existentialmagazine

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Photo & Review: Europe Turn Murcia’s Plaza de Toros into a Full-Throttle Rock Revival

There’s something beautifully reckless about watching a band like Europe tear through a bullring on a sweltering Spanish night. On July 10th, Murcia’s Plaza de Toros wasn’t hosting a nostalgia trip—it was hosting a rock and roll siege, and Joey Tempest was leading the charge like a man possessed.

Tempest worked the crowd like a preacher at a tent revival, spinning his mic stand, strutting across the stage, and howling like it was 1986 all over again. But this wasn’t just vintage posturing—the band was tight, loud, and gloriously unapologetic. John Norum’s guitar solos were pure jet fuel, cutting through the humid night air with the kind of tone that makes you remember why arena rock was born in the first place.

They piled on the hits—Rock the Night, Superstitious, Cherokee—each one greeted like an old friend by a sunburned, beer-soaked crowd that was more than ready to scream every chorus back. When the synths of The Final Countdown finally came in, the place went feral. People climbed shoulders, drinks flew, and Murcia briefly felt like ground zero for the world’s loudest karaoke session.

Sure, there’s a layer of nostalgia baked into Europe’s sound, but here’s the thing—they don’t play it like a heritage act cashing in. They play it like their lives still depend on it. And for 90 sweaty, euphoric minutes, so did ours.

Written & Photographed by: Rhyan Paul

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Review: ettie shares new genre-blending pop-rock experience ‘You'll Never See Me Cry’, a stubborn struggle to let go of someone already gone

With inspirations spanning from early Avril Lavigne, Pale Waves, Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams, the upcomer ettie has found her own sound is just as emotionally infused but constantly spanning between genres. Between bouts of anger, sadness and heartbreak, her works always feel close to the heart but bundled in turbulent sound.

From pressing play, you can tell that ettie’s newest single ‘You’ll Never See Me Cry’ is something a bit different for her, stripped-back and warmer than her usual angstier pop-punk leaning releases. Instead, this feels emotional and personal, a look into her Gemini nature of being stubborn. Through slow tumbling drums and gentle acoustic guitar strums, the soundscape is relaxed and a little pop-rock leaning, creating a delicate space for her vocals and lyricism to take the lead. Spilling out with admissions of a lover leaving her behind, ettie sings ‘all the warning signs you can’t see from cloud nine, I fall to the ground ‘cause my angel was blind’, struggling to let go of something that has already gone. Her vocals carry her staple intensity and spoken-sung nature but in a different light, this time more haunting and aching than ever before.

As ettie’s vocals continually rise, we finally see one hell of a climax in the chorus. Backed up by heavenly layers of backing vocals that feel almost choir-like, the sound becomes loud and bold but still wholly atmospheric and intimate. Mixed with steady drum clashes, rich piano keys and loose guitar strums, the soundscape has never felt more refreshing for a punk-leaning artist like ettie to deviate into. While the vocals and storytelling are still true of her pop-punk roots, ‘You’ll Never See Me Cry’ dares to fall into a genre of its own, sending goosebumps down your arms as this incredible artist gives it her all like she’s on the stage of an arena.

Keep listening to ‘You’ll Never See Me Cry’ for yourself here, you won’t regret giving a chance to ettie.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

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Review: Stephen Thomas shares infectious new pop-punk, alternative and hip-hop blend with anthemic new single ‘Breaking Hearts’

Stephen Thomas is quite the musical enigma, dancing between genres and crafting patchworks of hip-hop amidst alternative references that always leave his music feeling refreshing and unlike anything else. He’s unafraid to be versatile, in fact it’s everything he stands for, making a career that’s defined by exploration and evolution.

His newest single ‘Breaking Hearts’ once dares to be more than just one sound, embodying pop-punk rebellion with a distinctly hip-hop soul. The track is also rougher around the edges than anything he’s shared before, letting listeners into a raw experience you just can’t tear yourself away from. Right from pressing play, it’s immediately thrust in your face with volume and angst, hitting you with smashing drums and blaring guitars that progressively build into an opening chorus moment. Knowing how to grip listeners off the bat, Stephen hurtles shredding guitar strums and thunderous drum beats into your eardrums with his catchiest hooks: ‘all I wanna do is live my life with no regrets and never have to choose how I want to move.’ Continuing his emotive message, listeners will also feel connected to every single word. From the chorus’s admission ‘it breaks my heart but I’ve gotta get away from you’, we feel the aching of the loss and yet the track’s spirit keeps things tumbling along, a reminder that you’ll come out better on the other side.

It simmers a little into the opening verse, maintaining a speeding pacing with quick stripped-down rapid drum beats, steady guitar strums and Stephen’s vocal performance that takes the lead, dancing between rasped lines and cleaner ones for a performance you can’t get out of your mind. The mix of infectiousness with raw emotion seeping through is impossible not to love, pushing a motivational message of reclamation after a broken heart, capturing the freedom and empowerment that comes from walking away from toxicity. This isn’t the only verse that ‘Breaking Hearts’ has up its sleeve either, bursting into a hip-hop moment with rapped vocals and electronic scattered beats, keeping you constantly on your toes.

Keep listening to ‘Breaking Hearts’ for yourself here if you’re after a track that stands out, dancing between genres in a way you’ve never heard before.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

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Review: DAMNAGE’s explosive debut album channels life’s chaos, burnout, and the desperate need to feel something real

DAMNAGE’s self-titled debut is a fiery, genre-warping blitz that grips your ears and doesn't let go. From the opening blast of ‘Wasteland’, the band sets an explosive tone, where punk fury collides with melodic grit in a head-on crash. What makes this trio immediately compelling is their ability to channel chaos with purpose; it’s not just noise for noise’s sake, it’s a cathartic exorcism of modern-day madness.

Across 10 tracks, the band delivers a visceral mix of rage, reflection, and raw power. ‘Time to Kill’ pounds with anxious urgency, echoing the emotional paralysis of the COVID era, while ‘Cheaptalk’ and ‘Love and Money’ seethe with biting social commentary. The band’s chemistry is undeniable, built on years of shared stages and brotherhood; their tightness and conviction shine through every distorted riff and punchy rhythm. DAMNAGE never feels manufactured. This is the sound of friends with nothing left to lose, going all in.

The standout, ‘Never See It’, brings a haunting vulnerability to close the record, a ghostly counterbalance to the album’s heavier moments. It's a rare track that doesn’t dilute the energy but rather deepens the emotional resonance, showing the trio’s range beyond brute force. Similarly, ‘Million Ways’ and ‘Semisocial’ show DAMNAGE’s knack for writing songs that feel personal, yet speak to a broader cultural fatigue, a shared ache in the age of overstimulation.

For fans of Turnstile and IDLES, this is familiar ground, but DAMNAGE isn’t copying; they’re carving. In the end, DAMNAGE doesn’t feel like a debut; it feels like a declaration. Stewart, Drummond, and Peterson have poured every bit of their history, grit, and heart into these songs. It’s an album made for the outsiders and the burned-out, for anyone yelling into the noise hoping to hear something human come back. DAMNAGE isn’t just turning up the volume, they’re making damn sure you feel it.

