From energetic Indie debuts and moshpit ready Rock anthems to a rich Indie Folk EP and enticing album teaser, here's a roundup of some of our favourite new releases from emerging artists this month.
Coal Mob
Coal Mob is an up and coming Leeds band, formed of five friends, Dom, Paddy, Rohan, Ellis and Jack, who met in Leeds. They have just released their third single on Valentine's day, and ‘Cowgirl’ is an ode to freedom.
Beginning with a calming Indie tune and soft vocals, the song starts off feeling slow and lonely, however, as the song progresses changes in tempo create an upbeat and fast tune, symbolising the nature of freedom. This song is a clever anthem, blending conscious lyricism and subconscious melody.
The vocals are littered with spoken word, making a wonderful multimodal piece of music. This beautiful coordination of drums and guitar chords is said to be one of the first songs the band wrote together. We cannot wait to see what Coal Mob has in store for us this upcoming year!
Words by Meg Howard
Uwade
Experimenting with her songwriting process over the last few years, Nigerian singer-songwriter Uwade has found her sound, breaking out on her own with her latest single ‘Call It A Draw’ that is teasing her new album, ‘Florilegium’, to come in April of this year.
‘Call it A Draw’ is “one of the fruits of that exploration” that started with a drum loop, a chord progression, and an exploration of unresolved emotions. Uwade has crafted an intimate, yet expansive rhythmic pulse enriched through her exploration of themes of surrender and acceptance. It is a beautifully melancholic and introspective track that blends genres of Folk and Indie and moves us to feelings of gratitude, reminding us “to cherish opportunities for renewal”.
While her voice is ethereal, it carries deeply visceral lyrics, the emotions of which are heightened 1 minute 24 seconds in through complementary strings. This has made us hugely excited for her new album and we can't wait to hear that comes next.
Words by Beatrice Wright
LONG ISLAND
Huddersfield-based Indie quartet LONG ISLAND’s latest offering ‘Fragile’ stands as an emotional ballad which tells tales of love, loss and the ephemeral nature of life itself.
Laced with hook-laden heartfelt lyrics, the band’s new release adopts a mellow, dulcet attitude propelled by low-key acoustics backing a thoughtful lyrical stint provided by frontwoman Rizzy Stephenson.
‘Fragile’ serves as a vulnerable insight into the band’s emotional states following a car accident in August of last year. The track relies on climactic drum beats laden with angst and emotion to create a hard-hitting single that you can still tap your foot to.
Elements of powerful synth build a hard-hitting bridge that moves into a merciful concluding chorus. This anthem for hope highlights the importance of holding loved ones close; born out of a bittersweet reflection on a traumatic period in the group’s expedition, and has become their most tender and gentle offering to date.
Words by Michaela Roper
Teleforme
Teleforme’s 'Plaster Saint' kicks off with a bold assertion: “I’m worth more than minimum wage; I’m worth more than what I get paid” establishing a strong message of defiance. In just 2 minutes and 45 seconds, the track combines elements of New Wave, Indie Rock, and Post-Punk to critique working-class exploitation.
Catchy riffs and impactful breakdowns work together with resonant drums, pushing the song forward with urgency. The tempos rise alongside darker instrumental segments that add to the intensity, while dynamic guitar parts lead up to an exciting climax. Lyrically, the song takes a stand against authority with lines like “Destroy power” expressing feelings of frustration and resistance. It culminates in a burst of instrumental energy—a release of built-up emotion.
'Plaster Saint' offers a compelling expression of resistance, marking the band as a notable presence in the Post-Punk scene.
Words by Cormac O'Carroll
about-faces
Crafted as if it could soundtrack a coming-of-age motion picture, West Yorkshire’s freshest Indie Rock outfit about-faces serves to reminisce upon playful youth and fleeting moments in their new track ‘Too Old For Fun’.
Described by the band as “a dance anthem steeped in nostalgia” the single is propelled by an airily scintillating guitar lick infused with memories of teenage love, lust and loss. Sennen Ludman’s vocals carry the weight of lived experiences, sharing the stage with straight-talking work and spirited beats of drummer Joseph Schofield.
