BANKS - UNDERDOG

BANKS is an artist that has become known for her downtempo electronica and dark r&b. After two widely successful albums ‘Goddess’ released in 2014 and ‘The Altar’ released in 2016, she is slowly coming back with new music. After giving us a new single called ‘Crowded Places’ earlier this year she is back with another new track titled ‘Underdog’. The track features the enigmatic electronica and the brooding vocal tones BANKS has become well known for. With a catchy chorus and minimalist electronic rhythms woven into the track, this is a very welcome return from BANKS as she continues to impress, producing some of the most dynamic and cutting edge electronic music today. 

MAGGIE ROGERS - SPLIT STONES

Maggie Rogers is a new artist that hit the ground running when it came to her music career. As a student at NYU she had the chance to let songwriter and record producer Pharell Williams listen to the rough demo of what was to be her debut single 'Alaska'. After being stunned into silence and gaining the approval and a co-sign from Pharell Williams Rogers already had a lot of expectation and pressure before she even started to release her own music. Her unique blend of folk and electronica is something that few, including Pharell, have heard before. After releasing her debut single Alaska and touring after the release of her EP ‘Now That The Light Is Fading’ earlier this year to much praise, she has only grown in popularity and success. It's been a while since we have heard anything from her but a week ago she released a new record titled 'Split Stones'. The record gives us the familiar Maggie Rogers sound that we have become accustomed to, a mix of natural vocals, folk elements and electronic house rhythms. Her first record Alaska featured field recording from when she went on a solo hike around the US. Similarly this song features small sounds and noises she recorded while going on a month long trip around the state of Oregon. Rogers initially started out as a Banjo player at a young age, when studying as a music student at NYU she began creating pure folk and country music. It was only after a summer trip to France during her time at NYU that she discovered a newfound love and appreciation for dance and electronic music. Her passion to create music that blends these two genres, often labelled ‘Folktronica’, is the reason she really stands out as a new and fresh artist. Her music adds a new twist to the traditional folk genre. 

The new track features multiple build up’s and crescendos with looping sounds of Roger’s exhaling breath and electronic drum machine percussion. Paired with her familiar husky, soulful and folk driven voice and a collection of sounds recorded from her travels, the song is an upbeat and dance-y track that further cements Roger’s ambitious musical style. The percussion quickens leading into a rousing chorus with Roger’s crisp and clear vocal tones. This new song is Roger’s ‘parting gift’ as she leaves college and begins a new chapter in her life. The song is a thank you to all the new fans she has gathered in the past year and for the success of her first tour. It marks a brief hiatus for the American singer songwriter as she works on new material that is more focused on her experiences out of college. In a note she posted on her Instagram account alongside the link to the new music video, Rogers said “This is me saying goodbye for a little while. Here's to the end of the beginning and the start of everything else". With the way she has already developed as a songwriter and a musician, I cannot wait to hear more from this unique and very talented songstress. 

WOLF ALICE - BEAUTIFULLY UNCONVENTIONAL

In the lead up to the North London four piece’s second album ‘Visions Of A Life’ released on September 29th, Wolf Alice have progressively been releasing singles from the new record. Their first release ‘Yuk Foo’ packs a punch and gives us a taste of the more heavy punk rock sound the band can perfectly produce. Contrastingly their second single ‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’ featured the more laid back, delicate indie sound the band have mastered since breaking out into the industry in 2013 with their official debut single ‘Fluffy’. One of the main things I really love about Wolf Alice is their dedication to experimentation. The band never gets comfortable sticking with just one genre. They truly are musical shape-shifters. They create music that is wonderfully diverse, from indie folk to punk rock and these two new singles brilliantly represent that broad range. The most recent single, released a week ago on the 14th of August is an upbeat 2 minute track that once again shows just how changeable the bands musical style can be. Comparing just these three new singles exemplifies the ever expanding sound of the band. 

This song titled ‘Beautifully Unconventional’ in particular leans more towards the band’s indie rock/alternative rock stylings. Through the lyrics, lead singer Ellie Rowsell’s vocals paint a picture of a ‘partners in crime’ kind of friendship. Referencing the popular 1988 film ‘Heathers’, she describes their relationship as being two outsiders joining together in a world full of popular girls and high school cliques. Sharp and bluesy guitar riffs drive the song forward along with Rowsell’s distinct gritty vocals, creating a very compelling and snappy 2 minute record. Wolf Alice’s second full length LP ‘Visions Of A Life’ is released on September 29th. Announcing the release of their second album on Twitter the band shared they are ‘immensely proud of this album’ and I personally cannot wait to hear more. 

