featuring @faouzia @star2mg @box_blonde @whatsonot @maxstyler @talkerceleste @dollydoops
internationally renowned vocalist, songwriter, and global breakout artist Faouzia releases her new single “BIRTHDAY” alongside an official music video.
Listen to “BIRTHDAY” here.
Watch the official music video for “BIRTHDAY” here.
Says Faouzia on the release of “BIRTHDAY,” “i had more to say…i wrapped it in a bow for your birthday. the film noir era isn’t over just yet…”
“BIRTHDAY” arrives just as Faouzia gears up for her nearly sold-out FILM NOIR TOUR, her first international run in almost four years. The trek kicks off next month in Berlin before hitting major European cities including Cologne, Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, and London. It then heads to North America in July, beginning in Detroit and continuing through key markets including Minneapolis, Vancouver, Seattle, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Boston, Brooklyn, and Toronto before wrapping at the end of August. The FILM NOIR TOUR also includes select stops at major festivals such as Jazzablanca in Morocco, Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Lollapalooza in Chicago, and Outside Lands in San Francisco. Due to overwhelming demand during pre-sale, including immediate sellouts in multiple markets, several venues were upgraded and second dates added. See full routing below. Remaining tickets can be purchased here.
With “BIRTHDAY,” Faouzia returns with her first new music since the release of her debut album FILM NOIR this past November. With FILM NOIR, Faouzia conjures a visual and cinematic world through her intricate and purposeful lyricism as well as her dramatic and melancholic melodies – with her unmistakable vocals taking center stage. The album spans 11 ethereal tracks and includes Faouzia’s first independent single “PORCELAIN,” as well as “PEACE & VIOLENCE” and viral breakout hit “UNETHICAL,” which landed Faouzia on the cover of Spotify’s Pop All Day playlist as well on Pop Rising. FILM NOIR has already garnered over 126M global streams and recently charted on Apple Music’s Top Pop Albums chart.
“Fast Lane” from Asian-American hip-hop artist Star2 alongside collaborators ChinaTownRunnerand Young Henny, continuing a run of globally influenced hip-hop rooted in resilience, identity, and streetwise storytelling.
“Fast Lane” is a slick, high-octane anthem built for late nights, fast living, and unapologetic ambition. Melding infectious hooks with razor-sharp verses, the trio delivers an unapologetic anthem for anyone who moves at a different speed. “Fast Lane” arrives ahead of Star2 and Young Henny’s forthcoming album Cali Love. Born in a Thai refugee camp and of Ka-ren heritage, Star2 has built a cross-cultural career alongside artists including Soulja Boy, Mozzy, Luh Kel, and HoodTrophy Bino, bringing global perspective and melodic edge to a new generation of hip-hop. Star2 is currently working on upcoming projects with Sprite and $tupid Young.
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Box Blonde returns with her new single ‘London’s All Over Me’, an intimate, stripped-back yet richly detailed exploration of heartbreak. The track carries a subtle retro influence across both its sound and visual world, adding a cinematic edge to her otherwise classic, singer-songwriter style.
‘London’s All Over Me’ is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Following the launch of his freshly announced creative era and forthcoming project I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY, genre-defining Australian producer and trap pioneer What So Not officially releases “EVEREST” (ft. Alina Pash) – the first official single from the EP, arriving this Friday, May 29th.
Featuring returning collaborator Alina Pash, “EVEREST” marks a powerful continuation of the creative chemistry first introduced on “Tragic” from What So Not and Buunshin’s 2025 collaborative EP The Quiet That Hurts. While their previous collaboration explored vulnerable storytelling through cinematic drum & bass and experimental songwriting, “EVEREST” pushes into a more explosive and sonically charged direction – blending tension, high impact sound design, and hints of the euphoric melodic elements that originally defined What So Not’s rise.
Lyrically, “EVEREST” balances intensity with themes of connection, healing, and transcendence. Anchored by Alina Pash’s ethereal vocals, the record pairs cinematic scale with authentic songwriting – exploring rebirth and the search for light through chaos. The track’s delivery further reinforces the larger creative world surrounding I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY, positioning the project as more than just a moment of nostalgia, but a clear evolution of the raw energy and sonic depth that defined the early trap movement.
