Bronx-born artist Sapuis has released their magnum opus Before I Die – a genre-fluid collection of songs exploring the topic of fulfilling your dreams before the time runs out, something that each of us can connect with. Memento mori!

We are thankful to Gothenburg for all the music that has blossomed there – from metal to Ace of Base to The Knife and the whole chillwave scene. There's one more reason to be excited about the city's music landscape – multi-genre label Suicide Records and its artist Fabian Brusk-Jahn. We're excited to review his upcoming EP In the dungeons of Bäckabo.

The track from this varied cast of musicians is deceivingly simple but disarmingly effective. Percussive bursts ring out like gun shots and stutter like insects from a dark sci-fi horror. Exhales and screams fill the air. Dirty bass and psychedelic synth textures pump up the atmosphere of heat, while the rapping hits you on the head with punch after punch at machine gun speed. Instant classic!

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Who knows what's hidden behind every beautiful thing? I don't. But I know who is behind 11 beautiful songs on an album called behind every beautiful thing. Two beautiful people named Shpresa Lleshaj and Cole Randall. Together we know them as flora cash. Their name is paradoxical – it brings together gifts of nature (flora) and temptations of society (cash), just as their album "plays with contrasts—sincerity and irony, hope and doubt, heaven and hell". Let's take a closer look.

Tommy Simpson is one of the most celebrated under-the-radar heroes on this blog. We've recently covered his excellent soundtrack to "Streets Loud With Echoes", a documentary about the life of brave political activists in Kazakhstan. Now it's time to turn our ears to a strikingly different kind of sountrack penned by Tommy. This time he composed music for "Kung Fu Games" – a "Kung Fu genre film mixed with a SAW/Cube claustrophobic thriller".

Steinsdotter is a London-based artist known for pushing stylistic boundaries with her astonishingly nuanced yet minimalistic avant-pop sound and unorthodox vocal approach. She often reaches to her Nordic roots for inspiration and has a wide arsenal of music styles that keep feeding her musical ocean. Her latest offering is 3 – a collection of three tracks "that explore themes of home, reinvention, and homage".

Rising Caribbean Neo Soul artist Ms. Lí-Lí Octave has released her highly anticipated live album, "Play on Venus (Live)" on September 30, 2024. The album includes 10 original tracks, written between November 2023 and February 2024, all recorded live during her performance at the Jazz ‘n Dine 2024 event at the Intercontinental Dominica Cabrits Resort and Spa.

Core Memory is not just a musical collective in the usual sense of the word. It's a multimedia project! And things only get more interesting from here. Its members are two brothers – McKinley and Harrison Foster. McKinley lives in New York and writes all the music, combining electronic textures, unusual-sounding guitars and warm lo-fi sheen. Harrison lives in LA and provides adaptive visuals for the music. Brothers have just released "Array", an album exploring the themes of nostalgia and childhood with the help of acoustic instruments. The artwork is the drawing of the brothers' childhood home.

UK-based independent musician Rob Lea has found success as a member of Majesty, a Queen tribute band. And not only success in a superficial sense of the world – Rob has found a devoted and loving audience that has helped him put his debut self-titled album on official UK charts due to significant physical sales. And now his album has found its way to our radars. And yours too! Let's tune in together and see what the buzz is all about.

It is good to see Macro/micro and Tommy Simpson finally join forces. For those who read our blog carefully both of these names sound familiar. Moreover, these attentive readers already know they belong to the same person – an immensely talented LA-based film composer and electronic music producer. Tommy is known professionally as Tommy Simpson when he works on film scores and prefers to call himself Macro/micro when he lets his creative mind roam free, which results in music that is often hard to categorize but easy to get puzzled and hypnotized by.

Nico Guzzi is a multi-talented Italian musician who has found success in genres such as rock and electronica. Other areas of Nico's interest are ambient and instrumental music. He explores these genres on the self-explanatorily-titled album "Instrumental love Pt. 2".

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

The long months of 2020 were sad, hard, dark times for many of us. And for a great deal of us they were the times when we had the chance to try something new, perhaps something unusual or a little bit more ambitious. San Diego outfit Mrs. Henry were among the latter. It was during the pandemics that they started working on a 3-act rock opera "Keep On Rising".

The Phantom String is the multi-stylistic project of Olaf Kujat. The music released under this name is hard to categorize. It paints a surreal sonic world with touches of ambient, classical, electronica, jazz and pop. The closest non-musical analogy would be the cinematic universe of David Lynch. The new album "Teapoy" continues in this vein, inviting the listeners on an almost hour-long journey.

Australian producer Watermelon Boy is a unique musical alchemist. He sets diverse sounds of the global south against his own deep background in Australian electronic tradition. Most of Watermelon Boy's music is rooted in collaborative experiences. His latest release "The Wow Signal" is no exception. It showcases a rich palette of talented artists from Ghana, Fiji, Chile, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Jamaica.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Brooklyn-based trio JENTL consists of vocalist Darren Dominique Davis, bassist Daniel Mehaffey and drummer Jimmy Arvan. Merging the sounds of classic disco, French house, soul, pop and funk, JENTL will appeal to fans of Daft Punk, Parcels, Roosevelt and similar acts. "People Change" is their sophomore EP. The record boasts contributions from producer Dan Freeman (Honey Dijon), guitarist Russell Graham (Chic, Dua Lipa), drummer Omar Hakim (David Bowie, Daft Punk) and singer-songwriter Chris Keating (ex-Yeasayer).

I will be honest. When I first read the band name No Beauty, I had a feeling in my gut: despite the title, the music I am going to hear is going to be filled with beauty, love and care. And I was not mistaken. The band that came into life after an unexpected meeting of two minds and hearts at a friend's birthday party knows a thing or two about writing beautiful tunes and adorning them with beautiful arrangements. Let's listen to their debut EP No Beauty Will Remain together.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

tender spring presents "Hesitation" – his debut single released with the Nettwerk label. The composition finds the perfect balance between sonic and emotional richness and the ability to fade into the background beautifully, changing the air around it in unexpected ways: "It sounds like stepping into a lounge bar or a cool café on the other end of town. This is one to play when you sip good coffee and get the day started." If you follow this piece of advice from the press release, your day is going to start beautifully. The biggest hook of the track is probably the moody piano. It draws you in and slowly surrounds you with small details – background noises, touches of distortion on the drum track, tasty saxophone licks. Jonas Cook provides the nuanced bass part and singer-songwriter Rich adds a touch of intimacy with background vocals that instantly bring to mind Blood Orange's best pieces.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

MICKEY B is the new name taken up by the artist previously known as Mikele. Mikele used to do trap rock, which already sounds somewhat adventurous, but MICKEY B goes even further with his experiments. "Dry Lands" EP gives us the first taste of those.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

ada ardor has been riding a wave of hype with singles from her upcoming EP "Secret Sunday Service" popping up on the radars of BBC, KEXP and Rolling Stone. And now its our turn to trumpet her sonically bold and disarmingly sincere tunes. The EP is schedule for release on May 10, but we've had the privilege of an early listen.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Switzerland-based artist and songwriter Mary Middlefield is the one to watch in 2024. Her blend of dreamy and imaginative indie rock with disarmingly, sometimes brutally honest lyrics is hard to ignore.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Broey. is an artist, producer, and audio engineer from Scranton, Pennsylvania who often describes himself as a "real sound guy". He is most famous for chill tracks in the vein of lo-fi hip-hop, but Broey. feels at home in many other genres, including dance music featured on his latest EP "Fragments".

Aggrasoppar call themselves "a secret Faroese flowerpunk naprap semi-supergroup". But in reality they are bigger than this label. Moreover, they are probably more of an art collective than a band.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

"Wake n Bake, Vol.1" is a conceptual album from Melo-X, a versatile producer that has made a name for himself by making platinum-selling beats on his iPad. The idea behind the album is creating a "soundtrack for morning activities that elevates routine tasks into moments of mindful engagement and awakening".

