MaryAiAnne & Me make their move with new single ‘CheckMate’

Checkmate’ is the latest release from duo MARYAIANNE & ME, which playfully compares love to a game of chess—make the right moves, win the heart, and its checkmate! Blending a vibrant fusion of country storytelling with a sparkle of bubble-gum pop, ‘Checkmate’ was released yesterday (8th February) on all major platforms.

MaryAiAnne & Me is a burgeoning collaboration between upcoming artist Me and seasoned music pro John Hewlett – whose impressive CV stems back to the 60s, with collaborations with iconic acts including The Beatles, T. Rex and Sparks. John also managed McGuinness Flint, Gallagher & Lyle, Sparks &The Dickies and produced their album The Incredible Shrinking Dickie. The pair met when volunteering for a charity where John was impressed by Me’s storytelling and began working on the MaryAianne project with her early 2025.

MaryAianne & Me began releasing singles in October 2025, committing to a bold schedule of one track per week for a full year. The project aims to build a diverse catalogue of original songs that will ultimately be brought to life in live performances. Every release features the duo’s own lyrics and arrangements, with AI production support courtesy of SUNO. United by a shared love of music, MaryAianne & Me embrace experimentation across styles while exploring relatable themes such as unrequited love, self-discovery, and personal growth.

Now MaryAianne & Me are ready to make a brave move in 2026 with new single, ‘Checkmate’, released yesterday (8th February) across all major platforms.

Connect with MaryAianne and Me via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581770475003
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryaianne_and_me
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maryaianne.and.me
YouTube: youtube.com/@itzafuni?si=RD5JVRPdkk1m4WRD

New Lease Music’s Top Ten Singles of 2025

Hey guys, it’s finally here – welcome to NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Singles of 2025!

Inside, you’ll find an eclectic mix of records you’re bound to love. Expect Drum ’n’ Bass like you’ve never heard before, full-on indie rock, soothing R&B, and some heart-tugging singer-songwriter gems.

So why not have a listen below and enjoy! If something catches your ear, leave a comment and let us know your favourite. Thank you for listening and make you keep your eyes peeled for new releases coming soon…

10. SPRING CLEANING -EMEREE

9. ADDICTED – OBSIDIAN CANE & GIZELLA

8. IZABELA – EMILI

7. NIGHT OWL – SLEEPY DAYS

6. CONERSTONE – ROSS FLORA

5. LUCKY ESCAPE – MARYAIANNE & ME

4. NEVER CHANGE – OBSIDIAN CANE & GIZELLA

3. BETTER WITH TIME – STEFANIE MICHEALA

2. LUCKY ONE – GENA PERALA

1. BITE ME! – AMITY

MaryAianne & Me returns with single ‘Pretend’

After giving us some festive cheers with chirpy previous offering, ‘Christmas Wishes’, released on Sunday (7th December) MARYAIANNE & ME shares single, ‘Pretend’, released yesterday (10th December) on all leading platforms.

Backed by with a soulful choir which adds a rich emotional depth, the heart-tugging ballad is an introspective journey of self-discovery, whilst projecting strength to the world and the hidden vulnerability beneath—a warrior’s bravado serving as both armour and a barrier.

A burgeoning collaboration between upcoming artist Me and seasoned music pro John Hewlett – whose impressive CV stems back to the 60s, with collaborations with iconic acts including The Beatles, T. Rex, Sparks – MaryAiAnne & Me have build a foundation out of their shared love of music that not afraid of experimenting with various styles whilst exploring many relatable themes, such as unrequited love, self-discovery and personal growth. With this emotive combination, MaryAiAnne & Me have set a challenge to release one single per week, to showcase their talent as well as reaching out to the prospective audience to be brutally honest about their feelings in order to heal.

Why not listen to their past releases here. Although we’re heading fast towards to the end of the year, the UK duo are not through yet – so be sure to look out for their upcoming singles, ‘Grandma’, ‘Homeward Bound’ and ‘Dear You’.