Keep blasting DAMNAGE for yourself, this debut’s a gut-punch in the best way, and the trio’s already sounding like a must-add for your heavy rotation this year.

Written by: Danielle Holian

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Existential Magazine’s June Music Roundup

With the month coming to a close, we’re sharing just a handful of our favourite new releases we’ve discovered this June! Sit back, put on our New Music Friday playlist and spend a few minutes enjoying fresh new tunes hand-picked by us.

Leo Walrus - Old Words, New Mess

Set to support Ratboy and The Boo Radleys this summer, the upcomer Leo Walrus has slowly but surely been finding his own place to slot in on the music scene. Since 2022, Leo’s weaved between sounds finding his little niche, and his most refined single yet ‘Old Words, New Mess’ shows off just how spectacular this talent’s sophomore album is set to be. Opened by warm piano notes, loose guitar strums and dainty vocals, everything about it feels achingly personal, sung right in front of your eyes like a campfire serenade. It picks up a little with soft thudding drums, electric guitar strums and quirky instrumental reaches, climbing into a hauntingly atmospheric journey that transcends being just a song, defining itself as more of an experience to take. With piano riffs and trailing instruments that dare to branch outside of their norm, ‘Old Words, New Mess’ feels living and breathing as it pulls you in to its devastatingly real sonic journey, born out of drowsy musings on public transport: ‘I hear announcements, as I start to rise.’ With Leo setting the scene of this mundane experience on the train before leading into the courage it takes to start again, it’s impossible not to place yourself in his shoes, connoting this everyday act to our own routines and thus feeling his words that bit more personally as he beams: ‘make a new man, start again.’ As a mix of hopeful reflection and yearning, ‘Old Words, New Mess’ is the perfect tune to add to your introspective playlists for when you just want to ponder that little bit deeper.

Up From Here - Under Your Spell

The pop-punk trio Up From Here are eager to break into the music scene with a sound that’s instantly familiar but defiantly their own. Through brilliantly catchy riffs, old-school flair and modern presence, they’ve nailed everything they’re doing - and their newest single ‘Under Your Spell’ certainly only proves that. Opened with a stripped-back soundscape that slowly builds into the action, the group know how to build momentum and grip new listeners instantly, blaring half muted electric guitar strums and a steady rising beat your way while vocals take the lead. Everything about it is infectious, urging you to listen deeply to every single word while the sound slowly finds itself in an assured chorus that’s raw and addictively loud. Blasting with vigorous strums, thunderous drums and forceful vocals, ‘Under Your Spell’ really gets under your skin with a whirlwind of noise that the verses had cautiously built their way towards. From here onwards, things progressively keep growing, constantly teetering on the edge of an eruption that the chorus provides the climax for. The track itself feels intimate and warm, singing of a new love and first-time experience: ‘I’ve never felt the way I do, it’s all brand new.’ Despite the pop-punk grit, the message is actually totally wholesome even with some nerves, admitting ‘I can’t tell if I’m in too deep, I’m under your spell.’ As they embrace their feelings and figure it out, it’s well worth jumping along for the ride as Up From Here are a band that are sure to be going places just like their name suggests.

El Sam - Death In Disguise

Since he debuted in 2016, El Sam has found his works becoming a chapter of his life written in sound, pinning down pivotal moments and connecting with his audiences in that honesty. Through defiance and boldness, every one of his tracks stands out as something utterly refreshing, and his newest memorable piece ‘Death In Disguise’ is just another song that’s lined up to be looped in your head for weeks on end. From pressing play it’s instantly dark and alluring, a palette of dark pulsating beats and synthetic backing strobes. El Sam’s vocals take the lead atop it, a light vocal effect seeping through his words for a more electronic energy to pulse throughout, soothing and smooth while equally sultry. Blending underground club energy with cinematic production, there’s something about it that just manages to paint a picture right in front of your eyes, pushing the power of his storytelling tied into a sound that complements every line. Lyrically, El Sam explores the beauty found in destruction, the power of reinvention, the seduction of danger, and the masks we wear to survive. In some ways, it’s tempting and broody, like a bad romance that you can’t turn away from. In other ways, it’s a reminder that you can always rise from the ashes of anything, coming out a survivor with the strength to do anything. The chorus hook is a reminder of that, singing ‘dance for me in the night’ as the darkness hides everything about who we are, a moment we can simply let loose and be unapologetically ourselves. ‘Death In Disguise’ is just one of those songs you don’t realise you’ll have stuck in your head for months until it’s too late, crafting something so Lady Gaga-esque within a niche of his own that you just want so much more of.

Mary Middlefield - Summer Affair

The rising indie-rocker Mary Middlefield has quickly found herself standing out with music that dares to be a little bold, blending genres and styles for something that’s abstract in the most brilliant of ways. Recently recognised as one of Spotify’s 2025 Artists to Watch, this new name on the scene is one you’ll be hearing much more of, especially with her upcoming sophomore album. For now though, Mary’s newest effervescent single ‘Summer Affair’ is here to set the tone, channeling everything utterly euphoric about being young and experiencing fleeting love, freedom and the chaos of feeling everything at once. With gritty guitar strums meshed with a warm palette, steady drums, and haunting backing vocal layers, the opening is instantly a refreshing mix of tones. It doesn’t stop there either, quickly bounding into a verse that sees Mary spilling out her words in the most personable spoken-sung delivery, allowing listeners to feel a part of her confessions as though they were a friend listening to her pour her heart out: ‘my heart is racing, forehead sweating, from all the good things I’ve been feeling.’ As the chorus beams with guitar strums, thumping drums, bass twangs and a radiant vocal performance that dances through properly sung lines with dreamy backing harmonised layers, ‘Summer Affair’ feels just as whimsical and carefree as its message.

Caleb L'Etoile - Kerosene

Virginia-based upcomer Caleb L’Etoile just dropped his new album ‘American Death’, an exploration of folk-forward introspection and ardent rock heights. With anti-fascist themes, Caleb isn’t afraid to delve into the past and find inspiration from some of humanity’s worst deeds, while still leaving it open to be built upon by recent events as they come. The album’s finale ‘Kerosene’ is one song you definitely won’t be forgetting in the project, blending moments of poignance and intimacy with raw, in-your-face instruments. Opened by gentle guitar strums but rushed, breathy vocals, Caleb instantly gets across the urgency in the track, desperate to spew out his words as though he may be silenced at any moment. That urgency soon finds itself in the instrumental mix too, pressing along with metallic drum kicks, blaring guitar and more as it continues to fluidly build. Everything about it is constantly escalating until it finally reaches its peak with Caleb’s vocals harshly screaming ‘we didn’t have a way to lessen the spill’ mid-way through. Just as a quiet moment of piano follows, you think that may be the end of it all, but instead instruments collectively peak the microphone with a crashing wall of noise. Between thundering drums and brazen guitar you feel wholly consumed, like you’re watching an explosion from afar or witnessing a crashing plane fall from the sky. It doesn’t even stop there, completely switching up half-way to what feels like a new song entirely, beaming with just acoustic guitar and hauntingly resonant vocals. If you’re looking to find a musician unafraid to break boundaries and mesh his lyricism and instruments into one cohesive story, look no further than Caleb L’Etoile.

