Song of the Day: Who – Scout

London-based singer, songwriter and producer SCOUT ushers in a compelling era of evolution as she announce her debut EP ‘Everything Will Make Sense’, out 1st March 2024 via Sweat Entertainment (Dolores Forever, kid apollo).

Scout shares some of the same ideals as its namesake – Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird – as well as reflecting on her own wrestlings with femininity, societal expectations and the power found in telling your own story.

Hamburg born, Sweden raised and now firmly London based having moved to the capital at the age of 17, Scout’s transcendent pop creations are cathartic and empowering in equal measure. Partly tracking her journey as a young woman finding her footing in this industry (having operated in a shoegaze band signed to Heavenly Records in her late teens), Scout is a project rooted in defiance and knowing your worth.

To mark the announcement of their debut EP, Scout is sharing the project’s rousing second single ‘Who’. Through tasteful electronics and rich alt-pop production, ‘Who’ relays feelings of frustration and confusion, dissecting power abuse in the music industry – ultimately written as a reminder to wholly respect and trust your own sense of self.

Speaking more on the inspiration behind new single ‘Who’, Scout said: “The song was born from accumulated feelings of violation and a breach of trust by figures of authority in my life and early career. When I picked myself back up, I felt pretty raw and desperate to gain back a sense of self worth. When you have no mental buffer it feels a bit like having an open wound but thinking that by letting people poke around in it, they could help me heal.

‘Who’ is me questioning some of these people and experiences, it’s a reminder to not give your power away and to find it in your truth and self expression: To honour and embrace yourself fully, but also remembering the toll it can take when you don’t.”

Listen to the inspiring single below…

R&B/Pop sensation Luh Kel ‘Reminisces’ in latest video

Platinum selling artist LUH KEL, sweeps us off our feet with his latest musical creation, ‘Reminisce.’ Following the success of his previous single, ‘You The One,’ Luh Kel is treating his fans to another captivating track.

‘Reminisce’ encapsulates Luh Kel’s distinctive vocal prowess and emotional depth. This release is a testament to Luh Kel’s ability to craft music that touches the soul, showcasing his evolution as an artist. The music video, skillfully directed by the renowned Grand Fort, enhances the song’s evocative lyrics.

Both ‘Reminisce’ and ‘You The One’ will be featured on his new mixtape, ‘Head Melodies’.This highly anticipated mixtape promises to be a thrilling journey through Luh Kel’s musical artistry.

Luh Kel, born Turran Coleman, has been on a meteoric rise, gaining recognition and acclaim within the music industry. His unique blend of R&B and hip-hop has garnered a loyal fan base, solidifying his place as an emerging artist to watch. Check out the video for ‘Reminisce’ below…

Song of the Day: Come Clean – Maggie Andrew

MAGGIE ANDREW‘s latest single, ‘Come Clean,’ is about starting over, saying whatever’s on your chest and looking forward to a positive future.

I had a falling out with someone I thought was a friend, but they ended up ghosting me in life completely, Maggie explains the inspiration behind the song. “I felt really sad for a while because it left me confused and hurt, especially because I didn’t do anything wrong. It was like a breakup for no reason.”

The moody, rain-soaked intro sets the tone, which is immediately joined by the brooding electric guitar and heavy trap drums, both topped off with a real gritty grungy, cinematic alt-rock feel. Have a listen to ‘Come Clean’ below…

Alt-pop artist merci, mercy shares third EP, ‘Like An Orchid.’

Alt-pop artist MERCI, MERCY shares her third EP, ‘Like An Orchid’, out now via Liberation Records. With this new body of work she delivers sparkling alt-pop anthems with heart, including recent releases ‘Shovel’, ‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Silver Lining’, along with unreleased cuts ‘If You Had Any Friends’ and ‘Mouldy’.

The songs bounce around merci’s thoughts on big topics including the ups and downs of relationships, struggles with addiction and anxiety, and everything in between. With support from BBC Radio 1 on Jack Saunders’ Future Artists show and Mollie King’s Future Pop show, on all of her material to date, merci, mercy has never been afraid of exploring emotional vulnerabilities. Navigating mental health issues and overcoming personal hurdles surrounding anxiety and growing up in relationships, she has poured newly gained insights and perspective into ‘Like An Orchid’.

“My new EP Like An Orchid is the roller coaster of emotions you have during your first relationship and how extreme they can feel especially when you are someone who has anxiety. This EP will take you on a journey of my inner demons while also showing you into my heart a little bit. The songs in Like an Orchid are a family in terms of the lyrics but distant relatives in terms of the way they sound. Each story has its own sound.” – merci, mercy.

WATCH THE ‘IF YOU HAD ANY FRIENDS’ LYRIC VIDEO

‘Like An Orchid’ saw merci, mercy once again work with her longtime collaborator and friend, producer Chris Collins (‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Mouldy’) along with fellow Sydney-based songwriter and producer Robby De Sa (‘Silver Lining’ and ‘If You Had Any Friends’) and the one and only Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy of The Wombats (‘Shovel’).

With over 24 million streams to her name thanks to the success of her first two EP releases: no thank you, no thanks (2020) and is it me, or is it you? (2022), the demand for new music from merci, mercy has grown in a consistent and organic way.

Widespread support via renowned outlets including triple j, Beats 1 and Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1, Paper Magazine, NME, Clash Magazine, Flaunt and more, has positioned merci, mercy as part of a new vanguard of fresh Australian pop artists who have the potential to establish themselves as a long-standing presence internationally.

Extensive radio support throughout the UK and Europe, as well as continued global editorial playlist support across DSPs (she was one of the first global ambassadors of Spotify’s RADAR series and recently featured on the cover of Apple Music’s Superbloom playlist), has ensured merci, mercy’s front-of-mind status on the radars of industry and a fast-growing fanbase alike.

‘Like An Orchid’ is the next chapter in what has become one of Australian pop music’s most exciting and intriguing stories. Her dynamism was present from the jump but here, merci, mercy holds her space with a rejuvenated sense of self-awareness and ultimate happiness. A moment of blooming we can all wish to experience.

Listen to ‘Like and Orchid’ below…

Must Listens: Lonely & Horny, Silver Lining, Mouldy

Electro trio Raveen unveils emotive single, ‘In The Middle’

Hailing from Montreal, RAVEEN as a trio has flourished into a united entity since releasing their debut full-length ‘Always’ in 2017. The record marks their foray into more subdued, lush songwriting and a grandiose approach to arrangement with orchestral strings, choir work and field recording. Live performances are evocative of Jeff Buckley’s dynamic peaks-and-valleys approach, while blending electronics and live instrumentation in new, innovative ways. Their releases are consistent markers of growth, with more on the way in the coming year.

The group’s latest single and resurgent return after the pandemic era setbacks with ‘In The Middle,’ a driving and emotive track. “This song tries to provide a snapshot of the emotions we feel in those moments when love and growth fight for dominance in our lives.” -Eric Segun

Listen to ‘In The Middle’ below…