Elke is back with her sophomore record Divine Urge, which sees Paramore’s Zac Farro return to take on percussion duties while songwriter Jake McMullen joins Kayla Graninger (Elke) on co-production duty. The first single from the record, ‘Enchanté,’ lands somewhere between the blog-era synth-led quirkiness of Chairlift and YACHT and the maximalist radio pop of that same period, with jarring switches in vibe and tempo helping to relay the song’s message regarding the divides between humankind, nature, and technology. “Nature works together with what’s fighting against it without the opponent knowing. It finds a way to keep growing by adapting.” Graninger philosophizes while introducing the track’s Bérénice Bear Eveno–directed video, which sees the songwriter embodying the aforementioned factions of mankind, technology, and the natural world. “This is why no matter how much we develop as a society, we will always have to return to nature—it is wiser than us and cannot be controlled. Sometimes we as people wish to possess the earth to feel alive, but nature teaches us the opposite, to just be alive is to possess the nature inside us.” [via FLOOD]

Enigmatic alt-pop artist Tlya X An continues her journey with the release of her new hyper-pop single, ‘Ninja’. Following the acclaimed ‘Mi Mind Unknown,’ Tlya once again takes the reins as director and editor, collaborating with Oliver Whitehouse to deliver a deliciously quirky music video alongside the track. Carried by a driving drumbeat and Tlya X An’s unique, magnetic vocals, this latest offering masterfully blends hyperpop, R&B, and glitchy electronica. Channelling the pulsating basslines of M.I.A., Charli XCX’s glossy allure and a touch of Grimes’ eccentric genius, ‘Ninja’ is another vibrant portal into Tlya’s unique musical landscape. A heartfelt ode to her sister, born from a reflective London getaway, ‘Ninja’ celebrates their sisterhood, shared joys, and challenges. Yet, the accompanying visual is a mind-bending departure. Directed and edited by Tlya and filmed by Oliver Whitehouse, the video is a surreal dreamscape featuring heart-headed dancers, edgy choreography and a blood-drinking drummer (Lawi Anywar). Inspired by the song’s lyric “Even dreams of hell can be beautiful” from Joe Dispenza’s ‘Becoming Supernatural,’ the video presents a daring visual interpretation of the idea. It conveys the notion that life, in all its complexity, is a work of art and even in the face of adversity, can be seen as a masterpiece. This striking juxtaposition of the song’s intimate message and the video’s provocative imagery showcases Tlya’s artistic range, proving she’s as fearless a visionary as she is a musical virtuoso. “I wanted to keep the video simple inspired by the production and use a white studio,” says Tlya X An of the video “The driving forces of the song are the drum beat and the vocals which have a little choreography that me and my dancers have been perfecting over time mainly for my live shows. The original moves came to me from the beginning naturally before I even had dancers working with me and over time evolved to something more concrete which you can see in the video.”

Surely Shirley, which is made up of twins Anisha and Jenaya Okpalanze, have been serving up sugary melodies and doo-wops backed by swaying grooves for a while now, with a meticulous approach to both their music and their visual output. Directing or co-directing their videos, the pair have built out a Surely Shirley world which feels like it lives somewhere between a 60s dollhouse and a Wes Anderson film, with their music perfectly syncing with the pastels and performances we watch unfold. That’s no more evident than in the ‘Lavender Blues’ clip which dropped along with the EP. Complete with claps and shimmering guitar lines, Anisha and Jenaya’s vocals bounce between softly sung hooks and dreamy harmonies, as a groovy beat keeps everything glued together. [via Life Without Andy]

