South London singer and songwriter Joy Crookes makes a return with her striking new single ‘Carmen’, alongside a video that’s as playful as it is profound, and as musically vibrant as it is thematically vital. It’s the fourth single in a new era of music that continues to establish Joy as one of the country’s most outstanding vocalists and one of our most gifted songwriters: she’s a once-in-a-generation artist.
With punchdrunk percussion and Joy’s signature blend of biting humour and lyrical precision, Crookes’ new single ‘Carmen’, delivers a sharp, witty takedown of society’s narrow and often exclusionary beauty standards, offering a commentary on how brown and Black women are rarely represented in these conversations.
“It’s for the women that I really admire and care about who have been diminished because of the way they look or the way their brains work or the fact that they have suffered from mental health issues and the fact that they actually have an opinion on something and aren’t just designed for men!”
East London-based artist LILITA makes a powerful return with her latest single, Devil’s Kiss – an enchanting, genre-defying track that weaves spirituality with street-level soul. Inspired by a Buddhist mantra, the song radiates a deep, spiritful energy that draws listeners in with its mystique and originality.
Devils Kiss is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Canadian producer/DJ Torcha is back with his new MonolithEP out now via HypnoVizion.
Carrying the weight of its name, Monolith stands tall in both sound design and vision, channeling dense low-end frequencies, shadowy textures, and unrelenting energy. The four-track EP is fueled by a ferocious fusion of dubstep grit and minimalist bass that showcases Torcha’s experimental finesse. The spotlight of the project is ‘Syndicate’, which sees Torcha join forces with skxllflower, delivering a venomous, no-holds-barred dubstep cut built to rupture sound systems.
“I wanted to explore the grey areas of dubstep while making a cohesive and dancefloor ready four-track EP. I was inspired by the modern 140 BPM elements we’re hearing today, using classic dubstep elements and experimenting with distortion.” – Torcha
Nova Scotia born MINOE returns, igniting a brand new chapter with powerful new single ‘Teenage Disillusionment’
Demonstrating strength in vulnerability, MINOE digs deep with her honest new single ‘Teenage Disillusionment’. Reflecting on her childhood, she shares a courageous insight into the complexities of growing up with an abusive parent. Sharing more, she explained: ‘Teenage disillusionment is a pretty sensitive song. I’m in a good place now and I felt it was time to share more about my experiences growing up. I’m very passionate about advocating for kids who might not always be safe at home and I hope if anyone listens and relates to the lyrics I want them to know that they’re not alone’
Now living in Montreal, MINOE has been making a name for herself as an impressive independent artist to watch. Her debut EP ‘Bleeding Hearts Disco’ arrived back in 2023 and united the pop girls, gays and theys with a brilliant nod to disco, pop and self-empowerment. Wracking up over a million streams and support from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, Complex CA, Consequence of Sound, Wonderland, CBC, it put MINOE firmly on the map.
Last year MINOE dialled things up with two stand alone anthem’s; ‘Jealous’, which debuted at Osheaga, and ‘Liquorlips’ the latter in collaboration with fellow Canadian artist Renon. 2024 saw MINOE flex her playful side and treat listeners to the killer combo of devilish lyricism, bubble gum pop and dirty basslines.
Multi-Platinum global pop superstar Kesha continues the countdown to her hugely anticipated new album, . (PERIOD), with today’s premiere of the scintillating latest single, “BOY CRAZY.,” available everywhere now. . (PERIOD) arrives at last on Independence Day, Friday, July 4 via her own Kesha Records.
LISTEN TO “BOY CRAZY.”
. (PERIOD) – which arrives exactly one year since Kesha returned on her own terms with 2024’s smash comeback hit, “JOYRIDE” – was first unveiled with the premiere of the thrilling “YIPPEE KI-YAY. (Feat. T-Pain),” available now at all DSPs and streaming services. Produced by Pink Slip (Ava Max, Jason Derulo) and co-written by Kesha and frequent collaborator Zhone (who previously produced and co-wrote last year’s smash singles “JOYRIDE” and “DELUSIONAL”), the country-flavored party anthem was joined last week by a special remix package featuring an exclusive new spin by hit producer A. G. Cook (Charli xcx, Lady Gaga) and “The Hosed Down Remix,” available everywhere now. Official visualizers for all three tracks are streaming now on Kesha’s official YouTube channel HERE.
