Australian folk songwriter Ernest Aines will release his new single, “Just Once”, this Friday, 23rd May. Aines is also on the road for his fourth tour of the UK this May and June.
“Just Once” is a song about unseen love – the ache of standing in the background while someone you love is mesmerised by their own reflection. It captures the quiet desperation of wanting to be chosen, just once.
With raw vulnerability, the lyrics explore emotional distance, the longing to feel deeply connected, and the frustration of carrying the weight of love alone. From the haunting line, “You’re an anaesthetist – what a waste without love if I don’t feel it,” to the repeated plea, “I can’t do it all by myself,” this track is a slow-burning confession of invisible devotion and unreciprocated hope.
Aines returns to the UK for his fourth tour in just 18 months this spring. Known for his spellbinding voice, intricate guitar work, and emotionally rich songwriting, Ernest has been steadily building a devoted following across the country. This tour will take him to some of the UK’s most atmospheric venues – from churches to concert halls – perfectly suited to his intimate, soul-stirring performances.
A highlight of this tour will be a performance at Cardiff’s beautiful concert hall, as well as returning to Liverpool, where he’s been warmly embraced by local audiences. The BBC has once again invited him to perform live, this time in their own performance space. Following sold-out shows in Sheffield and Oxford on his last visit, Ernest is excited to return with a wave of new music.
His new single, “Just Once”, will be released early in the tour, giving UK audiences the first chance to experience it live – along with more unreleased songs that shimmer with emotion and texture on his electric guitar.
MaeThePirate utilizes “Bad Side” as a punchy anthem to ignite a spark in listeners to feel empowered to reject unwarranted disrespect, speaking-up about her personal experiences with friendships. With honestly candid lyricism alongside a conversationalist tone, MaeThePirate explains, “I left the city and moved to the desert only to find someone else who hates me because they want to be me. I think it is rough sometimes making friends in a new place because you’ll always be an outsider, and I’ve had a rough time fitting in the majority of my life. This song is about how when someone wrongs me I don’t forget, it becomes my mission to get back at them. People get jealous for no reason and it’s a warning and an anthem that if you get on my bad side you’ll regret it.”
Hailing from the vibrant shores of Puerto Rico, Cat Serrano has immersed herself in the arts for as long as she can remember, with singing being a constant in her life’s soundtrack. In the summer of 2023, fueled by her boundless creativity and unwavering determination, Cat embarked on a musical journey like no other. Channeling her experiences and emotions into her art, she poured her heart and soul into crafting her debut singles. The result? An electrifying fusion of pop and rock, showcasing Cat’s powerhouse vocals and raw authenticity.
Her debut single, ‘You Don’t Know Me,’ released to acclaim in March of 2024, serves as a testament to Cat’s resilience and artistic vision. But she’s not stopping there. In fact, Cat is poised to redefine the music scene with her infectious melodies and relatable lyrics. Beyond the recording studio, Cat finds solace in the simple joys of life. Whether she’s jet-setting to new destinations, diving into the pages of a captivating book, whipping up delectable treat in the kitchen, or simply spending quality time with loved ones, Cat embraces every moment with boundless enthusiasm. Her purpose is to inspire others that dreams really can come true with hard work and dedication. Stay tuned for more from Cat.
Brighton-based queer alt-pop duo COWZ (Tasha and Saga) return with their brilliantly bold new single, ELEPHANT – a glitchy, electro-pop anthem that blends hushed intimacy with a striking energy. What starts with soft, almost whispered vocals builds into a frenetic fusion of alternative pop and hyperpop, laced with an unmistakable political bite.
ELEPHANT is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Neil Haverty unveils Man Down, the first solo single from the acclaimed Canadian vocalist, screen composer, and frontman of alt-gospel ensemble Bruce Peninsula. Known for his ghostly growl and expansive songwriting, Haverty kicks off a new chapter with this moody debut of dark synths and strings.
Haverty has spent the past decade composing music for award-winning films (Sleeping Giant, Wildhood) and TV series (nominated for a 2025 Canadian Screen Award for Who Owns The World), as well as managing impactful music video production support initiatives including the Prism Prize and MVP Project.
All along, Haverty has been working to reimagine his own music practice, using the endless possibilities of analog synths and live drums to draw him back into singing after losing touch with his voice following a Leukemia diagnosis in 2011.
Man Down marks 13 years in remission and introduces a confident new direction in Haverty’s sound. With the help of long-time engineer & collaborator Leon Taheny (Owen Pallett, Austra) and string contributions from Mika Posen (Agnes Obel, Timber Timbre), Haverty has recorded a wealth of new material to surface in 2025.
Life rarely adheres to any binary, and Haverty’s songwriting approaches grief and longing as a constant companion to resilience and resolve, delivering stark, cinematic music that feels both deeply personal and unmistakably contemporary. Bruce Peninsula followers will welcome the return of Haverty’s holler – but this time we twist and turn, giving new listeners and fans alike the chance to discover the passionate songwriter anew.
We are a punk trio of brothers. We grew up and still live in the Hamilton area. We are self taught musicians that have been writing since the start of our musical journey.
Our music comes from a place of passion, love and emotion. On the lyrical end it is filled with a deep sense of meaning.
The passion we have for music, going to concerts is revealed in our music. We have been to a fair amount of punk and ska shows and to be able to write music like that is a blessing.
Although we have been writing songs since 2008, recording only became of recent years. We started the process during covid and it delayed our production obviously, but here we our now spreading new music and hoping to continue writing more.
