Born from Riot Grrrl, VENUS GRRRLS are an alternative rock band from Leeds. From twinkling synth motifs to raspy guitar lines, the girls present the dark yet empowering discourse surrounding their own synergistic experiences. Seeing someone you care about manipulated, demeaned, and have their self-esteem crushed by a narcissistic individual can evoke a sense of helplessness and frustration. ‘Liar Liar’ is written from the abuser’s grip, but encourages the idea that people can reclaim their autonomy, rediscover their worth, and ultimately, forge a path towards renewed emotional well-being and empowerment. The band say, “‘Liar Liar’ took some time to finish, both lyrically and instrumentally. The topic, often very personal and contextual was something I wanted to make sure was adequately represented despite its vast nature. The idea was that the ‘narrator’ of the song has become aware of the dynamic of another relationship, and that it isn’t necessarily a good dynamic. Spotting patterns of emotional manipulation and abuse, the narrator seeks not only to empower the victim but to let the perpetrator know that they’ve figured out what’s happening despite the ‘games’.”

Acclaimed indie R&B singer, songwriter Celine Love shares the gorgeously cinematic music video for her new single ‘Gold Plated Tears’. The track is taken from her upcoming new EP Colouring In, out on October 26. Following the release of her breezy, summer single ‘Candy Eyes’, the new single slows the pace down and showcases Celine’s love for indie and folk music. With a haunting guitar riff at its core, Celine’s gorgeously sultry vocals take centre stage. Lyrically, it explores situationships that you find yourself pouring too much of yourself into. She says, “I am a sad guitar girl at heart and find that I get to be me truest as an artist when writing with an instrument in my hand. My love for Jeff Buckley definitely comes to light in this track through dark and deep metaphors with an emotional and soulful performance. The song is about a situationship I poured far too much of myself into. The first half was written when I was still very confused about it. By the time I recorded the song and wrote the rest of it I was more angry and hurt, which is why the song takes a turn emotionally. The idea behind the ‘gold plated tears’ line was a happy accident because I was simply trying to make the song fit the colour theme of the EP. However once I wrote that line, it shaped the meaning of the track. Tears were spilled because of the sadness and anger I felt but because I get to create art from my experience they became valuable. Plated in gold. I can only hope the listener is inspired to be true to their emotions. This is one of the most honest songs I’ve ever written, and I especially struggle writing about people who have hurt me. If sining or crying along to the track can give anyone some sort of catharsis, then the message has been delivered.”

“Our hostess starts out perfect, but gradually begins to unravel as the song progresses,” says SURVIVAL GUIDE, a.k.a. Emily “Agent M” Whitehurst (former vocalist for punk standouts Tsunami Bomb) about the deranged Stepford Wives treatment for her video for ‘Pie,’ the third single off her fourth full-length electropop Survival Guide album deathdreams, out October 19 via Double Helix Records. The vivid metaphor in the lyrics as a protector (“Let me bubblewrap you / Hide you from his eyes”) begins to reveal itself as she dreads younger women having to endure some of the darker things she’s been through. The song’s origin as a “basic demo” with just a “weird clicky drumbeat, a few bass synths and the vocals” was fleshed out at Mesa, AZ’s Flying Blanket Recording Studio with producer Bob Hoag (Dear and the Headlights, The Ataris, The Format) who added in some various layers in production to make the song shine. “Bob really filled it in with harps, violins, mellotron flutes and so much more, and turned it into this unique song,” she says. “Also, I really love desserts and baking, so I’m excited that I figured out how to make pie such a focus in one of my songs.” “Some of the instrumentation on ‘Pie’ gave it a hint of a 1950s sound, which inspired video director Bryan Heiden and the team at The Motivated Mind Group to create the look and feel of the music video,” she adds on the video’s treatment. “Even though the song isn’t literally about pie” she laughs, “we all wanted to use the imagery of it, so we filmed a cooking show set in the ‘50s. I loved getting to attempt all the different emotions that went into this character. And since I enjoy baking so much, it was super fun to do an exaggerated version of a baking show for the video. It even comes with a few commercial breaks!” The deviant ‘Pie’ video follows in tune with the previous action-packed videos: ‘Lady Neptune’ which follows a narrative driven ‘rise and fall’ type story that features a plot of a character who wants something more out of life, but ends up choosing organized crime,” and the macabre and blood-splattered short film-esque music video for ‘Blood Perfume,’ which stars Em as a deranged serial killer who outsmarts her victims.

London-based newcomer Lola Wild shares her debut single ‘Rendezvous’ via Tip Top Recordings. The single, a pensive indie burner for fans of artists like Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten and Chromatics, is the first to be taken from her forthcoming debut EP. The single is accompanied by a striking music video featuring showgirl dancer Coco Belle and directed by Jack Satchell and Mars Washington. ‘Rendezvous’ is a retro-tinged ode to pansexuality and sexual fluidity. The story of the single holds a more poignant meaning than the up-beat crooney, Fosse inspired video lets out. Written about two same sex lovers and the social pressures of where they should sit with their sexuality and gender roles, the song recounts Lola’s own experience at the time she began exploring her sexual identity. It details the challenges faced by two friends falling in love and fear of the judgement and stereotypes that came with it. Of her new single, Lola says: “Bob Fosse is one of my biggest idols, he influenced the choreography in the music video. Films like Sweet Charity and Cabaret inspired me to make music in the same way that Fosse made films. He created an entire signature style through embracing insecurities and experiences, ditching emulation and embracing individuality. I never thought that ‘Rendezvous’ would end up turning into a queer love song. It’s loosely based on my own experiences and the stereotypes I faced when exploring my own sexuality.”

