Micko is joined on the track by Paul Cuddeford on guitar and ebow, Budge Magraw on bass, and Jan Noble on drums (both ex-Cesarians). The Mellotronics frontman worked closely with Cuddeford, in particular, on the arrangements for the new album in between his commitments with Holy Holy, The Boomtown Rats and his solo work. Chris Kimsey (The Rolling Stones), a friend of Micko’s, was involved in production advice on the track.
The new track is also accompanied by a black-and-white music video, directed by Cameron Poole, which sees Micko wading through water fully dressed. “I realised I had to get in the water,” the singer explains, “and that would hold considerable meaning in itself with notions of rebirth, cleansing and transformation. That became the purpose of the film and is also the lyrical centre of the song. The use of black and white and creative colour was put together by Cameron and I. It was the second time we had worked together and we both felt had crystallised into something symbiotic to the song.”
https://open.spotify.com/album/3Ts01eK6WRhhAPtwmcwFDw?go=1&nd=1&dlsi=67602ee4b288491a
Sam Varga breaks all the rules with his new single, “Minute Man,” out on all streaming platforms today. Fusing alternative pop, Americana, and alt-country, Sam Varga transforms modern anxiety into an anthemic love song for the end of the world.
“I told myself I’d never release a political song,” Varga admits. But in a world where the political is personal—and survival feels like spectacle—he leans into the chaos, offering a defiant, cinematic track that captures the strange romance of collapse. “Minute Man” doesn’t take sides; instead, it offers a scorched-earth snapshot of young love in a broken world: biting, beautiful, and wide open to interpretation.
“We’re all made to feel like it’s the end of the world every day—whether it is or isn’t is above our clearance level,” Varga writes. “So I wrote it like a sonic inkblot test. The song doesn’t point fingers. What you love—or hate—about it probably says more about you than it does about me.” Threaded with lyrical Easter eggs and cultural landmines, “Minute Man” invites listeners to project their own beliefs, fears, and hopes onto its apocalyptic backdrop.
Sam Varga is a Nashville-based artist blending his emo roots with Southern grit and singer-songwriter soul. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, he came up in the city’s DIY emo scene, cutting his teeth on loud guitars, basement shows, and late-night chaos. At home, his parents filled the house with ’80s rock, Southern staples, and classic lyricists, giving him a rich musical foundation. That mix of raw punk energy and emotional storytelling now fuels a sound that sits somewhere between alt-country and rock. It’s gritty yet melodic, with acoustic textures and dynamic, genre-blurring instrumentation.
Addictive, sharp, and self-aware, Varga’s music is emotionally unfiltered, self-deprecating, and unflinchingly human. Whether he’s unpacking existential dread or offering hard-won hope, his songs are made for long drives, post-party spirals, and those fleeting moments when you just need everything to make sense for a few minutes.
Listen to “Minute Man” on all streaming platforms:
https://onerpm.link/232170265430
This Pride season, Dutch soul pop star Jeangu Macrooy returns with his first ever queer protest song ‘Independent Girls & Nasty Evil Gays’ out everywhere now.
Fresh from making his UK live debut earlier this year at London’s Hootananny, Jeangu is back with ‘Independent Girls & Nasty Evil Gays.’ It hits the nail on the head – a satirical protest song against sexism and queerphobia that uses humor and anger to dissect the patriarchy: danceable resistance against scared little men with fragile egos. It’s a fun, catchy bop with an important message.
“It’s a funny, sarcastic protest anthem for the girls and the gays” says Jeangu. “I wrote it from the perspective of people who blame feminism and queerness for everything that’s “wrong” in the world – just to highlight how ridiculous and outdated that mindset really is.”
While working on his upcoming fourth album, ‘Young, Awkward & Lonely’ (out this fall) Jeangu realized that whilst he’s written protest songs in the past he’d never written one that directly addresses queer rights. “The time feels right. The world’s grown increasingly hostile towards LGBTQ+ people, and the rights we’ve fought so hard for are being challenged in real and terrifying ways. The song is also feminist, because women’s rights are under attack too. It felt urgent, it felt necessary and it felt like the right moment to make some noise.”
“I want queer people to feel empowered to live even louder”, he continues. “In the face of hate, we shouldn’t shrink ourselves. We deserve nothing less than full freedom to be our authentic selves – without apology, without compromise. I hope this song also inspires allies to speak up, show up, and join the fight for equality. Because silence is not neutral.”
