shape identity and self-worth, the track ultimately finds freedom in rejecting impossible standards and defining yourself on your own terms.

Jasper Jones

Based between New York City and Boston, non-binary artist and film composer Jasper Jones explores the spaces between darkness, vulnerability and hope on debut EP Shadoweaver. The project reflects on sitting within the shadows of love while slowly recognising that light may eventually find its way through.

‘Body’ examines the complicated experience of rediscovering physical intimacy following sexual trauma. Contrasting moments of pleasure with numbness and memories held within the body, the track captures the difficulty of remaining present when the past continues to intrude, approaching a deeply sensitive subject with openness and honesty.

Shadoweaver: 1 Year Anniversary Edition by Jasper Jones

Marine Medina

Pop singer, songwriter and performer Marine Medina brings an expressive, powerful vocal style to ‘Nobody to Fight’, a collaboration with Shambalia that explores the emotional confusion left behind by the end of a relationship.

Written following a breakup, the track centres on the strange contradiction of remaining emotionally affected by someone who has become almost unrecognisable to you. When the connection itself has disappeared, there is ultimately no relationship left to save – and nobody left to fight.

Longwinded

Los Angeles alt-rock band Longwinded combine heavier guitar-driven sounds with an instinct for infectious pop melodies. Made up of Cat on vocals, Matt on guitar, Gekko on bass and Michael on drums, the quartet explore emotionally complicated experiences without disguising their messier edges.

Latest single ‘Color Me Mine’ confronts the painful dissolution of a lifelong friendship and the jealousy that can surface when two lives begin moving in different directions. What began as a joke lyric evolved into a deeply personal exploration of anger, shame and the uncomfortable experience of watching somebody else flourish while feeling left behind.

fiig

Queer folk artist Fiig creates music rooted in personal experience, mental health and a desire to build a world where listeners can feel safe and seen. Drawing inspiration from artists including Billie Marten, The Paper Kites and Laura Marling, their songwriting isn’t afraid to turn towards subjects that can be difficult to confront.

Third single ‘Guinea Pig’, taken from Fiig’s debut EP, examines capitalism, overconsumption and their impact on community and the planet. Inspired in part by Shania Twain’s socially conscious ‘Ka-Ching!’, the track pairs thought-provoking lyricism with instrumentation that creates an almost siren-like pull around its message.

Karina Caulfield

Leith/Edinburgh-based indie artist Karina Caulfield blends dream pop and folk with touches of jazz, drawing inspiration from artists including Lunar Vacation, Alice Phoebe Lou and Mac DeMarco.

Latest single ‘Moonflower Dreams’ pairs jazz-influenced chords and funky guitars with soft vocals to create a warm, whimsical soundscape. Inspired by long Scottish summer days, the track explores nostalgia, escapism and those carefree moments that seem to exist outside the usual passing of time.

Bora Bora

Athens-based femme rock band Bora Bora bring together energetic riffs, powerful vocals and experimentation while exploring the wide spectrum of feminine experience. Made up of Faye Pappa, Aspasia Theodorou, Emilia Koulouri and Christina Koukouli, the quartet embrace sorrow, lust, anger and everything in between without apology.

Taking its title from a word meaning fake, phony or meaningless, ‘Fugazi’ examines the emptiness beneath everyday gratification. The track reflects on our attraction to cheap thrills and constant pursuit of fulfilment, questioning why those temporary pleasures can ultimately leave us feeling more disconnected than before.

Fugazi by Bora Bora

LEEA CLEM

Leea Clem is the stage name of 21-year-old Bari artist Giulia Clemente, a singer-songwriter creating music in both Italian and English. Blending dark pop with R&B and electronic influences, she enters a new era with greater creative freedom and a sound that more fully represents the artist she is today.

