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.
Madison Rose – Dancin’ Til We Die
With clear influence from ICONIC! artists through the history of time, but particularly Lady Gaga, Madison Rose brings to life a multi-dimensional pop record with fierce and diverse anthems.
The opening track is Dancing’ Til We Die and we are obsessed. Madison delivers a flawless pop performance with subversive and cutting edge pop and vocal production.
Madison Rose has slid down a rainbow from an alternate universe to wake everyone up to the full acceptance of others and most importantly – themselves. The up and coming Ohio born, Los Angeles based singer and songwriter introduced her rainbow realm with her infectious, Billboard premiered debut single, DIAMONDS.
She has cited Donna Summer, Freddie Mercury, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Missy Elliot and Katy Perry as influences. The self proclaimed “rainbow girl against a storm cloud world” is authentically and independently on the rise.
Boy Untitled – Quiet Time
Rising LA artist, Boy Untitled has teamed up with Wowashwow and Grillo Johipa on a “spicy lil ditty bop” (in the words of Wowashwow!). Premiered at Venue Pride on the Queer Moment main stage, the track is quintessential Boy Untitled, ethereal, sensual and textured. We love the saxophone and Wowashwow‘s verse is out of this world. Her flow is intricate and fierce and includes the lyrics, “Your seed tastes like money...”
Boy Untitled has also just released an NFT with Mint Songs and has recently announced his collaborative dance project BOY2K with Boy Apocalypse.
Shygirl – Come For Me
Hot on the heels of the announcement of her forthcoming debut album Nymph due September 30th via Because Music, UK-based experimental pop artist Shygirl shares the second offering from the album, Come For Me.
Produced by Arca, Come For Me is a broken-down dance track showcasing the various iterations of electronic dance music Shygirl cascades through on Nymph. Throughout the song Shygirl reminds us how she has the power and the know-how to dominate and direct what’s going down; “Come when you’re called / Be easy if I take the lead” she says.
Come For Me follows the lead single from Nymph, Firefly, which arrived with visuals directed by Yasser Abubeker. The 12-tracks of Nymph were created with a close-knit group of friends and previous collaborators including Mura Masa, Sega Bodega, Karma Kid, Cosha, and as previously mentioned Arca, along with the producers Noah Goldstein, Danny L Harle, BloodPop, Vegyn and Kingdom.
Nymph reveals Shygirl’s inner self-reflection in experimental vocal tones and deconstructed dance melodies and exhibits a new level of intimacy and emotional depth in her songwriting.
Tunde Olaniran, Ah-Mer-Ah-Su
Genre expansive iconoclast and NPR favourite, Tunde Olaniran has teamed up with Los Angeles based legend, Star Amerasu aka Ah-Mer-Ah-Su (who just performed live with Mykki Blanco) for a collaborative single, Whipped Cream Daydream.
A cute bop with references to whipped cream pioneers Katy Perry and Mariah Cary is an ear worm and we love the pair’s energy together, giving dimensionality and familiarity, although we assume it’s vegan cream cos, we don’t do dairy, ever.
The middle eight is a transcendental treat and feels meditative and ethereal before taking us through to the final reprise.
DALT – energized by love
Setting the tone with enigmatic and intricate electric guitar with textured layers, DALT opens energized by love emotively with the lyrics, “She said she never felt so energized by love, been hungry for something but some’s just not enough…”
The song expands into a soulful, guitar-driven ballad. Backed by an unimpeachable team of musicians, the Philly-based singer delivers emotional, intimate lyrics with a sweet and smooth tone.
We are obsessed with the layers of guitar and luscious background harmonies as DALT delivers a vulnerable and sensual performance. The exceptional performance on bass by Jacob Shneiderman delivers an immersive soundscape.
Anton Commissaris – Have You Ever
We recently featured Anton Commissaris for his emotive and wise single, Living My Life, so we were thrilled to hear his latest release, Have You Ever.
Delivering a Latin-infused Jazz chacha hybrid energy, Have You Ever meditates lyrically on childhood companionship and adult romantic love against a backdrop of nourishing and protective natural landscapes. Speaking on the transportative nature of the track, Anton says, “It evokes another time and place. Imagine a pre-Castro lounge in Havana, Cuba with a big band playing.”
Speaking assertively on his art, Anton says, “My music is highly diverse with no two songs sounding the same. Each song has its own character and sound with meaningful lyrics meant to convey a message.”
The Vonics – Hypnotic
Establishing the mood with a luscious guitar-driven power pop frequency with elements of 80s soft rock tied in, we are obsessed with The Vonics‘ aptly titled Hypnotic.
Formed in 2018, the five piece band from Dudley, West Midlands, have a big passion for writing and recording their own music. Speaking on their single, the band says, “Hypnotic is an atmospheric song using steady verses and really ramping up for the chorus. It’s the first song to feature our guitarist Mark taking the lead vocal.”
We are literally hypnotized by the soundscape that The Vonics have created and the intricacy of the guitars and how cohesively they flow. The hooks are memorable and delivered emotively by Mark, and the guitar solo is out of this world.
Matthew Joseph – My Mistakes
Establishing the mood with a fierce pop beat, Matthew Joseph opens My Mistakes with the vulnerable and introspective lyrics, “You been saying for some time, something really wasn’t right, and you needed much more from me…”
The song expands into a meaningful and self-aware relationship anthem, with inspirations from lots of major pop idols. Produced by Chris Hall (The Saturdays, The Wanted), Matthew tells us “This track is about realising you’re also not perfect in a relationship and all the trials and tribulations going through it.”
The visual features Matthew dressed as his 90s idols including Spice Girls, Jamiroquai, Britney Spears and Sinead O’Connor. Matthew Joseph‘s previous release features singer-songwriter Myah Marie, who’s written albums for Britney and Selena Gomez. Speaking on his plans, Matthew confesses, “I’m hoping that this next release will be a huge success ready for when I perform it live at pride festivals this year!”
MADDU – Now
Setting the tone with strummed and layered guitars with vocal detailing, MADDU opens his song Now with the lyrics, “I cannot cross the only thing I love, so afraid to let the words come out…”
Now expands into a folk-pop frequency as MADDU draws his inspiration from his lifelong dreams and delivers his personal statement to the world.
The rising artist based in London opens up about trying and fighting to finally see something positive in his life. Speaking on the intention of Now and his art, MADDU confesses, “Most of us often struggle with insecurities and often feel self-conscious about those little things that we end up growing in our minds. Therefore, this song is for everyone who is going through any difficulties in life and is just looking to break free from all the noise. It is for those who have insecurities and are NOW learning to love themselves. It’s for those who are trying and never giving up on chasing their dreams.”