Lizzie Reid “Fothering Day’
Lizzie Reid recently released her first new single in three years, ‘Staines’, with the promise that more was to come – and this week she’s followed through with the announcement of a new EP titled ‘Bodega’, out on 12th September. Along with the EP news, she’s shared a new single called ‘Fothering Day’ – a track she says is dedicated to her friends and family, old and new. Just like ‘Staines’, it’s a track that the singer-songwriter wrote a few years ago during a formative stage in her life, when she was attending jam nights at a Spanish tapas bar in Glasgow called ‘La Bodega’, a place that became a hub for local musicians to practise their craft and form important, lifelong friendships. It’s one that holds a special place in her heart then, and the hearts of listeners alike – detailing the loss of a platonic love where the sadness of goodbye is alleviated by the poignant acceptance that it’s for the best. With its stunning harmonies and confessional lyrics, there’s a gentle closeness and homespun feel that seeps through the track – and this makes it all the more intimate and affecting. Sonically, these songs can be likened to her debut EP ‘Cubicle’, but it feels like a more assured return – imbued with a quiet, steady confidence. Lizzie plays The Poetry Club in Glasgow on 20th September in support of the EP’s release.
Psweatpants ‘ChAnge’
We’ve been a fan of rapper Psweatpants and his potent delivery for some time now – from ‘LIFE WAS SHIT, IT STILL IS NOW’ in 2023 through to last year’s two EPs ‘AM/FM RADIO’ and ‘2LeftFeet’. He’s now back with his first new single of the year in ‘ChAnge’ – and just like its title suggests, it marks an exciting new direction for the rapper. Described by the artist as ‘more than a genre shift’ but ‘a personal evolution’, the new track is more stripped-back than anything we’ve heard previously – leaving space for his personal lyrics and potent delivery to take centre stage. Both confessional and self-reflective, it’s an introspective return that explores the ‘growing pains of becoming a better person’. But there’s sonic evolution there too – set against raw guitar tones and skittering beats, his indie/alternative influences come to the forefront for the first time as he pushes the parameters of his sound in exciting new ways. An artist who is unafraid to experiment and test the boundaries of his craft, we can’t wait to hear what comes next.
Parliamo ‘Ride’
Parliamo have shared a rousing new single called ‘Ride’ – a track about young people trying to find their identity and sometimes being led astray. Led by bright melodies, jangling, fuzzy guitars and male/female vocal harmonies, it’s a track that strikes a balance between youthful exuberance and bittersweet yearning, with a chorus that seizes the heart. It’s also the last to feature the band’s Mairi Sutherland.
Sister Madds ‘Performative Exercise’
Sister Madds are a band who deal in punchy punk tunes – defined by their razor sharp hooks, biting lyrics and sugary pop melodies. Their recent single ‘Performative Exercise’ is an instantly addictive number produced by Blair Crichton that takes aim at those who run marathons ‘performatively’ to get away from their troubles. It’s fun, feisty and is filled with electrifying guitar work – leaving you gripped for its entire three-minute runtime without ever taking itself too seriously.
t e s t p r e s s ‘Daddy / Crank It’
Aberdeen-born, Glasgow-based duo t e s t p r e s s return to UK soil with a powerful new release, landing 20th June via Teletech. The two-track Daddy EP features the long-awaited fan favourite “Daddy” alongside new cut “Crank It” – a double dose of high-octane energy built for peak-time dance floors. Best known for their signature high energy fast paced dunts, t e s t p r e s s have spent the past year deeply embedded in Europe’s evolving rave scenes. Inspired by the energy of their own live sets, the pair have developed a hybrid sound – somewhere between hard techno, trance and hard bounce – that pushes beyond the UK’s more defined lanes.
Made a year ago title track Daddy marked a shift in t e s t p r e s s’ creative direction. Keen to break away from the softer, euphoric side of Euro Dance, they leaned into something with more drive and grit. Meanwhile ‘Crank It’ is cut from the same cloth – built around a vocal from a different era, it carries that same direct, high-energy feel. It rounds off release that nods to where they’ve come from while locking firmly into where they’re headed.
