Scene Queen has shared a spectacularly graphic new single, ‘Finger’. Taken from her upcoming debut album Hot Singles In Your Area – which is due out in ‘late 2024’ – the latest effort from our favourite bimbocore star is, according to Scene Queen herself, “about my queer awakening”. She continues: “I also wanted to flip the script on songs written to sexualise women in a way that was for a man’s pleasure. I wrote this song about two women experiencing things equally. So the song is vulgar like any sexual song but with a woman driving the narrative about her own body and taking control of her own pleasure with step-by-step instructions.” Even more brilliantly, Scene Queen says that the accompanying music video “features a dance made to be accessible to anyone both sitting or standing. I wanted to feature that in the video because, as someone who struggles with POTS, I was at one point completely unable to dance like I do standing in the video. So I wanted something to make everyone feel included because sexuality and pleasure is something everyone can and should be able to relate to.” [via Kerrang!]

Yaya Bey shares the latest offering from her forthcoming album Ten Fold with the new single ‘sir princess bad bitch’. Serving as one of the album’s centerpiece statements, the song and its accompanying video embody the complexities of Yaya’s identity as a genderqueer person, with her stating resolutely that she is “no other thing but the thing I am.”

Call Me Spinster has released ‘Burn the Boxes,’ the latest single from their debut album Potholes, out April 12 via Strolling Bones Records. With its jovial bluesy groove and a New Orleans-inspired trumpet to boot, the new song is an empowering anthem about breaking free from societal expectations and re-defining life on your own terms. ‘Burn the Boxes’ arrives with a playful music video, showing the group reusing pieces of cardboard as the colorful backdrop for this impactful metaphor about change. Call Me Spinster on the new single: “‘Burn the Boxes’ is all about tearing down and re-defining terms – of relationships, of our contract with societal institutions. It felt fitting to rip apart and reuse cardboard boxes to make something colorful, haphazard and beautiful – a reminder that change takes the creative, destructive and playful mind of a child.” On the music video: “Amelia’s husband Dan got the idea for this music video at 7 in the morning, groggily watching our six and two and a half-year-olds crafting away, hot-gluing cardboard dioramas and a dollhouse they are perpetually retro-fitting with found objects. By 10am we were deep in a cardboard frenzy, the assembly line led by six year-old Amos and our art director friend Chad. We sent our kid off to first grade the next morning exhausted and still covered in spray paint, but proud of his first (and likely not last) production design credit.” [via Broadway World]

Bambie Thug has shared the music video for their upcoming Irish Eurovision entry ‘Doomsday Blue’. The Cork-born artist leans into black magic in the new video, which follows the story of a witch who inadvertently conjures up a strange creature after casting a spell to make a new boyfriend. It’s a brilliantly vivid visual that is no doubt set to wind up a small but vocal minority in Ireland who weren’t too happy and dared to accuse Bambie of promoting Satanism after they triumphed earlier this year with the alt-rock track. “I think it was quite iconic to have created such uproar. I’m pissing off the right type of people – people who suppress love, compassion, understanding, people who are slaves to their programming, transphobes, the far-right and a few priests so it seems,” Bambie explains. [via Rolling Stone UK]

Ariana Grande has released her second single, ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’, from her new album Eternal Sunshine — and the music video is heart-wrenching. The singer recently released her chart-topping album,and her latest music video to come from the album pays tribute to the movie which inspired it: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The video shows Grande taking on the character Peaches, who finds herself at the “Brighter Days Inc” doctor’s office to undergo a procedure to erase her painful memories of an ex. The video harks back to the film, which sees Jim Carrey’s Joel and Kate Winslet’s Clementine having similar treatment. Behind the short film is ‘Yes, And?’ director Christian Breslaur, while Dahmer actor Evan Peters appears alongside the singer as her ex. Her character moves through her memories of her ex, triggered by a box of his things. The video sees Peters’ character winning the singer’s character a bear at the arcade, recalling an argument they had in the middle of the night, making snow angels together, holding hands in bed, and sharing a very 16 Candles moment with a kiss over a birthday cake; all of which get deleted from her memory. Then, in perhaps the most heartbreaking scene of the music video, Peaches wakes up crying and clutching at her necklace. She bargains with the medical team to “keep this one please”, and they re-attribute Peters giving her the jewellery to a collar for her dog. In the end, her character seems relieved that her painful memories are no longer there hugging the doctors before her box of things is incinerated. Later, Grande’s character seems to have moved on with someone else, as did Peters’, when they walk past with no recollection of each other. Grande said in an Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe that the song is open to interpretation, but sums up “the album in a video”. “I think it can be applied to any kind of relationship, really, especially when you see the video. I think you’ll understand the importance of it,” she said. [via Pink News]

Allison Ponthier has shared new single ‘Skin’. Out now, it was seemingly prompted by a memorable concert, with Allison Ponthier left enraptured by her favourite artists. There’s a twist, however – she felt genuinely obsessed with the artist. Hailing from Dallas, Allison’s neat melodies and unerringly accurate pen have brought critical plaudits, with songs like ‘Cowboy’ going viral. ‘Skin’ takes her a step further – musically, it recalls everyone from boygenius to Japanese Breakfast, while also lacing in subtle hints of Americana. She comments: “I had this complicated feeling where I absolutely loved the show but also felt overwhelmed with jealousy — I wanted it to be me so badly. I left the venue with the lyrics to the verse in my head and assumed it would become a ballad, but when I went into the writing session I got the idea to sing ‘I wanna wear your skin’ at the chorus. I love how it sounds horror-movie-esque but describes a very real feeling I was afraid to express out loud.” The video was shot by Julian Buchan, taking stylistic cues from 90s thrillers. The clip co-stars Ponthier alongside Independent Spirit Award-nominated actor Suzanna Son. “I’m really attracted to writing songs that explore my weaknesses, and the challenge of ‘Skin’ was to create something that gave a voice to my inner saboteur,” says Ponthier. “I wanted to talk about feeling like you’re not good enough — which is something that every single person goes through — but to do it in a way that’s got some levity and feels upbeat and fun.” [via Clash]