Her first release as a completely independent artist, ‘close to u’ combines dark pop, UK garage and R&B, balancing emotional intimacy with danceable production. Exploring how the presence of the right person can pull you from a downward spiral and make everything feel a little lighter, the track marks the beginning of a new chapter entirely on Leea’s own terms.

close to u by LEEA CLEM

Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!

The post Submission Spotlight appeared first on She Makes Music.

Submission Spotlight

Helen Evans — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 18:46:16 +0000

Benedetta

Sardinian singer-songwriter and producer Benedetta creates deeply personal music shaped by an independent approach to her craft. Following her self-produced debut album Dynamic Trees and a series of collaborations, she joins forces with producer Mudbard for latest single ‘Sacrifice’.

Written and performed by Benedetta and composed and produced by Mudbard, the track explores the painful consequences of giving yourself completely to another person through fear of losing their love. Turning an intimate experience into something universal, ‘Sacrifice’ reflects on self-abandonment, emotional dependence and the quiet hurt that can follow when love comes at the expense of yourself.

Sacrifice by Mudbard, Benedetta

Elysia Jade

Portsmouth artist Elysia Jade enters a new chapter with latest single ‘Maybe’. After successfully auditioning to perform at her local Pride event in 2025, she was selected for a year-long mentoring programme with Big Hug Music Management and Portsmouth Guildhall, giving her the opportunity to redefine her sound and introduce the artist she is today.

‘Maybe’ captures the excitement and joy of the early stages of a relationship, embracing feel-good songwriting and an infectious singalong spirit. Written as Elysia began moving away from the music she created as a teenager, the track marks an important step forward in her evolving musical identity.

SteinZ

Montreal-based independent artist SteinZ usually operates within the world of alternative hip-hop and rap, drawing on an experimental approach to genre and self-expression. Latest single ‘ZIGZAG’, however, sees her taking an unexpected detour into punk.

Combining high-energy production with a playful sense of humour, ‘ZIGZAG’ tackles financial empowerment with plenty of attitude and personality. It’s a spirited change of direction that shows an artist unafraid to step outside her usual sound and have some fun in the process.

ZIGZAG by SteinZ

Alfred Be Loud

Boston indie rock band Alfred Be Loud channel the fuzz, distortion and irresistible hooks of ’90s alternative rock into their new debut EP Heavy. Drawing inspiration from artists including Liz Phair, Sleater-Kinney and Veruca Salt, the band pair guitar-driven energy with emotionally honest songwriting.

Focus track ‘Bright Blue’ turns anxiety into an upbeat and energetic indie rock anthem. Described as an ode to the worries hidden behind the smile presented to the outside world, the track captures the disconnect between how we appear and what might really be happening beneath the surface.

Naoise

Finglas, Dublin songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Naoise creates intense, soulful rock built around huge drums, crunchy tones and uncompromising honesty. As a queer independent artist, they use their music as a platform for expressing ideas with little interest in softening the message.

Latest single ‘No One Should Be A Billionaire’ is exactly as direct as its title suggests. Driven by anger at extreme wealth inequality and the human consequences of greed and oppression, the track channels political frustration into a fierce call for change.

No One Should Be A Billionaire by Naoise

Beth Sarah

UK singer-songwriter Beth Sarah creates emotionally driven music that transforms personal experiences into universal stories of connection, resilience and vulnerability. Her latest single ‘The Same Moon (Red Lights)’ offers a glimpse into forthcoming 2027 album Almost.

Inspired by those quiet pauses in life when everything seems temporarily suspended, the track explores distance, longing and the experience of being almost—but not quite—where you want to be. Using the image of the same moon shining over two separate lives, Beth finds beauty and hope within the waiting.

The Genes

Coventry four-piece The Genes combine punk energy, catchy songwriting and a fiercely DIY ethos, fronted by South Asian vocalist Pav Rai. Having appeared at Decolonise Fest and shared stages with artists including Masterpeace, Hyphen and Dogviolet, the band are steadily making their mark on the grassroots scene.

