Ask anyone what they’re looking for in love and the answer now arrives pre-hedged. Nothing serious. No labels. OLYMPIA has no use for the hedge. Her debut EP, Have You Ever Been In Love?, is five tracks of the opposite: wanting too much, saying so, and staying with it until something holds. The London-based singer-songwriter and producer draws on timeless songwriting and Greek poetry, and she has said plainly that she wants to bring romance back into a world of casual love. T

Pressure from every direction, and a refusal to bend to it. That's the feeling TYBIRD pour into 'Out of My Mind', and the band's official music video is now out for the world to watch. The Southern California rockers, fronted by Ty Morgan, wrote the track in a bedroom during Morgan's senior year of high school, when teachers and those around him were pushing a traditional path while he chose to go all in on music. That frustration runs through the song, which opens on acousti

Joan Fisher Every artist has a collection of songs that leave a lasting mark, whether they inspire a love of songwriting, shape an approach to storytelling or become the soundtrack to different chapters of life. Singer-songwriter Lindsey Wood, those influences span folk, classic rock, blues and Americana, with the sounds of Van Morrison, Tom Petty, Mazzy Star and Kacey Musgraves finding their way into her own cinematic, soul-driven approach to music. Drawing on decades of lis

Emily Anderson’s songs have a way of turning up in other people’s lives. “The Light” plays inside an episode of Virgin River. “Gold” was chosen to sell a beer. A reality-television season and a pair of video games have borrowed her writing too, all of them drawn to the same thing: she can make an ordinary feeling sound like it matters. “In The Garden” goes the other way. It starts with something nobody would think to score. Anderson was catching up with a friend, the friend’s

Photo Credit: Carianne Older Every artist has a collection of songs that leave a lasting mark, whether they inspire a creative spark, capture a defining moment or offer a sense of confidence and possibility. For Goldie Luxe, those influences reflect the bold, theatrical and unapologetically glamorous pop sensibilities at the heart of her own sound, drawing from the larger-than-life productions of the ’90s and 2000s, the worlds of R&B and hip-hop, and the empowering spirit tha

Robert Hinrichs turns personal upheaval into a burst of synth-driven pop on ‘The Road’, a track that balances reflective songwriting with an increasingly euphoric sense of release. Drawing on funk, new wave and electronic production, it pairs bright synths and propulsive rhythms with the theatrical pop sensibilities of Scissor Sisters and Mika, while retaining a distinctive experimental edge. Written in the aftermath of a difficult relationship and a fresh creative start, the

Every artist has a handful of songs that leave a lasting impression, whether they shaped their musical identity, opened the door to new sounds or sparked ideas that would eventually find their way into their own work. For Host Bodies, the San Francisco live electronic duo of James Collector (Swoop) and Nick Hess, those influences sit within a world of genre-defying electronic music, where experimentation, unexpected textures and a spirit of collaboration are central to their

Every artist has a handful of songs that become part of their DNA, whether they first sparked a love for music, captured a particular feeling or stayed with them through different chapters of life. For 2AP (Two Alien Planets), those influences reflect the emotional and atmospheric qualities that have become central to their own sound, from intertwining vocals and layered guitars to the cinematic indie-pop textures that give their music its sense of intimacy and space. With th

Ten years is a long time to put something down. ARI LEE spent a decade neglecting her passions, watching distractions accumulate into something that started to look like a life. Break The Habit', out today, is the sound of someone who finally answered that question and didn't look back. The penultimate single ahead of her sophomore EP What Happens When You Fall In Love In Stepford?, dropping 6th November, the track is about shedding false security in all its forms: bad habits

Every artist has a handful of songs that become part of their DNA, whether they first discovered a love for music through them, connected them to a particular moment in their life or simply kept coming back to them time and time again. For dance producer KEPA, those influences reflect the energy and escapism at the heart of his own sound, from the feel-good dance records that have soundtracked nights out to the house, UK garage and electronic sounds that continue to shape his

