There’s a quiet intensity at the heart of 'The Fans Applauded' that explores a moment most artists recognise but rarely articulate with this level of clarity. Rather than focusing on the spectacle of performance, the song begins its narrative in the seconds before it. The arrangement opens with a sense of restraint, allowing space for tension to build gradually, as soft piano tones and understated instrumentation create a fragile foundation, mirroring the uncertainty that sit

Photo Credit: Callum Connah Following the release of their latest single 'Got To Go', Flex caught up with UK band Molly Gone Mad to discover what influences their Funk and Soul sound. If you enjoy Molly Gone Mad's picks, be sure to check out 'Got To Go at the end of the article. 1. Use Me - Bill Withers A song steeped in soul and funk, it's one I will never forget. The character in every musicians playing, the groove, the vocal delivery, all of it I love and can't get enough

There’s a deliberate stillness at the core of 'Wide Open' that speaks volumes without ever raising its voice. Here, Manchester's Digging for Kanky lean into tension by letting it simmer, stretch, and quietly consume the space around it. Throughout, the track sits in a sparse, carefully constructed world. Low-end pulses and skeletal percussion form the backbone, while subtle electronic textures drift in and out, never fully resolving. The influence of artists like Massive Atta

On her hotly-tipped new EP 'Strangely Beautiful', LA-based artist Betty Moon returns with a collection that reflects both continuity and refinement. After several years without a full set of new material, the EP feels like a considered extension of her established approach, delivering something grounded in independence and shaped by a clear artistic perspective. Across its six tracks, the artist works within a blend of rock, pop, and electronic elements, allowing each influen

Thiago Trosso has returned with the single ‘Future’s Looking Bright’, an optimistic anthem released ahead of his upcoming album Magnet. The track offers a sense of solace, following our protagonist as he breaks free from a problematic relationship and finds his feet for dazzling new prospects ahead. Trickling acoustic guitars and soft vocals snowball first into shuffling percussion and bright rhythms, then into a punchy, uplifting mix of electric guitar, drums, bass and all o

On their long-awaited debut EP 'Pillars', San Diego's Signal-23 present a release that feels deliberate and carefully constructed. The EP moves within the darker edges of contemporary electronica, drawing on the influence of artists like Moderat and Jon Hopkins, while maintaining a distinct focus on subtle progression and tonal balance. The production is grounded in a hardware-led approach. Modular synthesisers, drum machines, and analogue equipment give the record a tangible

With his new collection 'On E Street (Remix) EP', DownTown Mystic offers a thoughtful reinterpretation of his material, grounded in the traditions of American rock while subtly reframing it through collaboration and perspective. A key point of interest lies in the involvement of Max Weinberg and Garry Tallent, best known for their long-standing roles alongside Bruce Springsteen. Their appearance here, performing together outside that context, brings a level of cohesion and mu

Pittsburgh’s Tory Silver continues to carve out a distinct space between light and shadow with 'Your God', the latest preview of the upcoming album 'In Through the Front with Lasers', arriving May 29 via Michi Tapes. Produced by Jay Som (Melina Duterte), the track leans into breezy indie-pop textures while carrying a far heavier emotional core. Inspired in part by TOPS, it juxtaposes bright instrumentation with a deeply personal narrative: the fracture of a friendship shaped

There’s a certain clarity that comes with a band knowing exactly what they want to say from the outset, and on their eagerly-awaited debut album 'Let Love Remain', Adorn arrive as a project already rooted in purpose by delivering a debut that feels both considered and emotionally direct. From its opening moments, the record leans into scale as expansive guitars stretch across a wide field, balancing weight and atmosphere in a way that feels deliberate. There are clear echoes

Memory Spells and Jordan Whitlock’s collaborative debut, This Is What It Feels Like , is a quiet revelation in modern dream-pop. Crafted across cities, Whitlock in San Diego, Bauer in Los Angeles, the album thrives on the tension and intimacy of distance. Whitlock’s crystalline, unguarded vocals float effortlessly over Bauer’s lush, cinematic arrangements, which weave airy synths, minimalist guitars, and vintage drum machines into expansive yet intimate soundscapes. And what

