The New Zealand alt-pop band Skymachine are as dreamy as their name suggests, evoking a profound sense of nostalgia with their 80’s influenced sound and ephemeral visuals. The brain-child of producer Brydon, Skymachine was always a labour of love and a labour of friends; born out a desire to lend a helping hand to a friend who needed an opening act for a show, the band continuous to be a fluid and fun endeavour.

Sweet in both name and spirit, this short four-track release propels your blood sugar into another dimension with its guitar-led indie daydreams. Composed of two separated pairs of tracks, this collection partners their highly praised previous singles with heady new releases. Sitting within a self-aware soundscape made from a euphoric blend of layered harmonies, reverberating synths and floating riffs, they pull you into a breezy land of late-night dreaming.

Lyrically shining a light on emotional apathy, this song sees the duo of teenage sweethearts Bethany McGehee and Alex McKee take centre stage. Using a new musical landscape to explore themselves further, the pair move away from their dark pop sensibilities for something much lighter. A breath of pop-laced fresh air breaching on the edge of psychedelic, they use their melodic hooks to drag you deep into a world of reflective keys and vocals.

Raised under the boundless skies of Arizona, this now Southern California based artist is limitless. Moving with the euphoria of new love, Shae locks eyes with you through the airwaves, forcing your body to move. Creating its intoxicating emotions through a collaboration of grooving bass, stirring synths and vocals that move into the spotlight for a heady chorus.

It’s long been hypothesised that the countdown to AI domination has begun. In a society increasingly reliant on forms of technology - where human connections are forged in the virtual and maintained through the digital – it’s no secret that the endless potential of binary code poses an anxious threat to the cellular limitations of life. But who knew the takeover would sound this good? Meet Lucy Dreams: a genre-defying, explosive dreampop trio from Vienna, whose latest track ‘Dreamland’ blurs the comfortable boundaries between sequence and spontaneity.

A committed and imaginative songwriter, Ross Newhouse no longer wishes to compromise on his musical dream, pursuing it with full force after leaving his day job. We are lucky that he did, for, as his newest EP – “Suddenly, I Demand Repair” – demonstrates, Ross’ music is not simply folk or soft indie-rock, but a deeper meditation on the future of song-writing, intermixing lo-fi sounds with classic lyrical sensibility. “Daggered Earrings” is a perfect example of this musical fusion, shifting in tone and ambience as it gradually unravels. 

The self-professes “millennial maximalists” Pylons don’t shy away from rich, expansive sounds and urban anxieties of the cyber generation. The indie-rock quintet hails from Lincoln but is ready to take over the world with its lush, textured melodies, hypnotising vocals and whimsical sense of humour. Their latest track, “The Chase”, is a sneak-peak of their debut EP ‘Thanks for Coming’, which is to be released this autumn. Introspective, indulgent and simply enthralling, it is like a gust of fresh air after a period of drought. 

Piper King is resurrected as a bubblegum pop angel in her new single, ‘Not That Bad’.A mantra, or more aptly an anthem, reminding us of the benefits of love within a minefield of doubt, this DIY singer, producer and music therapist enchants you with her breeze of dream pop. Synth heavy and light in texture, this track is musical candy floss. Melting on your tongue and leaving you with a sugar rush of endorphins.

Punchy in every way, this LA-based Kiwi artist is prepared to demolish all that stands in her way with this empowering call to action. Taking a strong stance from the very first beat, the bass breaks through the cracks in your skin, allowing the rest of the indie-rock anthem to seep in. Led by Neia’s battle cry of humanity, she creates an irresistible adrenaline booster.

As far as debuts go, you’d struggle to find a more accomplished sound than Melbourne duo, The Still. ‘Safer Days’ – their lead single - is a melodic tapestry, skilfully intertwining the gentle acoustic instrumentals of Nathan Gables with temperate vocals provided by Sam Lawrence. “Take me back to safer days”, he sings, “Drink my mind away”. At its core, the track is a beautiful kind of melancholy, candidly reflecting upon the rough terrain of the human experience.

There’s a modest confidence to ‘Into You’ – a sentiment no doubt originating from the authenticity of its content. It’s a song “about the coming together of two unlikely misfits”, explain the Brisbane duo, “There’s a feeling of anticipation, excitement, and hope, but also a certain level of fear – maybe they don’t feel the same way?” Metallic synth-pop is well-complemented by the emphatic pacing of percussion, underscoring the track with a sense of urgency captured by the synaptic adventures of new love.

Claiming her rightful place as one to watch within the emerging pop scene, this young songwriter currently studying at Columbia in NYC has crafted a ballad to warm every inch of your soul. Fuelled with the purest vibrations of love, this serenade carves out an image of Eva's girlfriend in your mind: one made from a jigsaw of lyrical snapshots layered over soft acoustic guitar.

Easy Wanderlings Triumphant amalgamations of musical styles soon flourish, expertly pairing the seemingly disparate genres of Indian percussions with synth and timeless guitar. Makin’ My Move’ tells the story of digital dating, and whilst the medium may be contemporary, the emotional bonds behind it come as nothing new.

Packed with 90s spirit, this track blooms like the cherry tree from which she takes her name. A beam of sun that beckons you into a world of positive energy, she draws you into meadows of synth which seep a bouquet of layered vocals to set the world to rest.Self-diagnosed as having a grunge attitude and bubblegum heart, Sakura makes you want to be at the receiving end of her adoration.

A collaboration between singer-songwriter Huck Hastings and brothers Joel and Hayden Woolf, Sydney-based ‘Hollow States’ return confidently after a hiatus originating in 2017. Huck Hastings’ mellow vocals seep electrically through rich and expansive instrumental arrangements. ‘I’ll Leave’ is at once mellow and galvanizing, flitting through the ebbs and flows of musical waves. “In the studio it always felt like we were making something special”, says their producer, Andy Bull.

There’s a sense of intrigue surrounding ‘Detour’, the latest single from Portland-based multi-instrumentalist Brendan Cope. Robotic glitches characterise the track, curiously cutting between rich melodic instrumentals and the clockwork repetitions of technology. Reflecting on this newfound style, Cape speaks wistfully of his approach towards thirty. It’s “made me reflect on my life and work to grow both musically and personally”, he contemplates, enjoying the creative freedoms of experimentation.