better joy music

It’s been almost two years since we praised the jangling guitars, taut drums and haunting vocals of 'Hard To Love'...

10K Projects

Next week marks the annual pilgrimage of the music industry's finest to Brighton for the Great Escape Festival and hopefully the...

Specialist Subject

Originally a one-woman lo-fi bedroom pop project by Elise Cook, Soot Sprite has evolved over the past few years into...

0207 Def Jam/ Chosen Music FlyStr 8

Next up on our Ones To Watch 2025 is the exciting emerging rapper and producer LeoStayTrill. It’s been something of...

0207 Def Jam Recordings

It’s been over eighteen months since Nigerian multihyphenate Bloody Civilian broke onto the scene with the afro-pop, R&B-tinged anthem, ‘How...

Carl Jung Money

There is something inherently beautiful and timeless about this heartwarming and haunting piano-led offering from artist, songwriter and producer Harriet...

No Time Zone via Juicebox

Inspired by the early Playstation game soundtracks, which were infused with jungle, d’n’b and techno backtracks, producer and artist Joe...

Polydor/Def Jam Recordings

Kickstarting our Ones To Watch 2024 is rising 22 year old British-Sudanese singer-songwriter Elmiene. The Oxford-raised artist first broke onto...

Jansen Records

We do like something that is a tad different here at RotD, and Oslo trio Mall Girl certainly offer this...

Bianca James Records

With a timeless and classic sound wrapped in a modern pop sensibility and cinematic flair, Toronto’s Bianca James produces glamorous...

Other Projects

Last month, we extolled the virtues of Zimbabwe-born, Hull UK-based musician Chiko Chinyadza, aka Downtown Kayoto, and his bouncing house, trap, and...

Lojinx

Full of classic rock guitar lines and a hint of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, ‘What Kind of Trouble’ is...

Other Projects

Oscillating between bouncing house, trap, and UK Grime with touches of Kaytranada and Skepta, ‘Lite’ is the stonking new release...

Other Projects

Downtown Kayoto is the project of Zimbabwe-born, Hull UK-raised musician Chiko Chinyadza. He’s been building a reputation for his genre-blending and unpredictable...

Jinsing/One RPM

Drawing on inspiration from trap, drill, hip hop and reggae, rising Mancunian rapper Hxxdz is an artist who has already...

Project Melody Music

Back in 2020, we featured two tracks by Colchester-based collective Monster Florence. Their blend of jazz, hip-hop, soul and indie...

JFH Records

At the end of last month, Danish singer and producer Marie Dahlstrom released her new EP Safe Place and this...

Jawdropper Music via Ingrooves

Released last Friday, Sober is the first official track from West Yorkshire artist Lenny James. The first thing that strikes you...

Young Poet/Ninja Tune

It’s been just over a year since we introduced you to producer and multi-instrumentalist Conor Albert and the gloriously soul-blessed,...

Jinsing

Once in a while, you hear an artist for the first time and know they have everything to become a...

Jinsing

With spring in full flow and a new sense of optimism in the air, this storming new track featuring Poppy...

Jinsing

Back in the summer, we introduced you to the London-based singer-songwriter Sophia Amato and her hypnotic and brooding debut Glorious...

Majestic Casual Records

JÁNA is the alias of Stockholm based artist Johanna Andrén, who creates woozy, R&B tinged electronica from a home-made studio...

Sweet Jane Recordings

Lifted from their forthcoming new EP The State Of Things on 9 October, Perfectly Untrue is the haunting new single...

Jinsing

Sophia Amato is a London-based singer-songwriter with Sicilian heritage who delivers a gorgeously deft dose of pure lo-fi electronica infused...

Juicebox Recordings/AWAL

It’s been a big week for acclaimed tastemaker, producer and RotD One to Watch 2020 artist Joe Hertz with the...

Sweet Jane Recordings

We’re keen supporters of Lucia & The Best Boys, with this splendid song being yet another track following on from...

Project Melody

Fusing elements of jazz, hip-hop, soul and UK grime is this sumptuous new single from Colchester-based music collective Monster Florence. Released...

Project Melody

This gorgeous debut track is from north London duo Dust In The Sunlight. Singer-songwriters Billy Wright and Annie Rew Shaw...

JOIN Records

We first introduced you to the upbeat and punchy sounds of Italian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Kiol last November with...

Jinsing

If you have been struggling to get motivated during the current situation, then this upbeat and infectious rework of the...

Project Melody

Colchester-based six-member music collective Monster Florence is a band that channels hip-hop, punk and UK grime over hypnotic beats laced...

Psycho John Records

Moving on from her dark and moody downtempo beginnings, Blackburn-born artist Charlotte OC is back with this gorgeous piece of...