Serving as the first sonic statement from the forthcoming project, “EVEREST” introduces the core themes driving this new era for What So Not: artistic reconnection, forward-thinking collaboration, and revisiting the atmosphere and unpredictability that made early internet-era electronic music culture become so influential in the first place.
Hitmaker Max Styler has teamed up with Brazilian-born, London-based DJ/producer Greggio to release their new single “Oldskool Flavor,” out now via his newly-launched imprint Nu Moda. A driving dancefloor filler that sits at the intersection of retro influence and current club sound, “Oldskool Flavor” blends fresh, modern energy and timeless techniques and sounds with a moody, nocturnal quality that’s built for movement. PRESS HERE to listen.
“‘Oldskool Flavor’ means a lot to me,” shares Styler on the new cut. “In every city and country I have played this track it garners the same massive crowd reaction. It sits in a pocket that I personally love, balancing classic rave sounds with newer grittier bass tones and a great drum groove. It’s built for peak time, and it works without fail when you need something bouncy and high energy. Greggio is a wizard and someone I’m proud to collaborate with as well as have on Nu Moda. We finished this record late in 2025 and have been itching to release it since.”
“The track is built around a stripped back, repetitive groove designed to leave space for a bold, driving bassline,” adds Greggio. “From there, it evolves with carefully placed elements inspired by early electro raw synth stabs, classic M1 textures, and nostalgic touches that give it an authentic old skool edge without sounding dated. After I laid the foundation, Max brought the track to the next level with a refined arrangement, dynamic edits, and detailed production that elevate it into a high impact dancefloor record.”
| talker has been running for a really long time. To what exactly? She can’t even answer that herself. After releasing her debut LP I’m Telling You the Truth in 2024, talker––the alias of Los Angeles-based songwriter Celeste Tauchar––has spent the last year+ grappling with the aftermath of that honesty. Documenting those sorts of very real conversations cracked something open for her, but on Runaway Jane, her new album out this summer, Celeste examines what happens next: the moment where you actually have to take accountability. Sometimes, it feels easier to run. But Runaway Jane reframes that fight-or-flight instinct and channels it into something on a collision course with endless possibility. It’s raw and unpolished, building up to intense moments of grit and emotion that match the sheer vastness of the west. Today, talker shares “Truck,” a new song set in an eerily familiar moment––sitting in someone else’s truck, listening to the same songs, wondering if anything ever really changes or grows at all. “This song is about the patterns that we sometimes unknowingly fall into, the ones that you don’t notice until you’re right back in the same place – just maybe with someone else, or in a different season.” Celeste explains. “It takes place in a truck, but it could have been anywhere else that I’ve already been.” |
THE GOOD WATER are back with the brand new single: “Have You Seen Her Tonight?”.
With its fuzz-fuelled guitar licks, woozy vintage organs, trippy multi-layered harmonies, and hypnotic rhythms, the rising Midlands outfit deliver a radiant psych pop wonder.
Striking an alchemic blend of psychedelia, indie, and vintage pop, “Have You Seen Her Tonight?” at once recalls the dreamy, pastoral creations of Gorky’s Zytgotic Mynci to The Coral, The Beach Boys to the Zombies.
Catchy, colourful, and with a crunching Super Furries-esque crescendo to boot, this is joyous psych-pop to put a spring in your step. A taste of their long-awaited debut album, ‘Feel Your Mind’, which is also out now.
| Jutes announced his newest album Chin Up, Beautiful, arriving on Wednesday, August 5th. Alongside the announcement, the alt-rock disruptor has released two new genre-blending singles, “Mannequin” and “goodnight (interlude) <3,” from the forthcoming new album. The official music video for “Mannequin” is out now. |
| “Mannequin” opens with a slow, muddled tension before exploding into a bold, guitar-driven chorus anchored by Jutes’ powerful vocals. Equal parts vulnerable and visceral, the track showcases the sonic range that has made Jutes one of alt-rock’s most compelling voices. “Mannequin is about this toxic desire to be seen and loved by people you don’t even know. Losing yourself and becoming whatever it is they want to see,” Jutes says. |
Under No Illusion” is a full‑throttle indie psych-rock track that hits with immediacy, confidence and a gun-slinging swagger. Driven by a relentless groove, howling fuzz guitars, and Western-movie vocal whoops provided by Nadine Batchelor Hunt, it brings the raw energy of early Kasabian and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to a Morricone-scored shoot-out. With its unusual, off-kilter 7/4 time signature it counts itself amongst a rare-breed of classic tracks, including Radiohead’s “Pyramid Song” and Pink Floyd’s “Money”, both of which count them as part of their DNA. The result is a dizzying track firmly rooted in the now, but very much orbiting in a realm of its own.
