Lincoln, NE Record Store Responds to Backlash After Destroying Unwanted Copies of Ye's 'Bully'
First Day Vinyl, a Lincoln, NE record store, posted a video destroying unsolicited copies of Ye’s new album *Bully* that were falsely labeled as Record Store Day exclusives. The shipment came from gamma., a digital‑distribution firm that sent green‑vinyl pressings without store consent. After a week of backlash, the store removed the video and issued an apology, acknowledging the controversy surrounding Ye’s recent antisemitic remarks. Other independent retailers have also reported receiving the same unsolicited copies and are choosing either to donate them or refuse sales.
🎧Approved: Basht.
Irish indie rock duo Basht. have dropped their new single “Perfume,” a moody track that builds from quiet, atmospheric verses to a cathartic crescendo. Produced by veteran Ali Chant—who has worked with Dry Cleaning, Perfume Genius, and PJ Harvey—the song tackles...
Mixtape: The Summer Kind
The Summer Kind – Sunshine Pop 25 Hits is a newly released compilation that fuses 1960s psych‑pop vibes with contemporary power‑pop and garage‑pop sounds. Featuring established indie acts like The Lemon Twigs and Drugdealer alongside fresh faces such as Ground...
Natalie Imbruglia Announces New Album Algorithm and Shares Single Upside Down
Natalie Imbruglia announced her new album *Algorithm*, slated for release on 4 September 2026, marking her first full‑length record in five years. The project features the lead single *Upside Down*, which showcases bright synths and driving percussion. Imbruglia co‑wrote and co‑produced every...
Premiere: Cato Canari Shares New Single “Cashing In”
Norwegian electronic producer Cato Canari, now based in Tokyo, is releasing his new house single “Cashing In” on May 1, 2026, premiering through Under the Radar. The track features bright, sun‑kissed synth pads, a propulsive 128 bpm beat, and a standout glitch‑derived vocal...
A Green ✅ for Real Artists: Spotify Launches New Verification System
Spotify has launched a "Verified by Spotify" badge, a green check that signals an artist’s profile belongs to a real, active creator. At rollout, more than 99% of artists that listeners actively search for will display the badge, while AI‑generated...
Crying Loser - The Ick: I’m Glad This Skronky No Wave Album From Cork Exists
Crying Loser, a Cork‑based experimental trio, released their debut album The Ick on April 24 via Trapped Animal Records’ new imprint We Go to 11. The record captures the band’s noisy basement improvisations, blending skronky guitars, bass clarinet, marimba and chaotic...
The Losers' History of The Black Keys
The author revisits his 2013 "Winners' History of Rock ’n’ Roll" series, focusing on the Black Keys, a band once hailed as a rare mainstream‑rock success in the streaming era. He contrasts the duo’s platinum‑selling peak—*Brothers* (2010) and *El Camino* (2011)—with their...
New Irish Songs You Should Hear: Goldbug, AE MAK, Leon Stax Equation, Holly Munro, Sloucho & More
An eclectic roundup of the latest Irish releases showcases a wave of independent artists pushing genre boundaries. Highlights include Goldbug’s art‑rock single “Blink,” Sloucho’s emo‑digi‑pop “All Night,” Ae Mak’s stripped‑down debut album, and Blue Niall’s venue‑focused hip‑hop anthem. Many tracks are tied...
Shambala Festival Unveils Major 2026 Line-Up with 80+ New Acts and CERN Takeover
Shambala Festival announced its 2026 program, adding more than 80 new acts across electronic, folk, experimental and global genres. The lineup features artists such as Paranoid London, Luke Vibert, K‑Lone and Om Unit, while existing favorites like The Enchanted Woods...
Daisy Dullboy Prep New LP + Release Show on (5/1)
Austin‑based songwriter Blake Thompson’s project Daisy Dullboy releases its new LP “Lonesome for Home.” The album blends solemn country roots with lively folk textures, thanks to contributions from friends including ATH Records’ David Israel. The record streams on Bandcamp, and...
Prism Shores
Montreal indie outfit Prism Shores released their sophomore album Softest Attack, a twelve‑track record that fuses 90s shoegaze fuzz with classic power‑pop melodies. The band draws on influences ranging from Teenage Fanclub to The Clean, delivering jangly guitars, feedback‑laden hooks,...