NATALIYA - HONEST

First impressions are important for any artist, and this debut single from fresh new songstress Nataliya is a perfect example of how to enter into the industry properly. Her first track titled ‘Honest’ is an impactful and soulful pop record that will leave you wanting more. A catchy chorus wrapped up with smooth and mellow r&b rhythms layered over Nataliya’s soft vocal tones creates a song that is widely accessible and sure to be popular with many. It’s always great when you hear a new artist and immediately see a lot of promise and potential. For me this LA based singer is one of those special cases and although little is known about her right now, I cannot wait to hear more material from her in the future.  

SKOTT - MERMAID

I have been a huge fan of SKOTT ever since she debuted with her single Porcelain in 2016, a beautiful and fragile indie folk song that highlighted SKOTT’s now notorious vocal range. Since her debut and after releasing a handful of other songs throughout last year and earlier this year, SKOTT has had a permanent place on my one’s to watch list. She has remained extremely consistent in producing delightfully dark and mystical indie folk songs with a pop edge. For me, it is always an extra special treat when the Norwegian songstress releases a new single into the world and with her new track ‘Mermaid’ once again SKOTT surpasses expectations and continues to show off her vocal capabilities. The track features very atmospheric production and is arranged in a familiar way with explosive choruses and brooding verses layered over minimal electronic beats. The track also incorporates a recurring piano hook that is extremely catchy and adds yet another dimension to the song. 

The choruses within the song are where you find SKOTT’s voice truly shines as she showcases her ability to reach damn near inhuman falsetto notes. The track features less of a dark alternative/indie folk vibe than past releases and instead leans more towards an indie pop type sound. Overall, the mystical and dreamy musical style that SKOTT has mastered and become known for is well represented in this song and adds to her already very consistent and impressive discography. Her distinct and unconventional indie folk sound is growing in popularity and if you’re not a fan of SKOTT already, you should be after listening to this. 

RATIONALE - LOVING LIFE

Rationale is one act that has remained consistently impressive with his releases and his distinct  vocal abilities. I first discovered his stunning vocal talent in 2015 after hearing his song ‘Fast Lane’ which is a paradoxically slow burning gem with understated guitar twangs and soothing synthesisers. After a string of releases in the past two years he is back with another remarkable song. His unique voice is always a treat to hear and much like his previous releases this new single titled ‘Loving Life’ does not disappoint. The song, like many of his past releases, perfectly showcases Rationale’s powerful voice. Since his debut in 2015, he has proven his voice is extremely versatile and can fit into multiple genres from soulful R&B and Synth Pop to creating house oriented records like this new track. Ever since his debut, Rationale’s musical style always carries a heady synth pop rhythm with booming vocals layered on top. With this new track his vocal abilities continue to impress as his voice rises and falls into falsetto highs and soulful lows. 

The new track has an addictive summery vibe and a catchy chorus that will remain stuck in your head for days. For too long Rationale’s talent has been underrated but with a debut album just around the corner I’m certain he will not be kept under the radar for much longer. You can expect his self titled debut album to be released on the 6th of October this year and to celebrate you can catch him touring the biggest cities in the UK throughout October. 

BILLIE EILISH - COPYCAT

Billie Eilish is a young singer songwriter who is constantly growing in popularity and confidence. After hearing her first two singles Ocean Eyes and Six Feet Under last year I was not only amazed by her creative songwriting and distinct vocals but also shocked to learn that she is only 15 years old. This year she’s back with a handful of new songs that hint towards a first album in the near future and is a taster of her soon to be released EP ‘don’t smile at me’. After releasing the extremely catching and dark ‘Bellyache’ in March she has subsequently released singles ‘Bored’ and ‘Watch’ in June, all three perfectly being used to illustrate the musical style of the young Billie Eilish. For someone so young, Billie Eilish’s music oozes maturity and confidence, she already knows her place in the music industry and is already secure in the type of music she wants to continue producing. 

The newest addition to her growing collection of releases is called ‘copycat’ and was released on the 13th of this month. Once again, the menacing and twisted quality of her music shines through. The distorted bass and heavy percussion coupled with Billie’s clever songwriting and brooding melancholic voice (that has become her trademark at this point) creates a song that is dark and satisfying. The song gives us a glimpse of the music style and brand Billie is attempting to carve out for herself. Within the space of one year Billie Eilish has gone from promising singer songwriter to rising pop power house, there is no doubt that pretty soon she’s going to be big. I’ll be eagerly awaiting more new material from this talented young artist in the run up to the release of her ‘don’t smile at me’ EP. 

