Listen: Costumes by Bonbonfire

Opening with a reverb heavy intro, Bonbonfire’s new single, Costumes, is centred around piano keys that sound as though they are being scattered across bare floorboards. A vocal duet picks its way through an environment of emotional detritus, as layers of percussion and instrumentation gradually come together to create an increasingly resonant experience.

Bonbonfire are a US-based male-female duo. He is an electronic music producer, and she used to dream of being a country music star. Having both become certified music therapists, they work together to create a combination of electronic and acoustic sounds as a musical outlet.

Costumes was originally a single from 2020, but is a focus again as part of Bonbonfire’s 2025 album, This Wasn’t The Plan. The costumes in the title reflect the song’s exploration of imposter syndrome and identity crisis, themselves triggered by some of the world events through which we have all lived in the past few years.

Listen: Uppercut by Idarose

American musician Idarose positions herself as ‘the cross between brat summer and a theatre kid’ and, having previously produced and written for major artists including Joji, Suki Waterhouse, Two Feet and Lydia Night, she is now releasing her own self-written and produced music.

New single Uppercut is the exception that proves a particular rule of mine… One of my most frequent complaints about music that gets sent to me is a reliance on heavily processed vocals, but here on Uppercut, they lend the song a sense of urgent drama.

Opening with deadpan vocals performed on top of cinematic synths and propulsive drums, Uppercut channels an energy that is equal parts John Hughes and brat punk delivered with an attitude not dissimilar to Olivia Rodrigo. Idarose’s hushed vocals establish the context of a friendship turned sour, quietly seething, before she jumps into a chorus that gives the feeling of being in emotional free fall, buried grievances suddenly given the space and oxygen to ignite. As things proceed through the song’s duration, the whole thing burns bright like lithium.

Describing her inspiration, Idarose says:

‘Over the past few years, through my work with different artists as well as through the creation of an original musical, I’ve really started to figure out what I wanted my artist project to sound like again. After separately exploring both worlds, I began to realize, what if my artist project actually is a mix of the theater kid in me with so many stories to tell and the electronic pop producer in me who loves aggressively loud synthesizers and harmonizers? This song was the first one I had made in a long time that felt so innately Idarose — lyrics where I get to overshare and process emotions about a friendship breakup over production that is loud, dramatic and in your face. Uppercut felt like the perfect way to bring people back into my world as an artist.’

Listen: Stitch by Snake Orange Cake

Snake Orange Cake is the new musical project from Berlin-based artist Julia Carlsson. Blending electronic soundscapes, she creates a shoe-gaze, drone-like aesthetic, meshing loops, samples, and synthesisers together with her spoken-word poetry.

On her latest single, Stitch, Snake Orange Cake creates a deep, transcendental piece of music. Shuffling rhythms rub against low bass tones, guitar sounds and slow synth melodies. The result is cinematic and consuming, encouraging the listener to give themselves over to the sound, with the deadpan vocal delivery blending into the collage of noise, an instrument in itself. I found the experience of listening to Stitch meditative and cleansing, pulling me into the moment and creating a sense of presence.

Carlsson took her inspiration for the song and its lyrics from her experience of taking more risks and exploring the world, embracing a sense of adventure. Her work as Snake Orange Cake builds on her prior work as Leoblu, featured on BlackPlastic last year, which saw her gain international recognition and placement on a Netflix soundtrack.

Listen: DYBIRL by SOPE

UK-based duo SOPE perform indie folk combined with pop melodies to create something with broad appeal but a depth of emotion. Channeling the likes of Justin Vernon’s Bon Iver, the pair have recently unveiled DYBIRL, which comes ahead of their debut EP, due for release in the second half of 2025.

With gently strummed guitars that bask in the raw feel of fingers sliding up and down the fretboard, DYBIRL is an atmospheric slice of folk pop with vocal harmonies that invoke a sense of introspection. Each component of the song feels carefully considered, and whilst the overall production is retrained and somewhat minimal, the whole comes together with a sense of emotional release.

Duo Alastair and Niall are at their beginning of their journey as SOPE, but this early single hints at the potential for depth in their music. I’m excited to hear how they explore their sound across a broader collage. Check out DYBIRL below:

Watch: Concordia (Dorian Concept Remix) by Yuma Yamaguchi

Hailing from Tokyo, Yuma Yamaguchi is known for his productions scoring films, drama, animation, and commercials. Concordia started as a soundtrack for an interactive beach art installation in Odaiba, Tokyo. As part of a four-track series of remixes, here Viennese producer and keyboardist Dorian Concept brings a distinctive flair whilst retaining hints of the original.

Both the original tracks and Dorian Concept’s version bask in elements of jazz, but where the original is focused on piano refrains and sweeping strings, the remix basks in loose organic percussion flourishes and glitchy electronics. Dorian Concept is known for his work with Flying Lotus, Thundercat, and The Cinematic Orchestra, and the aesthetics of those artists are present here.

As I write this, I’m sitting on an airplane, about to depart for the sunny beaches of Greece. The lively, organic feeling electronics of this version of Concordia feel perfect — like an early morning sunrise, the earth gently awakening with possibility.