Low Girl has come a long way since she began writing songs at the age of 12; her debut EP, ‘Big Now’ is not merely a statement of her maturity, but a way for her to display ownership over her song writing, which she describes as a ‘coping mechanism’. Delicately vulnerable, yet defiantly expressive, she bares herself to her audience, speaking of fears, insecurities and doubts that plague our generation. Intermixing alt-pop quirkiness with gentle indie-folk, Low Girl’s sound is thoroughly modern – displaying her wide musical interests and mastery over a range of expressions. 

Mellow synth chords are softly overshadowed by the nostalgic crackle of a vinyl player as the track gets going. We’re journeying to the lands of yesteryear, where the stresses of everyday life fade away through afforded perspective. ‘Taxi’ is a ballad for lost souls: those of us who confuse adventure-seeking for meaning-making; adrenaline for purpose.

A band that’s a third-way through their quest to transpose a year into music (in what will become an album entitled /MMXXI)/, they are marking the change of the season. Breaking the long winter chill with the cries of a riotous guitar riff which oozes with the energy of festival season. Constantly evolving their sound, this year has seen the three-piece brush shoulders with the sonic soundscapes of Radiohead and Frightened Rabbit, yet this anthem feels more comfortable than all those that have come before.

An Australia native with an appropriately sunny sound, singer/songwriter, musician and producer Trentan Kruger has put down his session-guitarist cloak and embarked on his own musical journey with his project Trentan. His debut track – ‘Good Times’ – is a small but delicious taste of what’s to come; melodic and guitar-driven, Trentan’s sound will sugar-coat any bad situation and will carry you away into a world of its own. 

LHO doesn’t hold back in her music. Deeply committed to the truth – no matter how brutal it may be – her confessional music is the resilient battle ram that we all need. Rooted in a poppy groove and satisfying bass, LHO’s sound is the antithesis of her sassy yet dark lyricism, but that’s what makes her new EP ‘The Butterfly Effect’ so great. 

London based drummer/songwriter LOWEN knows a thing or two about a good beat. Playfully mimicking computer programmed beats, he explores a range of drum-based genres such as R&B and Neo-Soul using a live drum kit. As an ex-session musician, LOWEN has been exposed to a wide range of talent and style, and continues to carry that through in his own music through collaborations with other artists. His newest track, “Stay The Night”, features the sumptuous vocals of Liam Chau – completing the recipe for this mellow and ambient track.

New York native Jordan Rose possesses an undeniable charismatic sparkle that shines through her music. Melodic, atmospheric and deeply personal, her work mixes quirky Indie-Pop with R&B beats and folk elements, creating a wave of sound that fills the room with the warmth of her voice. A deeply committed musician, Jordan started writing music in high school, eventually studying Jazz & Contemporary Voice at university and participating in the Los Angeles music scene upon graduation. Now she about to release her debut album, “In The Name of Love”, and if her newest track “Alibi” is anything to judge by, we are in for a treat. 

Marching its way into your brain through a patchwork of decisive percussion and honey-soaked vocals, the Bristol-based artist stitches her soul and music together for this tale of toxic love. Pulling at the threads of freedom, this track overtakes your senses in this fight between the head and heart which in time will prove that in the worst of times you will find yourself.

Entitled ‘The Tide’, she too moves like waves through oceans of indie and jazz to pull you into a rhythmic flow back and forth. A balm of guitar and reactive percussion energised with the voice of a siren, each lyric ripples through the ocean of your soul. Joined in places by a chorus of singers reflecting her cries of confusion, this relaxed contemplation of love naturally unwinds itself around your mind.

The musical prescription you need to cure any and all forms of mental blocks, this manifestation from the LA-based songwriter and producer captures the very energy he needed to create this song which has been a year in the making. Breaking through your skin with a heartbeat of percussion, the song pumps increasing amounts of energy around your veins.

“That’s What She Said” is Madison Deaver’s first track off her freshman EP “Tongue Tied”. Evoking the powerful presence and resonant voices of female singers of the 80s and 90s, Madison Deaver redefines what it is to be a young vocalist of today. Seething with brutal honesty and quirky wit, her lyrics are both incredibly relatable and a source of escapism, confidently saying things we wish to have said ourselves. 

An artist who has been deservedly tipped as the next big thing in the world of singer-songwriters, this Brit school graduate is continuing on his path to playlist domination in this assertive new track. Building a paper heart out of his honey-dipped vocals and soft acoustic guitar, the melody pumps itself through your veins. Forcing you to skip a heartbeat through dalliances with silence, the track searches for a better love within its labyrinth of soft texture.

Breaking out from the shadows of Melbourne following a two-year break from music, Daniel Joshua has been biding his time. Waiting for the perfect moment to entrap your mind, body and soul with his single, ‘Hivemind’. Taking inspiration from the ambient indie greats of our age, he jumps through the hoops of the diverse genre but ends up somewhere unique. Diving through clouds of disbelief, this electronic wash of synths and guitar darkens the sky with its warnings of the perils of idolisation.

With a musical track record firmly rooted in indie rock, a move into electro-pop may seem an unlikely one. But, for Swedish duo Colin and The Clouds (also known as Matteus and Harald from Uppsala) it’s a risk that’s more than paid off. Combining the best elements of seemingly disparate genres makes for an emphatic listening experience, with live vocals and electric instrumentals standing in apparent contrast from the technology that glues it together. Fusing these worlds creates a sense of euphoria:

If music be the food of love, then John Adams has hit jackpot. Written to encapsulate the moment he learned of his wife’s pregnancy with twins, ‘Amen’ is the sonification of utter contentment. Opening acoustically, the track speaks to a higher power through emphatic vocals and building harmonies, but you’d be mistaken if you thought John Adams to be a religious man. “We’ve all said a prayer for the things we can’t control”, he says, speaking of his faith in love and kindness, “on this day all mine had been answered”.

Having conquered just about every corner of the UK, The Rezner have burst on to the scene with real gusto over the last 2 years, showing just how quickly they are snowballing into one of the most exciting groups around right now. Having previously supported the likes of VANT, Sum 41, King Nun & Sam Fender, it won’t be long before these guys are put in the same brackets as the artists they’ve been supporting. They really are that good.