Each week, we feature some fresh new releases from emerging and established talent from around the world, these are highlighted on our New Music Spotlight playlist on Spotify, but we also share a handful of artists in our round-up who are making waves.
You can read more features in our Music + Culture section.
Santigold – High Priestess
Art radical and multi-platform creative visionary Santigold has shared a new song, High Priestess, and an accompanying video short. Always on the front lines of innovation, Santigold eschewed sonic conventions and challenged herself, both in the songwriting and production, to push her music into new frontiers and reimagine the sound of her influences for the future. The video short is a stand-alone piece that evokes the emotions and themes of High Priestess.
Confined by the pandemic and isolated from her creative community, Santi went inward to reconnect with her personal strength and purpose to create this invocation to gather your powers.
Speaking on the meaning of the song, Santigold says, “I called this song High Priestess because this song was about my greatness. I needed to be a witness to myself at that point, calling out my own power, my own fortitude, my own wisdom, because I felt like I had become disconnected from it, having been stripped out of the rhythm of life that I had cultivated for myself, and thrust into this smaller, one dimensional version of myself, grounded and isolated for too long. The lyrics are fun though, rap lyrics in general, boastful, cocky, but that’s what I was talking about underneath it all.”
My Chemical Romance – The Foundations of Decay
Totally spontaneously, My Chemical Romance released their first new single in over eight years. The Foundations of Decay came out just ahead of the band’s global reunion tour, and we are obsessed.
Cohesively fusing the artistry and sound of their legacy with a fresh, yet lightly vocally subversive soundscape, The Foundations of Decay has become an emotive hit amongst fans already.
You can watch the visualizer by Aaron Hymes below, along with the band’s debut performance of the song at The Eden Project.
Feen!ks – Demons in my Soul
Setting the tone with an enigmatic and immersive frequency, Feen!ks opens her latest single, Demons in my Soul with the vulnerable lyrics, “Paralysed by fear, words stabbing my heart…”
The song expands cinematic, dark pop composition lead by piano, epic and textured strings and Feen!ks emotive and atmospheric vocal, as she tells the story of a controlling relationship and “feeling small”.
We particularly love Demons in my Soul, as Feen!ks, who is into health and alternative healing methods, uses binaural sounds in the production of the track, which work like meditation by reducing stress and increasing concentration.
The chorus lyrics, include the moving, “I call upon the angels to heal my troubled heart”, and the optimistic “I swear someday I’ll rise, stronger than before”, and we are hypnotized by Feen!ks powerful and passionate delivery in the composition.
E-PO – Mother
Opening with an electric guitar riff and alternating textured details, we are already hypnotized by E-PO‘s latest release, Mother. The song expands into a heavy and metallic alternative rock frequency which features dark lyricism, fierce guitars and driving drumbeats that come together to immerse us in a subversive soundscape.
E-PO are a bold, new, five piece female led alt-rock band from Birmingham in the UK. The band cites Nothing But Thieves, Paramore and Against The Current as influences, but it is clear that they are forging their own path.
We love the intricacy of the production and E-PO‘s eloquent yet riot-girl-esque delivery with whisper details that really dimensionalize the track.
When writing the track the band took influence heavily from the lyrics and attitude of Riot Grrrl bands, hoping to bring those elements forward alongside their own Alternative Rock influences.
E-PO also have big plans for the rest of 2022 and beyond, with hopes to release several singles over the next few months. We can’t wait to hear more!
Copperstone – My Old Friend
Setting the tone with layered acoustic guitars, delivering a pseudo folk energy, we feel warm and nostalgic as we start to experience Copperstone‘s latest single, My Old Friend.
Opening with the lyrics, “You were just a small one, many years ago, seems like a lifetime, since I brought you home…”, My Old Friend expands to tell the story of a loss incurred by the band’s guitarist.
Laced with optimism, the song delivers an emotive journey of love and loss with touching lyrics such as “above the stars now, you’ll find peace…” and the emotive hook, “I’ll say goodbye now, my old friend”.
The guitar performances are exquisite and we are in awe of how the track takes a turn with electric textures and a stunning piano performance delivering dimensionality and soul.
Rina Sawayama – This Hell
Giving us a fusion between glam and country pop, Rina Sawayama‘s authentic and anthemic new single, This Hell is quite the delight.
Designed with the hook, “This Hell is better with you…”, Rina references the abuse of the system towards some of her idols including Britney Spears and Whitney Houston.
With high end vocal production, This Hell serves as an LGBTQ+ anthem as Rina confesses,”When the world tells us we don’t deserve love and protection, we have no choice but to give love and protection to each other.”
GESS – Plastic
Los Angeles icon, GESS who we shared for his single iconic single COLLIDE with Shea Coulee and Mykki Blanco is back with a brand new single, Plastic.
Speaking on the track, GESS says, “It’s a song about being a flawed human made of flesh and blood, not cold hard plastic.”
The rising super star artist and producer continues, “If you’ve ever felt unable to take the high road, consumed by immature emotions, this song is for you…”
We love GESS‘s immersive brand of production and are always in awe of what he creates!
Bella Blaq – Wet
Rising legend Bella Blaq has just released her new single, Wet. Working with producers that have created for Bryson Tiller, Cardi B, and Eminem, it is no surprise that Bella Blaq is blowing up in Atlanta and beyond!
Her social media presence is hypnotizing, and Wet is not only a sensual and intelligent sonic delight with innuendos and hooks for days, but it comes with a great visualizer featuring an epic performance from Bella!
Bella confirms that she indeed has the best brain the world, and we are here to stan!
Jon Darc – The Womb
Setting the tone with immersive synths, we are already obsessed with Jon Darc‘s latest release, The Womb. With conceptual lyricism, the Berlin-based rising artist, who is also known for their performance artwork expands The Womb with textured drums and epic strings, reminding us of early Woodkid!
The opus is a commentary on the pollution and destruction that the human race brings to planet Earth, and especially its oceans.
Speaking on the meaning of the track, Jon Darc says, “The Womb is a dive into the deepest parts of the oceans.”
The rising artist continues, “It takes over the part of a rough child lover that is careless with his unprepared lover on one side but also sees her beauty and moans about the loss of it that his love brings her.”
“So The Womb can be read as the oceans ground where the silent and alien lifeforms glow and flourish, constantly penetrated by all kind of waste, exploration vessels with disturbing lights blinding the deep-sea animals for life and over fishing.”
A self0-directed visual is expected on Sunday, which sees Jon in the role of a mermaid exploring the vastness of the sea, its wonders, and horrors until their life suddenly turns in a different direction… we can’t wait to experience the song and visual together!