featuring @starlingband @mindenterprises @cjsolar @cartel.band @leonthethird @denizcuylan @porchlighttheband @kingfalconband @jennifermoxham @alainaamay @bellapoarch @iamsarahhsmith
New York-based pop artist Sarah Smith shares her new single, “Point of No Return.” The dark electro-pop track pairs pulsing production with emotionally charged songwriting that explores desire, anxiety, and self-sabotage.
At the center of “Point of No Return” is a damsel-in-distress performance built around the contradiction of wanting to be chosen and feel secure, while instinctively resisting both. “I’m your favorite girl” opens each chorus, while “what do you want from me?” becomes the song’s most persistent refrain. Throughout the track, Smith splits herself into an “I” and a “she,” watching herself create the very situation she’s trying to escape. In doing so, she becomes both the person in distress and the one holding the weapon.
“It’s a song for the anxious-avoidant girlies,” Smith shares. “I’m drawn to big, nostalgic pop that can make sadness and anxiety feel cinematic and beautiful. I grew up on the Tumblr and recession-pop eras, and I love that melodramatic world-building, where escapism and anxiety can coexist.”
The Colombian phenomenon Feid presents “EL GREEN PRINT: La Saga (Disc 2) – EL CLUB DE LAS 19 FLORES”, a production that his fans have been eagerly awaiting since the release of his EP “19” in 2019. The project continues his Green Print, revisiting the signature sound of “Ferxxo” as the artist returns to his roots and expands his creative world that has defined this chapter of his career. After months of teasing his project, starting with the release of “A XON DE QUE” on July 10th, Feid finally unveils “EL GREEN PRINT: La Saga (Disc 2) – EL CLUB DE LAS 19 FLORES”
The connection with the number 19 comes from meaningful moments and symbols throughout the artist’s life, including the day he was born, one of the pivotal years in his career, and the number of the apartment where he wrote some of his earliest hits. More than just a number, 19 represents a defining thread throughout Feid’s artistic journey, one that he pays tribute to with the title of the EP.
Across 8 tracks, Feid represents a distinct universe that grows from the same overarching story, expanding on the narrative that was first introduced with Feid vs. Ferxxo. The EP includes collaborations with Vicente García, Bad Gyal, Baby Ranks, Divino, Pirlo, El Americano 4KT and Yandel, which help amplify the message behind the second chapter of “EL GREEN PRINT.”
Bella Poarch releases her highly anticipated debut album, PICNIC AT THE CEMETERY, available everywhere today via Last Gang Records/MNRK Music Group — listen HERE.
A deeply personal coming-of-age record told through Bella’s singular dark-pop lens, PICNIC AT THE CEMETERY transforms memories of joy and pain into an imaginative world of her own creation. Across the album, Bella reflects on her childhood in the Philippines, her decision to leave home and join the U.S. Navy, the relationships she has navigated, and her journey toward understanding her trauma and reclaiming the different versions of herself shaped by those experiences.
The album’s title, inspired by “All Saints Day” in the Philippines, captures the duality at the heart of the project: finding beauty, joy, and connection alongside experiences that can be painful or difficult to revisit. Rather than tell those stories literally, Bella built an entire visual universe around them, blending surreal fairytale imagery with the emotional honesty that has defined her songwriting.
At the center of that universe are The Bigheads, a cast of characters Bella originally drew by hand to personify the songs and emotions throughout the album (see HERE). Part imaginary companions and part extensions of Bella herself, the characters allow her to revisit darker memories through a fantastical lens, turning moments from her past into stories of girlhood, healing, and transformation.
Of the album, Bella says, “I’ve been working toward this album for four years, and it feels surreal that it’s finally here. Picnic at the Cemetery is really about looking back at the different versions of myself and the experiences that shaped me, even the painful ones. Creating the Bigheads and this world gave me a way to tell those stories through a different lens and transform some of those memories into something beautiful. This album is such a personal piece of me, and I hope people can find parts of themselves in it too.”
Brooklyn-based singer and songwriter Alaina May reveals her new single, “Tourniquet,” a tender and aching meditation on the uneasy process of letting go. Following “The Dog” and “Casual,” which have amassed more than 500,000 cumulative streams, “Tourniquet” pushes deeper into the emotional terrain of May’s songwriting.
Carried by gently unfolding acoustic instrumentation and May’s tender vocal, “Tourniquet” lives in the tension between longing and acceptance. The song emerged from May’s reflections on her first year in New York, when she found herself caught between trying to move on from a relationship and still wanting it back.
For May, the song’s title became a metaphor for finally tying off a connection she knew she couldn’t continue to pursue. In one of the final lines she wrote, “tourniquet the arm you held,” she found an image that encapsulated everything at the heart of the song: the painful but necessary act of letting go.