Delilah Bon has just unveiled a triumphant new single called ‘Maverick’. The song’s release coincided with International Women’s Day (March 8), and as such Delilah explains that it’s about “self-worth and reclaiming your confidence, reminding yourself that you belong in the rooms you don’t always feel welcomed in. It’s about looking yourself in the mirror and believing in your power without needing the approval of others.” Excitingly, a press release also confirms that ‘Maverick’ is a “sneak peek into her upcoming second album, set to be released later this year” – so keep your eyes peeled for more on that… [via Kerrang!]

A rising star in the punk underground, Kate Clover recently announced her new record, The Apocalypse Dream, due out April 5. Following the release of ‘Damage Control’, which came alongside her LP announcement last month, now sees a video-only release of her raucous second single, ‘Like A Domino’. The video, directed and edited by Clover, spoofs a late-night talk show performance, and sees her and a cadre of backup dancers broadcast their new dance, “The Domino” to the world. Speaking on the origins of ‘Like A Domino’, Clover said, “I overheard a conversation where a woman told her friend she “played him like a domino”. Intrigued by this sentiment I wrote the chorus with the phrase. I like the innuendo it exudes. With this theme in mind, I enlisted my choreographer friend Sandi Denton of Rated Z dancers to create an original dance to accompany the song, titled “The Domino”. It’s a nod to the twist, the mashed potato and the Loco-motion. I wanted this song to be a garage rock banger that gets people up on their feet and prod some fun.”

Los Angeles indie-poppers the Marías made a name for themselves with their first two EPs, 2017’s Superclean Vol. I and 2018’s Superclean Vol. II, and they were already a big deal when they released their 2021 debut album Cinema. Since then, the Marías have truly blown up, collaborating with big stars like Bad Bunny and Young Miko. Early this year they collaborated with LA producer Eyedress on the singles ‘Separate Ways’ and ‘A Room Up In The Sky.’ Now, the Marías have announced their sophomore album Submarine, and they’ve dropped a pretty great lead single. Submarine comes out this spring, but we don’t have a tracklist or any details yet. What we have is ‘Run Your Mouth,’ a sleek and funky new track. Bandmates María Zardoya and Josh Conway wrote the song, and Conway produced it. It’s a warm and genuinely catchy fuck-you song. The glammed-out video, directed by regular collaborator, looks like a ’90s Gap commercial. Here’s what Zardoya says about the track: “This was one of the first songs Josh and I wrote on Submarine. I was conflict avoidant at the time, and whenever someone wanted to talk about something serious, I’d run and hide. I learned that was a protective mechanism and I didn’t have the capacity to open up. There’s no other song on the album like it, hope you dance to this one.” [via Stereogum]

Toronto-born, Los Angeles-based alternative sensation Abby Sage treats her audience to a captivating video for ‘Three Floors, Three Doors,’ the focus track from her debut album The Rot. The project released March 1st via Nettwerk. The second track of the album, ‘Three Floors, Three Doors’ juxtaposes a dreamy sonic profile with Sage’s uncomfortable realization that she can never return to the innocence she had as a child. The song tears down and rebuilds everything she thought she knew, admitting and welcoming the uncomfortable fact that change is inevitable. Like the rest of the album, ‘Three Floors, Three Doors’ was made in collaboration with London-based production team MyRiot aka Roy Kerr and Tim Bran (who worked on Sage’s 2022 The Florist EP). “Three Floors, Three Doors’, to me, is the realization that nothing can be erased. Everything I’ve been taught and have experienced will always live inside of me no matter how badly I want to pick and choose what I keep and what I let go,” Sage explains. “It describes a spiraling moment I had one evening where I felt like I was looking at my body from three floors above. From above, I could clearly map everything out and think rationally but when I returned to my body nothing had changed, I still felt everything I had before.” The accompanying music video serves as a captivating voyage of self-revelation, offering viewers a glimpse into Abby’s mind as she struggles with, and eventually embraces the concept of interconnectedness. With figures draped in both black and white, the video presents a compelling visual dichotomy – symbolizing the complexities of memory and perception, echoing Abby’s internal conflict as she navigates the contours of her own psyche. “‘Three Floors, Three Doors’ deals with acceptance of self and the vertigo of change in your journey,” Sage continues. “Masks have been this visual throughline in the project so far, and I think they worked especially well here to capture the feeling of struggle and the different masks you wear along your journey. I also wanted to demonstrate that struggle through the choreography. The scene with the two doors specifically, shows the push and pull of navigating through two sets of choices to find the right path forward.” [via Broadway World]

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Back in 2019, the twangy punk band Rodeo Boys released their debut album, Cherry, and they followed it up a year later with the stray single ‘Dog Leg.’ Now, the Lansing, Michigan group have announced a new album, Home Movies, their first for Don Giovanni Records. They’re sharing the gnarled, catchy lead single ‘Sugar,’ a chugging showcase for vocalist Tiff Hannay’s melodious growl. “How can I make it up to you?/ Could have been anyone else/ Well, it’s the least that I could do/ But I just can’t get through to myself,” Hannay sings. Watch a video below. [via Stereogum]

