little chief

Phoenix rockers Jane N’ The Jungle aren’t here to whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Their new single “Parasite” grabs you by the collar and forces you to look at how we’re all getting a little too cozy with artificial intelligence. Jordan White’s voice has enough power to wake the dead, and Brian Dellis backs …

Shyfrin Alliance keeps exploring their philosophical side with “Colours of Time”, and they’re getting better at making you think while you listen. Eduard Shyfrin and the band have put together something that sits between classic prog and their own take on big questions about existence. The song revolves around the idea that time isn’t just …

Peter Xifaras decided to mix jazz with classical music, and against all odds, it actually works. He’s got Justin Chart on saxophone and the Budapest Symphony backing him up across six tracks that shouldn’t fit together but do. “Adagio Blue” kicks things off with some serious orchestral weight before Chart’s sax slides in. The real …

Proklaim just dropped some serious heat from Windhoek, and I wasn’t ready for this combination. This Namibian artist mixed boom bap with Amapiano, which sounds crazy on paper but actually slaps. The track starts aggressive and stays that way throughout. Proklaim jumps between rapping and singing like he’s been doing it forever. Both styles fit …

Matreya’s back with his second single, and honestly, it hits hard. The Birmingham singer-songwriter doesn’t mess around here, he’s talking about depression, healing, and having to let parts of yourself die to move forward. Heavy stuff, but he handles it well. The song builds around this driving drumbeat that feels almost primal, with these floating …

Mary Beth Orr decided to make a 26-track album combining French horn and vocals, and honestly, it works better than you’d expect. The Grand Rapids Symphony hornist clearly spent time figuring out how to make these two elements talk to each other instead of competing for space. Mary covers everything from “I’ll Fly Away” to …

Larry Karpenko’s latest single kicks off with a beat that hits like a steady drumbeat – raw and purposeful, setting up everything that follows. The chorus is catchy without trying too hard, the kind of melody you find yourself humming later without realizing it. He clearly wanted people to be able to sing along, and …

Daddy Drwg’s gone and made himself a proper troublemaker with “Wise Guys”. The Welsh songwriter isn’t messing around, he’s calling out every guy who thinks his opinion is gospel while barely knowing how to tie his own shoes. That whistled bit at the start? Pure genius. Gets stuck in your head while Daddy Drwg tears …

Michellar just dropped her first Spanish song and it’s pretty solid. The San Francisco artist teamed up with Jiji Picazo on vocals and Lloyd Miller producing, pulling inspiration from “Bésame Mucho” – you can hear those classic Latin vibes running through it. The whole thing centers around how one amazing night with someone can stick …

Tom Minor’s new single hits different. The London musician takes a messy relationship situation and turns it into three minutes of uncomfortable truth-telling that somehow feels comforting. Right from the start, you’re dropped into the middle of someone else’s argument. Tom sings about sweet nothings that don’t mean much and truths that just make everything …

Rosetta West’s latest is a wild ride, titled “God of the Dead”, and to be clear and honest with you, the band doesn’t know how to make boring music. Joseph Demagore handles most of the heavy lifting here, singing, playing guitar, and piano, and he’s got this knack for switching between crushing blues and tender …

San Diego’s Tranzformer and London-based producer Big O drop their third beat tape together, and they’ve got something solid here. Both producers clearly know their way around chopping up classics, but they approach it differently enough to keep things interesting. You can hear their individual fingerprints on each track, even when they’re working with similar …

Munk Duane is wrapping up his five-year run with “Falsify”, and damn, he’s going out swinging. The Boston artist has been mixing retro soul with indie-pop since 2020, and this farewell track shows he’s got the sound locked down tight. Right off the bat, you hear those chunky ’80s synths and that unmistakable LinnDrum sound …

Elena C. Lockleis wrote this song during some of her lowest moments, when she really needed to hear those exact words. Taking cues from Anne-Marie’s “Better Not Together”, she’s going for that same kind of vibe but making it completely her own thing. The team behind this track came together naturally. Elena connected with producer …

Ottawa duo Wotts’s “i’ll see you when the game resets” is what you need today. Jayem’s voice has this worn-in quality, like your favorite hoodie that’s seen better days but still feels right. The guitars are messy in all the best ways. Ricky 100 clearly wasn’t going for perfection here, and that’s exactly why it …

SEEDR’s second single arrives as a reminder that sometimes the best way forward is to stop moving altogether. “Settle” combines her airy vocals with liquid drum and bass in a way that actually makes sense, which isn’t always easy to pull off. The track starts with those atmospheric synths that immediately put you somewhere else …

“Gasoline Daydream” by Anna Josephine hits hard. Anna blends her indie-pop sensibilities with a touch of folk warmth, crafting a track that’s unpretentious and full of charm. It’s about the kind of drive where nothing needs to happen — no rush, no plan — just the comfort of being next to someone you care about. …

Caden Stone’s latest track “For The Devil” kicks off with a bassline that practically growls, then explodes into a chorus that’ll have you singing along whether you want to or not. Caden’s voice has this great rough edge to it, and the guitars are messy in all the right ways, and the drums hit hard …