“This is truly one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written,” she says. “Writing it felt so immediate and honest. It was one of those rare moments as a writer when you sort of enter a high and everything spills out onto the page. I hope those listening love it as much as I do.”
London-born, Los Angeles-based soul-pop artist Jenny JAM crafts music that turns pain into empowerment and vulnerability into strength. With a signature blend of soul, pop, Jazz, and classic rock influences, her sound carries both grit and grace, a reflection of her life’s journey from the stages of London’s musical theatre scene to recording studios across the world. Her deeply personal songwriting encourages listeners to believe in themselves through hardship, a message that has resonated with audiences globally.
Jenny’s debut album, Trains, Planes and Airports, is a fitting name for an artist whose life is in constant motion. The record spans continents, collaborators, and emotional landscapes, recorded in Los Angeles, Delaware, and Birmingham, UK, and featuring Grammy and Emmy Award-winning producers Herb Middleton (Mary J. Blige, Al Green), Ikuma Matsuda, and 5am. The collection includes the breakout singles “Prove Who” and “Better Than You,” the former recorded on Frank Sinatra’s iconic microphone at Capitol Records and later featured on a billboard in Times Square and in the British gangster film Bermondsey Tales. “Better Than You,” a raw anthem about surviving abuse and reclaiming power, climbed to #33 on the U.S. Mediabase charts and earned acclaim from outlets like Earmilk and PopDust.
Known for her soul-drenched vocal tone and dynamic emotional range, Jenny JAM delivers each lyric with equal parts fire and fragility. Her voice, honeyed, powerful, and effortlessly expressive, evokes the timelessness of classic soul while carrying a modern edge that’s entirely her own. Whether soaring through a heartbreak ballad or grooving on an upbeat anthem, her vocals anchor the listener in authenticity and heart.
Highlighted single “Toy Proof” is a deeply personal song about heartbreak during an already devastating period in the artist’s life. The relationship ended just as her mother’s leukemia returned, leading her to return to the UK to become her mother’s full-time caregiver following a bone marrow transplant. The breakup forced her to confront the painful realization that someone she believed loved her deeply was unwilling to stand by her during one of the darkest moments of her life. The song reflects on self-delusion, disappointment, and recognizing that the relationship may never have been what she believed it was. Ultimately, “Toy Proof” becomes a story of resilience, about rising from the ashes, breaking free from people who emotionally drain you, and refusing to accept being treated badly.
Based between Ahmedabad, India, and New York City, Sid Seth is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends soul, pop and heartfelt storytelling with disarming honesty. After moving to New York to study at the Manhattan School of Music, he has built a reputation for intimate performances that put emotion at the centre of every song. Whether behind a piano or guitar, Sid’s songwriting is rooted in human connection, drawing listeners into deeply personal moments that feel both specific and universal.
His latest single, “Precious Gift”, is his most vulnerable release to date. Written following the loss of his mother, the song became a way of expressing emotions that felt impossible to put into words. Although the chorus had been written years earlier, as he watched her health gradually decline, Sid wasn’t ready to fully explore those feelings until after she was gone. Built around warm, gently plucked guitar and understated production, “Precious Gift” allows every lyric to breathe. Sid’s rich, soulful vocals carry every ounce of grief and love with striking honesty, while delicate layered harmonies add another level of warmth and emotion, creating a song that is beautifully simple, deeply heartfelt and impossible to hear without feeling its sincerity. “All I want is for there to be a way this song could reach my mom.”
Liverpool producer Montao unveils “Present Tense,” an atmospheric collaboration with one of hip-hop’s most revered voices, Rakim. Moving through a slow-burning blend of trip-hop, cinematic electronica and alternative hip-hop, the track is built around a soaring female vocal loop that hangs in the air like a memory, creating a haunting and emotional backdrop for Rakim’s unmistakable delivery.
His reflective verse run’s inward, contemplating life, growth, mortality and the relentless passing of time, while Montao’s production gives those ideas space to breathe.
The result is a meeting of worlds that feels both timeless, and completely of the moment.
“Present Tense” takes Montao’s instinct for atmosphere and emotion into striking new territory, pairing his immersive, understated production with the lyrical weight of Rakim, a foundational figure whose influence on hip-hop is almost immeasurable. Rather than leaning on nostalgia, the collaboration feels forward-looking: an intimate meditation on where we are, where we’ve been, and how quickly it all passes.
In essence, Present Tense is a record for late nights, long journeys, and moments when the world goes quiet…
San Jose indie rock project The Albert Square releases their sophomore album, I (Wish I Could) Talk To People., out now via Asian Man Records. Alongside the album, the band shares a video for focus track “It Takes a Genius,” featuring Randy Moore (Bones Shredder) on lead guitar.
