March 14, 2025, marked the release of miss melancholy, the second single to drop from emerging multi-creative Evan Fong. This new release is a high-energy fusion of alt, electro-pop, and pop-punk, which feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking, and further drives Fong’s expansion into music.
It’s not in Evan Fong’s nature to stay in just one lane. Known worldwide as VanossGaming, with 25.9 million YouTube subscribers, he remains a dominant force in gaming and content creation. Now, he’s adding another layer to his creative arsenal, bringing his tech-infused, glitchy energy into his music which mirrors the adventurous, fast-paced energy of his gaming content.
Atmospheric, nostalgic, and at times hypnotic, Marina Fleming transports her listeners into a realm betwixt reality and dreams. Inspired by ’60s Folk Music, ’90s Grunge, and 2010s Indie Rock, Marina’s music consists of tongue-in-cheek lyrics sung sweetly over churning guitar guitars and a bed of saw tooth synthesizers. With influences like The Smiths, Cat Stevens, Laura Nyro, Fiona Apple, Amy Winehouse, Baxter Dury, and Alex G, Marina Fleming pulls from many worlds to create something new.
rising Brighton-based musician frances mistry shares her latest single something has to give, a call for change in the world’s socio-political landscape. With a mellow yet captivating vocal performance, Mistry crafts a song that speaks to the urgency of reform. Despite its melodic, soft nature, the track carries a deep, powerful message, urging listeners to reflect on the pressing need for change. Through something has to give, frances boldly tackles the issues that impact herself and her peers, calling on people to take action.
something has to give is out now on your streaming service of choice, via APOLLO Distribution.
pioneering South African duo Major League DJz take their sound into new territory with the release of their latest single, “Come With Me” Featuring UK sensation Jorja Smith. Additionally, today Major League DJz are featured on New Music Daily on Apple Music. The track marks their first official foray into electronic music—a carefully crafted evolution that’s been four years in the making. Listen Here.
As global ambassadors of Amapiano, Major League DJz have long been at the forefront of shaping and expanding the genre. However, in their home country, Amapiano has always existed alongside house and electronic dance music. Their latest single “Come With Me” is a natural progression—blending their signature log drum rhythms with the pulse of house and Afro-electronic sounds.
“‘Come With Me’ is a record we started working on 4 years ago,” Major League DJz explain. “We knew we wanted to step into the electronic space in a way that still felt authentic to who we are, and this track was the perfect balance. We’ve also been wanting to work with Jorja on an original track for a while and now the timing feels perfect.”
From the banks of the James River in Richmond, Virginia, Rikki Rakki today shares “Snaggletooth”. This new single sees the twangy indie rock four-piece arrive as a crunchy, guitar-driven, bright light in dark times – an audible nod to the importance of finding moments of personal peace amongst grief and horror.
Songwriter and lead singer Erika Blatnik explains how, amongst the absurdity of the current news cycle, she fights to enjoy “the beautiful things that keep us sane and happy – nature, friends, family, art, music.” On “Snaggletooth” we find Blatnik in her backyard on a spring morning watching her cats and dogs mill about the yard, chasing butterflies and bees – a perfect moment of quiet amongst the noise.
“Snaggletooth” is the first release from Rikki Rakki’s upcoming Sing, Cicadas! EP, which will be out on all streaming platforms on May 2nd. The five new songs are a celebration of life and nature amongst the chaos of adversity. A nostalgic Virginian summer soundscape – the swelling chorus of frogs, the buzz of cicadas and the rush of river noise – swirls throughout the album, exploring the fragile ecosystem that we are intrinsically a part of, our impact on earth and the subsequent eco-anxiety felt in the face of climate change. The EP embraces nature’s resiliency and its joyful effect on the human spirit in songs that draw in elements of alt country, chamber pop, and indie rock to create a sound both spacious and spirited.
Hailing from New Jersey, The Modbeats are a four-piece band reviving the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll with influences spanning surf, jangle-pop, blues, rockabilly, and psychedelic rock. Formed in 2023, they quickly gained recognition with their debut single “Ballad of a Starving Artist,” which was featured on WXPN’s Power Pop Extravaganza. The band has received additional attention from notable press outlets like the Philadelphia Inquirer, Rock at Night, Powerpopaholic, and Digital Tour Bus, and landed a spot on Music Connection’s Hot 100 Live Unsigned Artists and Bands of 2024 list.
Innovatively dropping ‘HOW TO DIE’ first, Uche begins where the story ends; mirroring his artistic evolution surrounded by darkness before his next instalment ‘HOW TO LIVE’ brings us into the light. “In order to truly live, one may have to kill parts of their current self,” he pleads.
Emerging with authority and menace, Uche’s internal battles become distorted through the intoxicating lens of temptation, lust and anarchy which leads him down a dark, destructive path before ultimately letting go. Through intricate wordplay and his frantic eclecticism, he rises in the face of adversity and leans into the chaos, serving as some of his rawest and most vulnerable work to date.
Opening with the infectious trap cuts “RICKY BOBBY” and “AWAKE” (watch), the twelve-track record instantly explodes into a vigorous atmosphere, with Uche’s gripping cadence portraying a renewed hunger for progression; a chilling angst met by fearlessness to execute his vision at all costs. Next up, “Here I Go” (watch), confronts the complexities of inner-city pressure and ambition, setting pace for Uche’s razor-sharp lyrics before the dystopian backing dissolves into the stylish “FN” and the unruly “DEFENSE Interlude”. Both cuts laced with distorted synths and power-charged bass lines, focus track “FN” emerges with a potent, self-directed music video alongside co-production from 808 Mafia’s Pyrex Whippa (Future, Young Thug, Playboi Carti). We catch Uche at his most effortless; delivering his rare lyrical focus with intent as he portrays the perils of a young talent forging his own creative path.