LA mystic-rock mainstay Death Valley Girls share their final empowering title-track ‘Islands in the Sky’ accompanied by a haunting visual directed by Dylan Greenberg. The band’s new LP Islands in the Sky is out now via Suicide Squeeze Records and the band are set to tour across the UK this February and March. About the track, lead-member Bonnie Bloomgarden offers: “We wrote ‘Islands in the Sky ‘for our future selves, hoping that if we can share the secrets we have learned from this life, and all our past lives, we wouldn’t have to suffer or feel alone again in our next carnations! You are not becoming the best version of yourself, you are and always have been, the highest and best you, eternally! You may have forgotten from societal programming, how you were raised, trauma, or ancestral circumstances, but as you grow, try to remember that the highest version of you, is cheering you on! Sending you messages to pay attention to your intuition and trust yourself. To love yourself. And to never forget… From director, Dylan Greenberg on the video: “When Bonnie approached me about making a video for this song, I was excited because the song connected with me immediately. The music and lyrics have a beautiful, melancholy optimism that called to mind a certain timelessness found in work by the Sherman Brothers and the late Burt Bacharach, with a rock/punk edge. The video was made remotely, so I wanted to put together an immersive digital environment for the band and the ghosts to be able to move in. My partner and I dressed in all black and wore ghost costumes they made and double exposed them into the video. It’s an effect that’s been done since the dawn of special effects by pioneers like George Melies, but with the benefit of digital effects allowing me to control them with a virtual camera. I wanted to make sure the movement, tone and visuals all matched the “spirit” (no pun intended) of the song and had a flowing, optimistic energy that I felt emanated from the music.”

Musician and singer-songwriter Lina Maxine releases her latest track ‘LET ME’, launching the next exciting phase of her career with an anthemic pop-rock song guaranteed to captivate listeners with its universal message and up-tempo, power punk musical heart. Lina explains, “Inspired by the great 007 anthems, ‘LET ME’ is about the power of human embrace in the face of adversity, with commanding lyrics conveying strength and drawing people closer together. I wanted to kick off 2023 with a passionate song that offers emotional support to listeners, eliciting hope and a real sense of connection to music, and to each other.” The track opens with a stripped-back, subdued intro, with warm piano chords supporting Lina’s husky, power ballad vocal. ‘LET ME’ then picks up the pace with steel-stringed guitar riffs, energetic bass, hi-octane drums and raw electric strums allowing Lina’s effortless, rockstar vocals to shine. The track intersects genres, gliding through nostalgia-tinged pop with elements of acoustic prog rock and punk expertly thrown into the mix. Written, produced, recorded and mixed in-house by Lina Maxine and Dean Aladay, ‘LET ME’ showcases Lina’s modern rockstar energy alongside an intelligence and musicality that transcends the stage. Mastering the spotlight in both live and recording studio environments, Lina continues to grow her international fanbase, building her close community of ‘Nerd-n-Roll’ addicts.

Multi-instrumentalist and producer Madison McFerrin announced her debut album, I Hope You Can Forgive Me, due out on May 12. Madison produced most of the album herself, and it includes a feature from her father, Bobby McFerrin. The first taste of the album comes from new single ‘(Please Don’t) Leave Me Now,’ an alluring R&B/pop track Madison wrote following a severe car accident. It was produced by Andrew Lappin and is accompanied by a music video directed by Kemp Baldwin. Madison explains: “Being able to walk away from a near-death experience without physical harm is one of the greatest blessings I’ve received in this life. It reaffirmed my purpose as an artist. Writing ‘(Please Don’t) Leave Me Now’ became an incredibly therapeutic and cathartic experience. Being able to express that kind of fear while still creating a fun environment was key to making this song. Death showed up in more ways than one in the process of making this video. In the weeks leading up to the shoot, multiple family members on the production side passed unexpectedly, bringing our plans to a halt. The fate of the video was in flux. Thanks to the tenacity of my team, we were able to regroup and move forward, albeit with a delay. For the video, we wanted to capture the feeling of not being prepared to die. I’m talking to myself both above and within the grave, grieving both who I was and who I could be. I didn’t expect being in a grave for multiple hours in a day would affect me, but it definitely contributed to my journey in processing a near-death experience. This song and video are a manifestation of my own personal growth as not only a musician, but as a human.” [via Brooklyn Vegan]

Prima Queen have announced their debut EP Not The Baby. Set for release on May 3 via Big Indie Records, the duo have described the EP as a reflection on their own feelings and the feelings of those closest to them. “We’ve both experienced a lot of change in the past few years and since we write all our songs together we’re usually drawn to write about our parallel experiences,” Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden explain. “In this EP we explore different types of change – birth & death, leaving & returning – and how it can affect our relationships. It’s a reflection not only on our own feelings but also the feelings of our family, friends and lovers. We’re really excited to finally release a complete body of work, rather than stand alone singles. These songs are meant to be listened to together and we want people to experience the emotional journey that they create.” News of the EP is accompanied by the new single ‘Back Row’, with the duo revealing, “’Back Row’ is about the pain of hurting someone that was really important to you. The EP talks a lot about changes in relationships and this song brings to light how failed relationships can be beautiful in their own way and ultimately make you who you are.” [via Dork]

Creams has shared new single ‘Need To Talk’. The track is fuelled by an urgent sense of energy, yet its intensity is rendered in a hugely positive fashion. Confrontational in the best possible sense, it’s a hyper-stylised piece of left-field pop, experimental while daring to be open. The Tbilisi, Georgia creator leads from the front, cutting through the challenges in her way. The vocal is on-point, the driving passion of her delivery set against emphatic electronics. Creams comments… “Confronting challenges in life, whether it be in relationships or careers, can be interpreted in different ways. However, facing these challenges helps to build strength and resilience. Eyes that consume, a struggle that’s real, and a mind that won’t stop spinning.,This song is like a journey through my feelings and the chaos in my head. This is a raw and honest look at the fight against my inner demons. Are you here alone or with your support system?” Avi Musaifi directs the video, a hypnotic short film shot at Tskaltubo Sanatorium, an abandoned resort in Tskaltubo. [via Clash]

