German-born, Los Angeles-based pop artist Leonie Persch continues to make waves in the music industry with her second single “Code Blue.” The bittersweet ballad showcases the fragile, gut-wrenching moment when something precious fails to breathe and metaphorically enters a code blue, in the belief that it could be revived. “Code Blue” is now available to stream and download on all major platforms.
Originally written as a song about a love that’s burnt out, Leonie Persch gradually discovered over time that it is much more; it’s about the things you’re forced to leave behind when you outgrow something you’re still fighting for, but know deep down it’s not worth it. The lyrics mirror Persch’s own story, as she made the bold decision to leave her successful songwriting career in Berlin and move to Los Angeles, rebranding as the musician she had always dreamed of becoming. In return, she “traded the familiar and stable for the unknown, burning old maps to draw new ones,” Persch shares. “‘Code Blue’ captures the raw, aching moment when something beautiful stops breathing. Whether it’s love, a dream, or a version of yourself.” It isn’t easy, however, as the lyrics point to attachment and desperation, in hopes that the slight pulse is enough to resuscitate. The melody is infused with a tender ache representing both an ending and a beginning. Her versatile vocals floating over the track with both vulnerability and strength are undeniably the center of attention. “Code Blue” holds listeners’ hands through the uncomfortable conclusions of the past.
Cafuné reveals the next twist of the knife in their upcoming album Bite Reality, with a collaboration with Riovaz, “Temporary Lover.” Sedona Schat’s voice punches through a rampaging electro-pop beat before Riovaz ices the bruise, his breezy flow providing a mellow counterpoint to Schat’s crackling energy. Masterfully toying with scuzzy guitars and unsparing drums, “Temporary Lover” watches as a relationship slips away through the cracks — Stream.
“We first learned about Riovaz a few years ago after he covered one of our tunes, and were instantly drawn to his unique style of yearning club music,” says Cafuné’s Noah Yoo. “I was listening to him a lot when we wrote ‘Temporary Lover,’ so to have him be a part of the final record feels full circle.”
Written and produced by band members Noah Yoo and Sedona Schat, Bite Reality will arrive on September 12 via the band’s own Aurelians Club label, distributed by SoundOn. As the New York duo stare head-on into a world of digital degradation, they ask what humanity looks like in an era increasingly defined by AI, algorithms, and artificial intimacy. Recorded in 2024, the record finds the band at a familiar crossroads, reckoning between real and fake. The difference, this time around, is that they’re doing it in the real world, too. They’re no longer running from the bite of reality, but biting reality back; their lyrics teem with brutal honesty, not avoidant analogy.
So far from Bite Reality, Cafuné have shown off the wide range of the upcoming album with two previous singles: the album’s thematic centerpiece “e-Asphyxiation” and “Attack + Release,” a sultry bossa-nova-inspired ballad.
Japanese female electronic artist SHIMA today announces her forthcoming debut album Welcome To SHIMAJIMA, set to arrive September 26 via Young Art Records. The announcement arrives with a brand new single ‘MAITAKE’ out now.
Set to serve as her biopic debut full-length, Welcome To SHIMAJIMA is an imaginative 10-track journey through the eyes of a global wanderer. Weaving together her Japanese roots and cross-cultural experiences, the album builds off previously released singles ‘EIYAA’, ‘INVISIBLE’ ‘KARMA’, ‘AWA’, and ‘1807’.
An energetic fusion of folklore and futurism, ‘MAITAKE’ continues SHIMA’s adventurous blend of East-meets-West electronica. Inspired by a Japanese tale about a magical, mind-altering mushroom, she soundtracks the origin story with hypnotic flute melodies, textured basslines, and tribal-leaning percussion. Radiating with psychedelic whimsy and rhythmic command, SHIMA’s effervescent vocals float through an illusory arrangement as ‘MAITAKE’ channels her flair for experimental production and vivid storytelling. Spirited and playful, the track offers a fantastical glimpse into the sonic world of Welcome To SHIMAJIMA.
