Before we get into Nanseera’s picks, a quick introduction… The Nashville-via-London-via-Uganda-via-Ethiopia singer-songwriter released ‘Poison Rain’ on 24th July, a gothic Americana track written in response to the Supreme Court’s weakening of the Voting Rights Act, complete with an accompanying visualiser. With influences ranging from Tracy Chapman to Sheryl Crow woven through her own sound, we thought there was no better person to ask about the music shaping her right now.

A covers record can preserve familiar songs or challenge their assumptions. Lisa B chooses the second path throughout ’60s Magic Now!: The Y-Verse, a full-album reconsideration of music associated with the cultural upheaval of the 1960s. The collection arrives digitally today, August 21, ahead of its September 25 physical release. Nearly every song dates to 1967, a year often reduced to a handful of images and slogans. Lisa looks beyond that shorthand. She draws attention to

Photo credit: Rick Horn A serious bicycle accident interrupted Scott Holiday’s life just as the music that would become TOPOLOGY was taking shape. Struck by a car only minutes from home, the Rival Sons guitarist suffered six broken ribs, a shoulder injury and a head injury. He retained no memory of the collision and faced months of recovery, but the unfinished compositions continued developing while physical work remained impossible. Several pieces had initially seemed destin

Careers in music rarely follow the sequence the industry assumes. The standard arc runs from a debut single outward toward bigger rooms. Kristina Aglinz has done it the other way around, filling concert halls, jazz clubs, television studios and orchestral stages first, and only now issuing original recorded work. That first release is “Heaven Is Shining Bright”, available on streaming platforms now, and it opens the campaign toward a debut album she plans to release in early

There is no dramatic intervention in Eric Hirshberg’s “The Grand Elsewhere.” The proposed remedy is much smaller: raise a head, notice the room, and return to the person already there. That modest scale is one of the single’s strengths. Songs about digital distraction can quickly drift into scolding, particularly when they treat modern behavior as evidence of cultural collapse. Hirshberg takes a more observant route, describing the habit and leaving space for listeners to rec

Photo Credit: Bryan Caro Heavy Set Woman refuse to stay in one lane on ‘Girl’, an infectious new single that sees the genre-defying duo step into pop-rap territory without sacrificing the playful creativity and emotional sincerity that have defined their work. Bright, rhythmic and unapologetically optimistic, the track is an energetic reminder that sometimes the best way forward is simply to keep moving. At its core, ‘Girl’ is a song about finding happiness in unexpected plac

Four foundations. That's how Sara Leanne describes her debut EP, Uprooted: family, love, friendship and music, each one shaken up and rebuilt over the course of a single, transformative year. WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY It's a neat framework, but nothing about the record feels tidy or overworked. Sara studied classical music and spent time working as an artist manager in that world before crossing over to the other side of the stage, drawn in by projects like Blu

Okay, so this one's got attitude… 'Dance Alone', the new single from Daniela, opens with Spanish verses and slides into an English hook, all wrapped in production that leans on Middle Eastern instrumentation for texture. It's an unexpected combination on paper, but it works, giving the track a sharpness that a straightforward pop anthem wouldn't have. SPOTIFY | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE What really sells it is the mood. This isn't a sad song dressed up as an empowerment anthem. Dan

Cat Ryan’s Top 5 Albums: A Masterclass in Having Good Taste Ask Cat Ryan’s Mary-Anne Murphy about their favourite records and you get a list that tells you a lot about how they think about music - and why ‘Free From This’ sounds the way it does. There is no lazy genre allegiance here, no safe answer designed to impress. Instead, what emerges is a genuinely considered set of albums that span decades, styles and moods, connected not by genre but by a shared commitment to craft:

Ana Schurmann has returned with “Peacemakers”, a new single built around ideas of cooperation, compassion and responsibility toward others. Out now, the track was written, performed and produced by Schurmann herself, with ten instruments used across the recording. Among them is the Neck Lyre, a piece she designed to function simultaneously as wearable jewellery and a playable musical instrument. The song is also connected to her humanitarian work, with the project intended to

If you are looking for a song that combines atmosphere, imagination and genuine emotional depth, Max Macready’s ‘The Hunt’ is well worth your attention. The UK duo bring together synthwave, darkwave, electronic and post-punk influences to create a sound that feels like a transmission from a lost science fiction future. Here are five reasons to give the track a listen. 1. It creates an incredible retro-futurist atmosphere ‘The Hunt’ feels like it belongs in a neon-lit science

There is a real sense of momentum behind Tristan Roberson right now, and 'Down For The Ride' makes it easy to understand why. The Texas-born singer-songwriter’s sophomore album finds him building on the traditional country foundations that have shaped his sound while giving them a fresh, contemporary edge. Across 14 tracks, Roberson and producer Tre Nagella deliver a confident collection that feels rooted in the Texas country scene while carrying enough polish and ambition to