Glasgow dark-pop mistress Lucia & The Best Boys returns with new song ‘When You Dress Up’. The new single is her first piece of music since 2021’s The State Of Things EP, and finds the songwriter doubling down on her evil, twinkling charm. Mid-way between Lana del Rey and Jenny Hval, Lucia & The Best Boys seems to make pop songs for people who think Wednesday Addams is a little on the optimistic side. New single ‘When You Dress Up’ is shrouded in post-midnight glamour, and it represents something of a turning point for the Glasgow artist. She comments… “I’ve known since the first time we played ‘When You Dress Up’ in the studio that it was the first song I wanted people to hear for this turning point in my music. This song resonates deeply with my values as a woman with its unapologetic, empowering energy. For me, this is an evolution from themes I have sung about in the past which underline the weight of the male gaze, and learning not to suppress our own identity for the sake of another person’s version of who we should be.” [via Clash]

For the past few years, the Chicago poet and musician Kara Jackson has popped up as a collaborator on albums from the likes of Sen Morimoto and Lala Lala. After being named the National Youth Poet Laureate in 2019, she released her first collection of original music, the A Song For Every Chamber Of The Heart EP. In the last couple months, Jackson has shared some singles — ‘No Fun/Party,’ ‘Dickhead Blues,’ and ‘Brain’ — from her debut album, which is being officially announced alongside another new song, ‘Pawnshop.’ Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love? is out in April, and it features production contributions from Nnamdi, Kaina, and Sen Morimoto, who are all part of the same Chicago scene. Jackson cites Nina Simone, Fiona Apple, and Joanna Newsom as influences, and you can hear all of them to varying degrees on ‘Pawnshop’. [via Stereogum]

While ideas of catharsis are explored on the latest single from Dama Scout’s Eva Liu under her moniker mui zyu, ‘Talk to Death’ is far from heavy, upbeat, or otherwise blood-pumping. Instead, she expresses release through a collected and calculated evaluation of a past “putrid” relationship, as she puts it, with the near-ambient and often-surreal instrumentation still recovering from the decayed romance before beginning the next chapter. “It’s about pawning moldy gifts for new beginnings and playing with ideas of the mundane vs. the extraordinary,” she explains. For a more literal reading of the track title, the video’s directors CLUMP Collective show Liu in an administrative setting literally becoming bored to death as a co-worker talks at her about office matters, landing her in hell where she receives a mani from Death himself. “We had loads of fun killing Eva off in mui zyu’s video!” the collective shares. “We sent her to have a chat with the least threatening Death imaginable; expect fabulous nails, chattering teeth, and the return of her beloved peachy pet.” [via Flood]

Lido Pimienta has shared the music video for ‘Te Quería,’ a track from her 2020 LP, Miss Colombia. The video—directed and edited by J. Gallardo Kattah—depicts Pimienta in a fantasy world as “Queen of the Clowns,” dancing with her clown court before being interrupted a sad clown who turns his gun on them. Of the new clip, Pimienta said in a statement: “The visual for ‘Te Quería’ has always been conceived as a story about transformation—about getting right back up, despite having our spirit shut down. ‘Te Quería’ is a song that exposes toxic relationships, power imbalances and the need for some people, particularly those who we love the most, to confuse our generosity for stupidity.” [via Pitchfork]

International pop sensation and Grammy nominee JAIN is unveiling her new single ‘The Fool’ alongside a music video. This marks the first taste of new music following her sophomore album Souldier and her debut album Zanaka. The song is the first off her much-anticipated new album coming this spring on Columbia/Sony Music France. A new chapter for the multi-cultural popstar both personally and artistically, this poetic body of work is inspired by self-empowerment, new chances and beginnings, and the need to overcome one’s fears. Although entirely composed by JAIN and produced by her long-time collaborator Maxim Nucci/Yodelice, she teamed up with some new creatives to elevate her work to a new era. This international pop and folk album chronicles all the stages one goes through when making a fresh start: fear, excitement, innocence, doubts, letting go and epiphany. While the new album draws on artistic influences such as Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks, much of JAIN’s music originally blended a myriad of genres such as Arabic percussion, African rhythms, electro, reggae, soul and hip hop. She relies heavily on Tarot de Marseilles, an art her mother passed on to her which gives her the strength to jump into the unknown through an instinctive perception of the world’s dangers and possibilities. The Fool is the holiest card in the deck. You can’t go on any kind of journey unless you’re willing to be foolish. Taking your first step, driving a car, falling in love. There’s always a risk you’ll lose your balance. At any moment. But in the end, the fool’s journey is the only journey. [via Broadway World]

Less than a year after the release of her debut album, The Paradise Club, Claudia Bouvette is back with ‘Highly Unrecommended,’ a brand new single that tackles the difficult subject of forbidden love. This bittersweet pop song, which could have been featured on the soundtrack of an early 2000’s rom-com, is an anthem for the hopeless romantics of this world. The inspiration for ‘Highly Unrecommended’ came from a time when Claudia fell in love with someone she shouldn’t have, in a context where it was unthinkable and unacceptable to feel that way. “He came into my life as fast as he left and that feeling stuck with me for a long time,” explains the singer. Originally written on the guitar, bold snares and vocal melodies were later added to give the track a nostalgic y2k feel. ‘Highly Unrecommended’ is accompanied by a music video directed by Vincent Gravel. With an intimate lighting and a distinctive visual identity, the artist captivates the viewer’s attention as she delivers her lyrics with tenderness in a way that evokes the sentimental nature of the song. [via Bonsound]

