Shoka Sunflower is a 24-year-old artist from Johannesburg, South Africa, whose music is rooted in emotional honesty, personal exploration, and a mission to inspire authenticity. His creative journey began at 12, when his older brother introduced him to the expansive world of music. By 16, Shoka knew music would be his life’s path—a moment he often references as pivotal in shaping both his identity and sound.
His upcoming single, “Two Step,” marks a significant evolution in his artistry. Produced, engineered, and arranged by acclaimed producer Moo Latte (G-Eazy, Method Man, Jadakiss, Freddie Gibbs, and Cordae) the track is from Shoka’s forthcoming album FOR NOW KEEP DANCING. Sonically, it’s a laid-back hip-hop track built around a vibey beat, smooth velvet vocals that feel totally effortless, and delicate guitar lines that add subtle flair without ever overpowering the mood.
“Two Step” captures the theme of emotional avoidance—telling the story of a failed love interest without ever directly confronting the heartbreak. “I wrote the album during a dark period of my life in my childhood bedroom,” Shoka shares. “Each song came from a deep sadness. With ‘Two Step,’ I talk about this person I had idealized completely… but I never really deal with it, and that’s the point. That’s why the album is called FOR NOW KEEP DANCING—because sometimes we dance around what we’re not ready to face.”
South London singer, songwriter and cultural powerhouse Joy Crookes has today shared ‘Perfect Crime’, the latest taste of her highly anticipated second album Juniper, which is due to be released on September 26th ahead of a full UK & EU headline tour. Co-produced by Joy alongside Harvey Grant, ‘Perfect Crime’ sees Joy self-actualise her own power through the metaphor of a Western movie as she explains: “Perfect Crime is written about that scary bit of time just before you go back into the dating world and you need to just bite the bullet and dive into something. It’s kind of like my version of a mantra or doing positive affirmations in the mirror…this song is basically me giving myself a pep talk.”
Following the success of her 2021 debut Skin, which earned BRIT and Mercury Prize nominations, went Top 5 in the UK charts, and drew acclaim from The Guardian, NME and many more, Joy set out to make an album that pushed her further both musically and personally. Juniper is the result: a project defined by its depth and dynamism. A stunningly candid and fearless body of work, the album reaffirms Joy as one of the UK’s most vital and original voices. A once-in-a-generation talent, Crookes delivers a record that is both emotionally raw and sonically rich; humorous, heartbreaking and profoundly human.
“Por si alguien nos escucha” Kapo’s newest album, is more than just a title — it’s a statement of intent, an invitation to tune in with your heart.
After making waves as one of the most compelling new voices in Spanish-Afrobeat music, Kapo releases his highly anticipated second studio album, Por si alguien nos escucha (“In Case Someone Hears Us”), now available on all digital platforms via La Industria INC.
Crowned Breakout Artist of the Year at both Premios Lo Nuestro and Premios Heat 2025, Kapo continues to deliver music that speaks directly to the soul. “This album is a collection of stories, rhythms, and raw moments. It’s how I share my truth with anyone out there who’s willing to listen,” says the artist.
The focus track of “Por si alguien nos escucha” is “X Ti”, a collaboration with fellow Colombian artist Feid. The 15-track project weaves through vulnerability, dance, and introspection — anchored by viral hits likes “Ohnana” and “Uwaie”, which Kapo credits as the songs that defined his sound. “Those tracks were the beginning of it all. They gave me a musical identity that still represents who I am today,” he explains.
Tickets for the tour are available HERE.
Pre-Order Album HERE
one of the UK’s most intriguing emerging voices, Leeds-born and London-based Eden Rain, returns with her hauntingly beautiful new single, Growing Pains – a stripped-back, emotive piano ballad that lays bare the turbulence of loving deeply and the quiet ache of growing apart from someone you once held close.
To coincide with the release, Eden announces her next headline show at Oslo, Hackney on Tuesday 14th October. Tickets on sale here.
Growing Pains is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
artist and producer Tiiva release their debut album
‘You and I’ via Moth Day Records.
