Multi-Platinum global pop superstar Kesha has lifted the curtain on the long-awaited official music video for her blockbuster hit single, “JOYRIDE.” Directed by Dimitri Basil (Kylie Minogue, Vance Joy), Cooper Roussel (Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Miami Horror), and Laura Gorun (Joywave, Kings of Leon), the action-packed visual – which sees Kesha racing through the desert in an explosive car chase with evil baddies in hot pursuit – premieres today on YouTube. “JOYRIDE” is available everywhere now on Kesha’s own Kesha Records.
Today’s premiere of the official “JOYRIDE” music video marks the culmination of an epic 2024 for Kesha, while also setting the stage for her eagerly anticipated new single, “DELUSIONAL,” out on November 29, and teasing an even bigger year ahead in 2025.
Stonehocker’s music is a dialogue of him learning about himself, how to love and forgive himself. The lyrics are an examination of the conflict in his own life.
These memoirs are about exposing weaknesses and struggles, hoping to inspire others to do the same. Stonehocker’s music is for himself as much as it’s for everyone else; opening up one’s soul, not holding back.
Stonehocker’s powerful vocals are the focal point of any show. Accompanied by acoustic guitar and minimalistic electronic beats and samples the live shows capture the unique, alternative sounds of Stonehocker’s music. As a personable and unique individual, Stonehocker puts on a well-crafted show with songs from his multiple albums.
Music is Stonehocker’s gift, and music is Stonehocker’s connection to you.
Irish-born newcomer Altara (he/him) reveals the new video for his latest single ‘Milan’
Intimate and raw, Milan showcases another side to emerging talent Altara. The stripped back track is a chance to take stock of your emotions and process tough decisions. Sharing more he explained; ‘I wrote Milan to say what I couldn’t find the words for. I really struggle to let people go, whether it’s in friendships or more, I just hate it. It’s worse when you’re not sure it’s the right thing. That’s what it’s about.’ Milan is the final track to be revealed from Altara’s debut EP ‘The Lobby’ which came out last week. See below for the track list;
The Lobby
Somebody To Lose
It’s Hitting You, Isn’t It
Milan
New on the scene, Altara launched back in August with his impressive debut single ‘Somebody To Lose’. The playful, punchy first move was the result of falling for someone who’s already in a relationship. Immediately infectious, the release garnered much attention from the likes of Noctis, Hot Press, Ones to Watch and Kaltblut magazine who said that Altara ‘emerges as a refreshing anomaly, a maestro of mood and master of melody’. adding that ‘Altara is not just someone to lose sleep over—he’s an artist to keep on constant replay.’ In addition WHYTT magazine said that Altara’s ‘Retro rhythm beats will make you fall in love with his sound’
At the start of last month Altara treated listeners to a warm dose of escapism with ‘It’s Hitting You, Isn’t It’. Born from navigating uncertainty, it arrived as a dose of sunkissed alt-pop. Sharing more behind the track, Altara explained: ‘I started writing at the airport for some reason, I just had the idea & sang it into my phone like a crazy person… I went through a lot of different emotional stages. I think that’s why it changes so much. Started as an idea to do a love letter, then I wanted to sing in Spanish, then I wanted to have a ‘drop’ section. The track scooped support from tastemakers whilst also making its mark over at Apple Music on playlists such as New In Pop and New Music Daily.
With the release of the new single, “Plastic Bag Odyssey (I’ll Never Die),” the quirky indie-folk duo, Couldn’t Be Happiers, launch the pre-save for the forthcoming EP, Couple(t)s Side A, dropping on December 13, 2024. Side B will be released in early 2025, completing the Couple(t)s album thematically being released in two parts. PRE-SAVE COUPLE(T)S SIDE A HERE.
The title Couple(t)s holds multiple meanings. Not only does it refer to Jodi Hildebran Lee (drums, vocals, harmonica) and Jordan Crosby Lee’s (guitar, vocals) relationship as a married couple, it is also a nod to the duo’s favorite poetic device. “The couplet is simple and powerful–much like folk music,” Jodi explains. “But it’s also an apt metaphor for our relationship. A couplet is a pair of rhyming lines with the same meter. Each line is made up of different words, but they always come together at the end. Likewise, Jordan and I are completely different people, but we work in concert for the same goal of creating unique, but relatable, folk music.”
Both Side A and Side B of Couple(t)s contain six songs organized into pairs: love songs, protest songs, and folk-story songs. “We decided to organize the album into couplets shortly after we started recording it,” Jordan says. “But the decision to include only songs that could be classified as love songs, protest music, or southern folklore was made over a decade ago. We just didn’t know it.”
One of Couple(t)s Side A’s two protest songs, “Plastic Bag Odyssey (I’ll Never Die)” was inspired when Jodi spotted a plastic bag tumbling across the hot asphalt of the parking lot of a salon.