Macro/micro is the electronic music project of LA-based Tommy Simpson. Tommy's previous work as record producer and film composer, including projects with NIN's Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, definitely shows in his music, including the latest EP "Clicks". Let's dive deeper into the record and see what it unveils.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Mary Middlefield's new single is bitter, sad, intimate, vulnerable, riotous, gut-wrenching, warm... Yes, all of that at the same time. The singer bravely tells the story of statutory rape, aided by epic strings, dreamy guitars and subdued drumming. Read her comment to learn more about the track's story.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Step into the heartfelt world of Hawk Björn's latest release, "Illumination." This EP is Hawk's way of sharing warmth and hope during a tough battle with cancer. Created in The Shed, North Vancouver, and polished by Winston Hauschild on Bowen Island and Andy Kravitz in Venice Beach, the tracks on this record hold an unmistakable sincerity. Hawk's music, a blend of pop melodies, earnest lyrics and beautifully stripped-down production, is a personal journey that manages to resonate universally.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Cumbria-raised and London-based artist and songwriter Bryony Jarman-Pinto is back with a standout track "Moving Forward". The song takes no prisoners from the very beginning offering all kinds of donic goodness: gorgeous disco strings, stylish funky guitars, bright and extremely satisfying piano, and, of course, Bryony's effortlessly cool vocals. The song was inspired by changes in Bryony's life – her motherhood and the way this shift strengthened the bond with her partner.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Raised in Casablanca, Morocco, Just Leila absorbed diverse musical influences from jazz and French pop to Arabic melodies and R&B. Later the singer sold all her possessions and followed her dreams devoting all her times to music and travelling. Just Leila describes the music she came up with during this time as "a therapeutic outlet, exploring themes of freedom, truth-seeking, and the importance of playfulness in life". A suitcase with musical equipment accompanies Leila on all her travels. The music inspired by the the vibrant life in such places as New York and Mexico has been gathered into the new EP "Just For Me" scheduled for release on December 18.

Missa brevis Abbaye de Thélème is a one of a kind album that aligns with the lineage of musical masses, tracing back to Guillaume de Machaut, Gabriel Fauré, and Pierre Henry. However, within its textures, rhythms and melodies, it resonates with a myriad of musical genres close to composer Jean-Francois Charles's heart. Listeners can discern the echoes of "Pink Floyd, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Albert Ayler, Dr. Dre, Eminem, the French vocalist Mylène Farmer, and even Lady Gaga", as quoted by the artist. But this list is just a tip of the iceberg. Anika Kildegaard's powerful voice brings a unique touch to this kaleidoscope of sounds and contexts.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Orange A Boom is the project of Dane Lundy, whose past experience includes work as a professional bass player. Probably this is the reason why bass sound plays such an important part on his new single "Mortar". The artist describes the composition as a taking your on a "cosmic voyage all while bobbing your head", which is pretty accurate.

Quarantine Beach is an Anglo-Dutch-Greek-German band based in Rotterdam. Their music takes its roots in 80s New Wave and Indie Rock, while the lyrics written by novelist and short story writer Anthony Banks (vocals, guitar) are pure poetry. The group's first EP, "The Dreampath of Desire", fully showcases the band's unique musical style and innovative lyricism.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Insanely talented Swedish singer-songwriter Noak Hellsing presents "YESTERYEAR" – a six-track EP scheduled for release on October 20.

Berlin-based outfit "Atomic Fruit" describes their upcoming album "Play Dough" as a "genre-bending, unhinged, apocalyptic dance ceremony which embraces the surreal". The description sounds ambitious, but the album totally lives up to it.

Chris Portka, the California bay-area based musician, embarks on an odyssey unlike any other with his latest opus, "Trash Music." Drawing from a rich tapestry of influences ranging from the rawness of grunge to the avant-garde vibrations of Sonic Youth and Captain Beefheart, Portka weaves a sonic narrative that defies easy categorization. This vinyl LP, a limited edition work of art, takes us on an exploration of dream and discord. With an album cover as evocative and out-of-this-world as its soundscape, "Trash Music" promises to be a testament to Portka's audacious spirit in the world of music.

Chris Portka, the California bay-area based musician, embarks on an odyssey unlike any other with his latest opus, "Trash Music." Drawing from a rich tapestry of influences ranging from the rawness of grunge to the avant-garde vibrations of Sonic Youth and Captain Beefheart, Portka weaves a sonic narrative that defies easy categorization. This vinyl LP, a limited edition work of art, takes us on an exploration of dream and discord. With an album cover as evocative and out-of-this-world as its soundscape, "Trash Music" promises to be a testament to Portka's audacious spirit in the world of music.

Color Theory is the brainchild of Brian Hazard. The project started in 1993 as a synth pop act and has maintained this defining influence throughout all of its long history. Color Theory took just one stylistic turn with 2002's "Something Beautiful" recorded with live instruments, but the album is now unavailable on streaming platforms, probably as a way to maintain the project's stylistic purity. Apart from knowing his way with synths and audio plugins, Brain is also a classically trained pianist, and on many of his records piano parts play a prominent role, even on the tracks from 1999's "Perfect Tears" produced solely on Propellerhead's legendary ReBirth software. However, on his recent records Brian has mostly ditched the piano and "pure" old school synth pop for the wildly popular synthwave, and has done so to great results, both artistically and in terms of streaming numbers. His most recent effort is called "Underneath These Dying Stars" and is scheduled to come out on October 6. We were lucky to hear the album before release and write this review.

CHIEF BROOM is a band that was started in Boise, Idaho by two brothers, Shadrach Tuck and TJ Tuck. The collective's debut album commemorates TJ who died from fentanyl overdose at the age of 22 and honors his legacy. The LP features TJ's drumming and serves his artistic vision, also including samples from the brothers' childhood.

Rolling Corpse Pathetiqué is the ambitious debut album by Canadian Avant-Goth trio Output 1:1:1. During the recording of their podcast Cold Waves of Comfort the band deconstructed existing songs and remade them into expansive sonic landscapes. This inspired them to reverse-engineer the creative process and craft songs from seemingly unlikely starting points: walls of feverish percussion, organic noises and emotionally raw vocalizing.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

"Saturday Night Motel Music," the fifth opus released by The Motion Epic, emerged from an intense week of creativity in the heart of January 2023. Influenced by the sounds from the mid-80s to the early 90s, the album sounds familiar yet fresh and has a wealth of vivid melodies and inspiring sonic choices to offer over the course of ten tracks.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

James Beastly is a San Francisco-based musician proudly blurring the stylistic lines between gloomy post-punk and shiny indie rock. His latest effort Junk Values is a perfect example of this approach.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Couch Cult project was started by three friends, improvising in a basement during the strange and sad COVID pandemic times. Their debut self-titled EP was produced by Winton Josephs from Atlanta. It's an emotional and sonic capsule that blurs the borders between hopefulness and doubt, between imaginary and real.

Porcelain Tongue are a post-rock band from Boise, Idaho. They are back with a deep and complex album Goodbye Peggy.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Fairuza Zagidullina is an immensely talented singer from Tatarstan. When she was growing up in Zangar Kul village, she was already famous in her area for singing songs by Zohra Sakhabieva, Alfiya Avzalova and other female Tatar vocal legends. For Fairuza, singing is a way to celebrate the beauty of the world. Her voice has a quality that is known in Tatar language as моң. The singing that is described as having моң is both heavy with traditional Tatar melisma and has an indescribable combination of sadness, longing and soul. Interestingly, her newest song Авыл Киче is about the nostalgia for villages being the places where people sang the old songs with моң. And this very song brings back those familiar feelings, but with modern arrangement. The production duties were handled by Timur Mitronin, who is part of groups Djinn City and Vatannar, both reimagining traditional Tatar songs collected in expeditions with modern production means. We can't wait to hear more Fairuza Zagidullina and see how she combines personality, tradition and modern approach to production in her unique songs.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Emerging from the culturally rich landscape of Oxford, UK in 2017, Shaven Primates are a five-piece band, pushing the boundaries of dark-wave, art-rock, and multiple forms of punk and drawing inspiration from a broad spectrum of artists, ranging from Velvet Underground to Prodigy to Pink Floyd.

