There’s something refreshing about an artist who doesn’t feel the need to make life look bigger, better, or more glamorous than it is. For PAUL MINNICH, known as “The Lawn Chair Poet,” the stories worth telling are found in everyday relationships, old memories, personal struggles, and the moments that remind us what truly matters. ‘On Pretty Damn Proud’, the country singer-songwriter embraces these experiences with a blend of heartfelt honesty, humor, and rock-infused country storytelling.
The title track establishes the album’s central message of self-acceptance and independence. “You can’t keep holding me down / Cause if you can’t tell by now / I’m pretty damn proud,” Minnich sings, expressing confidence rooted not in perfection but in embracing the experiences that shaped him. It’s an attitude that carries into ‘Lawn Chair Livin”, where time spent with friends and family becomes a reminder that happiness doesn’t always require chasing something bigger. Sometimes, simply slowing down is enough.
Relationships provide another emotional anchor. ‘Home-Built Mess’ explores how the excitement of new romance develops into a lasting partnership, sustained by shared experiences, humor, and commitment. Meanwhile, ‘Your Clown,’ inspired by a close friend’s approach to love, celebrates the importance of laughter and the freedom to be imperfect around someone who knows you best. Together, the songs present love as something built through everyday moments rather than grand gestures.
Elsewhere, ‘Memory Lane’ reflects on the experiences that continue to shape us, while ‘Rolling Stone’ captures how meeting the right person can change everything. On ‘In The Sand,’ Minnich trades daily pressures for the freedom of the shoreline, delivering a rock-tinged escape anthem that celebrates the need to step back and breathe. ‘American Valor’ brings a more solemn perspective, honoring military service members and veterans through a song informed partly by Minnich’s experience watching his older brother serve.
Following a breakout 2025 marked by editorial recognition and support from Apple Music, the Academy of Country Music, and Holler Country, Minnich brings these different perspectives together on ‘Pretty Damn Proud’.
Ultimately, the album’s appeal lies in its appreciation of life as it really is: messy, funny, complicated, and meaningful. Rather than chasing perfection, Minnich finds value in lasting relationships, personal memories, and the people whose sacrifices deserve recognition. ‘Pretty Damn Proud’ is a grounded, relatable statement from an artist who understands that life’s most meaningful stories are often found in its simplest moments. ‘Pretty Damn Proud’ is out today (23rd October) on all leading streaming platforms.
MARYAIANNE & ME has unveiled her highly anticipated album, ‘Blue Skies’, which is out now across all leading platforms. Featuring an eclectic mix of styles across ten tracks, ‘Blue Skies’ is also available to order as a limited-edition physical CD via herwebsite.
Alongside the release of her album, MaryAiAnne & Me also shares the lead single, ‘Heart Of Stone’, an emotive Country ballad about letting go of the emotional baggage of past relationships and embracing the possibilities of a new love. She also shares singles, ‘Blues Skies’ and Wanna Go To America’, which showcase her rockabilly-inspired side.
‘Blue Skies’ album features previously released singles, ‘Highway’, ‘Ocean Motion’ and ‘Perfect Valentine’. The singles received acclaim from radio stations worldwide and topped CHBN Radio’s The Playlist Chart in the UK.
MaryAiAnne & Me is the brainchild of Welsh singer-songwriter Maryanne Dugan, whose passion for music and songwriting began at just five years old.
That early passion gained momentum throughout her formative years. Maryanne often took leading singing and acting roles during her primary school years and became a member of her local choir, where she learned to play several instruments and regularly performed in pantomimes. As a teenager, she began writing deeply personal poetry and stories, eventually going on to study Creative Writing at degree level.
However, her creative journey was interrupted following a traumatic experience. In the aftermath, Maryanne became increasingly reclusive but continued to write songs, eventually finding a new creative outlet through SUNO (AI). The technology became a creative partner, helping her bring her lyrics to life and capture the emotions behind her songwriting.
Gradually finding her way back into the world, Maryanne began volunteering for a local charity in Kingston upon Thames, where she now lives. It was there that she met John Hewlett, who was struck by her storytelling and subsequently became her manager.
Hewlett brings decades of experience in the music industry, dating back to the 1960s. During his career, he collaborated with iconic acts including The Beatles, T. Rex and Sparks, while also managing artists including McGuinness Flint, Gallagher & Lyle, Sparks and The Incredible Shrinking Dickies. He also produced The Incredible Shrinking Dickies’ eponymous album.
With John’s support, Maryanne began sharing her songs with the world. Encouraged by the positive response, she decided to reveal her identity and step into the spotlight as an artist, marking a new chapter in her creative journey.
Maryanne continues to use music and songwriting as a way of working through her traumatic experience, with the hope that her storytelling can resonate with and support others facing similar challenges.
As part of her ongoing journey to manage depression and anxiety, Maryanne is currently taking singing lessons to fine-tune her vocals, with plans to eventually perform her music in front of a live audience.