Give a listen to these songs and more in our New Music Friday playlist this week, or see our Roundup Recap playlist for every song previously featured in one of our monthly roundups that you might have missed!

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

// Some of this coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, Groover and Submithub, #SustainableCurator.

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Review: Casey McQuillen’s inspiring pop-rock anthem ‘Better Than This’ reflects on achieving her goals despite all odds

London-based singer-songwriter and rising pop sensation Casey McQuillen has made quite the name for herself since her 2019 debut, accumulating tens of thousands of followers on social media and supporting incredible acts like James Morrison, Beverley Knight and so many more. Still though, Casey remains at the top of her game after all this time, perhaps sharing her most powerful pop-rock anthem yet in new single ‘Better Than This.’

Inspired by her journey of moving to London and pursuing a music career, ‘Better Than This’ is the kind of motivational tune that anyone can find a slither of hope inside of, beaming with Casey’s own strength and accomplishments. The introduction is bold just like her message, beaming with kicking drums and blaring guitar to swiftly set the euphoric tone before the verse simmers into more intimate reflections. Through gentle acoustic guitar strums, she delicately retells her own story, her dainty words feeling fragile in the air as the nerves of where she once was almost seem to creep through: ‘gotta tell my momma, I’m getting on a plane, I promise I’ll be back here, with you one day.’ As the track progressively rises with piano keys, thudding beats and growing layers, ‘Better Than This’ slowly finds its confidence, soon admitting ‘I don’t wanna wait til I disappear, I don’t wanna wait all my years’, no longer as certain she’s going to be making that return.

The choruses burst is the most chilling moment of them all though, hitting you with large intermittent pounding drums, guitar strums and consuming vocals. The words are just as powerful, singing ‘I’m standing on the edge of a cliff… it’s gotta be better than this’ as Casey looks back on how it once felt taking that leap to follow her dreams, making hers into a reality. As the track continues to blur the lines between these moments of delicacy with those of furious energy and volume, Casey instrumentally embodies everything her message seeks to promote, urging those listening to take the path they want most even if they’re afraid along the way.

If you’re looking for an inspiring anthem filled with warmth and hope, you can listen to ‘Better Than This’ for yourself here.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Luan Luan’s easy-going indie and alt-pop blend ‘Nonsense’ encapsulates the blindness of being in a toxic relationship

The Spanish-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Luan Luan has been on the music scene since 2019, sharing a mix of genre-blending experiences that dance between pop, indie, electronic and essences of other styles too. Now though, they return with another gorgeous release titled ‘Nonsense’, ready to draw in new listeners with their most perfected sound to date.

Opened by gorgeous drawn-out electric guitar strums and floaty vocals, ‘Nonsense’ quickly looks to be refreshing and sunny, a palette filled with bright indie flecks. It doesn’t take long to pick up either, swiftly dancing into a lulled drum beat and slow electric guitar riff, as well as offering a few backing elements like a magical shimmer and rich bass twangs. Their vocals take the lead through it all, a sound that’s constantly ebbing and flowing between more intimate moments as well as picking up the pace, taking you along for an auditory journey that almost feels cinematic. Like the perfect soundtrack for an indie coming-of-age story, ‘Nonsense’ really sets the scene with visual storytelling and emotions that are hard not to connect with, painting pictures throughout every word and sonic element in play.

As the chorus playfully rises with layers of guitars, drums, bass, backing vocals, saxophone and more, you’re sure to be pulled into this mellow atmosphere for a ride that feels blissfully carefree. That sensation is set to mirror its narrative too, written during a period of change and growth that served practically as a positive anthem for Luan when they wrote it, and yet in retrospect it embodies the blindness of being in a toxic relationship. Completely unaware of the extent of the tumultuous nature of the relationship they were in, Luan manages to encapsulate how many of us often don’t see the signs until we’re in too deep, looking back and admitting: ‘I couldn’t pretend, never seen the light, but couldn’t let you go.’ As she struggled to walk away, Luan now sees and feels the vibrancy in a life without them, something that once seemed impossible. It’s somehow pained and yet hopeful, yearning for a life that she now gets to live in full bloom.

If you’re after an artist that’s unafraid to be unique and colourful, you’ll be thrilled to keep listening to Luan Luan and their new single ‘Nonsense’ for yourself here.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

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Review: myah pens the ache of letting a toxic person go and still yearning for them in her catchy new alt-pop single ‘dodging bullets’

Since stepping onto the music scene, myah has always wanted to be much more than just a musician, creating cinematic masterpieces within what she makes. As the creative force behind her music videos and the talented songwriter that stays digging into painful experiences, she knows exactly how to deliver. Meshing soft pop female familiarity with emo angst and vulnerability, she’s found quite a niche that’s left her feeling like one to watch for some tim now.

As always with her works, myah dives deep in her newest single ‘dodging bullets’, pairing something catchy with something you won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Between a playful acoustic guitar strums, a loose riff and a steady beat is the perfect gentle base for myah to lay out all her admissions, reflecting on the painful wound of missing someone she once cared for: ‘it’s been how many months since you saw me, memories living rent free.’ Her slow, haunting vocal delivery is the perfect compliment to it all, keeping things stripped-back and yet still uniquely unfolding with her rich, developing riff.

Things strip back for a pre-chorus reflection, singing ‘now I’m stuck in the present without you… my life’s a mess living in deja vu’, pained and poignant without any soundscape to hide behind. Picking up into the chorus with striking beats, layers of guitar, scattered electronic beats and whirs and haunting backing vocal hums, myah fleshes things out for an atmospheric moment that lingers with you. Her words are just as powerful, asking ‘why does dodging bullets even hurt me?’ as we learn she walked away before getting herself more hurt, and yet still finds herself aching for what could’ve been. It’s easy to romanticise what might’ve happened, how someone could’ve treated us, and we’ve all likely felt the pain of the one that got away. But myah’s finally put it into words and sounds, capturing that stinging sensation even when you’ve almost certainly avoided heartbreak: ‘feels like a knife pushing through me, the wounds cut deep, I’m bruising.’

If you’re after an artist that keeps it real and refreshing all in one, you can keep listening to ‘dodging bullets’ for yourself here.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[existentialmagazine]

Review: FOLLOWAY debuts a nostalgic alternative-rock anthem ‘In My Mind’, encapsulating bittersweet long distance love

Making his debut, the upcomer FOLLOWAY has swiftly set himself as one of a kind, embodying storytelling, nostalgia and fresh energy in his sound that you can’t find elsewhere. Ready to take on the world, this is only the beginning of his vision, with first ever single ‘In My Mind’ just setting the scene for what’s to come if you dare to give him a chance.

From pressing play ‘In My Mind’ is hazy and warm, bottling up gentle guitar strums and backing vocals for an intimate opening moment that feels like the wind in your hair on a summer’s evening. When FOLLOWAY’s vocals hit it soon shifts things up, his every word soaked in heavy vocal effects, creating a whimsical aura to every single line. It’s playful and fun, and yet in some ways still feels aching, like a facade over the top of his pain: ‘you’re still in my mind, I feel your shadow keep haunting me.’ Recorded using vintage tube amps and classic microphones, FOLLOWAY makes sure to blend a more modern feel with analog textures that give it an authentic, emotional delivery you can’t escape. Peppy drum beats and drawn-out backing notes make for an atmospheric but catchy soundscape to match, quick-paced and easy to get stuck inside of while you slowly but surely pick up on the more pained lyricism beneath it all.