Vemberlain Drop New 7″
Hidden Bay Records, an Austin‑based micro‑label, has issued a new 7‑inch vinyl from French indie band Vemberlain. The record features an A‑side that channels a pop‑infused Guided by Voices sound and a B‑side with an upbeat indie‑pop bounce. Critics compare Vemberlain’s jangly...
15 Timeless Tracks From 1968
The article spotlights 15 iconic songs released in 1968, a year marked by political upheaval and cultural change. It details how tracks like Otis Redding’s posthumous hit “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” Jimi Hendrix’s transformative cover of “All...
Silver Firs Release Linen and Tears
Silver Firs has dropped their newest single, “Linen and Tears,” a track that feels like a lullaby for children yet carries a full‑band indie pop energy. The song combines a propulsive rhythm section with lightly jangling guitars and synths, creating...
New Video From Lee Scratch Perry and Mouse on Mars
Legendary dub pioneer Lee "Scratch" Perry teams up with German electronic duo Mouse on Mars for a new EP titled "Spatial, No Problem." Recorded in Berlin, the project blends Perry's vocal manipulations with Mouse on Mars' experimental synth textures. The...
Mopar Stars Announce Official Researchers of the NJ Devil
Philadelphia indie rockers Mopar Stars have joined K Records/Perennial Death and announced their new LP, Official Researchers of the NJ Devil, slated for release on July 31. The album channels 1990s underground alternative guitar aggression while embracing pop‑song structures and sugary...
Krooked Kings Reflect on the “What Ifs” Of Existence: An Interview on In Another Life
Utah‑based indie rock band Krooked Kings released their fifth album, “In Another Life,” through the SoundOn platform last month. The record delves into “what‑if” scenarios, using personal experiences with drugs, sex, and anxiety to craft vulnerable, therapy‑like songwriting. Band members...
Sexyy Red - Yo Favorite Trappa Favorite Rappa
Sexyy Red’s new album “Yo Favorite Trappa Favorite Rappa” arrives as a raw, mixtape‑style project that falls short of her breakout 2023 record “Hood Hottest Princess.” The 17‑track release features thin production, sparse guest appearances and a noticeably subdued vocal...
Johnny’s Dreamworld
Modern Woman’s debut album Johnny’s Dreamworld expands the band’s post‑punk foundation with bold, experimental arrangements. Frontwoman Sophie Harris showcases a chameleon‑like vocal range, drawing comparisons to Siouxsie Sioux, Kate Bush, and Patti Smith. The record moves beyond the duo’s earlier EP and...
Teyana Taylor Wore Ashi Studio Couture To The 2026 Billboard Women In Music
Teyana Taylor took the stage at the 2026 Billboard Women in Music ceremony, performing "Bed of Roses" with Wale and accepting the Visionary Award from Dionne Warwick. She arrived in Ashi Studio’s Spring 2026 couture, a hand‑painted ivory corset paired...
DIVIL - Dublin Trio of Old Friends Process Hard Times on Debut Single 'Thanks A Million'
Irish trio DIVIL, composed of childhood friends Danny Dempsey McMahon, Jocelyn Vance and Conor Cusack, reconvened amid personal hardship and released their debut single “Thanks A Million.” The track, written as a response to depression and loss, frames friendship as a...
Kavyesh Kaviraj Wears His Influences on His Sleeve – And Reminds Us of Our Common Humanity
Kavyesh Kaviraj, an immigrant composer raised in Oman, fuses Carnatic, Hindustani, jazz, and Western classical music into a distinctive style. After studying jazz at Columbia College Chicago and Berklee, he joined the faculty of Walker|West Music Academy in St. Paul,...
Dylan John Thomas Returns with Sun-Soaked New Anthem “Got You On My Mind”
Dylan John Thomas has released his new single “Got You On My Mind” through Believe Music, marking a return to the spotlight after a rapid rise from DIY gigs to arena headlining. The track fuses bright banjo fingerpicking with brass,...