LUCY ROSE - FLORAL DRESSES

I've been following Lucy rose's music for a long time and I would go so far as to say I have been quite obsessed with not only her music but her live performances since 2011. Her debut album 'Like I Used To' really put her on the map as one of the newest and most exciting singer/songwriters in modern music. Released in 2012, her debut album was a brilliant introduction to her soft and tender style of indie/folk music. At her core, Lucy Rose is a singer/songwriter who finds creativity and inspiration to write music in some of the most personal and private moments of her life. Her mastery over the singer/songwriter genre is shown through her ability to bare her heart and tell stories through her music. More often than not her songs are inspired by personal experiences and her lyrics are brutally honest, coming from a place of real emotion and vulnerability. This combined with her outlook towards the music industry, her kindness to her fans and her pure and fragile vocals are what truly makes Lucy Rose special to me as a person and as an artist. Although Lucy's first album was very acoustically driven, her second album 'Work It Out' released in 2015 saw her take a slightly different path as the album consists of songs that are more electronic in their composition. Her two albums so far show an evolution from making acoustic folk music that is slower paced and fragile to making new sounds that conform more to the alternative/indie genres with an abundance of electric guitars, energetic and purposeful drum beats and synths. However, what remains the same are Lucy's open hearted and honest lyrics as well as her pure and sweet vocals. These elements are what really draw you in when listening to her music. 

Her long awaited third album is soon to be released this July and here we have the first single from the album ‘Floral Dresses’. The song features backing vocals from fellow British folk band The Staves, three sisters from Watford who are also one of my favourite folk artists to date. Additionally the song, and the album for that matter, marks Lucy Rose’s departure from the Columbia Records music label and onto the small independent label Communion records. Speaking on the new single Lucy noted how this song: “really reminded me about who I was, and I always think that some of the best songs are the ones which can stand on their own with just one instrument. The message is pretty clear and I hope other people will find comfort in it, and realise they are different but also the same as many people.” It feels like Lucy is going back more to the style seen in her first album, stripped back fragile and leaning more towards the singer songwriter genre. Intricate folk music and thoughtful delicate singer songwriting is at the core of Lucy’s music and this is really well reflected in this new song. The track is composed of everything Lucy does best, within the lyrics she tells a story and the minimal acoustic guitar strums and fragile vocals drive the song forward. Through the lyrics, the message of the song is extremely clear 'I don’t want your diamond necklace, your disapproval cuts through’ the song is about staying true to who you are and remaining unique even if others disapprove of it. 

The motivation for the song and the very direct and openhearted lyrics are clearly based on a personal experience from Lucy herself. Throughout her music, Lucy has always used her songwriting as a vehicle and a channel to process and deal with very personal experiences throughout her life and this element to her music is still present here in this new record. The way she is so forward and open to express her vulnerability within her songwriting is one of the reasons why her music is not only relatable but also incredibly endearing and engaging to listen to. With this new track, her songwriting remains incredibly self aware and gives us an open window into the life and mind of Lucy Rose. Lucy's voice is always such a pleasure to listen to. Her sweet, natural vocals combined with these very honest and emotive songwriting is what makes this song and her music in general work so well. 

Overall, the song is a strong reentrance back into the music world after being away touring and songwriting for a while. This new record suggests a revisit to the very melancholic and stripped back acoustic songwriting that fans of Lucy first fell in love with on her first album, the style of music Lucy herself truly adores the most. The signature fragile and pure vocals coupled with Lucy’s always honest and self aware song writing is a combination Lucy has mastered over the course of two albums and is a skill she still uses to success throughout her music today. This new single is the first sign of what’s to come from Lucy’s new album ‘Something’s Changing’ and is the first clue in understanding which direction Lucy will be taking her musical adventures next. I eagerly await to hear more from her. The album is out in the UK on July 14th. 

LORDE - GREEN LIGHT

It’s been a long time coming for Lorde to return with new music. After shooting to fame in 2013 with her debut album Pure Heroine in 2013, the now 20 year old New Zealand singer songwriter has finally released the first glimpse of what she’s been up to for the past few years. The new single Green Light is the first completely new and original material we’ve heard from her in a while. Rising to global Fame in 2013, Ella Yelich-O' Connor (aka Lorde) turned a lot of people’s heads in the music world for her incredible songwriting abilities that showed a maturity beyond anything you would’ve expected from a 16 year old. Lorde also caught people's attention due to her refreshing, droll vocal tones and her dark and twisted blend of pop music and electronica. In 2013, the then 16 year old provided a breath of fresh air to the mainstream music industry that appeared to be throughly saturated with formulaic and unoriginal pop records. Each record from the singer songwriter has consistently shown a mixture of hard hitting, self aware and personal songwriting, dark electronic rhythms and punchy bass lines. Yet this new single highlights a new direction for Lorde in a lot of ways. As Ella tweeted herself in preparation for releasing the song: ‘I am so proud of this song. It's very different, and kinda unexpected. It's complex and funny and sad and joyous and it'll make you DANCE’.