Iona Zajac ‘Bang’
Edinburgh’s Iona Zajac has shared an electrifying new single called ‘Bang’. Following her last single ‘Summer’, the singer has toured with Alison Moyet and joined The Pogues as one of their touring vocalists – exciting times. Now she’s back with ‘Bang’ – a defiant burst of sexually liberated joy that encapsulates her growing confidence with vibrant indie-rock tones. She said: “I wrote Bang when I realised sex could be good. While that feels like something that should be taken for granted, it wasn’t for me as a young woman growing up. I think that’s the case for a lot of people. Confusing clashing bodies, often shadowed by the evil teenage world of slut shaming. I hated my body and I couldn’t figure out how to enjoy it. Then suddenly it was bliss, the shame was gone and I wanted to shout about it.”
Martha May & The Mondays ‘Black Dog’
Known for their bold, eclectic sound, Martha May & The Mondays have shared their most potent single yet in ‘Black Dog’. A long-standing symbol for depression, the track finds the singer navigating the aftermath of toxic love – her direct, confrontational vocal set against brooding bass lines, heavy guitars, violin and feral punk energy. “It’s not just about heartbreak,” says Martha. “It’s about the damage left behind when loveis weaponised and then withdrawn. It’s a plea to be seen, heard, and acknowledged.”
Nerves ‘Takes a Second’
West Irish noise-punk group Nerves have announced their second EP ‘Iarmhaireacht‘, produced by Daniel Fox (Gilla Band), alongside its second single, ‘Takes A Second’. Now performing as a four-piece with an uncompromising live reputation, the band’s sound has grown in both confidence and dissonance – as heard on the new single. A masterclass in building tension, the track begins with looped guitar static, slowly escalating into a full-blown sonic collapse. Fox’s production bridges the minimal and the ferocious, capturing a growing sense of emotional unease.As vocalist Kyle Thornton explains, “It’s the death knell of a romantic relationship – the acceptance that the bond now exists on borrowed time.” The track sets the tone for a record that navigates themes of mental illness, substance abuse, and emigration, against a backdrop of rural Irish life.
Cardinals ‘Big Empty Heart’
Cork five-piece Cardinals have shared their first new material of 2025 in ‘Big Empty Heart’. Recorded with producer Shrink at RAK Studios, the band’s frontman Euan Manning had the following to say about their dynamic new single, one that set roots long before the band formed: “Big Empty Heart is a love song written from beyond the grave. It is a waltz as waltzes are the most romantic kinds of songs. Oskar wrote the main melody on a Korg synthesiser when he was 12 and the song is built around that.” With fans like Grian Chatten and Kneecap, their sound feels both familiar and refreshing – weaving the sounds of Irish traditional music with reverb-drenched shoegaze and 60s pop. Crashing forward with drums and guitars, ‘Big Empty Heart’ is imbued with a mournful accordion – weaving a love story that’s burdened by a feeling of regret and absence.
Hot Stamp ‘Josephine’
Meet Hot Stamp, an exciting duo from North London made up sisters Jasmine and Poppy who deal in cinematic dark pop. The band have shared their debut single ‘Josephine’. Telling the story of an obsessive friendship gone fatally wrong, it draws the line between haunting and dreamy, with murderous lyrics propped up by an infectious disco chorus.
They said: “We really enjoyed magnifying the intensity of emotions with this track to create something that feels like your favourite memory stabbing you in the back. It was written and recorded in a single day and almost felt therapeutic to write, we often throw all our experiences and anecdotes into the fire and see what jumps out as most resonant with the story. In this case, almost everything is autobiographical except for the murder.”
The Slates ‘Calling Up’
Having built an impressive grassroots following, Yorkshire’s The Slates have shared ‘Calling Up’ – buoyant indie track that is sure to be a highlight at their upcoming festival shows. Its effervescent vibe sparkles with sweet vocal harmonies, chiming guitar tones and insistent handclaps, all capped with a full-feeling, high charisma delivery from frontman Louis Barnes. While it exudes positive spirit, ‘Calling Up’ also has a touch of summertime sadness to it with a universally relatable theme of realising you don’t fit in. As Louis explains, “‘Calling Up’ reflects on the feeling of rejection and feeling left out. The song actually stems from going out with a group in town and feeling like the odd one out and almost feeling as if being there was pointless. Any attempt to try being included ends up being in vain.”
Check out the full playlist:
