Joesef ‘Cynical’
Glasgow’s Joesef has returned with his first piece of new music in nearly two years, since the release of his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Permanent Damage’. New track ‘Cynical’ picks up sonically where he left off – his blissful soul-pop imbued with warm melodies, funk-indebted guitar lines and emotional lyrics. However, it finds him in a brighter place – hopeful, looking to the future and shedding past burdens. It makes for a gorgeous return – one he says its about ‘letting the good stuff’ in.
Alice Faye ‘Silly Little Fool’
Following the release of her brilliant ‘songs for my sisters’ EP earlier this year, Alice Faye has shared a new track called ‘Silly Little Fool’. The Glaswegian singer-songwriter has a distinctly unique sound – blending elements of classic 70s pop and 60s folk along with the dramatic performance style of icons like Piaf and Brel, and the confessional songwriting of Wainwright. It’s an arresting combination that’s all centred around her incredible vocals – the kind that will make you stop in your tracks. New single ‘Silly Little Fool’ continues this rich vein of form as she explores how love can transform a person – it’s beautifully honest, vulnerable and powerful all at once.
Becky Sikasa ‘I don’t have words’
Recently shortlisted for the SAY Award, Becky Sikasa shared a new single ‘I don’t have words’ last week. It’s another stunning addition to her catalogue – imbued with the emotional vulnerability, soulful warmth and heartfelt lyrics we’ve come to know and love from the singer, as well as the impressive gospel-esque vocal harmonies. And it comes from a meaningful place too. Speaking of the track on social media, she said: “you know that feeling when you’re watching someone you love struggle and all you wanna do is help, fix it, do something. I find it extra hard when that person always finds a way to be there for you.”
Brooke Combe ‘Shaken By The Wind’
Lifted from her upcoming debut album ‘Dancing At The Edge Of The World’, set to be released on 31st January 2025 via Modern Sky Records, Brooke Combe has shared the stirring ‘Shaken By The Wind’. Written alongside Jungle’s Tom McFarland, the track is lush with soul and funk influences, and the kind of irresistible rhythms and infectious melodies Jungle have always revelled in. Another tantalising insight into the upcoming album, she said: “I got the train down to London to meet up with Tom at his studio. Me being such a big Jungle fan, I was really excited to see what we’d come up with. Tom came up with a chord progression and then I basically messed around with some melodies to see what would work. After that, the writing sort of flowed naturally off the back of everything else and the song was born.”
racecar ‘Wolf’
‘Wolf’ is the latest single from Edinburgh-based alt-pop trio racecar. The band are set to release their album in early 2025, with each track said to showcase their wide range of influences. ‘Wolf’ draws inspiration from dance classics like Blue, 9 PM (Till I Come), and 2 Times – blending a hypnotic melody with dancefloor energy, darkwave influences and bold, almost rock-like drops. The result is a track that’s as haunting as it is catchy – tune in below.
Katherine Aly ‘222’
Katherine Aly has released her brilliant new alt-pop EP ‘222’ – a fun collection of tracks that reflects on the ups and downs of modern dating. Easily her most assured and dynamic project to date, ‘222’ explores relationships, situationships, first dates, and everything in between through the eyes of women – inspired by her own experiences and filled with clever one-liners and catchy choruses against a genre-defying concoction of electronic, dance, R&B, indie, funk and pop. It makes for a distinctly unique EP that shows her at her most confident and creatively liberated – shifting from the atmospheric and assertive to the personally reflective to downright catchy.
She says: “The tracks are all essentially short stories which reflect on specific experiences with four different types of men: the mama’s boy, the friend-zoned, the narcissist, and the almost one.The title of the EP comes from the duration of the tracks, which all run to two minutes and 22 seconds. It started as a total coincidence after writing the first two songs, but I decided to continue the theme as a creative challenge for the final two tracks – plus 222 is also considered the number for trust and patience, so it’s a bit of a comical message connected to the modern dating scene. It really fits with the EP’s playful and confrontational character.”
mokusla ‘lovely people here, but it’s just not the same’
Glasgow-based and Donegal-born artist singer, musician and producer Lou Rowland shared her second EP last month under the name mokusla. Titled ‘lovely people here, but it’s just not the same’t he four-track EP is a beautiful meditation on friendships, the passing of time and nostalgia – blending elements of folk, ambient dream pop and electronic to great, ethereal effect. It’s an affecting EP that holds your attention throughout its 21-minute runtime, her ghostly vocals blending beautifully with the gentle, carefully crafted instrumentals.
neverfine ‘LUCID’
Fresh from their TENEMENT TRAIL set earlier in October, neverfine shared the towering ‘LUCID’ last week. Marking an exciting new era for the duo, it showcases a darker, more dynamic sound – one driven by massive, swirling synth hooks, pulse-quickening rhythms and towering choruses. It’s a hugely ambitious return from the duo.
Fourth Daughter ‘HYBRID’
After securing extensive Radio 1 airplay with the brilliant ‘Higher (Just a Feeling)’, Fourth Daughter has followed it up with ‘HYBRID’. While it doesn’t reach the euphoric heights of its predecessor, it also has all the ingredients of an infectious synth-pop banger – pulsing synths, an addictive chorus and hooks aplenty.