The track is noticeably different from her previous works, her voice is not only a touch deeper but the tone of her voice seems a lot more direct and angry. You can tell the lyrics come from a place of personal heartbreak, the conviction and force in which she sings these lyrics albeit to a relatively lighthearted electronic beat further enforces this idea. Listening to the lyrics it becomes increasingly clear Lorde’s music both from the past and now looking into the future will always be used as a vehicle to express her real feelings and personal experiences and that’s something that is rarely seen so openly in the music industry today. In many ways, this new record sees an experimentation and an evolution of Lorde’s well established style she already carved out for herself in her first album. The steady piano chords that form the main hook of the song is something we haven’t heard before much in Lorde’s music. These prominent piano chords mixed with Lorde’s signature cool, quirky vocals rest on rousing electronic beats that rumble underneath the track and provide something different while still remaining recognisably ‘Lorde’. Her decision to include such drastic shifts in tempo within this new single gives further evidence to a consistent theme of difference and unpredictability in Lorde's music. Producing a song with such an offbeat, changeable tempo signals Ella’s continual commitment to offer up something new with every piece of music she creates. Her unique and edgy style of music is what made her entrance into the music industry back in 2013 so innovative and refreshing and it’s good to know that four years down the line with this first sample of her second album ‘Melodrama’ (coming out June this year), her music remains just as bold and original.  

Green Light comes from a place of  loss and heartbreak but at the same time it’s about the overwhelming sense of freedom that comes with these changes in a person’s life and the rush of possibilities that follow an ending relationship. The track is driven by a jaunty piano riff and soon builds up into a  euphoric and cathartic dance driven tune. The chorus itself sounds like something you would hear on a drunken post beak-up girls night out with spectral backing vocals reminiscent of the choirs accompanying Lorde on earlier songs such as Team. The song is a lot more upbeat and poppy which is something we don’t usually hear a lot in Lorde’s music, however the track still features Lorde’s iconic contralto and features the now familiar dark and heavy electronic beats that defined her debut. A follow up tweet from the 20 year old singer songwriter goes on to say: ’It's the first chapter of a story I'm gonna tell you, the story of the last 2 wild, fluorescent years of my life. This is where we begin’. Within the song the lyrics themselves not only tell the personal story of a broken relationship but it also exemplifies Ella’s mastery over the songwriting genre and her ability to incorporate open hearted and often brutally honest lyrics into her music (‘I know about what you did and I wanna scream the truth / She thinks you love the beach, you're such a damn liar’). With a bouncy chorus and slower paced verses that move forward the story of  a relationship breaking down, the outro brings us back to everything that we always loved about Lorde as the music fades out with boisterous and grungy synths. 

With Lorde lined up for some big festival dates this year, it only makes sense for her new music to head towards a more full bodied, theatrical sound. Based on this first taste of the new record, Lorde has managed to somehow stay true to her roots, giving us a new song to go crazy over that features all the crowd pleasing elements that Lorde is now known for while also giving us something new to chew on. Green Light suggests her music is taking a turn towards the brighter, more mainstream dance genre yet still offers up that dynamic, offbeat edge that we all love her for. 

LONDON GRAMMAR - BIG PICTURE

I’ve been in love with London Grammar ever since their debut album ‘If You Wait’ was released in September 2013. The album is particularly special to me as it was one of the first albums I remember being excited about listening to just before I nervously entered my first year of University. The first thing that draws you into this band’s music is lead singer Hannah Reid’s pure and naturally captivating vocals. Her voice combined with the minimalist electronic rhythms and spaced out guitars provided by the other two members of the band Dominic ‘Dot’ Major and Dan Rothman is what makes this band's sound so distinct. Although after their debut album the band gathered a lot of attention and their music was met with a very good reception, ever since then London Grammar have been pretty quiet. I would hear about them now and again, travelling around the world, performing at various large venues and they also collaborated with the British electronic duo Disclosure on their first album which was released a month after their own debut. However, other than a collaboration here and a big festival appearance there, London Grammar have remained relatively quiet in the four years it has taken them to return with new material. 