Northumbrian electro-folk musician and producer Frankie Archer has announced her new EP Pressure and Persuasion and released new single ‘Barbara Allen’ along with an entrancing accompanying video. New single and EP opener ‘Barbara Allen’ is one of the most re-told songs in the English language. Frankie’s spiralling interpretation – co-produced by Jim Moray – transcends expectations. “It’s about a mean, cruel-hearted woman (irony there),” Frankie explains, continuing: “It’s 350+ years old but is dripping with the same expectation that’s laid onto women today.” Melding otherworldly electronic production that snaps and darts between the age-old prose, Frankie utilises harshly chopped and distorted fiddle, pitch-shifted vocals, swinging drum samples and a rich assemblage of analogue and digital synths, with her distinctive approach to folk storytelling opening up a new way of understanding the fabled tale. Discussing the song and her re-imagination, Frankie said: “Barbara Allen is summoned to the deathbed of John, a man she doesn’t really know, so he can tell her he loves her, and expect her to love him back. In some versions of the song he tries to guilt-trip her into it “For I am sick, I’m very bad // One kiss from you will cure me.” Barbara rejects this random man and is branded ‘cruel-hearted’. In most versions she actually dies of sorrow the day after he does (often this is told as a warning to girls not to be so cruel).” “In my telling of the song I explain that Barbara isn’t cruel, and John is actually a bit unreasonable for expecting her to – out of nowhere – immediately love him and kiss his dying mouth (grim) and heal him. “It’s not for me to fix you, John”, she says. The song definitely turned into a band song rather than a folk tune, but the lilting 6/8 hi-hat in the verses keeps the trad feel. I also (sacrilege) added a kind of pop chorus. A lot of trad songs don’t have choruses but this one needed it to reinforce over and over again the message: ‘I don’t owe you anything / I didn’t ask for your attention / Lechery is not a compliment’ – comments that our society was not ready to hear a woman say 350 years ago and still apparently struggles with today.”

London-based, internationally assembled instrumental four-piece, Los Bitchos, release their eagerly anticipated second album, Talkie Talkie, via City Slang alongside a new video for the track, ‘Talkie Talkie, Charlie Charlie’. ‘Talkie Talkie, Charlie Charlie’ is a cinematic odyssey through 80s synth pop that would slot right into Black Mirror’s storied San Junipero episode. About the track, the band said: “’Talkie Talkie, Charlie Charlie’ feels like driving around Miami in the 80s, Grand Theft Auto style, or chatting to friends on old landlines or walkie talkies. It was the first song we recorded for the album and the first time working with our producer Oli Barton-Wood. We had such an incredible time in the studio and ran wild with some electronic drum sounds and some impromptu vocals. We love the blend of sparkly synths and smooth guitars along with bold, fat drums and bass lines. This song ended up inspiring the album title, Talkie Talkie, which has a cheeky ring to it. We could imagine it in neon lights outside our imaginary club. We had a great time with some retro phones and 90s bedroom setups, and dancing our lives away!” Watch the video, directed by Tom Mitchell, below.

With their Crown The Witch headline tour just around the corner now, Bambie Thug has unveiled a brand-new single to celebrate. Entitled ‘Hex So Heavy’, the killer track is described by the singer as “a witches’ siren, a warning to those who have crossed me. This song channels the energy of those experiences – deception, betrayal – and turns them into something transformative: strength, resilience. It’s a reminder to those who have wronged me, that life has a way of making sure we all face what we’ve set in motion. As Jojo Siwa says, ‘Karma’s a bitch…’ and it’s about to come around.” Speaking about the accompanying video, Bambie reveals: “I was thrilled to collaborate once again with Camp Productions, who worked with me on ‘Doomsday,’ for the ‘Hex So Heavy’ video. Kassandra Powell, one of my favourite directors, brought her incredible vision to this project, and our creative chemistry was undeniable once again. “The video tells the story of a shapeshifting witch conjuring spells of revenge from the underworld, and a cunning nymph above ground who has stolen a magical machete from the witch. The nymph, basking in her ill-gotten gains and the adoration of others, believes she’s escaped unscathed. But little does she know, the witch has been watching and waiting to strike back. Drawing inspiration from Suspiria and Lord Of The Rings, ‘Hex So Heavy’ is the first chapter in a saga about reclaiming authenticity stolen by another.” [via Kerrang!]