Alena Ciera is a Maryland-based singer and guitarist. Her new EP "All In My Head" is a breath of fresh air. Its strong melodies stay with you for a long time, and its tasteful funky arrangements create a sonic world of their own.

We are coming back with "Loud Sounds" to show you some of the best new tracks we've found.

Edie Yvonne's fresh track is a light-footed mccartneyesque tune that feels as relaxed as an afternoon on a sun-laden green meadow and as warm as a cup of fresh milk. Summery acoustic guitars and welcoming vocals are like a warm blanket that covers you, bringing you healing comfort. The lyrics are bittersweet, but they are presented with such love that the main emotion the song channels is joy.

This Fever by Shedir instantly sends shivers down your spine. Right form the very first second. What is the origin of the powerful noise burst that starts the track? Turns out it is the field recording of Mistral wind captured by Shedir herself on the island of Sardinia where she lives. Later it is swallowed by resonant layers of drony and pulsing synths, ghostly string echoes and white noise. This Fever is definitely one of the most interesting ambient tracks we've heard in a while.

VILIFY's new track is rich and detailed. Layers of gentle arpeggiated guitars, vocal chops that sound ghostly and even somewhat painful, deep cloudy bass textures and crisp drums create an atmosphere of mystery and darkness. However, underneath it all you can feel an undeniable layers of warmth chanelled by breathy vocal-like textures and pads. However, our fav parts of the composition are its lead synths that sound elegant, snaky and borderline jazzy.

On its new single LA-based project Conflict at Serenity Pools effortlessly combines chill dreamy guitars, relaxed vocals and sunny melodies to craft a hazy summer atmosphere.

Boston-based progressive post-punk band Trailer Swift are back with an emotionally diverse and intense album Variant, boldly and sincerely expressing "isolation, unfulfillment and underlying doom without spelling it out".

Paradise Lost is the debut EP from Australian multi-instrumentalist Aleesha Dibbs. It's a challenging and fascinating listen that turns the "process of transformation and self-actualisation" into detailed sound paintings with deeply moving lyrics.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 59th installment of the series.

Graffiti Welfare is a psych-pop musician based in Denver. His debut album Revolving Shores skillfully constructs a captivating storyline of doubt and self-reflection, creating a profound experience that feels like a real journey.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 58th installment of the series.

Chris Portka is an artist and musician living and working in California's Bay Area. His newly-released track with a pretty self-explanatory title "Ambient Jazz Metal" brings together gritty guitar textures, frenetic drumming and bass that you don't always hear clearly, but can certainly feel in your guts. The composition also features vocals that instantly bring to mind Robert Pollard. We talked to Chris about the writing and recording process and more.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 57th installment of the series.

Nil Elses's ambitious debut EP Quiet Invocations was recorded between Santiago in Chile and Seattle. The project that brings together cinematic soundscapes, dark techno grooves and downtempo influences took a year and a half to complete. And you can definitely hear it in the producer's attention to detail.

Each song on Soft Loft's debut EP is a gem in its own right, but "Summer Sadness" is our favourite. With dreamy guitars, an intricate drum pattern, and a lovely wordless vocal hook that comes later in the song, the track invites listeners on an emotional journey through the depths of melancholy, while offering a glimmer of hope and light. Jorina Stamm's lead vocals are both haunting and hopeful. Her voice carries a touch of vulnerability. Yet, there's a certain longing and a glimmer of resilience in her delivery, as she explores the complexities of her emotions. The wordless vocal hook acts as an anchor, a comforting refrain that lingers in the listener's mind, providing a sense of solace amidst the darkness.

Journey Of The Soul, the new EP from artist and producer Lars combines multiple influences from big room, progressive house, melodic techno and future rave, creating a stylistically and emotionally unique story that indeed feels like a journey.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 56th installment of the series.

Jan Jelinek's soundtrack for audiovisual software SEASCAPE – polyptych is a mesmerizing and haunting musical journey that transforms the voice of Captain Ahab from Moby Dick into an otherworldly instrument. Working in collaboration with Canadian new media artist Clive Holden, Jelinek based his compositions on image and acoustic source material from the classic film.

Lisa Heller's new single is remarkable both sonically and lyrically. Its dreamy guitars, dramatic synths and huge digital bass create an atmosphere that is intimate and epic at the same time. The bittersweet lyrics deal with the topic of relationship on the verge of breaking down, because the narrator is not ready for personal change.

MEYY, whose music we have featured before, has released her new EP, "Digital Gloss," before embarking on a European tour. Its standout track "Tshirt" features a rubbery groove that immediately sucks you in. The hypnotic melody that follows creates a sense of tension that is perfectly balanced by the textural synths, providing a dreamy and ethereal soundscape. The unorthodox percussive sounds add a unique layer of complexity to the track, keeping the listener engaged and curious throughout. Read on for MEYY's comment about the EP.

qaynar is a band from Kazan, Tatarstan, that positions itself as a "musical laboratory". Their new EP can be described as experimental electronica with a strong improvisational backbone that makes prominent use of Turkic instruments. The grooves feel like they could fall apart at any second, but that's exactly what makes them stand out. The lyrics are truly poetic and the production is detailed but it leaves enough room for Radif's emotional vocals to breathe. We asked Radif to talk about Күлмәк (Shirt), the standout track on the EP.

SeineSation is a singer-songwriter based in NYC who has recently released a 4 track EP titled "Glimpse." The EP brings together "old world atmospheric musical energy with new age pop, creating an immersive experience woven with lyrical ballads". The standout track on the EP is "Birdcage," which is an effortlessly beautiful song about the struggles of finding oneself and one's path in life. Seine has used field recordings of birds to create a natural, organic feel. The melody is highly emotional, and Seine's vulnerable vocal performance adds new depth to the song. Other tracks on the EP share the same metaphoric and introspective quality as "Birdcage." Seine's personal favorite, "Life", is a powerful ballad that showcases a stronger side of her voice. Read on for Seine's comments about each song on the record.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 55th installment of the series.

Upon listening to "QT" by MEYY and TWST, one is immediately transported to a mesmerizing, fairy-like world filled with glittering crystals and fluffy clouds. The track is highly melodic, with a catchy hook that immediately grabs the listener's attention and refuses to let go. MEYY's vocals are delicate and ethereal, perfectly complementing the dreamy production by caro♡, known for her work with Charli XCX and PC Music. As the song progresses, the production becomes more maximalist, with layers of shimmering synths and driving beats building to a euphoric crescendo. TWST's vocals add an extra dimension to the track, her unique tone and style blending seamlessly with MEYY's.

Knife Girl, whose music has been featured many times on this blog, is back with a new single. It's a piece of funky goodness that sounds like a sped up version of a lost disco classic. The song combines Prince-like guitars, a shameless octave bass line and Lili's trademark pitch-manipulated vocals.

Tiefling is the moniker of Boston-based artist and producer Jack Salvucci. The project's music ranges from ambient and indie pop to neoclassical and noise. it's not polite to stare, however, is the second in a row of hyperpop singles. It's manic energy is somehow balanced by the nostalgic 2000s pop feel (we couldn't help thinking of Eastern European acts like Hi-Fi). The result is a track that's gut-wrenching and calming at the same time. Have you heard something like it before?

We're loud. But sometimes we wanna get hyperloud. Listen to our fav new hyperpop artist Heartbreaker.

