Welcome to “This Week’s Sonic Safari,” where we will be taking you on a thrilling adventure through the vibrant world of independent music. We’ll wander across beautiful lush soundscapes in this sonic journey, looking for hidden gems and digging up musical treasures created by brilliant musicians from all around the world. Our journey promises to be an intriguing investigation of originality and invention, from the busy streets of indie music to the peaceful woods of acoustic folk.
So secure your seat in, set your headphones, and come along with us as we embark on a musical exploration of the highest calibre, ready to experience the amazing variety of this week’s best and newest songs.
The Past Lives – All Night
The Past Lives once again bring it home with their newest single, “All Night.” From the very first note, one is just whisked into a wave with an undercurrent between nostalgia and the modern vibrancy of today. From the bouncing bass grooves that leave you with an uncanny insistence, the song is hard to deny, drawing you to the dance floor before you even know what hit you. The song tugs at the retro while keeping an edge that sings of now—feels timeless and both new and old at the same time. “All Night” most definitely exudes a charm that shines the light on The Past Lives’ talent for crafting music that feels like an instant classic.
Coming out of Austin, the Past Lives have taken over stages with an electric personality, and this new single is no different. “All Night” is off their EP, “Purple Dreams,” trying to bottle up the raw, dynamic energy of those shows. According to the Austin Chronicle, “Sweat, sex, rock & roll: a formula that, when done right, never fails. The Past Lives do it to perfection.” Frontman Quentin Arispe leads the charge with a vocal delivery that’s as electrifying as it is soulful and takes the listener on a musical journey to celebrate rock & roll—with a psychedelic twist. If you’ve been a fan for a while or have just been introduced to their sound, “All Night” is one of those must-listens that will have you grooving long after the music stops.
Anna Josephine – Blue
Of unassuming beauty, Anna Josephine’s new single “Blue” sneaks into your consciousness like a quiet whisper just as you are drifting to sleep. The song is contemplative—barely smiling, flirting with glee and sorrow—holding tight to power of self-sacrifice and exhaustion that secures the bedside vigil. The mix complements it; Anna’s natural, soft vocals and her latest, raw, and vulnerable display are surely and unquestionably typical of Anna. They find their way through all the seamless retreats and gestures in ‘Blue’, adding depth and resonance.
In the same vein as her upward trajectory, Anna seamlessly blends indie-folk, chamber pop, and Americana with her signature lyricism into something both lush and emotive in its landscape. Together, ‘Blue’ is intoxicating—lush and intimate, feeling simultaneously rare and fresh, while also beautifully classic. Much like Maggie Rogers, boygenius, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lizzy McAlpine, Anna Josephine stakes her ground and leaves no stone of emotional topography unturned.
senses – No Fun
“No Fun” by senses is a bouncy and deep energiser that flips fun on its head. Stirring from a random studio moment, the song encapsulates the playful irony of finding happiness in someone who tames your wild side. Lead singer Madison Taylor’s voice soars over dark synths and punchy guitars, pushing forward an energy that feels both infectious and grounded. Nick Sampson is there, making sure those pounding drums are there, pounding in a way that’s felt anthemically. Clever and catchy, this hits on a thrill no one expects at first, meeting the person who could cool the chaos inside.
Senses’ ability to marry pop-punk with dynamic storytelling is fully displayed in the lead single and album opener, “No Fun”. This idea of a wild card coming across their opposite is always relatable, yet interesting and dynamic through any eyes of an individual who found stability where they didn’t expect it. With influences such as Paramore, Hayley Williams, Boys Like Girls, and Charlotte Sands, senses are here to take their piece of the rock scene with this dynamic debut single. Dark synths, relentless rhythms, and all things synonymous with the band are all going on with this one, but it’s the combination with the witty yet heartfelt lyrics that turn “No Fun” into a real anthemic rider, and you just won’t shake it.