Ariana Fig is a singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Ontario, who transformed her classical violin training into eclectic and original songs. Fig delves into genres and does not conform to them with a blend of Pop, Folk, Alternative and Jazz.
She received SOCAN’s Honorary Young Canadian Songwriter Award for her song Running Man and funding from FACTOR and The National Arts Centre of Canada. Her songs have received airplay on prominent radio stations such as SiriusXM, CBC and 102.1 The Edge.
Fig is currently working on her debut album under her own record label FigTree Records.
Singer-songwriter Verna Margaret brings a fresh, unapologetic edge to classic Americana with her latest single, “White Shutters, Red Door.” Rooted in twang and heartache, the track is a bold anthem for choosing authenticity over expectation, even if it means walking away from love. With a voice that soothes as much as it stings, Verna Margaret explores what it means to find peace in decisions that honor your truth, carving out space in a world that often asks us to shrink or conform. “White Shutters, Red Door” is now available to stream and download on all major platforms.
With her distinctive vocal melodies and evocative, ego-free lyricism, Verna Margaret uses “White Shutters, Red Door” to paint a poignant portrait of a relationship divided by diverging life paths. Rather than compromising who they are to preserve love, both individuals walk away with a quiet sense of pride, choosing truth over conformity. As with much of Verna Margaret’s work, the song touches on recurring themes of lonesomeness, acceptance, and self-assurance. “I wrote this song about two people who may have loved each other, but ultimately want different things in life,” she shares. “It’s a bittersweet song because there’s clearly love and longing, despite both parties being happy with their ultimate choices.” Written and composed by Verna Margaret herself, the track isn’t meant to leave listeners feeling heartbroken, but uplifted. The rich, balanced instrumentation, featuring Verna Margaret on mandolin, Zach Gatto on bass, Steve Welch on dobro, and Andrew Frankel on violin and vocal harmonies, brings the narrative to life, with mixing and mastering by Ryan Schindler ensuring every detail shines.
Vancouver-based, modern-soul artist David Morin releases his new single “Foolish” – the third single taken from his upcoming album Light Waves dropping 1st of July.
Balancing warmth and depth, “Foolish” weaves together smooth basslines, brass instrumentation, emotive synth textures, leaving space for David Morin’s distinctive R&B vocals to shine through. Celebrated for his vivid song writing, the Canadian artist follows up his previous single “The One” with yet another heartfelt and relatable narrative—this time exploring longing and love. Sharing from the heart, David sings “I don’t need the secret to know, that what I want is what I got, and I don’t want this feeling to stop, no.” “Foolish” continues to build momentum around a distinctive and emerging voice carving out his place in the contemporary music scene.
Talking on the track David explains: “If I have to sum it up “Foolish” is about recognizing real love through experiencing horrible past relationships and seeing past the bullshit. Real love isn’t always easy to perceive especially in the honeymoon phase. When shit gets real and you can get through it together, then you know you got someone real”
Nashville singer-songwriter Paul McDonald is thrilled to share “Unwind,” the third song to be released off his forthcoming studio album, So Long To The Dark Side.
“This song emerged spontaneously during a late-night jam session with my old bandmate from The Grand Magnolias, Jonathan Pears,” says McDonald. “We hadn’t written together in over a decade, but that night, we picked up our guitars and somehow the magic fell out of the sky. We finished up the song a few days later with our buddy Hailey Steele. The song is a simple feel-good track kind of born from a moment of nostalgia, but reflects on the free-spirited journey of my college band days. It eventually evolves into a reminder to slow down, let go, and be present.”
“Unwind” follows the releases of “Dark Side” and “What’s The Point?”
In support of the new album, Paul will play several shows from coast to coast throughout the next several months. For all news and up-to-date information, please visit thepaulmcdonald.com.
Los Angeles pop artist Nadia Younes is releasing her latest single, “Catch Me If You Can,” on Thursday, May 29th. This sonically bold and confidence-exuding track is an ode to loving yourself unapologetically, embracing total authenticity away from the world’s unwarranted criticisms. Nadia Younes blends her R&B tone with freshly versatile pop dynamics, presenting the song’s premise of being different without fear of judgment. Fueled by passion, catchy lyricism, and an unforgettable lo-fi beat by demon gummies, “Catch Me If You Can” serves as a soundtrack for your day with its “feel-good” sentiment.
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