Five tracks that hit us hard. A dedicated Spotify playlist here.
Heidz the Artist - ‘Ghost’
Doubling down on pop-punk references, Heidz the Artist’s latest effort offers a glimpse of a superstar in the making, thanks to a carefully crafted production and superb songwriting. ‘Ghost’ is exactly that: relatable, upbeat vibes with a chorus to die for. All is bathed in a luscious and fashionable blend of poignant pop-punk and placid hip-hop, highlighting Heidz’s strong malleability and artistic consciousness. The new record marks a welcome return for the British talent, who was absent from the music scene since 2020. If ‘Ghost’ is any indication of what to expect in the future, we can confidently say we are in for a treat. And how could it not be? Heidz the Artist has lived and breathed music and art all her life, writing songs and playing guitar and piano. Seems like dropping out of art school was a good choice after all, given the current quality of her artistic output. (Written By)
Mother Culture - ‘Princess Die’
We had already discovered Mother Culture last year, and we had found their bubbly and energetic style quite exciting, anticipating big things for them. Needless to say, they are now back with what is perhaps their strongest track to date. ‘Princess Die’ is a four minutes journey into indie-powered goodness, blending in a multitude of influences to create a nostalgic, evocative sonic package. The single follows up on ‘Shitty Four Chord Pop Song’, released earlier this year. Is there an evolution happening? Well, if by that you mean Mother Culture’s constant improvement, then yes, it is happening! Brothers Darcy and Spencer Ward drive the group forward, channelling all their songwriting prowess and musicianship qualities. Based in Melbourne, Australia, the two talented creatives have by now refined a formula that also includes inspired lyrical themes, as we’ll soon see in ‘Princess Die’. (Written By)
Divino Niño - XO
Artistic creation takes you to places you had never imagined you’d be. No one wants to be stuck doing one thing and one thing only, so naturally, American indie-pop outfit Divino Niño found it beneficial to shift their sounds towards brighter lands, doubling down on dancy vibes and shimmering, contemporary productions. Gearing up for an album release in September - ‘Last Spa On Earth’, - the group has been sharing a few singles from the record itself. Following up on ‘Nos Soltamos’, they are now back with ‘XO’, another bubbly, charismatic and groovy banger that highlights yet another exciting side of the Chicagoan band. (Written By)
Maddrigal - pneuma
Emerging from the Parisian artistic whirlwind, Maddrigal sits at the forefront of the electronic scene, by offering leftfield, complex material that’s not only charged in its musical idioms, but also in the meaning behind it. The project's latest effort, ‘pneuma’, follows up from last year’s EP ‘Essence / Lack thereof’, and showcases how the French artist is still a valuable name on the scene. Melting into a delicious leftfield broth, ‘pneuma’ doesn’t shy away from mixing elements and influences. While in the beginning we can catch a glimpse of an old-school Apparat, thanks to organic-sounding soundscapes and string-like tones, we are soon pushed into a darker electronica setting, thanks to an analogue-sounding arpeggio that fluctuates at the core of the track, carrying the whole piece forward. Not Waving comes to mind, although the influences here at many and frequent. (Written By)
Ninni - ‘Just the Touch of My Hands’
Sometimes all you need are soulful, tender vibes, something you can relax to and feel good with, a long-desired pick-up from the everyday hustling. Offering the perfect accompaniment for the late summer season, Italian singer-songwriter Ninni emerges with a new delicate gem, ‘Just the Touch of My Hands’. Built over layered vocals and a simple acoustic guitar, the song is the perfect listening experience if the day has been too hard on yourself, or if what you need is an escape from the boredom of ordinary life. A consumed musician, Ninni has been active in the local indie circuit for years, primarily as a guitarist. One day, his passion turned to songwriting, an activity which he happily embraced, and in which we are confident to say he excels. From that moment on, he was able to build an original music project which has been racking up more than 100k streams on Spotify alone. Hailing from Naples, Ninni channels all the bubbliness and upbeat character of Neapolitan culture into short but evocative songs, caressing the listener with placid sound matter. (Written By)