Photo credit: Lulu Shing With his rework of Phil Collins’ “Another Day in Paradise,” Ben Hazlewood dissolves nostalgia into a raw and cinematic dream tableau. The New Zealand-born, New York based artist approaches the 1989 classic as a quiet confrontation: bridging empathy and nostalgia into a timeless modern twist. Recorded in his apartment with a longtime collaborator, Hazlewood’s version feels both intimate and expansive, a world where tenderness hums beneath the noise.

Following the release of his latest album three stone fireside, vol. 1 , Flex caught up with Der Oscar Effekt to discover what influences his unique sound, blending Afrofusion, Makossa, Bikutsi, African folk, and hip-hop . If you enjoy Der Oscar Effekt's picks, be sure to check out three stone fireside, vol. 1 at the end of the article. Jovi – “Mboko God (Reality) feat Reniss” Jovi is, to me, one of the most influential and complete hip hop artists—not just in Cameroon, but a

On the back of their stunning and country rock-infused Americana single 'The Other Side', rising UK outfit Kay Iris are getting better with each release, and building a solid following whilst doing so. We sat down with them to learn the 5 songs they love right now, here at FLEX! -- 1. Laycee Kay Booth - Daddy's Mugshot Kay: I love the grittiness and honesty of this song. Laycee is so good at creating and  immersive, 3D world that pulls you into her songs. I've recently discov

On the back of his mesmerising synthwave single 'Schism', Rogue VHS has quintessentially built a sonic world that is entirely is own, blending electronica with synth nostalgia and building a huge audience in the meantime. We sat down with him to learn the 5 songs he loves right now, here at FLEX! -- 1. Love Me In Silence - Gown I review music over at submithub.com , and this was sent to me a week or so ago. Haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. Darkwave/coldwave

Bren.d.o: Southern Illinois’ Neo-Soul Storyteller Readies His Breakout Moment Southern Illinois native Brendan “Bren.d.o” Jennings is closing out 2025 with the momentum of an artist on the verge of a defining breakthrough. His alt-R&B and neo-soul fusion has already drawn national attention, bolstered by two iTunes-charting singles — ‘Electric Love Affair’ featuring Kendra Chanae and the bass-driven ‘Boom Boom’ — positioning him as one of the year’s most promising new voices.

Photo Credit: Daniëlle Weener Following the release of their latest single, 'Seventeen', Flex caught up with Dutch brothers Baby Condor to find out what influences their unique sound, blending pop, country, folk, and indie. If you enjoy Baby Condor's picks, be sure to check out 'Seventeen' at the end of the article. 1. Beach Boys - God Only Knows One of our favourite songwriters, Brian Wilson took pop music to the next level with his 1966 Pet Sounds album. Filled with beautif

Following the release of his latest EP 'A Map of the Human', Flex caught up with Italian producer Moonbrew to discover what influences his unique sound, blending electronica, hip-hop, and jazz. If you enjoy Moonbrew's picks, be sure to check out 'A Map of the Human' at the end of the article. 1. DJ Shadow – Midnight in a Perfect World What has inspired me the most about DJ Shadow is his sonic exploration — the highly creative and unconventional use of samples that pushed inst

A spectral fusion of witch house and dark fairycore, the record captures the eerie allure of unseen worlds through immersive self-production and raw emotion. Out now on all streaming platforms On raven’s inferno, Atlanta-based producer, vocalist, and composer r4vn conjures a world that flickers between dream and decay — a witch house odyssey steeped in dark fairycore ambience and occult symbolism. It’s a record that sounds like it was pulled from another realm: eerie, immersi

Following the release of their latest single 'Friend', Flex caught up with Michael E Goodwin from the Massachusetts-based collective Goodwin to find out what influences their folk, art-rock sound. If you enjoy Goodwin's picks, be sure to check out 'Friend' at the end of the article. 1. “Sucker Row” Mark Knopfler Sitting in the third position on one of my favorite albums of all time, “Sucker Row” is the quintessential Knopfler tune. One of the things I admire most about Mark i

On the back of her stunning single 'Un(familia)rity' which blends between the digital age of pop and how technology should be used within music, August Kamp channels this energy so eloquently, and is an artist that will be on your radar in the coming months. We had the chance to sit down with her to learn all about the 5 songs she loves, exclusively for FLEX! -- 1. Bon Iver – 8 (circle) gotta open with my long-standing favorite song. it just seems perfect to me, idk. it’s suc

