Neu The Neu Bulletin (Westside Cowboy, Jacob Alon, Humour and more!)

Hot on the heels of winning Glastonbury’s 2025 Emerging Talent Competition, Manchester quartet Westside Cowboy showcase their dynamic versatility with ​‘Shells’, as they take things slower than on their debut single ​‘I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You)’. Reuben Haycock and Aoife Anson O’Connell deliver a vocal performance that displays their tenderness as they float through a soft first verse, but this delicate energy doesn’t last long, as drummer Paddy Murphy rips into the track with a punchy kick. Once again produced by English Teacher’s Lewis Whiting, this second offering proves Westside Cowboy have both the quality and the backing to become the Next Big Thing. (Peter Martin)

Jacob Alon is the latest in a storied lineage of UK folk artists, and, ahead of the arrival of their debut full-length ​‘In Limerence’, they’ve shared another glimpse of what to expect in the form of the dreamy ​‘August Moon’. Spotlighting a truly gorgeous marriage of vocals and guitar, the track’s strength lies in its simplicity; never cramming too much in, it really allows listeners to be transported to Alon’s singular sonic world. (Chris Connor)

A wall of feedback, angular guitars and yelped vocals — this the sort of directness we’ve come to expect from Glaswegian outfit Humour; there’s no messing about here. All their usual post-hardcore goodness remains on latest single ​‘Plagiarist’, which tells the story of a frontman who has run out of material to steal. The soundtrack of washing yourself clean but still not being able to get the stench out, it’s biting, wracked with guilt, and above all, brilliant. (Dylan McNally) 

They may have just two singles in the world, but Florence Road are already carving out a space all of their own. The Wicklow four-piece return with ​‘Caterpillar’, a hazy, heart-on-sleeve slice of indie-pop produced by none other than Dan Nigro (Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan). His is a big name, but Florence Road more than hold their own; built around shimmering guitar lines and Lily Aron’s quietly commanding vocals, ​‘Caterpillar’ captures that in-between feeling — of growing up, shedding skins, and figuring yourself out. There’s something beautifully understated here, with echoes of Wolf Alice’s sometime softness and the emotional candour of early Phoebe Bridgers. (Gemma Cockrell)

Having already tackled Ursula Le Guin on their excellent debut offering, The Itch now take on influencers and online disconnect on ​‘The Influencer/Co-Conspirator’ — a double single, and their first for new label Fiction/​I OH YOU. Clearly, they’re not afraid of a challenge. Both tracks are interconnected, constructed from an identical audio stem, but where ​‘The Influencer’ continues much of the duo’s politically charged dance-punk, ​‘Co-Conspirator’ instead takes us to the club; you can hear the sweat, and you’ll welcome it. This may be two sides, but it’s definitely the same coin. (Dylan McNally)

Back with their first slice of new material following the triumph of last year’s EP ​‘Twice Around the Sun’, Cambridge group Ugly continue to redefine themselves. ​‘Next to Die’ marries the artsy technicalities that the band have made their signature with a fresh, tighter, poppier approach. Samuel Goater’s guitar riff stands in perfect contrast to the chorus, where Ugly find sonic greatness as Jasmine Miller-Sauchella and Tom Lane join Goater for a luscious vocal harmony that will run laps around your head. With a debut album well in the works, Ugly are continuing to solidify themselves as one of the most exciting new acts in the country. (Peter Martin)

From grappling with unrequited love on ​‘She Likes A Boy’ to finding euphoria in gender expression on ​‘Boy Clothes’, Nxdia has become a resonant voice amongst a new generation of queer artists. Now returning with their latest single, the Egyptian-Sudanese rising star is more unapologetic than ever, as they revel in the ecstasy of early romance on the aptly titled ​‘More!’. Between unfettered, gritty guitar lines, electro-infused hooks, and a mid-verse language switch to Arabic (one that has now become a signature for the Cairo-born singer), it’s a bold new track that celebrates all that Nxdia has to offer. (Emily Savage)