Connecting the UK and West Africa one release at a time, London-based multi-disciplinary and music executive KJ Spio, reputable for his DJ Khaled-like status, has called on none other than African hit-maker Oxlade for his latest track, “Emiko”. Posing as his first release of 2025, “Emiko” comes fresh off collaborations with Gyakie, Konshens, Sarkodie, Ambré, Harmonize, Libianca, and many more. Accumulating praise for being one of the many names changing the trajectory of Afrobeats, the likes of COLORS, Ones To Watch, GRM Daily, Notion, New Wave Magazine, Ministry of Sound and more, have shown their support.
On a mission to shed light on Ghana’s heritage, Oxlade glazes the production, courtesy of acclaimed producer BlaiseBeatz [Chris Brown, WizKid, Asake, Davido, Adekunle Gold, Omay Lay, & more] with his infectious melodies and silk-like tone. The track’s appeal is in the meaning behind the song, believing all things are possible, overcoming obstacles and naysayers. Additionally, KJ Spio and Oxlade linked up with The Compozers [J Hus, Asake & more] in Ghana to record a live version of the track that is dropping very soon!
In the upcoming music video, KJ Spio and Oxlade take to the historic landmark Cape Coast Castle, one of the largest buildings that holds the legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Opening the music video sat at the top of the castle, Oxalde and KJ Spio exchange words, “This is where they had our four fathers underneath the castle bro. Now look at us, two kings out here making beautiful art” before unravelling the vibrant sounds of “Emiko”.
a quarter century after its initial release, another gem from Carl Craig’s extensive back catalogue is released digitally for the first time as part of the soundtrack to Jean-Cosme Delaloye’s film Desire: The Carl Craig Story. “The Truth” from Craig’s one-off concept alias, Designer Music, is out now via Craig’s prolific label Planet E Communications, with the full Desire: The Carl Craig Story – Official Soundtrack to follow on June 20, 2025, and 2×12” Vinyl and CD editions to follow on July 18th, 2025.
“The Truth,” originally released as the B-side to “Problemz” in 2000, is a deep cut from Craig’s archive, re-edited & remastered. It captures the iconic Detroit techno producer in the meditative mode associated with his 69 classics “Desire” and “At Les,” which also appear on the soundtrack alongside seminal tracks like “No More Words” from 1991, Craig’s Grammy-nominated Junior Boys remix, and more.
Based in North London, iNKOGNiiTO (they/them) is an experimental/electronic artist who blurs reality and fiction through what they call Alternative Futuristic music — a fluid blend of alien pop, ambient electronic, experimental, and alternative soundscapes. Building an immersive universe from the ground up, they channel surreal storytelling, disillusionment, and mundane absurdism into a sonic experience unlike any other.
Their new EP, iNKOMPLETE TERRiTORY, is a conceptual journey through individuality, alienation, and the search for a neutral state amongst chaos. Born from the dark, magenta-tinted world of their single “Satellites ??,” the EP evolved as they realized the themes they were writing about—strandedness, displacement, and perpetual drift—were interconnected fragments of a bigger story. “The further we drift, the more we gain ground,” they say, capturing the project’s core paradox. Inspired by a spiral portal and cosmic dread, their music structures are intentionally non-linear, evoking an ongoing, unresolved experience of spirals upon spirals.
Sonically, iNKOGNiiTO has drawn from a kaleidoscope of influences: space age sound design, 80s drums, retro and sci-fi cinema, 90s/2000s TV culture (Goosebumps, Courage the Cowardly Dog), Afro-Surrealism, and artists like New Order, Blood Orange, 070 Shake, and James Blake. Their cinematic storytelling owes a debt to Hitchcock’s Vertigo, Annihilation, Attack the Block, I Saw the TV Glow and cult classics like the 1997 PC game The Space Bar.
Working with producers ANN, Jericho, Dynasty! and Zylyny, they constructed a layered soundscape that feels simultaneously alien and familiar. Standout track “Chemical X” exemplifies their approach — a three-part exploration of mortality, futility, and obliteration, blending minimalism, 80s drum influences, and machine-like synth textures into an emotional odyssey. The artist shares, “The perfect ingredients for a disaster: Chemical X. A tune that redirects a futile path towards an unknown conclusion. I think about dying every day and how it doesn’t scare me — I wanted to write a song about that.”
Delicately crafted instrumentation provides groundwork for Soane’s smooth vocals and captivating tone on “Bluer Skies”. Recognised for her distinct sound rooted in melancholic minimalism, sensuality, and poetic introspection, the rising talent sings “You know where to find me, you know where I hide,” unfolding a narrative of longing and fantasy. Laced with complex melody lines and luscious backing vocals, “Bluer Skies” – recorded in Paris and produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer The 25th Hour – emerges as a sincere and refreshing addition to Soane’s sleek discography.
An introduction to Soane’s artistic universe, her debut EP First Taste (2019) featured the standout track “Teach Me How to Touch Me,” which quickly garnered over 300K streams and earned a powerful remix from US based dance producer KC Gilmore. The remix quickly received global recognition, surpassing 4M streams and attracting a fresh, diverse audience to Soane’s rapidly expanding fanbase. Capitalising on this momentum, Soane further solidified her trajectory with the release of singles “Xx” and “La Peine” (2023) – highlighting her growing artistry and profound emotional depth.
With the release of “Bluer Skies” now here and further releases promised for this year, Soane continues to openly and beautifully express her emotions, creating music that’s both inspiring and unforgettable, firmly establishing herself as an artist to watch in 2025.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
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