High-energy punk anthem ‘Charlotte’ is a wonderfully British love letter to an unlikely hero: the Ford Transit. Inspired by DIY touring, late-night motorway journeys and the battered vans that somehow survive gig after gig, the track celebrates the humble workhorse that has kept generations of independent bands on the road.

Charlotte by The Genes

M. Roomie

Raleigh, North Carolina indie-alt rock band M. Roomie are led by Aubrey Claire Kruszka and Jessi Krauss Verrill, whose intertwined vocal harmonies sit alongside layered guitars, cryptic lyricism and infectious melodies. Drawing inspiration from artists including Slow Pulp, Soccer Mommy and boygenius, the band create songs that balance nostalgia with their own distinctive character.

Latest single ‘Crybaby’ turns hurt feelings between the band’s two lead singers into an exaggerated and playful tale of self-pity. Leaning into early-2000s girl-rock energy, the track pairs its tongue-in-cheek premise with a summery sound made for blasting from the car with the windows down.

Crybaby by M. Roomie

Franzine

Artist, DJ and producer Franzine creates high-impact electronic music that brings together techno, electroclash and cinematic textures within a charged, cyberpunk-inspired world. Her latest project, ‘Rebels in Rhythm’, was created within London’s queer community as a celebration of identity, expression and collective resistance.

Responding to growing political and cultural pressures facing marginalised communities, the track embraces creativity as an act of protest. Accompanied by visuals featuring queer artists, performers and creatives, ‘Rebels in Rhythm’ channels the defiant energy of queer nightlife into a declaration of authenticity, community and the right to take up space.

Rebels in Rhythm by Franzine

Amaranth

Los Angeles alt-rock band Amaranth are an all-queer, non-binary-fronted outfit combining grungy instrumentation with emotionally raw storytelling. Their latest single ‘Rabbit Hole’ emerged during the final moments of a late-night jam session and signals the beginning of a new sonic direction for the band.

Exploring the deep heartbreak of losing a close friendship, the track moves through despair, denial and sorrow against a syncopated rhythm inspired by the frantic movement of a rabbit through the undergrowth. Building towards an aching half-time outro, ‘Rabbit Hole’ offers the first glimpse of a sound Amaranth plan to explore further on their forthcoming 2027 album.

Rabbit Hole by Amaranth

Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!

The post Submission Spotlight appeared first on She Makes Music.

Submissions

Helen Evans — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 20:08:47 +0000

mia van de loo

Nashville-based indie folk-pop artist mia van de loo creates heartfelt songs exploring identity, belonging and the universal search for connection. Through intimate storytelling and understated arrangements, she invites listeners into deeply personal moments that often reflect shared human experiences.

Latest single ‘upstream’ was inspired by diary entries written during high school, capturing the longing to fit in while trying to understand who you are. Built around acoustic guitar and gentle cello, the track embraces vulnerability, encouraging listeners to find belonging not in becoming someone else, but in accepting where they are.

Omeyad

French singer-songwriter Omeyad combines her classical training with jazz and contemporary influences to create dreamlike, offbeat music. Her debut EP MERMAID, arriving in September, sees her take on roles as composer, arranger and performer.

Latest single ‘The Mermaid Song’ tells the story of a mermaid who longs to escape a world where she feels she doesn’t belong. Through its whimsical storytelling, the song explores the universal desire to find somewhere that feels more beautiful, welcoming and true to who we are.

Emily Ashberry

Nottingham-based folk singer-songwriter Emily Ashberry explores the connections between English and Appalachian folk music through her richly detailed songwriting. Her forthcoming debut album Ocean Big & Wide draws on her British and Appalachian heritage, tracing musical and personal connections across the Atlantic.

First single ‘The Bee Charmer’ combines traditional Americana influences with Ashberry’s distinctive storytelling, telling a queer love story against the backdrop of the American South. Inspired in part by Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, the track offers a glimpse into an album rooted in love, loss, home and heritage.

