The weekend has landed and, of course, it is our favourite time of the week: New Music Friday! This week we have fully embraced being influenced by a number of different music genres and songs we found thanks to Tik Tok. You’ll also find a number of our favourite artists on the list as they finally released new music! 15 singles, EPs and Albums this week so; sit back and enjoy our top picks!
If you’re someone who likes to head straight to the playlist click here.
As December Falls – ‘Tears’ EP
As December Falls are a four piece pop rock band from Nottingham in the UK. We’ve been following them for quite some time now, since 2015 can you believe it! New Music Friday is starting off strong with their new release ‘Tears’. ‘Tears’ is the band’s second release of 2021. From the guitar opening, the touching lyrics and the overall rhythm that will make you dance, this song is a phenomenal release from As December Falls. Looks like we have a new favourite song from this act! As December Falls are highly underrated in our opinion and incredibly talented, so make sure you check them even if pop rock is not your usual genre of choice!
Chasing Abbey – Defeated
In case you missed our Spotlight Artist post on this act, Chasing Abbey are one of our own. Hailing from Tullamore in Offaly, the trio have released their new single ‘Defeated’ and if you think we’re telling you about it here…nope. You’ll have to wait ’til 6.30 tomorrow when we post my (and possibly Niamh’s) full review but until then check the song out on our playlist xoxo Em
Forest Blakk – If You Love Her (Mark McCabe Remix)
Mark McCabe’s remix of Forest Blakk’s ‘If You Love Her’ adds a dance vibe to a track that highlights the very best things about the person you love. This remix gives the song an almost victorious feel like the things done in the song are what made the relationship strong and loving. The vocals on this track really are stunning; soft but still sincere during the verse and powerful and confident in the chorus. One of my favourites of this week’s new finds, I recommend taking Forest Blakk’s advice in this song, he’s not wrong.
Griff – Black Hole (Acoustic Version)
Griff has taken out the head bopping beat of the backing track of Black Hole to create a more vulnerable tone in the simpler, stripped back version of the song. Personally, when I take the lyrics into account, the acoustic version of the song suits the lyrics of the song far better but the beat of the original is also amazing. I actually can’t pick between the two but Griff has shown that she can bare her soul whether she is accompanied by a backing track or a piano. Both versions of the song are worth listening to just to compare differences between the two.
Jackie Foster – Clearer
Next up is an artist we found thanks to TikTok, Jackie Foster. Her new single ‘Clearer’ dropped last Friday but we found the song on Monday! The name might sound familiar to viewers of the America TV Show, The Voice, where she appeared on season 14, making it all the way to the semi finals! ‘Clearer’ is a song we would recommend for those moments you are feeling overwhelmed with the world around you. The story Jackie tells in this song is one that is heartbreaking to hear but it is brutally honest and will make you root for a happy outcome for the artist.
Justin Bieber – ‘Justice’ Album
Justice is a follow up to the mildly cringe inducing album ‘Changes’ by Justin Bieber but, this time around, the romantic songs don’t make your skin crawl and the track list includes singles ‘Holy’ and ‘Lonely’. The album starts out pretty poppy but does have R’n’B moments and, with plenty of references to the divine, it feels like this album was divinely inspired in comparison to its predecessor. For me, Bieber’s albums are all good or not; this one falls into the all good category and this album pretty much shows just how grateful Justin is to have his wife in his life. The track I’ve chosen for the playlist, ‘Anyone’, is one of my personal favourites and if someone writes me a song like that I’ll marry him and you can quote me on that.
KiD RAiN – Accidentally in Love
Another artist we are glad that TikTok decided we needed to see on our FYP months ago! It truly feels like things have come full circle as this cover was the first we saw from KiD RAiN. He began to release his own material last year with this newest release being his second release of 2021! ‘Accidentally In Love’ went viral for KiD RAiN on TikTok after he posted a short cover of the famous song from the Shrek soundtrack with thousands of people using his sound on their own TikToks. Fans demanded a full cover and here it is! Slower and more delicate and mesmerizing than the original! This one is quickly making us fall in love with this version of the song!