The pre-chorus allows for a soft moment where things are paired back, a reminder of the tracks’s initial intimacy before the chorus picks up even further. With distant electric guitar twangs, layers of backing vocals, steady drums and more, the concoction is impossible not to love. It almost feels like a ghost haunting you amidst all the many moving pieces, tying into the track’s narrative of long-distance love as FOLLOWAY yearns for someone to be closer. Capturing the bittersweet mix of their love and yet the sting of emotional distance, the lines hang heavy: ‘the memory of our time… I won’t let you go.’

If you’re after an anthem filled with romance and depth all in one, you can keep listening to ‘In My Mind’ for yourself here, catching the impressive start of FOLLOWAY’s musical debut.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[existentialmagazine]

Review: The trio LED debut with their angsty alt- rock single‘Lies All Lies’, embodying a bad relationship that’s hard to walk away from

Layne Olivia, Lockett and Edie Yvonne met in the summer of 2024 at film camp near Malibu, joining together to write a single for a short film produced by the Pac Theatre. The Angeleno musicians all have skills within their own right, but together they’re as bold as ever. Now as they haven’t stopped working together since, it’s finally official under the name LED, writing, rehearsing and performing together as the ultimate trio.

The three-piece are finally ready to share the results of all their hard work, debuting with first ever single ‘Lies All Lies’. From the get-go it’s a little angsty and old-school, drawing attention with raw, palm-muted electric guitar strums that feel gristly and yet soft all at once. Steady drums kick in alongside a gorgeous pop-led vocalist, dancing through the richer tones with a smooth, dainty performance that runs through a higher range. The lyrics offer a young adult narrative that’s all too infectious too, leading with the openings of a story you’ll be gripped to hear the end of: ‘she said meet me around 1am.’

Building into the chorus with quickened drums, things finally hit their most ferocious yet, dominating with thundering drums, blaring guitar and catchy vocals at their most memorable yet. Lyrically, it keeps offering more and more pieces too, revealing the edges of either a toxic friendship or romance that’s not worth the pain of keeping around: ‘my father said stay away from girls like her, she doesn’t care if you get hurt.’ It’s all a serious buzz that you’ll have looped in your head, and it doesn’t stop there. As the track keeps unfolding, LED have a few more tricks up their sleeve. The bridge slows things down immensely, stripping it all down for a moment that still feels raw and gritty instrumentally, but emotionally it’s slow and aching. Reflecting that ‘should’ve ran while I could’, the protagonist regrets the pain they’ve endured, feeling trapped. The vocals are distorted too, a filtered effect that gets progressively more intense until the song fizzles out.

Keep listening to ‘Lies All Lies’ for yourself here, this is a trio with an immense amount of potential you won’t want to miss.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[existentialmagazine]

Review: On a warm evening, La Fúmiga, The Tyets, and Naina took over for a night that was equal parts emotive, euphoric, and unforgettable

On the warm evening of May 31st, the iconic Jardins de Vivers in Valencia became the vibrant epicenter of contemporary Catalan and Valencian music. As part of Nits de Vivers 2025, the event titled La Prèvia brought together three standout acts—Naina, The Tyets, and La Fúmiga—for a night that was equal parts emotive, euphoric, and unforgettable.

Emerging singer-songwriter Naina opened the night with a beautifully intimate set that immediately drew in the audience. Her soft, evocative vocals and stripped-back instrumentation created an atmosphere of emotional sincerity. With songs like “Estima’m,” she delivered a performance that felt personal and deeply resonant. Accompanied by only her guitar and keyboard, Naina proved that minimalism can be profoundly moving, offering a gentle but memorable start to the night.

Next up was the high-energy duo The Tyets, whose infectious blend of trapetón (trap + reggaeton) and Mediterranean flair transformed the gardens into a full-blown dance floor. Fresh off the success of their album Épic Solete—already a gold and platinum hit—the pair delivered a set that was as fun as it was musically sharp. Tracks like “Let Me Alive” and “Havia de passar” (featuring La Fúmiga) got the crowd jumping, their youthful charisma and stage presence drawing massive cheers. Their genre-blending sound and local pride resonated perfectly with the Valencia crowd.

Closing the night was La Fúmiga, the beloved brass-heavy ensemble from Alzira known for their anthemic, feel-good performances. Their set was a celebration of Valencian culture, blending traditional sounds with modern pop, ska, and rock influences. The crowd roared to life during hits like “Segona conjugació” and the powerful “La ferida,” with hundreds singing along and waving flags. Their show was a masterclass in building communal energy—joyful, politically aware, and musically tight.

The night was a triumph—not just for the artists, but for Valencian and Catalan music as a whole. Each act brought a unique energy, yet together they formed a cohesive celebration of identity, emotion, and rhythm. From Naina’s heartfelt lyricism to The Tyets’ modern party vibes and La Fúmiga’s explosive, horn-driven finale, Nits de Vivers proved once again that it’s one of the region’s most essential cultural events.

Written & Photographed by: Rhyan Paul

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Occupation Baby’s newest single ‘Satisfied’ twists alternative-rock into a dreamy haze, capturing the mist of insomnia

Hailing from Peterborough, Occupation Baby isn’t afraid to do it all, single-handedly taking on all aspects of his music creation for works that feel carefully crafted right down to their core. With a unique blend of influences from artists like The Weeknd and Nothing But Thieves, there’s a little flavour for everyone in every song, and their newest work ‘Satisfied’ is a solid embodiment of alternative-rock turned dreamy.

Infinitely catchy and yet deceptively meaningful, ‘Satisfied’ might just be Occupation Baby’s best work yet. From a catchy introduction of dance-along drum beats and vibrant guitar, the soundscape is set to be upbeat and a little echoey too, creating such a vast space from the get-go. It’s wholly immersive, enveloping you in the experience before it’s even properly kicked off. Things simmer back for the verse, lightly muting drums and bass twangs as though you’re hearing them through the walls at a party, drawn to just Occupation Baby’s leading vocals. Everything about it feels like the calm before the storm, holding itself back from erupting, and the lyrics are a close mirror to that. Delving into the struggles of insomnia and the lack of energy that stems from sleep deprivation, ‘Satisfied’ almost seems to recreate the haze that life can become when you’re running on little to no sleep, getting by while the ambient sounds sink further and further away from truly registering: ‘I barely feel alive, it’s funny to think about another life.’

The chorus returns to the opening’s boldness, led by a slow, colourful guitar riff and fast pattering drums, making use of techniques like sending drums and vocals through a randomised delay, creating a larger feeling depth and dimension to the music that’s impossible not to feel. The lines are just as memorable, admitting ‘I’m not satisfied, I’m never satisfied, feels like I’m asleep’, a blend of chant-along lyrics and achingly real confessions. It’s hard not to love ‘Satisfied’, it blurs the lines between the kind of music you just want to dance along to, and the kind of music you feel deep in your bones.