Jordan Duffy is a singer, songwriter, producer, and senior audio engineer whose sound stretches across a multitude of genres such as indie, pop, americana, and alternative. The artist is influenced by the likes of Adele, Lake Street Dive, Yola, and Charlie XCX, to name a few. Originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, she began her music career writing songs about heart breaks in dive bars, female empowerment, exploding toads, one night stands, and zombie lovers. At 18 years old, her first professional show was opening for The Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickie Betts. It was in college when she discovered her 4 octave range while studying and performing Opera. She continued her education and landed her role as the first female audio engineer at Earwolf/Stitcher Podcasts. There she has had the opportunity to sing to Weird Al Yankovic, do her own rendition of “Total Eclipse of the Fart” on “The Office Ladies”, and is the vocalist for the “Just Between Us” Podcast theme song. You may even recognize her (and her laugh) as Engineer Jordan from the “Best Friends” podcast.
Her new single “Stay With Me” is the modern rom-com love song we’ve all been searching for. The song tells the story of new nervous lovers sharing that they want more than just a fling. “Stay With Me” is flowing with ear warming synths, a romantic guitar lead, and Jordan Duffy’s soothing harmonies that fill the song with passion.
buzzing UK producer nimino unveils his first-ever music video for his viral hit “I Only Smoke When I Drink.” The video arrives hot on the heels of the recent remix from enigmatic house music wizard Claptone and in the midst of nimino’s current North American tour.
Starring Calam Lynch (Bridgerton, Sweetpea & LOTR: The Rings of Power) and Amelia Eve (The Haunting of Bly Manor), the new video spins the tale of two young, former lovers who inevitably run into each other during a night out partying with friends. The narrative taps directly into the infectious and relatable lyrics of the track: “I only smoke when I drink / And I only drink when I overthink / And I only think about you.”
The video serves not only as a milestone in nimino’s career but in his friendships with director Oskar Brockbank and actor Calam Lynch, with whom he’s always wanted to create a video.
The single has catapulted nimino into a world of streaming accolades. Initially blowing up on TikTok with 17M organic plays, “I Only Smoke When I Drink” is currently clocking in at over 500,000 plays per day, has spent 12 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Chart, climbed to #21 on the official UK Singles Chart, has moved up to the BBC Radio 1 A list, and has amassed over 193k Shazams since its release. Wonderland has it on repeat, Diplo is rinsing it in his sets, and Music Ally analyzed the strategy behind its success.
Pop singer-songwriter Ashley Elle invites listeners on an exhilarating voyage through lust, love, and heartbreak with her latest EP, Say Something. This seven-song collection displays the euphoric intensity of romance in all its complexity. With haunting melodies, lush arrangements, and deeply resonant lyrics, Ashley Elle delivers a raw and relatable exploration of love’s most universal themes. Say Something is available to stream and download on all platforms.
Each track on Say Something combines Ashley Elle’s signature blend of dreamy folk-inspired storytelling with the enthralling textures of alt-pop. The title track, “Say Something,” brings a fresh, buoyant energy to the EP, capturing the playful tension of unspoken attraction. “‘Say Something’ is an upbeat, flirty song about knowing someone may be interested in you. It’s your way of wanting them to say something about it rather than dance around those feelings,” she explains. Produced by Josh Lovell (K. Flay, Benson Boone, Bully), the song features irresistible rhythms and catchy melodies, while Ashley Elle’s vocals glide through the song with confidence and curiosity, perfectly expressing the anticipation and impatience of waiting for someone to confess their feelings. The EP also features her previously released singles, “One More Night,” “Falling,” and “Save Us.” With “One More Night,” she invites listeners into a world of love suspended in time, where the heart yearns for connection despite knowing it’s no longer right for you. With warm acoustic melodies, echoing vocals, and intoxicating atmospheric layers, the charming track resonates as a tender inspection of the internal battle between heart and mind when you’re connected to someone who may not be right for you. Diving deeper into the intricacies of connection, “Falling” vividly portrays the raw vulnerability and intense longing accompanying an unexpected attraction. Ashley Elle admirably portrays the thrill of discovering someone who sweeps you off your feet, blending that initial wonder with a delicate sense of caution. “Save Us” stands apart from the other tracks, emphasizing the frustration of deceit and manipulation. It’s a powerful anthem for those exhausted from one-sided efforts in a fading relationship. “It highlights how oftentimes one person is more committed to the relationship than the other and unfortunately, that is not enough to save it,” she shares. With melancholic tones and somber lyrics, “Save Us” creates an atmosphere of heartache while showing the messiness that can arise when the desire to hold on isn’t mutual. Mastered by Adam Grover at Sterling Sound and co-written with Hank Compton (GAYLE, K. Flay, Savannah Conley), Say Something is a vivid tapestry of love, longing, and self-discovery. The EP contains three more enthralling unreleased tracks, “They Always Come Back,” “Conditions,” and “October” (co-written with Allegra Miles and Lucky West), moving effortlessly from infectious, upbeat moments of flirtation to earnest, reflective ballads that invite listeners to confront the bittersweet side of love.