Lea Heart – IDK Why
Niamh’s one to watch for 2020 Lea Heart is next with her highly anticipated third single! ‘IDK Why’ dropped today and it was definitely worth the wait! Another one of our own, Lea hails from County Kildare here in Ireland! ‘IDK Why’ is more upbeat than any of her previous releases and it looks like Lea Heart is growing more confident within her own music style! The overall sound is incredibly catchy but beware the lyrics are going to hit hard for many listeners. We are looking forward to blasting this one while we enjoy the sunshine, heading into the Irish Summer!
Lewis Kelly – ‘Shower Songs’ EP
Lewis Kelly, our Mancehester based hidden gem, is next on our list! We discovered Lewis Kelly back in 2019 thanks to our friends over at MusicBoxPR. Lewis released his highly anticipated EP ‘Shower Songs’ today. ‘Shower Songs’ includes three previously released singles along with one brand new song ‘Northern Quarter’ and a remix of ‘Hurting You Is Inevitable’. It is safe to say that this new direction for Lewis’ music is making us want more! The acoustic sound paired with Lewis’ hypnotizing voice will draw you deeper into his world! We look forward to listening to this EP on repeat until we get to see Lewis in person again at a gig sometime in the future!
Marisa Maino – BITTER
This week’s Instagram music find goes to Marisa Maino. Marisa is a pop artist from Nashville, Tennessee. Her song ‘BITTER’ dropped today and, in true Marisa fashion, the song is dedicated to the musings inside her head. ‘BITTER’ is the song you need to listen to while you are looking deep within yourself to make sure you are being the person YOU want to be and not what everyone else wants you to be! The chorus of this one needs to be blared while you scream along and dance around the room too!
Munn – Empty Eyes
‘Empty Eyes’ by Munn was an accidental discovery for me this week and what a discovery it was. Based out of Nashville, Tennessee and on a mission to make a name for himself in music, Munn’s newest release is an emotional track that revolves around the realisation that you’ve been putting everything into a relationship only to find that the other half wasn’t really all in like you were. Munn has made a track that is truly heart wrenching with vocals and lyrics that so plainly convey such devastating pain. It really is such a beautiful new single and definitely worth a listen.
Sweet Leah – Bathroom Stall
Next up we are hitting it up Country Rock and Roll style with the exceptionally talented Sweet Leah. Sweet Leah is made up of best friend duo Julia Kate Snow and Hayley Stevens. For those of you still in Lockdown like us here in Ireland, ‘Bathroom Stall’ is definitely going to make you miss those nights out with your best friends! ‘Bathroom Stall’ came out last week but we finally found it last weekend and Niamh has had it on repeat! Clever use of lyrics paired with an addictive beat, ‘Bathroom Stall’ has some important life lessons hidden within the lyrics, so make sure you listen closely!
Snaggletooth – Boohoo Baby
We are also excited to introduce a brand new act and their debut single.Take a bow Snaggletooth as we’d just like to say: you crushed it with your debut release! Snaggletooth are a London based rock band trio: Adele Cooper, Connie Glynn and Sparkles*. ‘Boohoo Baby’ is not for the faint hearted, Snaggletooth has definitely started with all guns blazing! ‘Boohoo Baby’ is just the right amount of haunting and heavy on the instrumental front! Trust us when we say, you have to watch the music video as it is such an intense concept to kick off their debut! An interesting start to this new band and we look forward to seeing how they follow this one up.
Sting – ‘Duets’ Album
Duets is a compilation of Sting’s collaborations and adds a new twist to his classic tracks. Really, we included this album as a nod to the two biggest Sting fans we know, our mammies, but really it was fun to hear new, and sometimes not so new, takes on some of Sting’s best known tracks. Duets has plenty of great tracks but I’m picking Englishman/African in New York, which includes Shirazee singing alongside Sting, in a slick, modern rendition of the original but still holds onto that original message “Be yourself no matter what they say”.
The Knocks and Foster the People – ‘Melody & Silence’ EP
Melody & Silence is a collaborative EP from the Knocks and Foster the People and I’m picking their brilliant cover of ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ based solely on the memories I associate with the original version. The EP consists of 3 covers and a new version of ‘All About You’. The covers are well done and refresh some really brilliant songs being fairly close to the originals while ‘All About You (Sunrise Version)’ is upbeat and has a retro, almost summery feel with the vocals and synths that are included in the production.
Until next time, enjoy the music!
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