Powder Blue, the highly anticipated new album from Begonia—the solo project of alt-pop Canadian artist Alexa Dirks—is out now on Birthday Cake Records. In addition, Begonia unveils the music video for feature track ‘The Only One’, directed by Gwen Trutnau. Of ‘The Only One,’ Begonia recalls, “you know that feeling when you think everyone around you is having more fun in their lives than you, so you force yourself out of bed and into the world only to realize you just want to be at home back under the covers? That feeling of running up to the club doors like you are about to enter the best night of your life, but then you end up waiting at the back of the line freezing cold wishing you’d never gone out. I wrote this being like…‘I can’t be the only one, right?’” [via Total Entertainment]

Allison Ponthier returns with ‘Character Development,’ her first new music since her acclaimed 2022 EP Shaking Hands with Elvis. The track calls out an emotional villain who tries to spin past bad behavior as a “growth experience.” Ponthier penned the song with Grammy Award nominees K.Flay and Tommy English. English also produced and played on the track. “‘Character Development’ is about the people I’ve encountered who have treated me poorly, to then turn around and say that learning from that experience has made them a better person,” says Allison Ponthier. “No one should be made to feel like they have to be a casualty or compromise themselves for someone else’s growth. I wrote the track with K.Flay and Tommy English, and it’s been the most cathartic song to sing on tour.” Ponthier teamed up with Brooklyn-based visual artist and content creator Maris Jones–who, like her, is enamored with pop culture and retro style–to co-direct the official video for ‘Character Development.’ Playing into the title’s literary reference, Ponthier plays a best-selling romance novelist with writer’s block. After exploring a series of plotlines that just don’t click, she reimagines the dashing young protagonist and chances for a happily-ever-after ending soar. Maris Jones said, “I was so privileged to work with Allison whose creative vision aligned serendipitously with mine. Working with her was effortless, and the result reflects our shared passion for creating a vibrant visual journey to take viewers on a unique ride parallel to the music. I hope the video will capture the song’s essence but also connect with viewers, leaving a lasting impression that resonates with them long after the video has ended.” [via UDiscoverMusic]

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bella White has announced her new album Among Other Things, out on April 21 via Rounder Records. To mark the occasion White has released a new single, ‘Break My Heart’ and its companion music video. “Out of all of the songs I’ve written, ‘Break My Heart’ is probably the most explicitly about getting dumped. I wrote it with no intention of ever sharing it. I didn’t even feel any particular emotional attachment to it like I do with my other songs, because it was such an isolated experience, zooming in on one specific moment in time. That said, bringing it to life by turning a valley into a peak felt deeply cathartic. It’s a heartbreaker that I hope will at least get you moving.” [via UDiscoverMusic]

The Reneé Rapp hype train barrels forward and is picking up right where she left off a breakout 2022. The deluxe version of Everything to Everyone has arrived with an extended edition of the title track and a new single, ‘Bruises.’ “All my friends make sweet fun of me, I guess it’s funny but the truth’s I bruise easily,” Rapp croons on the ballad. “I’m down to be the joke, metaphorically though, you could flip me inside out and they would show black, purple and green.” The accompanying visuals show Rapp being attacked with knives by strangers and, perhaps cutting deeper, by friends on an ordinary day out. The music video was directed by Hannah Lux Davis, who’s best known for her work in pop with stars like Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and more.“On the day [of the video shoot], I was incredibly annoyed. Not by anyone or thing, just, anxiety for me manifests in a lot of different ways,” Rapp tells Rolling Stone. “I don’t remember even acting throughout most of the video. It was just naturally there through the edginess of the day. Hannah created this entire world that cradled the song like a baby.” [via Rolling Stone]

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Bonnie Trash is the drone-rock project of Canadian-Italian twin sisters Emmalia and Sarafina Bortolon-Vettor. They’ve shared new single ‘Teeth’ – a first glimpse at their debut album, which is due to be released later this year by Hand Drawn Dracula. ‘Teeth’ sees Bonnie Trash at their poppiest, recontextualizing a ‘Be My Baby’ beat (a nod to Ronnie Spector up above) before a wash of swoony, microtonal drones, the words telling of a love story that might be toxic. The band share the track with a self-directed video, commenting: “We created a short film to help narrate stories our Nonna Maria told us about being haunted and followed by a curse in her hometown of San Zenone degli Ezzelini in Treviso, Italy. That short eventually became the concept of our album, which is woven into our first music video, ‘Teeth.’ Shot at the Apollo Cinema in Kitchener, Ontario, ‘Teeth’ bridges generations of being haunted – we see ourselves watching our work without understanding that we too have conjured the curse. A malocchio follows.”

Manchester’s very own Robin Knightz is back with a new single dubbed ‘It’s About Time’ alongside visuals. The 23-year-old riser has been turning heads up and down the country since releasing her single ‘Fiji Drip’ back in 2018. Now signed to Sony 5K Records, the young artist has her sights set and is someone that should definitely be on your radar. Releasing a brand new single, ‘It’s About Time’ alongside some vibrant visuals, Robin Knightz has once again blown us away. The artist signature style of rap and pop sound complements the neon futuristic visuals perfectly. [via GRM Daily]

Later this summer, TOPS keyboardist Marta Cikojevic is releasing her debut album as Marci. We’ve heard a pair of tracks from it already, ‘Entertainment’ and ‘Immaterial Girl,’ and now she’s back with another one, the gauzy and breezy ‘Terminal.’ “’Terminal’ is my joke vapid lingo about being dead because something is soooo cool,” Cikojevic explained. “The song is about how music can be so overwhelmingly good it allows you to fully escape. David [Carriere] and I wrote the seed of this song while we were pregaming for a party that turned out to be shit.” [via Stereogum]

