‘Once Upon A Time’ has that fantastic sense of nostalgia you’d expect from a 90s hip-hop group, whilst his light-hearted poetic rhyming style is easy to relate to and consistently thought-provoking. The type of artist that an avid music lover becomes increasingly infatuated by. Dr. Chima may be laid back, but watch out because his music is coming for you.

21-year-old, London based, artist Tertia has just released her newest single ‘Overly Emotional Woman’ in the lead up to the release of her mixtape later in 2021. Tertia herself is familiar with and educated in classical music yet makes her own music using a more D.I.Y approach, recording and producing in her own bedroom.

Lucy James’ debut single ‘Cloudy Vision’, made with help from her foster dad Dave Rowell and Sam Holmes, is a brilliant introduction to her as an artist. The track is an excellent display of her vocal ability, with the opening vocals of the song sitting upon minimalistic piano, forcing the focus solely towards her voice. Her vocals hold a siren like quality and the long, flowing notes utilise her ability in a way that is reminiscent of iconic artists such as Karen Carpenter. 

Many of us dream of a new watch, new TV, but for Tom Saint, he has declared his dream of a new car, with his new single ‘New Ferrari’. The London based singer-songwriter has released his nostalgic single, and by his previous releases in ‘Sand In Your Eyes’ and ‘Ghost’ being supported by the likes of BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio, you fully expect ‘New Ferrari’ to follow suit, and the way it is sounding, there is no doubt that it will. With a constant stream of monthly music since his debut in July 2020, expect this to be the first in a long line of releases in 2021. 

A conversation between friends immortalised through her classically beautiful voice, each lyric is a warm fire emblazoned by the fuel of nostalgia. Dismaying at her natural ability to fall for the wrong guy within a soundscape of doo-wop, she makes the vast space between Trudy and the Romance and Stella Donnelly her home. With a percussive guitar, slow bass and breezy vocal layers, it’s a truly luminous track which you can’t help but adore.

Reverberating itself into existence, Olivia Morreale’s latest single, ‘No Answer’ teleports you into another galaxy of sound. As only the first release from the L.A. artists debut EP, Space Dreams, the track is packed full of indie-pop stardust. Enchanting listeners from the very start of its coarse introduction, it quickly softens through ever-expanding layers of intergalactically soft vocals. Inspired by an unearthly reflection in the water of Malibu, it takes all that lies above and brings it down to earth. Entrapping the water's shimmer within the beats.

Palace Cats latest single ‘Dont Call Me Calm’ is a beautiful juxtaposition, as when listening to the song, everything around you is suddenly calmed. Palace Cats consist of Joe Doris and James Bowden, two close friends with a mutual love of psychedelic guitar pop, and believe me these guys’ devotion to music truly resonates through their songs. A doctor and teacher respectively, the pandemic has presented challenges professionally and musically, but it certainly hasn’t dampened their desire to create music. If anything, with each release they just keep getting better. 

Alizee’s song ‘The Boy’ challenges the self-deprecating worries that can plague a person in a relationship and leave them asking, as described by herself, “Why am I letting my doubts and fears ruin a moment I’ll probably remember forever”. It is about leaning into a relationship and not being in your head, which is bound to resonate with not only Alizee herself but also many potential listeners. 

Stepping onto the scene as a solo artist for the first time in 8 years, Jethro Fox’s latest single ‘Time Alone’ is a brooding, electronica-tinged indie masterpiece. Somewhat of a veteran session musician, Fox has supported and recorded guitar for acts such as Dan Croll and Elena Tonra (Ex:Re). With so much experience under his belt, the year of the lockdown served as the perfect opportunity for the artist to step out on his own and show the world his talents as a songwriter and solo artist.

Bright, buoyant and guaranteed to bring some sunshine to a gloomy winter’s day- Far West’s latest single ‘Back Together’ will cure even the gravest cases of January blues. Musician and producer Ryan Settles, the man behind the music, started out as a solo artist in 2020, moving away from his post-punk beginnings into the almost parallel universe of synth-pop, creating music laced with jangly guitars and beach-side vocals. Sonically, Far West keeps things light and breezy on the track, reflecting his visual aesthetic of coastal vistas and allowing the deeper sentiments of the lyrics to become an easier pill to swallow.

Crumbling relationships have long been at the core of every sorrow-filled, slightly melodramatic, pop hit. Erratic love lives, troublesome partners of the past and sadboy self-deprecation are all well-worn territories, and it’s difficult not to eye-roll when another artist has a bash at some woe-is-me romance. But, with his latest synth-soaked single ‘Sucker’, cable tv brings a fresh, existential approach to love and loss. On the back of the slightly edgier ‘Sit Back Player,’ cable tv’s latest release is hauntingly tender. 

With skittish R&B beats, grooving soul-infused rhythms and brooding vocals, the EP’s lead single ‘ALONE WITH YOU’ epitomises Ella’s moody bedroom pop vision. Described as both “a love letter to an impactful relationship” and “an ode to [the] journey towards self-acceptance,” the track combines a sensual atmosphere with intoxicating, relatable lyricism. Sensuous, exciting, and meticulously melodic, ‘ALONE WITH YOU’ is a confident introduction to Ella Eliza’s new sonic chapter.

Cardinal Moses has treated us to not one, but two beautiful singles that instantaneously cast your minds into a Summer state. When you listen to Cardinal Moses single ‘Smoke Break (Not To Smoke), you can fully envision yourself sitting in a sun lounger sipping on an ice cold mojito. It really is that kind of vibe. However, his other single ‘Hanging Around’ is what you’d imagine to be playing in bars and clubs at the beginning of the evening. Cardinal Moses has really weighed in with his creative diversity with the two respective singles. 

Michael Baker serves up a simply stunning melodic morsel in the form of his latest single, ‘Lightly Looms’. Having already amassed huge support from music buffs and fans alike, ‘Lightly Looms’ is yet another example of Baker’s sheer talent as a raw, authentic and unsullied artist and songwriter. His poetic lyricism is abundantly clear, while his Bon Iver-esque vocals provide the perfect instrument with which to carry such profound sentiments.