The punchy groove in ‘pick me up’ provides a sassy strut of a rhythm to heighten the fun factor of of the track, which brings throwback early 2000s pop sonics bounding into the present day. Alice co-wrote and co-produced the track with the Grammy-nominated Jonny Coffer (Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Ellie Goulding).

Alice says, “Sometimes relying on our own strength to help us get out of a rut isn’t enough, we need help from the outside: from our friends and family, people we love and trust. “pick me up” talks about exactly that situation. Asking the question: if you can’t get up any more in the morning, will your friends still be by your side to help you out? Will they be the feet that drag you out of bed in the morning? Will they be the hands that feed you when you’ve lost your appetite for life? The paths laid out for us aren’t always easy, but it gives me relief to know that I have people by my side to help, and that I can be that person for someone else too.”

‘pick me up’ is released alongside a self-directed video, which was shot in South Africa by Alice’s trusted DOP and regular collaborator Elias Köhler.

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‘run away girl,’ which comes alongside an accompanying visualizer, puts a classic ‘80s tinge on Merton’s propulsive dark-pop, a blend which infuses her brooding, introspective lyrical themes with an even greater power. She wrote and produced the song with James Dring (Lana Del Rey, Self Esteem) and her regular collaborator Paul Whalley (‘Charlie Brown,’ ‘Waste My Life’).

Merton introduces the track, saying: “Since I can remember, in every life phase I have been in, I have always questioned two things: who am I, and who am I supposed to be? I thought when you grow up, all these questions magically get answered but as I continue to witness, I don’t think you ever quite know.

“‘run away girl’ comes from an introspective look at oneself and feeling lost in the outside world but especially feeling lost on the inside. Where do I fit in, in all this craziness? Who do I actually want to be in life? We are constantly surrounded by the opinions of others, who show us what their version of happiness is, so we automatically assume ours must be the same. It often isn’t.

“We try to break free from past lives and past memories, pretending they no longer exist. I have found it’s much easier to accept the past, rather than forget it, and occasionally letting myself dwell in those memories. Moving homes regularly has taught me many life lessons, but it has also contributed to feeling unsettled in life, restless for what else is out there, and adventurous for the unknown.

“This song comes to you in a new chapter full of questions to myself and to you. It is the beginning of a series of events that have led me to realise that the more I learn about life and myself, the less I actually know. But what do I know? I am happy to share this with you. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.”

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Glasser, the electronic music project of Cameron Mesirow, has shared the music video for her recent song ‘Vine,’ the first single off of her upcoming album, crux. Julia Crockett directed the video, which features Mesirow posing for art students. Crux is due out October 6 via One Little Independent. This is Glasser’s first full-length album release in 10 years. Crux becomes a melting pot of sorts, pulling from unavoidable hardships and making it into something a bit more digestible. Of the album’s lead single ‘Vine,’ Glasser says, “It was like an attempt at making something where all the parts sound like they’re very separated. I was thinking like jazz, actually. It was about getting back to writing music after feeling a bit disconnected from the machinery around making it your profession.” [via Under The Radar]

CIEL have released a new single, ‘So Scared’. Following on from ‘Somebody’, it’s the latest track from the Brighton band’s upcoming EP Make It Better, set for release on July 7 via Jazz Life. Michelle Hindriks (vocals, bass) says: “’So Scared’ is about being scared to be vulnerable and open up yourself towards someone else. But at the same time it’s about actively wanting to change that part of yourself and working hard to be able to be vulnerable, as it’s an important part of making valuable connections with others. The song started out with just one cute sounding synth line with the vocal part over it and in the studio we kept adding layers of guitars to create a much bigger sound.” [via Dork]