The Parlor is made up of husband and wife Eric Krans and Jen O'Connor. Their atmospheric music, somewhat abrasive sound and sweet yet dark melodies create sonic pictures that are part landscapes, part pastorals and part abstract paintings. The duo's new single "Serpentine" is a highly melodic piece that the band members themselves have described as "sunshiny sandpapery psychedelic love song". Emotionally the song is comforting yet bittersweet, which is exactly what made me come back to it again and again.

Vitesse X is an innovative producer with a distinct sound that fuses together breakbeats, dreamy guitars, and manipulated vocals. Her latest work, "Right Now", showcases this recognizable palette, crafting an atmospheric score for a moment of introspection and grounding. The track embodies the serenity of a sunrise on a mountain hike. As Vitesse X recounts, "I hiked up a mountain to watch the sunrise while on a trip overseas in July, and it always feels so pure and spiritual to be in nature, watching the dawn break." The music video for "Right Now" takes the viewer on a journey to Montauk. The artist's bravery to dive into the cold ocean for the video displays her dedication to capturing the present moment in its rawest form. As she explains, "This song is about reclaiming the now, breaking free from the constant rush."

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 54th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 53rd installment of the series.

Nayeli is a German electronic artist with Mexican roots. She is no stranger to using abrasive techno-infused bass lines and harsh pounding rhythms to channel sweaty dancefloor energy. However, on "Rage" she steps up her her game and uses that dark energy not only to channel strong emotions but also to send an important social message. The track gives voice to anonymous victims of repulsive crimes against women in Mexico. We asked Nayeli to disclose the story behind it for our blog.

Angela Sclafani is a songwriter, performer, and theater-maker based in New York. Her newest single is a nostalgic tune with dreamy keyboards, warm acoustic guitar and beautiful harmonies in the hook. However, the most striking elements of the song are its memorable calming vocal melody and lyrics rich with details. The album containing the song will be released by indie label Pitch & Prose in February.

Ambient project ILUITEQ from Italian electronic music veterans Sergio Calzoni and Andrea Bellucci blends synths with electric guitar, acoustic piano and field recordings to create emotionally captivating soundscapes. Their newest tune In Danger is a post-trance record making use of heavily processed overdriven guitars and pulsing bass to create a rich sonic painting that feels paradoxically serene and anxious at the same time.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 52nd installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 51st installment of the series.

Having worked as engineer and producer on records by many major label artists including engineering credits for such legends as Dr. Dre, Rodney Jerkins and Timbaland, Morty has a rich background in pop and hip-hop music and surely knows how to create a sense of drama in his electronic productions by both sonic and song structure means. His debut album FIRST LIGHT fully showcases both his pop sensibility and understanding of song form. It also presents Morty as a versatile artist, capable of creating new sonic worlds by bringing together music ideas from different genres.

LDN Monos is the moniker of London-based songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Neil Curtis. After gaining the attention of big music blogs and playlists with three excellent singles, the artist is releasing his debut album August in Winter.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 50th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 49th installment of the series.

Forward-thinking sax virtuoso and producer Matthew Silberman aka narducci whose music we covered earlier is back with a new EP, the third and final in a series of mini albums. Matthew has recorded with Miguel, Bilal, Daron Malakian of System of a Down and Warren Cuccurullo of Duran Duran. But now his main focus is his own music. The standout tracks on the new EP include Martial Meditation and Death Is In The Air. The first is a slow meditative jam with a vibe reminiscent of Peter Gabriel's Passion and Alice Coltrane. The second is a sonic equivalent of fear that almost makes the hairs on the back of your head stand up. We asked narducci to talk about the recording process behind the two songs.

Boy Indigo is a Sacramento-based band, "equally inspired by retro soul, psychedelic rock & roll, jazz and hip-hop alike". The description might seem too eclectic to imagine, but it turns out to be surprisingly true. The new single is a great example of this style. Its bold, almost stadium-sized melodies feel at home an intimate musical setting made up of sparse bass, textural guitars and nuanced drums. Can't Feel Alright is a unique tune that sounds halfway between a festival singalong and a heartfelt lullaby. The song's lyrics may read as abstract on the surface, but they have real deepness behind them. Read on to learn about the song's connection to its frontman Devon's grandfather and his childhood in the south and decipher the song's mysterious ritualistic video.

Stain of Light, a duo based in Yverdon-Les-Bains, Switzerland, are back with a new EP Looking for Each Other. The lead single from the EP is I Wanna Save The World. The song features a simple but heart-warming harmony and a catchy melody. The track's intimate multi-tracked vocals are set against an ambient yet epic-sounding soundscape that builds so gradually that the breathtaking climactic finale feels like coming home. The band cite Billie Eilish and M83 as influences, which makes sense, as the former is known for combining intimate vocals with epic yet minimalistic production. They also say the song would sound best "on the train, in the evening, looking at a beautiful and nostalgic landscape". Read the band's comment about the song and its video.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 48th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 47th installment of the series.

Remedies is an alt-pop duo from Narvik in Northern Norway. Their latest tune Like The Other Boys is notable for its catchy melodies and dark synth tones inspired by the 80s. The song is full of drama and raw emotion. Read about the philosophy behind the lyrics and find out what TV series influenced the band's sonic choices.

"L.I.F.", the new single from the Brooklyn-based husband-and-wife duo Silver Liz is interesting for a few reasons. First one: it's a mix of country and shoegaze that sounds even better than you imagined. Second: the vocals are... well, incomprehensible, and this adds a pinch of beautiful whatthefuckness to an already unorthodox-sounding tune. Third reason – it's just a great tune with a great melody and vibe. Listen and read how it was created.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 46th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 45th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. Installment 44 features traditional songs from Ukraine and Gnawa community in Morocco reimagined by modern producers.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 43rd installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 42nd installment of the series.

Chet Doxas (woodwinds) and Micah Frank (electronics) have been playing and recording together since 2018. The chemistry between the two is evident on the 2019's collaborative EP All the Roads blurring the lines between textural and melodic, organic and "artificial". On the duo's upcoming album The Music of Hildegard von Bingen Part One, they "bring their open-ended approach" to four pieces by Hildegard von Bingen's a XXII century German nun, teacher, musician and mystic. The improvised soundscapes on the album are both sonically brave and mindful of von Bingen's legacy. The album's highlight is the delicate and slowly evolving Ave Maria built around a tape loop. The composition features a masterful harp performance by Mary Lattimore.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 41st installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 40th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 39th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 38th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 37th installment of the series.

"Meditating Out Loud" presents some of the best new ambient and downtempo tracks we've handpicked for you. We are coming back with the 8th installment of the series.

Einar Stray Orchestra's cult classic debut album Chiaroscuro turns 10 years in 2022. To celebrate the event, Berlin-based label Sinnbus is releasing a series of cover versions and reworks of all the album's songs. Awesome Norwegian art pop and electronica trio Von August release their version of "Yr Heart Isn't A Heart", translating the lyrics to Norwegian. The band ditched the lush flowery exhuberance of the original for the bare-bones minimalism of cold Nothern electronica. The track starts with the sounds of nature and ends with a harsh industrial techno beat, highlighting the song's lyrics dealing with environmental issues. Listen to the track, read how it was made and make sure to check the trio's unique style showcased on other songs included in this feature.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 36th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 35th installment of the series.

Yasmine Gill is a London-based singer and songwriter. She grew up soaking up influences from her dad's jazz and blues record collection and later turned her ear toward modern R&B from the likes of Snoh Aalegra and Lianne La Havas. Woman is the standout track on her new EP Feel. It's an elegant sophisti-pop song similar to Sade's Soldier of Love album. Yasmine's deep and smooth vocals, bittersweet piano chords and soulful saxophone melodies all work perfectly with an unmistakably 2022 beat with stuttering hi-hats.

