Hello guys, Happy New Year! I hope you all had lots of fun over the festive period!
It’s that time again when NEW LEASE MUSIC picks out the top releases of the year! Today, we start with the Top Ten Albums of 2025 where – as always – you’ll find a selection of earworthy collections. So if you’re in the mood to move your hips to the infectious rhythms of Afrobeats, Afro-fusion and EDM, you’ll find some here to keep you dancing. Prefer something more laid-back? We’ve also included albums steeped in the intimate vibes of indie rock, pop, singer-songwriter, and hip-hop—perfect for reflective moments and late-night listening.
So, get tuck in and explore! If any of the great releases tickle your fancy, why not comment below!
Be sure to look out for NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Singles of 2025, coming soon….
10. DEEP BLUE – LAVENDINE
9. YESTERDAY’S WEIRDNESS IS TOMORROW’S REASON WHY – ALASKA X ALEX LUDOVICO X JASON GRIFF
8. DO IT – HANSHAKE IN SPACE
7. ALL OF ME – RAPHAEL TATE
6. BLACK RENAISSANCE – NATTY BOI ZOE
5. WAYFINDING – COLIN MANSON
4. A MOMENT ALONE (LIVE AT FACTORY STUDIOS) – JAMES O’HURLEY
LAVENDINE’s new album, ‘Deep Blue’ signifies the fragility and resilience of the human spirit. When you’re in the deep end, where your feet no longer touch the ocean floor, you loose all sense of control – but somehow, faith kicks in and you confidently go with the flow, guiding through any obstacles that life presents.
Acclaimed producer Mark Needham – who has worked with The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, Imagine Dragons – helped bring Lavendine’s vision to life. He shaped the evolving facets of their indie rock identity into a submerged, immersive soundscape that feels dark but somehow filled with optimism. This tension is particularly evident in ‘Waterless Cloud’ and ‘I Won’t Love You’, which both celebrate the liberation that comes with breaking free from toxic, damaging relationships. Meanwhile, ‘Diamonds in the Sky’ offers a sense of uplift, chronicling the empowerment that comes from letting go of the past and reaching for a brighter future.
Though Lavendine—made up of sisters Jacy and Jana Ayers—have already cemented their place in the U.S. Adult Contemporary scene with three Top 25 singles on the Mediabase and Billboard AC charts (‘Rapture,’ ‘Open Up a Window,’ and ‘Here to You’), ‘Deep Blue’ may be their most vulnerable and unfiltered work yet. The album captures the highs and lows that have shaped them, inviting listeners to step into their world and connect with the experiences that helped forge their strength.
‘Deep Blue’ is now available on all major music platforms. Dive in and experience their world below…
Must listens: City Lights, I Won’t Love You, Diamonds In The Sky,
Welcome to NEW LEASE MUSIC’s first ever New Music Roundup!
You can now discover great music from indie and unsigned artists at a quick glimpse! If a release catches your ear, don’t be shy – share your thoughts below in the comment box!
NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Roundup will be 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.
Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy the music featured!
Lavendine – Deep Blue
Sister duo LAVENDINE, share their album, ‘Deep Blue’, out today (7th November) across all leading platforms. Produced by Mark Needham of The Killers and Fleetwood Mac, the album is a raw, powerful exploration of faith, perseverance, and hope in the face of life’s toughest challenges. Why not check it out here: https://ffm.to/lavendinedeepblue
samuel evanson – christmas bells
Welsh singer-songwriter SAMUEL EVANSON rounds off 2025 with a gift for listeners everywhere, his brand-new festive single, ‘Christmas Bells’, out today (7th November). Known for his spellbinding blend of introspection and pop brilliance, Evanson offers a modern twist on the classic Christmas anthem, channelling his love for 1980s synth-pop while embracing the warmth and wonder that define the season. Check it out here:
sebastian horton – stay (when the light does down)
At just 19 years old, UK-based artist SEBASTIAN HORTON emerges as a vibrant new voice with debut single, ‘Stay (When The Light Goes Down)’, a dance-pop and R&B-pop number, fusing infectious rhythms, soulful emotion, and a story of resilience. ‘Stay (When The Light Goes Down)’ was released 31st October. Check it out here:
rena angel – beauty when i bleed
Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter RENA ANGEL returns with her most evocative release yet, the hauntingly beautiful new single, ‘Beauty When I Bleed’. Blending the intimacy of indie pop with the cinematic textures of alt-leaning soundscapes, Rena’s music feels like a confession whispered at a party; soft, emotional, and impossible to forget. Check it out here:
Jon Burnell (vocals and guitar), Mark Lee (bass and keys), Phil Thomas (lead guitar) and Steve Fuller (drums) – aka – WILD OCEANS certainly live up to their name.
Their debut single, ‘Bloodbath’ takes you by surprise, introducing raging guitar riffs that can easily wake the dead; it momentarily makes way for melodic verses, before erupting at the chorus and towards the end – and there’s a reason behind that. The eruptive riffs mirrors the sheer frustration of holding on to a deceitful lover who refuses to change, despite countless chances.
Though this is their debut as Wild Oceans, the South-West alt-rock quartet are no strangers to the stage. Between them, they’ve toured extensively across the UK, Europe, and the US, supporting major acts including 3 Doors Down, The Rifles, Infadels, and Pop Evil.
With tour dates lined up throughout 2025 and early 2026, Wild Oceans are bringing the noise to venues across the UK — and ‘Bloodbath’ is just the beginning.
From the moment you press play, one thing’s clear: Wild Oceans are not here to whisper. Dive in below…
With brooding, reverb-soaked guitar riffs ripping through delicate — almost ghostlike — backdrops, sisters Jacy and Jana Ayers, aka LAVENDINE, deliver a haunting first impression on their latest single, ‘Who Cares If I’m Alone.’ At first listen, it might feel like a slow descent into darkness. But underneath the weight and mood is something tougher — a raw, defiant message of resilience. This isn’t a cry for help; it’s a declaration. A quiet storm that finds strength — and even peace — in standing alone.
Born from betrayal and hardened by perseverance, “Who Cares If I’m Alone” is a bold refusal to settle — for silence, for dependence, or for anything less than one’s truth. It’s a rallying cry for those who’ve been let down and left behind, yet still choose to rise.
Brought vividly to life by Grammy-nominated producer Mark Needham (Fleetwood Mac, The Killers, Imagine Dragons, Stevie Nicks), the single is infused with a gritty, unapologetic rock edge that amplifies its emotional intensity. The production captures a defining chapter in Lavendine’s journey — marked by isolation and setbacks, but also by a newfound determination to carve out their own path. It’s in this space — where fear meets clarity — that Lavendine discovers peace. ‘Who Cares If I’m Alone’ isn’t just a song; it’s a realization: you don’t need a crowd to find your purpose, and there’s strength in going it alone, no matter how daunting the path may seem.
A heartfelt cry to embrace solitude and find strength within it ‘Who Cares If I’m Alone’ – now available across all leading streaming platforms – serves as a exciting teaser to the duo’s forthcoming EP ‘Deep Blue’.