RADAR: James Emmanuel, San Jose and The Foot and Leg Clinic

James Emmanuel ‘Time’ 

Rising soul singer James Emmanuel has shared a rousing new single called ‘Time’. The last year has been huge for the singer – he’s now signed to a major label, he’s released an acclaimed debut EP, played the Royal Albert Hall and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, earned a Scottish Music Award and had numerous TV and press appearances. However, his success did not arrive overnight – instead it has taken years of hard work to get him where he is now. And new single ‘Time’ encapsulates this in three minutes 40 seconds of stirring soul music. Born of his real experiences, it’s an emotive, uplifting return.

He said: “Time is a song about my life and my journey from Nigeria to Scotland, going through the process of becoming what I had always dreamt of being,” says James. “I started writing it as I was about to become a father, I was out of work for the first time and stuck in a loop, worrying about how we were going to raise this child. I had this dream of being a singer for real, but lots of people, even some close to me with the best intentions, were saying ‘no-one with your background or circumstances can do this’. Everyone has an opinion about how you should be living your life when things are not going exactly right.”

“I always wanted to release this song at the start of the year, when it’s common to feel stuck and frustrated,” says James. “People have that anxiety after Christmas, maybe you’ve seen someone who’s doing better than you are and you feel stuck. The song is me saying ‘There’s always time to figure it out, you don’t need all the answers by a certain age’. You can still do it if you keep your mind to it, find the things that inspire and motivate you.”

“I was cleaning toilets and had a new family, I understand why people thought this was just a fantasy. But if people are already doubting you, what do you have to lose? All you have is your instinct, no one else can see what you see or believe in. I’ve got something to say and I’m going to say it though my music and I hope that will show others that they can follow their dreams too, however long it takes.”

James will perform at The Great Escape in Brighton on 14^th May and has announced a headline show at Edinburgh’s Cabaret Voltaire on 16^th May.

San Jose ‘The Bastards’

San Jose are back with a politically charged track called ‘The Bastards’, officially out tomorrow. Produced by Chris McCrory (Walt Disco, Catholic Action, Joy Hotel, Flat Party) and mastered by Felix Davis, the track opens in understated fashion with a standalone piano melody, before building into something altogether more ambitious and compelling, with layers of post-punk, krautrock, folk melodies and cabaret-like theatricality.

Showcasing their sheer versatility and scope as songwriters, it’s a track that earmarks them in their own lane – conjuring images of a crumbling democracy, unscrupulous power and soveriegnty.  Described by the band as “a ballad about sovereignty”, the track captures the unease of living under systems that feel increasingly hostile and immovable, through stark and visceral, lyricism pairing political disillusionment with moments of fragile beauty, as chants and swelling instrumentation give way to uneasy quiet.

They said: “The Bastards is a ballad about sovereignty. It’s hard to write a song about anything else in today’s climate. Everyday some creeping dark cloud over democracy grows, seemingly stronger and more opaque. We’ve been trying to capture that cloud and distill that feeling for a while, and with The Bastards we feel we’ve come close. Being Scottish, it seems being politically discontent is part of our very being, our genealogy even. This feeling is building amongst us, and you can tangibly feel it – we hope that The Bastards can be a light that shines upon that.”

Find it on streaming services tomorrow (28 February).

Eriff ‘Mercy’ 

Following the release of his debut EP ‘Dare you’ last August, Eriff has opened his account for 2026 with the release of a moving new song called ‘Mercy’. Produced by former bandmate Roan Ballantine, it’s a beautifully crafted return that oscillates between the raw and intimate, and spacious and epic. Stuart Ramage’s aching vocals are elevated by the graceful production – allowing his lyrics to take centre stage against the harmonious instrumental. It’s ethereal and deeply affecting.

The Foot and Leg Clinic ‘Where did all the fruit go?’

Formerly known as The Wife Guys of Reddit, The Foot and Leg Clinic have shared their first single under their new name. ‘Where did all the fruit go?’ was released last week, ahead of their debut album, ‘Sit Down for Rock and Roll coming out next month – it’s a fast, catchy slice of wonky indie pop that sticks with you.

she’s green ‘mettle’

Minneapolis five-piece she’s green are pleased to share their new single ‘mettle’. Recorded with producer Sonny DiPerri (julie, DIIV), ‘mettle’ harnesses fuzzed-out guitars with frontwoman Zofia Smith’s ethereal vocals to soaring effect, while her politically influenced lyrics bring a dose of reality to their dreamlike aesthetic.

Speaking about the release, Zofia says: “‘mettle’ channels the frustration and discomfort that stems from what often feels like constant bad news in the world today, while also being an anthem of resilience, of courage to take action and to bring about positive change.”

BRSR ‘A Field of Manmade Fires’ 

We’ve been following post-rock five-piece BRSR for a while now, after they seized our attention with tracks like ‘Judas’, ‘Manmade Fires’ and ‘Portals’. Today marks the release of their debut album ‘A Field of Manmade Fires’ – an ambitious, loud, emphatic record that delves into the world of alt rock, post metal, shoegaze, grunge and more. Think Alice in Chains, Deftones, Tool and the like – underpinned by deeply personal themes, vulnerable lyricism and emotional catharsis. Carefully crafted and fiercely dynamic, it’s an album packed with rousing guitar work, intelligent yet thunderous rhythms and soaring vocals.

Kyle Falconer, ft Jamie Webster ‘I’m Lost (You’re Dead’