Cork-born artist LYRA has established herself as an artist to watch, having gained significant momentum following the release of her debut, self-titled album. 2024 saw the dark pop artist skyrocket to number one in the Irish album charts, outselling Beyonce by 50% more sales! Her incredible achievements are just the first chapter in a story that’s only just beginning to unfold.
Lyra is kicking 2025 off with her latest single “Freak”, which was co-written with Bill Maybury (Jazzy, Cian Ducrot, Kygo, James Bay) and Kingdoms (Tom Grennan, Bellah Mae, Sigala), who also produced the track.
“Freak” comes to life through pounding beats and dark synths that emit an almost menacing atmosphere. Oozing with confidence Lyra makes her presence known, providing a dirty, sexy and gritty anthem for anyone who needs reminding of their worth. The songwriter shares, “This is a song about being a sexy ass powerful woman. As a woman I have been told “be sexy but not too sexy” well fuck that. This song is all about the power of a woman’s sexuality. Bring your ego to the dance floor.”
Stepping away from writing songs about love and heartache, Lyra exclaims, “I’m done writing about my ex. His time has come to an end! This year it’s about me and I’m not going to let anyone tame me.”
Lyra has had notable musical appearances on shows like Ireland’s Got Talent, Dancing with the Stars, The Tommy Tiernan show, numerous Late Late Show appearances and The Main Stage with Mark Fehily. Her talent extends to TV also: in 2021, she joined Boy George, Jedward and Aston Merrygold on the judging panel for Virgin Media Ireland talent show The Big Deal, and Lyra has also taken part in Ireland’s Celebrity Gogglebox. Her music has also been featured on hit TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy and Love Island.
If Avril Lavigne and Slash had a love child, she might sound a lot like Rowan “Rogue” Picard, the singer, songwriter and shredding lead guitarist of the new band Rogue Rising out of Kingston Ontario. With catchy riffs, relatable lyrics, and melodic solos, Rogue Rising’s sound is a fusion of rock, pop and punk. Poised to release their first single, the creative force behind the band can’t contain her excitement, “I feel like I’ve been holding my breath – and I can’t wait to let it out!”
“The song CRUSH was my reaction to a painful experience. It really sucks when someone you love doesn’t believe in you. Everybody needs someone to believe in them… everybody deserves that kind of love,” she explains. “So I went straight to my guitar as a way of dealing with that feeling of betrayal, and this song came out,” she says, clutching the custom red ‘Rogue’ guitar built by her father, inspired by another guitar she designed and built herself at school. “I take this baby with me everywhere.”
The authentic intensity of her songwriting, with its raw mix of optimism and angst, elicits comparisons to artists like Avril Lavigne, Liz Phair, and Alanis Morissette, but Rowan shrugs it off. “I’m just me. That’s all I want to be.” Switching gears, she talks about her experience with a music producer. “When I first brought the song to Michael, I was a little nervous. It was my first time in a real studio,” she says, referring to 5-time Juno award-winner and founding member of Glass Tiger, Michael Hanson. “But he was so patient and open. I learned a lot. It made the whole recording process fun — so much fun that we recorded more songs together!”
FEATURETTE, originally formed by singer Lexie Jay & drummer Jon Fedorsen, are gearing up to release their long-awaited third full-length album PANIC PILLS this Friday, January 31st (via the band’s newly established label Division11). PRE-SAVE NOW. This album marks the band’s first project with their newest member, Marc Koecher, who brings a fresh dynamic to their ever-evolving sound. In anticipation of their album release, FEATURETTE debuted the official video for “Golden Hour,” premiering it this morning exclusively through RANGE Magazine. “The track and its accompanying video are a striking reflection of FEATURETTE’s ability to channel a single, shattering experience into a powerful, universal story of survival, beauty, and the fragility of life,” notes RANGE Magazine. Watch and read all about it HERE! The band will celebrate the official album release in London, ON, this Friday on the final stop of their Till Death Do Us Party tour with CARYS—tickets & info at www.featurettemusic.com.
singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Eddie Benjamin crashes into 2025 with “MANIAC,” the piano-pounding lead single from his upcoming debut studio album. Listen HERE. The startlingly dynamic track comes with a cinematic video that’s equal parts intense performance piece and mini horror flick. Today the video also made its broadcast premiere on MTV Live, MTVU and MTV Biggest Pop. Watch the music video, directed by Mitch deQuilettes (Childish Gambino, shygirl], HERE.
