Listen: Happy For You - Alex Porat

Alex Porat has previously garnered attention as a result of the covers she has posted on YouTube and Instagram. Bringing depth of emotion and sophisticated production to gentle pop music, the Toronto musician is now focused on releasing her own music, with Happy For You her newest single.

With a delicate and emotive sound, Happy For You tells the tale of a breakup… Dealing with the conflicting emotions of being hurt by someone’s ability to move on from you, but still wanting the best for them. The difficult reality of being confronted by the constant reminders of a person - the optimisation algorithms online that don’t understand that you no longer want to be confronted with every little thing that person does… Technology gone from silently anticipating your desires to actively derailing your attempts to be better.

Describing the song, Porat says:

”The theme of this song is a situation that I find comes up often. When you go through a break-up, everything that person does online is now in your face and you want them to think you’re okay with them moving on when you’re not. For this track we wanted it to be super introspective and feel kind of dream-like since you’re not actually saying these lyrics out loud."

Happy For You captures a feeling most of us know well, but does so with a fresh feeling that makes it all the more personal and real. Check it out below:

Alex Porat · happy for you

Listen: Same Guy - Eades

Same Guy reminds me of of Phoenix meets Vampire Weekend… Certain bands just manage to sound incredibly tight, and Eades is clearly one of those bands. There isn’t necessarily anything specific that stands out about this song, and yet the way it all comes together… The shimmering, highlife-esque layered guitars, thumping percussion and vocal all come together to create an easy going slow build that feels both lo-fi and yet slick at the same time.

According to frontman Harry Jordan, Same Guy is about recognising our mortality and the temporal reality of our time on this planet:

“It’s essentially a coming of age tune, and the realisation that eventually we’re all going to grow old, becoming either our parents, or the oldies we might think are ‘uncool’. It’s about accepting we are all just part of the cycle.”

The sound of the track is actually inspired by Bollywood:

“The song started out with a pair of riffs Dave (Lancaster, bass) had been working on inspired by Bollywood music in an attempt to force us down a different style sonically. Making us break away from a certain writing style that had become typical for us.”

Check out Same Guy below:

STREAM NOW ON ALL PLATFORMS OR DOWNLOAD ON OUR BANDCAMP Eades’ latests single “Same Guy” uses bollywood rhythms to tackle the foreboding of growing older. With a steady groove reminiscent of 90’s classic Loaded the band carry you through the track with sample-esque guitar riffs and and a pocketed percussion section, held together with their self produced lo-fi recording style. “The song started out with a pair of riffs Dave had been working on inspired by Bollywood music in an attempt to force us down a different style sonically. Making us break away from a certain writing style that had become typical in the writing process of our first EP Then there was the chorus melody Dave brought forward and instantly I knew it was a keeper.” Enjoy, Eades

Listen: Daylight - Kass Rose Gold

Daylight feels like pure comfort. It’s a blanket spread out on warm grass, a coffee on a cold day and your favourite pair of trainers all at once. It’s a hug from a friend you haven’t seen in too long. It’s the familiarity of a well-worn joke. The easy-breezy feeling Kass’ vocal is seriously irresistible.

Walk makes Daylight shine so bright for me (yup, sorry-not-sorry) is the way her multiple overdubbed vocals wrap you up in layers. At the same time, the production boasts a relaxed, low-slung feeling that just feels RIGHT.

With Daylight, Kass is looking to capture the feeling of sunlight on your face, fresh air in your lungs and hanging with your person, all at the precise moment we need it the most… And it’s all here, the dreamy feeling of perfect, long, days enjoying one another.

Listen: VHS - Ariane

VHS is the new single from French-American singer and songwriter Ariane, who looks to blend the lyrical power of Lorde with the darkness of Billie Eilish.

Ariane’s forthcoming album Original Copy looks to explore the generational pressures Ariane and her peers face - materialism and jealousy and glorification of the past, all fuelled by celebrity and social media. Through her music, Ariane looks to embrace what’s real - just being true to yourself.

This new single is draws on fun, 80s feel whilst depicting the experience of new love. Simple, nostalgic synths combine with Ariane’s energetic and emotive vocal to create something sprightly, fun and distinctly pop.

Written by: Ariane Produced by: Jacob McCaslin Mixed by: Tai Fronzaroli

Watch: In My Head - Moonrunner83 feat. King Protea

Listen: In My Head - Moonrunner83 feat. King Protea

In My Head is the new single from Canada’s Moonrunner83. Together with King Protea, Moonrunner83 has created a dreamlike piece of uplifting electronic pop.

Discussing the act of collaborating, King Protea said:

“In My Head was an absolute blast of a collaboration. As soon as I heard the track, I instantly heard the 'in my head, in my head’ lyric. I loved the idea of exploring something sweet and nostalgic, a love that is truly patient and not afraid of the dark parts of our minds. The track offered the perfect landscape for that.”

There is indeed a heavy dose of nostalgia here - with that for the 80s particularly evident. In My Head wouldn’t feel out of place over the end credits crawl of a season of Stranger Things. The resulting track isn’t complex, but manages to capture an evocative, positive feeling.

Check out In My Head below: