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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
