Istanbul-born, Tallinn-based artist GØK2, also known as Göktuğ Babataş, crashes back onto the scene with his new single “Hello Pity.” A furious, sarcastic, and strangely uplifting anthem, the track flips self-pity into defiance — melding immigrant hustle, personal grind, and flashes of Y2K chaos into a defiant war cry for the dance floor.
“Hello Pity is hell let loose — ‘everybody jump the fuck up!’” GØK2 said. “It’s a sarcastic uplifting anthem soaked in Y2K sounds, that blends bounce-heavy beats, and distorted riffs, stomping across groove-metal, breakbeats, and early 2000s hip hop. It’s 99’ Nookie for the ears.”
The single offers a glimpse into “Therapy Doesn’t Work,” GØK2’s forthcoming EP arriving September 23. It follows earlier singles “B.F.T.D” and “Kotryna,” continuing his streak of groove-heavy, distortion-drenched songs that blur the lines between punk, hip-hop, breakbeats, and dancefloor electronics.
Since entering the European scene in 2022 with his debut “No Means No,” GØK2 has carved out a reputation for blending biting wit with raw honesty. His DIY productions carry a punk-rock spirit — dark, playful, and fiercely political — drawing influence from The Prodigy, Wu-Tang Clan, Turnstile, Sepultura, and Amyl and the Sniffers.
That balance between political urgency and chaotic fun isn’t just in his music, but in how GØK2 moves through the world.
Alongside appearances at Tallinn Music Week and Europavox Festival, he will sit on a panel at Romania’s MMB Festival this September, exploring whether artists should risk their fanbase for their beliefs. With the Baltic region once again staring down Russian escalation, it’s a question that weighs heavily on his work.
“The political situation in the world affects us more than ever: the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, the economic crisis, endless inflation, new conflicts between different countries…” he said. “Maybe that’s why we need this kind of music and reflection on the situation. But whatever I say, I still believe that the real reason lies in the dedication and ambition of these DIY bands.”
Stream “Hello Pity“: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/gk21/hello-pity-2
Pre-save “Therapy Doesn’t Work”: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/gk21/therapy-doesnt-work
NYC-based alternative-R&B producer, singer, songwriter, and indie label head Tomás Doncker unveils the full album version of “Hard Is Hard” today, September 3, via his True Groove Records imprint.
What began as an EP has now expanded into a full-length release with the addition of “The Softer Side,” six tracks previously only available on vinyl, now brought to DSPs and limited edition double EP vinyl.
A fixture of New York’s music and arts landscape since the early ’80s, Doncker has carved a singular path. From his beginnings in the No Wave and Punk Funk scenes with The Contortions and Defunkt, to collaborations with Bootsy Collins, Patti Smith, Ivan Neville, and The Specials, his career has consistently blurred genre lines. His own band, The True Groove All-Stars, embodies that same boundary-breaking ethos.
Produced with James Dellatacoma (Bill Laswell, Herbie Hancock) and mastered by Michael Fossenkemper (Paul Weller, LL Cool J, Miles Davis), “Hard Is Hard” is an 11-track masterclass in genre fluidity. With contributions from Frank Benbini (UB40, Fun Lovin’ Criminals), Adriano Rossetti-Bonell (UB40), and The Specials Horns, the album weaves soul, blues, funk, rock, and jazz into what Doncker dubs “Cinematic Soul.”
Lyrically, it tackles racial inequality, social injustice, and resilience.
“Things are difficult for everyone right about now,” Doncker said. “As a songwriter I’m very fortunate to be able to have so many songs to sing, to hopefully strike a match in the darkness of these uncertain times.”
For Doncker, the album is also about narrative and mood: the A-side brimming with hard-hitting tracks, while “The Softer Side” flows in the spirit of classic Isley Brothers B-sides—smoother, more sensual, but still laced with surprises.
His artistic journey is as expansive as his sound. Over the last decade, Doncker’s True Groove Records has become a hub for collaboration, uniting voices from P-Funk legends Michael “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton and Amp Fiddler to hip-hop pioneer Keith Shocklee and multi-Grammy-winner Meshell Ndegeocello. His creative partnership with Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa has yielded projects like “Big Apple Blues” and the immersive multimedia experience “ENDANGERED.”
Doncker and The True Groove All-Stars join Fun Lovin’ Criminals will embark on their extensive UK/EU tour this fall.
“I’m so honoured and excited to be a part of this tour,” he said. “They’ve really made me feel welcome as a member of the international / UK music community, and I am forever grateful for this opportunity. It’s gonna be a lot of fun for sure.”
With “Hard Is Hard” now fully unleashed, Doncker continues to prove why his voice — and his vision — remain vital to both the New York underground and the global stage.
Stream on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2pVanCHjC3i0b3kv6XOvPZ
Stream on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/hard-is-hard/1835498279
Brighton trio PROJECTOR returned with their biting new single “Migraine,” and it’s a track that pushes their already experimental alt-rock into even noisier, more electronic-driven territory. What might sound on the surface like another meaty cut of propulsive guitars actually carries the imprint of late-night tour playlists — drum and bass, techno, and electronic textures bleeding into their live-wire dynamic.
“Our drummer Cal listens to a lot of drum and bass and techno, and when we’re on tour driving late at night, the playlist comes out to keep us awake,” bassist and vocalist Lucy said. “You can hear it in Cal’s playing and I think it’s reached me by osmosis, trying to sound like a synth and drum machine rather than a band.
