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.
Isla Rico – Lost On You
Isla Rico turn in a deeply immersive listening experience of the peaks and valleys of desire and self-doubt with “Lost On You,” their latest single. This Manchester-based trio, composed of Cal Richards, Jasper Whitehead, and Harvey Rafferty, has crafted another track that is as introspective as it is expansive. Melding atmospheric synths with epic Brit-pop drums and a melody that hooks instantly, “Lost On You” captures the restless allure of a pursuit of something just out of grasp. Meanwhile, Cal’s expressive vocals, swathed in lush production, steer listeners through a bittersweet topography of reflection and temptation.
Since their first EP, Eternal Optimist, Isla Rico have continued to grow a very enamored and invested following, with shows up and down the UK selling out consistently. The result is a perfecting of their signature sound with each release, marrying an alt-pop ambiance with the energy of indie rock while diving head-first into emotional depth. “Lost On You” is more than just a song; it is a statement to Isla Rico’s ever-evolving artistry and knack for crafting tracks that stay around long after the final note. New music coming, a headlining tour to round out the build into 2025-fans can expect even more from this rising band.
imstillFranci – King
On “King”, imstillFranci gives a powerful, soul-stripping anthem of resilience and self-worth-a real moment of clarity when, deep down, you know it’s time to walk away. This powerful track, through raw honest lyricism, cuts deep into anyone who feels like they’re coming last in a relationship. Franci’s voice is filled with both vulnerability and resolve as she brings us through the journey of letting go. With Dan Healy’s thoughtful production, that is simple piano, acoustic guitar, and cello layers swelling with emotion, “King” takes on a quietly cinematic feel, running from intimate whispers to a triumphant statement of strength.
Backing up, to how Franci arrived at this moment, gives texture to “King.” Raised in the pastoral countryside of Sighetu Marmației, Romania, Franci had a peculiar fusion of influences, marrying Western pop sounds with a love for traditional Romanian music. Now, her music weaves those threads together, and the subtler hints at her heritage can shine through. “King” is both a deeply personal and universally relatable track, but Franci’s sound remains deeply rooted in her Romanian roots, even as she grows in the pop world. This single testifies to her creative independence and her ability to change that personal heartbreak into music that is both cathartic and empowering.
CatchTwentyTwo – Up My Sleeve/I Love Everything
Up My Sleeve/I Love Everything” by CatchTwentyTwo is an intoxicating ride into the electropop world-elegant storytelling merged with pulsing beats and sleek synths. This fourth single off of his project The Love Evangelist feels like a late-night cruise through neon-lit cityscapes, a mix of excitement and romance and introspection that just speaks to his knack for capturing emotion in its purest form. Self-produced and recorded by CatchTwentyTwo, the song brings out the multi-talented artistry and dedication he has in creating an immersive sound.
Hailing from South Florida, CatchTwentyTwo brings loads of life experience and musical influence into his work, drawing from a childhood spent moving between states and growing up fascinated with artists from Michael Jackson to Daft Punk. His sound reflects this journey: melding the timelessness of pop with modern electronic textures. You can trace shades of sensuality from Prince, the melancholic pull of The Weeknd, and Indie pop freedom from Tame Impala in his music. With “Up My Sleeve/I Love Everything,” CatchTwentyTwo does more than give insight into his artistic range; he invites listeners into a world of raw, visceral emotion where electropop and intimate storytelling come seamlessly together.
Lupe Dragon – swaylinks
In “swaylinks,” Lupe Dragon released a touching track, deeply exploring raw battles of mental health and self-worth. The powerful single is a birth from her journey-laying the pain, anxiety, and inner battles that shaped her as a person and artist. Haunting vocals and genre-bending instrumentation give way to Lupe’s lyrical delivery as she conveys what it’s like being in dark places, using music as her outlet to talk candidly about experiences with trauma, bullying, and the suffocating weight that comes with never feeling “good enough.” It’s a song both haunting and hopeful, setting smart introspective verses up against soaring, cathartic choruses that echo long past its final note.
Lupe Dragon was born in Northern New Jersey; she carves out her own path within the music scene because of her genre-bending sound, inspired by Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne, and Alanis Morissette. Her voice swims effortlessly atop dynamic guitar riffs and slick percussion, weaving both her pain and resilience into each line. “swaylinks” is a representation that Lupe is one of those who can turn their vulnerabilities into strong building blocks, connecting with listeners on a deep, personal level where turmoil is still fresh on the psyche. At this point in her career, with the upcoming EP in the works, one thing is for sure: Lupe Dragon is an artist who will never hold back from facing life’s darker moments head-on and making music to stir the soul, Toasting survival.
A Days Wait – Long Lines
On “Long Lines,” A Days Wait gives us an indie pop treasure that’s as captivating as it is uplifting. This title track from their forthcoming album combines shimmering reverb with layered vocals and a driving rhythm that pulls listeners in from the first beat. It is one of those tracks that can cling in your mind long after the song is done, sharing a tint of longing and resilience. The band’s vocal harmonies are smooth yet earnest, creating a soundscape that’s both dreamy and dynamic—a perfect anthem for those moments when life’s challenges keep surfacing, yet you’re determined to keep moving forward.