‘NASTY’ finds Kate Leah sticking to her viral breakup anthem formula in a song that’s all about swiping an ex-boyfriend back from his new girl. Described as “guaranteed to inspire you to drunk text your favourite ex,” ‘NASTY’ is paired with a music video that shows Kate’s bedroom antics as she plots to win back her ex. [via Rolling Stone Aus]

Global superstar singer/actress/versatile powerhouse Halle delivers a sublime new sound with latest single release ‘Because I Love You’. Co-penned by the British phenom Raye, ‘Because I Love You’ introduces a new side of Halle—mature, confident, and ten toes down for her paramour, while also playfully reminding him of her own worth— “you ain’t used to girls that can do it high fashion, you f* with a ten, amen.” As Halle reflects, “‘Because I Love You’ is a song for anyone who has ever been deeply in love. It’s an anthem that tells the story of all of the beautiful passion and euphoria you can feel with that person.” She then touches on the song’s accompanying visual. “The video dives deeper into how vulnerable it makes you feel. I hope people enjoy listening and thinking of the person they love the most.” The song was produced by Grammy nominated producer DemJointz who has worked with artists including Rihanna, Kanye West, Janet Jackson, and more. The song arrives with an official video produced by Lottie Abrahams and directed by Allie Avital. The cinematic official video, features stunning visuals, Halle is once again showcasing her acting chops, impressively playing multiple roles—both as the innocent and devoted girlfriend to her love interest and the sultry temptress threatening to pull them apart.

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

Frankie Archer
Frankie Archer’s imaginative and bold mash of electro alt-trad shows her Northumbrian fiddle roots, her deep love of electronic music and her immersion in soulful folk songs from the North East of England and around the world. Her debut EP is bold and innovative and set to make waves. The latest song from the EP to be released is ‘Oxford City’. “‘Oxford City’ is a traditional song over a hundred years old, but when I first read the lyrics I was reminded of things happening right now: incel culture and drink spiking. It’s tempting to think about old songs of times gone by, especially of songs dealing with the way women were treated and the awful things they faced, and say ‘wasn’t it awful back in the day, I’m so glad it’s not like that now’. While some things generally have gotten better, women still face male violence just sometimes in different forms. The poison wine in this song is a man spiking a woman’s drink to do her harm. Murdering her is an expression of rejection and jealousy which manifests as the same hate against women that incel culture feeds on: “if you won’t be my true lover, you’ll never be no other man’s bride”. This makes me think also of being hit on by guys who would not take no for an answer, and who were only satisfied and would only back off with an explanation (a lie) of ‘I’m taken’. Even then sometimes this can be seen as a challenge, ‘who is he, I’m better than him anyway’. This perception of women and girls as objects, as property, as prizes to be won, is so deep rooted in our culture. Whether you’re reading lyrics of a 100-year-old song or on a night out and seeing women get unwanted and persistent attention from men, the root is the same. So women have worked very hard to progress towards equality, and there is clearly still a long way to go. Although it doesn’t feel like it in the song, the time signature is changing all the time. It feels like it reflects the 2 steps forward and one step back nature of the fight for equality. We are improving some things and still so far behind on others.” Listen below.

Lady Larke
No men were harmed in the making of Lady Larke’s first single ‘Animal’ – but the all-female project certainly packs a punch. After a friend’s boyfriend told her she was “too much” and “not ladylike” enough, London-born Lady Larke’s response was to create a song celebrating individuality – and rejecting others’ expectations. ‘Animal’ is a powerful anthem brimming with satirical straight talking and bold statements wrapped up in an addictive melody. For those who refuse to accept each person as they are, her chorus ends on the advice: “Time for you to find a therapist”. “This song is a fearless voice of encouragement for people who’ve been belittled and judged simply due to their gender or appearance,” she reflects. “I obviously can’t empathise with everyones’ struggles – nor do I claim to – but I am a fierce ally. This song’s about finally rejecting how everyone else wants you to be and celebrating that new-found liberation.” ‘Animal’ was co-written, produced and mastered by women – of which Lady Larke is immeasurably proud. Not only is her aim to lift up women in this rebellious bop dripping with shrewdness and sass, but in the industry as a whole. The single is from her debut EP Timelines, which will drop in October. Listen to ‘Animal’ below.