Keep listening to ‘Satisfied’ for yourself here, Occupation Baby are doing it like no one else out there right now.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[existentialmagazine]

Existential Magazine’s May Music Roundup

With the month coming to a close, we’re sharing just a handful of our favourite new releases we’ve discovered this April! Sit back, put on our New Music Friday playlist and spend a few minutes enjoying fresh new tunes hand-picked by us.

Smalltown Morals - Coursing

The Leeds based upcomers Smalltown Morals have found themselves constantly teetering between genres, often spurred on by creativity and evolution over sticking to one sound. Between indie, shoegaze, alternative and psychedelic influences, their work is a gorgeous patchwork of sound that never becomes predictable, all while brilliant songwriting ties it all neatly together. Their newest offering is no exception, but this single is much more meaningful than it lets on. Opened by warm loose electric guitar strums and steady drums, ‘Coursing’ isn’t a track that’s immediately easy to pin down, contrasting its narrative with a soundscape that feels like a safe respite. Through the gentle tones and silky ambience, everything feels like a total haze, beaming onto you like the shining sun in the sky on a summer’s day. The vocals cut through with more of a lingering edge, with every echoey low-toned line hanging heavy in the air as it begins to ask you to look deeper, to see the pained narrative at heart. Exploring the shock of grief, ‘Coursing’ dances between the ever-shifting emotional turmoil that follows such an earth-shattering experience, tackling the choice between staying in the light or retreating into the darkness: ‘it’s time again to face the darkness without your friends.’ As the chorus unfolds with distant bass twangs, more emphatic guitar and swirling vocals, the track quickly embeds itself as part of you, an unforgettable journey that feels equal parts comforting, familiar and vulnerable.

Will Sims - Better Off Alone

Since his 2015 debut, Will Sims has spent some time mastering his craft and getting his talent in front of audiences worldwide, amassing thousands of monthly Spotify listeners and a potential to be a household name. With every new release, he offers something a little bit different, always daring to stand out while keeping himself familiar and recognisable. There are few songs that you instantly know are surefire anthems from pressing play, but ’Better Off Alone’ is one of those few, a rare gem that’s filled with a soul-stirring defiance and angst made to be felt in your bones. Between the gnarly bass, simmering drum taps and blaring electric guitar that soon joins the mix, the soundscape is instantly bold and in-your-face, a thrusting of dark and moody sounds that’ll have you singing along before you even know the words yet. Will’s vocals complement it all perfectly, soaring through a higher range that contrasts against the background like a movie protagonist walking away from a fiery explosion behind them. Even the chorus is impossible to forget, looping the title lines and eager to get this earworm stick in your brain. The longer you listen, the more unpredictable it becomes, shifting into obscure piano keys and a half-rapped, spoken-sung bridge, pushed further by dark drawn-out guitar strums and an epic solo to top it all off. Everything about it is ferociously divine, pushing catchiness and grittiness into one hell of a unique single that you’ll want on repeat for a long time to come.

Mara Liddle - SWEET TALK

As a dynamic new voice in pop, Mara Liddle has quickly been taking over the music scene, offering a unique blend of hyperpop, drum and bass, and garage into one epic concoction of noise. Her work isn’t just a vibe in sound though, as this star also writes with her own hardships at the heart of it all, telling stories we can all likely relate to. Her newest single ‘SWEET TALK’ is all of that and more, embodying the snapping point for Mara after watching on the sidelines while everyone achieved their dreams. Born from frustration, this bold new track jumps into striking beats, scattered electronics, whirs and catchy distortions, capturing that shift of finally being ready to accept more from life, reaching out and taking what she’s deserved all along. Her soft vocals are a contrast to the hyper-frantic sound, singing poignant lines like ‘if you want the door to open, sometimes you have to use force’ between the chaos. Everything about it seems to perfectly mirror reality, life’s constant overwhelm and the emotional response to finally break through. This incredibly catchy anthem is the perfect dance-along tune with plenty of hard hitting lines torn from messages and conversations long ago, even so much as asking ‘when are you gonna catch up?’ Despite that though, Mara proves you can do anything no matter when you decide to take the leap, it’s never too late to chase what you’ve been missing out on.

MAUMAUMAU - Macho Macho

Returning a year after his ambitious debut album ‘MAUCH’, the genre-blending talent MAUMAUMAU has returned to the music scene to start a new era within his work with a blinding new single. From the get-go, ‘Macho Macho’ is warm and rosy, beaming like a sunset over the coast on the loveliest of days, catching the wind through your hair and living freely in a moment forever caught in time. Between bumbling electric guitar strums, steady beats and bass twangs is an atmosphere that easily washes over you, pattering along with such ease. The vocals are equally soft but a little raw too, picking up flecks of emotion in the low-toned hums. Beaming through an unexpectedly bold chorus, ‘Macho Macho’ dominates through blaring guitar, forceful drums and in-your-face vocals, verging on shouted as MAUMAUMAU thrusts every line right into your face with chant-along backing vocal echoes. A stripped-back verse follows, non-electrified guitar strums that force you to listen deeper, constantly showing evolution through every second. The complex truths that litter the vibrant sound are a perfect complement to it all, adding his own two cents to the discussion of what it is to be a man and masculinity: 'who’s to say what’s macho macho?’ Singing lines like ‘all the steps you shouldn’t take as a guy’, he tackles the difficulty men face in feeling forced to bottle things within, often expected to deal with things in a certain way. It’s hard hitting and yet ever so easy to listen to, a perfect summer banger for accepting that sometimes things are a lot more fluid than the world lets you believe.

Peter Donovan - Community Theatre

Peter Donovan has quite the unique tale to tell in his newest album release ‘Community Theatre’, surviving a brain haemorrhage and going on to share his near-death experience recorded in a studio that soon shut its doors thereafter. Everything about this project feels like an appreciation for life at its core, reminding us all what we’re here for, even if those moments are never guaranteed. The lead single is no exception, telling the tale of a runaway bride that turns to pouring drinks at a bar, collecting fragments of stranger’s lives while trying to piece together her own direction. With a warm sound, the track exudes striking piano keys, subtle beats and low-toned vocals that linger in the air with hauntingly unavoidable emotion. It’s hard not to get lost in it, mixing both an aching realness with a comforting perspective of someone just as lost as many others are. Loose guitar leads into the chorus, a mix of strums and a slower riff for a moment that feels just as familiar as sitting around a campfire with those you love dearest. The lyrics are just as profound, challenging how people can often put on a facade rather than following their own desires and dreams: ‘all this time playing pretend… you learn the lines, dim the lights, and we both know how it ends.’ Abandoning his older sound in this era, this new chapter is a defiant new direction for Peter, and there’s never been a better time to start listening.