Breakout electronic dance sensation Jazzy – Spotify’s most streamed female DJ/vocalist globally and the most streamed female electronic act on SoundCloud – returns with her new single, “Get This Started”, released via Chaos Records.
The track follows a rapid string of successful releases that have established Jazzy as one of dance music’s most dominant vocalists and DJ.
Most recently, she released “My People”, a powerful tribute to her hometown celebrating the community, people, and Dublin streets that shaped her journey. Prior to that, Jazzy dominated global club floors alongside bass-house royalty Chris Lorenzo on their massive collaboration “Invisible”, proving her versatility across both mainstage festival bangers and home-grown club anthems.
With “Get This Started”, Jazzy turns up the energy once again, delivering an infectious burst of driving rhythms and high-octane vocals designed for peak-time dance floors and festival stages worldwide. As her global trajectory continues to skyrocket, “Get This Started” marks the next chapter in her unstoppable rise.
New York City alternative rock band King Falcon share their long-awaited EP, BLOOM, out now out now with exclusive new vinyls and merch bundles here. The band’s signature blend of searing guitar riffs, introspective lyricism and fiery vocals continues to captivate listeners worldwide as they continue sharing their music with electric live shows. Next month, the band will kick off a fresh North American tour on October 1 in Philadelphia and an EP release show at Bowery Palace on October 7–see dates below and more information here.
Listen: BLOOM
Plus, on their latest track, they air out frustrations with power imbalances with fully-charged track, “Hungry Dog Run” out now with a matching music video.
“Hungry Dog Run” gives a voice to the overworked and underpaid. It’s rebellious, steadfast and incisive. King Falcon frontman Michael Rubin says, “‘Hungry Dog Run’ is about what happens when frustration turns into momentum. It comes from the sense that a lot of ordinary people feel ignored, overworked, and backed into a corner while those in power remain untouched by the consequences. How long can we keep getting the worst end of the deal before something gives?”
Coming off of a jam-packed summer of festival performances, Minneapolis band Porch Light are excited to share their debut album, Hush, available now via Mom + Pop. Recorded at Pachyderm Studios with producer Caleb Wright (Samia, Hippo Campus), the 11-track record was built on the road-tested chemistry of a band that’s spent the past two years touring behind their debut EPs. Hush moves between riff-driven rock anthems and stripped-back ballads, anchored throughout by vocalist Jackie Uhas’s rangy, unfiltered delivery. Hush is the sound of a band translating their explosive live show onto record for the first time.
Composer and multi-instrumentalist Deniz Cuylan releases his new album For Luca today via Hush Hush Records, the Seattle-based label run by KEXP’s Alex Ruder. The globally informed classical, folk, and electronic album is a heartfelt tribute to his dearly departed dog, Luca, co-produced by Cem Mısırlıoğlu, mixed by Seth Manchester and mastered by Heba Kadry.
Born in Istanbul, Cuylan has spent the past fifteen years moving fluidly between composition, improvisation, and sound design, developing a sonic language that draws equally from classical guitar, electronic music, jazz, and musical traditions from around the world. Along the way, he’s played in bands and moved between musical communities in Stockholm, New York, and Istanbul before settling in Los Angeles, where he began scoring film and television.
Cuylan stepped out on his own with 2021’s No Such Thing As Free Will, bringing his classical guitar playing and singular compositional voice to the foreground through a lush blend of introspective jazz, ambient expressionism, and intricate guitar work. On 2023’s Rings of Juniper, he expanded that language through collaboration, surrounding his guitar with strings, piano, and clarinet. With his third album, For Luca, Cuylan continues that spirit of exploration, this time turning toward grief, universal connection, and the interspecies friendships that have a lasting impact on our lives.
Luca’s arrival brought about an unexpected shift in Cuylan’s life and music: he embraced the responsibility like a father welcoming a child, grew closer to his wife, and returned to the acoustic guitar he’d set aside for two decades in favor of synthesizers, electronics, and skittering jazz.
https://hushhushrecords.bandcamp.com/album/for-luca
Leon III (say it “Leon the Third”) releases their 4th full-length studio album Candy Cigarettes. The album is packed with atmospheric and psychedelic undertones, in your face classic rock mixed with touches of shoegaze indie textures. Sonically, Candy Cigarettes is an adventure that begs the listener to immerse themselves in the music – challenging today’s single driven landscape with a full album experience.
Word of mouth, underground buzz, and a fiercely loyal following has been the story of Leon III so far. With Candy Cigarettes, the band’s fourth studio album, Leon III continues to build on that momentum with its most fully realized collection of songs to date.