Nashville, Tennessee’s GAL — short for GIVE ART LIFE — is an avant-garde artist consistently pushing boundaries. As she tells stories of love, heartbreak, and rebellion, she blurs the lines between reality and imagination and blends rap, singing, and songwriting into cohesive tracks. Her newest single, ‘Roxx Off’, details the emotions that arise as a love turns into heartbreak. Speaking on the track, GAL explains, “Love never truly disappears; it just transforms into pain, regret, forgiveness, or sometimes even hate, but it always circles back to love. ‘Roxx Off’ is about that someone you love to hate, but can’t seem to let go of. It’s relatable to any situation where you struggle to maintain what you truly want, or try to shake off something you don’t.” Below, you can watch the single’s music video, directed by Christopher Scholar with creative direction and styling by LaDonna Wittingham. Green and pink florals create a flower power-esque setting, while long nails and experimental fashion complete the picture. Whether camouflaging into the wallpaper or starring on the screen of an old television set, GAL plays with special effects and experimental, trippy visuals to captivate the audience. Ending with a reference to The Addams Family’s Thing, a disembodied hand, the video tells a story of its own while also bringing the lyrics and soundscape to a new dimension. Cinematic, expansive, relatable, and honest, the song and video will lure you into the world of GAL. [via Wonderland]

The Japanese pop-rock band CHAI have announced a new self-titled album, their follow-up to 2021’s WINK. It includes ‘We The Female!,’ which came out last month, and now they’re sharing the breezy, groovy ‘PARA PARA.’ “There’s not a deep meaning to that song, it’s really just about the dance,” the band’s MANA said, referencing Japan’s ’90s two-step dance trend. She continued: “As long as you can feel the two-step, any dance is possible! Let your body just move to your dancing heart ♡ When your body moves to the beat of your heart, you’ll realize that the world is smaller than you think, and all your problems are easier than they seem. ‘Cause two-step and music is the best way to communicate in this world ♡ Let it START! CHAI’s two-step dance music ☆☆” [via Stereogum]

twst is back with a new single called ‘Off-World’. Following April’s ‘Most Viewed’, the track comes paired with a music video co-directed with Sam Kinsella. Speaking about the track and its accompanying visual, twst said: “‘Off-World’ resonates with a universal desire to give oneself completely, forging connections that transcend societal norms. The music video serves as a visual representation of the song’s themes, depicting a cyborg girl who descends upon Earth, yearning to break free from the confines of this world and find solace in another realm. In this transcendent journey, ‘Off World’ encapsulates the concept of liberation. The cyborg girl symbolises the struggle for personal freedom and self-expression, embodying twst’s own quest for authenticity. The lyrics vividly portray longing and transformation, urging listeners to break free from predetermined moulds and embrace the unknown. The chorus becomes an empowering anthem for those seeking to transcend their current state and embrace a new existence beyond societal boundaries.” [via Our Culture Mag]

Kesha has unveiled a video for ‘Only Love Can Save Us Now’. The intense track features on the singer-songwriter’s recently released Rick Rubin-produced album, Gag Order, which is described as a record that excavates, “the deepest recesses of her soul.” The clip also finds the singer channelling a variety of emotions into a surreal performance of the song. [via Stereoboard]

Rising pop artist Gabi Sklar reveals the music video for her new single, ‘Good Kisser.’ ‘Good Kisser’ is a sultry and sophisticated pop anthem that highlights Gabi’s captivating vocal range. “The song explores the ‘maybe I should, maybe I shouldn’t’ relationship with a really good friend — it’s about that push-and-pull of intuition vs. temptation,” she says. For the ‘Good Kisser’ music video, Gabi collaborated with director Justin Thorne (House of Giuseppe) to bring the song to life. “What I like most about the music video is that it allowed me to step outside of myself and play various characters,” Gabi elaborates. “I also really adore 60s glamor which made it that much more fun to experiment with different vignettes, personas and aesthetics inspired by that decade.”

Alice Merton makes her long-awaited return with a new single entitled ‘Charlie Brown.’ The track is a catchy indie-pop song that tells the story of a man who is stuck in a rut. His days are repetitive, and his past keeps coming back to haunt him; he is searching for a higher meaning in life, something that makes him feel fulfilled – unfortunately, he has yet to find it. The chorus comes in as a push out of the daily grind: “Hold tight we’re moving on! Keep that dream just a little bit longer!” ‘Charlie Brown’ is a wake-up call to get back into the driver’s seat of your life. It’s a hymn to keep going – no matter how big the obstacles may be. Stop settling for the apparent security of everyday life, but fight for what is important to you. Thus, the song’s message is not only addressed to Charlie. All of us could do with leaving our comfort zone sometimes, try things and to stand up for our dreams. After having finished a North American and European Tour with the British indie-pop band Bastille last year, Merton found herself back in the studio, writing with Chris Wood aka “Woody” (drummer from Bastille) and songwriter/producer Matt Wills. Merton recalls, “It was honestly one of the best times of my life, getting to tour with such a lovely group of people, and then creating music together.” William Farquarson (bass player in Bastille) joined the session a few weeks later and out came ‘Charlie Brown.’ The track was finished off with production by Paul Whalley, mixing by Jon Kelly (Kate Bush, Freddie Mercury, Duffy), and mastering by Sascha Busy Bühren. The accompanying video for ‘Charlie Brown’ was filmed in London and written and directed by Alice. At her side was choreographer Lyn Lim, with whom she worked with on ‘Lash Out’ and ‘Blindside,’ and her trusted Director of Photography Elias Koehler. Together, they created a world where Charlie seems to be a bit confused and depressed with his life situation, but Alice is adamant that he realizes how special he is.

Caity Baser has shared a new single, ‘Leave Me Alone’. The accompanying video sees her take inspiration from a number of Hollywood films, including American Beauty, Lady & The Tramp, Love Actually and more. Caity says: “I wrote ‘Leave Me Alone’ about this boy that I was seeing. And then after we stopped seeing each other I was like ‘fine we were seeing each other anymore’ but then he was still bugging me and calling me and bothering me all the time on nights out, trying to get in my ubers home and I was saying “no, no, no, sir! I don’t want that. “Then he would tell me all these sweet, sweet nothings and make promises filled with love but actually meant nothing and then I’d say “I don’t even care if you don’t mean it just leave me alone”. So this song is about that one person that were not leave you alone – that is grinding your gears, making you sick to your stomach and you don’t want to say anything so you just say: say leave me alone!” Of the video, she adds: “The video was so much fun to make! I made it with Callaway Breeze and we recreated scenes from Love Actually, Say Anything, Romeo and Juliet, Lady And The Tramp and Wolf Of Wall Street. It was really cool to recreate some of my favorite movies and incorporate them into my music video. It was also so fun to be with everyone during the day of the shoot and have all these slay outfits I must say. Also there was a sexy, slay boy there the whole time. Watch it!” [via Dork]

Enigmatic Los Angeles songstress Madeline Goldstein steps back into the spotlight, leaving a poignant imprint on the darkwave scene with her latest EP, Other World, thoughtfully curated by à La Carte Records. At its essence, Other World is an intoxicating melange of charm and command. Though concise, it serves as a formidable artistic descendant of her first full-length debut, yet confidently carves its unique place as a breathtaking tour de force. The titular track and single, ‘Other World’ immerses its listeners in a mesmerizing dreamscape woven from the shards of erratic drum beats, echoing synthesizers, and the celestial aria of a soaring soprano. Goldstein’s main vocal thread, delivered with her trademark elegance, intensifies in passion as it surges towards the climaxing third act. The sparkling requiem draws from the deeply intimate realm of Goldstein’s solitude, echoing the emotionally charged ballads of musical theatre and the heightened drama of 80s romance anthems. The track reverberates with traces of The Motels, Aimee Mann, and Tuxedomoon, especially apparent in Byron Burchard’s saxophone epilogue, acting as an emblem and embodiment of tears. As the song ascends towards its pinnacle, the chorus of backing vocals weaves and hovers above the sonic tapestry, heralding the distant saxophone’s soothing warmth to the track’s closure. The monochrome visual accompaniment, crafted by director and cinematographer Tyler Carlin, portrays an enchanting, intimate dance between two women, with the second role embodied by Margot Rhodes (Mirror of Venus). The nature of their relationship remains tantalizingly elusive: are they rivals? Sisters? Lovers? Or perhaps they are merely apparitions within each other’s minds? Yet, their languid, abstract dialogue unfolds in a hypnotic ballet. Byron Burchard also graces the frame with his saxophone. Both the song and the video are steeped in the profound influence of David Lynch – and in keeping with this spirit, perhaps it’s more fitting to allow this Other World to remain a stunning enigma. [via Post-Punk]