“The word “maitake” in Japanese means “dancing mushroom”. I was curious as to how this mushroom got its name, and came across an old folktale that goes like this: Long ago, a group of lumberjacks got lost in the woods and came upon a group of nuns, who were dancing very strangely and intensely. The lumberjacks asked the nuns why they were dancing, and the nuns replied that they had also gotten lost in the woods, and became so hungry that they decided to eat some wild mushrooms. Since then, they haven’t been able to stop dancing for hours. The lumberjacks were spooked, but were also getting hungry at that point, so they decided to risk it and also eat the mushrooms. Soon, they too began to feel drunk and dance uncontrollably. Together, the nuns and the lumberjacks danced for hours and hours until they gradually returned to normal and continued on with their separate journeys. And that’s how the “maitake” mushroom got its name. I was fascinated by this story so I decided to turn it into a song.” – SHIMA
French dark electronic producer Noizinski has unveiled his shadowy new Outer Consequences EP out now via HypnoVizion. The EP features the previously-released single ‘Stasis’.
A bold evolution in tone and technique, Outer Consequences plunges Noizinski into darker emotional territory. Across five tracks, the EP explores cinematic melancholy through sweeping synthscapes, distorted basslines, and a sharpened sense of rhythmic control. From the layered intricacy of ‘Entwined’ to the bleak expanse of ‘Exile’, each track builds on the eerie foundation laid by ‘Stasis’, cementing his emergence as a distinctive force within the HypnoVizion catalog.
“Outer Consequences is the follow-up to my previous EP, Inner Conflict. It’s the result of that inner struggle. Harder-hitting, more refined, yet still marked by that familiar undercurrent of melancholy. After years of exploring and shaping my sound, I feel this EP captures the core of what Noizinski is becoming. I hope it resonates with others as deeply as it does with me.” – Noizinski
Ron Dadon is back with the next addition to your summer playlist. Alluring and dangerously catchy, ‘Vanilla Skin’ captures the early butterflies of a new connection. Sharing more, Ron explained: “I wrote “Vanilla Skin” when I had just started dating someone new. It’s about that early crush feeling when there’s no pressure and you’re just wondering what they’re thinking and how long they’ll stick around. It’s flirty and fun and really just about being a girl and letting yourself feel it all.”
Ron Dadon has been making waves since she ended a five year hiatus with her single ‘Sweet Nothing’ back in April. It saw her kick off a brand new chapter along with news of a debut album coming early next year. Listeners and critics were quickly taken with her return including Ones To Watch who said Sweet Nothing is ’just the beginning’, calling it ‘a tantalizing taste of what’s to come’. More recently came ‘Say It’ and ‘Call Me’, the latter arrived in June and was labeled as ‘zesty pop’ by Clash Magazine whilst also scooping support from Hypebae and tmrw Magazine.
Ron Dadon splits her time between Los Angeles and Paris, where her diverse lived experiences shape the music she creates. Already established in photography and fashion, she’s found success with her clothing line, Nuvonu, worn by the likes of Zendaya, Hailey Bieber, and Kendall Jenner. Now, her latest musical endeavor is poised to be warmly received. Ron brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work, seamlessly blending visual and musical elements in a way that feels authentic to her story.
Fields of Jake makes a heartfelt return with “Single Forever,” a breezy and lighthearted reflection on the intense emotions of love. Blending sing-along lyrics with cascading vocals and sun-soaked instrumentals, this track feels like a sonic postcard from a quiet, coastal getaway. Now streaming on all major platforms, this new single sets the tone for Fields of Jake’s forthcoming full-length record.
Beginning with angelic vocals and bouncy drums, a scene of summertime bliss is set. Fields of Jake, the latest project of songwriter Jake Fields, recognizes the fleeting nature that comes with perfect moments. Searching for a way to freeze this memory and person in time is described through Fields’ captivating lyrics, such as “I never could find someone who’s better.” Produced by longtime collaborator Jim McGorman (Goo Goo Dolls, Sabrina Carpenter) and mixed by Dave Cerminara (Father John Misty, Lana Del Rey), this track invites listeners on a buoyant journey of layered vocals and a distinct beach-pop sound. Written from a melody stuck in his head, Fields of Jake crafted this song with intention and personal experience. “I wrote this song about a year before recording it as a goof, but I never could get the melody out of my head. It’s about the existential anxiety at the start of a relationship that is actually working for once. Waiting for the other ‘shoe to drop’ because that’s all you’ve ever known.” This pop-rock track explores having doubts about a crush while evoking sunshine and the sounds of summer romance.