Scene Queen has released a new single, ‘Pink Push Up Bra’. “I wanted a song about finally getting the Justice you deserve because I realize that doesn’t happen for a lot of women,” she explains. “I was having a not so great day that ended up turning into one of my new favorite songs. The idea for the song actually came to me in the shower as I was getting ready for the studio session because I was feeling very triggered that day. I was an hour late to the session because of it, but knew it would be a quick write. The whole song top to bottom took about 2.5 hours total to write and record. It’s probably my most rage-filled song and one of my heaviest. I hope anyone that relates gets the Justice they deserve or at least can use it as an outlet for all the complex emotions that go along with the trauma of assault.” [via Dork]

This past Friday, CHAI released their new self-titled album, the Japanese group’s fourth full-length overall, and they’ve been rolling it out over the last few months with ‘We The Female!,’ ‘PARA PARA,’ ‘NEO KAWAII, K?,’ and now they’re sharing the video for ‘GAME’. Here’s what the group’s MANA had to say about it: “Winning isn’t the goal, it’s the strategizing and challenge that matters♡ So it doesn’t matter if you lose. Take that loss and turn it into an even better strategy! Life’s a game! We made the video with our lovely friend Ginger Root♡ It’s fun and NEO KAWAII♡ As long as you’re living, you can play the game as many times as you want. Be honest to your heart, don’t take it too seriously, and live life.” [via Stereogum]

Experimental pop artist Eartheater has released her sixth full-length studio album Powders. The project is available via her own label, Chemical X, and features the previously released singles ‘Pure Smile Snake Venom’ and ‘Chop Suey.’ The latter is a blissed-out cover of System of a Down’s nu-metal classic. Producers and contributors on Powders include Yves Rothman, Sega Bodega, Lecx Stacy, Casey MQ, Elliott Kozel, Tony Seltzer, Luis Aponte, Isaiah Barr, Sammy, and Kiri. Powders arrives alongside a video for the album track ‘Crushing.’ Andrew Thomas Huang, who has previously worked with Björk, FKA twigs, and Kelela, directed the video, which culminates with Eartheater shattering a wine glass with her extraordinary voice. In a statement, Huang says, “The video concept for ‘Crushing’ arose out of a mutual intention between me and Alex [Eartheater] to focus on process instead of results. After long conversations about the themes of chance, entropy and chaos behind Powders, we landed on the idea of breaking a wine glass with Alex’s voice as a simple, powerful performance act. The resulting video is builds to this climax while drawing inspiration from the aesthetics of erotic thrillers of the early 90s, the introspective surrealism of Albrecht Durer’s Melencolia, and the ‘memento mori’ eroding dice collection of the late actor magician Ricky Jay exhibited at the Museum of Jurassic Technology. Ultimately, ‘Crushing’ is a portrait of the artist as an observer contemplating the unraveling universe both in the external world and in the crashing inner depths of the heart.” [via The FADER]

Lime Garden are a Brighton four-piece who, whilst growing into adulthood together, are writing coming of age indie-rock with the influence of the modern pop culture that surrounds them Horrifying and brilliant in equal measure, Lime Garden’s video for new single ‘Love Song’ dropped earlier this week at your peril! Last week, the band announced that their debut album One More Thing will be released next February and they’ll be going on a big ol’ UK tour so they can bring all your favourite newbies to life. The debut album One More Thing is the band’s love letter to the indie music they surrounded themselves with in their formative years, as well as a statement of love, fear, gratitude and embracing imperfections. [via The Fat Angel Sings]

Sadness & Complete Disappointment have released the second instalment of their forthcoming GBH EP. The ‘B’ of the EP, ‘BARB’, is out now. Says drummer and lead vocalist Esmee Baker, “Everyone thinks this song is about someone called Barb. And I am happy to let them believe that. BUT alas, it is not. My grandmother’s name was Barbara though – she changed it to sound more English – yuck. BACK TO THE SONG – this one is simultaneously about wanting to fuck someone’s brains out (not grandma), but also knowing they are a terrible person. And then it’s also about how, no matter how we wile away our mortal hours, we are all on the slow march to the grave (like grandma).” As is becoming the band’s signature move, a delicate and atmospheric overture of falsetto vocals gives way to a magnificent riff-edged finale.

Girli has released a new video for ‘Matriarchy’. The single follows her 2023 EP why am I like this?, and arrives to coincide with a headline tour of North America. She says of the track: “I wrote ‘Matriarchy’ about sapphic relationships and how they feel like an act of rebellion towards the patriarchy. Women are taught that they exist for the male gaze, so when women love women, it’s like putting a massive middle finger up to the homophobic, transphobic, misogynist, patriarchal society we live in and saying “f**k you, I exist and I’m gonna have fun”. Existing in the female gaze feels so liberating. When I’m in love with a woman, it feels like we’re rewriting the rules of society and creating our own brand-new world.” Of the video, she adds: “I wanted to create a dreamy her-storical matriarchal world ruled by sapphics, set in a forgotten era of the past. We shot the video at a palatial manor house and had an amazing cast and crew of women. It’s sensual, powerful and queer. It’s the kind of music video I wish I’d seen growing up and figuring out my sexuality.” [via Dork]

Pop sensation Slayyyter has just released the highly anticipated music video for her latest single, ‘I LOVE HOLLYWOOD!’ The track is part of her new album, STARFUCKER, which has been generating buzz among fans and music critics alike. The ‘I LOVE HOLLYWOOD!’ music video exudes a sense of glamour and extravagance, perfectly capturing the essence of the album’s theme. Set against the backdrop of the luxurious Chateau Marmont, the video features stunning visuals, vibrant colors, and Slayyyter’s signature edgy style. It is a true visual feast for fans and a testament to Slayyyter’s creative vision. [via Foggy Media]

