DEFINITION OF FRESH

Mathis Akengin just released his stunning debut album, ‘Passage des Fleurs’ . The album is a letter to his Turkish grandfather. A love story without instructions, where words sometimes fall short, but the connection remains… The album features Mathis ’ recent single ‘First Floor’ , which has racked up over 920,000 organic Spotify streams and shows the ability of Mathis ’ moreish music to spread through avid listeners on its own volition, proving that he is an artist to take note of in 2026.

For his second studio album, ‘Snail in the Clouds’ , former M+A member Michele Ducci recruited Simon Milner ( Is Tropical , Ysing ) to record and produce the album in his 4 am Studios in London. The result is a lush, multi-layered pop album that showcases Michele Ducci ’s superb songwriting and vocal talents. To add to these riches, Ducci and his partner Letizia Mandolesi created an entire world populated by fantastical creatures, which they lovingly portray in an epic full-length animated video set to be unveiled soon.

Former M+A member Michele Ducci has laid down some superb ‘Born Slippy’ inspired synth-heavy soundscapes on his new single ‘Rain On Me’ . The single comes from Michele Ducci ’s forthcoming album and animated film, ‘Snail in the Clouds’ , which was recorded and produced by Simon Milner ( Is Tropical, Ysing ) in his 4 am Studios in London.

Official video for the single 'Woman Like You' from the album and full-length animated film 'Snail in the Clouds' by Michele Ducci , released June 5th 2026.  Video by Michele Ducci and Letizia Mandolesi Music and lyrics by Michele Ducci

New Mathis Akengin single ‘Mute Love’ is about someone speaking without quite knowing how to do it. As Mathis prepares to release his debut album, ‘Mute Love’ serves as a new tantalising taster of what to expect as other tracks from the record like ‘First Floor’ continue to steadily build at over 700,000 organic streams, proving the ability of Mathis’ moreish music to spread through avid listeners on its own volition and proving that Mathis is an artist to take note of in 2026.

“Membrane” , the new single from pop/alternative artist and composer Hannah Schneider . Built around a hypnotic bass clarinet motif, the track moves between experimental neoclassical textures and strong melodic hooks and comes from Hannah’s forthcoming new album “In This Room” , out February 27th.

Fresh off a festival run and two tours, Oxford based new wave chamber-pop band Blue Bayou release their third single ‘Carousel Song’ . ‘Carousel Song’ , produced by Chris Barker ( Willie J. Healey ), shimmers with the magic of mid-winter: tracking to tape, and self-producing at a home studio, Blue Bayou eschewed a clean recording in favour of the warm texture of overtones, tape hum, and rack reverb.

Blending pop-rock hooks with confessional storytelling, 18-year-old Winchester-born Mauro Brenner writes the kind of songs that capture the chaos, humour, and heartbreak of late adolescence. “No Bad Blood” is his debut single and newest coming-of-age anthem — a bright, guitar-driven track about running into an ex and realising you’ve finally grown past the version of yourself that loved them.

Following the release of their fifth studio album ‘And the Adjacent Possible’ last year, OK Go are set to return to the UK for their first tour dates in over a decade this November. Shows in Nottingham , Glasgow , Manchester and London will go on sale to the general public this Friday 23rd January , but loyal subscribers to OK Go ’s email list can access a pre-sale on Thursday Jan 22nd at 10am UK time. Subscribe here . OK Go ’s ‘And the Adjacent Possible’ was met with acclaim around the world in 2025, including two Grammy nominations. One of which was for the band’s innovative one-take visual for ‘Love’ : https://youtu.be/gz9BRl7DVSM?si=o8icHBoySvmX7OcU The packaging for ‘And The Adjacent Possible’ was designed by Yuri Suzuki and Claudio Ripol , with the 3D sliceform design and pop-up structure by Wombi Rose , Hà Trịnh Quốc Bảo and Emilio LaTorre for Lovepop . OK Go are now also excited to announce that they have doubled down on their collaboration with Lovepop , ...