Inspired by processing the grief that comes with the conclusion of a relationship, “MANIAC” captures the sense of a sudden ending. “You treat me like a maniac, how do you lose that love so fast?” Eddie coos amid surprising cascades of piano, peals of guitar, warm bass runs, and percussive keys all played by the artist himself— a rock/soul/jazz whirlwind that flirts with chaos with bounds of pop balladry. The track’s passion is matched by the video, which finds Eddie playing a baby grand in a low-lit room while a dancer’s wild choreography takes an incredibly dark turn.
The song sets the stage for a full-length album due later in 2025, a coming-of-age set of songs that deals with relationships, loss, grief, and the innate need for authentic human connection.
“Losing someone was the start of the story and my first attempt at dealing with my exploding emotions,” Eddie says of his new single. “As a listener, I want to hear what the fuck is happening in someone’s life. Creating sonic stories is so secondhand for me, so when I looked at what I was going through, I had the skill set to express it without any smoke and mirrors.”
Dance music maverick Gryffin and electronic music legend Kaskade have united for the first time on their new collaborative single ‘In My Head’ featuring UK vocalist Nu-La out now via 10K Projects.
‘In My Head’ is a starlit collaboration that sees two titans of progressive dance music combine their generational sonic influences. Blending their emotive yet energetic signatures, Gryffin and Kaskade lay down entrancing melodies and driving basslines to elevate Nu-La’s powerful vocal performance. ‘In My Head’ is a heart-thumping hit that will heat up dancefloors all winter long.
“Kaskade has been one of my biggest idols since I first got into dance music. I’ve had the pleasure of playing on shows and developing a friendship, but now I couldn’t be more excited to finally have a collaboration with him. ‘In My Head’ feels like a perfect collab between us, as it represents both our styles coming together.” – Gryffin
Critically acclaimed Texas-based guitarist and vocalist Ally Venable will release her highly anticipated new studio album Money & Power via Ruf Records on Friday, April 18. The album is available to pre-order HERE.
Rules are there to be broken. Expectations are there to be defied, and glass ceilings are there to be shattered. Having spent the past decade carving out her own unique space in the male-dominated world of blues-rock, Ally Venable’s combative sixth album, Money & Power, demands more of both – for herself, for women around the world, and for anyone else who thought they weren’t worthy of a seat at the table.
Money & Power is such a strong statement, especially for women,” says the award-winning Texas gunslinger of her Nashville-recorded new release, on which Ally’s crack-squad band is joined by A-list guests Shemekia Copeland and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram.
“All the songs on this album showcase the theme of what it truly means to be a force to be reckoned with. I want this record to wake people up,” continues Ally.
Money and power make the world go round. But in the right hands, music can be every bit as potent. Right now, on the heels of 2023’s acclaimed Real Gone – an album that hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts and was still in contention a year later – Ally is rated amongst the best young singer-songwriters in American roots, saluted by Total Guitar magazine in its poll of Top 100 Blues Guitarists.
Breakups, jealousy, and a festival crowd of 15,000 – Pistol Daisys’ newest single, “Crying in Marseille”, has it all!
This fiery dance-pop anthem lands today, 31st January, fresh from the band’s explosive debut UK tour and shows at Glasgow’s iconic Barrowlands. From its heartfelt storytelling to its high-octane production, “Crying in Marseille” isn’t just a breakup anthem – it’s a reminder to own your story, say no to the wrong vibes, and find your power (preferably with a good glass of wine in hand).
The track, penned in a haze of heartbreak and French red wine, takes listeners through the chaos of love on the road. While playing Fete de La Music in Aix-en-Provence, vocalist Lorna got dumped mid-tour by a jealous local lad who didn’t quite get why she preferred rocking festival stages to nights at the local pub. With her bandmates Belly and Lewis by her side, the duo turned a night of emotional chaos into musical magic, crafting a song that’s equal parts empowerment and escapism.
“Sometimes, the best way to deal with heartbreak is to dance through it,” Lorna quips, “And if that fails, there’s always wine!”
With gritty Glasgow roots and soaring alt-pop hooks, “Crying in Marseille” is quintessential Pistol Daisys: a blend of bold vocals, blistering guitar riffs, and a fresh edge that nods to icons like Blondie and Kate Bush. Already making waves with a GBX remix tearing up The Hits Network, this is an anthem for anyone ready to swap heartbreak for high.