Last year, the impossible-to-categorize New Jersey artist 070 Shake released her album You Can’t Kill Me. This year, Shake appeared on RAYE’s massive UK pop hit ‘Escapism’ and on Christine And The Queens’ ‘True Love,’ and her sampled voice popped up on the Fred again.. banger ‘Danielle (Smile On My Face).’ Right now, Shake is touring American stadiums as Coldplay’s opening act. She’s got another new LP in the works, and she’s just dropped its first single. The new 070 Shake song ‘Black Dress’ is a banger. Shake recorded the track with her longtime collaborator Dave Hamelin and with Johan Lenox, a producer who’s done a lot of work with Metro Boomin. Shake has been performing ‘Black Dress’ live all year. It’s a ghostly, pretty song with heavy, churning guitars, blurry synths, and trap 808s — the kind of thing that might happen if the Deftones tried to make a Future song, or vice versa. The song’s Noah Lee-directed video starts out with Shake stuck in a tree, hanging from her parachute, with the wreckage of a crashed plane strewn on the ground around her. From there, things get psychedelic. [via Stereogum]

In addition to dropping her fourth studio album, Scarlet, Doja Cat also released a music video for her song ‘Agora Hills.’ The song is the ninth track on Doja‘s latest album, and has already amassed over 1 million views on YouTube. The highly stylized, mildly hellish video features Doja Cat in several unique outfits, hanging with friends at a dystopian mall setting, as well as sitting on a sign that says ‘Agora Hills.’ The video is directed by Hannah Lux Davis & Doja Cat. [via American Songwriter]

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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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Cyn releases new video for her new single ‘Losing Sleep’ via Unsub Records. “I wanted to bring mine and Lissyelle Laricchia’s art direction to life!” Cyn says about the video, “I let the lyric ‘it’s a dreamlike reality cuz of you’ inform every artful decision. I wanted to create a dream world, liberated from the logical or familiar. I’m so grateful to the entire team for helping me bring this vision to life.” Maintaining a reputation for show-stopping visuals, the songstress pulled out all the stops like she always does. Once again, she teamed up with filmmaker and New York Times Bestseller, Kyle Newman [Fanboys, Barely Lethal, 1Up] behind the camera for the video. Newman says, “Cyn’s clever lyrics and unique sound elicit strong visuals. The song’s overall playfulness inspired our exploration of the surreal. The collage stylings were a creative and effective way to play with scale akin to Alice In Wonderland and setting by placing her in a multitude of unconventional locations.” The clip co-mingles live action, collage animation, and immersive backdrops to create a gorgeous aesthetic of its own. As she tries and fails to catch some shuteye, it finds Cyn on the moon sipping a cocktail, towering over the pyramids as a UFO circles, overlooking Los Angeles Godzilla-style, and dancing in a cowboy hat on a pasture. It evokes the deliriously catchy melodies of the track with commensurate cleverness.

Poppy has released her new single ‘Church Outfit’. It comes on the back of her newly inked record deal with Sumerian Records. Poppy performed a sold-out show in London last November, and dropped her last EP Stagger in October. Poppy adds: “It’s an artist’s responsibility to always change. I don’t think I’d want to be in my body if I was repeating the same thing over and over again. I’m only competing with myself. I will continue to write the story until I get tired of the book. Then, I’ll write another one.” [via Dork]

This week, the producer Yaeji released her her debut album, With A Hammer. Before that. Yaeji returned with one more album preview: ‘Passed Me By,’ which comes with by a video directed by Enayet and Zanzie. In a recent interview with New York Magazine, Yaeji describes how ‘Passed Me By’ is directed toward her younger self, in particular the Korean-sung lyric “I almost didn’t recognize you”). “She’s always been looking at me, but I was always averting my gaze and rejecting her existence,” Yaeji explains. “And this is the moment I lock eyes with her, and I’m like, You’re there. I see you.” [via Stereogum]

Iraina Mancini has shared her wonderful new single ‘Cannonball’. A retro-pop amalgam, Iraina seizes on the best aspects of the past, blurring those impeccable 60s and 70s influences with a touch of modernity. A full album is incoming, with new single ‘Cannonball’ online now. It feels like the lost theme to a 60s spy film, a kind of Modesty Blaize character updated for the modern era. A female-forward slice of action-packed pop, it was co-written alongside Simon Dine, and produced by Sunglasses for Jaws (with the redoubtable Erol Alkan on additional production). The neat keyboard arpeggios in the background recall the Killing Eve soundtrack work constructed by Unloved, while the loping bassline is sheer McCartney. A psych-pop whirlwind, ‘Cannonball’ finds Iraina yearning for freedom. She comments… “I wrote ‘Cannonball’ about taking a chance in life and following your heart. It’s that moment where you meet someone or something and it knocks you for six! Your intuition kicks in and you’ve got to go with what it’s telling you. I really wanted to write something that grabbed people’s attention, I got lost in my head in an action packed, 60s stylish thriller film.” Equipped with some lovingly kitsch visuals, you can check out ‘Cannonball’ below. [via Clash]

It’s been about two years since the Japanese band CHAI released their last album, 2021’s Wink, and since then they’ve dropped a series of singles. Now, they’re back with a fresh song for us, the energetic and bright ‘We The Female!’ “We are human and were born as female, but we have both female and male aspects in each of our souls, each with our own sense of balance,” CHAI said in a statement. “We can’t just label ourselves into clear-cut, simple categories anymore! I’m not anyone else but just ‘me,’ and you are no one else but just ‘you’. This song celebrates that with a roar! Yooooooooo!!” [via Stereogum]

Indie-rock rising talent Mazey Haze (aka Amsterdam based musician Nadine Appeldoorn) releases her new EP Back to the Start and shares the video for its title track. The EP’s titular, opening track perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the project. Announcing itself like a Californian daydream, awash with synths, heavenly vocal harmonies and jangling guitars, the song’s accompanying video was directed by Pasqual Amade. The EP’s title track captures a certain struggle Appeldoorn has untethering herself from the umpteenth setback. “I’m just being very honest and very real, being like, ‘I went through all this shit for a reason, but now I’m clueless again,’” she explains. “But I think that’s basically what life is: you constantly get over these really hard, big things.”

