The Black Isle

The Black Isle are an alternative rock band that came together in Yorkshire way back in 2013 through the love of Grunge, Punk, Pop and Rock music. After parting ways a couple years later, the four individuals have reformed in 2023. The band now seek to subvert the sound of popular music culture with the drive of catchy guitar riffs and powerful rock vocals. The band have just released their latest single ‘Highs, Lows’. The track was recorded at The Nave Studios, with Producer Andy Hawkins. The band have been evolving  to create a unique defined sound and style. The track is a stir of dreamy verses full of lost hope on love, the rush it brings and the crash when it comes tumbling down. Mixed with angsty, passionate, rock slapping choruses that express and fight the battles on the ups and downs of life, the unaswered questions and the deep yearning to just feel something.

kiyett

kiyett, also known as Kate Sevilla, is an 18-year-old emerging artist who is more than ready to carve her name into the world of music with her distinctive sound and compelling creative vision. Born in the Philippines, kiyett was immersed in a rich tapestry of cultural influences from an early age. Her sonic palette reflects a passion for exploring different timelines of music, particularly the smooth and nostalgic vibes of 90s R&B and the dynamic, colourful essence of the Y2K era. kiyett has just released her new single ‘Spaniel’. In this single, Sevilla introduces a nostalgic experience inspired from 90’s RnB and the 2000s. In the process of writing, kiyett explores a topic that is not yet often talked about – people pleasing and having the courage to leave. ‘spaniel’ is that anthem showcasing listeners to stand up for themselves when you feel like you are being pushed unfairly and feeling okay to do so. “I remember that night when a disagreement happened, I was very emotional. I had a lot of feelings that were pent up, so of course I stayed up all night writing the lyrics and the next day I recorded and finished it,” she explains. “The title ‘Spaniel’ comes from the dog breed ‘cocker spaniel’ since they are known as people pleasers which I thought that was really cute and I immediately wanted to fit that in somehow. I am totally a people pleaser but I’m learning to get out of the habit. You are allowed to say no and assert boundaries so don’t be afraid to stand up and leave from a situation or person that does not serve your highest good.”

kelbs

kelbs is a 20 years old artist from Hebdne Bridge known for its filming of Happy Valley series. She has always loved music for as long as she can remember back when she was little she used to play ‘X Factor’ with her brother and sister being the judges, and her performing a song she wrote. “They would never hesitate to give me there brutally honest feedback,” she recalls. Her latest single is called ‘selfish’. “I wrote ‘selfish’ during a 2 week struggle in my life were i realised (all though deep down I already knew) that everyone around me was all for themselves. Instead of lashing out at those around me I choose to vent to my notes perfecting every line at any chance i could. When i finally made it to the studio to record ‘selfish’ it was like ariving at a well needed thereapy session the mic being the therapist and the beat being all I needed to hear the final version of the debut single is everything to me.”

Kelbs · Selfish

Karla Lee

German-based R&B singer and producer Karla Lee knows exactly what we urgently need in light of the ongoing world-weariness. She kicks off the year with a ‘Safe Space.’ ‘Safe Space’ is a tribute to a trusted sanctuary – a place shared with a favorite person where one can let go without hesitation. With this song, Karla Lee creates an emotional space where you can share all your worries and feelings. A space where vulnerability is welcomed, and unconditional support is provided to face life’s challenges together: “Taking all your problems, baby” and “Catching your emotions” – “Sadness as normality, inner fights and rebelty.” Musically, the track is carried by a powerful beat, paired with distorted sounds that create a modern, dynamic soundscape. Jazzy lo-fi keys and a deep, warm bass evolve throughout the song, building momentum as the sound gradually opens up and gains more space. Nostalgic 90s synthesizers lend the track a unique character, while Karla Lee’s intimate spoken voice directly addresses the listener, enhancing the personal significance of the ‘Safe Space.’ The chorus perfectly encapsulates the essence of the song: “No matter what you feel or do, leave it all in our safe space.” In this space, we not only find peace and comfort but also the freedom to release all thoughts and emotions. “Sadness as normality, inner fights and rebelty” – here, every pain, tear, and insecurity becomes part of shared growth.Karla Lee encourages listeners to reclaim their light and recognize their worth, while reassuring them: “You’re not alone there. ‘Safe Space’ is a powerful anthem for all those seeking a place to embrace their vulnerability and find the support they need.