Next month, Chicago’s Beach Bunny will release their sophomore album, Emotional Creature. So far, the indie-pop cover stars have shared lead single ‘Oxygen,’ ‘Fire Escape,’ ‘Karate’ (with a video featuring a cameo from Bob Odenkirk), and now they’re back with another new single and video: ‘Entropy.’ Like the previous Emotional Creature offerings, ‘Entropy’ is a Y2K-era pop-rock blast, full of melodic guitar riffs, which are punctuated by Lili Trifilio’s yearning vocals. The video, meanwhile, continues down the previously discussed sci-fi aesthetic, with the band crafting a full action-adventure storyline inspired by Star Wars and Star Trek. [via Stereogum]

The A’s is a duo featuring two thirds of Mountain Man: Amelia Meath (also of Sylvan Esso) and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig (also of Daughter of Swords). Their debut album Fruit comes out July 15 via Psychic Hotline, and it features new interpretations of “lullabies, traditional ballads and rural standards […] and other music that Meath and Sauser-Monnig simply love to sing,” plus the original song ‘When I Die.’ It was produced by The A’s and Amelia’s Sylvan Esso bandmate Nick Sanborn, and it was “made with a makeshift orchestra of nylon shorts, hair, shoes, ice chunk, gravel, frog samples and other unexpected objects.” It also features vocals, electronics, and more from Nick Sanborn, guest vocals from Jenn Wasner (Flock of Dimes, Wye Oak) on the original song ‘When I Die,’ backing vocals from Alli Rogers, string arrangements from Gabriel Kahane on ‘He Needs Me,’ saxophone from Sam Gendel on ‘Copper Kettle,’ and guitar from Alan Good Parker on ‘Swing and Turn Jubilee.’ The first two songs released are a rendition of Harry Nilsson and Shelley Duvall’s ‘He Needs Me’ from the 1980 Popeye movie, and a rendition of the DeZurik Sisters’ ‘Why I’m Grieving.’ The former is sweeping and vintage in an early 20th century pop kind of way, while the latter is a whimsical, yodeling a cappella. [via Brooklyn Vegan]

Pixey is back with her new single, ‘Come Around (Sunny Day)’. The Liverpool newcomer’s first new music since last October’s Sunshine State EP, it arrives ahead of a project coming later this year. “‘Come Around (Sunny Day)’ is a 90s style summer tune I wrote around looped guitars and breakbeat samples,” Pixel explains. “I wanted to create a tune with an upbeat vibe but with the lyrics keeping to a more anxious undertone. It’s about struggling to say what you mean when someone won’t hear you out – something I definitely relate to!” [via Dork]

Bells Larsen has announced their debut album, Good Grief. Set for release on September 9, news of the record is accompanied by teaser single and video, ‘Double Aquarius’. “I love this song because it was born during one of the darker periods of my life, but is sonically quite bouncy and upbeat,” Bells explains.”I was listening to a lot of Soccer Mommy, Courtney Barnett, and Frankie Cosmos at the time, so I had developed an affinity for tongue-in-cheek lyrics melded with memorable hooks. This song is about blaming your blues on astrology.” Of the video, they add: “Contrary to what ‘Double Aquarius’ might imply, I’m not that big into astrology. I do know, however, that Aquarians tend to be spacey. I thought it might be fun to run with the astrology theme and have the video take place in space. Director Jack Harrison’s retro visual aesthetic lent itself really well to the video and we had a ton of fun playing around with the special effects (like me floating!). When I’m feeling off, I tend to ask myself if there’s something going on with me or if there’s just something in the stars. This video splits the difference and shows that it can be a bit of both.” [via Dork]

Nina Nesbitt will release new album Älskar on September 2. The title means ‘to love’ in Swedish, a nod to her heritage and a country that played a key role in the making of the record. Sessions for Älskar date back to 2019, but when the pandemic intervened Nina Nesbitt began completing sessions over Zoom, using the spare bedroom in her mother’s house. She comments: “Making this album was a completely different experience to anything I’ve made before, although a lot of the music was created remotely, I feel that I’ve processed so much and learnt a lot about the relationships in my life during the last few years. I wanted to capture all types of love in their raw forms, whether it be romantic, heartbreak, friendship, coming of age, familial or self love.” New single ‘Pressure Makes Diamonds’ is out now, a polished return with a lyric that discusses the way society treats women as they mature. Crafted alongside producers Jack & Coke, Swedish artist SHY Martin was also on hand during the sessions. Nina adds: “I wrote ‘Pressure Makes Diamonds’ about trying to navigate my way through the societal pressures I started to feel as a woman in my mid-twenties.” Director Wolf James worked on the video, a playfully stylish return from Nina. [via Clash]

Danish-Faroese Brimheim released the critically acclaimed album can’t hate myself into a different shape in January this year, and now she’s finished the music video for the title track. It’s a visual gem, made with the Danish director Tone Ottilie behind the camera, about bodies, shame, acceptance and the music video showcases different queer couples in their homes and intimate spaces. “We asked the actors to show us something meaningful for them. Friends, creativity, partners or spouses and we tried to show a pallet of heartwarming ways that queer people express their passions and show their intimate spaces. I think I kinda ended up making the video I needed to see myself. The overall message is that self love and love for others can be a way out of self loathing”, Tone Ottilie says.