Rising London-based queer femme artist Dolly Doops shares her latest single ‘What’s It To You?’, a direct yet melodic pop track shaped by frustration at recent political changes affecting women’s rights.
‘What’s It To You?’ is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Jessie Faulkner shares new single ‘The Sting’
‘The Sting’ is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Listen to ‘The Sting’ below:
https://apollodistro.lnk.to/thesting
Written from the aftermath of betrayal, “The Sting” captures the sharp emotional whiplash that comes with feeling blindsided by someone you trusted. The track balances vulnerability with frustration, building from intimate verses into a buzzing, electric chorus that refuses to hold back.
Recorded on a boat in East London, the song carries a restless energy throughout, pairing emotionally direct songwriting with bold alt pop production. Inspired by artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Nieve Ella and Maisie Peters, Jessie blends sharp storytelling with big melodic moments, creating something that feels both deeply personal and instantly relatable.
“The Sting” marks Jessie’s fourth single release and another step towards the world of her upcoming debut EP, continuing to showcase her ability to turn complicated emotions into songs that feel immediate, honest and memorable.
Caribbean breakthrough artist Ayetian continues to cement himself as one of the region’s most exciting rising talents with the release of his latest single, “Donkey Call,” featured on DiGenius’ buzzing “Hill & Gully Riddim.” The official single and music video are available now. Get it HERE today.
The culturally driven release arrives as Ayetian prepares for his appearance at Rum Island Festival 2026 in Atlanta alongside dancehall heavyweight Aidonia, adding to what has already become a breakout season for the fast-rising entertainer.
Produced by acclaimed hitmaker DiGenius, the “Hill & Gully Riddim” has been generating strong momentum across dancehall circles, with several artists contributing their own interpretations to the energetic production. The riddim itself draws from the longstanding “Hill and Gully” legacy deeply embedded in Jamaican music culture—a phrase and sonic concept that has appeared throughout reggae and dancehall history, symbolizing movement, resilience, energy, and the highs and lows of everyday Caribbean life.
Among the standout tracks on the riddim, Ayetian’s “Donkey Call” has quickly become a fan favorite, earning praise for its infectious delivery, witty storytelling, and authentic Caribbean flavor. Blending both his Haitian and Jamaican heritage into his artistry, Ayetian continues carving out a distinctive lane that reflects the richness of both cultures while remaining firmly rooted in dancehall’s evolving sound.
Chicano singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Obed Padilla returns with his latest EP ‘RODEO CLOWN – ACT 1’, released via Big Family Music. The five-track project is led by new single ‘MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE’, a warm, acoustic guitar-forward cut that captures the record’s more reflective, open-hearted side. Drawing from a world shaped by lowrider culture, roadside Americana and greaser aesthetics, the project also reflects Padilla’s experience growing up Mexican-American in Southern California.
Berlin-based experimental pop duo Not Your Saints return with their new EP ‘Sensitive Chaos’, a six-track project that traces the process of transformation. Moving through themes of emotional upheaval, identity, and self-determination, the record captures what it means to let go of who you were without fully knowing who you’re becoming.
‘Sensitive Chaos’ is available now on your streaming service of choice, via APOLLO Distribution
Midlands raised, London based R&B-soul artist gia (previously Georgia Chanel) returns with her new single ‘MISRI’, but this time with a whole new direction and rebrand.
‘MISRI’ is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Listen to ‘MISRI’ below: https://open.spotify.com/track/2FACdyVErFiT6QLUJP98b7?si=6aed6c1aedf4414e
Rooted in a desire to reconnect with and honour her Egyptian heritage, ‘MISRI’ is gia’s first bilingual release, blending English and Arabic across a track. Layered with live strings, driving percussion and detailed vocal arrangements, the song draws subtly on Arabic scales while staying grounded in a contemporary R&B/pop space.
At its core, ‘MISRI’ is about duality. Translating to “my Egypt” or “Egyptian,” the track reflects the tension and beauty of belonging to more than one place at once. gia explores that in-between space with raw emotion, speaking to a wider diaspora experience without losing the personal thread that runs through the song.