There’s always been a sense of duality at the heart of Peppermint Heaven, a project rooted in nostalgic textures but constantly nudging toward what’s next. And on 'AI (The Remixes)', that tension becomes the central theme, as the duo turn their attention to one of the most pressing and polarising questions in modern music: where does human creativity end, and machine influence begin? At the core of the release is 'AI', a track that feels deceptively bright on first listen. Gl

There’s something quietly disarming about Jeff Hodges' latest single, as 'If I was a road' unfolds with a kind of lived-in honesty that feels shaped by experience rather than design. At its core, the track leans on the simple but effective central image of the road as a witness to everything that passes over it. But Hodges stretches that metaphor, deepens it, and lets it carry emotional weight throughout. The idea of being worn down while still serving a purpose becomes the s

There’s a noticeable shift in Lisa Lim's latest single . Where earlier material often leaned into polished arrangements and melodic restraint, 'Out Of My Mind' feels more immediate, louder, and driven by instinct at every turn. Built around thick, overdriven guitar work and a tight rhythmic core, the song moves with a sense of urgency that rarely lets up. The production resists over-layering, instead preserving the raw edges of the performance. And that choice proves effectiv

There’s a deliberate intensity running through The Real Anthem's latest offering. Rooted in the textures and tonal weight of alternative rock’s past, 'Eyes Open Wide' leans into a darker, more reflective space that prioritises atmosphere and message in equal measure. Built around a steady, tension-driven foundation, the song draws clear inspiration from the moodier edges of 90s guitar music. There’s a familiarity in its structure, but it never feels overly nostalgic. It uses

As an artist, I’ve come to understand that music is not just about sound—it’s about intention. It’s about what you choose to carry, what you choose to say, and how honestly you say it. Every phase of my journey has been shaped by moments where certain songs didn’t just inspire me—they clarified me. They helped me understand who I am, what I value, and the kind of impact I want my music to have. These five songs represent that journey. Not just influences, but defining points

There’s something quietly spellbinding about Copper Curios' debut album 'Time'. Right from the start, it draws you into a world where sound feels alive, shifting and stretching in ways that blur the boundaries between the physical and the imagined. At the core of the project are Demetris Yiasemides and Eva Stavrou, two artists whose deep-rooted classical training becomes the launchpad. Their interplay is captivating, as breath-driven melodies glide with elegance, only to be c

Rising soul talent Taylor Williams steps outside expectation with a bold reinterpretation of Mac DeMarco’s 'For The First Time', released via Colemine Records. Rather than mimicking the original’s lo-fi charm, Williams reshapes it entirely by trading hazy detachment for warmth, richness, and vocal depth. His version leans into live instrumentation and a fuller, more expressive arrangement, allowing the emotion beneath the song to surface in a new way. Backed by a tight-knit g

There’s a tactile sense of decay and reconstruction running through Honddu's latest single 'Go Gentle', as it looks to conjure audio fragments pulled through time, reassembled, and left slightly unsteady in their new form. The duo, formed by Holly Müller and David Neale, continue to refine a sound built on contrast. Müller’s vocal presence sits at the centre with striking immediacy, while Neale constructs a shifting electronic framework that feels both unstable and deliberate

Amerado’s ‘Game Over’, featuring Fuse ODG, is a high-impact collaboration that frames itself as both a musical statement and a cultural assertion. Produced by Shawerz Ebiem and recorded in Accra, the track merges Ghanaian rhythmic traditions with contemporary Afrobeats, UK drill inflections, and club-oriented electronic production. Built on a foundation of live percussion, talking drums, and highlife-inspired guitar lines, the instrumentation is dense yet purposeful. These tr

There’s a sharp clarity driving through Laura Musgrave's latest single 'Crumbs'. It’s a track that captures the exact moment where hesitation gives way to conviction, and where emotional compromise is finally recognised for what it is. Built around a tight, guitar-led framework, the song leans into a familiar pop-punk energy but delivers it with precision. The instrumentation is direct and purposeful as punchy riffs push the track forward, while the rhythm section keeps every