Nathan Schram is a Grammy-winning composer, entrepreneur and violist of the Attacca Quartet. Portalegre is one of the highlights on his excellent (and very diverse) new album Nearsided. To record this texturally and melodically rich piece Nathan had to step out of his comfort zone and invited a few collaborators to jump into the fog with him. One of them is his wife Becca Stevens, an outstanding vocalist and songwgriter, whose vocals are a key component of the track. On Portalegre she goes through a kaleidoscope of emotions, from detached to scary, from eerie to ethereal, without using a single word to convey those feelings. The track has many layers both sonically and emotionally, but always manages to work with blank spaces as effectively as with actual sounds. Despite being emotionally challenging, it draws you in, inviting for multiple relistens. And each listen opens up new doors within the composition's sonic universe, hiding many subtle details and always staying open for interpretation.

Aroly Tariq is a singer, songwriter, producer, and visual artist from Melbourne. She originally started releasing tracks with a band called Audego, which she sang and played keys for. Aroly Tariq has only released two solo singles so far, the latest of which, Beretta, is a fine example of experimental R&B that's melodic, adventurous and slightly psychedelic at the same time, much like the music of Kelela. Her new tracks are fully self-written, self-produced and self-recorded. "I even learnt how to make film clips for it, 'cos I just wanna know as much stuff as possible. I love figuring new things out, especially with creative software," says the artist.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 34th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 33rd installment of the series.

"Left & Loud" is our series showcasing the best new experimental tracks we've discovered.

British-Australian producer and songwriter Oliver Halvorsen a.k.a. Vorsen is releasing 'Half as Much', the first single from his debut EP Real Life. His trademark style incorporates ambient textures, soulful vocals and percussion made from field recordings and kitchen sink sounds, including passing trains, salt shakers and even computer space bar sounds. Some of those made their way into 'Half as Much', making it sound even more intimate and organic.

Bastien Keb is a UK-based producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist. The hazy, rainy, washed-out sound of his latest single perfectly suits this ode to escapism. Its marriage of funk, soul and bedroom pop as well as the attention to detail bring to mind Jai Paul. The track also features a string section that helps bring this this twilight forest R&B jam to its climax.

Teresa Bergman's two latest singles deal with frustrating topics in a playful manner by using historic parallels, thoroughly crafted visual language and channel both her inner pain and her inner New Zealander. We spoke to the artist about the stories behind the compositions and her songwriting process.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 32nd installment of the series. This is a psychedelic edition. Enjoy.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 31st installment of the series. Today's tracks deal with ghosts building walls and Oshun, a deity in the Yoruba tradition.

Young Norwegian singer JEZ_EBEL has just released her new EP "the humbling chronicles of jez". Her project started as bedroom pop act. "For me it was a huge relief discovering an online community who enjoyed the whole "demo" vibe," says the artist. Her new songs sound much more polished than the early demos but still retain the intimate homespun vibe. Our favourite track from the new EP "Gooood Time" perfectly showcases this approach. It's vulnerable and is not afraid to talk about complex issues, but still gives you a sense of comfort that only gets stronger with every listen.

We previously covered music by Martin Ruby, an alt-folk project of Brooklyn-born singer and multi-instrumentalist Marco North, now living in Tbilisi, Georgia. The tunes we featured both came from his latest instrumental album Jacob and the Angel, a timeless collection of compositions often played on rare and forgotten instruments. His new song is a heart-wrenching tribute to a friend lost to Covid and the times when they both were young. Musically Marco channels his inner Brian Wilson. It reminds me of a quote from artist and producer Blood Orange about his favourite song of all time, "Beat a Drum" by R.E.M.: "[They are] attempting some kind of Brian Wilson type thing... that's not as awful as that sounds. It's actually incredible." Marco is also quick to criticize himself for this attempt: "I know that is just laughable". But it's actually incredible. And of course, there's Marco's one-of-a-kind deep voice. Listen and read the full story behind the song.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 30th installment of the series. Meet experimental electronica and jazz gone electro pop.

Studnitzky is an acclaimed German trumpeter who feels equally at home with jazz, classical and electronic music. The ingredients of his latest single "Dusk" are a pulsing bass, a dark and unrestful ambient soundscape, some noises that sound like field recordings and, of course, trumpet. The soundscape and bass sound like humming power lines in a lonely and god-forgotten place and the trumpet really sounds like no one else. We talked to Studnitzky about "Dusk" and his approach to music.

Jody and the Jerms formed in late 2019 and had only managed to play one show before lockdown hit. They took the time off stage to rehearse and perfect their sound. And it worked to their advantage, because none of the members had been in a band before that, and Jody hadn't had much experience with singing. However they still sound perfectly raw, bringing to mind jangly 80s indie rock, first and foremost early R.E.M. Their latest single The Harder I Try mixed by Mark Gardener from the band "Ride" is a perfect example of that.

Ron Cha is a pianist and composer from Assam, India. With a background in classical piano he makes music that brings together jazz, R&B and traditional music. His latest EP "Maati" showcases traditional Assamese melodies rearranged and harmonised by Ron Cha. It features contributions from a few iconic artists from all over the world including singers Kalpana Patowary and Biren Deuri and guitarist Lionel Loueke.

Nickon Faith is an Iranian electronic artist currently based in Manchester. His sound is characterized by the use of chopped up vocals working both as melodic and percussive elements, atmospheric pads and layered cinematic sounds. All of this gives Nickon Faith's music a mystical and almost ritualistic character. So it's not surprising that one his main influences is the French duo Deep Forest who got a Grammy in 1996 for pioneering the ethno pop approach combining traditional vocals and instruments with electronic influences. They were also fond of cinematic pads and chopping up the vocals they worked with. We asked Nickon to tell us about this influence and share some insights from the work on his new EP Circumambient.

Radio Wolf aka Oliver Blair is an electronic music artist, songwriter and record producer based in Berlin. His latest EP "NIGHT LIGHT" was composed exclusively during late-night hours. Its serene and dimly lit soundscapes seem to hide dark secrets, like the night itself. If you ever wondered why nobody ever wrote more music that is as magnificent, sombre, warm and quietly epic as Elegia by New Order, then this album is for you. "I call the collection of instrumentals on NIGHT LIGHT my "cinema of the mind" because I created the music from imaginary film scenes I invoked in the nighttime, no doubt inspired by the movies and soundtracks I grew up with. The imagery of artists like David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick, John Carpenter, Mario Bava, Alfred Hitchcock—the sounds of Angelo Badalamenti, Brian Eno, Vangelis, even rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix and many more—all frequencies you tune in and out of over time," says the artist. We asked Oliver to talk about each track from his excellent EP.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 29th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 28th installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the 27th installment of the series.

Occult A/V is David Kumler, best known among fans of postpunk and darkwave for his work as part of Foxxxy Mulder. Last year he decided to take a brave dive into electronica and released a series of stylistically diverse EPs. The particular song that caught our ear is his latest single Reaching Across The Void. The track inherits its rainy crackle- and sample-heavy sound from Burial, but puts a pleasant shine on it, without sacrificing the deepness and ghostly character of the composition. Watch the video for the single, listen to a selection of other tracks from Occult A/V and read our thorough interview with David.

Nancy Mounir is an Egyptian composer who works with the archival recordings of her country's famed singers from the beginning of the 20th century. Her approach is to stay faithful to the originals while bringing out new musical facets of these half-forgotten gems. Nancy plays an array of instruments including violin, piano, bass, Theremin and the traditional Egyptian bamboo flute kawala. Being familiar with the harmonic principles of the Western canon as well as the microtonal foundations of Arabic maqam helps her marry the two musical worlds creating a truly unique experience.