Ginger Wade

New York City-born artist Ginger Wade combines punk attitude with pop, blues, rock ‘n’ roll and Americana influences. A self-described global nomad, she brings a rhythmic electric guitar and a healthy dose of humour to songs exploring sex, desire, obsession and rage.

‘Teeth & Claws’ takes its inspiration from both Ginger’s cat and the people who have pushed her patience too far. Packed with attitude and a playful warning to anyone who crosses the line, the track showcases the brassy confidence and irreverent spirit at the heart of her music.

Teeth & Claws by Ginger Wade

Sonja Lembke

German singer-songwriter Sonja Lembke uses thoughtful lyrics and expressive vocals to explore themes ranging from mental health and self-care to relationships and gender-based violence. Influenced by artists including Twenty One Pilots, Sia and Dolores O’Riordan, she combines emotional songwriting with hopeful arrangements.

‘Hanna’s Song’ was written for a close friend Sonja met during a voluntary year in Scotland. Created during a later visit to Hungary, the track reflects on friendship, distance and the memories shared between two people, celebrating a connection that has continued despite living in different countries.

Hanna's Song by Sonja Lembke

Alexa Lopez

Vienna-based Mexican singer, songwriter and producer Alexa Lopez blends Latin urban and folk influences with pop and R&B. A multilingual artist inspired by a diverse range of sounds, her work centres around authenticity, versatility and personal liberation.

Trilingual single ‘CADENAS’, meaning ‘Chains’, combines son, cumbia and reggaeton rhythms with bold and vulnerable lyrics. Told from the perspective of a racialised woman, the track confronts patriarchy, imperialism and the pressures of white, male-gazed and heteronormative ideals.

Red’s ALIVE!

Lancashire-based vocalist and guitarist Roz Edwards creates alt-rock as Red’s ALIVE!, a project she describes as a collaboration with past lives and alternate-reality selves. The music draws on ideas and emotions that have remained with her throughout different stages of her creative journey.

Latest single ‘Violence’ began life around 15 years ago as a faster, choppier guitar riff before being transformed into something altogether different. Now slower and more expansive, the track explores redemption and moving forward, with its accompanying phoenix imagery reflecting the idea of renewal.

Maddie Hanna

Chicago-based independent pop artist Maddie Hanna blends pop, R&B, hip-hop, lo-fi and indie influences into her own dreamy sound. Drawing inspiration from artists including Kali Uchis, Alina Baraz and Doja Cat, she creates music designed to transport listeners somewhere a little more hazy.

‘Golden Earrings’, taken from her Fuchsia Sunsets EP, pairs smooth vocals with a chilled electronic beat and features producer SUN-GLADE. At its heart, the track is a sweet and confident celebration of being completely in love, capturing the feeling of romance in its purest form.

Hazal Kafadar

Dublin-based singer-songwriter Hazal Kafadar draws on alternative and indie rock influences from The Cure and Joy Division to Fontaines D.C. and Hole. Her songwriting explores emotionally complex experiences through a distinctly personal lens.

Latest single ‘Worlds Collide’ focuses on the grief surrounding a relationship that never quite came to be. Reflecting on what might have happened if communication had been mutual, the track captures the sadness of mourning not only what was lost, but what could have been.

rüya

Berlin-based alt-pop duo rüya create music designed for both the dancefloor and the daydream. Named after the Turkish word for ‘dream’, their sound combines deep bass, dreamy synths and catchy melodies with an energetic live presence.

‘Strawberry Kisses’ embraces a playful, romantic side of pop, blending shimmering production with a deliberately sweet and nostalgic aesthetic. Inspired by a longing for the hopeful, childlike joy once found in classic romantic songs, the track creates a colourful world of fantasy, innocence and uncomplicated happiness.

Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!

The post Submissions appeared first on She Makes Music.