Amelie Lucille – Pool
Amelie Lucille’s single, “Pool” is gorgeously styled with haunting beauty, speaking of emotional strife and inner strength. “Swim in my tears because you built the pool” perfectly gives light to the song, showing the listener the pain of being used and the struggle to get free from someone who still has that control over you. Lucille offers striking raw vulnerability but, even at 15 years of age, that just makes every word all the more hauntingly clear. It is one of those songs that delves into the painful realisation that actions speak louder than words, and upon this realisation, the journey of letting go and taking back one’s self-worth begins.
“Pool” is a strong invitation to self-freedom, showing the strength it takes to be strong and get away from mistreatment after years of taking it. A high school senior at the prestigious LaGuardia, Amelie Lucille seems to have an emotional depth in her music that surpasses her years considerably. Maybe having been inspired through legends like Etta James, Bjork, Norah Jones, and the Beatles explains why a lot of sophistication is duly channelled through her very early into her music career. The kindred spirit that her emotional narratives and soulful tunes bring forth will see her become quite a compelling new voice for fans of Lizzy McAlpine, Adrianne Lenker, and Tim Buckley.
Matt McKnzi – Thank you
“Thank You” by Matt McKnzi is a soft ending to the “Ghost Stories” album, capturing adversities that have shaped its route. On this single, McKnzi tenderly, soulfully, and honestly decrees words about personal growth from a moment of pain while daydreaming over an optimistic piano progression—where he can find beauty in his woes. This final track on his 17-track debut “Ghost Stories” is a powerful and thankful acknowledgment of trials that have formed the path and a powerful expression of the ability to convert hardship into art.
Originally from New England, Matt McKnzi is a very versatile singer-songwriter/producer who is presently diving into his take on Alternative Pop, Soul, and R&B. Influenced by Hip-Hop and Blues, McKnzi stylises not to one genre but more as a painting of a very complex emotional topic with spiritual revelations. His lyrics paint very vivid pictures of a past marred by toxic relationships and addiction, yet he skilfully put these tales across various musical styles. Fans of Billie Eilish, Khalid, and Mac Miller will appreciate McKnzi’s fresh perspective on the darker parts of the human experience, making this one enlightening and emotionally moving musical journey.
Emma Mowery – Control Freak
Emma Mowery’s new anthem, “Control Freak,” oozes subtlety in a way that broods about holding on too tightly. This song is sonically created by the breezy infectious rhythm, layers of guitar riffs, and deep bass line that creates quite an energetic but reflective ambience. Her voice easily manoeuvres through the song atop the instrumental foundation, giving way to the lyrics that narrate the turmoil of losing control through these touching lyrics. Lyrics so moving, and the harmonies from the many-layered vocals just take you to some dreamy soundscapes of intensity yet ethereal beauty.
Hailing from Dallas, Texas, she is now a Songwriting major at Belmont University in Nashville. Emma offers the gift of relatable, emotionally driven songwriting to “Control Freak.” Taking after artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Tate McRae, she seamlessly tells a story with infectious melodies woven in. This single truly shows Emma making her mark on the world of pop music as a fresh emerging artist.
Estella Dawn – Big Enough
The last single from Estella Dawn, “Big Enough,” is an anthemic number that is filled with emotion and incisiveness, suiting high and low moments in the process of breaking free from a toxic relationship. It’s a track that wears its R&B, Pop, and Hip Hop influences on its proverbial sleeve, with a mixed pot of keys and rhythms all swirled in a rich bass, underlined with Estella’s thoughtful charm. The energy in the song is uplifting yet somewhat raw and reflective in the lyrics; it gives one a “euphoric but painfully real” kind of feel. These are the kind of comparisons that, when held next to names like Sia, Tove Lo, and Banks, only serve to further underline exactly how musical and emotionally deep Estella is on this single, “Big Enough.” The way she intertwines heartbreak and a sense of possibility on the single makes it scathing yet soulful, a liberation cry.
Unwavering in confidence, with a fiercely passionate delivery, Estella Dawn is a very unique voice to hit the modern pop scene. Born in New Zealand but now lighting up California, Estella brings unrivalled talent. Her music spans seamlessly between dancefloor-fillers and stripped-back ballads, both holding fearless and vulnerable honesty that people find all over the world. Her persona is dangerous daze x dangerous demeanour, bringing a unique edge to her musical identity and standing as a powerhouse in today’s music.