Fred Again..'s 108-Hour Continuous USB002 Tour Mix Speaks to His Community Connector Status
British producer Fred again.. released a 108‑hour continuous mix titled USB002 EVERY SHOW 108 HOURS, stitching together every performance from his Oct 2025‑Feb 2026 USB002 tour. The marathon recording documents 21 shows and features a who‑who of collaborators, from underground techno acts...
London Duo Cusk Unveil Haunting Debut Single “Blu Tac Piano”
London duo Cusk released their debut single “Blu Tac Piano” on The Bird label, marking a key milestone after two years of building a reputation on the city’s alternative circuit. The track showcases a tension‑filled blend of ethereal vocals, melodic...
Appleblim – Neolithic Neon
Appleblim, co‑founder of the seminal Bristol label Skull Disco, has released his new LP *Neolithic Neon* on Sneaker Social Club. The album defies easy categorisation, weaving acid‑tinged cuts, meditative dubstep, IDM‑flavoured chill, and old‑school jungle into a cohesive whole. Tracks like...
Aaron Shaw
Aaron Shaw, a Los Angeles‑based saxophonist and composer, released his debut solo LP "And So It Is" on Leaving Records in February 2024, while his group Black Nile unveiled the new album "Indigo Garden" this month. Shaw’s musical foundation was...
Jeremy Sassoon at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho
Jeremy Sassoon’s live launch at Pizza Express Jazz Club featured two sold‑out shows introducing his first album in eight years, “Older and Wiser.” The record, reviewed by UKJazz News, includes a nine‑track narrative that maps key life stages, and its...
Joel Lyssarides – ‘Late on Earth’
Swedish pianist Joel Lyssarides, whose catalog has surpassed 100 million streams, released the piano‑trio album “Late on Earth” on 24 April 2026. Recorded over four years with bassist Niklas Fernqvist and drummer Rasmus Blixt, the twelve‑track set blends European folk motifs, cinematic textures...
Juli Deák – Brisk
Polish‑Hungarian flautist Juli Deák releases *Brisk*, recorded in a single take at Budapest’s Church of the Immaculate Conception. The album pushes the flute’s limits with circular breathing, amplified finger taps and hidden breath sounds, creating brassy blasts and delicate, ballerina‑like...
Ava Valianti – “The Conversation”
Ava Valianti, a 16‑year‑old singer‑songwriter from Newbury, Massachusetts, has dropped a new single titled “The Conversation.” The track melds alt‑folk and pop sensibilities, delivering a poignant vocal performance about caring for someone while recognizing they’re on different emotional paths. It...
Cherub Dream Records Release ‘Lucky Three’ Split EP
Cherub Dream Records, an independent label based in the San Francisco Bay Area, has launched the split EP *Lucky Three*, featuring three local acts—Natasha Sandworms, Christina’s Trip, and Mox. The release blends garage‑rock, indie‑pop, and dreamy power‑pop, offering a concise...
Big Other – “Elephant”
Manchester‑based post‑punk band Big Other has dropped their new single “Elephant” on independent label Alphaville Records. The track delivers a sharp, angular soundscape with tight guitars, pounding drums and a hypnotic vocal style. Critics liken the vibe to a blend...
Chris Adkins Releases ‘Leaving It Worse Than You Found It’
Seattle‑based indie musician Chris Adkins has released a new EP titled *Leaving It Worse Than You Found It*. The record features two standout singles, “Altoid” and “Vancouver,” which fuse early‑Mac DeMarco jangliness, Car Seat Headrest energy, and early‑90s slacker rock...
Noise Factory United – ‘Visions From the Frontier’ EP
Noise Factory United, the UK post‑punk/psych act, has issued its debut EP “Visions from the frontier.” The five‑track record weaves nostalgic synths, fuzzy guitars and literary allusions, opening with the synth‑driven “The Quickest Blade in the West” and closing with...
Martin Kuiper – “Low On Love”
Dutch indie‑rock artist Martin Kuiper released the single “Low On Love” ahead of his forthcoming album Prison Of Modesty. The track, originally written in Groningen decades ago, pairs a 1998 time‑capsule version with modern, soaring rock production and explores depression...
