Welcome to NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Roundup, your weekly snapshot of great music from indie and unsigned artists from around the globe.
This lineup brings together some must-listen acts spanning the genre spectrum – from a hip-hop lyrical playboy making a comeback after battling a life-threatening lung condition, to an EDM producer expressing sheer gratitude after coming through what could have been a life-changing ordeal. So, go ahead and check them out! As always, give the releases a thumbs-up in the comments section if they tickle your fancy.
NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Roundup is featured on Mondays or Fridays.If you are an indie or an unsigned artist and would like your music featured on the list, send your music links and a short info about the release to submit@newleasemusic.com, with NEW MUSIC ROUNDUP in the subject line.
Please note: there is a small submission fee for artists whose music is selected for the roundup. Selection is based on the music, not payment, and the fee helps cover the running costs of the website and the production of the feature.
Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy the music! Have a great weekend.
CHARLOTTE HAN – THE DIARY OF A TWENTY-SOMETHING
CHARLOTTE HAN makes her debut with ‘The Diary of a Twenty-Something’, an 11-track album exploring the complexities of love, heartbreak, self-discovery and personal growth. Blending contemporary singer-songwriter pop with an anthemic sensibility, Han draws on the emotional honesty of artists such as Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams and Noah Kahan while establishing a distinct identity through her candid lyricism and considered arrangements.
Rooted in the messy realities of growing up, ‘The Diary of a Twenty-Something’ captures the idealism, uncertainty and humour that define early adulthood. Across the record, Han moves between vulnerable reflections on relationships and more playful, energetic moments, balancing emotional depth with an accessible pop sensibility. Her background as a classically trained violinist and recording engineer informs the album’s melodic detail and production, bringing an additional level of craftsmanship to her songwriting.
At the heart of the record is lead single ‘In Another Life’, a brooding, emotionally driven track that gradually unfolds from an intimate ballad into an expansive pop arrangement. Exploring the themes of love and loss, the song captures the lingering weight of relationships and the possibility of imagining how things might have turned out differently. Its measured opening gives way to a fuller, more dynamic production, creating a natural sense of momentum that mirrors the emotional progression of the songwriting.
‘The Diary of a Twenty-Something’is out now across all leading digital platforms. Listen below…
HANDSHAKE IN SPACE – GUARDIAN ANGELS
Swedish EDM artist and producer Stefan Haling – aka HANDSHAKE IN SPACE – shares latest single ‘Guardian Angels,’ out now on all major streaming platforms. The song marks one year since Haling survived a serious brain emergency. But he’s clear about what it isn’t.
“This isn’t a sad story, and it’s not really about me,” Haling says. “It’s about how many people it takes to get one person through something like this — before it happened, in the middle of it, and every single day since. I’ve been grateful to every one of them from the very first night, and I still am.”
‘Guardian Angels’ is available now on all major streaming platforms. Why not check it out below…
RIKKE – UNAFRAID / VÆRE TRYGG
Norwegian singer-songwriter RIKKE closes the year with her only release of 2026 ‘Unafraid / Være Trygg’, an intimate acoustic double single that pairs the original English-language track with ‘Være trygg’, which means “to be safe”, a Norwegian translation written by Rikke herself. Bringing together personal vulnerability and a wider message of compassion, the release reflects her commitment to creating music that connects with listeners through honesty, empathy and shared human experience.
Originally released in 2023, ‘Unafraid’ was written by Matthew Attard, April Bender and Rikke Normann. The song explores the struggle to confront personal fears and move beyond the insecurities that can shape our relationships and sense of self. For Rikke, its themes are rooted in self-doubt and the anxiety that comes with fearing that we are not loved. Reimagined in an acoustic, singer-songwriter setting, the track places the emotional weight of its songwriting at the forefront, allowing its message to resonate through a stripped-back arrangement and a deeply personal vocal performance.
The accompanying Norwegian version, ‘Være trygg’, extends the song’s emotional reach towards children growing up amid war, instability and uncertainty. Through its translated lyrics, Rikke expresses a wish for every child to experience the safety and freedom of childhood: to play, explore and grow up without fear. The two recordings offer distinct perspectives on vulnerability, connecting the internal work of overcoming personal struggles with the wider need for safety, care and security in the world.
‘Unafraid / Være Trygg’ is available across all leading digital platforms. Listen below…
BACKWOOD BALLERZ – BACKWOOD THRILLER
CURT-DOG, T-Bone, Super Dav and Jo Jo Bagz – otherwise know as Alabama’s hip-hop collective –BACKWOOD BALLERZ — have dropped their latest album ‘BACKWOOD THRILLER’ out now for your pleasure across all leading digital platforms. Why not check it out below…
SKIP-DAWG – LYRICAL PLAYBOY
Veteran rapper SKIP-DAWG steps back into his most confident persona with latest single ‘Lyrical Playboy’, a sleek and seductive rap-R&B duet exploring the divide between the man behind the music and the larger-than-life character who emerges when he picks up the mic.
Blending introspective rap verses with a sensual R&B hook and touches of alternative rock, ‘Lyrical Playboy’ brings a cinematic edge to SKIP-DAWG’s sound while reflecting on his return to music after nearly a decade away.
“‘Lyrical Playboy’ is really about the two sides of me,” SKIP-DAWG explains. “There’s the regular person I am in everyday life, and then there’s SKIP-DAWG, a more confident and expressive version of myself that comes out through the music.”
His return carries extraordinary weight. Having already released five albums, SKIP-DAWG’s career was brought to an abrupt halt by a life-threatening lung condition. After suffering more than 20 collapsed lungs and undergoing eight major lung surgeries, he spent close to a decade away from recording. He continues to live with significant nerve damage and severe chronic chest pain following his surgeries.
Now, SKIP-DAWG is also using his platform to raise awareness of what he refers to as Bleb Disease and the life-altering experiences of recurrent collapsed lung sufferers.
‘Lyrical Playboy’is available across all leading digital platforms. Listen below…
