New music guide The Neu Bulletin (Drahla, Abi Ocia, Paddy Hanna & more)

DIY’s essential, weekly guide to the best new music.

Words: El Hunt, Will Richards
8th March 2017

Neu Bulletins are DIY’s guide to the best new music. They contain every single thing that’s been played at full volume in the office, whether that’s a small handful or a gazillion acts. Just depends how good the week’s been.

Alongside our weekly round-up of discoveries, there are also Neu Picks. These are the very best songs / bands to have caught our attention, and there’s a new one every weekday. Catch up with the most recent picks here.

Drahla - Faux Text

Leeds trio Drahla’s debut single ‘Fictional Decision’ was an eerie, creepy trip through post-punk delivered via spat out vocals. Its follow-up ‘Faux Text’, also produced by Hookworms/Suburban Home whizz MJ, is as compelling as its predecessor, and takes the controlled chaos of ‘Fictional Decision’ and slams down on the accelerator. Proving to be much more of an unpredictable beast than first thought, a winding, drawn-out breakdown bursts into a thudding, propulsive ending, hurtling Drahla forwards into a blisteringly exciting future. (Will Richards)

Potty Mouth - Smash Hit

Hailing from Northampton, Massachusetts, scrappy pop-punkers Potty Mouth goad expectations with ‘Smash Hit’; laying out their “super extra ultra special fantastic” vision in quick-smart, thrashing fashion. Having supported DIY faves Chvrches in the past, and due to tear up SXSW next week, this potty-mouthed trio are ones to watch. (El Hunt)

Abi Ocia - Konfyt

Few first singles are as composed and fully-formed as London singer Abi Ocia’s entrance on ‘Running’, a viscerally emotional track only amplified by its chilling video. New cut ‘Konfyt’ doesn’t let any light in either, but is the progression of a singer not afraid to put vulnerability and openness at the heart of her voice. (WR)

Ella Vos - Down in Flames

A classically trained pianist and multi-talented so-and-so, Ella Vos used to play keys for Børns before venturing out solo. Filled with empty space, and fragmented lyrics, ‘Down in Flames’ might seem glacial, but its surface detachment cloaks burning anger. “Every weekend we hitchhike to hell, and you only think ‘bout yourself” goes that banging hook. Highway to hell sentiments, with a ice-cool pop twist? Yes please. (EH)

Paddy Hanna - Bad Boys

Everything comes easy to Paddy Hanna on new single ‘Bad Boys’. The track flows without obstruction, taking aim at the bad boys rather than being one himself. “We all have one of those in our life,” he says in a press release. A follow-up to the one-two ‘Austria’ and ‘Underprotected’ from 2015, the boundless energy and confidence that radiates from ‘Bad Boys’ points to exciting things from Hanna. (WR)

Casi - The Beast

Casi’s third single ‘The Beast’ is an apt title - the track bursts into an industrial, twisted intro that feels akin to PC Music, before her silky vocals and a wave of synth drowns out the dissonance and replaces them with healthy helpings of melody. With gigs with Skott and MØ behind her, Casi’s a name to remember. (WR)

Tags: Drahla, Listen, Features, Neu, Neu Bulletin