French singer-songwriter Clara Le Bouar unveils her beautiful new single ‘12 Mai’
Listen to 12 Mai on Spotify HERE
Listen to 12 Mai on Apple Music HERE
Personal and raw, Clara Le Bouar’s new single ‘12 Mai’ transforms gut wrenching pain into a sincere and powerful display of beautiful vocals and poetic lyricism.
It sees the Paris-based newcomer reflect on the slow, quiet process of watching someone slip away. It looks to make sense of the line between holding on to someone you love, and letting them go. Clara explained further: ‘12 Mai is about refusing to grieve, and feeling more and more empty by clinging to what once was.
Loneliness threads throughout the song, especially in the first verse: “i try not to hide i don’t feel strong when i’m by your side,” a confession of how fragile I feel around them, teetering on the edge of loss. And then there’s “you’re always wrong and i’m never right,” which underscores the miscommunication between two people trying to be heard yet missing each other entirely—both losing in a story they desperately want to fix.
I often joke that I “blacked out” writing this song—I was so physically and emotionally spent that it simply happened at the end of a long day in the studio. What you hear today is the track in its first day form with my vocals recorded in one take.
12 Mai follows on from Clara’s recent single ‘Silver’, which arrived last month, just in time for Valentine’s day. Silver took shape as a warm and sweet love letter to her best friend, detailing the power of female friendship. The track was warmly received by tastemakers including Dork Magazine who described it as ‘tender alt-pop’, whilst Clash Magazine said it was ‘incredibly measured, with each note serving a function of the song as a whole’, in addition, Ones To Watch described it as ‘a brightly effervescent effort’.
aibai & vinny’s collaboration is a fusion of their distinct musical backgrounds, blending soulful, ambient, electronic, and indie folk influences. Working completely remotely, this duo has built a sound based on their shared love of music and creative synchronicities. Based in the Midwest, Aibai (producer) and Vinny (vocalist) met while working as producers for a sync licensing company in Minneapolis. Before teaming up, Aibai was known for her indie electronic music production, and Vinny sang in the Minneapolis R&B band, The Love Channel. Through this unexpected creative partnership, they quickly discovered a natural synergy—Vinny’s soulful vocals and Aibai’s atmospheric production blended seamlessly. Inspired by this chemistry, they launched their collaborative project, aibai & vinny.
Their new self-titled EP is a dreamlike fusion of indie folk and ethereal soundscapes. Inspired by themes of nostalgia, introspection, love and personal growth their songs blend celestial soundscapes with raw, heartfelt storytelling, drawing from personal experiences and emotions. Sonically, their sound is influenced by a mix of indie folk artists, and indie electronic artists, blending organic folk elements with lush, atmospheric production. The duo shares, “Our debut EP really captures the sound and style we’ve been working toward. Each song fits together sonically, creating a cohesive sound, yet they all have their own unique vibe. The songs tell genuine stories about love and relationships, and we hope they resonate with people in a way that feels personal and timeless.”
New York’s triple threat songwriter/producer/artist Harrison Lipton announces his sophomore album Between Us There Runs a Tether will be released on May 7 via Amuse. The news arrives along with title track “Tether” featuring master of the indie-pop earworm, Yot Club. Pre-order the album / Stream “Tether”
“This album is a snapshot of my late 20s,” Lipton shares. “Feeling down and out, feeling pressured to find the right person to be with, trying to figure out where to go from here, looking in the rearview mirror and seeing the trailing end of a rope connecting the dots between highs, lows, mistakes, heartbreak, joy. And then at the same time, looking forward and seeing that same rope stretching into the future with all the endless possibilities and realizing that I’m just at one point on that line, because Between Us There Runs a Tether.”