Many including myself have been eagerly awaiting any new material from the trio for a long time which is why it was a huge surprise when they spontaneously dropped their first new single in the early hours of the New Year. The track titled ‘Rooting For You’ was their first new original song since their debut back in 2013 and listening to it for the first time made me remember exactly why I love their style of music. The song stays true to London Grammar’s now well established style, it is an electronic tinged melancholic track that like most London Grammar songs puts Hannah’s beautiful voice and pure tones into the spotlight. Reid’s sparse, ghostly vocals lead the song and are soon backed up with a symphony of string instruments that allow the song to build into an almost cinematic feeling record. Their second new release is titled ‘Big Picture’ and again really shows us how much the band have perfected their sound over the last four years. While their first comeback single ‘Rooting For You’ was an extremely gentle and emotive symphonic record that showcased Reid’s fragile vocals, their second new single ‘Big Picture’ sees a change of tone for the band. Yet this new single still inevitably contains all the key ingredients that make London Grammar’s music so special. 

With Reid's pure vocals combined with spectral and purposeful guitar rhythms, the track gradually works itself up from a sombre and slow paced song to a bright and euphoric piece of music. The track slowly evolves into an optimistic and instrumentally driven record with a rousing upbeat rhythm. The record somehow manages to show off Reid’s vocals while at the same time creating a soft and calming electronically layered rhythm underneath that features looped reverberating vocals from Hannah. With this record and the aforementioned first comeback single ‘Rooting For You’, it’s clear that the long time away spent writing and recording was most definitely worth it. If anything, these new tracks from London Grammar perfectly show how comfortable the band have become in their musical direction and this new material signals exciting new things to come from the trio. 

CLOVES - BETTER NOW

If someone asks me who are my favourite new artists, Cloves is always one at the top of the list, the Australian born London based singer songwriter first caught my attention with her debut EP 'XIII' last November. Particularly her song 'Don't Forget About Me' led me to become completely entranced by her music. Having that song on repeat for months on end, I am very happy to now see she has given us a first taste of what she's been working on. Cloves AKA Kaity Dunstan is a 20 year old girl who has continuously impressed everyone including myself with her deep, melancholy and mature vocal abilities. Dunstan finds singers with unique vocal tones some of her biggest inspirations, noting Etta James and Amy Winehouse as important influences in her musical style. Although she is very young, Cloves shows a remarkable maturity through her lyrics and her vocal talents, her fragile soul tinged tones spinning spine tingling tales and stories. There's something about the singer songwriter genre where we see these artists able to tell stories of their personal experiences so openly and easily. This is shown even clearer with young singer songwriters such as Billie Marten and Cloves who are still growing up and experiencing these new feelings with a sense of innocence and naivety.

Her lyrics describe the lessons she's learned from these youthful experiences and provide a snapshot of life as a young woman still figuring out her place in the world. This newest release 'Better Now' is a product of this and presents another glimpse into Dunstan's life as a young woman struggling with love and romance. The song is based around an internal dialogue she was having in her mind at the time on whether to continue the relationship or just give up. With this new single, Cloves remains true to what we have come to expect from her, there’s the same honesty and rawness to the lyrics, and her captivating vocals remain unforgettable. Throughout the song and the lyrics, her emotions spill out and tells a story of love, conflicted feelings and healing (Start with a kiss, end with a fight/So I know that you have your doubts, and I'll leave but I swear that I'm better now/Then I hear you leave and I'm happy, just for a moment I'm free). With her bluesy and melancholic tone of voice, few would believe this singer to be only 20 years old. While the track is in keeping with the musical style and emotive songs Clove's has released in the past, this track also shows a darker side to her music and gives an indication of how her musical style has progressed and matured in just one year. Citing such recent influences as Alabama Shakes and The Black Keys, we can begin to expect Clove's music to become more bluesy, wrapped in angsty heartache while still holding that emotion that many have come to expect wth her music.

Through this new record, it is interesting to see Cloves both stick to what she knows best, creating a song that is full of raw emotion and tells a personal tale of inner conflict and heartbreak, while also presenting a new dimension to her music. The track showcases a more confident approach from Clove's with powerful, punching and abrupt drum hits that turn the rhythm of the record on its head. Although still very young, her maturity and the melancholia expressed within her music and her lyrics as well as her confidence in knowing the exact path she wants her music to take should be more than enough for anyone to recognise her as a profoundly remarkable talent and a highly anticipated musician destined for huge popularity.

VALLIS ALPS - FADING

Vallis Alps first drew people's attention after their debut EP was released last year and many people fell in love with their sparkling indie pop sound. Their remix of Australian Troye Sivan's song 'Ease' also left a lot of people wanting more. After being on hiatus for a long time they have finally made a come back with this brand new track 'Fading'. Although to many this is a welcome return, this is the first time I'm hearing of them. With that said, their style of music is definitely up my street and I can't wait to hear more from the duo. Canberra based vocalist Parissa Tosif and producer David Ansari (originally from Seattle Washington) present an exciting and new exploration into the world of dreamy electro pop with their music. Although still being fairly new onto the scene and only having a handful of songs to their name there is no doubt this duo are gaining momentum with their sugary sweet indie pop songs that not only appeal to a mass audience but also connect with the listener on an emotional level through their personal lyrics. Tosif's fragile and ascending vocals blend perfectly with the electronic rhythms and samples put together by Ansari, creating songs that will attract many to their pleasing sounds and songs that truly represent them as an exciting up and coming band.