Deflecting Ghosts - Broken

The rock and alternative metal band Deflecting Ghosts have grown to be a powerful trio, debuting just last year and sharing music that’s inspired by when rock was once more raw, honest, and unafraid to feel. Their newest single is proof that the group can only continue to evolve, as ‘Broken’ instantly hooks listeners with a gritty downbeat introduction of a slow electric guitar riff and tensely pattering drums. Everything about it is stripped-back but with the sensation it’s lingering on the edge of something, holding itself back as a gloomy cloud swallows the soundscape wholly. The vocals are rich and drawn-out, hanging in the air with an aching resonance that’s sure to connect with many listening along. It’s not long before the fury and emotion comes undone into the chorus though, capturing the weight of personal reckoning after years of addiction and inner conflict. Between thundering drums, blaring electric guitar strums and rich bass is a soundscape that’s somehow edged between vulnerable and bold, reminding that some of the most personal emotions can be felt when a sound is at its fullest. Reflecting on surrender, struggle and working towards self-acceptance, the lyrics are devastatingly real, exploring the struggle to get better and the way addiction can impact your self-worth. As the trio’s first full band release, you don’t want to miss out on this new chapter for the three-piece.

Koburg - Painted Stars

The iconic one-woman band Koburg has been pouring her heart and soul into her musical releases since debuting in 2019, drawing intrigue as she performs all vocals and instruments in every one of her releases. With such great attention to detail to every element in her song, she’s truly in charge of everything she puts out, crafting experiences that wholly consume listeners. Returning with a bold new album 'Twisted Fairytale', Koburg enters the most ambitious stage of her career yet, and the opening single ‘Painted Stars’ displays why. At nearing five minutes in length, this project opens slowly and atmospherically, dazzling with a transcendent building ambience. Through haunting harmonised vocals, piano keys and dynamic shifts, Koburg sets the scene for an experience that’s more than just a song, instead feeling like a living, breathing piece of art. Cutting through the ethereality with blaring beats, violin strums, striking guitar, thunderous drums and angsty dark vocals, Koburg completely shifts everything you thought you knew and turns it on its head, keeping you on your toes for every second of this captivating single. Epically continuing through a heart-racing guitar riff and plowing noise, Koburg shows why she’s one to be reckoned with on the music scene right now — and ‘Painted Stars’ is just the start of a whole album worth of tunes that need to be heard by the masses.

Lena Younes - Presence

Singer-songwriter, yoga facilitator and breathwork practitioner Lena Younes has quite the diverse skillset under her belt, creating music that feels just as relaxed and introspective as her yoga work. Based in Tavira, Portugal, her work shines with warmth and and delicacy, finding that her breathwork skills have elevated her musical abilities and songwriting to new heights. Now as Lena shares her newly full-length album ‘Ways of the Dreamer’, there’s never been a better time to discover her - and the gorgeous opening song ‘Presence’ embodies why. With bright but intimate piano keys and drawn-out orchestral strings opening up the soundscape, the tone is immediately set to be one of daintiness and great care. Whimsical backing vocals and Lena’s haunting vocal delivery soothe as they glide through the stripped-back sound, her every word aching to be heard in its rawest form. An eclectic, built-up moment of sound completely shifts it all, radiating with striking violin, piano keys, strings and unique vocals for a short intermission to draw you in further. This poignant opening piece of the album is a bold and deeply personal beginning, reflecting on ancestors never met and the loss of her mother, finding that her essence will still be carried through generations to come. It’s both a little pained and a little hopeful, honouring the invisible bonds that transcend time: ‘I know that time flies, but I hate goodbyes... if you could see her smile maybe just for a while you might say… I live in you.’

Five Lines - Nosebleeds

The alternative rockers Five Lines have been away for some time now, slowly but surely crafting new tunes for listeners to sink their teeth into. After 2 years of hard work, a sold out UK tour and their biggest headliner to date, the group are ready and raring to go, with their newest single being the catalyst for it all. From pressing play, ‘Nosebleeds’ is instantly in your face with a gritty concoction of noise, plowing rich bass twangs and momentary electric guitar blares right down your eadrums. Everything about it screams punky angst and total character, serving up attitude you instantly can’t get enough of. The charismatic vocalist’s downbeat spoken-sung delivery opens up the verse, every line drilled straight into your mind. The soundscape keeps things a little relaxed though, looping guitar strums and bass plucks while leaving you feeling like it’s constantly on the verge of exploding into something more — and the chorus proves that to be true. With a high-energy electric guitar riff, thunderous drums, gnarling bass and vocals pushed into an anthemic higher range, you’ll be up and dancing along in no time. All of it is so infectious, shifting so dynamically throughout that you’re never quite sure where it’s going, but Five Lines make sure you’re eager and up for the ride. If you want a track that stands out from the rest and dares to deliver, ‘Nosebleeds’ will be right up your alley.

Jacob Ifans - Sun Don't Shine

The talented upcomer Jacob Ifans has spent some time building up to his first musical release, teasing audiences with photo snippets and details of his upcoming debut album that he’s unafraid to share without any prior EPs as backing. Everything about his work shines out as raw and true to the craft, caring little to fit in boxes or expectations, but instead creating for the pure desire to put out something new into the world. As this project begins with his debut single ‘Sun Don’t Shine’ that’s sure to set a high bar for the album, Jacob Ifans couldn’t be in a more promising position. With whimsical and soft layers of both electric and acoustic guitar, pattering drums and rich bass twangs, the soundscape is instantly a retreat filled with reverie, akin to sitting around a campfire serenaded by someone you hold near and dear. Jacob’s gentle vocals are wonderfully complementary, low-toned and emotive, while a female backing vocalist hauntingly adds to the occasional line, every word echoey and poignant. The lyrics are just as profound, written in the midst of Winter in a cosy caravan, where each season couldn’t help but be particularly felt, each storm and cold spell an ingrained part of the day-to-day. In this very grounded narrative, Jacob couldn’t have done a better job in penning a reflection of being tied to the natural world, and the little details that matter most in life: ‘I think of you… and I wonder, do you think of me too, cause I think of you.’

Aarktica - No Solace In Sleep (2025 Remaster) 

Aarktica has been hailing as a musician since long back in 2000, delivering a sonic world that’s easy to slip away into with every new release. On the 25th anniversary of Aarktica's most popular work, ‘Solace In Sleep’, this artist now reimagines his first ever debut with a faithful remaster. From the opening track, everything immediately feels hauntingly resonant, a drawn-out tone washing over you like the fog rolling over the horizon one morning. It’s sombre and yet peaceful, a moment where the world can’t touch it, you’re isolated and it feels like a relief. This note is built upon with further layers and distant, echoey guitar twangs, continuing to progressively evolve the longer you listen. Continuing into further songs, Aarktica slowly fades in and out of this elongated note into hazy guitar plucks that create a gorgeous dreamy palette of reverie to unwind within. Soft beats grow the sound even more, a gentle thudding that encapsulates you like you’re lost in the world for yourself. Some songs even dare to stand out with fuzziness and distortion like the static on a television and a bottled-up collection of wind itself, while others feel like ringing out bell chimes of somewhere lost in time. All of it is wholeheartedly resonant, an experience that’ll wrap you up and leave you feeling a part of nature and the world at its rawest.