Los Angeles native, Marina Fleming, delivers emotionally vulnerable and highly relatable tracks to the indie-rock genre, telling compelling stories and trusting her contentious ideas. Fleming’s unique atmospheric and nostalgic tone is inspired by artists such as Laura Nyro, The Smiths, Fiona Apple, and Amy Winehouse. Her music journey began when she learned to play guitar from her grandfather and it wasn’t until after she received an 8-track Zoom Recorder from her father that she started creating her own songs. Fleming has opened for acts like Bark Dog and Mechanical Paranoia at venues such as Caroline’s Loft, Old Style Guitar Shop, and the Dean Carriage Barn, and is recognized for her performance at the finale of the 2020 Grammy Awards. Fleming has received numerous accolades from notable outlets including Pop Punkers, New Music Weekly, and The Indy Review, for her previously released singles “Just Another Night” and “Harvey.” She has most recently, alongside bands girleegirl and Prill, headlined an East Coast tour, playing at venues like The Gutter in Brooklyn and the G-Spot in Philadelphia. Fleming is an emerging force in the indie-rock scene finding her purpose through nine hypnotically sonic tracks.
London-based folk/Americana singer-songwriter Merrick Winter announces his evocative sophomore EP, The California Zephyr due out May 9 via Tone Tree Music and available for pre-save now. Alongside the announcement, Winter shares the gripping orchestral version of “The California Zephyr” with Lockeland Strings (Live At British Grove Studios) out now with a matching live video.
On The California Zephyr, Winter paints sonic portraits of love, loss and the human condition through masterful instrumentation and stirring lyricism. Winter shares, “‘The California Zephyr’ is really a travelogue of longing. It’s the feeling that most often yields a song for me. A chronology of bygone eras; a homesickness morphed into fantasy. I find comfort in making that feeling permanent through songs.” Influenced by Randy Newman, Jackson Browne and Tom Waits, the project captures extraordinary accounts of ordinary lives with vignettes of American life, mixed with the memories of the artist’s childhood, leaving for the UK at age 12.
The EP, produced by Matt Zara (Teddy Swims, Lola Young, Niall Horan), Patrick James Fiztroy and Adam Lee, takes its name from the cross-country Amtrak train Winter boarded while writing it, pulling inspiration from conversations with strangers across the U.S.–everyone from an Amish family from Illinois, an ex-Hippie from Berkeley, to a mother and daughter from Tennessee. Throughout the body of work, Winter keenly examines a wide range of topics and emotions while weaving varied sounds together–from grief, to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, to the millennial and Gen Z approach to spiritual connection with meditation apps. Plus, pulling from Buena Vista Social Club and the storytelling of Paul Simon and Ernest Hemingway, Winter taps into the rich culture and Latin music of Cuba in his Flamenco guitar-driven track with Spanish multi-instrumentalist Lau Noah.
San Francisco artist Grooblen today shares the new EP FRIENDO. While only 4 songs in total, FRIENDO finds singer/songwriter Ellie Stokes evoking far-reaching experiences as she reflects on friendship and its emotional implications; from what it means to be there for someone, to the times we rely on others, evolving friendships, minor breakups and the grief of truly losing friends who pass on.
FRIENDO was announced with the release of the deceptively breezy tribute to feeling used, “The Convenience Of Being” and followed with the pensive reflection of a friendship devolved to transactions in “How Are You?”.
While loss looms in the background throughout FRIENDO, the Grooblen lineup subverts it with vibrant arrangements courtesy of bassist Alejandro Lara-Agraz, backing vocalist Eva Alejandra, lead guitarist Spencer Lay, drummer Sean Aaron, Jack Lillian on flute for “Feels Real” and Ellie’s brother William Stokes on drums for ‘How Are You?’, backing her vocals and guitars. The same trio who recorded 2023’s A Wormhole Is A Freeway To The Stars are all present here, but on FRIENDO they arrive more potent than ever on the back of a busy couple of years playing as a live unit.
Ron Dadon returns with her alluring new video for latest single ‘Sweet Nothing’. After the breakdown of a 9 year relationship, Sweet Nothing bottles the excitement, spontaneity and recklessness of finding yourself single for the first time in your 20s.With the release of her captivating new video, the song comes alive, showcasing Ron Dadon in her element.
Arriving as an empowering burst of energy, Sweet Nothing serves as a reminder to embrace your independence and reassures you that you don’t need anyone to complete you. Sharing more Ron explained: “The inspiration for Sweet Nothing came from a brief but intense situation I had shortly after my breakup. I was seeing someone for two weeks, and then out of nowhere, he told me he loved me—like..sir.. you’ve only known me for two weeks!