Garage rocker Olivia Jean has shared ‘Raving Ghost,’ the title track of her third solo album arriving via Third Man Records on Friday, May 5. The track is accompanied by an official music video directed by Olivia Jean herself alongside Erica Salazar, a perfect complement to the slinking, noirish quality of the music.

Breaking up with a friend is a tricky scenario to navigate, not least because the moment of realization that the relationship isn’t working can take so much longer to come into focus. That is the central tension at the heart of ‘Aspartame,’ the latest single from New York-based May Rio. Named after the artificial sweetener that can cause digestive issues and increased blood sugar in some people, ‘Aspartame’ compares a friend whose company slowly reveals itself to be a similarly toxic influence on her life. Themes of co-dependence and low self-esteem are laced through the song’s lyrics as Rio sings “You’ve got a lil problem, It’s not my job to fix it” and “Maybe the problem, Was I just felt so lucky, Just to have anything.” The words are the main focus here, with a minimal percussive backdrop putting thoughts of how voids get filled front and center. Speaking via email, Rio says: “I wrote ‘Aspartame’ in one day. It was born out of an important but complicated friendship that I needed to exit. The song has a melancholy, but it’s also angry. In the midst of that crossover, I found empowerment. Like I said I wasn’t going to take this shit anymore, and here I am, not taking it anymore.” [via The FADER]

After teasing fans over the past week, via their social media pages, Dorian Electra has officially made their comeback. When an artist wipes their socials and updates their profile picture, it’s safe to assume that they’re about to enter a new era. Singer-songwriter Dorian Electra did just that, at the end of the March, leaving fans speculating as to what may be happening behind the scenes by asking them to “pledge to Freak Mode” via a link to their website. Now, Electra debuts their first release of the year with ‘Freak Mode’. Co-produced by Clarence Clarity (Rina Sawayama), the single comes with a music video which was co-directed by Electra and Weston Allen. [via Line Of Best Fit]

Nikki Lane has released the video for her single ‘Denim & Diamonds,’ the title track of her latest album, directed by Desert 5 Spot’s Wade Crescent and Chase Manhattan. Filmed in Los Angeles, the video is the result of a crafty production, emphasizing the underlying theme of women’s empowerment that the song conveys. The video has a vintage feel, with scenes of casual glamour following several women’s unique yet unifying experiences. The set design and styling consist of custom Western apparel with one-of-a-kind pieces from Nikki Lane’s new Nashville vintage shop, High Class Hillbilly. Amongst Black Leaf Flower floral arrangements, the singer-songwriter wears a Catherine D’Lish gown, a custom hat from Ben Kennimer, with diamonds and jewelry by Esteembale Objects. [via Flaunt]

Caroline Polachek has unveiled a new live performance music video for ‘Smoke.’ In the clip for her Desire, I Want to Turn Into You song, Polachek performs with her band amid volcano sculptures, smoke, and glowing red scenery. Polachek’s band comprises Maya Laner, Matthew Horton, and Russell Holzman. Watch the Matt Copson–directed visual below. [via Pitchfork]

American singer-songwriter Eva Grace has dropped a new music video for ‘always be a fan’ directed by B. It was written by Eva Grace and produced by Josh Nabors. Eva Grace shared on social media, “this song always hits harder in the car”. She planned to release one new song and corresponding music video every month for a year, starting in August. Eva Grace told Tucson Weekly about her music, “I love the idea of creating visual art that represents all of my auditory art. I’m extremely excited to have music videos to go with everything. I think that it brings new life to the songs and really illustrates the kind of feeling that I want people to get from the songs.” She continued, “I’m always writing songs and trying to beat myself and make better songs than I did previously. It’s really just picking my favorite ones that I’ve done. I only want to put out my best work.” [via pmstudio]

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Creating a dreamy and chic soundscape, Gorgeous Dyke’s latest offering is a noticeable shift from their post-punk roots. Still running off the energy of a catchy, Bauhaus-esque bass line, ‘No Approval,’ differs in its more obvious house direction. The lyrics paint a picture of an unflappable woman heading steadfast wherever life may take her – despite whatever criticisms or judgments that may come her way – ultimately finding refuge in outward self-expression. Their accompanying music video brings this philosophy into motion as the two get ready to make the world their runway alongside their pup. There’s also a pizza in the oven, which may or may not represent more than just a case of the munchies. Fans can still expect the grooviness of Deee-Lite, the sleek, understated vocals of Gina X Performance, and the commanding bass lines of ESG but with a new synth sound that switches things up from their previous releases.