In their quest for new and unexpected melodies modern composers utilize generative music and neural networks as a trigger for their creativity. The process often yields unique results, as in the works of Flex Council's Josh Levy who uses AI to make his own brand of ghostly, eerie electronica (read our interview with Josh). Canada-based Tarun Nayar uses a different approach to make music that sounds quite unlike anything else. With background in Indian classical music and biology he brings together home-built modular synthesizers and "other analog equipment to improvise with the natural vibrations of a certain place and time – via plant bioelectricity, latent electromagnetic radiation, and even the earth's resonant hum". His latest hauntingly beautiful single Mushroom Dance finds Tarun in the early spring woods feeding the bioelectricity generated by a red-belted conk mushroom to his synths to come up with beautiful unorthodox melodic lines. Here is the story of the track.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the twenty-sixth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the twenty-fifth installment of the series.

Normie Girlfriend is a Washington, D.C. based folk rock band. It was started by singer-songwriters Madeline Graham and Alicia Coleman who grew close while working for a climate justice organization. Later joined by Liv Dussere, the band now records much of their music remotely from their college towns in US and Wales. The homespun character of their recordings creates an impression of an overheard intimate conversation. The band even goes as far as saying that the imperfections in the recordings are the defining elements of their style: "we embrace any wrong notes or misplayed chords". We talked to the band's Madeline Graham about the writing process and chemistry in the band and their plans for 2020.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the twenty-fourth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the twenty-third installment of the series.

Lyrah's singles Taken and Hold Me perfectly capture the state when you desperately need to hold on but the ground beneath your feet is fading. Hold Me, her latest and favourite song written as a cry out for comfort, turned out to be a source of comfort itself. We spoke to Lyrah about the writing and recording process behind it.

"Meditating Out Loud" presents some of the best new ambient and downtempo tracks we've handpicked for you. We are coming back with the seventh installment of the series.

Our new series showcases some of the best new indie folk tracks we've found. Here are the first two nuggets.

US-based electronic duo Asava has released a beautifully kaleidoscopic track Dialing Tokyo. The song is rich with catchy melodies, vivid and dynamic sounds and dizzying mood switches. But if I had to choose one word to describe it, I'd say that first and foremost Dialing Tokyo is fun. Read our interview with the band's Arkit Desai to learn about their love for the filthiest of wobbles and discover how the new track was inspired by solitary hikes in the mountains.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the twenty-second installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the twenty-first installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the twentieth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the nineteenth installment of the series.

"Meditating Out Loud" presents some of the best new ambient and downtempo tracks we've handpicked for you. We are coming back with the fifth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the eighteenth installment of the series.

"Meditating Out Loud" presents some of the best new ambient and downtempo tracks we've handpicked for you. We are coming back with the sixth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the seventeenth installment of the series.

Silver Liz are a husband-and-wife bedroom pop duo based in Brooklyn. On their new single Until Lately they step away from their trademark dreamy and experimental noise-pop and make a surprisingly catchy honest-to-god guitar pop tune. We talked to Carrie from Silver Liz about the song's inspiration, musicianship as a socially confusing walk of life and the band's new album.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the sixteenth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the fifteenth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the fourteenth installment of the series.

"Meditating Out Loud" presents some of the best new ambient and downtempo tracks we've handpicked for you. We are coming back with the fourth installment of the series.

NYC-based Rebecca McCartney is setting up for the release of her "groovy-jazzy-soulful-indie-RnB-singersongwritery EP", as the artist herself has defined it. One of the singles shared ahead of the EP is 'For Avery, in June' – the disarmingly honest acoustic tune written for a friend "who has been knocked down by relationships so many times". We asked Rebecca about the writing and recording process and about her friend's reaction to the song.

Flower falls between rock, soul, ambient and improvisational music. The highly atmospheric jam was born in collaboration between Heather Nation on lead vocals, guitar and keys, Fernando Gomez a.k.a. Nondoh on drums and Omar Lopez on bass, all of them active members of the San Diego music scene. Heather Nation herself has described the song as a "self-love anthem" with the potential "to remind each and every listener of their own personal superpower, the power to love yourself". The extremely emotional and versatile vocals, spacey guitars and explosive bass and drum parts create a soundscape drawing the listeners into a sonic universe of its own.

Best new R&B, trip hop and everything in between, vol. 2.

"Left & Loud" is our new series showcasing the best fresh leftfield electronic tracks we've discovered.

Knife Girl is definitely one to watch in 2022. Lili Aslo's music combines everything we love – experimental approach, sincerity, humour, catchy melodies and the drive to push boundaries. Knife Girl has released two EPs and a bunch of singles this year. Her latest release is OONA EP. We talked to Lili about our favourite track from the album.

Best new R&B, trip hop and everything in between.

Batila is a Berlin-based artist whose music marries the influence of his Congolese roots, haunting soulful melodies, an undeniable sense of groove, excellent musicianship and, of course, his charismatic singing. We talked to Batila about his various musical influences and experiences, the way he writes songs and works with his band.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the thirteenth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the twelfth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the eleventh installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the tenth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the nineth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the eighth installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the seventh installment of the series.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the sixth installment of the series.

"Meditating Out Loud" presents some of the best new ambient and downtempo tracks we've handpicked for you. We are coming back with the third installment of the series.

Broughton's "Miss Me" is dark and hard-hitting. The song has an unmistakable rainy and lonely vibe often found in UK electronic music. Broughton's lyrics deal with death and love. We talked to the prolific rapper about the way he writes his bars and picks his beats.

"Wavey Nights" by London-based artist Jordz is an infectous jam with an undeniable hook and influences from all our favourite dance music genres. It features a Korg M1-type organ bass (a house staple), vocal samples and drum patterns characteristic of UK garage and even some dubstep moments. The lyrics were inspired by Jordz's own experiences of nightlife. We asked him to tell us about his wildest night of clubbing. Read about Jordz's experience and listen to his extremely catchy single produced by Tomek Zyl Music.

Orbitfold is the musical project of Vytautas Jančauskas inspired by UK garage and IDM. Vytautas was born in Vilnius, Lithuania, and moved to Munich, Germany, after completing his PhD in computer science. Orbitfold's latest jam "Department of June" is everything you hoped for. It's dreamy, nostalgic, appealingly sentimental, dance-floor-ready and rich with sonic details. We asked Vytautas to tell us about the creative process behind the track and about his journey in music.

Summer Like The Season is art pop band based out of Detroit, Michigan. Their music is an invigorating mix of light-footed melodies, quirky grooves and organic samples collected from all cross the USA. Their sample sources include boat horns and sandpaper. For their latest single "Root Mean Square" the band used rainwater pouring down the drain to replace boring high hats.

Matti Charlton is a Canadian songwriter and artist. They are a member of the transgender community and are openly autistic. Matti's output is as varied as the instruments they were formally trained in (classical guitar, piano and cello) and includes Ragtime Hip-hop, Flower Child Witch Folk, Banjo Bedroom Pop and Trans-Disco, as defined by the artist themselves. Matti's latest jam "businesswoman in the 80s" is a piece of melancholic synthwave that features a head-spinning solo and ends deliberately too soon. Read what Matti said about the inspiration and rich context behind the track.

Singer, songwriter and producer Cosie grew up in Arezzo, a small town in Italy, learning classical violin from an early age. Now she lives in Frankfurt and makes charmingly minimalistic pop music. Together with the earnest and confidential tone of her vocals the minimalistic arrangements create a captivatingly intimate atmosphere. On the new song "Pharmakon" and Cosie's another excellent single "Somebody Else" its ingredients are piano, synths, subdued drums and organic sounds serving as percussion.

"Meditating Out Loud" presents some of the best new ambient and downtempo tracks we've handpicked for you. We are coming back with the second installment of the series.

Summer is getting unbearably hot where I am. Well, Netherlands-based artist ANNNA's new single might help. She says it is "that retro track that you'll want to hear by the poolside, in that coffee bar or wherever you'll be this summer". It has the melodically rich disco-tinged sound that's hard not to love (think Parcels, Roosevelt or Daft Punk's last album). The track is not just catchy, it comes with an important message. Read our interview with ANNNA to learn more.