“Migraine” steps inward, tackling themes of isolation and retreat from society. Guitarist Edward calls it a reflection of his own retreat from “polite society,” shaped by fatigue with modern interactions and the alienation of daily life. It’s a sharp contrast to PROJECTOR’s explosive sound, but one that perfectly embodies their push-and-pull between chaos and melody.
The single is the latest preview of “Contempt,” the band’s second album due October 3 via Alcopop! Records. Produced by Ben Hampson and mastered by Katie Tavini, the record follows their 2024 debut “NOW WHEN WE TALK IT’S VIOLENCE.”
Known for their tightly wound intensity and angular blend of alt-rock, post-punk, and industrial noise, PROJECTOR have steadily built a reputation across the UK and Europe — touring with Cleopatrick, drawing radio support from BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq and Amy Lamé, and gatecrashing the mainstream rock scene with hook-laden chaos.
The group’s live shows remain at the heart of their appeal, and after summer festival appearances in France, PROJECTOR will hit the road again this October for a run of UK and EU headline dates in support of “Contempt.”
Stream “Migraine”: https://bfan.link/migrainecontempt
Pre-Order “Contempt”: https://ilovealcopop.co.uk/collections/projector
Tour Tickets: https://linktr.ee/ProjectorOfficial
Medway’s garage rock torchbearers The Len Price 3 will release “Misty Medway Magick,” their first full-length since 2021’s “Ip Dip Do.” Out October 24 via Wicked Cool Records, the record launched last week with its lead single, “Gypsy Magick” — a track rooted in family history and personal memory.
“‘Gypsy Magick’ is about my late mother and her Gypsy heritage,” Frontman Glenn Page said. “Before she passed away, she used to joke about coming back to visit after her death using what she called ‘Gypsy Magic.’”
The new single follows the release of “Emily’s Shop” and a string of shows with fellow Wicked Cool stalwarts The Chesterfield Kings, adding fresh momentum to the band’s already storied career.
Nearly two decades in, The Len Price 3 — Page on guitar and vocals, Steve Huggins on bass, and Neil Fromow on drums — remain one of the UK’s most electrifying garage rock outfits. Their sound channels the raw drive of The Who and The Kinks, fused with the bite of The Clash, while their live sets have earned a reputation for sweat-soaked urgency and unrelenting energy.
Following the 2023 reissue of their cult-classic debut “Chinese Burn” and the sold-out CD run of “Ip Dip Do,” “Misty Medway Magick” arrives as the latest proof that The Len Price 3’s brand of hook-heavy grit is as enduring as ever.
Stream “Gypsy Magick” and pre-order ““Misty Medway Magick”: https://orcd.co/lp3gypsymagick
UK punk powerhouses Templeton Pek announced “Savages,” their first new album in years, out October 3 via SBÄM Records and Double Helix Records. Leading the charge is “Artifact,” a blistering new single that captures both the rage and beauty of the moment with chant-ready choruses, monster riffs, and confrontational lyrics aimed squarely at the zeitgeist.
Formed in Birmingham, the trio — Neal Mitchell (vocals/bass), Kev Green (guitar), and Jon Keen (drums) — have built their reputation on hook-driven songwriting and incendiary live shows.
Over the last decade they’ve shared stages with punk royalty including Rise Against, Bad Religion, The Offspring, Sum 41, NOFX, and Pennywise, while tearing through festivals across Europe from Rebellion in the UK to Punk Rock Holiday in Slovenia. Most recently, the band supported Bodyjar, Urethane, and Hell Is for Heroes, and packed out a Slam Dunk side show with Less Than Jake in their hometown.
If “Savages” is any indication, Templeton Pek are ready to take things even further. Heavier, darker, and more politically charged than their past work, the record pushes their sound into its boldest territory yet. Across twelve tracks, the album rails against division and apathy while holding tight to the sense of unity that has always driven the band.
“Savages is the record we’ve been wanting to make for years,” frontman Neal Mitchell said. “It’s loud, it’s pissed off, but it’s also about unity. These songs are for anyone who’s ever felt like they’ve had to stand up and shout to be heard.”
Following the release, Templeton Pek will embark on a European headline tour this October, bringing their signature intensity to clubs and festival stages across the continent.
Stream “Artifact”: https://bfan.link/tp-artifact
Michigan’s 84 Tigers are back with “Two Rivers,” a soaring new single that finds the post-hardcore trio teaming up with acclaimed songwriter Rocky Votolato. The track is a heartfelt tribute to Travis Dopp of Small Brown Bike, whose words and influence echo throughout the song.
For guitarist and vocalist Mike Reed, it’s one of the band’s most personal moments yet:
“When Rocky and I realized that we had both written songs with the word ‘River’ in the title separately, it was cosmic fate that brought him into the song,” guitarist/vocalist Mike Reed said. “I had no idea what it would become, but he took it to new heights and I still get choked up when I hear it.”
The single paves the way for the group’s sophomore album “Nothing Ends,” due October 17 via Spartan Records. Produced by Marc Jacob Hudson, the record channels grief and reflection into something cathartic, pairing raw three-piece urgency with sweeping hooks. Its tracklist moves from aching tributes like “Two Rivers” to moments of light and resilience in “Only Light,” before pushing toward the rousing energy of “Regeneration Days” with Aaron Stauffer (Seaweed/Ghost Work). By the time the closer lands on the refrain “Everything you love will hurt you someday,” the album has already carved out its own balance between devastation and comfort.
The band will take the new record on the road this fall, with dates across Ohio, Michigan, and Florida, including a stop at Fest in Gainesville.
Stream “Two Rivers”: https://orcd.co/tworivers
Pre-order “Nothing Ends”: https://spartanrecords.com/collections/84tigers