For now, why not listen to ‘Pretend’ below…

Connect with MaryAianne and Me via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581770475003
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryaianne_and_me
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maryaianne.and.me

Mayah Camara shares single, ‘Wanting You Now’ from new album

Step into the neon glow of ‘Wanting You Now’, a sultry synth-pop single from London’s retro songstress MAYAH CAMARA.

‘Wanting You Now’ is the title track from new album (Wanting You Now), where Mayah’s velvets vocals guides through shimmering soundscapes painting stories of romance, dreams and the electric pulse of city night. Each song feels like a scene from a lost movie with desire flickering in the dark, love whispered under streetlights, emotion amplified by the hum of analog synths.

The album was produced by Sellorekt LA Dream whose signature production wraps every melody in warmth and atmosphere, perfectly framing Mayah’s raw, soulful presence. Together they created a sounds that’s nostalgic yet timeless a love letter to the night, to longing and to those who still believe in the power of a perfect pop moment. Wanting You Now isn’t just an album; it’s a feeling that lingers on after the last note fades.

Mayah Camara’s life has been shaped by two powerful forces: her music and her Christian faith. Growing up surrounded by music, she’s just as comfortable behind the microphone as she is commanding the stage. With captivating performances and a voice that blends soul and power, Mayah has graced iconic venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, The Roundhouse, and Wembley Arena, leaving a lasting impression on her audiences.

Hailing from London’s legendary Camden area, it’s no surprise that music has always been a central part of her world. A recording artist since the age of 12, Mayah draws inspiration from a wide range of genres, including 80s and 90s R&B, pop, retrowave, and neo-soul, alongside the deep roots of gospel and soul music. Her musical influences include legends like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, George Michael, and Phil Collins, whose timeless sounds have shaped her artistic journey. 

‘Wanting You Now’ single is now available on all leading platforms. Why not check it out below:

Connect with Mayah Camara via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/mayahcamaraofficial/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mayah.camara/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayah.camara
X: https://x.com/MayahCamara
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwtsREAZfDQSIS5DSaKPJ7w

New Lease Music’s New Music Roundup – 21/11/25

Welcome to the third edition of NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Roundup, your new weekly snapshot of great music from indie and unsigned artists! Remember, If you like what you hear, give it a thumbs-up below in the comment section.

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!

MARYAIANNE & ME – FIRST LOVE

Following the release of single, ‘Lucky Escape’, which is currently the blog’s Song of the Week, MARYAINNE & ME shares latest single, ‘First Love’ – a song about Me’s school girl fantasy romance, seeing someone on the bus every day, passing a person daily on the way to work, an unspoken unfulfilled romance with someone. A certain something that most of us experience but is rarely documented. This is just a factual account of Me’s one sided romance, genuine feelings, the awakening of love, attraction and all of the trauma of a relationship that was never going to happen. ‘First Love’ was released on Wednesday across all leading music platforms. Check it out here:

J. WILL BE – ALL I NEED (VIDEO)

J. wiLL Be‘ single, ‘All I Need’ shine a light on what truly matters to him personally. With people increasingly driven by materialism and shallow thrills, the hip-hop artist wanted to focus on the things that hold real meaning from his perspective. The single features soul singer Winnie Ama who brought a soulful depth to the track that elevates the whole piece.

‘All I Need’ is part of a collection of songs J. wiLL Be wrote and produced during the Covid lockdown. It appears on his EP, Gold Mind, which is available as a digital download on Bandcamp, and as a vinyl release through both Bandcamp and Discogs. 

The ‘All I Need’ is also available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes Store and YouTube Music. Check out the video below…

BULLET BRAKMIGHTY DOLLAR (FT. RA THE RUGGED MAN)

U.S. veteran rapper BULLET BRAK brings real bars, real message and real hip-hop in latest track, ‘Mighty Dollar’, featuring RA The Rugged Man. Be sure to look out for the music video for the single on 28th November! For now, check out the thought-provoking cut below:

JESSICA WILDE – PHENOMENAL WOMAN

Acclaimed South London artist JESSICA WILDE is calling on women everywhere to remember their power and embrace the healing strength of sisterhood with her new single ‘Phenomenal Woman’, out now, following a sold out launch night at Stormzy’s iconic ‘House Party’ venue. Check out the single here: