Sovereign is more than your average pop-rock act. The three talented Danes – Frederik Milland, Lous Gjerrild and August Anderesen – are childhood friends and have long been making music that doesn’t sugar-coat dark emotions, nor shies away from explosive sounds. Their upcoming EP ‘Wanderer’ is the perfect example of their musical intentions, following a chronological narrative of lead singer Frederik Milland’s personal struggle and his journey to self-understanding. 

Alternative duo Longlight release their second single ‘Alara’, an 80s-inspired pop rock ballad celebrating the fundamental relationships which define and nourish the human experience. Underscored by a lone electric guitar, the track opens modestly. Jo Williams’ soulful vocals are amplified by the use of echoes, achieving a rich and expansive sound which reverberate well beyond the speaker.

‘Strange to You’ is the third single from her upcoming album, and takes its inspiration from the existential depths of loneliness. “When you’re lonely, everything suddenly loses its meaning”, says Marianne of the creative process, contextualising her thoughts in the forced isolation of recent lockdowns. Musically, the track is light and catchy, boasting a range of textures through confident synth melodies and gentle percussion in a manner not dissimilar to Maggie Rogers.

If there’s ever a track to break us free from the year we’ve had, ‘Jungle’ may well be it. Yellowlees – otherwise known as 24 year-old Pete from Norfolk – is a natural songwriter, pairing intoxicating melodies with the organic folksiness of acoustic guitar to create a rich yet intimate sound. ‘Jungle’ is an anthem of the twenty-something experience, confronting the personal doubts of reaching adulthood and the anxieties of fitting in.

Parlour Suns keep gaining ground with their vibrant sound and palpable energy. Hot on the heels of their much-praised debut track “Embers” comes an equally fiery follow up “Figure It Out”, a track that is sure to please those of us nostalgic for the carefree pop-punk days of the 00s. Written just before the third lockdown, this track is a product of resilience and creative determination, pieced together from disparate ideas that were recorded in isolation. 

Lull welcomes the return of the storm with their new single, ‘Refuge’ As the latest release from this Newcastle-based band, the track slowly embraces you in its vibrations of post-emo hardcore rock which often bridge into the world of indie. Led by roaring guitars which become the song’s skeleton, the five-piece put their heart on their sleeve for this tale of love lost.

Hailing from sunny Texas, Bri Fletcher creates country-flavoured pop-music that is as heart-felt as it is catchy. Apart from working tirelessly on an impressive catalogue of music, Bri is an anti-bullying campaigner and a champion of female representation within the music industry. Her recent track – “Glow” – was recorded with an all-female team and serves as an empowering celebration of their creativity. Continuing on her path to stardom, Bri is now releasing the stirring ballad “Love Me Back”, a hook-driven song that further demonstrates her talents. 

Nashville-based Gentle Organism are here to make you feel old – “oh my god!”. Capturing the confusion of spending your mid-twenties in the midst of a pandemic and a frankly baffling political reality, Gentle Organism’s latest track, “MID-TWENTIES’N’MAD (oh my god)”, puts a humorously-reflective spin on the anxieties of a generation. Saturated in the fuzzy-guitar sounds of our childhood – think Green Day and Smashing Pumpkins – it is both a nostalgia trip and a moment of awakening.

Taking a new sonic step, this LA-based band have created a masterclass in modern disco. Led by intoxicating guitar riffs which masquerade as thunderous bass, the track is unrelenting in both energy and soul. Perfectly produced to become an ecosystem of synths, percussion, keytar and honey-soaked vocals, they materialise the transactional nature of love by comparing it with a subscription service.

Burgeoning singer-songwriter MarynCharlie may only be 22, but this Amsterdam native knows how to write songs with plenty of wit and personality. Taking inspiration from her own life, she hopes to speak to the experience of her peers with unabashed honesty and cheeky sense of humour. Like other musicians of her generation, MarynCharlie is unashamed to explore her struggles, doubts and dreams, setting them to infectiously uplifting tunes.

A bath of acceptance born from mornings of introspection, this track embeds itself deep within your psyche from only one listen. Lyrically contemplating both internal and external insecurities over a bed of jangling guitar, the track blooms into one of Daragh's signature guitar riffs which turns melancholia into euphoria.

Scott Helman’s highly acclaimed album “Nonsuch Park (sa)” and its gold-certified lead single “Wait No More” have already earned him a place in the heart of many a Canadian, but this seven-time Juno Award nominee is not about to stop there. A talented songwriter, panellist on CBC’s Canada Reads and environmental campaigner, Scott is one busy bee and someone who does not let fame get to his head. His latest track – “Old Friends” – is a reminiscence of his younger days, when parties went on until daylight and friendships felt like they would last forever. 

Entitled 'Just As You Are', this single is a mix of forceful electronic-driven pop and rhythmic jazz guitar. Packed with hidden gems this track constantly mutates in texture. Expanding and contracting to pull you through waves of musical euphoria and raw lyrical mantras of self-love.

Taking inspiration from the likes of Magic Gang and Circa Waves, this release sees Danny solidify his own blend of guitar focussed indie. Pairing euphoric riffs with honest and endlessly catchy lyrics, you can only help by feel compelled to sing along with the snappy chorus whenever it rears its head.

In a long year of a pandemic, creativity at times has to be forced. A sentiment that Jewlia, the London-based writer and producer, embodies, taking it upon herself to create and record a song a month. As the second track to be taken from this challenge, it is a tale of insecurity locked within a breeze of synths. Allowing her tender vocals to lead the way, the track grows in line with its questioning lyrics to create something truly magical.