Calling all music lovers! It’s New Music Friday, and your ears are in for a treat. From chart-topping artists to rising stars, there’s something for everyone to discover today.
ALISON MOYET – SO AM I
Alison Moyet inspired a wave of fan anticipation when she announced the October 4th release date of her upcoming album ‘Key’, a collection of 16 reworked singles, fan favourites and deep cuts boosted by two new songs. It quickly becameAmazon’s #1 selling vinyl above Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Billie Eilish, while the world-class talent that propelled Alison to achieve two #1 albums, six Top 10 singles, three BRIT Awards and a Grammy nomination was put back in the spotlight with a stunning Radio 2 Piano Room session. Now Alison unveils the album’s third release, ‘So Am I’. Listen HERE.
One of the lesser-discovered gems from Alison’s published works, ‘So Am I’ features on her 1994 album ‘Essex’. Lyrically, a wry and sardonic out-of-body observation of defeat, it is counted amongst Moyet’s favourites. The ‘Key’ version refocuses attention on the song in a collection which aims to unify her back catalogue into a cohesive form for live presentation.
AR/CO – BRIGHT LIGHTS
The AR/CO creative universe is a fantastical vision of a futuristic desert rave, their pulsating, psychedelic dance-pop the soundtrack to a society ruled by life, love and liberation. And that imagination is winning the imagination of fans in the real world, their early career highlights including big collabs including Don Diablo, The Stickmen Project and Franky Wah; unforgettable live moments with Sub Focus, Kygo and 5 Seconds of Summer; and even a Grammy Award nomination for their Kx5 feature and co-write / co-production ‘Bright Lights’. Listen HERE.
AR/CO say, “‘Origin Stories’ was our chance to let people head-dive straight into the enigmatic and wonky world of AR/CO. It’s crazy that we had ideas of this planet where everything was set, to call it AR/CO and build a whole project around it. This EP is us swinging those doors wide open and saying come and hang with us in this place where the music is great and we’re all in it for a good time.
The music on the EP is a capsule collection of songs that we wrote from a place of innocence and creativity through the lockdown, the ideas are inspired and fresh and we know people will fall in love with the place where we rediscovered our passion for music and creativity. Earth is now, AR/CO is forever.”
ASHAINE WHITE – HOTEL
Following the release of her beautifully haunting single ‘White Flag’, one of the UK’s most exciting up and coming artists, Ashaine White, returns with new track ‘Hotel’. The track is the second taste of Ashaine’s forthcoming EP Cause For Concern, which comes July 25th on 5dB Records. Listen to ‘Hotel’ HERE.
An eerily captivating acoustic track ‘Hotel’ is Ashaine White in her most poignant, delicate form. “‘Hotel’ is a song about perspectives, and familial relationships, based on a phrase that my mum used to say – that I treated our house like a hotel, and how I didn’t want to be there,” Ashaine said of the track. “As I got older I realised that my mum was only trying to keep me home and restricting me, because she wanted to keep me young for as long as possible and to keep me safe. It was a big perspective shift as I went through my late teens to early twenties and I started to see it the way she did.”
Following a sold-out date at Paper Dress Vintage earlier this year, Ashaine will join Corinne Bailey Rae as support at her Somerset House show in London this Sunday, July 14th.
A unique sound and unwavering dedication to her craft promise to make Ashaine a force to be reckoned with in the music world. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for one of the brightest new artists around.
FAITHLESS – FIND A WAY
Following their recent sell-out UK/EU tour, and headline performance at Glastonbury, today Faithless unveil the title of their forthcoming eighth studio album – Champion Sound – and release massive lead single, ‘Find A Way’ ft. acclaimed poet Suli Breaks, out now. LISTEN HERE
Fresh from their first live shows in eight years, ‘Find A Way’ is Faithless’ first new music since 2020’s All Blessed, the lead single from forthcoming eighth studio album Champion Sound, and is signature Faithless in all their glory – infectious classic house, piano loops and peak-time beats. Teaming up once again with exceptional London poet and story-teller Suli Breaks, who delivers his own powerful, heartfelt lyrics, ‘Find A Way’ has ‘future classic’ written all over it, ripe for hands-in-the-air togetherness and memory-making moments across the band’s summer festival dates.
It’s been almost three decades since Faithless made their debut, in that time the iconic UK act have made an unparalleled impact on the dance music landscape. One of the most influential electronic acts of the 21st century, they’ve sold over 20 million albums including seventeen Top 40 singles, six Top 10 albums (three at #1), and amassed over a billion combined streams to date.
CAT BURNS – EARLY TWENTIES
Multi-BRIT-nominated, double-platinum-selling South London artist Cat Burns presents her highly-anticipated debut album, early twenties.
early twenties is not just a debut album; it’s a mirror reflecting the complexities and emotions of this exciting era of adulthood. Opening with gospel-infused pop offering ‘alone’, which was awarded BBC Radio 1 Hottest Record on release, Cat’s debut album is filled with honest and diaristic storytelling, as seen in previous offerings; ‘end game’, ‘people pleaser’ and ‘live more & love more’, which also appear on the album.
To celebrate her album release, Cat will share a short film to accompany her debut album next Wednesday. Directed by Libby Burke Wilde and inspired by the music from Cat’s debut album of the same name, early twenties follows a group of friends’ individual stories, from acceptance to anxiety, friendship and identity of being in their early twenties. Cat also serves as an executive producer on the film.