Created from a fusion of hyperpop influences and field recordings, this brand-new body of work explores themes of connection, acceptance, and navigating the modern world. The eight-track record is out now and available on cassette via Moth Day Records.
Last month, Tiiva teased listeners with the release of the record’s title track, You and I, unveiling a shimmering world of chopped vocals, dynamic basslines, and an energy made to ignite the dance floor. Clash magazine called Tiiva a ‘precocious pop voyager’ and described their sound as ‘future-leaning’.
The seven previously unheard tracks on the record offer an enticing insight into Tiiva’s world, striking a balance between embracing technological advancement and recognizing that the enduring need for human connection remains irreplaceable.
‘Obsessed’ sees those two worlds intertwine as it pulls in inspiration from turning to chat gpt as a form of therapy. Sharing more, Tiiva explained: It’s inspired a lot by the film Ex Machina. There’s a person in uncertainty, the idea of a fragile disenchanted human sitting in the dark, a person struggling with their identity and gender and the computer falls in love with them based on their interactions online.
Another explorative moment on the record is Sleep Better. The track looks deeply at what is at stake as AI continues to penetrate the real world.. Sharing more, Tiiva said: ‘This song is entirely for the human connections and romances that we seek, the concept of replacing human touch with a computer feels impossible so the human tries to hold onto the virtual and real world at the same time.’
Based in Toronto, Canada Rosanne Baker Thornley (RBT) is an internationally recognized, award-winning singer-songwriter. Having evolved and expanded her relationship with music and writing for quite sometime now, she has built an enviable presence in the industry through her extensive co-writes with Artists. More recently Rosanne reclaimed her own Artist shoes with her album “Sorry I’m Late”. Channeling her insights and heart into this intensely and personal collection of songs, she shares with the world a vulnerable and brave new album which has listeners worldwide feeling seen, heard, comforted and inspired.
“Writing is my go-to. I write because I’m moved to. Because watching life and living life in my quiet corner builds cyclones in my chest. Because it pulls me to familiar and it pulls me to scenes and settings I get lost, or found in. And because sometimes that’s the only way to decipher what I see, or feel, or need to understand. Writing a song captures all the layers of that. We all have a soundtrack in the background of our lives. And for some reason, I’m compelled to share mine so that others might find in mine, something that lines up with and adds colour to theirs.”
The Wild Things have released their scorching new single, “Knock Down, Drag Out”.
“Knock Down, Drag Out” is the story of a fiery love-affair in New Orleans. A girl has quickly, maddeningly fallen in lust and isn’t afraid to tell the whole town. “Your body is electric, flowers always bloom,” sings vocalist Sydney Rae White, bringing the tale to life with vivid vocals, “You are a vision in light, make your move,” before she launches into the punchy chorus.
The track uses the fight phrase “knock down, drag out,” as a metaphor for heavy sex, pairing White’s cheeky words with entrancing pop-rock instrumentals. The new single is also accompanied by a gorgeous music video directed by guitarist Rob Kendrick and Marcus Maschwitz, which sees White and her bandmates dancing along to the track by the coast.
“Knock Down, Drag Out” is just the first part of The Wild Things’ raunchy love story. Fans will have to wait for the release of follow-up single “I Can’t Wait” later this summer to hear how the story ends. The two songs bookend the story, with the idea that the time between the song releases is the entire length of the relationship and it breaks down in real time.
Following the release of the two singles, The Wild Things will embark upon a tour of the UK this autumn, making stops in London, Glasgow, Newcastle and more. The full list of dates can be found below.
With the success of her Debut Single, “Turn It Around”, BAYLA continues to beat the odds. As a child, doctors diagnosed her with a vocal cord dysfunction and told her she would never be able to sing.
In 2016, BAYLA independently released “Turn It Around”. The single quickly caught on like wild-fire at Canadian Radio, reaching “Top 40” status and peaking at #24 on the Canadian Billboard Charts. The single also went on to become a “Top 10” hit in Montreal, QC – BAYLA’s hometown. iHeartRadio chose BAYLA as their “Future Star” winner for both CHR & Hot A/C, making BAYLA one of the rare artists to be selected for both categories. Soon after, BAYLA followed up with “Monster”, an anti-bullying anthem, which was named Newcap’s “Trending Track” – the single went on to reach #38 on the “Top 40” Canadian Billboard Charts.