20-year-old nu-punk artist BEX has shared a brand-new single and killer video. Detailing the “struggles and emotions within a relationship”, the song goes by the very apt name ‘Don’t Date The Devil’, and arrives ahead of her performances at 2000trees and Y Not? this summer. Speaking about the full meaning behind the single and video, BEX shares: “I have used extremes to emphasise the pain, dread and guilt the main character of the track should feel, but doesn’t. The first verse explores blame – it is the character taking the guilt away from themselves and blaming their partner for choosing to be with them; when they should be taking responsibility for their own actions. The track moves through an abusive relationship, constantly comparing the character to the devil and displaying themes of pain and harm combined with love. The music video conveys the relationship as a personal battle. An inner love fight rather than a two – or more – person relationship. A battle of self-hate and harm. Throughout the music video we see the ‘weaker’ character gain power to finally result in the eye gouge scene, where the ‘weak’ character takes charge of their inner demon and kills it/them. Overall the track and video display power dynamics within different situations, relationships, friendships and between your external and internal self. Loving is hard, whether that’s with yourself or with another. Being aware of your actions and your own love language can be a helpful way of making it slightly easier. We cannot have love without hate and we cannot hate without love.” [via Kerrang!]

Sydney-based alt-pop duo Cat & Calmell, consisting of Catherine Stratton and Calmell Teagle, has announced their upcoming mini-album How Do You Feel? will be released on September 29. From the mini-album, the duo released the second single called ‘Feel Alive’ along with a music video. The track was written by Catherine Stratton, Calmell Teagle, and Taka Perry who also produced it. The accompanying video was directed by Joshua Moll, Oliver Kirby, Calmell Teagle, and Catherine Stratton, who filmed on location in Sydney. The duo said of the song, “When we wrote this, Calmell and I were in a really dissociative state. I had just turned twenty and was getting really, really scared and existential about everything, I had a lot of anxiety, and I didn’t know what to do with myself and nothing made me feel good. So, the main sentiment of the song is that only when I think about dying do I actually even feel anything at all—whether it’s fear or excitement.” [via pmstudio]

Filipino-American multidisciplinary artist and activist ((( O ))) shares her latest ‘Sanctuary’ and announces her album, ((( 4 ))), out this summer on August 27. An unpronounceable symbol, ((( O ))) represents an all-seeing eye, the big bang, birth, rebirth, the female anatomy that makes birth possible, a ripple in an otherwise still body of crystal clear water… or whatever else that might resonate with you. Sonically, ‘Sanctuary’ is ethereal, but the way the beat grooves is a little grungy and sweaty, for fans of FKJ (to whom she is married)’s sound with a bit of Jhene Aiko or Kehlani crossed with Medasin and Raveena RNB stylings. It’s gooey and precise but free. Of the track, ((( O ))) says, “’Sanctuary’ is about the cyclical nature of menstruation. This song explains the discovery of our ability to harness the power of our menstrual cycles as superpowers through our ‘inner seasons.’ It’s about tuning into my own inner rhythms as our guide for unraveling the layers of album ((( 4 ))) for the rest of this year – finding solace and harmony, utilizing the power of ritual and inner cycles as a portal to deeper connection and understanding.”

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The singles that have previewed the album — including ‘Vertigo,’ ‘Same Team,’ and ‘Island’ — have seen Alice make a huge leap forward in both her artistic vision and her confidence. The voice and alt-pop addictiveness that first enamored fans remains at the core of her sound, but it’s adventurously doused with touches of indie, electronica, alt-rock and synth-pop. Ultimately, S.I.D.E.S. sees Alice blur the boundaries between ragged rock energy and pop infectiousness. It is also the first album, where Alice has acted as the executive producer throughout the whole album.