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

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Viti
Finnish singer-songwriter Viti has released her new single ’Mars’. The song draws from 90s club vibes and is produced by Oona Kapari the founder of Kuohu Records. Though the track is light and ethereal and the vocals are somewhat playful, the lyrics are based on Viti’s history with eating disorder. Listen below.

Safragette
The dawn of lockdown presented Safra and Hussein a long-awaited pause from the London city rat-race to reignite their childhood passion for music and form the band Safragette. Their debut song ‘Woman’ is a perfect representation of the duo’s ability to straddle multiple genres, with Safra’s voice displaying the extent of her talents, jumping from haunting operatic vocal phrases to punchy pop melodies. Behind this inimitable voice lies the ferocity of electric riffs, an homage to the guitar-driven rock influences Hussein stamps on the track. It is a fitting introduction to this lawyer and economist’s reimagination as artists and a preview of what’s to come. Central to Safragette’s high energy music are lyrics that offer a fresh story the on the challenges and successes of being a woman. Drawing on her experience as a first-generation immigrant, female, muslim, lawyer, Safra’s messages of hope and introspection underlie the power of femininity in all of us. And it is against a backdrop of distorted guitars and uplifting choral arrangements that these lyrics take full effect. Listen to ‘Woman’ below.

Marilyn Hucek
Pop singer-songwriter, Marilyn Hucek, has released her new single, ‘Boy Drama’, inspired by her friends abortion. The single is an ode to friendship, about being there for a friend through all her boy troubles and their aftermath. “I want to be the voice for someone who needs to be uplifted during dark times, ” Marilyn says. ‘Boy Drama’ was written and performed by Marilyn, produced/mixed by Elizabeth Maniscalco, and mastered by Martina Albano. The new single has R&B influences, and modern electronic elements, inspired by her idols such as Madison Beer, Destiny’s Child, and Cassie. ‘Boy Drama’ is a powerful reminder to women not to undersell themselves and settle for less, over a smooth melody and touching lyrics. It’s dedicated to the women who don’t give themselves enough credit, and emphasizes to not accept being treated as lesser than. In the face of relationship troubles, the song declares that boy drama is just that–drama–not to interfere with a woman’s self-confidence and self-love. In an industry dominated by men, Hucek makes a point to uplift women not just in the lyrics of her music, but in the production as well. Written, produced, and performed entirely by women, the song’s accompanying photoshoot and album art were also created by women. Hucek continues her mission to champion female empowerment by highlighting and showcasing female voices, through both the technical production, and in the subjects of her songs. Listen to ‘Boy Drama’ below.

Karla Lee
Karla Lee is an R&B musician and producer from Cologne, Germany. Creating songs in the studio is her safe space. Through creative coincidences and intuitive processes, she captures her experiences and visions in songs that reflect on new beginnings, self-worth and togetherness. In her productions she mixes rough beats and concise synthesizers with tender vocals and thus develops her individual sound. With her debut EP, Karla Lee lets you peak into her personal world of sound, which mixes the R&B sound of the 90’s with beats produced in a contemporary way. Standout track from the EP, ‘Home’, is a song with an important theme about strengthening your own self-esteem and finding yourself. Listen below.

The Rosie Varela Project
Rosie Varela is a a singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist for acclaimed shoegaze band EEP. Rosie created the The RVP, an avant-pop/indie rock band, for songs that bend genre and may not always fit into EEP’s shoegaze style. The solo project’s debut album What Remains is a lush and emotional sonic tapestry that is an honest examination of life’s difficulties through an adventurous musical sensibility, ranging from avant-pop to dream pop to psych folk. Standout track ‘Louise’ came about while Rosie was on vacation in Las Vegas, shopping at a local grocery store. “I heard an elderly couple arguing loudly in the produce section,” she explains. “’You made me do it, you made me do it, Louise. You looked right through it, but you made me do it, Louise.’ I stopped and repeated those phrases into a voice memo on my phone because I liked the meter of the sentences. Getting back to my hotel, I began writing and recording a demo on acoustic guitar and a mobile recording rig I had brought along. Around the chorus of those sentences, I built a story of a man who falls in love and marries an accomplished independent woman who abandons her life’s work to be a good wife to him. After a few years, he can see that he is holding her back. She sees things very traditionally, and he can see that she’s missing her old life terribly. So he devises a way to sabotage their marriage so that she has no choice but to leave him and resume her life following her dreams. The “you made me do it” in the chorus is his lamenting that he had no other choice but to light a match to their relationship.” Listen below.

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