Close your eyes, put away your phone and listen to some of the best new ambient and downtempo tracks we've handpicked for you.

Josh Christopher has been known to create massive waves of buzz with each release of his project WEIRDO – just to disappearly mysteriously shortly after. On new single he teams up with hitmaker A7S – to deliver once again. The magic ingredients to "CAN'T WITHOUT YOU" are raw emotion, huge bass, jangly guitars, soulful vocals and what might be WEIRDO's catchiest hook yet.

New York alt-pop duo RYAL quote MGMT and Stevie Nicks as influences for their new single "Tame". The Brooklyn duo likely informed their cool alternative synth-driven sound, while Stevie Nicks inspired the undeniable pop potential of Tame's hook.

"Loud Sounds" are some of the best new tracks we've found. We are coming back with the fifth installment of the series.

King Isis proudly define themselves as "the queer, Black genre-bending afrofuture you don't want to miss". In their new single "Sparkly" King Isis alternate between sensual vocals and energetic rapping, soundtracked by a warped alt-R&B beat. Watch the video for "Sparkly" and read our interview with the rising star.

Georgi Krastev's music has a dreamy, homespun quality to it. It sounds like waking up in the morning with a heavy head on a rainy day with just a brief moment of bright sunlight. But this moment gives you hope. Yes, it's going to be a sad and hard day, but life is still beautiful, and joy will come eventually. Read how Georgi came up with "In a Dream" that sounds like a lost Radiohead demo and listen to his other singles, including our favourites "Living in the Darkness" and "Light Years".

"Til Flowers Bloom", the debut single by Californian J Flint, is a song about contemplation and deep inner connection with the world and people around you. For Justin music is a healing process, and listening to his first tune is also a sort of healing. Written and recorded with a friend in a secluded cabin in the woods, the song instantly makes you relax and look inside yourself. It may be dark and cold there, but spring will come, birds will come back and beautiful flowers of love will bloom.

Находки translates from Russian as "Fresh Finds". We are coming back with the fourth installment of the series.

The Basics (pronounced as BAZ-itch) are an Australian band, formed by Wally De Backer (who has released a few awesome records as Gotye) and Kris Schroeder and later joined by Tim Heath. 2021 saw the release of their album B.A.S.I.C. mostly featuring covers of classics you can recite in your sleep. Despite this fact, the record still sounds fresh and exciting – you can't help feeling how much the band loves the songs they are playing. The lead single from the record is the cover of The Sonics' "Shot Down". Wally De Backer has kindly agreed to tell us why the band chose to rerecord the song and even sent an exclusive photo from the studio.

This week we couldn't stop listening to Maw's "pomegranatedelusion". It's the first single from the producer's forthcoming debut EP. "pomegranatedelusion" is a charmingly short track that, despite only featuring some chopped-up vocal samples, follows a traditional "verse – chorus – verse – chorus" structure. After repeated listens we still couldn't figure out the magic ingredient that makes you come back to the piece. It would be interesting to listen to the song in the context of the upcoming EP. Meanwhile we asked Maw to speak about the writing process.

Havana Swim Club is a project by film and TV composer Dan Koch. While on quarantine, he started crate-digging and experimenting with vintage samples of ska, disco, funk and jazz. His debut single "Lagoon" is warm, sunny and rich with little details he found in the process and brought together. The track instantly brings to mind 2000s lounge music, but, as we learned from Dan, the similarity is pure coincidence.

P!lot is a 19-year-old electronic music producer from UK. His music sounds huge and intimate at the same time. Imagine you are at a rave with thousands of people all singing and dancing as one. The music is banging. But even that feeling of unity can't kill the ever-present sting of loneliness and longing inside you. To evoke these complex feelings P!lot often uses atmospheric pads and haunting vocal samples together with hard-hitting kicks and breakbeats. We are premiering his excellent new track Midnight. Ollie Smith, the man behind P!lot, has kindly agreed to answer a few questions of ours.

Boo's "i see a halo" feels different every time you listen to it. It's a piece of ambient electronica merging organic and synthetic sounds and her sincere autotune-tinged vocals into an ocean of calmness and self-reflection. Is it a storm coming from the distance or a storm being born within? We asked Boo how she wrote the track, or rather how the track wrote itself.

Находки translates from Russian as "Fresh Finds". We are coming back with the third installment of the series.

Inge Weatherhead Breistein is a saxophone player and electronic musician from Bergen, Norway. All of the compositions on his upcoming album "Flying High Collage" are made entirely out of samples of piano and saxophone. We decided to take a closer look and asked Inge to guide us through the process, using his song "Refraction" as an example.

Станцуем translates from Russian as "Let's dance". Tune in to hear the latest under-the-radar dance tracks.

Находки translates from Russian as "Fresh Finds". We are coming back with the second installment of the series.

Mira Lu Kovacs's latest single evokes the feeling of desperately seeking for comfort. It speaks of enjoying and hating your desire and the anxiety that comes with it at the same time. The track has a playful groove, but it comes with dark undertones. We asked Mira to tell us how she came up with such an interesting tune.

Josh Levy writes music for his project Flex Council using neural networks. And it sounds like nothing else I've heard. His compositions have the ghostly, otherworldly character that is hard to mimic. They also belong to a rare breed of music that instantly provokes the question "What are these sounds? How did he make this?". We've had the privilege to ask Josh these questions in person.

Находки translates from Russian as "Fresh Finds". Tune in to the first installment of the series.

Shadi G is is a Swedish songwriter, producer and singer with a hauntingly gentle and sensual voice. She has created a unique brand of music that incorporates elements from R&B, experimental electronica and Persian tradition. On her latest single "Mitoone" she goes one step further, singing most of the lyrics in Persian.

Lincoln Jesser is a multitalented songwriter, producer and instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. His latest tune is not called "Peloton" for no reason. The song's groove is sure to gently suck you in just to help you keep going. Lincoln's careless vocals, sun-laden synths and sticky bass sound like spring in California. Tune in and read the story behind the song.

Caoilfhionn Rose is a singer and songwriter from Manchester. Her songs are delicate but powerful and borrow from 60s folk and psychedelic rock. The arrangements are dominated by the feeling of space, like Whistler's paintings. Her latest single "Fireflies" was produced by Keir Stewart of The Durutti Column, the band she previously collaborated with.

"songbird" is a meditative guitar ballad with a comforting groove and heartfelt lyrics. It was born from Nathaniel's conversation with an elderly man he met who had a feeling the world had forgotten about him. So the man made a plan of reconnecting with it by travelling the world on a train. Nathaniel's songwriting, just like that train, connects him with souls across the world. We asked him about the songwriting and recording process.

Temples of Youth call themselves "a DIY dream pop band". In truth, their music borrows from other genres emerged in the 80s like synthpop and new wave. Their latest single "Mercury" takes no prisoners, starting with a disqueting guitar riff and lyrics about an unsafe place that demands carrying a knife. However, the real message behind the song is one of being kind to yourself. We asked TOY's Joanne Carson to dismantle the lyrics for us.

"Waterfalls" is the debut single by leftfield R&B duo Quint. The mid-tempo jam is a combination of funky guitars, ice-cold pads, four-to-the-floor beat and a serenade sung through gritted teeth. Quint describe their music as lying "somewhere between The Weeknd and Toto". And we're intrigued to hear how they explore this territory further on.

If You Have No Friends make futuristic electronics with inventive structures and unexpected transitions between parts. Their compositions are filled with sounds that might seem uncomfortable at first, but, sewn together with soulful keys and catchy beats, they start to work as hooks. We asked Rodion, one half of If You Have No Friends, to tell us how the duo wrote their intoxicating track "Disorder".