Sawtooth Witch – ‘The Chariot’
Sawtooth Witch, a Minneapolis duo of guitarist Pat “Doc” Dougherty and fiddler Haley Fleming, released their debut album “The Chariot” on April 29, 2026. The record fuses hill‑country blues, cosmic country, and folk‑rock while delivering lyrical commentary on the unfulfilled...
Energy Whores – “Fade To Gray”
New York‑based project Energy Whores, led by classically trained pianist Carrie Schoenfeld, has released the single “Fade To Gray,” introducing Mexican‑born producer DJ Grant (NYC) as a core member. The track fuses dark, hypnotic grooves with cinematic songwriting, drawing comparisons...
DownTown Mystic – ‘On E Street Remix’
DownTown Mystic, the alter ego of Robert Allen, has issued the “On E Street Remix” EP, enlisting the legendary E Street Band rhythm section—drummer Max Weinberg and bassist Garry Tallent. The six‑track collection leans heavily on analog‑driven, jangly guitars and a...
AEvina – “Don’t Wannabe a Wannabe”
Jersey City artist Ævina releases her self‑produced debut dance‑electronic single “don’t wannabe a wannabe,” marking a pivot from bedroom pop to hyper‑pop‑infused club music. The track blends tropical marimba tones, gritty bass, and layered vocal samples to turn impostor syndrome...
Boilermen – ‘A 1000 Words on Sound’
Leicester‑based trio Boilermen released their debut full‑length, *A 1000 Words on Sound*, on April 29, 2026. The album fuses art‑punk ferocity with post‑punk wit, delivering concise, punchy tracks that echo Wire, The Jam and The Stone Roses. Songs span from 48‑second bursts to an eight‑minute atmospheric...
Karen Salicath Jamali – “Seeds of God”
Karen Salicath Jamali releases "Seeds of God," her debut single as vocalist and guitarist. Inspired by a near‑death experience, the folk‑acoustic track explores humanity as part of a greater consciousness. Produced with minimal instrumentation and mixed by Austin Leeds, the...
Blonde Goth – “Specter of Circumstance”
Blonde Goth, the solo project of musician Nicky, has dropped the single “Specter of Circumstance.” The track, described as a dream‑born homage to 1990s alt‑rock, blends heavy guitar riffs with a slacker‑anthem vibe reminiscent of The Smashing Pumpkins. Nicky’s liner notes...
Henry Taylour – “A Beautiful Life”
British folk singer‑songwriter Henry Taylour, known for his 2023 album *A Relentless Pursuit Of Happiness*, has dropped a new single titled “A Beautiful Life.” The track pairs his tender vocal style with cinematic strings and polished production, creating a timeless...
Francesco Pellegrino ~ Wartime Monk
Francesco Pellegrino’s new album *Wartime Monk* translates the pressures of contemporary conflict into a physically embodied sound world. The work is performed live using self‑built gesture controllers that let the body sculpt pitch, density and form in real time, with...
Sentomea – Wonderment
Dutch producer Sentomea resurfaces with the "Wonderment" EP, his first release since the 2017 debut "Preface." The six‑track record straddles house and techno while injecting light, chime‑like melodies and modular‑rig precision. The latter two cuts, "To Spiral" and "Non-Interference," abandon...
Charbel Haber – May a Soft Sun Bless Your Sky While You Wait for the Inevitable
Lebanese guitarist and ambient composer Charbel Haber released his new LP "May a soft sun bless your sky while you wait for the inevitable," recorded in Paris. The album unfolds slowly, layering crystalline drones and melodic textures that evoke a...
Preview: Miles Kane Returns to NYC
Miles Kane, long‑time collaborator with The Last Shadow Puppets, is set to make his first solo U.S. appearances as the opening act for The Black Keys. The shows will take place at Brooklyn’s Paramount on May 11‑12 and at the Capitol...
‘Rachmaninoff Said My Sound Had the Wrong Colour’
Centenarian pianist Ruth Slenczynska, the last living pupil of Sergei Rachmaninoff, died at 101, closing a direct link to the composer’s teaching legacy. In a newly published interview, she recalled Rachmaninoff’s core lesson that every piano note must possess its own colour...