NMF and we have picked 10 great singles out today.
1. Sam Fender Reworks “Seventeen Going Under”
Sam Fender is pleased to release an acoustic recording of his hit single, Seventeen Going Under, sharing the vocals with the new BRIT Rising Star winner, Holly Humberstone.
The original recording of the track, released earlier this year as an introduction to Sam’s critically acclaimed, number one second album of the same title, has become a runaway viral sensation, enjoying three weeks in the UK top ten singles chart whilst racking up tens of millions of streams across the globe. It’s another timely example of just how far-reaching Sam Fender’s music has become in 2021, with a record that has touched a nerve and touched hearts too. Sam’s has been a success story unparalleled over the course of the past twelve months, taking these songs from his bedroom floor in Newcastle, to two sold out Wembley Arenas next Spring.
And to cap an incredible year for the North Shields artist, he now shares this gorgeously understated version of Seventeen Going Under, focusing the attention squarely on those tender, emotionally raw lyrics and the sheer power of two unique, and distinctly individual voices.
Grantham born Holly Humberstone has become the breakthrough artist of the year, today picking up the BRIT Rising Star Award following over twelve months of sustained, unavoidable buzz and acclaim. Holly released her debut EP, Falling Asleep At The Wheel, to widespread media support in 2020, which introduced the 21-year-olds dark and richly expressive alternative pop.
2. RØRY – ‘UNCOMPLICATED’
Unapologetic pop punk singer-songwriter RØRY has shared her new single ‘UNCOMPLICATED’ today. Stream here.
RØRY penned the new track after her comment on Avril Lavigne’s Tik-Tok blew up. She created a Tik-Tok about the interaction, which clocked 700k views. About her new single she says “The song idea started when I commented on Avril’s TikTok teaser for her new single ‘Bite Me’, and the comment got over 4,000 likes and loads of comments, so I figured I’d turn it into a song. The song then went viral and seemed to really connect with people. It’s about feeling old and lost, and missing the days you were an angsty teen because things were uncomplicated then, even though you didn’t know it.”
Fusing the punchiness of 00s emo pop-punk legends like Blink 182 and Paramore, with the poppier sensibilities of Gen Z’s fresh take on the genre, RØRY’s electrifying musicianship proves to be an exhilarating force, tackling the metamorphic changes in life. Her storytelling doesn’t hold back, addressing addiction, sobriety, ADD and the damages of fame to relationships.
In her solo career so far RØRY has secured Spotify’s New Music Friday UK and cover of Misfits 2.0, support from Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1 and record of the week twice with BBC Introducing In Kent.
3. Elvis Costello & The Imposters – ‘Paint the Red Rose Blue’
Elvis Costello & The Imposters’ new song ‘Paint the Red Rose Blue’ is out today. Listen here. ‘Paint the Red Rose Blue’ is the second song to be released from ‘The Boy Named If’ out January 14th 2022, the new album of urgent, immediate songs with bright melodies, guitar solos that sting and a quick step to the rhythm.
According to Costello, the song is “The account of someone who has long-courted theatrical darkness, only for its violence and cruelty to become all too real. In its wake, a bereft couple learn to love again, painting a melancholy blue over the red of romance.”
Elvis will return to the UK in June 2022 with The Imposters (Steve Nieve – keyboards; Pete Thomas – drums; Davey Faragher – bass & backing vocals) along with Charlie Sexton for an extensive UK run of dates.
Ian Prowse will be opening the show, performing songs from his upcoming album. ‘One Hand on the Starry Plough’ will be released 11th February, 2022.
4. The Wombats – ‘Everything I Love Is Going To Die’
The Wombats today unveil the music video of their latest single ‘Everything I Love Is Going To Die’, an upbeat homage to living to the fullest while we still can. Premiering as BBC Radio 1’s ‘Hottest Record In The World’ on the Future Sounds Show with Clara Amfo, the track is the latest offering from their upcoming fifth studio album Fix Yourself, Not The World, due for release on 14th January 2022 via AWAL. Inspired by the album artwork designed by eBoy, often named as ‘godfathers of pixel art’, the RMV Productions directed animated video sees the 8-bit city and the characters from the album pixerama come to life.