Tara Van is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter who was born to pour her heart out into music. Her genre-eluding sound finds roots in her first loves: soul, folk, pop, and jazz. Tara Van’s life has been steeped in music. Her life sounds like: choral baroque music over breakfast, loitering in the parking lot when the song hits too hard to deny belting out the last notes, or firelit open-mics where guitars seem to appear out of nowhere as loved one’s take turns bearing their soul.
Tara Van’s vibe is: unapologetic day-dreamer. From the age of four, she would often be found up a tree somewhere with a goofy thousand-yard stare, scribbling into her songbook. Her school years were marked by the scars of bullying. She finally found her home in art school, her so-called ‘Island of Lost Toys’, where she would find belonging amongst the other misfits. Tara Van’s work gives glimpses of her internal world. She is generous in her self-disclosure. As a textbook ADHD oversharer, you can feel her weather report: sun-soaked, overcast, stormy etc. She lets herself express the mess. Her approach is as gutsy and bold as it is tender and vulnerable.
Tara Van will be songwriting, singing and performing, no matter who might be there to listen. Songs are her love language. Whether jamming solo, in studio, or collaborating with her band, the music courses through her and she receives it.
She writes her heartbreak, both to settle the score with herself, and for all those whose daydreams have been clouded by hurt. The magical thinking that set her apart early on never left her side. Guided by the poetic cycles of wilting, falling, rooting, rising and blooming, her first studio album ‘RISE’ was born in 2023. Tara Van has a sweet spot for Bubblegum Rock and Dreampop that is fueling her latest studio productions. Her latest single, ‘Sunshine’s Calling’, is an uplifting bass-driven pop-anthem about finding the answers to questions you had long since stopped asking—due for release this spring 2024. Tara Van has been selected by International Pop Overthrow Festival (Liverpool chapter) and is off to Europe spring 2024 to make her international debut at The Cavern Club, legendary home of The Beatles.
She’s inviting you in. Listen to her diary with care. It’s best enjoyed by an open heart.
Australian hitmaker Ruel releases the emotive, 90’s soft grunge infused single “Made It Awkward” via Giant Music – Listen HERE. Written by Ruel, M-Phazes (Eminem, Madonna, Kehlani, Demi Lovato) and Nick Long (Blink 182, Machine Gun Kelly) and produced by M-Phazes, Elias Danielsen and Theodore Lee, the song narrates a tender, self-depreciating story of shedding the protective guise of nonchalance in a late-night moment of drunken weakness.
Ruel on “Made It Awkward”: “’Made It Awkward’ is all about basking in regret and frustration. I’m a bit of a serial oversharer which has definitely got me in this situation a few times, but there are a million ways to make things awkward with someone. I just hope people can connect my story to a time in their own lives.”
Bookended by the sample of a phone call gone wrong, “Made It Awkward” chronicles the jarring tension and subsequent fallout of a risky confession to a crush (because we’ve all been there). Through candid storytelling, the song evokes the regretful sting of oversharing emotions that aren’t reciprocated. Lyrics like “I guess she didn’t want to hear that I want her” paired with “I painted a picture of us at the altar” reveal the deep emotional divide between someone envisioning a future and another who is unfazed.
“Made It Awkward” is brought to life through the music video released today and directed by Olivia De Camps – Watch HERE. The video opens with Ruel lying in bed, waking to the aftermath of the ill-fated call. Rapidly flashing frames and shifting light cycles suggest the restless passage of time. As the song’s narrative unfolds, Ruel’s frustration escalates—he throws his pillow, clenches his fists and slams them against the bed, each movement conveying his inner turmoil. The cyclical imagery drives home the haunting reality of his unfulfilled longing, hinting that some emotional wounds might be too deep to escape.
Platinum-selling rapper Lola Brooke (Team Eighty Productions/Arista Records) unleashes her new song, “Go To Yo Head.” Get it HERE.
The anthemic, unruly track finds the breakout emcee in her lyrically-savvy element, delivering poignant punchlines to match her chilling bravado voice. “Go To Yo Head” finds the 4′ 9 giant exuding a commanding presence, demanding just-do respect from a suitor. Whether or not one is in over their head dealing with Brooklyn’s finest, Lola flexes on wax while dictating her commandments as a supreme Rap sensation who means business. Instead of entertaining games, she makes it known to come correct with genuineness and groundedness—with a splash of glamour— to vie for her attention.