Deep within The Stolen Moans HQ, on the top shelf of an antique bookcase, lives a turquoise-colored hard drive marked “experimental”. This is the Mad Kingdom, a surrealist laboratory, where tunes deemed too reckless for mainstream consumption, remain locked in lead-lined boxes like Madame Curie’s notebooks. Oddities with unknown half-lives, pieces to a still-undiscovered puzzle, sitting, waiting. However, before we can talk about how one of these “experiments” escaped, we first must tell the story of the person who always supported the bands pursuit of the weird and wonderful, Micheal (MP) Peters, their beloved friend, and the “best-dressed roadie in show business”. “MP was a true child of the sixties and grew up at a time when cults and mayhem found fertile soil in sunny California,” say the band. “The recounting of his storied misadventures never failed to astound and entertain. We were always delighted when he drove up (in his veggie oil-powered Mercedes hearse) wearing impeccably tailored 3-piece suits, to help out at shows. He was the epitome of the saying “it’s the journey, not the destination that matters”, and encouraged us to always stay open to the crazy magic that happens along the way. Loud Rock & Roll was one of his passions but he especially loved it when songs got weird! The first time we first played ‘Pu Num Tu’ for MP, his response was, “Whoa, Mondo!”, which was pretty much the highest compliment you could receive from him. The story of how the companion music video came to be is another bizarre tale of happenstance but the abridged version is, we spent a weekend having messy fun in the dark with fellow artist-adventurers. This of course brings us back to the music and why we’ve dedicated the song a video to MP. Tragically he caught the coronavirus in 2020 and passed away within days of becoming sick. He was with us for so much of the journey and would be absolutely delighted that ‘Pu Num Tu’ is finally getting released. If Surrealism’s goal was to revolutionize the human experience by attempting to find magic and beauty in the unexpected than ‘Pu Num Tu’, is a Surrealist Affirmation in the pursuit of joy and freedom. MP buddy, the lunatics are now running the asylum, and YES, this Pu is for you… Rest in peace Michael XO, SM.” The music video was shot and directed (including the stop motion animation) by female director Hannz Mulligan. The band found her student reel online and really clicked in person. “The video was as much fun to make as it is to watch.”

The joyous, experimental Japanese group CHAI recently released their single ‘WHOLE’ and collaborated with Sondre Lerche on his song ‘Summer In Reverse.’ Now, CHAI have come out with a new single called ‘SURPRISE.’ It’s a giddy song that manages to be soothing and explosive in equal measures, and it’s got an extremely colorful music video that the band shot with director Yoshio Nakaiso in Los Angeles. In a press release, CHAI say that the ‘SURPRISE’ video is based on the band’s experience of having their tour trailer stolen in America but still playing all their shows thanks to the support and generosity of other people. In the clip, the members of the band go on a magical quest to find the instruments that they’ll need to play shows. Here’s what CHAI say about the song itself: “We all have that precious “something” that we can’t express in words. But sometimes those things happen to make it out as words, and we want to feel and love that “surprise”. Those become the surprises of our lives, and I become a brand new me♡. That’s what we had in mind when we wrote ‘SURPRISE’. Check it out♡” [via Stereogum]

Vancouver’s Kamikaze Nurse shares ‘Come From Wood’, the second single from Stimuloso which arrives June 3 on Mint Records. Of the song, Kamikaze Nurse said, “’Come From Wood’ wrote itself after KC pondered the simplistic mystery of the Pixies’ b-side ‘Into the White’ on repeat for many months. The song unfolds like a dream, as the archetypal apple and an enchanted forest stage a familiar scene with unfamiliar imagery in the mind of the listener.” Along with the single, the band shares an imaginative music video, the concept of which was realized in collaboration between director Jaewoo Kang and Kamikaze Nurse’s KC Wei. About the video – Director’s quote from Jaewoo Kang: “’Come From Wood’ includes motifs from fairy tales – red apple, forest, moss fields – and re-imagines the idea of sensuality, closeness, entanglement and passion from the perspective of worms and an apple. Visual elements of the video have been inspired by the lyrics, which came to life with an incredible performance by the band members and the dancers. Vibrant set design and gelatine mould of the main character’s body is decomposing, juxtaposed with the animated, visceral movement of the dancers. The video attempts to capture the feeling of familiarity mixed with the uncanniness of the decomposing body to create a more nuanced expression of intimacy and pleasure.”

Desire release their first album since their self-titled debut in 2009 with new record Escape, which is out now via Italians Do It Better. To coincide with the release, the band have also shared a new video for their single ‘Black Latex’ from the record.

Tove Lo returns with a brand-new track and official music video, titled ‘No One Dies From Love’. Co-written with long-time collaborator Ludvig Söderberg, neon keys illuminate a runway to the centre of the dancefloor as her voice resounds over a disco break, “No one dies from love, guess I’ll be the first.” The song signifies a new and exciting chapter for the Sweden-born, Los Angeles-based artist. Tove recalls on making the song, “when you’re with someone for a long time and it ends all of a sudden, it’s like a part of you has died. This person is now a stranger to you. All of the memories are tainted. For the first part of the breakup, you believe you’re not supposed to feel good about anything you had together. What I believe I do best is ‘heartbreak you can dance to.’ The song is that.” The video for ‘No One Dies From Love’ was filmed in Mexico City and was directed by the Brazilian duo Alaska, whom Tove previously collaborated with on the video for ‘Are U gonna tell her?’ Speaking about the video, Tove reveals, “All the songs on the album are very cinematic, dramatic and grand, so for the visual story I want to attach a character to each song. For No One Dies From Love it’s the classic vulnerable, lonely starlet looking for connection. This mini movie is a different kind of love story.”

Aldous Harding has shared the animated video for ‘Tick Tock’. The song is taken from her new album Warm Chris. ‘Tick Tock’ gains a neat visualiser which transforms its narrative. Aldous Harding steered the clip, working alongside animator and film-maker Chris McD. Colourful, cute, and lackadaisical, ‘Tick Tock’ taps into an alternative side of Aldous Harding’s psyche. [via Clash]

Maryam Qudus is a producer and studio engineer based in the Bay Area, and she’s worked with artists like Toro Y Moi, Tune-Yards, and Speedy Ortiz’s Sadie Dupuis. Qudus also makes her own music under the alias Spacemoth, and she’s just signed with Dupuis’ Wax Nine label. This summer, she’ll release her debut album No Past No Future. As Spacemoth, Qudus makes synthy, fizzy indie-pop. It’s got a deadpan catchiness that reminds me of ’90s vintage-synth explorers like Stereolab and the Rentals. Qudus has just shared her new single ‘Pipe And Pistol,’ and she’d already released one called ‘This Shit.’ Both songs are driving pop songs with all sorts of historical currents flowing through them. In a press release, Qudus explains ‘Pipe And Pistol’: “’Pipe and Pistol’ revolves around a wobbly synth and distorted drum loop, played with and processed by a Korg MS-20. The song was inspired by my parents, who immigrated from Afghanistan in the late ’70s, and explores the challenges faced when building a new life in America.” Interweaving colorful psychedelic visuals and blue collar employment, Ambar Navarro’s video for ‘Pipe and Pistol’ speaks to the surreal and confusing experience of navigating a new life in America in the late 1970s. [via Stereogum]

