featuring @dermotphenry @owen_saward @taylorbleu_ @ludacris
Dermot Henry shares his latest single ‘Dead Man’s Dog’, which heralds the imminent arrival of debut EP Aiming Torches At The Sun – out this Friday May 15th via Adventure Recordings / Island Records UK.
Capturing the disorienting shift out of adolescence, ‘Dead Man’s Dog’ sees the 23-year-old songwriter reflect on the strange emotional terrain of growing up. “I’m in a stage of my life where I’m transitioning into adulthood, and that’s at the heart of most of the songs,” Dermot Henry explains. “Having love and friendship whilst becoming an adult is the only real thing to hold onto. Some of my favourite songs are about turning 22, so it felt important to explore how it made me feel.”
Building a reputation as a compelling live performer, Dermot Henry plays multiple sets at The Great Escape this week, including a slot on the BBC Radio 6 Music stage hosted by Huw Stephens on May 14th alongside appearances at Fabrica (Friday, 8:15 pm) and more.
Fresh from supporting Jacob Alon at the Roundhouse and his own, instant sell-out headline date at Hoxton’s Folklore, Dermot Henry has also announced a run of headline shows this June, taking in shows at London’s Courtyard Theatre, Bristol’s Exchange, and Manchester’s Deaf Institute. Tickets are on sale now, with full routing and summer festivals also outlined below.
Recorded in Frome with Dom Monks (Big Thief, Michael Kiwanuka, Laura Marling), Aiming Torches At The Sun is a project that sounds instinctive, intimate, and lived-in. The EP was introduced last month by double A-side ‘My Favourite Book Is One I’ve Read A Bunch / Little Rib’: released to widespread acclaim, Dermot landed support across BBC Radio 6 Music, Apple Music 1, BBC Introducing and artist co-signs ranging from Lewis Capaldi and Sabrina Carpenterto Lola Young and Lizzy McAlpine. With songwriting that balances youthful charm and a quietly world-wise perspective, his debut EP introduces Dermot Henry as a vital new voice.
Owen Saward (pronounced Saywood) releases his new single ‘Hard To Get’, via 0207 Def Jam. Listen to the track here.
The track is about finding that special person but they’re playing hard to get. Owen expresses his feelings as he yearns for the affection of a lover. The track has a catchy rhythm to it, drawing listeners to it with a universal feeling. As R&B continues to make a strong comeback, Owen Saward brings a sense of nostalgia back into the spotlight ahead of summer.
Owen explains, “This track is all about that R&B sound I grew up on. The whole process felt natural, and it came together into exactly the vibe I wanted for summer.”
Owen Saward is a British R&B singer-songwriter from Hertfordshire. He has quickly risen to the attention of R&B fans far and wide – amassing over 275,000 followers over the last 18 months – through a blend of 2000s R&B influences with his soulful sound. Owen is building a reputation for his ability to craft tracks that resonate deeply with listeners; since last year’s breakthrough single “I Know”, he has counted over 10 million streams across his catalogue.
Rising as an artist to watch this year, buzzing singer and songwriter Solon Holt unveils a soulful new single entitled ‘Sad Country Songs’ out now. It marks his first release of 2026 and his debut under a newly minted partnership with Trenches Records and Republic Records.
Listen to ‘Sad Country Songs’ HERE
This marks the first release under Trenches Records which is The Trenches’ new label division within the REPUBLIC Collective system. Founded in 2020 by Tom LaScola, The Trenches has created digital campaigns for artists including Noah Kahan, Post Malone, Wyatt Flores, Conan Gray, and more. This release sets the stage for much more to come from both Solon and Trenches Records.
About the partnership and Solon, LaScola commented, “I feel fortunate to watch a very special person take his first steps towards true artistry. He has challenged himself along the way to create the most accurate representation of who he is at this point in his life. I couldn’t be more excited to help get this art into the world with our team.”
Republic Records Chairman and CEO Jim Roppo commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Solon Holt to the Republic family. His artistry, passion, and creative vision are incredibly inspiring, and we’re excited to begin this journey together and see all that’s ahead.”
About the release, Solon added, “‘Sad Country Songs’ is a bridge between who I was and who I’m becoming. Somewhere along the way, I realized I was saying goodbye to the world that raised me creatively. The song is still deeply informed by country music, but it no longer feels confined by it. It’s both an ode to country music and a quiet farewell to the version of myself that lived entirely inside it. What’s left now is simply: me.”
Bluesy organ lights the track’s fuse, giving way to smouldering and simmering verses. Backed by a head-nodding beat, Solon’s vocals instantly transfix as he laments, “All that leaving, all that cheating—like you’re looking for a reason to run.” Between loose guitar and a steady bass groove, the catchy and cathartic chorus takes hold, “I wish you weren’t crazy about sad country songs.”
Ultimately, ‘Sad Country Songs’ illuminates his seamless genre alchemy, emotional acuity, and undeniable spirit all at once.
Introducing Taylor Bleu, whose debut single – ‘Mad House’ – is available now via Polydor Label Group.
A remarkable arrival, ‘Mad House’ stops the listener in their tracks. A 999-call that also serves as an angry critique towards the cynicism around mental health, ‘Mad House’ pairs atmospheric, alt-R&B with the stunning voice, and sophisticated prose, soon to become signature of Taylor Bleu.
“Mad House’ had to be the first release,” writes Taylor, “because it’s my foundations, it’s where I come from. No matter how hard I try to write about other things, the majority of my life has been devoted to caring for and battling with someone who is unwell. ‘Mad House’ is representative of my resilience. I kept my mum’s cries in at the end of the song because although it might not be palatable, it’s been my theme tune for years, and I haven’t ever been able to turn it off, this time I can.”
Taylor Bleu was born and raised in South London. He grew up surrounded by challenges that meant music, when it came, was a place of safety. At 9 years old, he was chosen to sing solo at a youth Gospel Choir at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls, and something unlocked. Later, Taylor worked as an usher at the Royal Opera House, recognising even as a fish-out-of-cultural-water something in the uncomfortable beauty of a legato. But music was the release, and never part of the plan.
Having been spotted singing original snippets on Instagram and spent years actively (but thankfully, unsuccessfully) trying to avoid becoming an artist, 2026 sees Taylor Bleu open up, and let others in. Today, he’s drawn to the restless individuality of acts like Sampha, James Blake, and Frank Ocean; raw but cinematic storytelling, which captures the complex struggles – but also the endurance of spirit – behind a ‘Mad House’. The thread throughout Taylor Bleu’s music is hope, because it is here, and he made it.
Watch out for more from Taylor Bleu coming soon.
three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning hip-hop legend, actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Ludacris drops a hilarious cinematic music video for his knockout new single “Pull Over” produced by DJ Toomp [Jay-Z, Nas, T.I. etc.] out now via DTP Records/Def Jam Recordings.
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