Born in Chicago before moving to Nigeria, Uche was surrounded by influences across music, fashion, culture and community from an early age. His natural reflex for music was realised in Nigerian church choirs, including All Saints Church, Yaba, which ultimately fuelled his desire for performance and the creative arts. Returning to the US allowed space for Uche’s musical palette to develop towards a deeper, more technical side, utilising immersive experiences with Chi-town’s innovative and disruptive soundscapes.
Guiding his path to success while imprinting his artistic affinities onto the culture, Uche delivered a key freestyle across FIRE IN THE BOOTH before solidifying his authentic approach to the creative arts, leading to his debut EP Lost (listen) in 2023 – a true homecoming that re-introduced his unique, subversive sound. The multi-hyphenate later shifted focus to his acclaimed studio album There’s Fire On the Lake (listen). With vivid storytelling on standout track “PHONE” (watch) elevating the album’s sonic and visual universe, Uche created some of his most potent visual art – a pivotal moment that’s become a cornerstone of the electrifying legacy he’s building.
For Matías Roden, every sound and word on his records is rooted in a deeply personal part of his journey. Born in the UK, raised in Peru, and based in Vancouver, Canada for the past decade, he seamlessly blends disparate elements representing his diverse heritage—from reggaeton to breakbeat—with a synth-pop sensibility to create a global pop sound. Working alongside acclaimed writer-producer Louise Burns (Hotel Mira, Haley Blais), Matías released his debut EP ‘The Plea’ this past August via Light Organ Records, receiving airplay on CBC radio for the single “Close Your Eyes”, a track which, with its cinematic, unapologetically queer music video based on his own experiences, has helped him find an audience in the underground queer community in North and South America. After bringing his energetic live shows, mixing electronic and acoustic elements, to numerous festivals in Canada in 2024, he is gearing up for another raft of shows as well as the launch of his full-length debut album, expected early 2025.
The award-winning crossover sensation Jazzu once again commands attention with her latest release, “Welcome” – a sultry and immersive track that invites listeners into a world of deep emotional and physical connection.
A masterclass in seduction and intimacy, “Welcome” is a bold exploration of trust, vulnerability, and desire, set against a lush sonic backdrop. Layered with celestial imagery and an undercurrent of raw passion, the song captures the tension between control and surrender, ultimately transcending into a heightened state of connection. As the track builds to its euphoric climax, Jazzu’s hypnotic vocals soar: “We’re heading for nirvana, and we’re moving at the speed of sound.”
Visually, the stylish music video for “Welcome” – five years in the making – signals a new era for Jazzu, one where reinvention and self-assured artistry take centre stage. Embracing several intriguing looks – including a bold buzz cut and her signature slicked-back blonde cut – she exudes effortless confidence, seamlessly weaving between sensual silhouettes and striking cinematic moments. Swathed in silky drapery one moment and commanding attention in thigh-high leather boots the next, Jazzu crafts a visual spectacle inspired by ayahuasca experiences that blurs the line between fantasy and reality, amplifying the song’s mystique.
Speaking about “Welcome”, Jazzu shared the following: “This song and video became a major process in my life. In most of the scenes, I am pregnant. We filmed it across three different locations – the Philippines, London, and Lithuania – and, while coordinating everything was a challenge in itself, that international mix gave the video an even richer, more cinematic feel. I incorporated very direct symbols from my ayahuasca experiences: portals, parallel worlds, shifts, non-human beings – like an elf in this case – and vivid colours. I was also deeply inspired by my favourite film director, David Lynch. When I first started creating this, I was at a peak in both my love life and creativity. I was young, naive, and completely in love. At the same time, I felt like both my musical and spiritual paths were expanding, and I was evolving rapidly. I was finally ready to share that growth with the world. This was also my riot stage – my head was completely shaved, and looking back, I can really see how that moment in my life translated into the visuals. It was raw, intense, and fully me.”
Back with a bang – THE VELVET HANDS – burst back onto the scene with news of brand new music plus a slew of UK shows this Spring, including a major headline date at Dingwalls in London.
Leading the charge with new single “I Don’t Care”, the track is one of four tracks to be heard on the band’s forthcoming ‘Caller’ EP, available in-full digitally from 1st May (via AWAL). In advance of the release, the EP will also be availanle on CD, cassette + 10” Vinyl editions from 22nd March, with these physical editions featuring a bonus track in the shape of a cover of the Serge Gainsbourg classic “Chick Habit”.
“I Dont Care” is everything you’d hope for from The Velvet Hands and more. A 2’30 shot of pure adrenaline, administered through a breathless cascade of tumbling post-punk guitar riffs, loping basslines, and 00’s indie-disco primed call-and-response choral hooks.
A song about punching through paranoia, its lyrics and music are alive with a nervous energy that will be relatable to anyone navigating through the minefield that is the modern world.
Speaking about the track, Dan from the band says:
“Lyrically the song is about how you can get caught up in anxieties and negative introspection, and the feeling of freedom of shaking those feelings off.”
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
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