Sweet Jane Recordings

We are big fans of Glaswegian four-piece Lucia and the Best Boys, having featured three of their previous singles over...

Juicebox Recordings / AWAL

Continuing our Ones To Watch 2020 is gifted UK producer, artist and critically acclaimed tastemaker Joe Hertz. Having been wooed by...

John Varvatos Records - Big Machine

Southern California rockers Badflower have, over the last two years, established themselves as one of the hardest working rock groups...

JOIN Records

Let us introduce you to London based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Kiol. Born in Turin, Kiol has already been making...

Sweet Jane Recordings

Former RotD featured group Lucia have dropped this stunning '80s synth-infused banger to mark a new era and sound for the Glasgow...

Juicebox Recordings under exclusive license to AWAL Recordings

It’s time to get your Friday freak on with this funky and massive tune from London collective Franc Moody. The...

Joe Dolman via CD Baby

Back in May, we featured the tender and intimate Drag You Down from 22 year old Leamington Spa singer-songwriter Joe...

Juicebox Recordings

Probably one of the most blissful songs you will hear this week, Rain In Cuba is the latest release from...

Jinsing

Now, this feelgood dance tune by Blaise is sure to brighten up your day. Originally produced as an instrumental by the...

JGrrey

We have been following south London artist JGrrey since we were blown away by her sublime vocals and future soul sound...

Sweet Jane Recordings

We are big fans of Glaswegian indie rock four-piece LUCIA, having featured their brilliant EP title track Cheap Talk back...

Jax Records

Liverpudlian five-piece Paris Youth Foundation kick start their 2019 with this glorious indie rock offering. Produced by Rich Turvey (Blossoms,...

HJL/Kobalt

Released today (16 November) and featuring on three Spotify New Music Friday playlists (UK, IT, TU), as well Apple’s Best...

Sweet Jane Recordings

Fronted by guitarist Lucia Fairfull, Glasgow’s indie rock four-piece LUCIA have been on our radar since the summer when they dropped their...

Carla J. Easton

Carla J. Easton is a singer-songwriter from Glasgow and this exquisite alt-pop gem is the first single from her forthcoming...

Project Records

We previously featured Cheshire-based band The Luka State at the start of this year with their frantic Lies! Lies! Lies!...

DJA

Darren and Greg are respectively Morrissey & Marshall. It’s three years since we first featured these Dublin lads on St....

Project Records

Firing at us with the pent-up rage and energy that you’ll find in early Supergrass and Manics tracks, The Luka...

Major Tom's/Atlantic

Essex girl Anne-Marie is one of the most hotly-tipped new UK solo stars around with plaudits from Google Play, Spotify,...

Lojinx

This opening track from Serious Poke, the debut solo album by Fred Abbott, is a barnstorming slab of lively power...

Afrojopa Records

Think of every strong female-fronted dance track from the 1990’s that you adored back in the day from the likes...

Sunny Jam Records Inc.

It’s a soulfully smooth and stylish sound here from acclaimed Tanzanian-Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Alysha Brilla. This excellent track comes...

Lojinx

Scandinavia remains our favourite hotbed for staggeringly good electro pop at the moment and this wonderful track from Hannah Schneider...

Sommarhjärta

Wonderfully lo-fi but with an incredible melody that shines right through the track, Summer Heart is actually just one bloke...

Independent/EMI (Australia) / Just Music (South Africa) / Independent/AWAL (RoW)

Depressing as it is even to hear the words 'summer' and 'anthem' in such close proximity at this time of...

unsigned/Just Music

Matthew Mole is consistently writing tracks which transcend the unsurprising onslaught of folk pop that comes our way and Take...

Just Music

We first featured Your & Your Crown as a demo from the Same Parts, Same Heart EP back in January,...

My Major Company/JRE

The bio for 'mirror twins' Christie and Louise Miller, aka Millers Daughter, is packed with details such as their upbringing...

Bad Jane Nation (self-release)

Among the posse of rising female MC's vying for dominance in the UK hip-hop scene right now, French-Ghanaian east Londoner Phreeda...

Just Music South Africa (available for the world ex SA)

Blending minimal pulsating synths and Yoav's distinctive vocal, Blink sounds like nothing we've heard all year, reminding us just how talented...

Just Music South Africa (Available for the world ex SA)

Matthew Mole's You And Your Crown displays an immediate and undeniable talent for songwriting and with inspiration coming from the likes...

JustUs

Uphill is a lushious landscape of minimal beats, warm synths and soulful harmonies combing to emotional effect on this superb debut....