Jasmine Thompson x Felix Jaehn – Without You
Old buddies in the game Felix Jaehn and Jasmine Thompson team up for a new single, “Without You.” It’s a breezy pop-dance track that cruises alongside the last embers of summer love and nostalgia. It quietly opens with a wistful guitar lick, and then the rest of the song, with Felix’s melodies at the helm, whisks away the teasing backdrop for an up-tempo, four-on-the-floor bassline. Jasmine Thompson floats into view, so delicately with her breathy vocals, whispering these highly passionate lyrics into the air to tumble deep down below into the abyss. The two first joined forces on the 2015 hit “Ain’t Nobody (Loves Me Better),” and with the ninth year approaching for their first, something truly special marks this. With each artistic collaboration between the two, another shade of their imaginations combines with another layer of friendship.
Jasmine’s angelic voice coupled with exceptional production from Felix Jaehn makes for a euphoric yet reflective track. The song’s lyrics and melodies encapsulate bittersweet summer sunsets and thrill feelings over rekindling connections. “This was like working with Felix a second time around, but all of his old good vibes were channelled into this one and you can totally feel that all throughout ‘Without You,'” Jasmine shares. Felix responded that he felt no different, merely stating he was that much more excited and inspired to be working with Jasmine once again. Together, they’ve created something that will undoubtedly be in the background of many a summer memory, perfectly balanced on just the right edge of both pop and dance vibes to make any heartbreak and possibility anthem.
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Kait Warner – Bowerbird
Kait Warner’s single “Bowerbird,” from her debut record “Rodeo Clown,” is a beautiful, haunting depiction of new love and lingering grief. “Bowerbird” is the first single Kait Warner releases after falling in love with her best friend of ten years. Written after falling for her best friend of ten years, Kait was inspired by Maggie Nelson’s “Bluets,” a moving work that enters parallel themes of love and loss much in the same way typical of the bowerbird’s incredibly intricate courtship. The layers of vulnerability, that true fear that one’s sadness may be simply too much for the other—it is in such layers that “Bowerbird” finds her home. It is her confession, taken to the very heart, the deepest honesty in one’s bluest moments, against a backdrop of hypnotic piano motifs, stacked harmonies, synth atmospherics, and strings.
“Bowerbird” is a musical masterpiece in metaphor that communicates the rich and evocative narrative inspiration from which it springs. Just as the bowerbird carefully constructs artful structures from nearby debris, Kait builds upon the delicate piano base inherent in her songwriting, which infuses collected elements of various musical genres, uniting into a rich and evocative soundscape. The song is achingly literate and beautiful, of a kind of Shakespearian tragic quality that truly seems to hit deep. Lyric lines like “in my marrow / cut to bone / I get sad / left alone” truly spotlight the raw emotional introspections at the heart of the track. “Bowerbird” is Kait Warner’s ability to turn personal pain into art, crafting its way into a song based on a highly personal story with the universal ability to have relation to it.
B. Miles – Emergency Contact
The brand new single by B. Miles, “Emergency Contact,” is a deep, touching take on relationships and who we really turn to when we need anything. Prompted by an offhand discussion with a couple of friends, B. Miles dives into the emotional gravity of actually choosing an emergency contact. It captures the loneliness and vulnerability that a person feels post a resultful break-up, especially when that one person you relied on so much is no longer a part of your life. The achingly hesitant lyrics—a little longing to reach out to the once-upon-a-time someone, when they’re still technically in reach.
Musically, “Emergency Contact” is a creative piece with haunting melodies juxtaposed with very evocative vocals from B. Miles. It is very minimal in production, yet it is so powerful that the lyrical content basks in its emotional depth. Performance-wise, B. Miles delivers a raw and candid voice, letting the listener relate to her and get into the personal story easily. The track goes through an emotional realisation or journey in which one may find self-reflection. “Emergency Contact” is a reflection not only of B. Miles and her songwriting skill but of the artistry in that delicate capability to get in touch with her audiences on deeper levels through her own life experiences conveyed in the most relatable and heartfelt ways.
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.