Going on record about the track, Lola further shares, “There’s no room to get big-headed and think for a second that Lola is that girl to be played with. That’s the energy on Go To Yo Head. I’m a step on heads every time if they come for mine.”
“Go To Yo Head” follows the release of Lola’s collaboration single “No One Else” featuring Jeremih, which arrived earlier this season. The rap and R&B-style track was presented with a glossy official music video directed by MadebyJames [Isaiah Rashad, Smino]. Watch HERE.
Cree and Dene country artist B Fabian returns with “5 O’Clock Somewhere,” the first taste of his upcoming album Endeavors. The track premiered exclusively on Divine Magazine, offering fans an early glimpse into Fabian’s laid-back sound, blending raw storytelling, rock undertones, and Indigenous rhythms.
Fabian’s latest single is as much about taking a breather as it is a nod to his roots, capturing the easygoing spirit of downtime after a hard day’s work. Drawing inspiration from classic country themes, the track resonates with fans of Alan Jackson, Luke Combs, and George Strait, pairing timeless charm with a modern twist.
Brilliant newcomer Jay Hurtt VI returns with his new single “a collab with Kayne.” The Maryland-born ( Lothian, MD) turned Hawaiian-resident is the true meaning of an under-the-radar DIY artist-producer creating music that is effortless slick whilst invoking the laid-back, carefree energy we all need going into the colder months of the year. His music is perfect for the perfect for fans of Phoenix, Jungle & Vampire Weekend.
Blair Gilmour is an 18 year old multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter from Irvine, Scotland. Immersing himself in music at a young age, Blair quickly realised that performing helped suppress his Tourette’s tics. Diving into music on a sensory level, the young artist explores the secrets of songwriting, producing and performing, inviting listeners along for the journey. He walks a path that avoids the corporate ‘four-chord structure,’ favoring spontaneous compositions that come from deep within, inspired by both heartbreak and joyful observation. Always organic and original, Blair’s vocals are instantly recognisable, marked by a distinctive tone and a subtle hint of his Scottish accent.
His latest single “Burning Up” is a feel-good, energetic anthem that was written at a songwriting camp in Spain. Initially inspired by the heat of their environment, the song eventually transformed into a love song, with Blair exploring the question: “How can you love something or someone so much that you know it is bad for you and your mental health, but you’re still in it for the chase?”
“Burning Up” comes to life through upbeat percussion, jangly guitars, and catchy lyrics that will replay in your head all day long. This raw, honest and relatable track explores being so emotionally attached that you are willing to sacrifice your mental well-being to maintain that connection.
“Burning Up” demonstrates his versatility, emotional depth and ability to connect authentically with listeners across the globe. Blair Gilmour is set to make waves, as he establishes himself as an artist to watch this year.
rising talent Nora Lilith shares her sleek and sophisticated “Now Or Never,” a single that delves deep into the complexities of shame and self-doubt, showcasing Nora’s brilliant ability to mold beautifully thought-out introspective songwriting and production to make a perfectly contextualised track that you hear today. File besides the likes of early BANKS releases for the magic.
On the eve of their highly anticipated UK headline tour this November/December – SKINNY LISTER – will release the brand new single ‘Set Us Straight’ on 22nd November 2024.
A digital-only single, ‘Set Us Straight’ is trademark Skinny Lister – an instantly catchy, sing-a-long romp that is destined to go down a storm in the wild ruckus of their live shows.
Relating to a field that the Skinnies are decidedly experts in, The Pub, it’s a rowdy, wide-eyed, drinking track that’s the perfect chaser for knocking-them-back into the early hours with your best pals.
As Dan Heptinstall explains of the track and some of the familiar characters that populate it:
“‘Set us Straight’ is another Skinny Lister ode to the traditional public house, but this time it’s personal! We’ve painted a scene in the lyrics that features a bunch of good Skinny friends. The mentioned Guyer – who is a great friend as well as fan of the band – has attended well over 100 Skinny shows – now that’s dedication – cheers Guyer! Lorna is also in there dancing on the table while Billy (aka Party George’s ‘William Harker’) picks the diddle on his guitar. There’s also a nod to the delicious ‘Lorna’s Hammer’ cocktail, which was created by another good friend Scott – in honour of Lorna’s car destroying behaviour in our video ‘Devil In Me’…. it’s primarily a song about sharing some good times with good friends, and a reflection of the ongoing Skinny party. It’s also a fun track to play live – so expect to hear it in our upcoming UK Tour…”
Encapsulating their good-time energy, ‘Set Us Straight’ arrives as a first hint of new music that the band have been recording recently, intended for their upcoming album number seven – due next year.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