THE JAPANESE HOUSE - FACE LIKE THUNDER

I'm a little bit late to the party when it comes to The Japanese House aka Amber Bain. The 21 year old first started to make waves last year with her first two EPs 'Pools To Bathe In' and 'Clean'. Now after increasing success, touring across the UK on her own and supporting The 1975, Bain has released her first EP of the year titled 'Swim Against The Tide'. Although she is still a very new artist, her music style is remarkably distinct, creating songs that live up to the kind of image you think of when you think of a Japanese House. When you think of a 'Japanese House' you think of a clean, calming, soothing backdrop to relax in, this is exactly what Bain directly tries to emulate with her music. Bain's music is incredibly atmospheric  at times cinematic, and always shows a perfect blend of dream pop and electronica. 

One thing that always shines through with Bain's music is her confidence to experiment with different sounds and create something unique and original. Bain's desire for experimentation however does not only stop wth her music. As a child she has always been one to play with conventions and gender norms, on a holiday in Cornwall age 8, she spent the whole week pretending to be a boy. Her desire to play with gender stereotypes is carried over into her music, most importantly with the name of the musical project. Bain chose the alias 'The Japanese House' as an attempt to depersonalise and take away the gender and identity of the person behind the music, leaving only the joy of the music itself. As she has previously said: 'A lot of female musicians, if they use their own name, get described as female artist blah blah blah. By taking away a person’s identity, all you have to focus on is the music, which is kind of cool'. Throughout her music we see not only her fondness to experiment with music but how her want to experiment with gender, Bain's voice is often intentionally very androgynous. At times it is difficult to distinguish whether what you are hearing is coming from a male or female singer. Bain herself considers this a skill, accomplished in being able to hit both high and very low notes. 

Categorically, her music can be labeled as a blend of electronic loveliness and alternative dream-pop, yet the feelings and blissful emotions her music stirs up spreads further than the genre of the music itself. Her newest EP 'Swim Against The Tide' was released a few days ago, and one of my favourite tracks from the EP is 'Face Like Thunder' which shows a new dimension and diversity to her music, the song being more upbeat than many of her previous records. The song features Bain's now signature Imogen Heap-like vocoder harmonies that weave their way into your mind and soul, while soothing forward-thinking pop/electronic beats form the foundation of the track. The song is a full bodied punch of emotions and melody, '80s guitar rhythms and ambient synth sounds buzz underneath as Bain's vocals scintillate on top. Within the song, her vocoder harmonies are perfectly balanced, Bain's natural and raw vocals shine through without sounding too overly synthetic. With the perfect fusion of`nostaligc guitar riffs and smooth vocoder harmonies, 'Face Like Thunder' presents an upbeat track adding to Bain's consistently solid and growing body of work. There is no doubt this track and her newest EP are bound to scoop up and attract a whole host of new listeners, giving her the attention she deserves as a profoundly engaging and mesmerising young artist. 

MAGGIE ROGERS - DOG YEARS

As a music student at NYU, Maggie Rogers began her time at University by experimenting with and producing pure folk music with a post-modern twist. However, after studying a year abroad in France she found a new love for dance music. After continuing her studies at NYU she set her sights on producing music that shows a fusion of the folk and dance genres. As Rogers was starting to create this new sound, Pharrel Williams was invited to host a masterclass at The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. During this masterclass, some NYU students and young musicians, Maggie Rogers being one of them, got a chance to play some of their music to Pharrell. As a rough demo of Roger's debut single 'Alaska' starts to play, a look of surprise begins to unfold on Pharell's face as he shakes his head in amazement. After much anticipation, her debut single 'Alaska' was finally released and gained huge popularity and attention due to the video of Pharrel's reaction to Roger's demo of the same song. As of now the video has garnered over 3 million views on YouTube. 

While a co-sign and endorsement from Pharell via Twitter and a viral video of his stunned reaction to her music may be responsible for the majority of Roger's growing fanbase, her musical style alone is more than enough to get you interested. Her newest single continues her unique combination of folk and dance music. Much like her debut single 'Alaska', 'Dog Years' treats us to a catchy dance beat combined with Roger's personal and creative lyrics, her vocals soaring in and out of falsetto pitches. Throughout the song, the track carries a very deep synth-like grooving electronic beat that has a very retro 70/80s vibe to it. Technically, the song is mixed with a clean and crisp multi-layered sound. Through the mixture of dance beats and raw heartfelt vocals, there's something eclectic and natural about her unique sound. In many ways her vocals recall a young Florence Welch, both of their voices carrying a natural, pure and off-beat quality to them. 

