NMF and we have 10 great tracks that are out today.
1. Rosie – Social Stamina
Rising indie-pop singer & songwriter ROSIE returns with a new track, “Social Stamina.” Written and produced entirely by ROSIE, “Social Stamina” is her love letter to those who feel like they’ve lost their way. The heartbreakingly honest ballad resonated with millions of fans when ROSIE posted a snippet of the song on TikTok last month.
ROSIE is currently putting the finishing touches on her debut EP, which will be out this Fall on Arista Records. While “Social Stamina” is being released as a standalone single, it still incorporates many of the same themes and emotions that ROSIE explores throughout the EP: “The message behind ‘Social Stamina’ is: you may feel lost and alone but you never have to be alone in your lostness. Let this song serve as a friend and support system as you navigate the highs and lows of life.”
2. Alice Merton – Hero
Alice Merton’s pop vision has a huge global-facing appeal. Having returned early this year with ‘Vertigo’, Alice now starts a new chapter in her career by sharing the new single ‘Hero’. Part of a wealth of new material that she’s currently working on, Alice also today releases the track’s b-side ‘Island’.
‘Hero’ starts with an arresting and unconventional sonic hook, before Alice introduces the song’s narrative: “Sometimes I wish I was the hero in your story,” she begins, “I’d save you from yourself.” After that attention-grabbing opening, ‘Hero’unfolds in thrillingly unexpected fashion, feeling like an unlikely synthesis between the dark side of Halsey’s angsty modern pop and the electro-tinged alt-rock of Garbage. Continuing Alice’s new sound that commenced with ‘Vertigo’, it’s rich with her personality: a heartfelt first-person experience conveyed by a vocal that exudes a real, naturalistic talent.
3. Tom King – Freedom
19-year-old one-to-watch artist and songwriter Tom King has today unveiled his third single ‘Freedom’ taken from his debut EP ‘Confessions of a Lonely Heart’, out on 22nd October via ADA/Warner and ATC Management (Biig Piig, Lido, ALMA, Cuco).
‘Freedom’ is an atmospheric, beat-driven ballad, co-written with George Moore (Clean Bandit, NAO), that shows Tom burning bridges in a state of acceptance after his broken relationship. It follows the release of tender track ‘Hollow’ and the decadent-sounding ‘Honest’, gradually building an EP of instantly relatable hymns that unfurl like the various stages of grief.
Speaking about the track, Tom writes: “I met George the day we wrote ‘Freedom’, I remember him playing me the piano idea he had and falling instantly in love with it. When writing the lyrics I wanted to write about how I felt at the time, trapped by an unrequited love, that’s where the title ‘Freedom’ came from.”
Tom’s debut EP ‘Confessions of a Lonely Heart’ is out in full on October 22nd. PRE-SAVE HERE
4. Michael Aldag – Ghosted
19-year old Michael Aldag: a singer and a songwriter (but not a singer-songwriter), a producer, an accidental TikTok star and every inch a total popstar. The Merseyside born electro-pop artist continues to rise to heights after recently signing to UK based record label 3 Beat. His deeply relatable and honest lyrics, which are often described as ‘soundtracks to life,’ have cemented Michael’s mark in the industry and made him a one to watch for 2021.
While Michael takes an episodic approach to his songwriting, he’s particularly interested, he says, in examining “the way people present themselves, as opposed to who they actually are.” His upcoming upbeat single ‘Ghosted’ is the perfect example of how his lyrics are simultaneously honed and incredibly conversational. “Ghosted is a song about how social media can impact the way people operate within modern day relationships,” says Michael. “That’s the posh way of saying a girl stopped responding to my messages so I got upset and wrote a song about it.”
5. Piper Grace – Things Lovers Do
Piper-Grace has dropped her new single ‘Things Lovers Do’.
A soulful modern R&B jam, ‘Things Lovers Do’ pairs Piper’s effortlessly slick vocals with a similarly smooth, downbeat production. It precedes a performance alongside fellow UK musical talent ROMELL at Hootananny Brixton on 13th September for a CUPID Entertainment showcase.