Just Music (available for licensing for the world ex SA)

GoodLuck's sixth top 10 from their smash album in South Africa shows the depth of the duo's broad appeal with...

unsigned/Mad Decent/Jeffrrees

Ima Read is guaranteed to provoke an instantaneous reaction. The minimal slo-mo kick drum pounds with intensity throughout the four...

Just Music (available for licensing for the world ex SA)

GoodLuck is South Africa's biggest new pop/dance act of the past 18 months. Their brand of electro-swing has produced five...

Just Music (South Africa only)

Tailor's follow up to the RotD featured debut provides another display of the South African singer's versitility, with nods to...

Just Music (South Africa only)

Showing great emotional expression and vocal control, Tailor's Wolf is a gripping debut. The album it's taken from - The...

Jive

Described by Popjustice as 'basically S Club with better haircuts', Jive's Six D release the infectious Best Damn Night as...

Dream Juice

Having provided vocals for Plan B, Professor Green, Ironik and The Streets among others, Nyomi Gray aka Ny kicks off...

unsigned/ Just Music, South Africa

South African band Zebra & Giraffe have just released The Inside, their second full-length album. Their 2008 debut Collected Memories...

MyMajorCompany UK

We've previously featured Ivyrise and noted their success as a DIY band, with BBC radio support and a strong live...

Anjuna Beats

Starting life as a DJ bootleg by duo Myon & Shane 54, On A Good Day (Metropolis) has become one...

Jive

Invincible is the first single proper from 19 year-old Matt Nash, aka MYTOYBOX. A feel-good, hook-filled electro-pop debut which comes...

Popjustice Hi-Fi

Bright Light Bright Light is singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rod Thomas, who we've featured and written about previously on RotD....

Major Label

The dramatic, brooding pop we've heard so far from Hurts is portrayed with a sense of style, mystery and melodrama...

Jazz Talent

The early reviews for Elisa Caleb's debut have been positive in the jazz world and beyond. A "silken voiced jazz...

Ninja Tune

Originally a producer/DJ on the N Tone label, Fin Greenall, aka Fink is now a critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter. What he does...

Ninja Tune

Readying the follow-up to 2006's Days To Come album, Simon Green aka Bonobo has struck out with a sound which...

unsigned/Just Music, South Africa

Locnvillewere much-talked about at Midem this year and the South-African label has had interest from majors and indies in multiple...

Counter/Ninja Tune

There's yet another independent success story flying high in the US at the moment in the shape of Ninja Tune-signed...

Artjam

18 year-old Flordia artist Dominique Young Unique was mentored by fellow Tampa Bay residents Yo Majesty. Through them she...

Cash Money/Jayded/Island

It's a month of firsts for the Billboard Hot 100 as Jay Sean's Down ends Black Eyed Peas' 26-week record...

Columbia/J

Miike Snow are Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant (who wrote and produced Toxic for Britney, and hits for Madonna, Kylie...

Columbia/J

Jazmine Sullivan's album Fearless is one of our favourite US debuts in the last year. Her powerful and convincing voice...

unsigned/Johanna Kustannus, Finland

Finnish singer Astrid Swan is an artist we've loved since her first album Poverina. In fact, we featured a track...

unsigned/New Judas

Based in Finland with roots in France and Algeria, Manna's first UK single is a sexy, dark pop song with...

unsigned/Ban*Jam

We first heard Bleech's music at the Record of the Day round table at In The City last year, when...

Blue Thumb/UCJ

Imelda May's first single is this delightful blend of rockabilly, blues and jazz. Jools Holland is a big fan and...

Jalapeno Records

This track from Dutch DJ/producing trio Kraak & Smaak is gaining popularity in the US, where it was synched to...

Majordomo

Taken from the The Airborne Toxic Event's self-titled debut album, due out in the UK early next year, 'Does This...

UCJ

We've long been fans of Teddy Thompson, championing the excellent track 'Everybody Move It' from his second album back in...

Blue Thumb/UCJ

Beth Rowley's forthcoming album 'Little Dream', produced by Steve Power (Blur) and Bacon & Quarmby (Richard Hawley, Finlay Quaye), is...

UCJ

A skillful blend of chilled-out blues, folk and jazz, Melody Gardot's debut album, Worrisome Heart, was released to critical acclaim...

Jos

Revisiting a track we featured earlier this year to positive responses, Ben Onono's forthcoming album Native Stranger is now confirmed...

2point9/Jayded

Jay Sean's last single, Ride It, spent three weeks in the top 15, peaking at number 11 and was playlisted...

Jos

As a songwriter Ben Onono has written for artists like Cicada, Bob Sinclar, Fatboy Slim and Natalie Imbruglia. He was...

Just/Pinnacle

Where I Belong is the lovely second single from the new album The Sun Will Come by Honeyroot (who are...