Birmingham’s powerhouse Rebecca Downes returns with her sixth studio album 'A Storm Is Coming', a ten-track journey that proves she is at the peak of her artistic powers. Released via her own Mad Hat Records, the album is a masterclass in contemporary blues-rock, marrying ferocious guitar riffs and soaring vocals with a sense of emotional immediacy that few artists in the genre achieve today. From the opening title-track, Downes asserts herself with a commanding presence, bal

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

Danish-Faroese-Greenlandic artist Bror returns to the daring experimental alter-ego Ani Even to deliver 'SKINWALKER', an 11-track tour de force that feels like nothing else in contemporary electronic music. From the opening moments, the album drags you into a thrilling world where ritualistic intensity meets pulse-pounding futurism, where Nordic folklore collides with industrial electricity, and where identity is celebrated in all its messy, vibrant complexity. The record is

Milan-born, London-based artist Alie crashes through the dreamworld and onto the dancefloor with her electrifying new single 'trouble rubble', a bratty, high-gloss, hyperpop punch that clocks in at just over two minutes and refuses to play nice. Formerly the voice of the electronic pop duo LIMINAL, Alie now dances between fantasy and reality as a solo artist, building a distinct playground out of flirtation, friction, and flashing neon. With 'trouble rubble', she serves up a

Surinamese-Dutch artist néomí returns with a spellbinding new EP 'Another Year Will Pass', out now via Nettwerk. Known for her raw vulnerability and poetic lyricism, the rising folk-pop songwriter delivers a four-track reflection on change, grief, and the quiet beauty of letting go. At the heart of the release is the title-track 'Another Year Will Pass', a slow-burning meditation on emotional growth and the invisible milestones we carry. With delicate instrumentation and néom

New York-based pop innovator Laura Pieri concludes her October saga of empowered, Halloween-themed storytelling with the release of 'Just a Little'. After a month spent reimagining iconic songs through dark, cinematic covers like Lady Gaga’s 'Marry the Night' (The Vampire), Charli XCX’s 'party 4 u' (The Siren), and Rihanna’s 'Disturbia' (The Werewolf), Pieri now unveils an original single that brings her multi-layered narrative to its thrilling peak. 'Just a Little' explores

Rising artist Trev Peacock opens the door to a deeply personal new chapter with 'Keep It Close', lifted from his debut EP 'After the Noise'. Produced by Mike Spink (The 1975, Jake Bugg, The Gaslight Anthem), the track offers a tender yet tightly wound portrait of emotional hesitation, where hope and fear exist in uneasy harmony. On 'Keep It Close', Peacock captures that liminal space between uncertainty and possibility. Wrapped in warm, indie-rock textures and driven by a qu

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

Photo Credit: Jade Fawcett @Infinita Sign and Design From London’s pavements to global stages, Cam Cole has always been a force of nature, a one-man band whose primal energy and fearless musicianship have made him one of modern rock’s most distinctive voices. With his new single “Rabbit (She’s What I Want)”, the first glimpse of his forthcoming fourth album Lost In Creation (due February 2026), Cole pushes his sound into trippier territory, fusing his trademark blues grit wit

Songwriter Eric Hirshberg has teamed up with acclaimed artist Aloe Blacc on the new single “For Real” , the first preview of Hirshberg’s upcoming third album More Is Not The Answer , due in 2026. The track blends Hirshberg’s conversational lyricism with Blacc’s soulful precision, creating a song that feels both grounded and expansive. Blacc’s phrasing anchors the performance, riding the rhythm with calm restraint as harmonies surface only where they matter most. The minimalis

Under:tones, the project of Alex Neri (Planet Funk) and Matteo Zarcone, with the captivating vocals of Sonny Reeves, are back with “Crossroads”, their latest euphoric single and a taste of the upcoming 2026 album Encounters. From the first shimmering synths, you’re pulled into a sonic journey that’s both cinematic and dancefloor-ready. Recorded across Los Angeles, London, and Florence, the track blends analog warmth with polished production, building tension through pulsating