With 'Dog Years' Roger's remains consistent in her goal to blend the folk and dance genres, creating songs with impeccable heartfelt lyrics that echo her rural upbringing and mixing them with unique percussion pieces and synth heavy dance hooks. Through her music, Roger's brings her technical and professional brilliance from being a music student at NYU and melds it with her instinctive knowledge and seemingly natural ability to create moving songs with compelling lyrics and chilling falsetto notes. Maggie Rogers' uniqueness and unpredictability as a young songwriter who exhibits a clear vision of what she wants to do and shows a remarkable confidence in what she knows she is capable of, makes me very excited to see her growth as a musician and an artist.

SKOTT - LACK OF EMOTION

I know it hasn't been long since I first introduced SKOTT to you, but her most recent song deserves some attention. Following on from her debut song 'Porcelain' that caught everyone's attention and the two singles that preceded it 'Wolf' and 'Amelia' SKOTT has not only shown her diversity as a singer but has further enforced her status as one to watch in the coming months. The Norwegian songstress' newest song 'Lack of Emotion' is different from her previous singles in that it has a consistently upbeat rhythm that leans more towards the dance/electronic genres, differentiating itself from the moodier folk/indie sounds that have come to be associated with SKOTT's emerging musical style. With that said, the song still showcases a dark twist that is becoming common in all of SKOTT's songs, featuring an eerie whistle breakdown in the middle of the track, echoey choir-like background vocals and swelling string instruments that make the song almost cinematic in places. This latest single explores SKOTT's talent as a truly spellbinding singer, the song featuring welcoming falsetto pitches and a theatrical flair which is slowly becoming a theme within the Norwegian's music.

Lyrically the song is surprising, consisting of serious and emotive words that are disguised by the track's upbeat tempo. (And you feed all the lies in my head, Still you never get me nowhere / I never asked you to come and save me / Maybe I will die alone, But I won't have to bother once I'm gone). 'Lack of Emotion' is a perfect example of how SKOTT can mix mainstream pop rhythms with dark and edgy songwriting that evokes a moving and sombre tone, creating a distinct sound. This latest single sees the Norwegian chanteuse build and develop her musical style, the eclectic and enchanting nature of her songwriting abilities already earning her a loyal and growing fanbase. 

LÉON - Think About You

Although this song leans more towards pop than it does the indie or alternative genres, I can't not share the beautiful music and songwriting talents of LÉON with you. Releasing her first EP 'Treasure' last year and 'Think About You' being the first single to be released this year, LÉON's musical talent and artistry as a singer still holds enough obscurity to get excited about before she undoubtedly gets mass attention in the coming months. Her first single from her debut EP last year gathered over 20 million plays on Spotify and the Swedish singer has already earned the appreciation of American pop singer Katy Perry. Growing up in Stockholm, LÉON first began her career in music as a front woman for a hip hop group as a teenager before later deciding to pursue a solo career. 

Through it's lyrics and minimal, bluesy piano hooks the 'Think About You' appears to be another simple heartbreak ballad. Yet the record quickly evolves into a surprisingly optimistic, cheerful anthem that dances around the pop/ballad genre and is carried by LÉON's soft and soulful vocals. The Swedish singer has in the past mentioned her songwriting style relies on her lyrics remaining honest, open-hearted and relatable, this song telling the story of a confusing and badly handled relationship LÉON experienced when she was 18. LÉON is a relatively new artist who is still building and developing her style of music. Although only having a handful of songs to her name, this latest single strengthens her status as a young musician. LÉON is already toeing the edges of success and her name is one you will most definitely be hearing a lot of in the future. 

Alex Vargas - Higher Love

Alex Vargas in many cases is still a hidden talent. The singer first grabbed my attention with his song 'Solid Ground' only last year. Vargas has a voice that I feel no one will be left disappointed with, his vocals drawing similarities with other indie alternative artists as Matt Corby or James Bay. The Danish singer's music shows a perfect balance between that mainstream indie/acoustic sound that has become a mainstay of the charts and an alternative edge that, at the same time, makes him stand out from the crowd.

At the age of 17 Vargas moved to London from Denmark in order to pursue music, starting his own band 'Vagabond' in 2008. Touring around the UK and performing at multiple festivals, the band disbanded in 2010 and Vargas began his solo career signing with Copenhagen records. Consistently releasing music since 2014, featuring on a host of other artist's records (Above and Beyond/Believe in Giants) and having one EP 'Giving up the Ghost' to his name released in 2015, Vargas is still a fresh face to the music scene and deserves a lot more attention. 