Alicia Varas
Alicia Varas has paired up with Sydney producer and engineer L U N A and producer b.uzz to create vibey new track ‘Any Other Way’ – a fresh take on R&B combined with many new flavours. This track showcases Alicia’s lyricism within her soulful voice and writing style. Featuring a smooth instrumental, she draws you in, surrounding you with wistful vocal lines. With dreamy beats layered with elegant vocals, you wouldn’t want it ‘Any Other Way’. Alicia Varas is a 22 year old singer-songwriter andmusician based in Sydney, Australia. She has been performing for over 5 years and writing, singing and playing for as long as she can remember. Influenced by the music and deep lyricism of indie, alternative, R&B and rap – Alicia fuses these styles to create her own unique sound. Her biggest musical influences include James Bay, Vance Joy, Kendrick Lamar and John Mayer. She does frequent gigs at various venues and events around Sydney. Listen to ‘Any Other Way’ below.

Ninali
At just 18, Ninali signed with an indie label and released two singles written by herself. After a long hiatus, Ninali is back with more passion than ever, independently releasing and producing new music, since 2022. Ninali’s new single ‘Vanilla’ is a moving, mid-tempo, pop ballad about a ailing relationship that seems great on the outside but is slowly collapsing on the inside. Reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, ‘Vanilla’ is imbued with pop and jazz elements, showing a different side of Ninali’s musical repertoire. ‘Vanilla’ is written and co-produced by Ninali. Listen below.

Lara Anderson
Lara Anderson is an Australian singer and songwriter who rose to prominence at the age of 14 following the viral success of her acoustic cover of The Foundations’ ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ in 2018. Now aged 19, Lara has continued to explore and expand her own sound, which culminates in her heart wrenchingly authentic debut EP Lovesick, an ode to those who are looking for love with the best of intentions, and lose themselves along the way. Executed beautifully with lush harmonies, acoustic guitar, and a tasteful touch of electronic instrumentation, we are whisked away by Lara’s melancholic melodies and lyrics of ill-fated hope. A mixture of both wishful thinking and painful self- awareness, Lara carefully walks the tightrope of dichotomy that is unrequited and unresolved love. Listen to stand out tracl ‘The Day That I Met You’ below. “This song weaves the story of my first love and subsequent break-up, and our acutely deep yet ultimately fragile connection that left me deeply shattered,” explains Lara. “I found so much solace in writing this song and hope it resonates with those who have similarly experienced the raw melancholy of heartbreak.”

Mei of Lily Valley
When Mei was 16, she really got into the music world, loving bands such as Nirvana, Sonic Youth, and Blur. And it was about that time she would start writing her own music. Driven by the alternative rock influences, she started to create her own tunes with her electric guitar in her bedroom. After a few years of mastering her skills, she finally decided to put her music out into the world for everyone to hear. ‘Jelly’ is her debut single and was one of the first songs she wrote, and ironically, it is a song about ‘beginnings’, the start of something. “Which alludes to ‘Mei of Lily Valley’ starting a journey, as ‘Jelly’ and the upcoming songs serve also as a storytelling, with a lot of metaphors, basically ‘about life, will and purpose’. But in the end, ‘Jelly’ (and the other yet-to-be-released songs) are a tune to dance to, to vibe to, to enjoy in this silly little life experience of ours,” says Mei. “‘Jelly’ was recorded this Summer, plus with a DIY music video. Its lyrics are space-themed full of metaphors, which have an original meaning, but people can interpret them as they feel it themselves. In short, as mentioned before, it is a song about the potential of something that has just started.” Listen below.

Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.