Since, BAYLA has been performing her energetic and anthemic pop sound across Canada. She has performed in many Festivals including Stars & Thunder, The Big Feastival, Festival Du Voyageur, Glowfair, and many more. As a member of the LGBTQ+ Community, her involvement in many Pride Festivals has also been a great highlight. BAYLA has opened and shared the stage with artists including Simple Plan, Bif Naked, Lights, Karl Wolf, Aaron Carter, Charlotte Cardin, Andy Kim and Tom Cochran.
BAYLA was announced as the 2019 Canada’s Walk of Fame “Emerging Artist of the Year”, winning the Grand Prize in their RBC “Emerging Musician Program”. More recently, SOCAN selected BAYLA for the TD Incubator for Creative Entrepreneurship Program.
Since the pandemic, BAYLA has found herself more involved with writing and producing music for other emerging artists. Her work behind the scenes can be found on Radio Hits including Yung Leo’s “Habit”, which hit the Top 25, and Billie du Page’s “Fake Friends”, which entered in the Top 10 at Canadian Radio, and hit #1 at Quebec Radio for sixteen consecutive weeks at the end of 2024.
GRAMMY® Award-winning, legendary hip-hop collective and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® inductees Public Enemy release their new protest anthem, “March Madness”—a powerful rebuke against crooked politicians and the ongoing crisis of gun violence.
Public Enemy teamed up with a collective of student collaborators to bring “March Madness” to life, including Harvard University lyricists Anthony Bell, Ollie Marinaccio, Rhiannon Rae Ellis, and rapper Dee-1 who is known for his inspiration, lyrics and activism. Dee-1 was recently awarded Harvard University’s Hip Hop Fellowship at the Hutchinson Institute for African American studies. Additional student collaborators on the track include: Berklee College of Music’s Sydney DeLeonardis and Ciaran de Chaud; and Howard University’s Nigel Sanjai Sanders (a recent Howard graduate and son of Barry Sanders), who produced the track.
“March Madness” drops today in honor of Juneteenth and amid Public Enemy’s ongoing world tour. The song is a high-energy, cinematic call to action — uniting a powerful community under its chant-like chorus: “Right, Left, Left, Left, Right, Left!”
Flavor Flav declares, “Too much talk, we know you don’t care … and 911 is still a joke.” Chuck D adds, “Kids are supposed to have fun — none of this ‘run for cover for your life,’ son … even kindergarten needs security … parents dropping their children in fear.”
All immediate proceeds from the track will be donated to The Black Music Action Coalition Human Rights Fund and Everytown, a non-profit organization against gun violence.
Viral artist and YouTube creator CG5 (Charlie Green) returns with a brand-new single and music video, “Imitation,” dropping Friday, June 20. Known for his genre-blending hits rooted in gaming and internet culture, CG5’s latest track combines infectious ‘80s-inspired pop beats with storytelling inspired by the chilling character, the Mimic, from the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise.
“When I work on music, I tend to be heavily inspired by the ‘80s, which is in my opinion, the greatest generation of music,” says CG5. “For this particular song, I used Michael Jackson as a template. I thought that it would fit the villainous, yet goofy, nature of the Mimic (from FNAF) perfectly. This is ‘Imitation.’”
Mixing upbeat pop melodies with retro electronic textures, “Imitation” delivers an infectious groove with a twist of nostalgia inspired by the Mimic, the eerie, voice-mimicking endoskeleton and primary antagonist from the FNAF universe. The single will be released alongside a music video premiering June 20 on CG5’s YouTube channel.
The release comes just ahead of CG5’s highly anticipated live performances at VidCon 2025, where he’ll take the stage in front of thousands of fans and creators.
For more information and updates, follow CG5 on his social media channels:
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