Until then, she leaves us with three standout singles from her album: ‘Heart Of Stone’, ‘Wanna Go To America’ and ‘Blue Skies’.
Welcome to NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Roundup, your weekly snapshot of great music from indie and unsigned artists from around the globe.
In this lineup, there are three contenders that are worth your attention: an award-winning spoken word artist with a heart wrenching story; a hip-hop artist – who’s a regular on the blog’s new music lineup – bearing his soul and an EDM artist/producer bringing some epic underground vibes to get you going for the weekend.
So if they’ve titillated your musical taste buds, why not go ahead and check them out! If you like what you hear, give it a thumbs-up or say who’s your favorite below in the comment section.
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.
Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy the music!
BRANDON LEAKE – INTIMACY
Over the last three years, Emmy Award-winning spoken word artist, educator, and America’s Got Talent Season 15 champion BRANDON LEAKE has experienced an unexpected panic attack, navigated his young daughter’s autoimmune diagnosis, faced financial uncertainty, and found himself asking questions many people are afraid to say out loud: Where is God? Is He still with me? Will He show up when I need Him most?
Rather than hiding those struggles, Brandon transformed them into his most vulnerable project yet, ‘Intimacy’, an album that explores fatherhood, anxiety, fear, healing, and the difficult reality that faith isn’t always certainty, sometimes it’s choosing to trust when life doesn’t make sense.
At a time when conversations around mental health, parenting, and vulnerability continue to resonate with readers, Brandon’s story offers an honest look at what it means to continue showing up for your family while quietly carrying your own fears.
HANDSHAKE IN SPACE – IT’S GONNA BE ME AND YOU (FT. LINNÉA BRUSELIUS)
Scandinavian EDM and electropop project HANDSHAKE IN SPACE returns with single ‘It’s gonna be me and you’ – an intense celebration of togetherness, magnetic attraction, and sleepless nights on the dance floor. Vocal duties are handled by versatile artist Linnéa Bruselius, originally from Rättvik, Sweden, but currently based in Berlin’s vibrant music scene.
Driven by a tempo of 126 BPM, pulsating basslines, and dreamy synthscapes, ‘It’s gonna be me and you’ delivers a balanced blend of club energy and emotional electropop. The track captures that uncompromising feeling of being completely absorbed in the moment and each other—where the surrounding world fades away and nothing matters except the presence here and now.
‘It’s gonna be me and you’ is available across all streaming platforms. Why not check it out…
BEKREATIVE – SURFACE
Houston artist BEKREATIVE returns to the list, laying all his cards on the table with arguably his most vulnerable work to date, ‘Surface’. The reflective, genre-blending hip-hop track chronicles the prejudices he faces as a Black man living in America today.
‘Surface’ is now available across all leading platforms below. Why not check it out?
Oluwatosin’ is the latest album from Nigerian-born, UK-based artist and producer 705—a deeply personal project that introduces listeners to the man behind the artist.
‘Oluwatosin’ is 705’s real name, and choosing it as the album title was an intentional statement: This is me. This is Oluwatosin. This is 705.
Across the project, 705 explores different parts of his journey, blending Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, rap and melodic influences with lyrics delivered in English, Yoruba and Nigerian Pidgin.
The album reflects his experiences, ambitions, relationships, faith and determination to remain committed to his craft. From moments of celebration and gratitude to songs about perseverance, love and personal growth, ‘Oluwatosin’ presents an honest picture of an artist who has continued to pursue his purpose without losing his identity.
As both an artist and producer, 705 plays a central role in shaping the project’s sound. His distinctive vocal tone, confident delivery and ability to move between rapping and melody give the album its character, while its featured artists and producers bring additional depth and variety.
More than simply a collection of songs, ‘Oluwatosin’ represents a new chapter in the journey of 705—one built on authenticity, resilience and the confidence to show the world exactly who he is.
‘Oluwatosin’ is available now on all major streaming platforms.This is the music. This is the journey. This is Oluwatosin.Check it out below…
Welcome to NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Roundup, your weekly snapshot of great music from indie and unsigned artists!
Once again, music was carefully selected across the genre spectrum for your pleasure! If you like what you hear, give it a thumbs-up and share your thoughts in the comment section below – your support means a lot to these rising talents!
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!
MEGHAN PULLES – THE MIDHEAVEN
MEGHAN PULLES explores the emotional duality of chasing a dream while navigating profound loss on her new single, ‘The Midheaven.’ Built around delicate piano, sweeping strings, and cinematic crescendos, the track captures the delicate balance between hope and heartbreak, offering listeners a moving meditation on resilience.
Drawing inspiration from the astrological term Midheaven, a symbol of one’s calling, purpose, and public life, Pulles reflects on what it means to step into the future you’ve always imagined while carrying the weight of grief. Her vulnerable vocal performance allows every lyric to feel intensely personal while remaining universally relatable.