Drawing equally from the tones and textures of modern pop as the likes of New Order and The Cure, ‘Everything I love Is Going To Die’ finds frontman Matthew “Murph” Murphy at his most wry and surreal. “The song is about the impermanence of life, and with that in mind, the beauty of each passing second. Key line for me is ‘Icarus Was My Best Friend, So I’m Gonna Make Him Proud In The End’, which I guess is a playful take on living life to its fullest even though the consequences of that might be dire. Certainly not a call to Nihilism however, but perhaps a call to being present and the joy that can be found in appreciating each moment we find ourselves in,” he explains.
To celebrate the release of the album, The Wombats have earlier announced a series of eleven exclusive UK shows beginning on January 6th, 2022 at PRYZM, Kingston. In partnership with local record stores, this underplay tour will end with a midnight album release show at The Invisible Wind Factory in Liverpool, where The Wombats’ saga started. This is an extraordinary opportunity for fans to catch the band in an intimate setting before they go on the road for their biggest ever UK headline tour set for 2022, including a landmark show at London’s The O2. Tickets and album bundles available here
5. Foals – ‘Wake Me Up’ remix
With choppy Chic-esque guitars and tight syncopated rhythms, Foals’ current single ‘Wake Me Up’ presented a pared-back counterpoint to the sheer scale of their triumphant two-part ‘Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost’ album. Hailed by Jack Saunders as the start of a “brand new era of Foals” ahead of a new studio album in 2022, the single was A-listed at Radio 1 and featured at #12 on NME’s 50 best songs of 2021.
Foals now dig deeper into this evolution in their sound by sharing the track’s new remix courtesy of Gaspard Augé & Victor Le Masne. The duo sparkle the original with luminous house synths and disco-tinged rhythms, providing some opulent French touch vibes. The energising remix feels like a perfect synthesis between Foals and the gallic electro-flair of the Ed Banger Records roster.
Gaspard Augé and Victor Le Masne are renowned for their previous work with Justice and Housse de Racket. Although their partnership is relatively new, they’ve already delivered high profile remixes for Jungle (‘Keep Moving’) and Myd / Mac DeMarco (‘Moving Men’). They join a stellar array of artists who have been invited to remix Foals, joining names as varied as Paul Woolford, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Four Tet and Hot Chip.
In addition to the release of their new album, 2022 will also see Foals embark upon their first extensive run of touring since the autumn of 2019. Their UK tour in April and May includes a four-night run at London’s Olympia, while numerous European festival dates are already scheduled throughout the summer. Their UK and Ireland festival shows include headline sets at Sound of the City in both Manchester and Leeds, as well as a large outdoor headline show at Fairview Park, Dublin. Please see their official website for a full list of dates and ticket information.
6. twocolors – ‘Feel It 2’
twocolors return with their new single ‘Feel It 2’, out now.
Tapping into the trademark slap house sound that twocolors have made their own in recent years, ‘Feel It 2’ is a romance-infused dance jam propelled by soaring vocals and infectious hooks.
It follows hit singles ‘Passion’ and ‘
Prior to that was ‘Lovefool’, an infectious rework of the track of the same name by The Cardigans, which peaked at #4 in UK Shazam Discovery and reached #21 in the Global Shazam Chart with over 4 million tags, trending ‘Top 20’ in over 30 countries. It is officially platinum-certified in Germany, gold-certified in Canada, France, Italy and Poland, platinum in Finland, double-platinum in Austria and Switzerland and triple-platinum in Russia. With a total of over 1.58 billion global streams, the pair’s monthly listeners have now skyrocketed to over 7 million. What’s more, twocolors have amassed over 478,00 radio plays across 64 countries since joining UMG 18 months ago.
twocolors sound off another impressive year with a killer dance cut.
