RADAR: Kerr Mercer, Oedipus and the Mama’s Boys, Abbie Gordon + More

Oedipus and the Mama’s Boys ‘A Daisy For You, John’

Edinburgh eight-piece Oedipus and the Mama’s Boys shared a new expansive track ‘A Daisy For You, John’ last week. It’s a wild, unpredictable number that’s full of colliding textures and tones – shifting from the intimate and beautiful to the epic and heavy. It’s an ambitious and endlessly compelling creation that details the grief of losing a close family member – featuring saxophone, violin, drums, synth, guitar and bass, with a cathartic lead vocal over it. Raw, experimental and fiercely original, watch out for this band.

Fletchr Fletchr ‘Fucking With My Head’.

One of the highlights of our TENEMENT TRAIL last year, FELTCHR FLETCHR are back with a brooding and anthemic new song called ‘Fucking With My Head’. A marked step forward from their debut EP ‘We All Feel the Same’, the song finds them tackling their anxieties head on, reminding us to trust our intuition in times of hardship. Packed with emotion, the band channel their ethos of togetherness through a richer, more nuanced lens, culminating in the sound of a band who are now properly finding their feet. With a new EP on the way, they have a bunch of UK/EU festivals lined up this summer, with another headline tour also in the works for the autumn.

Kerr Mercer ‘Stop Me Dead’

Fast-rising singer-songwriter Kerr Mercer has unveiled a new track called ‘Stop Me Dead, another emotionally charged pop anthem that’s sure to boost his growing momentum. Bursting with immediate hooks from the off, the new release follows the viral success of previous singles ‘Love Me Twice’ & ‘Terrified’. It explores the chaos and intensity of a reckless situationship, with his distinctively soulful vocals at the centre of it. An artist on an upwards trajectory, he plays the Main Stage at TRNSMT on Sunday 21^st June before supporting Lewis Capaldi at Hyde Park.

James Emmanuel ‘Bridge Over the Tears I’ve Cried’

Soul star James Emmanuel releases his new single ‘Bridge Over The Tears I’ve Cried’, a driving piano-driven slab of righteous defiance to fair-weather friends who only show up for the good times. The song will be included on James’s ‘Good Man EP’, out 26th June.“’Bridge Over the Tears I Cried’ came from a moment of clarity,” says James. “That point in life when you finally see someone’s intentions for what they really were. It’s the kind of truth that hurts at first, but eventually frees you. This song is about a past relationship, but it’salso about something much bigger: people who only want you when your life starts to shine.People who didn’t love you when you were trying, learning, building, or breaking, but suddenly want a place in your world now that you’ve grown beyond the version of you they
once knew. That’s where the title comes from. Because the only thing connecting them to you now is the pain you’ve already moved past.”

Abbie Gordon ‘The Pavement’ 

Irvine’s 19-year-old pop singer Abbie Gordon is fast becoming Scotland’s answer to pop stars like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo, releasing sharp pop songs that are as catchy as they are emotionally nuanced. She builds on her growing momentum with the release of    ‘The Pavement’ , her fourth single of the year following ‘Out Of Wine’, ‘Bottlemouth’ and ‘Wet Rain’ and another entry in her ever-growing journal of relationship dramas.

“The Pavement is about being fresh out of a relationship and feeling scared to leave the house in case you run into your ex,” says Abbie. “I wrote it about that anxious feeling when everywhere you go reminds you of them, and even the places you used to know so well suddenly feel different. It’s about the struggle of trying to move on while the memories are still fresh, and how a simple walk down the street can feel overwhelming when your heart’s been broken. I wanted to capture that mix of sadness, anxiety and vulnerability that comes with losing someone and learning how to be on your own again.”

Pinc Wafer ‘Mine’

Known for their whimsical, colourful indie pop tunes, Pinc Wafer are back with a new offering called ‘Mine’. Imbued with shimmering pop tones, bright guitars and a heartfelt lead vocal, the dreamy track has a rose-tinted nostalgia to it. It’s an endearing listen that twinkles with a sense of hopeful optimism.

Doss ‘DOSS’

Scottish electronic/post-punk outfit DOSS shared their self-titled ‘DOSS’ EP a couple of weeks ago. Previewed with lead singles ‘BIGFELLAFUNK’ and ‘SUPERSECRETAGENT’ and new focus track ‘YOUGOTSTYLE’, the EP showcases their biting Glaswegian sound to perfection. Blending sharp social commentary with distorted bass, fractured electronics, and heavy rhythms, it’s brimming with vital urgency and raw energy.

Slix ‘Self Care Loathing’

Slix turn their focus inwards on latest single ‘Self Care Loathing’. They say it’s ‘about self-reflection, picking apart the negativity our inner conscience can sometimes throw at us.’ They deliver their message through punchy, singalong choruses and upbeat hooks aplenty, adding dreamy textures and a driving, raw edge to their established sound.

Lucia & The Best Boys, Abigail Morris ‘Big Romance’

Lucia & The Best Boys teamed up with The Last Dinner Party’s Abigail Morris on their latest single ‘Big Romance’, a track set to feature on their upcoming album ‘Picking Petals’. A track founded on the pair’s long friendship, it’s a baroque-inspired number packed with drama and emotion and led by an incisive vocal. Lucia headlines Barrowlands on 23^rd October.

KuLeeAngee ‘Love & Affection’

On their second EP ‘Love & Affection’, KuLeeAngee keep the party vibes going – from the high-energy opener ‘You’re Fine, You’re High’ through to the bass-heavy ‘Pretty Love’ and the ecstatic title track. Blending early 90s euphoria with ravey influences and brilliant pop songwriting, they’re utterly infectious. Think ‘Screamadelica’ and fast forward to 2026.

Russell Stewart ‘SCRAP METAL MIXTAPE’

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from any solo material Russell Stewart, but at the end of May, he dropped a surprise new project called ‘SCRAP METAL MIXTAPE’. Known for his silky smooth vocals and neo-soul/R&B creations, the new project is his most experimental and playful to date – capturing the sound of an artist rediscovering his passion for music while pushing his sound down new bold and intriguing directions. Opening with a reflection on working in the music industry and its many challenges, the singer-songwriter delves into a range of complex emotions – angst, burn out, anger, self-empowerment and more – pairing his intimate, diaristic reflections with fun, kinetic and textured instrumentals. A great reminder of his talents as a vocalist and producer, it’s a welcome return from the singer-songwriter.

heavyskint ‘He Says, She Says’

heavyskint have seized our attention with their first couple of singles and some local live shows – and now they’re back with a surging track called ‘He Says, She Says’. The Glasgow outfit once again delve into the darkness, expanding on the brooding nature of their previous tracks by shifting from dark, menacing verses into surging, abrasive choruse. Led by Jacob Hunter’s brilliantly intense lead vocal, they draw from modern punk icons like Wunderhorse and Fontaines D.C, alongside the brooding, spacious sounds of Pink Floyd and urgent, confrontational edge late 90s rock. It’s a compelling concoction, defined by moody instrumentals, huge choruses and plenty of intensity.

YES AND MAYBE ‘Babylon’

With their debut album slated for arrival on 31^st July, YES AND MAYBE have shared another preview with ‘Babylon’. The duo often tackle existentialist themes through their bright and dynamic indie-sleaze sound, capturing the chaos and disconnection of modern living. And the latest single does this against a backdrop of devilishly catchy choruses and synth-indebted indie-pop melodies.