This spring, they’re set to hit the road again, supporting Scottish rock legends Big Country across the UK, with additional headlining dates and festival appearances throughout 2025.
Don’t miss Pistol Daisys’ “Crying in Marseille”out now on all major streaming platforms.
Anuv Jain, one of the most celebrated voices in South Asia, has released his thirteenth single, marking a pivotal moment in his illustrious career. For the first time, the Ludhiana-based singer-songwriter has collaborated with Punjabi rapper and global sensation, AP Dhillon, on their new single, “Afsos.” This Punjabi track delivers a heartfelt, genre-defying masterpiece that will resonate with audiences worldwide.
“Afsos” dives into themes of regret and lost love, staying true to Jain’s renowned lyricism. The song tells the poignant story of a person reflecting on a past relationship, grappling with their mistakes and the inability to fully comprehend their partner’s love.
The lyrics and production, crafted by both Jain and Dhillon, evoke heartbreak and
longing, illustrating the irreversible nature of time. Through its soulful verses, “Afsos”
captures the narrator’s profound sorrow, leaving them to navigate solitude and regret. Sharing his thoughts on this track, Anuv Jain says, “‘Afsos’ is my first music
collaboration and working on it has been such a crazy but memorable experience! It’s been a while since I last sat down to write a song in Punjabi. It was quite a lot of fun, even if I was constantly asking the people around me to check if a sentence made sense.
I’m so glad my mom was sitting and working on it with me. Once AP got on board with the song and added his verse, it just went to the next level. I’m so pumped that my first collaboration ever is with such an incredible artist. I really hope everybody loves the song like I do.”
emerging artist and producer Elle Chante shares her enchanting new release
‘Mean Something’. Arriving as a prelude ahead of her upcoming EP, Mean Something takes shape as a much anticipated teaser of what is to come.
Self produced and hauntingly beautiful, ‘Mean Something’ is a tender and impressive
keepsake born from an impossibly difficult time.
Standing out with alluring ambiance, the new upload pins Elle Chante as a powerful talent to watch. Reflective and cinematic, this latest endeavor is a testament to Elle’s ability in transforming darkness into radiance. Sharing more behind the single, Elle explained: “I think there’s something incredibly harrowing about difficult experiences. When I was diagnosed with cancer, aside from the shock and questioning ‘why’, I was trying to make sense of this familiar feeling I had in the background. I realised that part of me expected it. Due to the struggles and hardships I’ve faced all through my life, I’ve come to expect them in some way.
Mean Something is about trying to understand why horrible things happen. I don’t think everything has to have a silver lining and it’s ok to exist in that painful, messy space where you don’t know why something happened, it’s about just taking things one step, or one second at a time.“
Antarctica unfolds like a cinematic tapestry, weaving three-part harmonies with resonant guitar and pedal steel flourishes that evoke a sense of both vastness and intimacy. Much like Bob Dylan’s haunting lyricism or Leonard Cohen’s brooding introspection, the song balances existential dread with a quietly burning hope, telling a story of those who risk everything to face the unknown—and of the haunting aftermath they endure.
From its opening chords, “Antarctica” immerses listeners in soundscapes that conjure images of desolate tundras and endless deserts, perfectly mirroring the stark lyric, “I was standing in the desert, all alone, I dreamed that I would stand like that forever, no living thing, just sand and stone.” During this dreamy instrumental break, the music drifts into a surreal hush—pedal steel lines bend and echo, underscoring the sense of spiritual isolation while the three-part harmonies create a cathedral-like resonance. Even in this fragile, suspended moment, the catchy chorus lingers, tugging at the listener’s core with its melody and promise of release.
Just as suddenly, the track comes full circle in a special hook and resolution, pulling us back from the desert into the unforgiving chill of the Antarctic—a metaphor for that return from inner reflection to harsh reality. This final passage, portrayed in a video filmed and produced by Jennifer Claveau, heightens the contrast between the extremes. Here, the swirling harmonies swell, amplifying the emotional stakes and reflecting the timeless human drive to push beyond our limits. Antarctica is at once a reverie and a reckoning, a testament to perseverance amid life’s starkest terrains, and a riveting reminder that music can guide us home—even from the most remote edges of the human spirit.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