Leon III has quietly become one of the underground’s best-kept secrets. Led by Andy Stepanian, the visionary behind Howler Brothers, and Mason Brent, the band has cultivated unforgettable live shows, enduring songs, and a fiercely independent spirit, the band’s growth has come naturally—one fan at a time.
Recorded over two years with the band’s core touring lineup and produced by Mark Nevers (Silver Jews, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy), Candy Cigarettes is equal parts psychedelic road trip, pedal steel-soaked country, and widescreen rock record. It’s an album that fully embraces contrast while remaining unmistakably Leon III.
The wait is over for Learning How to Cope, the highly anticipated fifth studio album from alternative rock band Cartel. A collection of songs fueled by discontent and a desire for change, Learning How To Cope marks the band’s first full length record since 2013. Fans were previously treated to tastes of the new album, including “Oxy Moron”, “Give Or Take”, “Deadbeat Drag”, and “Shirts & Skins”. Today they can stream the album in full for the first time, including brand new track “Constants (feat. Dashboard Confessional)”, here. Physical copies are available now via Field Day Records.
Frontman Will Pugh shares: “It’s been 13 years since I’ve had this feeling. Learning How To Cope is a journey that officially started 21 months ago, but in a lot of ways, it feels like it took the whole decade plus to be ready to write these songs. Life is funny in that way. It wasn’t that long ago that I would’ve told you that Cartel was a part of my past, and I’m incredibly grateful that my past self was dead wrong. I’m forever indebted to everyone who has helped bring this record to life and to everyone who now will experience it with us. Thanks for sticking around. We can’t wait to enjoy the journey from here.”
CJ Solar and The Old Souls, independent singer-songwriter CJ Solar’s exciting new artistic endeavor, today announces the November 6 release of their debut album Black Label Blues. Along with the announcement arrives “Blame It On Me,” a guitar-driven track with a Rock edge that serves as the turning point of the album, bridging the heartbreak with the hopeful tracks that follow.
CJ Solar and The Old Souls marks a creative reinvention for CJ Solar, a proven hitmaker who launched as an artist in 2019 and was riding a wave of success that was quickly halted by the pandemic. He spent the past several years rediscovering his artistic voice, deepening his connection to the music that shaped him and leaning into his Bayou State roots. He now returns with his longtime bandmates —a band rooted in camaraderie, shared musical values and a reverence for the past. Together they approached this project with an old-school ethos, recording the music in a way that honors classic processes like the greats that came before them. The result is Black Label Blues (produced by Nick Gibbens, Solar’s longtime drummer): a rich, genre-blending sound that melds swampy Soul, Blues-drenched guitar work and sharp Nashville storytelling.
Following a breakout run that has included a successful new album, a performance at Coachella, sold-out shows, and an expanding international audience, Mind Enterprises looks back at the unlikely story behind it all in The Story of Negroni Love. The new 25-minute documentary follows Andrea Tirone and Roberto Conigliaro on the road while tracing the friendship, humor, and shared imagination that shaped the project.
Filmed during the duo’s previous tour, The Story of Negroni Love captures Mind Enterprises traveling between shows, searching for proper Italian food, slipping into character, and finding comedy in the routine of life on the road. Those moments are woven together with the story of how two longtime friends developed their own vision of Italo disco and carried it from their home base in Barcelona to an international audience.
Los Angeles, CA band Starling are excited to share their new EP, Plexus, available everywhere now via broke Records. Teased over the last year, the four-piece’s new collection of songs captures the group prioritizing pop sensibilities and weaving melodic hooks into their sparse sound. The official music video for “Sunbeam” arrives today, taking a page from fairy tales like The Princess and The Pea and Where The Wild Things Are. The band’s image oscillates between reality and stop-motion animation, infusing a sense of play into the opening track of the EP.
“The rollout of the songs on ‘Plexus’ started early in 2026, without knowing what would become of them. We wanted to start putting new material out there, but only decided on the EP once a couple of songs were already out,” Lead singer and guitarist Kasha Souter Willett explains. “We started to feel these songs fit together and how they were emblematic of this era of Starling. Many songs on the EP, such as ‘Sunbeam’ and ‘See the Water ’, are songs we have been playing live for a while. But ‘571’ and ‘Anti-sonata’ were born more in the shed that we recorded these songs in before bringing them to the stage. After experimenting with longer songs on our record Forgive Me, we wanted to focus on songs that were faster and more fun to play live.”
“The music video for Sunbeam was initially going to be for a song that was scrapped entirely from the EP. We felt the concept fit much better for the song anyway. We worked with director Meriel O’Connell over a period of many months on concept and shooting, going with a play on the princess and the pea fairy tale with the use of stop motion for the dolls.”
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