London-raised Iranian indie dream-pop artist Imogen Mahdavi returns with her latest single, Butter – a beautiful, evocative track exploring themes of longing, desire, euphoria, and sensuality. With vocals and a melody as smooth as its title suggests, Butter floats on an ethereal, atmospheric instrumental that evokes a timeless, dreamy quality reminiscent of Lana Del Rey.
Butter is out now on your streaming service of choice, via APOLLO Distribution.
Listen to Butter below:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5Zmyc8esQMaapC5z6XwEkx?go=1&nd=1&dlsi=bca0d0ae2086425e
French dark electronic producer Noizinski has announced his upcoming Outer ConsequencesEP with his debut single ‘Stasis’ out now via HypnoVizion.
An impressive debut from the newcomer, ‘Stasis’ carves through silence like a blade with mechanical precision. The track escalates with eerie momentum, catapulting listeners through textured low-ends into gritty rhythmic undercurrents. Blurring midtempo intensity with an artful sense of melancholy, ‘Stasis’ is a thrilling lead into Noizinski’s forthcoming Outer Consequences EP.
“‘Stasis’ explores the tension between creation and restraint. My sound is raw and forceful, but behind it lies the quiet weight of introversion, and self-doubt. Despite the name, ‘Stasis’ hits like a storm. It’s rough and punchy.” – Noizinski
Based in France, fast rising dark bass innovator Noizinski draws on genres like techno, bass house, and midtempo for a melancholic yet cinematic signature. First surfacing in 2017, Noizinski has been steadily building his catalog with dynamic originals and collaborations with Toutant and Lazerpunk. Now making his debut on HypnoVizion, ‘Stasis’ serves as the first taste of his Outer Consequences EP due out later this summer.
Copenhagen-born, London-based creative force CHILD + the banned returns with her brand new single Ice Cube Candy. This eccentric new release serves a sparkling summer anthem, topped with melting trip-hop grooves: An ode to the freaks on the dance floor; the sexy, the hallucinogenic, and the dramatic. Ice Cube Candy marks the 8th single from CHILD + the banned, and the first single of her debut EP, to be released this Fall in full.
Ice Cube Candy is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5gATYNVGSKYTUQsxq6r80l?go=1&nd=1&dlsi=ee43142f234640bc
Following the success of his debut single “Love Me No More” ft. Oritsé Williams, which earned serious tastemaker love from BBC INTRODUCING LONDON to KISS XTRA, rising UK vocalist Sammy Angelo delivers his brand-new cut “Nobody But You” ft. acclaimed Manchester rapper Geko.
A funk-infused heater laced with sleek basslines and heavy-set percussion, Sammy Angelo instantly commands the Ayo Beatz (Chip, Yxng Bane, French Montana) instrumental with smooth, intricate vocals and potent lyricism. His words paint a vivid backdrop for newfound love, building tension with every intimate moment before Geko joins the fold and delivers a powerful reflection of lust and desire. The two vocalists
enchant an electric synergy, alongside collaboration credits with BRIT-nominated talent S1mba to form a highly infectious sound bursting with authority and intent.
Speaking on the collaboration, Sammy explains: “Ayo Beatz, S1mba and I arranged a studio session to work on another record. The session was moving so quick. S1mba and I wrote together and were bouncing ideas off each other so fluidly. It seemed as if it was all falling into place, from the melody to the lyrics, all matching the production amazingly created by Ayo. After we had the first demo, Geko wrote a verse, and we instantly fell in love with it. We knew it was the right match.”
Lebanese-Canadian artist Raphaela unveils a new side of herself with “Muse,” a light, romantic indie-pop single that captures the giddy glow of a love so deep, it becomes your inspiration. It’s a sonic exhale – warm, cinematic, and effervescent – marking a bright step forward from the moody introspection of her earlier work. This is a song about ease after ache, about finally finding the kind of love that doesn’t ask you to shrink, change, or chase.
Written on a sunny summer afternoon, “Muse” is all soft light and open-hearted ease. It’s a celebration of the kind of love that feels natural and grounded – the kind that makes you feel seen, steady, and full of joy. Produced with a new pop-forward polish, “Muse” balances Raphaela‘s signature emotional honesty with a more playful tone: sunlight on your shoulders, dancing in the kitchen, a song you want to get lost in.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7B5rT2i6JliL4fcxQRqDlk
By his own admission, Andy Tongren is an optimist. “I really do try and find the silver lining any way I can,” says the Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter. “At my core, I feel like there’s nothing else I can do.”
