This segment features 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!
Ok Bella!
Ok Bella! is a new project between Angela Lee of Salem, MA-based Radio Compass and Steve R. Lord, longtime friend and former band mate, music producer, owner of Rusty’s Music Studio, and formerly of Dirty Bangs, Aaron and the Lord, Bodega Girls and many more beloved Boston bands. OK Bella! is a sonic departure to Lee’s most recent 8 year stint as front woman of post punk outfit Radio Compass and Lord’s long time shoe-gazey endeavors. The duo have paired up to flex their elegant yet simplistic vintage-meets-new wave electronic pop rock sensibilities. The songs emphasize a partiality of dreamy vocals, unassuming guitars and warm, melodic synth while offering occasional and subtle homages and undertones of the duo’s past musical endeavors in their respected punk, pop and shoegaze arenas. Their new single ‘After Hours’ is out now on Bandcamp. Listen below.
Summer Treharne
Summer Treharne is a Swansea based singer-songwriter embarking on an exciting new chapter in her artistic journey with the release of new music in 2024. Recently 18 this year, Summer has had over 15 years of experience in the performing arts – her main strength being her vocal ability. With this comes a fresh perspective with her songwriting, which expertly blends introspective lyrics and soulful melodies over indie-pop/bedroom pop inspired tunes written on guitar and produced from her bedroom. Summer likes to push her sound beyond what you would typically hear, often choosing structures and sounds that you wouldn’t expect. Drawing inspiration from her own life, Summer’s songs explore themes of mental health, growing up, relationships and self-reflection with her voice at the forefront, showcasing her raw and authentic talent. ‘worry or nothing’ is her debut single. “The song explores the complexities of growing up too fast and acting older than the age you are. A typical teen angst song about experiencing new relationships with people that could ultimately end fleetingly, end in heartbreak or endure,” she says. Listen below.
EMEREE
Australia’s rising star EMEREE is set to captivate audiences once again with her highly anticipated new single, ‘Butterfly Boy.’ The track showcases EMEREE’s signature blend of sensual RnB, modern pop, and 70s gospel influences. The production is not to be missed – a bold testament to her unique sound and artistic vision. Following the success of her viral debut single ‘Leave You Like a Man,’ EMEREE continues to push the boundaries of contemporary RnB and soul. ‘Butterfly Boy’ is a self-produced masterpiece that seamlessly weaves together edgy RnB rhythms with lush, modern pop elements and the rich, emotive qualities of gospel. Taking inspiration from the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, RAYE and Mike Sabbath, EMEREE brings a diverse sound to the Aus scene. EMEREE’s impressive four-octave vocal range shines brightly on ‘Butterfly Boy,’ delivering a performance that is both sensual and empowering. The track’s lyrical content explores themes of female empowerment and sexual identity with the raw honesty that has become EMEREE’s hallmark. “‘Butterfly Boy’ is a celebration of confidence and self-expression,” says EMEREE. “I wanted to create a song that feels both intimate and powerful, I pushed myself both with writing and production and I’m so proud of the result.” Listen below.
Steeljoy
Steeljoy is the latest musical incarnation of west of Scotland based artist Jen O’Brien. Genre-spanning bittersweet melodies meet hard-hitting lyrics in English, Irish (Gaeilge) and Gàidhlig exploring the intersectional issues of misogyny, gender, class, discrimination, environmental destruction and more. Steeljoy’s latest album All Us On Fire was released earlier this year to critical acclaim and has been nominated for the Scottish Album of The Year Award. Stand out track ‘Sleeper Poison’ “addresses women subsuming anger and the poison to our systems that can cause. It is an audience favourite in our live set.” Listen below.
Amy Gordon
Norwegian singer and songwriter Amy Gordon is ready with her new single ‘Your Teenage Dream,’ a song that celebrates the strength of standing up for oneself and gives listeners a solid dose of girl power. Produced and co-written with producer Oscar Mathisen, Erlend Guttulsrud Kristiansen, and Alessandro Al Ferrara, this is an anthem for everyone who has stepped forward and spoken up for themselves. ‘Your Teenage Dream’ combines catchy pop melodies with inspiring lyrics, encouraging young women to stand up for themselves and set the standard. Amy Gordon’s energetic and confident vocals deliver a message of independence and courage, sure to resonate with a wide audience. Listen below.
Sarah Holburn
Sarah Holburn’s second solo album is out now. Movements is a 10-track contemplation on human existence, social anxiety, gratitude, forgiveness and a fair amount of questions. Written over the span of 8 years, Holburn stepped into her father’s home studio to organically mould the record. Sarah is an indie singer-songwriter from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, UK. Since her 2014 debut album In Too Deep, Holburn has been a singer, musician and songwriter in bands in earnest and Carousel, the latter for which she wrote the song ‘Porcelain’. A decade after her debut album, she felt it was time to revisit songwriting as a soloist. “The past 10 years have brought change, movement and maturity, as well as a lot of questions and contemplation about life. Now feels like the right time to celebrate this process of growth.” Sarah’s dad John engineered the tracks and featured on several instruments, before the album was mixed by Peter Waterman and mastered at Focus Mastering, Nebraska. Sarah’s melancholic indie style is comparable to Phoebe Bridgers, dodie and Gia Margaret. Standout track ‘Crumbs’ is a song about identity and self worth within mental illness, and feeling yourself gradually crumble over time. Listen below.
Bad Bloom
Rochester, New York’s Bad Bloom release new upbeat single, ‘onion’, a fuzzy, hazy rocker that balances dreamy subdued vocals with candy coated guitar leads that break through its noisy atmosphere. A dreamscape that sticks in your head, the song gazes out Bad Bloom’s known-for pop hooks to create a new area for shoegaze to reside in. The band, described as having a goth / grungegaze sound, has been evolving traditional genre patterns with their many pedal boards. Described as a Dinosaur Jr. meets Ride meets Alvvays, the band brings many layers. ‘onion’ is the first release from the upcoming EP, Pepper, and is about having a sleepy dream so good, it’s a bummer to wake up. Kate Rogers, lead vocalist and bassist who dislikes onions, wrote the song to recreate the feelings of innocence and playfulness that come with a wandering mind, being bored, and thinking of weird things. Listen below.
ILKAMA
ILKAMA is the solo project of Norwegian electronic musician and producer Vilde Ilkama Nupen. ILKAMA debuted in 2018 with the EP Rite of Passage, followed up with the album Vilden sky in 2023. Previous to this, she has been active as one half of the acclaimed Norwegian electronic duo sgrow. She is also an avid remixer. ILKAMA’s music is characterized by a fondness for found sound and field recordings, off-kilter beats, analogue synths, cassette tape and nostalgia. Sonically, ILKAMA draws inspiration from future soul, LA Beat, hip hop, rnb, ambient, electro-acoustic music, UK Garage, glitch, drum’n’bass and pop. With a love for all kinds of music and a collector’s mindset she brings everything she likes with her into her own sonic expression, including samples of people, objects and places that are dear to her heart. ‘Tøff nå’ is the second track on her new album ILKAMANIA. “It’s a celebration of cockiness, but more in a silly, wholesome way,” she says. “In Norwegian we have this expression called “å tøffe seg”, which directly translates to “toughen up”, but it’s more like you’re acting cool, trying to be cooler than you are. In the track, I’ve sampled my mother putting on a posh accent and making fun of people who are into natural wine, fitness and life coaching – people that in her opinion “tøffer seg”. But then, as she’s doing it, she catches herself and laughs, recognizing that what she in fact is doing in that moment is “tøffer seg”, asserting herself, acting “cooler than”. I think it’s a fun and cute moment that I by chance managed to record. I also really like the playful, dancy beat and the latin inspired synth riff. Combined, I find that they really capture the essence of ‘tøff’ and it gives me confidence and a feeling of cockiness whenever I listen to it.” Listen below.
Sophie Valerie
Sophie Valerie is a 20-year-old independent artist and producer, who has been making music since 2019. However, it wasn’t until June 2024 that she began releasing her music to the public. She’s most passionate about writing honest and authentic lyrics and sharing her story in a way people can relate to. Sophie Valerie describes her music as soft pop with elements of R&B, drawing inspiration from artists such as SZA, Hailey Knox, and Reneé Rapp. Her latest and most personal track, ‘Dear Diary,’ captures the bittersweet transition from childhood innocence to adult realities. Inspired by her personal diary, she dives into themes of nostalgia and emotional healing, speaking to those who feel the burden of growing up. One special element in ‘Dear Diary’ is her sister’s laugh at the beginning of the track. Recorded when her sister was a little child, this detail adds a deeply personal touch, as her sister has always been an important part of Sophie Valerie’s life and is now part of the song. As Sophie Valerie sings in ‘Dear Diary’: “Living in my own little world, fangirling over older pretty girls.” Reflecting on her years as a pre-teen, she shares: “I used to idolize women around me and on TV to a point where I adapted their character and fashion sense because I desperately wanted to be like them. I hope someday I can be a role model for younger girls as well.” Listen below.
Yellow Belly
Yellow Belly is the mesmerising musical project of Australian-born, UK-based artist, Dominique Finnegan, renowned for creating a lush blend of beautiful and, at times, melancholic melodies. With an atmospheric landscape as the backdrop, Yellow Belly’s music is a hypnotic journey into downtempo electronic soundscapes, characterised by a hauntingly striking voice and an impeccable flair for musical perfectionism. Ghostwriter, the debut album from Yellow Belly, invites listeners into an evocative world where melancholic melodies intertwine with hypnotic, downtempo electronic beats. Co-produced by established producer Rob Bryant (Unknown Land, Bare Island), whose contribution was essential to its creation, each track is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, reflecting Dominique Finnegan’s compelling voice and artistic precision. The album promises to be a profound listening experience, resonating with those who appreciate deep, atmospheric music. Standout track ‘Signal’ is an atmospheric synth-lead melody layered with ethereal vocals about a lack of communication and misunderstandings within a relationship. Listen below.
Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!