“‘Things Lovers Do’ was written about the difficulties of love and highlights the importance of affection,” Piper explains. “I feel the vibe of the song is a dreamlike fantasy about the confusion of romance, and I would love for people to connect with this, from all relationships and situationships.”
6. Arctic Lake – Lonely
Alternative pop duo Arctic Lake have released their new single and video ‘Lonely’.
‘Lonely’ is Arctic Lake’s first single since being signed to Astralwerks, and showcases vocalist Emma Foster’s sultry melodies, set against Paul Holliman’s lush, dark pop production – “Damn, come in closer baby, no don’t you ever leave me” she insists. In 2021, they teamed with GRAMMY-nominated US artist ZHU on ‘Yours’, a noirish techno track that hit #16 on Billboard’s Dance chart, and their Spotify audience has since grown to nearly 1 million monthly listeners.
7. Daniel James – Loving You feat Malissa Whitehouse
Ex-Yell! vocalist and actor Daniel James is back with a new single on 10th September – ‘Lovin’ You’ – with featured vocalist Malissa Whitehouse. Originally a hit for Minnie Ripperton, Daniel and Malissa wanted to revisit the track and giving it a new uplifting feel good vibe, making it the perfect late summer anthem. Two mixes of the track will be released on 17th September – one from Paul Rudd (Daft Punk/Freemasons/Sam Calver) and the second a blend with Yell’s biggest hit ‘Instant Replay’.
The video for the track was supposed to feature Daniel and Malissa however a few weeks before the shoot Malissa was involved in a serious riding accident, and she broke her back, shoulder and arm…. making it impossible for her run along a beach in a video!
‘Malissa and I met at Nomis Studios in London during my Yell! years when she was a runner. We stayed in touch and worked on some ideas, one of which was a version of ‘Lovin’ You’. After lockdown we started writing songs together for a K-pop project and, whilst in the studio, listened back to the track’ again and decided to remix and release it’
8. Chaka Khan – When The Time Comes
To celebrate today’s release of the impeccable Original Soundtrack for the much loved Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – the final installment has arrived with the release of ‘When The Time Comes’ (Chaka Khan). The much-anticipated film adaptation of the award-winning West End hit musical, arrives exclusively next week on Prime Video – September 17th.
‘When The Time Comes’ is available today, and features vocals from icon Chaka Khan – listen here. A groove-laden piece of rhythmic pop magic, the track sees Chaka pave the way for a chorus so memorable and inescapable, you’ll be left drenched in positivity and singing for days.
Dan Gillespie Sells says of the track; “We decided that in order to complete the soundtrack for the movie, we needed an icon. We were already delighted with how multi-generational and varied the soundtrack was, including artists that chimed with the LGBTQ+ community and with Jamie’s story. But the only thing missing was a true legend that unites everyone in joy! When Chaka agreed to record this song for us we were over the moon and it ends our movie with real class!”
9. Ewan MacFarlane – Underneath Your Spell
When Ewan MacFarlane, the charismatic former Grim Northern Social frontman and long-time member of electro maestros Apollo 440, states “Its high time I stepped out and made the music I always needed to make,” then you’d better believe it, as he boldly embraces a whole new sound.
Following debut solo single ‘Stirrin’ In The City’, which picked up BBC Radio Scotland & Amazing Radio airplay, MacFarlane returns with second single ‘Underneath Your Spell’ out 10th Sept. Both tracks are standout works from MacFarlane’s superb forthcoming full-length album ‘Always Everlong’ due out October 29th. Whilst the trademark socially insightful lyrics and biting vocals of his previous recorded output remain very much part of the DNA, it’s safe to say that stylistically speaking, MacFarlane has mellowed; for he has spent the intervening time embracing his inner melodic troubadour, en-route to an uncharted destination. Sporting more than a touch of Americana in his new material, he honours the revered rock’n’roll songbooks of his songwriting heroes Bowie, Petty, and Springsteen.
10. Thomas Headon – Nobody Has To Know