For those good-hearted people who find themselves facing walls of negativity again and again, “Long Lines” is a song of emotional cycles: the spark of hope, the disappointment, and persisting to try once more. There’s a warmth to this track that feels like a gentle nudge; a reminder that, indeed, we are not alone in all this struggle. The most touching part? All proceeds from this project go to charity, really showing the commitment of A Days Wait to using their art as a force for good. With “Long Lines,” they have created an indie pop single that not only will strike a chord but is also a beacon of hope and empathy-a beautiful sneak peek of what’s in store to come with their next album.
Thomas LaVine – Maybe There’s Something There
“Maybe There’s Something There” by Thomas LaVine is an indie-folk masterpiece that sways with haunting melancholy and quiet intensity. Delicate melodies and layers of the song evoke the chill of autumn and introspective moments just as easily as the reflective nature of the season itself. LaVine’s voice is artfully soft and evocative in drawing one to their story of two people struggling to find common ground over varying worldviews-a push-and-pull argument so delicately captured across each verse. Indie folk influence from the likes of Ben Howard, Jose Gonzalez, and Bon Iver, LaVine carves a space for his own as melancholy acoustic is blended with atmospheric soundscapes in perfect, earthly tones.
Born in Brandon, Florida, but raised in the small town of Blacksburg, South Carolina, LaVine puts those roots into every note, infusing his music with a soil-warmed comfortability that feels legit and lived-in. He captures minimalist ideals out of a studio converted from a tool shed and builds immersive, lush environments reminiscent of walking through the forest at dusk. Noted for abstract, metaphor-laden lyricism, LaVine uses words and melodies to trace the outlines of love, memory, and the elusive threads that tie us to nature and each other. Maybe There’s Something There” can be both inward and expansive-perfect evidence of LaVine’s talent to weave deeply emotional stories that burrow deep after the song has migrated out of one’s head.
INAUGURAL – NIGHTCLUB
“NIGHTCLUB” from INAUGURAL whisks listeners through a dark, pulsing haze down into late-night disillusions. Vocals bring to the fore a gritty world that is very post-modern, where even dance floors are nothing more than a place within which to regard introspective and existential terrors. In bringing their hauntingly immersive, heart-guzzling sound to life, Alice Amsel and Phil Spiteri knit their roots together with Dark Wave and Post Punk-influenced sentiments, weaving a hypnotic spell as it proves to be unsettling. Where most would urge you onwards, motioning to move on, “NIGHTCLUB” holds you captive in a liminal space of swirling synths, throbbing beats, and Amsel’s smoky vocals-unraveling the thematic threads of club culture and attendant alienation that so often come with it.
INAUGURAL, a duo formed by Amsel and Spiteri in 2023, they breathe fresh eerie air into the Australian Dark Wave scene. It’s a singular concept from the duo-biblically inspired and disenchanted angels navigating the messiness of this modern world. Such is the songwriting-of deep dives into love, existential dread, and those curious instances of sharks biting fiber-optic cables INAUGURAL provides an experience that is as cerebral as it is visceral. “NIGHTCLUB” isn’t a song but a raw, deep, intellectual cruise into the dark recesses of nightlife for anyone just looking to lose themselves upon the shadows of the dance floor.
Naty Jane – My Baby
“My Baby” by Naty Jane is an empowering anthem of resilience, overcoming, and letting go, borrowed from a true life story. Having grown up on 80s rock from Aerosmith and Bon Jovi, among other influences, Naty brings in a sound of emotionally charged pop-rock that’s crustily nostalgic yet refreshingly personal. Soaring with raw intensity, her vocals channel the pain of leaving behind a toxic relationship and that bittersweet strength that comes thereafter. “My Baby” is a journey from heartbreak to self-reclamation, with that rock edge and those gospel-inspired melodies that make it an anthem standout for anyone finding their courage in letting go of someone else.
Naty Jane was rooted in covers; hence, this release is a leap into her own universe, so to say, for this now firmly established Swiss artist. Production by Chris Matthey at Royal Studios created layering soundscapes beneath her powerhouse vocals, naturally giving more dimension to her story of beating loneliness and recapturing strength. Known in Yverdon as a singing teacher and music mentor, Naty brings that poise and passion into “My Baby”, showing a refined and passionate approach that really works for the performance. The new single forms an exciting chapter in her career: taking the audience to that place where vulnerability meets fierce independence-searching rock-just perfect for setting things off on her full-length album.
There Is No One But Me – CONTROL
On “CONTROL,” There Is No One But Me takes one on a journey of darkness to strength, crafting a song catchy, yet deep in resonance. From the beginning of the beat, there is an energy hooked-an invitation, really-to tap into your own inner resilience. As the track builds, the vocals hint at a defiance-one that’s been through battles and comes out stronger, clearer, and unrelenting. The chorus bursts in like a rallying cry, echoing across to whoever feels suppressed, mistreated, and invisible. The song seems to say, “This is your story to write, and you have every right to stand tall in it.
But “CONTROL” is more than a pop-power anthem; it’s a song with a purpose. Hard truths don’t evade the lyrics, but at the same time, they beam with hope-the sure knowledge strength might be found in the darkest corners. With every beat, There Is No One But Me nudges listeners deeper into their own power to say “no”-to what holds them back-and into the direction of healing. It’s one of those songs that make one feel seen, celebrated, and above all-in control. In a world that wants to define us, “CONTROL” reminds us to define ourselves.
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.