Tag: alternative music

Welcome to the first NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Round-up of 2026, where you can discover your next favourite track at a flick of an eye!

If you do happen to find a new favourite, why not let us know in the comments below!

NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Roundup is featured on Mondays or Fridays. If you are a 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.

INDIGO SYNDICATE – DND

Nashville-based trio INDIGO SYNDICATE steps into 2026 with ‘DND’ (Do Not Distrub), a sleek, R&B-leaning departure that trades their usual alt edge for something darker and late-night ready. Built on a pulsing groove and moody production, the track moves through mixed signals and emotional stalemates, anchored by the hook: “You haven’t heard a thing I said / I’ve been getting left on read / I’m stressing, now you’re messing with my head, I’ll come around so wait on me.” The repetition of “wait on me” becomes the heartbeat of the song — a phrase that feels equal parts defensive and desperate, capturing the toxic push-and-pull at its core.

Comprising of Preston Pospisil, Samantha Sanford, and Jharyss Granger, Indigo Syndicate became quickly known for their genre-fluid blend of alternative, pop, indie and soul. The band continues to carve out a distinct space within the modern alternative music landscape.

Their rapid rise includes multiple placements across Apple Music’s New in Alternative and New in Indie, along with several singles featured on Live Nation’s Ones to Watch playlist.

Why not check out ‘DND’ below…

XO SOUNDTRACK – TALK ABOUT ME

Nashville-based pop-rock/alternative outfit XO SOUNDTRACK‘s latest single, ‘Talk About Me’ sits in that familiar grey area where feelings linger longer than commitment. XO Soundtrack keeps things grounded sonically, with production that echoes glimmers of Walk the Moon, The 1975, and other indie rock darlings, pairing a clean synth line with a subtle pop-rock edge that lets the emotion while keeping intentional polish.

“Talk About Me” is inspired by the all too common “situationship.” The song tells the story of a couple who have been seeing each other off and on, and when the breakup happens, one person keeps talking about the other, even though THEY were the one to end it. I think everyone can relate to a “what are we?” kind of situation, and this song describes the emotions that come from it all.” – XOS

Renowned for high-energy, emotionally immersive live performances, XO Soundtrack – comprising of drummer Kai Clark, guitarist Austin Henderson, and vocalist Rock- has captivated audiences at notable Nashville venues including The End and The Basement. With a clear vision and a modern, emotionally driven sound, the band continues to carve out its place in the pop-rock/alternative landscape.

Check out ‘Talk About Me’ below…

BEKRATIVE – LET IT BREATHE

New Orleans–born artist BEKREATIVE returns with his new single, ‘Let It Breathe,’ a slick R&B offering that reflects a period in which he stepped away from the music scene to spend more time with his family.

With over 11 million streams across all music platforms, the Houston-based artist has built an extensive music career, writing more than 300 songs and releasing five albums to date.

Now back on the scene, BeKreative plans to release a new single every week, so be sure to keep an eye on his latest work…and why not start by checking out ‘Let It Breathe below…

CLARITY LIAO – LIKE I DO

Written as an English assignment before evolving into a fully realised studio release, ‘Like I Do’ captures the ache of unrequited love through the vivid metaphor of wandering endlessly through a desert. Stripped back and intimate, the track places Clarity’s delicate yet commanding vocal performance at the forefront, allowing her lyrical maturity and emotional nuance to shine.

“‘Like I Do’ was a song written just as homework given from my English tutor at first. The song really brought out my emotions from the current situation I was in at the time, also exploring a genre I’ve been liking but never really got to pursue, so I decided to take it to the studio. This song has so far been one of my favourite tracks to sing and listen to, also being one of the best expressed in my lyrics.” – Clarity Liao.

San Francisco-based singer-songwriter CLARITY LIAO continues to establish herself as one of pop’s most promising young voices with the release of her latest single, ‘Like I Do’. The mesmerising piano-led ballad follows the poignant alt-pop debut “Hurt My Heart” and further cements Clarity’s transition from award-winning band songwriter to compelling solo artist.

Listen to ‘Like I Do’ below…

BELLA WOOD – DIRTY CHERRY

Rising pop artist BELLA WOOD returns with her most defining release yet in the intoxicating new single ‘Dirty Cherry’, a lust-fuelled, sharp-edged alt-pop statement that announces her arrival as one of 2026’s most compelling emerging voices.

Bella learned early that “home” isn’t always a safe word. At just thirteen, she was forced to leave behind instability and move in with her grandparents in Kelowna, trading chaos for quiet nights and the hum of crickets. But even in the stillness, music never stopped playing in her mind. By seventeen, determined to carve out her own future, Bella packed a duffel bag and moved to Vancouver with one goal: make it in music.

“I wrote this song at a time when the gap between who I was and who people said I was felt like a really big jump,” Bella explains. “Instead of internalising my frustration, I write – it’s kind of like keeping a diary for me. Songwriting is the only way I really know how to process my emotions. Me and my producer Nic Charuk explored several iterations before landing on the final version.” – Bella Wood

Listen to ‘Dirty Cherry’ below…