Singaporean indiepop band Blush have unveiled their second album Beauty Fades, Pain Lasts Forever on August 1st via Kanine Records. This record finds Blush on a mission to create pristine pop that explores life’s complex emotions. With intricately crafted compositions that swirl between dreamscapes and erratic noise, the four-piece turn heartbreak into something deceptively satisfying.
Beauty Fades, Pain Lasts Forever was announced on June 18th alongside the release of the opening single“ X My Heart”. This bittersweet ode to lovesickness and romantic obsession served as a fitting introduction to the raw feeling at play on BFPLF.
Today also sees the release of an analog visual for album track “Ultrablue!”, which features lyrics imposed over candid VHS footage of Blush’s Soffi Peters and Darell Laser mirroring the song’s lyrical theme of missed connections on the streets of Tokyo.
Black Fortune’s profile is rocketing up, and his new single is here to add to the momentum. The DMV native has delivered his new song and music video, “Weight On Me” with Philly producer Swaggyono as he grapples with the transition to success. The exuberant and expressive rapper and OSSH MOB founder is hard at work on his new mixtape alongside Swaggyono, OSSHYONO, and “Weight On Me” kicks off a new era.
Stream the new single here, and watch the official “Weight On Me” video here. OSSHYONO is due August 15.
“I wanted to get it to the point where I’m fully focused on music,” Fortune says about the transition away from situations that inspired his new record and much of OSSHYONO. “But it’s not easy for me to just change my ways because I’ve been living this way all my life. It’s the transformation from me being a street n***a, to a superstar.”
Thus, on “Weight On Me,” Black Fortune expresses the weight of his transition and asking his loved ones to have patience until it’s completed. The official music video mirrors this sentiment, as Fortune finds himself in a myriad of compromising situations, from an argument with a lover to a closed-door police interrogation – ripple effects of the challenging transition he’s undertaken. “Twelve pulled me over and I had weight on me / When shit gets hard babe you can lay on me,” he raps on his new record.
Jacquees officially released the music video for his latest single, “He Kant,” which debuted last week. The multi-platinum R&B sensation co-directed the visually stunning video with BPace, a long-time collaborator who was recently nominated alongside Jacquees for ‘Video Director of the Year’ at the 2025 BET Awards.
Rising singer-songwriter Wolfberg unveils his newest single, a reimagined version of Audioslave’s “I Am The Highway,” turning the iconic rock anthem into a poignant ballad of self-trust and introspection. Once a soaring alt-rock track, Wolfberg’s rendition softens the edges and replaces the grit with mellow baritone vocals and atmospheric acoustic instrumentation. The result is a haunting, emotionally layered performance that delivers new weight to the song’s message: freedom is found from within. “I Am The Highway” is now available on all major streaming platforms.
Originally written by Chris Cornell, Brad Wilk, Tom Morello, and Tim Commerford, the track has held long-standing significance in Wolfberg’s life. As a teenager, the song symbolized personal liberation. He still remembers racing to Tower Records on release day in 2002, eager to devour Audioslave’s debut. But when Cornell passed away in 2017, the meaning shifted. “The highway no longer meant personal freedom,” Wolfberg reflects. “It meant distance. Departure. Death. The final, irreversible offramp.” Years later, while playing with a new chord progression, he began singing the lyrics again, not in imitation of Cornell, but as himself. The result is a stripped-down, passionately raw version that honors the original while uncovering a new emotional core. The song concludes with someone walking away, echoing the themes of departure and transcendence. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Dallas Thornton, “I Am The Highway” features delicate acoustic textures, a melancholic guitar solo, and Wolfberg’s resonant voice front and center. The warm, intimate arrangement supports lyrics that have grown with him through teenage yearning, adult reflection, and profound grief. “In singing his words,” Wolfberg says, “I finally found my own.
Wolfberg is a rising alternative artist and singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California, known for his rich baritone and emotionally driven storytelling. Blending indie rock, alternative, and adult contemporary influences, his music fuses stripped-down vulnerability with cinematic production featuring electric guitars, warm synths, ambient textures, and sweeping strings. After losing everything in the recent Palisades fires, Wolfberg committed fully to his craft, channeling that turning point into a powerful source of creative fuel. Now a father of two, he writes with depth, clarity, and a sense of purpose that resonates widely. Despite being a new artist, he’s already gaining traction, with over 60,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.
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