My friends would talk about their ‘sweet boyfriends,’ and I’d joke that he was my ‘sweet nothing’ because, despite liking him, I couldn’t let myself get too close. To me, the title represents that feeling—something that seems sweet but ultimately means nothing’”
The release of Sweet Nothing marks the end of a five-year hiatus, with Ron returning to present a polished sound just in time to soundtrack your single summer. Sweet Nothing is the first track to be revealed from her upcoming debut album, set to drop early next year. Blending hyperpop, DnB, alt-pop, and rock, the track offers an enticing teaser of what’s to come.
CG5 (born Charlie Green) is a name you may recognize from the iconic “Probably because I am CG5” TikTok sound. The 25-year-old neurodivergent singer, songwriter, and music producer from Arizona built a global audience of gaming-inspired music fans, digital natives, and internet culture enthusiasts—all while owning 100% of his masters.
After four years away from Minecraft-inspired music, top-charting artist CG5 is making a powerful return to the blocky universe with his latest project: a sweeping rock opera titled “Hold The Mine.” The brand-new single drops May 9th, riding the wave of excitement sparked by the recent Minecraft movie. “This isn’t just a comeback single—it’s a full-scale musical adventure,” says CG5. “With big emotions, big guitars, and a storyline that hits home for any Minecraft fan, I wanted to create something that felt like the game itself: immersive, unpredictable, and deeply personal. The movie reminded me how many people Minecraft has impacted, and I knew it was the perfect time to go all out.” Blending his signature sound with powerful storytelling, CG5 reimagines the Minecraft experience through a rock opera lens. Fans can expect high energy, heartfelt lyrics, and a journey that captures the spirit of creativity and discovery that defines the game.
“Hold The Mine” will be available on all major streaming platforms on May 9th, accompanied by a music video premiering on CG5’s official YouTube channel.
Indie-pop singer and songwriter Maddie Regent unveils “Miss Virgo,” the final pre-release single from her highly anticipated debut album, On the phone with my mom, out May 16th. Alongside the single, she is also revealing the album’s full 14-song tracklist.
A hypnotic blend of raw emotion and sonic exploration, “Miss Virgo” showcases Maddie’s mesmerizing vocals floating over a cinematic, dreamlike soundscape. It’s ethereal yet weighty, intimate yet expansive, with thoughtfully layered production that enhances her raw songwriting.
One of the album’s most sonically adventurous tracks, “Miss Virgo” is also one of Maddie’s most deeply personal songs to date. The song unpacks her struggles with body image and the formative time she spent in a recovery center at the age of 17, healing from an eating disorder — a chapter marked by both pain and profound connection.
At its heart, the song is a tribute to the unlikely sisterhood she found there. “At first, I just wanted to go home, but I couldn’t. So for a while, my world became that little cabin in the woods, and my family became this group of fiercely strong girls from every walk of life,” she shares. “We bonded over our mutual distrust of the nurses, our collective crush on the one male specialist, crocheting, and watching Pretty Little Liars. Although every day I was there I didn’t want to be there, I really do have fond memories from that place, mostly because of the people I met.”
Following a whirlwind of excitement on social media, the platinum-selling powerhouse and rap sensation Lola Brooke has delivered her highly anticipated single, “Disgusted,” a fiery Pop/Rap anthem out now via Team Eighty Productions/Arista Records. Listen HERE and watch the official music video HERE. The video will have its broadcast premiere later today on BET Jams, BET Hip Hop, and the Paramount Times Square billboard this evening.
“Disgusted” enters the scene with an irresistible blend of a hypnotic, uptempo beat and Lola’s trademark raw honesty. Much like her most recent release, “You The One,” this track showcases another layer of Lola’s musical territory, elevating her fierce messaging to new heights while redefining the limits of what a Lola Brooke song can indeed be.
“I’m into all kinds of music,” Lola says. “Nowadays, it feels like people always try to put you in a box. I figured that out early on, so I mix it up whenever I can. This track is something different; it has an upbeat vibe with a rap twist and quickly became one of my favorites from the new stuff I’ve been recording. ‘Disgusted’ really shows what I’ve been going through— even though I’m dealing with a lot, I’m not letting it get to me too much. Ain’t nothing killing my vibe.”
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