That sunny disposition is the glowing core of his debut single “So Good.” The easygoing, compact tune is driven by an acoustic-backed verse before launching a blissful firework of a chorus that radiates joy and warmth – perfect for a summer playlist or a crucial year-round dopamine hit.
In one of art’s great ironies, Tongren says “So Good” was born of circumstances that were anything but. “It’s funny – it kind of came from a dark place,” he admits. “I’m living in a cold, dark basement on the outskirts of Bushwick, trying to get by day to day…Winter was starting and I think I just wanted to feel a little bit of warmth.”
Tongren wanted “So Good” to capture a vibe more than anything else. “I wasn’t overly precious with the approach to writing,” he explains. “All the minutiae that comes with blending art and commerce…it’s so easy to get caught up in that. On ‘So Good,’ I didn’t think – I just did. “If it’s a little bit off, leave it,” he continues. “There’s real human elements in this.”
Minnesota gave her roots, and Tulsa gave her wings. Casii Stephan is an MN-born, indie-pop meets soul-rock singer-songwriter based in Tulsa, OK.
Casii’s “gorgeously emotive voice inspires comparisons to alt-pop artists like Florence Welch and Fiona Apple with a writing style reminiscent of Carole King” (NPR).
Stephan’s voice is fierce and fearless, but this was not always the case. She grew up shy and afraid of her voice until she started writing songs on the family piano when she was 16. Casii moved to Tulsa in 2014 with the intent to give up her pursuit of a music career, however with a little encouragement from a friend, she continued songwriting and started releasing music in 2016.
Since then, Casii has received national songwriting awards, toured regionally and internationally, performed official SXSW and Folk Alliance showcases, performed in NYC at A2IM, performed at the virtual Sundance Film Festival, and profiled on platforms such as Billboard, NPR, SPIN, and American Songwriter. She recently returned from her first international tour with stops in Ireland and the UK. In Jan 2025, she was an official showcase artist at the “Your Roots are Showing” international music conference. She then returned to London to perform an official SXSW showcase in June.
Back by popular demand, Isaac Mizrahi returns to 54 Below with his band in Isaac Mizrahi Survives Democracy, August 6-9. With music ranging from Billie Eilish to Cole Porter, Isaac will leave you with cultural whiplash. Subjects range from social media to politics and a good deal of insider tea. The New York Times applauds Mizrahi’s performances noting, “he qualifies as a founding father of a genre that fuses performance, art, music and stand-up comedy.”
Beyond his cabaret performances, Mizrahi has made an indelible mark on the entertainment industry as a performer, host, writer, designer, and producer for over 30 years. He recently worked as a consulting producer on the Hulu sitcom, MID CENTURY MODERN, which premiered this spring. He also recently appeared in Prime’s Étoile, and will have a role in A24’s upcoming Timothee Chalamet / Gwyneth Paltrow film, Marty Supreme, to be released on December 25.
He starred as Amos Hart in the Broadway production of CHICAGO and has graced stages at venues across the country, including his annual residencies at New York City’s Café Carlyle and 54 Below, Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University, Reno’s Artown Festival, Houston’s Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Connecticut’s Westport Country Playhouse, LA’s The Wallis, and Florida’s Festival of the Arts BOCA.
Mizrahi is also known for his work in film and television. He is the subject and co-creator of the documentary Unzipped, which chronicles the making of his Fall 1994 collection and won an award at the Sundance Film Festival. His television career includes hosting The Isaac Mizrahi Show for seven years and serving as a judge on Project Runway: All-Stars throughout its seven-season run. Mizrahi has directed productions of A Little Night Music and The Magic Flute for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Annually, he directs and narrates his production of the children’s classic Peter and The Wolf at The Guggenheim Museum in New York. In June 2023, Mizrahi launched his podcast HELLO ISAAC, where he engages with celebrity guests in candid conversations about success, failure, and everything in between.
Mizrahi also has his own production company, IM Entertainment, under which he has several projects in development in television, theatre and literature. His New York Times Bestselling memoir, I.M., was published in February 2019.
Earlier this year, Isaac Mizrahi announced that he’s selling his archive of one of a kind samples produced in his atelier from 1987 – 2012.
For more information, visit HELLOISAAC.COM.
Purchase tickets to his 54 Below residency here.
Isaac Mizrahi: Official site // Instagram // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
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