Indie-pop cover stars Beach Bunny are currently anticipating the release of their sophomore album, Emotional Creature, out in July. Ahead of the release, the Chicago group, led by Lili Trifilio, have shared lead single ‘Oxygen’ and ‘Fire Escape.’ Now, they’re sharing a new video for ‘Karaoke,’ which features a cameo from Bob Odenkirk and is very much in line with the band’s previously explained “full-blown sci-fi aesthetic” for Emotional Creature. As a press release lays out, ‘Karaoke’ is just part one of Beach Bunny’s Star Wars-meets-Star Trek “galactic adventure” visual series, though one character in the video certainly resembles Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen. As for Odenkirk, the Better Call Saul star plays the band’s “Star Captain.” “‘Karaoke’ is a song about having a crush — it’s about infatuation, fleeting feelings, and the bittersweet nature of uncertainty,” Trifilio explains. “It’s about learning pieces of who someone is and liking them before even knowing the whole story.” [via Stereogum]

Placing perfectly next to her previous single ‘Best of Luck’, ‘Heart Emoji’ is the latest pop release in the signature style of Sukie. ‘Heart Emoji’ is Sukie’s gently grasping hand as she guides her listener down memory lane. Dealing with change, loss and moving on, Sukie opens upon another of her personal experiences whilst using her alt-pop tendencies to bed her honest narrative. Glancing into her good old times of ‘going out with the girls’ whilst being young and reckless, Sukie reminds herself of what she cherished the most. Layered with love, nostalgia and topped with colourful synths, ‘Heart Emoji’ is as wistful as it is an endearing single. In Sukie’s own words, she explains; “Covid hit when I was in my last year of uni and I ended up moving away from all my friends in the midst of lockdown. Most people I didn’t get to say goodbye to. It was such a crazy contrast going from being surrounded by all my best friends to moving to a city where I knew no-one. It took me a year to make any new friends and I was really really lonely – that’s where heart emoji came from. I missed my friends so much! I missed feeling sexy and getting ready with my girl friends, helping each other do our hair and makeup. I missed the silly drama and getting too drunk and stupid dancing in a club with a sticky floor. I even missed the hangovers. I wrote the song about mourning the loss of that carefree life, knowing that I’d never get it back. I feel like this was such a universal feeling at the time, when we were all stuck inside for months on end, and I wanted the music video to capture that lonely experience.”

Manchester’s Abbie Ozard releases new single ‘Rose Tinted’ – the final preview of new EP Water Based Lullabies, out July 1 via House Anxiety (WOOM,Carpetgarden; formerly King Krule, Courtney Barnett, Vagabon). Slowly coming into focus, ‘Rose Tinted’ blends a blurry intro into a commanding rhythm. Sonically, it occupies a glistening dream-pop space, over which Abbie delivers restrained, authentic spoken word before a freeing earworm of a chorus takes hold. Talking about the song, Abbiesays: “’Rose Tinted’ was a poem I wrote a few years back when I realised all my friends were growing up and I felt kinda left behind. I found myself covering up these feelings with clothes and messing with the way I looked. I even tried meditating, which I hated because it made me think way too much. It’s an observation on how 20 somethings cope with transitioning into adulthood, how they share their morning routines online, meditate to stay calm, buy new outfits -that whole ‘don’t get depression vibe’. I want to be able to soundtrack my generation.”

girlcrush write songs about lives that don’t meet the heteronormative ideal. They portray their own feelings and experiences as non-monogamist, queer and transgender with a mutual vision to lend their voices to those who can’t be heard and create a feeling of recognition and community for queer and marginalized people. This Spring, girlcrush are ready with the brand new single, ‘Dysphoria! At the Psych Ward’ – a song that criticizes the gender normativity inherent in the medical system. The feelings of alienation and loneliness of being a trans person in a rigid society are delivered with both anger and irony by guitarist Nat. “Being in a mentally vulnerable place while being met by a lack of understanding of gender diversity by medical personnel is an incredibly difficult position to navigate in. A simple thing like asking for help can be hard to do. While trauma and mental illness can affect anyone, trans people are at a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety, eating disorders, PTSDand of committing suicide. We wanted to write a song addressing this theme,” Nat says. The title is a reference to the emo band Panic! At the Disco – a nod to the music of Nat’s own troubled teenage years. ‘Dysphoria! At the Psych Ward’ is the sound of girlcrush and their distinct style of catchy melodies delivered with honesty and fragility, backed by unrelenting drums and good amounts of distortion. ‘Dysphoria! At the Psych Ward’is one of twelve tracks on the album, I don’t feel so good, all of which show different colors of mental illness as experienced by the band members. girlcrush are drummer and vocalist Andrea (all pronouns), bass player and vocalist Marie (she/her) and guitarist and vocalist Nat (they/them and he/him).