Gitika Partington celebrates her prolific creativity by releasing thirteen albums in one day. Her ‘Twelvefold’ project, out 30th January 2026 , breaks the world record for the most albums released in one day. Watch the lyric video for ‘Time Stands Still’ .

Indie artist Mathis Akengin has racked up close to 600,00 organic streams in just a few months for his track ‘First Floor’ .  Never before released in the UK, ‘First Floor’ , with its intriguing piano grooves and Lumineers-esque percussive catchiness, proves Mathis’ ability to transcend genre categorization and create exciting and vibrant, broad-reaching songs from unpredictable sources- with cleverly layered and paced production that keeps the listener on the hook from the outset.

  Manchester indie legends The Man From Delmonte just dropped a brand-new single ‘Every Time’ from their first album in 35 years.  The B-side of ‘Every Time’ is a live version of The Man From Delmonte ’s first ever single, ‘Drive, Drive, Drive’ , which was recorded at their recent sell out gig at the Manchester Academy in April 2025. The joy of hearing 1000 rabid fans singing along to the track is infectious and serves as a taster of what to expect at The Man From Delmonte ’s upcoming album launch night at the O2 Ritz , Manchester on December 21st.

‘Follow The Sun’ , a psychedelic-tinged pop song that evokes a ramble in the sunshine from reclusive indie artist Michele Ducci .  ‘Follow The Sun’ , the single is the first installment from the album and animated film ‘Snail in the Clouds’ by Michele Ducci and Letizia Mandolesi .  Stream it on Spotify here:  https://open.spotify.com/track/3EGmM9wHYLv63RxKVI6mBb?si=dbad675309ea4ca0

To celebrate the release of their first album in 35 years, ‘Better Things’ out 14th November , Manchester indie legends The Man From Delmonte are back with a brand-new single ‘Every Time’ , another Mike West classic. With Martin Vincent ’s trademark guitar and Sheila Seal ’s beautiful harmonies, the track has the same vibe to their classic songs from the late 80’s but with a more mature sound.

One of Belgium’s finest indie exports, Portland have just released their new album ‘Champain’ . A sparkling and effervescent collection of dreampop tracks, the new record is a home for old sorrow and the starting point for new stories.

Portland , the Belgian dreampop outfit fronted by singer-songwriter Jente Pironet , have released their new single and official video for ‘Exactly What I Need’ . The 3rd song to drop in the run up to the forthcoming album ‘Champain’ .  Stream 'Exactly What I Need' by Portland here:   https://portland.ffm.to/exactlywhatineed

Serious Child explores the connections between us all with hypnotic new orchestral-pop single ‘Dusk on the 33’ , out now. The song tells the story of an old woman riding the bus all day to keep warm, and no-one noticing her. Inspired by a Georgian lullaby, ‘Iavnana (Violet Nana)’ , ‘Dusk on the 33’ has a slightly otherworldly off-kilter piano-led psychedelic lilt to it, with the poignancy of the old woman’s story nestled within.

In his new single ‘Mer d’hiver’ , Mathis Akengin portrays a winter sea slowed down, dense, almost frozen, where everything seems to be holding its breath. The piece is built around motifs, mechanical cogs that evoke the workings of a ship, leaving space for breath, for stillness. The piano, deliberately restrained, creates a suspended atmosphere, almost fixed within cold waters.

Serious Child , aka Alan Young , is teasing his forthcoming fourth album with a joyful video for the new single  ‘First Tattoo’ , from his fourth album ‘What Lies Beneath’ dropping November 7, 2025. 

After 35 years away, Manchester indie legends The Man From Delmonte are back playing live shows and releasing a brand-new album ‘Better Things’ in November, with its first taster, the fabulously hooky single ‘Believe Me’ backed by B-side ‘ The International’ .