His newest song, 'Higher Love' signals his only original release this year and does not disappoint. The track begins with a muffled, echoey bass line coupled with minimal electronic snaps and soon grows into a truly emotive and impactful record. Combining Vargas' natural vocal talents that slide from raw emotion to falsetto pitches with climactic and dramatic electronic beats, 'Higher Love' shows off every level of Vargas' musical skill and uses a resonating, powerful bass line that demands the listener's full attention. I'm looking forward to hearing more of his work in the future. 

Mansionair - Easier

I've been a fan of Mansionair for two years after listening to and falling in love with their song 'Hold me Down'. However, I have recently started to lose hope as the band has been very quiet for the last two years, presumably working on new material. Finally they're back with this stand out record 'Easier' which gives us the first taste of what they have been working on and a sample of what is to come from their debut album. The song reminds me of everything I love about Mansionair's music, the silky vocals combined with a low rumbling bass and bold, progressive synth-like hooks that recall the work of fellow Australian artist Flume. Eric J who has in the past worked with Flume and Chet Faker assisted in the production of this song. 

Anyone who knows me knows I have a soft spot for artists who sing in falsetto, Bon Iver and James Vincent McMorrow being some of my favourite artists. Similarly with Mansionair, lead singer Jack Froggatt is another one of those singer's who's dreamy falsetto tones form the foundation of every Mansionair track, his vocals appearing effortless and creating a faultless, pure and enchanting sound. Multi-insturmentalists Lachlan Bostock and Alex Nicholls form the rest of the band and with only a few songs to their name, it seems Mansionair are already establishing their mastery over the indie electronica genre, with snappy electronic beats and tantalising vocals. It's been a long time coming but after such a long wait from the band, and this being the first taste of what's to come, I am more than ready to see what else they have in store for us. 

Wyvern Lingo - Beast At The Door

There are not many bands that cite such a diverse range of genres as influences for their music. Hailing from County Wicklow Ireland, Wyvern Lingo are a trio who's musical style is difficult to pinpoint, mixing genres such as indie, alternative, folk and R&B to create music with a fresh and distinct sound. Many of their songs feature unique, unpredictable and shifting tempo changes to create exciting and electrifying music with compelling rhythms and angelic vocal harmonies. This song in particular shows a darker side to the band's musical stylings. The concept for the song first came from drummer and vocalist Caoimhe Barry and was inspired by a cartoon she saw when she was young that still haunts her today. 

The song is based on an old German folk tale called 'The Woodcutter's Wealthy Sister' and was later adapted into an educational cartoon for children in the 1990s. The story focuses on a princess who convinces a Woodcutter she is his long lost sister and invites him and his family to come live with her. The princess is revealed to be a monster in disguise and the story ends with her creeping up to the Woodcutter's door and eating him alive, his wife and children narrowly escaping in time. The unusual inspiration for this song and the tales creepy undertones are reflected in the songs dark and resonating rhythms coupled with Caoimhe's ghostly vocals. This track shows a blend of genres such as blues, indie folk and alternative rock. The song also highlights the trio's talent as singers, putting their vocal chords to the test in a track that builds itself up into a dark and twisted ballad with pitch perfect vocals and rousing harmonies. They have in the past supported Hozier on his UK tour last year and I recently saw them live supporting James Vincent McMorrow on the UK leg of his tour this Autumn. Seeing them live made me even more of a fan of their music and I cannot wait to hear more from them. 

Moses Sumney - Lonely World

There are not many artists with such vocal talents as Moses Sumney, his voice both distinct and attention grabbing. With only a few songs to his name and already working with and garnering appreciation from such well known artists as Solange Knowles and Sufjan Stevens, Sumney's talents come with high expectations and in his most recent original song 'Lonely World' the excitement and hype around this young artist does not go unjustified.

Starting to write music at age 12 and growing up in both California and Ghana, it is clear Sumney's musical influences are a product of his multi-cultural upbringing. His music straddles a mixture of genres from indie, blues, electronica and folk. Sumney's music also always carries a distinct experimental flair, from using a vocoder to produce songs reminiscent of Bon Iver to creating tracks that are specifically designed around off centre rhythms and irregular tempos similar to James Blake who he has recently supported on his North American tour this Autumn. Citing musical influences such as Usher, Beyoncé and Ella Fitzgerald, Sumney has a killer vocal range. His spine tingling falsetto tones and lingering vibrato rivals fellow indie artists such as James Vincent McMorrow and Lianne La Havas. With a ghostly and unforgettable vocal style, Sumney's voice is not one you are likely to forget anytime soon.