Buffalo’s acclaimed producer and musician Anthony Casuccio steps into uncharted territory with his first official cover of 'Am I Wrong', originally penned by Richard and Tim Butler for Love Spit Love. Rather than simply echoing the cult classic, Casuccio infuses the track with his own warmth and ingenuity, creating a version that feels both reverent and distinctly his own. From the opening notes, Casuccio’s meticulous production shines through in every layer, blending lush st

After decades of letting a treasure sit in the shadows, Rusty Reid’s fourth album 'The Unreasonables' finally emerges, offering a time capsule of hook-laden rock and roll brimming with unpolished charm. The new single 'Piece of the Action' is a primal jolt of energy that strips away the reflective indie-folk and country-rock tones he has honed over the years, replacing them with raw guitar riffs, swaggering rhythms, and lyrics that revel in the messy thrill of desire and hear

Singer-songwriter Charlie Freeman, known professionally as FREE/MAN, has released his latest EP, Reconnection , offering listeners a short but emotionally rich journey. The London-based artist blends alt-soul, ’70s rock, Britpop, and Americana into a sound that is both intimate and universally resonant. The EP reflects Freeman’s continued exploration of themes like love, freedom, and spiritual growth. Reconnection includes four tracks and serves as an introduction to Freeman

Dan Thomas’s “Is It Enough Yet” is a beautifully defiant statement — a modern folk anthem that captures the restless energy of a generation constantly measuring itself against impossible standards. From the first strum, Thomas channels the grit of punk and the warmth of folk into something uniquely his own: music that moves both your feet and your conscience. There’s a refreshing candor in the way Thomas writes. His lyrics don’t hide behind metaphor; they confront self-doubt

If you’ve been keeping tabs on alt-pop, Zëta Ræ is the name you need to know, and her new single “Obvious” is a sparkling, self-confident reminder of why. It’s flirtatious, it’s fun, and it’s unapologetically catchy — everything you could want from a pop banger in 2025. The project of Nashville singer-songwriter-producer Hannah Schmeling, “Obvious” sees Zëta diving headfirst into euphoric, danceable pop, co-written and produced with Ryan Adams and supported by Max Troppe on

Make Out Monday’s Back to the Feeling is a sparkling alt-pop gem, blending 80s-inspired textures with punchy pop-punk dynamics. The track demonstrates a band comfortable with both reflection and energy, capable of crafting hooks that are as heartfelt as they are catchy. What began as a stripped-back acoustic riff from Seth Renken blossoms into an anthem driven by Zack Shada’s soaring vocals. His lyricism, steeped in nostalgia, captures the ache of moments lost but not forgot

Cork shoegaze quartet Ways of Seeing are set to release their highly anticipated second album, The Inheritance of Fear , on 10th October via Joyful Hour Records. Building on the momentum of their debut, the record marks a significant evolution in James O’Donnell’s songwriting, blending intimate storytelling with lush, textured arrangements that probe the reverberations of trauma, loss, and anxiety. Drawing inspiration from literature, lived experience, and the inherited trait

Few songs manage to turn personal survival into something so quietly moving, yet Will Chatters achieves just that with his latest single 'Blackwater'. Emerging from the aftermath of awake brain surgery and years of intensive treatment, Chatters transforms profound vulnerability into a delicate, introspective folk piece. Recorded after his move back to Brighton from Mersea Island, the song carries the weight of lived experience while embracing the gentle hope that comes from a

Fore Fader, the Los Angeles duo of Stephanie Carlin and Carey Clayton, have delivered a debut that is nothing short of spellbinding. 'Great Pretender' is a mesmerising journey through deserts, forests, and the very depths of the human soul. From the first shimmering chords of 'Let The Light In', you are instantly drawn into their vulnerable yet transcendent world. This is alt-pop elevated to a spiritual experience, where every note and breath, feels alive. Recorded live betwe