About the song, Pulles shares: “The Midheaven was written from the realization that stepping into the life you’ve always dreamed of does not make you immune to grief. As my career continues to grow, I have found myself holding excitement and heartbreak at the same time, watching parts of my world fall away while still believing something beautiful is ahead.”
‘The Midheaven’ is out today on all leading music platforms. Watch the official video below…
GABRIELLE VAUGHN – TWENTY THREE
GABRIELLE VAUGHN confronts the realities of mental illness and survival on her deeply personal new single, ‘TWENTY-THREE.’ Written over the course of three years, from ages 23 to 26, the track offers an unflinching look at what it means to continue carrying battles that many assume should have been left behind with youth.
Built on Vaughn’s signature blend of alternative rock, pop, soul, and R&B influences, the song examines the shame that can accompany struggling in adulthood while ultimately delivering a message of perseverance. Through striking lyricism and emotional vulnerability, Vaughn reminds listeners that healing is not always a straight line.
Speaking about the release, Vaughn shares, “It’s about realizing that mental illness and the urge to hurt yourself don’t always disappear just because you get older. There can be so much shame in still carrying those battles into adulthood, like you should’ve left them behind years ago. I hope this song reminds anyone who’s ever felt that way that they’re not the only one. Sometimes surviving doesn’t look like moving on — it looks like choosing to stay, one day at a time.”
‘TWENTY-THREE.’ was released yesterday on all leading music platforms. Check it out below…
INDIGO SYNDICATE – HOWLING AT THE MOON
INDIGO SYNDICATE Indigo Syndicate slows things down on their new single, ‘Howling At The Moon,’ delivering their most vulnerable and intimate release to date. Stripped back to little more than acoustic guitar and a raw, emotionally charged vocal, the song captures the quiet ache of missing the person you love. Through understated storytelling and heartfelt lyricism, the band transforms distance into something deeply personal and universally relatable.
Written by Samantha Sanford for her partner, Jharyss, during a week-long work trip, the song explores the small moments that make absence feel impossible to ignore. Lyrics like, “I know you love me but I’m overthinking / In my head / I miss you in our bed / Ever since you left / The house is quiet so I keep on singing,” paint a vivid portrait of longing and vulnerability.
While ‘Howling At The Moon’ begins with quiet intimacy, it gradually builds into a soaring, cathartic finale, culminating in the infectious refrain, “Woohoo, woohoo, howling at the moon / I’m howling at the moon for you.” The dynamic progression mirrors the emotional journey of missing someone, transforming solitude into an unforgettable sing-along moment.
‘Howling At The Moon’ was released yesterday across all leading music platforms. Check it out below…
DYVR – REBUILD
London-based electronic artist DYVR announces her debut album ‘Rebuild’, a deeply personal and emotionally charged collection that transforms lived experience into expansive, club-focused electronic music. Blending atmospheric production, euphoric dancefloor energy and intimate songwriting, the independent trans artist delivers a record that explores identity, resilience and community through a distinctive electronic pop lens. Across nine tracks, Rebuild establishes Dyvr as a compelling new voice within the UK’s alternative electronic landscape, where vulnerability and catharsis exist side by side.
Built around themes of pain, sisterhood, healing and self-actualisation, ‘Rebuild’ traces a journey from grief and uncertainty towards celebration and acceptance. Previous singles including ‘Sister’, ‘Glass’, and the new focus track ‘Cry Baby’ introduce the record’s emotional arc, combining dreamy vocal textures, immersive synth arrangements and propulsive club production. The result is an album equally suited to solitary reflection and collective release, capturing the transformative power of the dancefloor as a place of belonging. Check it out below…
MATILDA GRACE – COVER BOY
London’s rising pop artist MATILDA GRACE continues her rapid ascent with her latest single ‘Cover Boy’, an irresistible, nostalgia-fuelled anthem that bridges the worlds of modern pop and rock with the unmistakable energy of the 80s and 90s. At just 21 years old, Matilda is already carving out her own space within the UK’s emerging music landscape, combining sharp songwriting, bold production choices and a playful artistic identity that sets her apart from her peers. Check out ‘Cover Boy’ below…
ANNIINA – DVD
Finnish singer-songwriter ANNIINA, also known as Anniina Ballerina, further cements her place in modern pop with the release of her latest single, “DVD,” continuing to showcase the compelling songwriting and storytelling that have become hallmarks of her artistry.
Blending intimate songwriting, atmospheric folk-inspired instrumentation and captivating vocal performances, the track offers another glimpse into an artist whose deeply personal approach to songwriting is resonating with an ever-growing global audience.
This has cultivated in a sold out headline show in London in May for Anniina, and her catalogue has now exceeded 1 million streams across Spotify and Apple Music.Why not check it out below…