Chris Quesnel - Tarantino

The multi-talented artist Chris Quesnel isn’t able to just write brilliant songs, but equally as capable singing, mixing and mastering them too, making his releases feel that bit more carefully planned out to his visions. Inspired by artists like Knox that isn’t afraid to create his own path, Chris just as much strives to do the same, and his newest single is an embodiment of that ability to keep things fresh. Just like the movies he sings about, Chris’ newest single ‘Tarantino’ captures the essence of falling in love with a stranger and experiencing an instant connection, feeling like things are just fated. That easy love and feel-good energy shines instantly through the bright, vibrant soundscape, beaming your way with luscious electric guitar strums, thumping drums and electrifying vocals. The punchy spoken-sung delivery of every line makes them instantly memorable, a soft electronic effect layered through them for a bit of a filtered and fun edge. Playful lyrics set the tone too, openly admitting ‘I’ll be waiting for you on Saturday night, we’ve never met but I’m feeling your vibe’, a positive perspective for a fresh new romance. As the chorus bursts out even further with dance-along guitar, drum beats and pushed vocals in a haunting higher range, Chris really embodies that upbeat infectious summer energy that’s impossible not to fall in love with - or while listening to. The bridge pairs things down for a moment of intimacy, stripping down the sound for just a moment with Chris and rich slow guitar strums, admitting ‘just you and I… and girl you look so fine.’ If you’re looking for a joyful anthem perfect for sunny days and new loves, Chris has you covered with ‘Tarantino.’

Indoor Friends - Fired Up

Indoor Friends first debuted in 2022, embodying the sonic spirit of early 2000s pop punk for something nostalgic and catchy all in one. Brought together through every conceivable social fabric like longtime friends, coworkers and dating apps, this band are quite the patchwork of what it means to be human, just one bond or platform away from meeting someone that could change our lives. Their latest single ‘Fired Up’ is a new anthem of resilience and defiance, instantly plowing through a blaring electric guitar, thunderous drums and rich bass twangs, setting the scene for a boldly charged track. As the verse pairs things back a little, thumping beats take the lead with a quick, heart-racing pacing and backing guitar still simmering in the background. The vocals are the true centrepiece, a spoken-sung angsty performance that’s rooted in the young adult experience of feeling lost and trying to figure it all out: ‘clinging to teenage dreams… overwhelmed and somehow numb… more afraid of what’s to come.’ The chorus is a testament to finding self-worth though, admitting ‘I’m ready for it, you can’t stop me’ while large drums, gritty electric guitar and powering vocals set the scene for such a grand shift in perspective. Capturing the sense of youthful invincibility and the unshakable belief that no setback can truly defeat you, the group have written a track that’s raw and unafraid to tackle the fears and anxieties that come at such an age, while still feeling strong and powerful in overcoming anything. As it contrasts between lines like ‘found who my real friends are, watch the whole world fall apart… never thought I’d make it this far’, Indoor Friends seek to connect with those who might be feeling disconnected and unsure, building a platform that makes them feel seen throughout the turmoils of their teenage years.

Leepeck - Speed Of Light

The Warsaw based singer-songwriter Leepeck finds inspiration in the folk and country genres, creating music that feels more like a living, breathing experience that captures humanity at its rawest. With a unique layering of sounds and resonant approach, everything he does leaves him standing out from the crowds, and his newest single ‘Speed Of Light’ is no exception to that. From pressing play, the track’s warmth is unprecedented, weaving its way into your soul with resounding booms, soft acoustic guitar and a dreamy backing electric guitar riff. It feels intimate but safe, a respite from the world when it feels too chaotic to bear. Leepeck’s vocals are a welcome mix to it all as the verse gorgeously opens, with such a rich, haunting performance that blends perfectly into the carefully constructed assortment of instruments. Bright piano keys leap in too, a concoction that’s always ebbing and flowing, hoping to leave you lingering on notes and feelings that needn’t even be spoken. Shaken percussion is yet another piece in this tapestry of noise, delicate instruments all pinning together one heartfelt experience. As the chorus beams with beautiful female backing vocals to add a whimsical resonance to each line, ‘Speed Of Light’ really engrains itself as a dreamy summer anthem for those nights you’ll never forget, caught in the setting sun’s rays and fresh breeze. Recorded live in a mountain cabin, this track among the rest of his upcoming album reflects the simplicity and authenticity of music creation, feeling like a slice of Leepeck’s heart and soul laid bare for the taking.

Blue Bayou - Hide & Seek

Fresh off their 2025 Valentine’s tour, the chamber pop band Blue Bayou are back with a second single that’s ready to deliver. Through two years of sold out shows, this five-piece are now showcasing just how much their brilliant performances can translate into recorded works of art - and what they’ve created in ‘Hide & Seek’ goes above and beyond. There’s something instantly warm and grounding about it, like a lost slice of nature you’re uncovering through the trees, a respite that’s safe and warm. With a clicking beat, the humming of crickets, looping groovy electric guitar and drawn-out keyboard notes, the track is opened with a sense of brightness and ethereality, drawing you in for a rest from a world of chaos. That only continues to pick up with haunting backing vocals and an even more in-your-face guitar riff, setting the stage for a more eclectic performance that their singer absolutely nails. With charismatic, almost theatrically delivered lines, he beams with a delightful spoken sung edge that leaves you hanging onto every word. As a playful, and equally loving, exercise in marrying unlikely images, the group are unafraid to write something that stands out in a bold new way. Everything about it is delightful, always ebbing and flowing with an evolution you can’t stop listening to, keeping you on your toes and daring you to want more. If you thought it stopped there, the bridge is dazzling, mixing in twinkling tones and a colourful electric guitar riff, always

Give a listen to these songs and more in our New Music Friday playlist this week, or see our Roundup Recap playlist for every song previously featured in one of our monthly roundups that you might have missed!

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

// Some of this coverage was supported and created via Musosoup and Groover, #SustainableCurator.

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Deaf Echo share a resounding new emotional ballad titled ‘Batman’, exploring self-loathing and letting a lover go

Los Angeles-based indie-rock duo Deaf Echo have been on the music scene since 2021, fusing the pair’s wide range of influences with their front man’s abstract lyricism. Falling between melancholic indie-pop songs to upbeat dance tunes, you never quite know where you’re going to land when they share a new single — and that makes it all the more delightful. Their newest single is another out-of-the-box tune titled ‘Batman’, daring to dig deeper than most.

Things are resounding and a little mytserious from the openings of ‘Batman’, a loose electric guitar riff filling the space with an echoey resonance behind every string. It’s completely haunting from the get-go, mirroring the emotional ballad of lyricism with a sound just as devastatingly raw. The verse picks up with just Amir’s vocals to match, soft and yet rich, drawing out every word in a captivating higher range. It’s intentionally simple, pushing the focus on the narrative beyond all else, and yet still warmly entangling you inside of a sound that’s aching from its bones. The chorus takes its time to commence, sitting after the opening verses with a looping segment that’s hair-raising, built-up with lingering piano keys, drawn-out synth and vocals at their most emotional yet.