Emerging alternative artist Wormogenic continues to expand the compelling universe of her forthcoming Bandaids EP with the release of her powerful new single, ‘Apocalypse Queen.’ Blending grunge grit, shimmering synth-pop textures, indie sensibilities, and unfiltered emotional honesty, the track explores the devastation of losing a friendship through the innocent perspective of childhood, transforming deep personal heartbreak into an anthem that feels both intimate and expans

Sometimes a new track arrives with a very specific job. NOAH’s “MOVE YA BODY” wants to bring some life to the room, and it has a few things going for it. Here are 5 reasons it's worth checking out. 1. It has a genre mix that needs to be heard Brazilian funk, amapiano, gqom and EDM all feature in the track, giving the production plenty of rhythmic variety. It is a broad mix, but the song stays centred on its vocal hook. 2. The hook is built for a crowd “MOVE YA BODY” is driven

In an era defined by uncertainty, Red Head Redemption have chosen an unusually effective response: turn the anxiety into rock music, add a healthy dose of dark humour, and keep moving forward. Sunny With A Chance Of Fallout is a four-track EP that explores political unease, mortality, corporate absurdity, romance, and the determination to find joy in difficult times. With their self-described "End of the World Rock" combining crunchy guitars, driving rhythms, fearless vocals,

Some albums are made to soundtrack a moment, while others are created because the artist has something they desperately need to say. Chris Arthur's debut album, Underneath The Scar, belongs firmly in the second category. Arriving August 6, 2026, the ten-track record grew out of heartbreak and became an unexpected journey through grief, self-doubt, healing and hope. With Eric Sanderson of Augustines behind the production, Arthur has created an intimate, acoustic-driven album t

Some songs entertain you, some songs make you think, and the best ones manage to do both before you even realise it. Neona Ray’s “Those Two Blue Eyes” arrives with infectious alternative-pop energy, combining rhythmic guitars, hip hop inspired drums and subtle 1980s touches with a deeply personal story about self-worth, boundaries and learning to stop giving more than you receive. Produced by George Harris, the single captures Ray at a particularly exciting point in her artis

Some songs are meant to be heard once and enjoyed. Others invite you to sit with them, notice the details, and discover something new with each listen. Melody Briar’s “The Intangible Man” belongs firmly in the second category. Blending intimate songwriting with cinematic production, classical influence, and a deeply personal meditation on grief and memory, the single offers plenty to unpack beneath its atmospheric surface. Here are five reasons to give it a listen. 1. It turn

Award-winning music therapist, parenting expert and Baby in Tune founder Vered Benhorin has unveiled 'Adorable You', a joyful new album that finds extraordinary beauty in the wonderfully chaotic world of early parenthood. Packed with warmth, humour and irresistible melodies, the collection transforms everyday family moments into memorable songs. From the playful energy of 'Buttons', which captures the comic battles of getting a toddler dressed, to the heartfelt 'Mama Loves Yo

Award-winning songwriter Clarity Liao continues to showcase her emotional honesty and growing artistic range with her heartfelt new single, 'Pouring Rain', the latest release from her forthcoming debut solo EP, Dear.... Trading love letters for introspection, the track offers one of her most personal songs to date, capturing the quiet uncertainty of growing up, feeling left behind, and learning to find hope beyond life's difficult seasons. Clarity first gained recognition as

Strawhouses' Time in the Light is the kind of album that gives you plenty of reasons to keep going once you've pressed play. The band's second record, released via Now Listen, takes in relationships, history, mortality and those everyday moments that can seem insignificant until they're gone. Here are five reasons that make it worth your attention. 1. It has a lot of ground to cover This isn't an album built around one subject or mood. "Fireworks" takes its inspiration from F

Photo Credit: Cristina Fisher Emerging rock artist Ava Renn continues to carve out her own uncompromising lane with the release of her powerful new single, ‘You Want Love.’ A cinematic and emotionally charged offering, the track fearlessly explores the destructive pull of narcissistic relationships and serves as the title track preview for her forthcoming second studio album. Blending a dark pop atmosphere with gritty rock intensity, ‘You Want Love’ delivers a raw, visceral e

Fast, ferocious and loaded with guitar-driven adrenaline, James Bruner's 'Hypnotized' is the latest single from his forthcoming album 'Can’t Keep Wanting You', capturing the Nashville-based alt-rocker at his most immediate. Where previous releases have showcased his instinct for swaggering hooks and emotionally charged songwriting, ‘Hypnotized’ turns the intensity all the way up, delivering a sharp burst of punk attitude built for maximum impact. Written during a period of re

Eon ReZ continues to expand the boundaries of independent artistry with ‘Unbreakable by Design’, a powerful and deeply reflective single taken from his latest album, The Resonance of Existence. Blending blues-rock grit, soulful warmth, and experimental indie ambition, the track captures the artist’s ability to transform personal struggle into a message of resilience, growth, and self-discovery. Built around the idea that hardship is not something that breaks us but something