ONEREPUBLIC – ARTIFICIAL PARADISE
GRAMMY® nominated band, OneRepublic, debuted their new album, Artificial Paradise. Listen HERE. The new album arrives on the heels of the band’s recently released single “Hurt” from last week. Earlier this summer, OneRepublic shared their smash hit with David Guetta, “I Don’t Wanna Wait”, which has amassed over 130 million streams globally since its release.
Earlier this year, the band also shared “Nobody (from Kaiju No. 8)”, which serves as the end credit song for the hugely successful manga-turned-Anime series Kaiju. No 8. The band collaborated with Italian Electronic group Meduza and German artist Leony for the release of “Fire”, the official song for the UEFA European Championships 2024 tournament, which they will perform in Berlin at the Closing Ceremony for the tournament.
DASHA – DIDN’T I
Responding to overwhelming fan demand for more music, one of the hottest breakout stars of 2024, the pop-country sensation Dasha delivers her irresistible new song ‘Didn’t I’, which is out now via Warner Records.
Dasha says, “‘Didn’t I’ is so nostalgic, there’s something about my past that intrigues me, including the men. In the writer’s room, I was referring to a time months and months ago when I was backsliding into the guy that ‘Austin’ is about. It’s admitting like, ‘Oops here I am again, my bad’ but I love how we made it light-hearted and fun.”
‘Didn’t I’ places Dasha’s dynamic vocals, clever songwriting, and undeniable star power directly in the spotlight. Handclaps drive the momentum as fiddle accents the bright banjo riff. Dasha just can’t seem to let go of an old fling as she confesses on the chorus, “So why am I here with your lips on mine? I could’ve sworn I said, ‘This is over. Didn’t I?’” With its cheeky storytelling and infectious melody, ‘Didn’t I’ has all the makings of another smash from the rapidly rising phenomenon.
DONOVAN WOODS – THINGS WERE NEVER GOOD IF THEY’RE NOT GOOD NOW
Acclaimed songwriter Donovan Woods has released his seventh studio album, Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now. Sharing a video for the record’s latest single, “When Our Friends Come Over” ft. Madi Diaz.
Discussing “When Our Friends Come Over”, Woods notes, “Madi Diaz and I wrote this in Nashville the first time we met. I love Madi and I love the ache in her writing. I had this idea about a song that celebrates how nice it is when you and your romantic partner have friends over. Their presence seems to renew something in your coupledom. You see yourself through their eyes, and you appreciate each other more. I don’t think there are enough songs about friendship. Friendship is so much more important than romance throughout your life. I love how Madi extends notes a millisecond longer than I think she’s going to.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Woods has built a devoted following who cling to the acclaimed songwriter’s every word. Never one to mince them, Woods is one of music’s most vulnerable storytellers and on Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now, Donovan takes that a step further. Perhaps his most open, honest and self-reflective collection of songs, Woods takes a long look inside himself and isn’t necessarily thrilled with what he sees. For an artist who isn’t afraid to bear his soul, this is as emotionally gritty as he has ever been.
WARREN ZEIDERS – RELAPSE
Warren Zeiders shares another tease of what’s next with the country-rock banger, “Relapse.”
Zeiders continues to prove he’ll soon be a household name in the genre. He recently won the CMT Award for “Breakthrough Male Video of the Year” for his chart-topping hit “Pretty Little Poison.” The song – which peaked in the Top 24 on Billboard’s Hot 100 – earned his first No.1 single on country radio and his second RIAA Platinum-certified single.
Zeiders is currently on his nearly sold-out 2024 North American headlining tour, and then will join Jelly Roll as direct support for his Fall The Beautifully Broken Tour. The arena tour kicks off on August 27th in Salt Lake City and includes stops at NYC’s Madison Square Garden, LA’s Crypto.com Arena, Chicago’s United Center and more. He will kick-off 2025 with this first-ever European headlining tour.
PALE WAVES – GLASGOW
PALE WAVES have shared a new single and video, Glasgow, the second song to be revealed from their forthcoming fourth album Smitten, to be released on 20 September. The band have also confirmed details of a UK headline tour for October. Pre-order / Pre-save Smitten here: https://palewaves.ffm.to/smitten
Written between the US and UK over a two year period, Smitten finds the band reflecting upon their Northern roots. Deviating from the rebellious pop punk sound of the 2022 album Unwanted, this new record is full of vivid, earwormy hooks, thwacking snares and jangly alt-pop that sounds fresh out of their home city Manchester.
Lyrically, the record is preoccupied with past lives – some more recent than others. Heather found herself in a headspace where she could finally breathe and reflect, like peeling through the pages of a long-forgotten teenage diary and being surprised by what she found.
AUGUST
Sat 03 DERBYSHIRE Y Not Festival
Sun 04 KENDAL Calling Festival
OCTOBER
Thu 03 NORWICH Waterfront
Fri 04 LIVERPOOL O2 Academy
Sat 05 MANCHESTER Neighbourhood Festival
Sun 06 NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Tue 08 BRIGHTON Chalk
Wed 09 BRISTOL O2 Academy
Thu 10 SHEFFIELD Foundry
Fri 11 DUNDEE Fat Sams
Sun 13 GLASGOW SWG3
Mon 14 NEWCASTLE Boiler Shop
Tue 15 BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Thu 17 LONDON HERE @ Outernet
Tickets available from: https://palewaves.co.uk/live/
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