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!
splitxlip
Bristol-based splitxlip is the brainchild of singer-songwriter and producer Bailey Blair, who describes her sound as ‘Grit Pop’, combining crunchy, guitar-driven rock with infectious pop melodies. Having previously written songs for other artists, Bailey grew frustrated with handing over her ideas and taught herself to produce, allowing her to take complete creative control. Joined on stage by guitarist Mikey Lloyd and drummer Joe Clements, she transforms those recordings into energetic live performances.
‘What You Waiting For?’ tackles procrastination, overthinking and the habit of waiting for the perfect moment to start living. Beneath its distorted guitars and hook-heavy production is a message about getting out of your own head and doing the things you’ve been putting off. Bailey also directed, filmed and edited the accompanying video herself, using a phone and a Snorricam to capture herself running as though desperately trying to catch up with her own life.
merphi
Danish artist merphi creates emotionally intimate alternative music that moves between soft, organic instrumentation and abrasive electronic textures. Drawing on the guitar-driven sounds she grew up with, her songwriting explores the complexities of relationships, identity and the sometimes uncomfortable ways we adapt ourselves to the people around us.
The title track from her debut EP morphing into you introduces a project centred on codependency and the gradual loss of identity within relationships. Through glitchy distortion, melancholic guitars and vulnerable songwriting, merphi examines the tendency to change parts of yourself in order to feel loved, accepted or easier to hold onto. Creating the EP also became an opportunity for her to recognise patterns she hadn’t previously understood, using music to make sense of experiences that had long been difficult to articulate.
Mini Disc
Leeds indie newcomers Mini Disc formed in early 2026 when four friends decided to channel their shared frustrations with corporate life into music. Drawing on nostalgic indie influences, the band combine retro-inspired vocals, cavernous guitars, grooving basslines and unpredictable drums to create atmospheric songs rooted in personal experiences.
Debut single ‘Whale Song’ explores the experience of finding somebody you want to spend your life with, alongside the vulnerability that comes with recognising how much they mean to you. Beginning with small gestures of affection and gradually building towards an almost desperate desire for permanence, the track captures both the comfort of being loved and the fear of losing it. Its cinematic arrangement mirrors that emotional progression, moving from quiet yearning towards something considerably more intense.
Hayley Lloyd
Leeds singer-songwriter Hayley Lloyd draws inspiration from jazz, soul and artists including Angie Stone, Lalah Hathaway and Anita Baker. After taking a ten-year break from singing, she has returned to music through gospel choirs, jam sessions and live performances, gradually rediscovering her creative identity and reconnecting with the joy of performing.
Her debut solo single, ‘When You Play’, was created alongside northern producer YELAH, combining Hayley’s rich, soulful vocals with a hypnotic, piano-led groove. The track celebrates the powerful connection between musicians and listeners, particularly those moments during a live performance when the music seems to reach somewhere beyond words. Inspired by the feeling of being completely carried away by a song, ‘When You Play’ reflects Hayley’s renewed relationship with music and the emotional connection that drew her back to it.
Mr. Beale
Experimental artist Mr. Beale creates unusual musical collages from field recordings, intricate rhythms, jazz-influenced vocals and unexpected instrumentation, often incorporating clarinet performances by herself or her mother. With a background in classical and choral music, her distinctive approach developed during a solo residency in Lapland, where the isolation and Arctic landscapes influenced her exploration of sound.
‘Skin’, the closing track from her forthcoming EP, moves between the intensity of a muscular ballad and the fragility of an atmospheric soundscape. Beginning with the sound of footsteps recorded on gritty sand, the piece gradually develops into an immersive arrangement of submerged, almost submarine-like textures. Its shifting musical landscape reflects Mr. Beale’s interest in transforming everyday sounds into something unfamiliar, blurring the boundaries between experimental composition and emotionally expressive songwriting.
Bad Amygdala
Italian alternative metal artist Bad Amygdala is the project of singer-songwriter Milena Caforio, whose music explores depression, identity, anger and the difficult process of reclaiming yourself. Combining aggressive guitars, dark atmospheres and emotionally charged vocals, her releases form an interconnected narrative about moving from self-doubt towards acceptance and personal freedom.
‘I Don’t Give a Damn’ marks a turning point in that story, confronting the pressure to appear normal and live according to other people’s expectations. Inspired by Milena’s own decision to pursue music despite the possibility of judgement or ridicule, the track challenges the idea of wasting a finite life trying to please everybody else. Driven by a forceful guitar riff, shifting vocal styles and an increasingly intense arrangement, it transforms years of frustration into a declaration of independence and the freedom to exist unapologetically.
MEGZ
Sydney independent artist MEGZ creates upbeat dance-pop built around catchy melodies, energetic production and a confident, club-ready sound. Her music embraces the escapism of the dancefloor, focusing on those moments when everything else fades into the background and the only thing that matters is enjoying yourself.
‘On My Body’ captures the excitement of being completely present with somebody, combining an infectious vocal hook with an energetic, dance-driven groove. Before its official release, MEGZ introduced the track to live audiences at events and boat parties around Sydney Harbour, giving listeners the chance to experience it on the dancefloor first. With its feel-good atmosphere and summery production, the single celebrates spontaneity, connection and the simple pleasure of losing yourself in the moment.
Edurne Galarza
Madrid indie-folk artist Edurne Galarza places female empowerment at the centre of her musical project, working with a female producer on her studio recordings and performing alongside an entirely female live band. Her songwriting combines intimate storytelling with an interest in exploring different musical structures and arrangements.
‘Crashing’ is her most experimental release to date, incorporating alternative guitar tunings and irregular time signatures to explore the intensity of desire. Through imagery of devouring, marking and colliding, the song captures an overwhelming longing for emotional and physical intimacy. Rather than presenting connection as something gentle or straightforward, Edurne embraces its more urgent and consuming qualities, using unconventional musical choices to reflect the strength of those feelings.
Milkie
Bristol songwriter and producer Hannah Millie Phipps creates music under the name Milkie, blending indie pop with influences ranging from French chanson and dance music to industrial rock. A self-taught guitarist with a love of unconventional songwriting, she develops much of her music at home before collaborating with other musicians to bring the arrangements to life.
‘Crystal’ explores the contradictions of wanting everything at once while avoiding the answers you already know. Sung in English and French, the track combines synths, samples and a string quartet, retaining elements of Milkie’s original home-recorded demo. Its release also comes with a particularly personal collection of handmade matchboxes, each containing a crystal pendulum, fabric pouch and lyric zine that unfolds into a divination mat. Inspired by her teenage fascination with music, witchcraft and DIY creativity, the unusual packaging extends the song’s themes into something listeners can physically explore.
Aschari
Persian-German alternative pop artist Aschari, the project of Nadia Affolter, creates cinematic, emotionally detailed music exploring identity, relationships and self-destructive patterns. Based between Ireland and the UK, she combines atmospheric production, layered guitars and intimate songwriting, bringing her recordings to the stage through an expanded live band.
‘The Way Things Are’ was written during a relationship that almost everyone in Nadia’s life disapproved of. Caught between the people she loved and the relationship she was determined to maintain, she gradually became disconnected from herself, feeling trapped within a repetitive emotional cycle. The track captures that sense of detachment and resignation, reflecting the difficulty of recognising unhealthy patterns while still being caught inside them. It also introduces the themes of her forthcoming EP A Familiar Hell, which explores the emotional wounds and coping mechanisms that shape our behaviour.
Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!