Exploring the challenges of pushing a loved one away because you feel you’re holding them back, ‘Batman’ bears its heart as a self-critical piece that breaks its own heart. Lines like ‘I choose to be without the one I couldn’t lose, for you’ embody the thoughts that they’re letting them go for their own good, believing they deserve better despite the pain it causes them to do so. Their significance isn’t understated either, admitting ‘so I’ll be on my own, if you’re not the one I hold’, letting go of this once in a lifetime love. The title itself ties the song to the popular protagonist Batman, connecting to the character’s emotional isolation and protective self-sacrifice the character often returns back to. Such deep internal conflict is mirrored within the franchise too, wanting connection, but feeling unworthy of it. Everything about it is pained and yet beautiful to listen to all the same, seeing love at its most selfless.

Keep listening to ‘Batman’ for yourself here, you’re sure to find the song resonating no matter your own story.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Angel Murray’s dreamy new dark-pop single ‘Dreamt You’ twists between ethereal layers while exploring the versions of others we create in our minds

Rising alternative-pop artist Angel Murray has been hailing out of London with her own gorgeously unique sound for a little over a year now. Constantly blurring the lines and incorporating deep introspection within her catchy tunes, this upcomer is a definitive one to watch. Recently seeking to find her place more within the dark-pop space, Angel now shares her newest single ‘Dreamt You’, an atmospheric piece that feels reminiscent of Billie Eilish and yet completely her own all at once.

‘Dreamt You' is the kind of musical release that’s more than simply a song, it’s a mirror of its narrative, weaving instrumental nods to the darker themes it embodies. Between its hypnotic dark-pop edges, Angel tackles obsession, fantasy, and how our minds spiral over the versions of people we create. From the get-go, it’s immediately a little uneasy, an untraditional drum beat and what feel like slightly distorted bass twangs, a mix that sets the tone to be one of more obscurity. It only continues to get more winding from there on out, a concoction of layers always weaving between one another. From a loose intermittent guitar riff to haunting backing vocals and spacey synth notes, ‘Dreamt You' is intentionally complex, capturing that experience of a whirring mind that cannot be put to rest, hyper-fixating on the perfect versions of people that exist only inside our minds. Angel’s vocals are a dreamy compliment to it all, with soft higher-ranged tones that dance between the scattered sounds, a constant force that holds things together while everything else feels like it’s burning up around her.

Lyrically, ‘Dreamt You’ plays with the idea of being both the dreamer and the dreamt, being so consumed by longing that it seeps into your subconscious, while also acknowledging others do the same for you too. This idealised fantasy humans create for one another is all-too common, and Angel has so whimsically created a piece of art that delivers that experience. The opening line toys with these themes, singing ‘I’m made for you’, an infatuated belief that they’re compatible based upon untrue versions of others.

Keep listening to ‘Dreamt You’ for yourself here, you won’t regret listening to what Angel has on offer.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Zehn Studio

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Ava Valianti shares warm dream-pop single ‘Distant’, embodying the bittersweet nature of drifting from childhood friends

Ava Valianti may be just 15, but you’d never know it if you weren’t told. Every one of her musical releases carries with it a profoundness that goes far beyond her years, with songwriting and instrumentation akin to that of Phoebe Bridgers or Lucy Kaplansky, while still feeling defiantly her own in the genre. Finding her footing at such an early age, there’s no way to tell just how far she’s set to go, but her newest single ‘Distant’ is yet another reminder that she has the talent to already feel like an artist at the top of her game.

Opened by softly strummed acoustic guitar, ‘Distant’ from the get-go feels pretty intimate, with just Ava and her guitar humming through your ears with both warmth and tenderness. Slowly but surely it picks up though, with ambient drawn-out synth whirs and percussion that eases in, paving the way for groovy bass twangs to press things along, a catchiness entwined into a song that’s deeply personal. Everything about it is enchantingly bittersweet, embodying heartfelt memories as well as the pain of moving forward, capturing that universal coming-of-age moment when life moves on before you’ve even had a chance to adjust to what you’ve lost: ‘thinking bout how nice life was at ages 8 to 9.’ This continues into more admissions like ‘we see each other on the weekends sometimes… you say you’re gonna be real busy’, a friendship formed in youth that’s slowly slipping away into nothingness, catching up with forced meetings as they drift further and further apart.

The pre-chorus dares to strip back from Ava’s peppy bustling sound with something more haunting, a spotlight onto her words that you just can’t ignore no matter how much you try to dance along. With sensitive lines accompanied only by reverberant piano keys, you can’t help but feel the longing trapped between the facade that it’s okay everything is changing. It’s not long before it’s back to a colourful mix of instrumentation though, getting you out of your head while singing ‘it feels distant, you feel distant’, a respite amongst the chaos. Funky synthetic sounds, guitar, drums and more set up the backing for a fleshed-out moment of noise that you’ll have trapped in your head for days after listening.

Keep listening to ‘Distant’ for yourself here, connecting to anyone who’s ever found themselves floating away from those once cherished childhood friends - or even people later in life.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Ashley Plante Photography

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[existentialmagazine]

Review: SANSOM’s blaring new alt-rock single ‘Call Me’ embodies the push and pull of feeling stuck within a toxic relationship

The Brighton-based talent SANSOM has quite the catalogue of music behind him, first debuting in 2018 and slowly but surely making a name for himself that sticks. Every new release shows growth, an evolution through genres and sounds before finding his footing at his most confident yet. With a performance lined up at the Alternative Great Escape and a growing audience of over 5,000 monthly Spotify listeners, this upcoming act is one you don’t want to miss out on - and his newest single ‘Call Me’ shows off why.

Opened by a ringing phone line and beeping dial tone, ‘Call Me’ instantly feels playfully energetic, wasting no time in setting the scene and picking up momentum. Pressing electric guitar blares through the sound while massive-feeling drums consume the soundscape, pushing things along with a sense of urgency. SAMSON’s vocals match the sound with a low-toned spoken-sung delivery, quickly spewing such chant-along lines you won’t be able to get out of your mind for a long time to come. The lyrics are pained but witty, singing ‘did you think of me when you were biting his lip, did I cross your mind when you were with him?’, freeing himself of bottled-up resentment for a lover undeserving of his time. Submerging further into a deep pre-chorus moment, ‘Call Me’ lulls into a moment of building frustrations at their calm before the storm, fronted by booming bass twangs and drum kicks. Everything about the sound is mesmerising, constantly twisting and keeping you on your toes as it mirrors the lyricism at hand: ‘I’ve been drinking all day… trying to get you out of my mind.’ SANSOM is ready to burst, breaking away from this moment of avoidance for one hell of a chorus.

As the sound hurtles to the loudest it’s ever been, SANSOM throws gnarly electric guitar strums, darkened bass and frenzied drums right your way for a moment of infectious dominance. It’s furious and bold, an encapsulation of mixed feelings between heartbreak, longing and continued connection within a toxic relationship. The first chorus is short but sweet, singing just ‘can you call me back, cause I’m burning up inside’ as he struggles to keep it together. Further choruses build further, adding lines like ‘I keep crawling back to be taken for a ride, you got me wrapped around your little finger’, accepting that things are unhealthy while the sound keeps burning at its fuse. If you’re after a high-energy, adrenaline pumping anthem, ‘Call Me’ should be your next listen.

Keep listening to ‘Call Me’ for yourself here, you won’t regret taking a chance on this catchy but meaningful tune.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.