Taiwanese-Australian singer, producer, songwriter, and multimedia artist Jaguar Jonze is thrilled to unveil her latest single ‘PUNCHLINE,’ the final track to be shared ahead of the release of her debut album BUNNY MODE out June 3 via Nettwerk. ‘PUNCHLINE’ is a playful diary entry about navigating the industry as a woman of colour, while also wanting to authentically represent her culture. Her sharp-edged humour shines through in its lyrics (“Can’t remember if it’s east or west or in the tropics;” “We love culture but make sure it’s to our very liking / Make it milky, make it plain and not too spicy”), cheekily sung through the many eye rolls that come with the turf when making art as a marginalised person. The video, which was directed, edited and produced by Jaguar Jonze, welcomes back the Asian women and non-binary folk who featured in the visuals for ‘WHO DIED AND MADE YOU KING?,’ as they all related strongly to the message behind ‘PUNCHLINE’ and wanted to make their voices heard.

Astralwerks has released Alison Wonderland’s new album, Loner – the follow-up to 2018’s Awake. Loner captures the triple threat producer-singer-songwriter at her best; an exhilarating juxtaposition of lyrics and sound, it’s as bright as it is brash. “My life was going a certain way before something pulled everything out from under me,” Alison Wonderland explains. “I felt like I had hit my rock bottom.” Throughout her career, Alison has been a courageous advocate for mental health discussions and honest about her own struggles with depression. Staying true to her message with Loner, she writes with a captivating new assuredness in the light that comes after the storm. “It’s the most positive, hopeful album I have ever written,” she says. “It acknowledges the darkness but creates its own euphoria through it.” That sense of triumph and euphoria shines brightly in the official video for ‘Something Real’. Working with a 3-D scan of Alison, director Tyler Lampe (who has created stunning visuals for her projects and live shows over the past year), immerses her in a vibrant, surreal world. As she journeys from total darkness to sunshine to sunset, Alison travels through trippy portals that encompass and transcend her previous realities and experiences the sense of weightless the song describes.

Los Angeles trio Lost Cat share a music video for ‘L.O.S.T.,’ the first single off their upcoming self-titled debut album, Lost Cat, due May 27 via Lolipop Records. Mixing classic riot grrrl and the flair of a 60s girl group a la The Dick Clark show, Lost Cat exists at the crossroads between old and new. On the track’s accompanying music video: “Brought to you by the minds of Expo Aktuel & Lolipop Records. In this first mystery driven episode of Lost Cat’s upcoming video mini series, the group gets caught between the claws of an evil villainess who aims to take down the rockin’ band of Femme Fatales. However, Lost Cat is not going down without a fight! ‘L.O.S.T.’ is the first of three action packed video/episodes which feature their upcoming singles out this month on Lolipop Records! Tune in this month to find out the fate of Los Angeles’ favorite new girl group Lost Cat!”

Carly Rae Jepsen shares her highly anticipated new single ‘Western Wind.’ Produced by Rostam Batmanglij ‘Western Wind’ is available now at all digital retailers via 604 Records. ‘Western Wind’ inhabits a warm and hypnotic atmosphere achieved through a delicate tapestry of elements: sunlit guitar tones, soulful piano melodies, the luminous textures of Hammond B3 organ, an elegant patchwork of percussion. Graced with Jepsen’s radiant vocal work, the result is a spellbinding backdrop to her lyrical storytelling, infusing the song’s mood of nostalgia and longing with a lovely euphoria. Like all her output to date — such as her critically lauded and culture-shaping 2015 album EMOTION — ‘Western Wind’ embodies a charmed quality that invites a certain daydreaming on the part of the listener. As Jepsen reveals, the song emerged from the deep solitude of quarantine, a period of time that compelled her toward her most introspective songwriting yet. Complementing the beauty of the song is an equally stunning video shot in the natural elements of Southern California by Taylor Fauntleroy.

Indie-pop artist Cody Frost has unleashed her debut mixtape TEETH. Following her debut EP, 2021’s IT’S NOT REAL, TEETH has a considerably sharper edge than Frost’s previous work, clearly influenced by heavier music and the current wave of hyper-pop. To accompany the mixtape’s release, Frost has also dropped a video for the mixtape cut ‘Redundant’. Like the rest of TEETH, ‘Redundant’ sheds the relatively stripped-back emotionality of Frost’s early singles to reveal a beautifully abrasive, happily aggressive set of sounds. Instead of the easy-on-the-ears aesthetic that helped her reach the finale of BBC’s version of The Voice, ‘Redundant’ sounds like a cross between Billie Eilish’s neo-gothic pop and Yves Tumor’s dancy experimentalism. It’s a track you’d imagine playing at London’s most intimidatingly hip club. Juxtaposing party visuals with sequences of a Bowie-esque Frost alone on a soundstage, the video embodies the new stylings of TEETH. Frost is quite literally in your face for a majority of the song’s runtime, as she rushes the fisheye camera to sing of seedy attention-seekers common in the British party scene. “I work in a bar and the lyrics are really about the type of customers I have served in the past,” she tells Consequence. “I wrote the line ‘and with every bit I feel the dirty napkin they dropped on the floor crumple in my fist’ in the back room whilst seething over a rude customer.” With TEETH’s change of pace, it’s exciting to think of what Frost may have in store for future projects. Will she continue to embrace her “heavy roots” or switch up the sounds once again? “I’m super excited for what is coming next for me musically,” she says, before stopping herself from revealing too much. “I can’t say much but I will say that some of my biggest dreams [are] becoming true in the works!” [via Consequence]

The Haunt are a South Florida band helmed by a sibling duo of vocalist Anastasia Haunt and her guitar-wielding older brother, Max. Last week, they dropped their latest single, the gnashing, bombastic and wildly catchy ‘I’M NOT YOURS,’ which was produced by Escape the Fate’s Kevin Thrasher, and now they’ve shared its accompanying music video. The black-and-white visual features alternating shots of Anastasia running and struggling to emerge while tied to a chair, as well as footage of the band jamming out cathartically in a small space. “‘I’M NOT YOURS’ is about being done with the bullshit and taking back your power from someone who tried to rip it out of your soul,” Max says. “I was in a relationship that made me feel very small, so when it was finally over, I had a lot of work to do to build myself back up again. And writing this song was really the biggest ‘fuck you’ I could think of. PSA: Your feelings are fucking valid and if you have a feeling about something or someone, you’re probably right, trust your Mf instincts!” [via Revolver]