52сагыш is an electronic music project by Radif Kashapov and Aniya Faizrakhmanova. It sounds raw and intimate – to the point of making you feel you accidentally overheard a secret conversation.

Zouch is an alternative pop artist based in Bristol. After not releasing much music for 10 years Elliot Lord, the man behind Zouch, comes back with "Snooze", a quietly captivating song that feels almost like a lost demo from early R.E.M. sessions. It's warm, naive and charmingly loose-jointed. Read the story behind "Snooze" and listen to the song.

After releasing "Zver", an EP of ironic post-acid bangers sung and rapped in Russian and Tatar that included the TikTok hit "Blinochki", Acid Minerale goes African. "Utopia" is a collaboration with Toussa, a rapper from Senegal known for her energetic style combining influences from hip-hop, pop music and the poetry of West African women called Taasu.

tired up is a dream pop band from Saint Petersburg, Russia. On their new track "Ice Cream Lips" they make use of subtle noise textures, washed-out guitars and heavy reverberation to create a sweet and hazy atmosphere. It certainly didn't hurt that the mixing was handled by Sasha Pyankov from one of Russia's best psychedelic bands Gnoomes. But probably the most engaging thing about the song is Katerina Boretskaya's gentle vocals. We asked her to tell us about the writing process.

Melbourne soul singer Elle Eliades has just released her debut single "Running". And it's a tune we can't stop spinning on repeat. The smoky ballad feels effortless. Turn on the song and read the story behind it.

Чёрный Государь (Chernii Gosudar) proudly cite classic Russian rock as their main influence. The band's performances are often theatrical, and the members look like they were born with wigs and greasepaint. But if you scratch the surface you will be rewarded with honest emotions. Their debut album "Rodnoy" is a rollercoaster trip through nostalgia, anxiety, foolishness and even horror. We asked the band's frontman Mitya Burmistrov to give us an insight into our favourite tune on the album.

Dima Nomer's "loader's feelings" is a genius piece of ambient electronica that has a dramatic story behind it. Are these the souls in the purgatory or just people talking at the cash register?

Juna is an eight-piece indie folk band from Kazan, Russia. They have just released their debut album "Amanat" that took three years to make. The ambitious project was presented with two sold-out shows where the band was backed by a choir. All of the songs on the album feature lyrics by modern Tatar poets. We asked Juna's Alexandra Mustafina to tell us the story behind the one that gave its name to the album.

javalavanda's electronica relies on light optimistic melodies and sounds groovy, fresh and somewhat naive. The man behind it is Gleb Pecherskikh, a former drummer in a math-rock band Bingo Bandy Club. You can feel his roots in the way he treats rhythm. "I perceive a drum part as a series of impulses rather than a kick-snare-kick-snare pattern. I would never put something I can't physically play in a song – my conscience wouldn't let me," says Gleb.

Porcelain is a new electronic act from London. They have just released their excellent debut EP 'Part One'.

Boris Geist's new album «Бессонница» ("Insomnia") is a modern take on the genre of Russian romance. It adds new colors to the palette: drums, ethnic instruments and even a toy cimbalom. We asked Boris to tell us how he wrote and recorded our favorite song on the album «Пусть» ("So Be It").

Pompeya, one of Russia's most-loved indie bands, is back with a new album "Bingo". Its lead single "I'm On My Own" is warm, melodic and catchy – in other words, it's everything we love about Pompeya. We asked lead singer Daniil Brod to give us an insight into the writing process.

Melis is a singer, songwriter and producer based in Berlin. Her new EP exploring such topics as loneliness and body image issues creates an unusual mix of intimacy and anxiety. Its ingredients are huge drums, gentle guitars, a warm blanket of synths and Melis's trademark soft yet powerful vocals. We asked Melis to tell us the stories behind every song on "Apex".

Jackie Therrien's "Best Friend & My Lover" proves a simple love song with just a voice and acoustic guitar can still sound unexpectedly fresh in 2020. We asked Jackie to tell us how she wrote the minimalistic ballad and were surprised with the story.

Big Fox's album "See How The Light Falls" is filled with everyday magic. "To me it's a reminder of the magic in the small things – finding the extraordinary in the ordinary," says Charlotta of the album title. The dark and haunting deepness behind the mundane does not reveal itself on the first listen, but it's what makes you come back to the album again and again.

Jerk is a guitar pop act from Kazan, Tatarstan, capable of both dirty beer-infused rock-n-roll anthems and warm gentle tunes reminiscent of Mac DeMarco. Their new video for «или каким-нибудь вором» ("Or Some Kind of Thief") shows a gentler side of Jerk and lets us peep into frontman Artur Jerk's life in the suburb with block houses, home-grown tomatoes and lovely stray dogs.

GØSPEL are a duo from London. Their excellent new single "Something4u" combines influences from R&B, alternative pop, 2-step garage, UK bass and ambient to create a dark and dramatic atmosphere similar to what Kllo have achieved on their latest record. We asked the band members to tell us about the writing and recording process.

Listen to his debut single "Skytrain". It will make you want to dance.

Macajey writes sunny and chill guitar pop that seems impossible not to like. Listen to his latest tune "Walkin'".

WEIRDO's latest single FAKIN' is an intoxicating mix of laid-back synths, hazy guitars, muted percussion and a huge, banging chorus. We asked artist and producer Josh Christopher, the man behind "the wonderful world of WEIRDO", to tell us what inspired the catchy realness anthem.

After two chill R&B ballads perfect for late night rides, Eli Moon, one of London's finest young vocal talents, is back with a banger. We asked Eli to tell us about London's influence on his latest neon-tinged single "Phases".

Zakary Tuktarov makes music under a few monikers. His output includes gentle folk, soul-tearing acoustic punk and collaborations with avant-garde jazz musicians. However, his latest album "Primitives" came out on French label Kalamine Records under his own name. It's a fascinating journey in search of your inner primeval man recorded in a secluded country house surrounded by Russian nature. We asked Zakary to tell us about the philosophy behind the album and the tools he used for recording.

Tiggy calls herself a nomad and writes pop songs with beautiful melodies that at times may sound fragile, naive, clumsy – in other words, uncomfortably real. "Everything you hear is written, recorded, and produced by me in my bedroom," says Tiggy's press release. We talked to the artist, now residing in New York, about her nomadic life and music.

Holofonote is Alina Karimova. She studied at Kazan Conservatory and plays the violin as her main instrument. Alina has recently started making electronic music inspired in equal parts by IDM and her academic background. We asked Alina to tell us the story behind every song on her new EP "Modular Memories".

Needle is an alt pop band from San Francisco. They have just released their new album “The Long View” – a record full of intoxicating textures and tranquil melodies. The band’s prior music has been compared to Daughter and Beach House, but on this collection of songs they have managed to create an atmosphere quite unlike anyone else’s.

Liyolei is Liya Safina. She has been painting and making objects all her life. She has recently started making music and has released two singles that sound refreshingly dreamy and homespun. We asked Liya to tell us a little bit about her creative process.

"What’s a Girl to Do?" is a new sweet and smooth R&B jam from Una Sand, a young artist and songwriter from Oslo, Norway. It’s a 90s R&B inspired piece.

Vanya Limb is the moniker of Erkin Makaveev, one of the most interesting young electronic composers in Russia. Erkin’s input includes exquisite electronic tunes, distorted techno and music for theatre and exhibitions. On „Six Random Episodes“ he explores ambient territory.

Young Melbourne R&B singer Bee Virginia has only released a handful of singles. But we can’t wait to hear more. Her latest two are sensual R&B jams "Won’t You" and "What Are You Doing To Me?".

Russian indie rockers are back with a surprising jam.

Dream pop act Cloud Cloud is an email collaboration between Katja Seiffert and Marten Kaffke living in Kiel (Germany) and Vienna (Austria). They met at a DIY punk show in Kiel and started working together.