The track beats like a teenage heart, juxtaposing a melodic scrapbook of memories within the electricity of an infectious chorus with a steadier breakdown courtesy of Cormac Connolly’s exquisite oeuvre on lead guitar.
‘Too Old For Fun’ is a reminder of teenage thrills destined to tug on the heartstrings of the nostalgic generation, yet packs a rhythmic punch into the most tender of memories.
Words by Michaela Roper
Balter
Northampton Jangle-pop band Balter delivers an exciting and uplifting debut with their single ‘Someone New’. Listeners may be shocked to learn the group is not long out of high school considering the seasoned and confident sound established by the track.
Nevertheless, they’ve gathered a notable following with a strong anticipation for their debut. This anticipation is sustained in the first moments of the song before the cheerful guitar and sweet vocals kick in, both energetic yet easy-going.
Consistently charming and entirely catchy, the tune feels bright and fresh. An impressive riff dominates the outro and can easily be imagined commanding an animated crowd at the band’s upcoming shows this April.A strong and successful first single, ‘Someone New’ marks the start of what promises to be an exciting year for Balter and their fans.
Words by Maddie Foster
Floodhounds
From the very first seconds of the new Floodhounds single 'One Horse Race' you know you're in for a treat. The dirty riff and huge drum stabs tell you that this is going to be one wild ride, menacing and tantalising in equal measure.
What ensues doesn't disappoint as a group backing vocals create a chanted melody that will come back bigger later on. The verses are muted, drawing your attention in while the vocals spit their magic with angst and impact.
The chorus then explodes open into an expansive sound full of energy before hitting you with that earworming riff / vocal chant combo. Undeniably catchy and definite singalong anthem yet still with that gritty underbelly that makes it moshpit ready. Fans of Kid Kapichi will adore this single.
Nature TV
Brighton quartet Nature TV have landed with a delightfully dreamy, melody weaving single 'Away It Goes' that will melt away your troubles in an instant. The early moments are reminiscent of Peach Pit with that hazy Indie Pop guitar sound that feels super smooth and warming in tone.
However, the vocals have tings of Divorce, flowing between rich Folk tones in the poignant lines and a brighter Indie twang to emphasise the melodic high points. The chorus is wonderfully catchy and carries more of a groove-laiden swagger than the easy-going verses.
Instrumental subtleties including a slick guitar solo round off a wonderful single that offers a fantastic range of atmospheres while always absorbing you in a coastal Indie-groove dreamscape.
Ellis King
One of the most attractive things about Ellis King as an artist is arguably her pure relatability. She crafts songs which resonate with a whole generation of people going through the hardship and lessons that come in your twenties.
‘Better Luck’ is a covenant between herself and her audience that they're not alone in learning things the hard way. Although the EP has elements of sadness and grief for relationships throughout, it is also a message of hope that the bigger picture will come through and the grass underneath you will get greener. She has established herself as the frontman for a whole generation of young adults through her vulnerability and the emotions that are woven through her songs.
The title track is a song surrounding the realisation that a relationship hasn’t only worn out but is actively wearing you down along with it, the song also acts as a sign to leave for your own sake and happiness despite the short-term pain that will come with it. It has the iconic charm which has come to characterise the singer's sound with soft vocals and light melodies to accompany.
‘1996’ is a particularly shining star in the album, it is a quietly sad song which follows the fall out of a relationship fated to fail. It captures the seemingly universal experience of a relationship being "never worth the fight", despite the sheer gravity of the feelings you have for them and the unfortunate fact that they should have known better. The song's story of suffering paired with kings enchanting vocals makes for a reflective yet comforting listening experience that is rare to come across.
'Crocodile Tears' and 'Nothing Left' are also highlights, filled with rich, powerful instrumentals and singalong chorus'. The EP is a perfect collation of songs and summation of Ellis' work to date.
Words by Georgina Butler
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