Cape Town-based duo Emerger deliver a shimmering, hook-filled Alt-Pop gem with the release of their latest single ‘Aeroplane Park,’ a nostalgic fever dream about love and longing, set at the turn of the millennium. The track, produced and mixed by co-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gerry Matthee, is a meticulously crafted mid-tempo affair that drapes Emma de Goede’s intimate and pristine vocals in lush soundscapes backed by a percolating beat. “I think it’s safe to say it’s one of our favorites so far,” says Matthee, who recorded and mixed the track at the duo’s recently launched SoundBorough Studios. He also mixed the track in Dolby Atmos, the spatial audio technology that creates a fully immersive listening experience, which can be streamed on Apple Music. ‘Aeroplane Park’ speaks to universal feelings about the innocence of youth, the longing for connection and the pain of separation; a meditation on the roads we travel and the choices we make. De Goede, keyboardist and chief lyricist of the duo, does not shy away from how personal the song is for her. In fact, ‘Aeroplane Park’ is a real place – a playground near the singer’s childhood home – and the song reflects the early days of the relationship between the two band members, who are life partners as well as musical ones. “Memory is fleeting, and I wanted to capture some of what I remember from my childhood,” says De Goede. “This song is a bit of time travel for me – to reflect on a specific time, place and person. How I recall feeling about it then and what it means today when seen through the eyes of an adult.” Matthee agrees: “We can never truly appreciate the points in time that accumulate as a lifetime of experience. We often need to do more living to give it all context. We have a few more miles on us since those days at the playground – it’s nice to reflect on how we’ve both grown since then.” Emerger remembers with great fondness the days when MTV played music videos 24/7. For ‘Aeroplane Park,’ the duo set out to tell a story about first love blooming at the turn of the millennium while also paying homage to the favourite network of their formative years. The video, written, directed and edited by the duo, finds the adult De Goede cavorting in a mid-20th century home with her younger self (played by Stella van Zyl) and replaying her memories of the special connection that formed with her childhood friend Matthee (played by Michail Etsebeth) while spending time in the aeroplane-themed playground near her home. ‘Aeroplane Park’ was shot on location in Cape Town, lensed by cinematographer/director of photography Kyle Wesson and with technical and design support from Divan Putter and Pascale de Brandt. [via PR Newswire]

Los Angeles alt-pop artist, MOTHICA has shared her latest single, ‘Last Cigarette’ featuring Antiguan-German singer-songwriter Au/Ra. The track is taken from MOTHICA’s forthcoming album, Nocturnal, alongside previously released singles, ‘Sensitive’ and ‘Casualty’. “I wrote ‘Last Cigarette’ about someone I met who reminded me of myself in a toxic way,” shares MOTHICA. “We shared a lot of pessimistic tendencies, and it reminded me of trying to quit cigarettes, something that we all know is bad for you, but there’s still this allure to be caught in a negative cycle.” [via Prelude Press]

Great Time has dropped a new video for their single ‘I could Be.’ The track is off the Philadelphia band’s forthcoming release Was I Right, scheduled to drop on June 9. Singer/multi-instrumentalist Jill Ryan has been the touring saxophonist with Cassandra Jenkins, Japanese Breakfast and Kristine Leschper. This video was directed by lead singer of Mannequin Pussy, Marisa Dabice Quote from Jill Ryan: “Filming the music video for ‘I Could Be’ was a really special experience. It was incredible to be directed by Marisa Dabice. I felt so comfortable in her presence. She commands a room not only on stage performing with Mannequin Pussy but also on set. Getting direction from her was empowering. You really have to trust the person that’s telling you what to do and how to move in order for you to perform your best and most authentically and I felt very connected and safe with her to do that. This song is a reaction to traditionality, patriarchy, “the man” and everyone that wants to make me feel small.” [via Northern Transmissions]

Sir Chloe‘s new single and accompanying music video, ‘Company,’ consummates camp and kink, latex and leather. The visual, which follows ‘Mercy’ and their 2020 Party Favors EP, opens inside a seedy hotel room that adds an absurd sensuality to the alt-rock band’s latest release. Filtered through yellow lighting, frontwoman Dana Foote stands alone at the beginning, before turning her gaze to the camera and revealing a handful of leather-clad baddies who stand opposite her. Tension builds so thick it could be cut with a knife — perhaps even one of Sir Chloe’s, from her past life as a “knife salesman.” Best described by Foote as “a song to flex your muscles to,” Sir Chloe’s single makes listeners beg for release. “I want to hear you want it,” she sings on the chorus. “I want to hear you ask for more.” Whether walking her “dog” to the bank or making them crawl to her, Foote languishes in the lewd — and makes us want to, too. [via PAPER]

The Linda Lindas have released a music video for ‘Why.’ The track comes from their debut album, Growing Up. The visual was directed by Elizabeth Ito and Suzie Vlček and features punk legend Kathleen Hanna as the voice of an interviewer. The punk quartet spoke about the video in a press release. “The ‘Why’ music video is a tribute to The Decline of Western Civilization, the legendary 1981 documentary about LA punk by Penelope Spheeris, and Spirited Away, one of our favorite Miyazaki movies,” the band say. “It is set at an imaginary Save Music In Chinatown show, part of the series of all-ages matinee fundraisers for music education at Eloise’s school, where we played some of our earliest gigs with some of the musicians from Decline — Alice Bag, Phranc, Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski — who are now our friends. The art was drawn by Eloise, the flyers are real and no dessert was wasted!” [via Alt Press]

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