Every artist has a handful of songs that become part of their DNA, whether they first opened the door to a new sound, connected them to their roots or simply stayed in rotation through different chapters of life. For British-Ghanaian rapper Benicio, those influences reflect the meeting point between the two worlds that have shaped his identity, from the Ghanaian HipLife that connects him to his heritage to the UK rap and Afroswing sounds that have influenced his own artistic

Following the release of his latest 4-track EP 'Unanswered', Flex caught up with multidisciplinary electronic artist mokroïé to find out what influences his immersive electronic sound. If you enjoy mokroïé's picks, be sure to check out 'Unanswered' at the end of the article. 1. Massive Attack – Paradise Circus I love Massive Attack in their pure darkness, but also when they choose delicacy—like with this track which might seem weak at first, but reveals itself to be a masterp

Every artist has a handful of songs that stay with them, whether they sparked an idea, shaped their taste or simply became part of the soundtrack to everyday life. For KOOLAID, those influences stretch across the sounds, scenes and artists that have shaped his creative journey, from his early days immersed in South Florida’s drum & bass underground to the genre-defying work he makes today. For this edition of 5 Songs I Love, KOOLAID catches up with Flex to talk through five t

Every artist has a handful of songs that have stayed with them, whether they sparked an idea, shaped their taste or simply became part of the soundtrack to everyday life. For jon scott, those influences span the music that has inspired him and helped shape the artist he is today. For this edition of 5 Songs I Love, scott catches up with Flex to talk through 5 tracks that hold a special place for him. Along the way, he digs into what draws him to each song, the artists and sou

Collaborative recording project Hardy Mums from Southern Ohio deliver a masterclass in organic, nostalgia-tinted indie rock with their video-single for "Muldoon," off the album “Return to Doggerland”. Produced by project mastermind Eddie Ashworth, the track hits an immediate sweet spot with its lush, 70s-inspired instrumentation and warm studio air. The dynamic vocal pairing of Ashley LaRue and Benny Coleman anchors the tune, bringing genuine soul and grit to a vibe rooted i

Kent-based teen artist Lily Madison releases new single ‘This Is It’, a track steeped in the melancholic warmth of 90s female-fronted soft rock… “It means trying to become a risk taker after being scared of the unknown and the uncertain” - Lily Drawing on the influence of The Sundays, The Cranberries and Fleetwood Mac, ‘This Is It’ captures a moment of quiet courage: the decision to take an emotional risk despite not knowing how it might end. The title itself holds two meanin

Following the release of DJ Sparadise's 'See U Again', Flex caught up with featured artist ANI to discover what influences her soaring vocal range and dance-pop delivery. If you enjoy ANI's picks, be sure to check out DJ Sparadise Feat. ANI ‘See U Again’ at the end of the article. 1. Mareux - The Perfect Girl I love the dark and almost creepy atmosphere of this song. It has this eerie, hypnotic feeling that’s very detached from this world. It has this cold, mysterious feeling

'The Game' may catch you off guard on first listen: There is something about a song written in five minutes that either falls apart under scrutiny or reveals itself as exactly as honest as it claims to be, and Dream Robbery's new single is firmly the latter. Follow: INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY The Yeovil, Somerset trio's frontman wrote the track alone one evening, a glass of whiskey beside him, Spiritualized's Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Spac

Following the release of his latest single, "Karma", Flex caught up with Daniel Leckerman to find out what inspires his emotionally charged electro-pop sound. Blending atmospheric production, honest lyricism and themes of identity, belonging and personal growth, the Scottish singer-songwriter creates music that explores the connections that shape who we are. If you enjoy Daniel's picks, be sure to check out "Karma" at the end of the article. Icona Pop - Fall In Love Icona Pop

Richmond, Virginia’s The Sugar Hollows embrace the freedom of not fitting neatly into one genre. Across 'Resonance', the five-piece blend southern rock, Americana, folk, blues, indie and jam influences into a sound that feels both deeply rooted and refreshingly open-ended. Acoustic warmth, electric grit and lap steel textures give the record plenty of character, while its ten tracks draw on themes of love, loss, triumph, uncertainty and personal growth. More than simply a sho