Alice co-wrote and co-produced every song on the album, which also features some of her long-term collaborators as well as big names such as Koz (Dua Lipa), Jonny Coffer (Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding), Jennifer Decilveo (Anne-Marie, Andra Day), and mixed by Matt Green (Royal Blood, Dua Lipa ). The album is released on her own label, Paper Plane Records.

We were lucky enough to sit down with Alice and talk about S.I.D.E.S, taking the album out on the road, challenges she has faced and more. Read the interview below.

Hi Alice! How are you? What does a typical day look like for you right now?

“Hi there! Hmm, a typical day is hard to define, it varies quite regularly, but at the moment we’re playing a lot of festivals which is amazing, so our day consists of a lot of traveling and then setting up everything and then hopefully playing a fun show!”

You recently released your sophomore album S.I.D.E.S. What is this record about and what does it mean to you?

“This album is definitely a very personal one, it talks about the struggles I faced in the last two years, searching for happiness in a world that seemed pretty doomed, and learning to let go of certain things that didn’t make sense to hold on to.”

S.I.D.E.S is a bit darker musically comapared to your debut MINT. Who did you draw inspiration from sonically for this record/what were you listening to around the time of writing it?

“I was watching a lot of pretty dark series like Handmaids Tale, Black Mirror, Breaking Bad, which I think inspired a lot of the darkness in the album, but also just certain events in my life didn’t really inspire me to write a really uplifting album.”

Let’s talk about your creative process for S.I.D.E.S. Did you do anything different this time around? Were there any other challenges?

“I think one of the biggest differences with this album, is that I felt like I had even more creative control over it. I decided to work on each song with someone different, rather than have one person produce the whole album, so I was taking on the role of being the creative producer, which was a lot of work! But each song feels so unique in that sense, and different to its neighbor.”

What do you hope fans take away from S.I.D.E.S?

“I hope they just enjoy listening to it, but also see it as a reminder that even if you’re going through a really tough time and can’t really see a light at the end of the tunnel, there will always be another side. Sometimes things seems really hopeless and dark, and all it takes is a reminder that you will get out of that headspace, it’s just a matter of time.”

You will be kicking off a European tour in support of S.I.D.E.S later this year. What do you love most about touring and performing live?

“I think my favourite part is watching fans, which is difficult cause I have to concentrate on performing and remembering my lines haha, but I love watching their reactions to certain songs and hearing them sing along!”

Which of the new songs are you most excited to debut live?

“I’m very excited to play all the new songs, ‘Same Team,’ ‘The Other Side,’ ‘Mania’! We’ve already played them at festivals and it’s been so much fun watching people react to them.”

Based on your musical journey so far, what have been the biggest challenges that you’ve faced and how have you overcome them?

“I think the biggest challenge that I’ve faced is starting our own record label, and having faith that it’ll somehow work out. It’s a lot of work setting up release plans, coordinating promotion, budget planning, but I love that I have creative control over everything, so that always helps.”

What are you passionate about outside of music?

“I love watching movies, I also love getting inspired by the cinematography and soundtracks.”

Finally, do you have a favourite highlight of your career so far?

“We played our first album and some of the second album with a full orchestra this year in the spring in Frankfurt, and it was mental! Probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever been a part of.”

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‘Loveback’ opens S.I.D.E.S. with a bang. At first it feels like a bellicose leap into indie-rock and power-pop, but cheerleader-style group vocal shouts and left field alt-pop traits soon set its fun factor to stun. While it provides a playful opening punch to the album, there’s a serious note too. Her lyrics introduce the themes that follow throughout with the rebellious statement: “Watch my lips as I say: I don’t need you!”

Alice says, “‘Loveback’ talks about waking up one day and realising someone has stolen a part of you that you want back.It was the realisation that I didn’t ‘need’ anyone to exist. I was never dependent on anyone or anything, even if it at times felt like it. I felt like I was handing out something I was rarely getting back. At some point, I felt like I had forgotten why I’m doing what I’m doing, and felt like I had lost sight of what’s really important to me.”

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