A remarkably precocious multi-hyphenate, this songwriter, producer, and vocalist is busy doing it her own way, melding towards R&B with shards of ultra-colourful pop music. Recent single ‘Will We Ever Get This Right’ was a radiant offering, but we reckon floweroflove could have surpassed herself with the follow-up. Out now, ‘Hannah Montana’ has a cute sense of innocence, but it contrasts this with the world-weariness of an artist in bloom. Aiming for something “nostalgic, versatile, mellow, warm, and the feeling of home” she twists between her dual roles: the academic young student, and the hotly-tipped artist. As she puts it: “‘Hannah Montana’ is a reflection of how I’m a regular student on the weekdays but on the weekends I’m Flowerovlove.” [via Clash]

We are here to provide you with some much-needed escapism in the form of Hēir’s ‘Vertigo’. An ethereal tune that promises to enchant thanks to its all-consuming atmospheric production and the Russian singer’s other-worldly tone, we can guarantee that the woes of the real world will feel like a very distant memory upon first listen. “‘The difficulty in maintaining balance and the fear of letting go. The song symbolises the transformation we experience as soon as we leave a relationship behind, when we feel lost yet attracted to a new beginning and the unknown,” explains the artist when discussing her newest release and the meaning behind the tune. “The sample within the song is meant to simulate a video game, where you fall and get back up until you pass onto the next level. ‘Vertigo’ is the jump to the new level.” And, the accompanying music video is as out-of-this-world as the track itself. With the artist taking to a set of escalators underneath a celestial sky, the project promises to transport viewers away from their desks and into the depths of Hēir’s sweet-sounding and slightly trippy world. [via Wonderland]

Fearsome shredder, songwriter, producer and unconventional rock luminary KAYE is officially back with the single and video ‘Neon God.’ This week’s release, the title track off of her upcoming EP set to be released on August 5, ushers in the funky, flamboyant response to 2020’s acclaimed Conscious Control. “This song has so many layers of meaning for me. I was raised in a conservative Christian household, and to my Chinese immigrant parents, becoming a rock star was the most Satanic thing I could possibly do. I had a promise ring! I went to church camp,” laughs KAYE about ‘Neon God’. “One day, I snuck out of the house and experienced my first punk show, and that was when I was TRULY evangelized. I found belonging with all these other misfits, and THAT became my church. Since then, I’ve been fascinated by this idea of how not just rock stars, but politicians, celebrities, actors, tech leaders, news anchors—all have their own cults of personality. It made me think about what I worship now, as opposed to back then—has one idol just been swapped for another?” The official video for ‘Neon God’ was directed by KAYE’s sister, acclaimed filmmaker Liann Kaye (‘The Blessing’). This choreographed storyline flashes between the dark and the light as KAYE contemplates what in life is worth worshiping. In full rock-and-roll Devil style, she shreds on her guitar while adorning black angel wings. If one thing is clear from the video, this is KAYE’s pulpit and we all better tune into what she has to say.

Brooklyn-based alt-pop singer-songwriter, Sabrina Song, shares her first single, the contemplative track, ‘Doors’ and its accompanying video, from her forthcoming EP due out this winter. ‘Doors,’ sees Song gently explore toxicity, reckoning with ways to address a relationship that has remained unsustainable. A quiet edge exists throughout the track, where listeners may find themselves waiting for the beat to pick up, or explode, but it never does, brilliantly capturing the feelings evoked by the lyricism and song itself. Song explains,”‘Doors’ is about a toxic relationship where no matter what you do or say, they are never satisfied. I reference specific moments throughout my life where it feels as though I was letting someone down or being let down myself, yet was still made to feel as though it was my fault. The chorus shows that feeling you have when you just need to get out of a situation and be alone to process: “I don’t care how it sounds, I just want to go home.” The music video, directed by Zac Dov Wiesel, sees Song reliving high school moments, from getting ready for prom, to high school football games, a birthday party and more. One of the high school football players can be seen throughout the video, with whom things continually seem tense. Explaining the idea behind the video, Wiesel adds, “We wanted to capture this time in adolescence that is filled with such an odd mix of feelings. To portray something that is so serious yet so silly. Capture something that feels so real and is also filled with artifice. We imagined a lot of these scenes like moments frozen in time, like photographs. What does it look like to be winning but also be so hurt?” Tying the song into the video, Wiesel continues, “The song is about how the little actions a toxic person does can feel so big. We wanted to portray something that could be perceived as silly with real weight. We always wanted to create a mixture of tones, and I feel like that makes people uncomfortable, and I love that.” Speaking to the video’s juxtaposition of winning while also losing, Song explains, “We wanted to show these hyperbolized scenes of winning and success, and contrast them with the presence of this one intrusive figure. That feeling of everything going great, and having this one person who’s capable of spoiling every moment.” With the visual paired with the track, Song captures the intricacies of walking away from something that can feel good, but ultimately causes pain as she finds the strength to choose herself.

Dropping her new single ‘BONNIE (B-SIDE)’, KENZIE TTH pushes the boundaries on experimentation and effortlessly blurs the lines between alt-R&B and contemporary pop. Showcasing her smooth unmistakable vocals and slick songwriting prowess, the singer-songwriter layers this over an eccentric ear-worming production that instantly brings the vibe. Accompanying the release with an equally as creative video, the artist takes full control and provides an abstract visual that brings her non-conformist attitude to life. Speaking on the release, the artist said, “To me, Bonnie as a character is the girl that gets labelled ‘quirky’ or the ‘eccentric manic pixie dream girl; and feels like she plays a supporting character in her own life. I think we all have some Bonnie in us — the presentation and performance of self that then gets commodified and flattened into a two-dimensional object by others.” [via Wonderland]

With a decade of acting behind her, YDE aims to conquer the music world as duelling identities dominate her new single ‘Old Her’. ‘Old Her’ adds to her already sizeable fan base built from years of acting in Nickelodeon and Netflix tweener shows like The Haunted Hathaways, School of Rock, and Malibu Rescue. But like fellow thespian Jared Leto, YDE doesn’t consider music to be a sideline. She plays every instrument needed for a rock band – guitar, bass, keys and drums – and her piano skills are a prominent part of ‘Old Her.’ In the new video, the new and old YDE personas dance and grapple with each other while the lyrics summarise the ongoing struggle: “She miss the old her, even though the new her is better than the old her“. “The song is my perspective on growing up and feeling like life never gets easier,” YDE shares. “Each verse is a real-time reflection from different chapters of life that all point back to the sarcastic conclusion that ignorance is bliss.” [via Line Of Best Fit]