7. Manny Blu – ’95’
Manny Blu has released his brand new hard-hitting single “95” today (10/12). The track is the third single to be released from his upcoming Country Punk EP – due out on December 31st. “95” is available worldwide to stream/download here.
Written by David Brown and Ryan Pattengale, “95” is personal to Blu because it’s a song that reminds him of the memories and people who have been with him throughout his music career. After holding onto the track for about two years, he felt that its lyrics of reflection and authenticity perfectly aligned with the rest of the Country Punk EP tracklist.
“The track has had many different lives. It feels like the song has grown with me and now is the time to put it on a project” says Blu. “It’s a song about never forgetting the community [one] has back home and the people who have loved and supported you before leaving to chase a dream. It’s a song about family, friends, and relationships that get us through every day.”
Blu recently released two other singles from his upcoming EP, “Doin’ Fine” and “Too Bad So Sad,” giving fans a taste of what they can expect from the full project.
Not slowing down after a busy 2021, Blu has also announced that he will be going on tour with Dallas Smith in 2022. For tickets and more information about the upcoming tour, fans can visit https://mannyblumusic.com.
Country Punk EP is available to pre-save here.
8. Esther Abrami – Sunken Dreams
UK-based French violinist Esther Abrami reveals her new single, ‘Sunken Dreams’ by French composer Alban Claudin. Having just concluded a thirteen-date tour, performing to thousands of spectators opening for the biggest selling classical artist of the century, Katherine Jenkins OBE, the track is the latest offering from her upcoming self-titled debut album due for release on February 4th via Sony Classical.
Speaking about the new release, Esther says “It was an absolute pleasure recording with Alban on his composition ‘Sunken Dreams’ for my album. We had been following each other on socials for a while and finally met during the recording session. We’ve become very good friends since!”. Master in classical music, but also an expert in electronic keyboards and a drummer, Alban has created documentaries and short films and collaborated with prestigious brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels and more.
With Sunken Dreams, Esther is going back to her French roots, where she was born and bred. ‘‘Sunken Dreams’ is a piece with a very French feel to it. Whenever I listen to it all I can see in my head are the streets of Paris. It is the kind of music that could be played from a little music box, happy but nostalgic’’.
9. The Longest Johns – Scrooge
Christmas is finally here now that the Longest Johns have released their Christmas single and truly hilarious Scrooge video. Their rendition of Scrooge is a masterpiece and I promise you it will lighten your day!
To remind you, the Longest Johns are the Wellerman shanty sensations who have just reached 310 million streams across their catalogue (10 million in one week!!). On top of sold out shows in the UK and expanding their tour due to demand in the US, they are the top track found in over 187,000 Spotify shanty playlists this year alone. There is demand for shanty and the Longest Johns are right there in the forefront. No Bah Humbug for them this year!!
Check out their very special brand new Christmas video here..
10. Caspr – Snow
Alternative songwriter & recording artist Caspr is embracing the cold weather with his new single, “Snow”. Arriving today alongside a chilling visual.
“Snow” is the fifth track in a string of singles from the New York-based artist, succeeding his previous release, “Don’t Make Sense,” an acoustic guitar-driven track written by Caspr and co-produced by Travis Barker (Machine Gun Kelly, jxdn, WILLOW) and Omer Fedi (The Kid Laroi, Machine Gun Kelly, 24KGoldn).
Caspr made his major label debut in May this year with “Coke Nose,” which was praised by Office Magazine for its, “seamless blend of emo sentimentality, post-punk guitar lines and a bouncy pop-rap rhythm.”
The energetic single was followed by “Duct Taped Lips,” produced by Andrew Watt and megastar Omar Apollo, as well as “Play Pretend,” which featured legendary blink-182 drummer and frequent collaborator, Travis Barker.
