Sam Akpro: “Every single time I’ve made a song, there’s always been creative intention behind it”
On his anticipated, liminal debut album, South London’s Sam Akpro is emphasising the importance of feeling and intent over genre.
31st March 2025
Features
Perfume Genius: Facets Of Glory
Fifteen years on from the release of his debut, Perfume Genius feels as vital and intriguing as ever, but with his seventh album ‘Glory’, Mike Hadreas admits he’s still figuring out his place in the world.
27th March 2025
Julien Baker & TORRES: Dazzle Camouflage
A collaboration that’s been five years in the making, on their new album ‘Send A Prayer My Way’ Julien Baker and TORRES’ Mackenzie Scott find themselves unexpectedly reconnecting with country music — and a pivotal part of their past lives.
24th March 2025
Divorce: Take Me Home, Country Roads
On debut album ‘Drive To Goldenhammer’, Nottingham indie-folk risers Divorce share a variety of intimate stories that remain close to home, all while opening a window into the magic of their imagination.
20th March 2025
SASAMI: Murder On The Dancefloor
Having built her name via an appetite for the experimental, on third album ‘Blood On The Silver Screen’ SASAMI has shape-shifted once more; this time, it’s pop music that’s firmly in her sights.
19th March 2025
In The Studio: The Horrors
Line-up changes and lengthy pauses could have derailed The Horrors permanently. Instead, sixth LP ‘Night Life’ sees them re-emerging streamlined and strong.
18th March 2025
HotWax: Shock To The System
After just two EPs, Hastings-via-Brighton trio HotWax had established themselves as one of the country’s most vibrant new rock acts; now, they’ve taken their fiery next step.
17th March 2025
Japanese Breakfast: Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness
With her last album ‘Jubilee’, Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner found herself a GRAMMY-nominated artist with a New York bestseller to her name, but no amount of critical acclaim will shift the reality of loss. Now, ten years on from the passing of her mother, her grief is still unfolding, and she’s channelling it into the dark new world of ‘For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)’.
12th March 2025
DIY Label Spotlight #3: City Slang
A monthly focus on those crucial cogs in the wonderful new music wheel.
11th March 2025
Melin Melyn: “You have to be creative in order to get people to pay attention”
To mark the release of their fantastical debut album, we sit down with the Welsh cult favourites to talk storytelling, Spice Girls, AI and more.
7th March 2025
Mandrake Handshake: “If everyone is moving their body, it’s hard to feel like you’re doing a bad show”
To celebrate the release of their debut album, we catch up with the eclectic, ever-enticing psych collective to delve into how they made it this far.
3rd March 2025
Matt Maltese: His ‘N’ Hers
Ten years into the game, Matt Maltese is a stalwart of indie’s top table, his name a byword for stunningly intimate songwriting and yearning romance. Now returning with sixth album ‘Hers’, he’s truly come of age — and it makes for his most mature and emotionally affecting outing yet.
28th February 2025
Rebecca Black: Dance Pop Renaissance
Two years since her debut record, gutsy pop culture benchmark Rebecca Black is returning with a DJ-inspired, alt-pop dance project like nothing you’ve heard before — and ‘Friday’ is the last thing on her mind.
26th February 2025
Antony Szmierek: Sincerity Overdrive
Over the last three years, Antony Szmierek has become known as one of indie’s most evocative and witty new voices. Now, with starry debut album ‘Service Station At The End Of The Universe’, he’s sending us on a joyride through the cosmos and beyond.
25th February 2025
For One Night Only!: Phoebe Green curates her dream gig
The Manchester alt-pop favourite gives us an insight into her ideal night out.
25th February 2025
Black Country, New Road: Best Of Friends
So far, Black Country, New Road’s journey has been anything but predictable; now, as they ready their third act ‘Forever Howlong’, it’s time to prepare for another about-turn.
24th February 2025
jasmine.4.t: “If I can raise other trans women up and be a visible role model then that’s a huge plus”
With stardom looming large, jasmine.4.t talks finding hope and joy for herself and the wider queer community with her boygenius-produced debut ‘You Are The Morning’.
20th February 2025
Nao: Celestial Bodies
After a period of serious health challenges, Nao is set to return with ‘Jupiter’, her joyously confident fourth record that sees her throw off the shackles and embrace the little things.
19th February 2025
The NONE: “To pander to anyone is just pointless”
Boasting a line-up of “lightly seasoned” but recognisable faces, meet the quartet who are very much playing by their own rules.
18th February 2025
The Murder Capital: Blind Faith
On third album ‘Blindness’, The Murder Capital grapple with flawed patriotism and innate human error, all while frontman James McGovern is determined to confront – and even embrace – his own blind spots.
17th February 2025
Squid: Fiendish Fancies
While the stories told on ‘Cowards’ may dwell in the murkier corners of morality, with their third album Squid are instead focusing on cracks of light within the darkness.
13th February 2025
Heartworms: Cradle To Grave
She may have gained an early reputation for steely stares and military outerwear, but Heartworms’ Jojo Orme is far more than meets the eye. On debut album ‘Glutton For Punishment’, she drops the guard and digs into the person behind the uniform.
12th February 2025
The Many Faces Of Self Esteem
Nearly 20 years after first starting out in the industry, Rebecca Lucy Taylor is finally an objectively successful pop star. Is it better? Is it worse? Is she happy? Does any of it even matter? On third Self Esteem album ‘A Complicated Woman’, we find an artist addressing the grey areas, and turning them technicolour.
10th February 2025
Beatmaker Don Leisure talks diving into the Sain Records back catalogue and Dydd Miwsig Cymru
The Welsh beatmaker tells us more about his latest release ‘Tyrchu Sain’, which saw him dive into the back catalogue of Wales’ oldest independent record label
7th February 2025
Featuring Yard Act, Death Cab For Cutie, Graham Coxon, Maisie Peters and more.