Combining established conventions with contemporary pop nous, rapidly rising star Chloe Qisha blends lo-fi disco with squarely 2025 themes on the aptly titled ​‘Modern Romance’. As she tells her story with a knowing, laconic energy, a peppy electronic beat forms the track’s backbone; while there are clear nods to pop monoliths like Chappell Roan and Dua Lipa here, Chloe nevertheless stamps her music with an approach that is fresh, playful and, well, modern. (Phil Taylor)

Nell Mescal​’s silky voice, drifting weightlessly above the gentle strum of her acoustic guitar, has been well missed since her 2024 debut EP ​‘Can I Miss It For a Minute’. On new single ​‘Thin’ – recorded live in Dublin as her first release since last year – the singer’s dynamics ebb and flow like a light breeze gaining sudden force before losing momentum, artistically symbolising her fighting thoughts. Indeed, ​‘Thin’ candidly conveys Mescal’s struggle with her self-esteem and body image: ​“I’ll get thin and let everybody call it a relief,” she sings with fragile vulnerability, her voice airy whilst weighted by melancholy meaning. It’s a beautiful comeback from the ​‘In My Head’ singer, but one that’s not without a heartbreakingly relatable message. (Sophie McVinnie)

Bringing the tempo down from previous tracks on their debut EP ​‘Beast’, Witch Post​’s ​‘Spell’ is a gossamer standout in their breakout collection. The duo have welcomed an unpolished, dynamic guitar rock sound with open arms, with many of their songs steeped in an irresistible grit. ​‘Spell’, however, takes its time to unravel like a slow enchantment. A simple acoustic melody moves the track with gracious ripples as Dylan Fraser and Alaska Reid take turns with their tender recitation: ​“When I look for love, it’s you that I find / If that much is true, I put a spell on you”. It captures a moment in which Fraser and Reid bring out the best in one another, as Reid’s softly spoken word and airy touches of falsetto dance with the yearning intensity of Fraser’s lower, grounded tones. In a blend of lightness and passion, ​‘Spell’ is the bewitched heart of ​‘Beast’ which tames its primal fervour. (Kayla Sandiford)

Cork’s Cliffords are quickly becoming one of Ireland’s most exciting new voices, and their upcoming EP ​‘Salt of the Lee’ is highly anticipated for good reason. This latest preview, ​‘Dungarvan Bay’, is a slow-burning exploration of grief that builds from hushed guitar lines into full, crashing catharsis. Vocalist Iona Lynch’s delivery is magnetic — at once controlled and wild — steering through grief, memory and, ultimately, growth. Written across a year, the track captures the way loss lingers and evolves, making space for humour and healing alongside the sadness. This marks the band’s first time working with a producer (Richie Kennedy at Battery Studios), and you can feel the difference — everything hits harder, clearer and wider. (Gemma Cockrell)

Arriving in anticipation of debut album ​‘God Park’, Water Machine​’s new single ​‘River’ is a masterstroke of wonky art-punk that careens giddily forwards just as it lovingly falls apart in your hands. Insatiably joyful and bursting with vitality, it’s a track that also taps into the rich guitar-toting heritage of their native Glasgow, from the pioneers of Postcard Records to the spidery charms of Sacred Paws. Infectiously playful too, ​‘River”s lyrics imagine the conflict between a neighbour trying to steal another neighbour’s boat (none of the band own a boat, we’re told), in a repertoire that also includes songs about rabies, car crashes, and clouds getting off with each other. Be sure to check out the music video too — it’s adorable as hell. (Elvis Thirlwell)

Tags: Neu, Neu Bulletin, Chloe Qisha, Cliffords, Florence Road, Humour, Jacob Alon, Listen, Nell Mescal, Nxdia, The Itch, UGLY, Watch, Water Machine, Westside Cowboy, Witch Post