Following the release of his latest single 'Love Sings', Flex caught up with NYC Saxophonist and composer Bernell Jones II to discover what influences his fusion of R&B, soul, and alternative jazz sounds. If you enjoy Bernell's picks, be sure to check out 'Love Sings' at the end of the article. 1. Share My Life by Kem  I love this track because it is the definition of a true love song — R&B in its purest form written from the heart, where every part of the song, from the lyri

On the back of his stunning debut single 'Live Without You', we sat down with Brighton's new star Niall O'Connor, to learn all about the 5 songs he loves, exclusively for FLEX! -- 1. Michael Jackson – Human Nature I love  ' Human Nature'   by Michael Jackson because it takes me back to being a kid, playing his songs over and over and dreaming of being like him one day. It’s always hard to pick just one Michael Jackson song, but this one feels timeless. He was an innovator an

Photo Credit: MICA Studios Following the release of their latest single, 'Asking Me Why', Flex caught up with Australian alt-indie band House of Strangers to find out what influences their signature alt-pop, indie rock, and electronica sound. If you enjoy House of Stranger's picks, be sure to check out 'Asking Me Why' at the end of the article. 1. Alex G - Runner When this song came out in 2022, I was inspired by his combination of traditional instruments like acoustic guita

Photo Credit: KYARA & Deanna Foy Following the release of her latest single 'Bloodshot', Flex caught up with Australian artist KYARA to discover what influences her electro-pop sound. If you enjoy KYARA's picks, be sure to check out 'Bloodshot' at the end of the article. 1. ‘Aquamarine’ - Addison Rae To me, ’Aquamarine’ feels like a modern-day siren song — as if a siren rose from the ocean, learned the sound of our generation, and crafted the ultimate hypnotic cool-girl anthe

London-based Sharon Katta dives into the stoops of darkness and resurfaces full of hope and renewal in new project "Death said, breathe". The 7 track EP reads like a short film, with a lush sonic landscape built specially for Dolby Atmos. From a gunshot, to sounds of nature, and South Indian street drums - Katta creates an expansive arena filled with visceral experiences. The artist draws from his own struggles with mental health, crediting a phone call with his sister for ul

Emerging from a rich cross-cultural background between Hong Kong and the UK, TC.KYLIE presents her debut single “Rebirth 重生” , the opening statement from her debut EP RE:birth よみがえり . The track is a bold fusion of Japanese jazz, post-rock, and cinematic storytelling, immediately standing out with its unique blend of technical brilliance and emotional depth. Inspired by the film Life of Pi , “Rebirth” captures the uncertainty and beauty of life’s journey through intricate ja

Rising artist Lahde steps fully into her sound and identity with the release of Sunshine , alongside striking lead single, “All Night”   Sunshine is all about transition, self-discovery, and stepping unapologetically into womanhood. The album blends R&B, Afrobeat, Hip-Hop, and Alternative sounds, a radiant testament to Lahde’s boldness and softness that exist simultaneously. The new album arrives in two parts, with the second to drop in November. The two parts of Sunshine , s

Lauren Minear  gears up for the release of her third album Boxing Day ,  amidst announcements of Grammy consideration on her song “Lightweight”. Honing themes of anger, conflict, and finding power in the noise - Minear's latest offering is a culmination of her experience so far. The Nashville-born, New York-based singer-songwriter draws from the personal, crafting a dynamic record filled with poetic nuance. Minear stepped away from her professional background in finance and a

If you don't know IA GLOWB, you're about to. Already garnering a dedicated fan base in Japan, IA GLOWB introduces herself to the international world with "Gimme" – a passionate love song that captures the ebb and flow of falling in love. What makes the single special is the universal and relatable quality of the single's messaging, interpolating IA's identity as a virtual artist. IA GLOWB’s story traces back to the virtual artist IA, who descended from the planet ARIA to Ear

Having just come back from a string of impromptu pop-up gigs across the Benelux region, Flex caught up with US artist, producer, and DJ Damien Hendrix to find out what influences his fearless blend of hip-hop, electronic, and dance music. If you enjoy Damien's picks, be sure to check out his tracks at the end of the article. 1. Dance - Adamn Killa I love this song because it flawlessly blends the high-energy drive of EDM with the raw, rhythmic flow of rap. This isn't just a