Watch: So Far (Poem) — Dámi Sule

Dámì Sule is the musical project of Nigerian-born, Manchester-baserd singer and rapper Emmanuel Damilare Sule. Leveraging the inspiration he finds in poetry, and artists such as George the Poet, Dámì seeks purpose through a blend of meaningful words and music.

The resulting music is hard to categorise - there are elements of rap and hip hop here, but the scope of Dámì’s sound feels much wider. Having started in music in 2017, Sule has since garnered major industry support with features from the likes of Complex, DMY and GUAP, and airplay from Worldwide FM, BBC Introduce and BBC 1Xtra and spots on Apple Music featured playlists.

Dámì’s forthcoming EP, So Far, Still Going, is a reflecting and introspective collection of songs featuring a combination of restrained, tasteful production and emotive lyricism and poetry.

So Far (Poem), taken from the EP and featured below, goes back to Dámì’s roots of spoken word poetry, here layered on a carefully constructed combination of keys and strings. The piece provides insight into the Sule’s determination, ambition and yet also reveals elements of doubt and fear. Reflecting the EP’s title, the song ends with a vulnerable reflection of Sule’s own uncertainty: “So please don’t ask me if I’m there yet, if I’ve signed a record deal yet (...) Every goal has a process, so... so far I’m still going.”

Elsewhere, the EP has a snappier, more percussive sound, yet it retains and eclectic aesthetic in the combination of sounds Dámì leverages. EP opener Rolling Deep has muted snares and hi hats, as Sule raps over a wandering guitar melody. Hide and Seek layers vocals, keys and snappy drums to create something that feels timeless, drawing on vintage soul whilst leveraging contemporary production techniques.

Check out So Far (Poem) below and check out the full EP, So Far, Still Going, here.

Listen: Fake My Feelings — Ponette feat. Torine

Having made their name producing dark and catchy pop, Ponette have built a reputation and level of critical claim on the Scandinavian indie-pop scene. Their cover of t.A.T.u.’s All The Things She Said has picked up over 3 million plays on Spotify, and their beautifully bruised single Losing Me was highlighted by Norway’s biggest radio station, NRK P3.

With a new EP in the wings, Ponette have teamed up with Norwegian artist Torine on Fake My Feelings. The song has a kind of breathless feel to it, like getting busted when you are secretly crushing on someone instead of doing something productive. Warm bass tones, muted guitars and energetic vocals create an emotive, glossy feeling.

Describing the inspiration of the song, Ponette said:

“Fake My Feelings is a result of the introspection most people probably go through after a break-up. You need distance from the relationship before you’re able to see things clearly. The song is about realising you’ve lived for one person, without paying much attention to what you need yourself or who you want to be.”

Fake My Feelings is out now via Toothfairy — check it out below:

Listen: Runner’s High — Olivia Reid

Runner’s High is the new single from NYC-based musician Olivia Reid, who “blends indie acoustics with exploratory electronic pop soundscapes”. Which basically means her music strikes a beautiful mid-point between pop and folk, akin to those Taylor Swift and Justin Vernon collaborations, but in one tastefully cohesive individual.

Here on Reid’s new single, the running is as much a metaphor as anything — a depiction of the necessary struggle in achievement… As an artist, she reflects on the fact the race isn’t about the competition, but the feeling, as she sings, “All this time, I was a runner, searchin' for that runner's high.” Describing that inspirational feeling, Reid says:

“Runner’s High describes the way I’ve conditioned myself to be a workhorse… A product of growing up in America, I guess.”

Olivia’s vocal performance stands out as clear-eyed and determined, as piano keys play out a series of relaxed chords. Chunky-yet-loose percussion grants Runner’s High its necessary feeling of pace and movement, the four-four beat of the chorus slapping like feet on the pavement. In the song’s final minute we get a bit more of a left-field outro, luscious instrumentation evoking some of that Vernon experimentation as the whole song shimmers and then, ultimately, evaporates. This is the kind of record I love — it is pop, but intelligent, sophisticated, and emotive pop.

The outro was a key jumping off point for the song’s creation, which was developed with co-producers Ry Jones and Bastian Testori. Jones shared the track with Olivia through Instagram, noting that the saxophone at the end felt like a perfect callback to Reid’s 2018 single Organic Bloom:

“When I heard the early version, I was so inspired. I immediately asked if they wanted to collaborate on it. The concept for Runner’s High came so quickly. This song feels like that moment when I’m sprinting, and my legs finally seem to move faster than my thoughts. My mind is free. At that point, the high, the bliss – feels earned – and it’s most definitely addicting.”

Listen: Fuck Around Phase — Housewife

Housewife’s Fuck Around Phase has the unapologetic sound befitting a song whose title pretty much guarantees it no radio airplay.

Housewife is the musical project of 20-year-old Toronto-based singer Brighid Fry. She originally made her name in 2017 with an eponymous EP, which went on to win a number of awards including a Canadian Folk Music Award and a Toronto Independent Music Award. Having continued to build her name with 2020’s EP Better Daughter, and her 2022 release You’ll Be Forgiven, Fuck Around Phase is Fry’s first new music of 2023.

Rambunctious, grimy bass and thumping drums invoke the heavy feel of DFA 1979’s pure bass guitar and drum-driven sound. Paired with Housewife’s outspoken drenched vocal and a brief dash of fizzy pop in the form of a soaring childlike vocal harmony, Fuck Around Phase has attitude and authenticity a plenty.

On Fuck Around Phase, Housewife is looking to pursue a more intentional indie-rock sound that combines distorted guitar and pop melodies. Describing the song’s inspiration, and sound, Brighid says:

“This song is about learning to enjoy yourself and be present after going through a difficult time … I want to embrace being messy and not take things too seriously!”

Watch: Lost Without You — San Cisco

Lost Without You is the kind of song that really shines for one specific glorious reason: It has a bloody fantastic chorus.

San Cisco buzz with the kind of sunny West Coast vibes befitting of their name, but they actually come from Fremantle, in Western Australia. Having carved out a career creating indie-pop, the three-piece have been making music together for forteen years, and are on the verge of releasing their fifth album.

Fittingly, the band split their recording sessions for their new material between Fremantle and Los Angeles, working with producer Jame Ireland (Pond, Cuco). As reflected in that chorus, Lost Without You is a self-described anthem for the work you have to put into relationships. In the band’s own words:

“It isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, and it takes a conscious effort to make things work. We can also forget how important someone is to us and all the meaningful history and challenges that come with a longer relationship. ‘You're my best friend and I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else, but fuck it's hard sometimes.’”

What makes the chorus of Lost Without You so great is how it manages to strike an optimistic and rousing feeling, whilst simultaneously delivering a vulnerability around the reality of relationships. It can be tempting to trick yourself into thinking that good relationships are easy, and that if a relationship is hard, there must be something wrong. In reality, most relationships need some work at least some of the time. Lost WIthout You is the perfect soundtrack to celebrating the fact that the work is worth it.