Chloe Moriondo returns with new single ‘Hell Hounds’. Out now, the single appears on the deluxe edition of her new album, with Blood Bunny Deluxe boasting alternate and acoustic tracks. ‘Hell Hounds’ is a single that has been brewing for some time, a perfectly-primed dose of rebel pop from the outlaw talent. “I’ve been waiting SO FUCKING LONG to release this and am so excited for everyone to hear it,” she comments. “This is the beginning of a shiny new era and i hope everyone loves it!! <3” [via Clash]

Brooklyn indie pop duo, Daisy the Great have returned just in time for summer with their new single, ‘Easy’ via S-Curve/Hollywood Records. The vulnerable breakup track comes accompanied by an official music video, co-directed by Daisy the Great and NYC-based filmmaker Edoardo Ranaboldo (AJR). “‘Easy’ is a breakup song about all of the complicated – i.e. not always easy – feelings that come along with the end of a relationship,” say Daisy the Great about the song, “The song is about learning to trust yourself, finding joy in loving yourself, feeling hope! At the same time, it’s about how sometimes even when something isn’t right, it still hurts to let it go. The music video was filmed in Brooklyn and features our whole band as well as choreography by our dear friend Matilda Sakamoto. With the video, we wanted to explore a lot of the ups and downs of a breakup. Sometimes we might feel chaotic, or really free and independent, or we might experience true grief for something lost. And in those tough moments we lean on our pals. So even though the video is a lot about the break up, it’s also about friends being there for each other.” [via Prelude Press]

Allison Ponthier wants to know: “When celebrities — especially misunderstood famous women — pass away, what happens after they die?” On Thursday, the songstress asked that question and explores utopic afterlife in the funky music video for ‘Hollywood Forever Cemetery’ off her new Shaking Hands with Elvis EP. “In this video, ‘Hollywood Forever Cemetery’ is a haven for those whose value and talents were taken for granted in life,” she tells Rolling Stone. “While I truly believe that anyone can receive the help they need to make life worth living, I always wanted to imagine the stars that were gone too soon in a place that respected them.” The video introduces viewers to “Hat Girl” after she dies and realizes she’s only remembered for being a starlet as she reads headlines dehumanizing her with headlines like “Starlet’s Latest Role: Coffin Filler” and “Hat Girl Sheds Final Tear.” She’s then accepted by the “kooky but lovable characters” at the cemetery, including a furried Elvis. [via Rolling Stone]

Two-time Grammy nominee Madison Cunningham announces new album Revealer and is set for release on September 9 via Decca Records. “’Hospital’ is written from this sort of half awake, slightly drunken, on the cusp of a nervous breakdown perspective,” Cunningham explains of her new single. “I think ultimately it speaks to the impossible condition of being sedated with information and trying to hold onto your sanity.” [via Total Entertainment]

Canadian goth pop artist POESY has released her haunting new single, ‘Multiply’. Her second taste of new music to come from her upcoming debut album, I Exist, ‘Multiply’ is about facing an all encompassing rage in the midst of pain. ‘Multiply’ follows POESY’s powerful and positive track, ‘Still Breathing’, serving as a perfect contrast to the other uplifting song. Eerie synths and sinister string arrangements really drive the track home as POESY admits, “I swear I didn’t mean it to end like this, but you know what you did.” She may not have wanted to fight fire with fire, but sometimes, as she states, “rage is a pretty thing”. [via Prelude Press]

Abby Roberts has shared the new video for ‘Video Girl’, the latest track to arrive from the singer’s anticipated debut EP Ashes. The new video sees the Leeds singer satirising unrealistic expectations placed on our lives by social media. It sees her taking a powder called Miracle-Lax in order to achieve an “insta-perfect life”, which is in keeping with the song’s powerful critique of social media’s dark side. “I wish that I looked like you. And lately I’ve been working on my smile too,” she sings on the new alt-rock driven track. Speaking to Rolling Stone UK, Roberts said of the new video: “I’m so in love with how the music video turned out. It was probably our most ambitious one so far with so much going on, there’s so many easter eggs & references, I recruited some fans from Tiktok too and you may even spot a few familiar faces! It was the most fun i’ve ever had filming a music video.” [via Rolling Stone]

Rising star, Iyla has returned with a brand-new single, ‘2LATE,’ out now via 3T Entertainment/Astra Velum/EMPIRE. ‘2LATE’ serves as the follow up to ‘Sad Bitch Bad Bitch,’ which marked the first taste of new music from the California-born artist and songwriter. ‘2LATE’ was written by Iyla and Y2 and produced by longtime collaborator Kadis. As one might expect with a new Iyla release, ‘2LATE’ arrives with an epic and otherworldly music video. The video was filmed on location in Frazier Park and Crestline in California and directed by longtime collaborator Patrick “Embryo” Tapu, with styling from Brookelyn Styles. Her exemplary, other-worldly visuals are fast becoming an Iyla trademark, each one delving deeper into her avant-garde approach to her art and fueled with important messages. “I wanted ‘2LATE’ to tell the heart-aching story of moving on from a toxic relationship, falling in love with someone new, and having your heart torn in two places at once,” Iyla reveals about the track. Speaking about the video, she adds, “The music video explores the pain of what that love triangle would look like if all three parties were forced to watch it unfold.” [via Vents Magazine]

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