September Round Up

Amelie Lucille – Polar

At just a teenager, New York’s Amelie Lucille demonstrates a remarkable depth of emotion on her beautifully introspective indie pop single ‘Polar’. Her voice, rich and mature beyond her years, carries a quiet strength that immediately demands attention. The song unfolds through delicate strings and subtle guitar play, creating a soundscape that feels both intimate and cinematic. A student at the renowned LaGuardia High School, Lucille channels the influences of artists like Etta James, Björk, Norah Jones, and The Beatles into something distinctly her own.

Bonus Room – Riot Gear

Portland’s Bonus Room aren’t just making noise, they’re bottling chaos, shaking it up, and pouring it out with a grin on ‘Riot Gear’. The opening track from their upcoming EP ‘Bunk’ transports us to 2020 Portland, protest chants and all, before exploding into a swaggering mash of post-punk, psych-rock, and danceable doom. It’s equal parts political statement and basement jam, buzzing with tension and a playful edge. Snarling vocals, distorted riffs, and rubbery basslines make for a grunge-driven musical protest!

Black Budget – Grump

Black Budget are back, and they’ve clearly woken up on the wrong side of the amp. ‘Grump’ is nearly three minutes of pure, glorious fury including snarling vocals, a stomping bassline, and grinding guitar lines with the perfect mix of punk spite and stoner swagger. It’s chaotic, cathartic, and completely unfiltered, the sound of a band tearing down the walls just to see what’s left standing. Without polish and pleasantries the band bring tension, grit, and a whole lot of volume on ‘Grump’!

Elucid Ether – Signal Holiday

Sydney’s Elucid Ether, the solo project of Justin Dellicastelli, offers a dreamy, off-kilter escape from the noise. The track moves with lush synths, woozy melodies, and a gentle sense of dissonance that feels both comforting and unnerving, like finding beauty in the mundane. Dellicastelli’s talent for layering sounds is magnetic, every detail, from the featherlight percussion to the warped vocal echoes, feels handcrafted and deeply personal. It’s pop music seen through a prism: shimmery, fractured, and full of feeling.

FloodHounds – Black & Blue

‘Black & Blue’ is a snarling, fuzz-soaked indie-punk banger that bites back at every emotional sucker punch life throws at us. Jack Flynn’s strong vocals, heavy drums, and growling basslines make for a delicious sound that floors, spits, and charges. Recorded at The Magic Garden Studio with Gavin Monaghan and Liam Radburn (Kid Kapichi, The Blinders), the track captures that tension between collapse and resilience, bruised but unbroken. FloodHounds thrive in that space of rawness, restlessness, and there where they’re always ready to strike again.

Ben Francis – Maybe

Rising singer-songwriter Ben Francis wears his heart on his sleeve with ‘Maybe’, a soaring, emotionally charged ballad that cuts straight to the core. Written for anyone who’s ever been treated like an option instead of a priority, it captures that quiet ache of waiting for love that never quite arrives. Francis’ vocals are breath-taking, they are powerful yet vulnerable, each line trembling with sincerity. When he sings “Maybe means that you are not the one”, it’s the kind of lyric that stops you in your tracks. The production swells around him in cinematic waves, balancing tenderness and intensity in equal measure.

Conleth – Lily

Conleth’s ‘Lily’ is a stunning slice of alternative folk-pop that feels both intimate and cinematic. Inspired by voicenotes and messages left behind, it captures the bittersweet feeling of leaving home in search of something new and the love that lingers in the space between. Gently soaring melodies intertwine with Conleth’s emotive vocals, creating a sound that’s heartfelt and effortlessly moving. ‘Lily’ feels like a letter to parents, a soft reassurance that distance doesn’t dull affection. It’s a song for anyone packing up their life and stepping into the unknown, a reminder that even as we move forward, our roots remain.

LEO – Warm

LEO’s ‘Warm’ is a soul-soaked folk-rock gem that perfectly captures the hazy nostalgia of late summer. Written from her quiet seaside life in Normandy, it feels like a postcard from the coast. ‘Warm’ balances raw emotion with a timeless sense of melody, drawing inspiration from Motown soul and Britpop swagger. LEO’s vocals radiate authenticity, her delivery both tender and resolute, wrapping listeners in the comforting glow of the song’s title. There’s no pretence here, just honest, heartfelt song writing from an artist who’s truly living her craft.

ILIRA – Deer in Headlights

ILIRA’s latest single ‘Deer in Headlights’ is a haunting and cathartic pop anthem that lays bare the suffocating cycle of trauma bonding. With razor-sharp lyricism and emotionally charged vocals, ILIRA captures the paralysis of being trapped in a toxic relationship. The title perfectly mirrors the song’s core; that frozen, breathless moment of shock when reality hits too hard to face. Shimmering synths and pulsing beats contrast beautifully with the song’s dark undertones, creating a cinematic tension that feels both fragile and fierce.

Greg Wheeler And The Poly Mall Cops – Slimephone (You Can’t Hide)

Greg Wheeler And The Poly Mall Cops crash back onto the scene with ‘Slimephone (You Can’t Hide)’, a fuzz-drenched, high-voltage blast of garage-punk that discusses our toxic love affair with technology. Equal parts chaotic and razor-sharp, the Des Moines trio channel vintage punk grit into a modern-day warning shot. Greg Wheeler’s sharp vocals and searing guitar riffs collide with Jill Erin McLain’s driving basslines and Hutch’s relentless drums to create a sound that’s urgent, infectious, and gloriously unhinged.

Lydia Luce – Ephemeral ft. Luke Sital-Singh

Lydia Luce’s collaboration with Luke Sital-Singh is a tender, soul-stirring moment of connection, a meeting of two voices that sound as though they were always meant to intertwine. Rooted in Luce’s signature blend of folk intimacy and orchestral grace, the track feels like a deep breath; calm, reflective, and quietly powerful. Her strings shimmer beneath Sital-Singh’s warm, wistful tone, creating an atmosphere that’s both grounding and transcendent. As with her latest album ‘Mammoth’, Luce channels vulnerability into something luminous exploring healing, love, and the delicate threads that tie us to the world around us.

The Zac Schulze Gang – Running Dry

The Zac Schulze Gang return in roaring form with ‘Running Dry’, a ferocious shot of pub rock grit fused with a modern, hardcore edge. Fresh from tearing up stages across the UK and scooping major awards, the trio channel their live firepower into three minutes of pure, unapologetic energy. It’s the explosive highlight from their debut album ‘Straight To It’. With snarling guitars, relentless rhythm, and Zac’s raw, soulful vocals, ‘Running Dry’ feels both timeless and urgent. Equal parts swagger and sincerity, it’s proof that The Zac Schulze Gang aren’t just keeping rock alive — they’re setting it ablaze for a new generation.