Songs of the Week - 15/09/2025
These are the 19 tracks you need to check out this week!
Photo Credit: Adam Watson
Isabella Storm - 'Kingdom Come'
This week’s Songs of the Week are kicked off by pop superstar Isabella Storm’s second release of the year, ‘Kingdom Come’. Isabella has never been afraid of putting her whole heart on the line, with this new single being potentially her most striking to date. Shifting from the fierce confidence of her earlier work to something more emotionally exposed, the track balances vulnerability with sheer power. However, despite the emotional vulnerability of the lyrics, sonically this track still carries the pulsing synths and garage-leaning edge that is becoming synonymous with Storm’s brilliance. ‘Kingdom Come’ is an anthem of survival and strength written by an artist who gets better and better with each release.
Siobhán Winifred - 'Let Down'
One of the biggest breakout artists of the last few years, Siobhán Winifred, has just released her powerful new single, ‘Let Down’. Sparked by the aftermath of witnessing a violent crime, the track captures how trauma reshapes your sense of safety and trust. It opens on a fragile guitar line before swelling into soaring instrumentals that carry Siobhán’s commanding vocals, hitting with both weight and release. Lyrically, it’s unflinchingly honest, delving into Winifred’s own personal battles, but she transforms that isolation into something deeply connective that will be relatable to so many. This is more than just a song about pain, it’s a reminder that strength can emerge from the heaviest places.
Eileen Alister - 'Born To Be Blue'
‘Born To Be Blue’ arrived last week as the final single before Eileen Alister’s debut album ‘Honeymoon In A Motel’ is released, and it’s easily one of her most personal yet. The track digs into the feeling of being too broken to be loved by someone who seems steady and untouchable, a contrast that comes through in every word she sings. Eileen’s ever-stunning vocal delivery carries both fragility and fire, pulling you right into that headspace, while the production swells around her without ever losing its intimacy. It’s a track that feels raw and lived-in, the kind of song that doesn’t just tell a story but hands you the weight of it to reflect on your own experiences. It is another glimpse of the musical excellence that ‘Honeymoon In A Motel’ will bring when it is released on September 26th.
Rachel Newnham - 'Home Is Where The Heart Is (Broken)'
Rachel Newnham’s latest single ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is (Broken)’ is undoubtedly the most haunting and yet vitally important track to have featured in my Songs of the Week to date. The track was written in response to the heinous murders of three young girls, Elsie, Bebe and Alice, at a Taylor Swift dance class last year in Rachel’s hometown of Southport. This song reflects on how tragedy can strip safety and comfort from the places we once called home, whilst paying tribute to the three young girls who tragically had their lives taken away from them. Rachel has balanced the release of this single so well, with her delivery being tender yet resolute, making the track feel both deeply personal and powerfully communal. What makes this single even more special is that all proceeds from the song are going to the foundations set up in the girls’ memories.
Natalie Shay - 'Do u relate?'
Natalie Shay’s newest single ‘Do u relate?’ dropped last week, a bittersweet love song that captures the feeling of being stuck in one place while longing to move forward. Written like a diary entry, the track is brimming with honesty as Natalie reflects on her own experiences and emotions, while opening the door for listeners to connect with their own. In true Natalie Shay fashion, the track bursts with vibrancy, pairing reflective lyricism with bright melodies, with fast-paced vocals and full band energy. It is a playful yet tender track that feels almost tailor-made to be performed to the biggest of crowds, and that is undoubtedly where Natalie is heading. With its vibrant energy and candid storytelling, ‘Do u relate?’ feels like one of Natalie Shay’s most relatable and uplifting moments yet.
Mabes - 'Pocket Full of Dreams'
Mabes has continued her return to music with the release of her second independent single ‘Pocket Full of Dreams’, a bold country-pop anthem that captures both the weight of expectation and the determination to push through it. Built around acoustic guitar that swells into a striking, the track balances grit with an undeniable sense of hope. Mabes’ vocals shine throughout, carried by a catchy hook that lingers long after the song ends. Mabes sings of chasing ambition in a world that often feels stacked against you, highlighting an important motivational message. Both vulnerable and uplifting, ‘Pocket Full of Dreams’ is a reminder to hold onto the things that matter most and keep pushing forward, no matter the pressure.
Pien - 'Fine'
Pien opens a new chapter with her latest single ‘Fine’, the first new song released since dropping her stellar EP ‘According to Plan’. This dreamy indie-Americana track captures the comfort of not needing to have life all figured out, and that there is plenty of time to make things fine. Co-written with fellow indie artist and Songs Behind The Music favourite Izzi Grace, the song showcases heartfelt lyrics blended with a laid-back groove to create a hazy reflective piece. There’s a sincerity to the way Pien delivers each line that makes the track feel both personal and universal, a reminder that uncertainty can carry its own kind of beauty. ‘Fine’ feels like the perfect soundtrack to slowing down and embracing the unknown, and is an exciting sign of where Pien’s music is heading.
Daily J - 'Rosie's Friend'
Daily J have announced the deluxe edition of their February album ‘Scatterbrains’ will be dropping on 5th December, an announcement which was paired with the release of euphoric new single ‘Rosie’s Friend’. The new track is a shimmering indie anthem that celebrates the rush of human connection. Faster and more groove-driven than much of their catalogue, the track pulses with dreamy guitars and warm basslines that capture the dizzying glow of infatuation. It feels tailor-made for golden hour, when everything seems to shine a little brighter, and is an exciting preview of what is to come on the upcoming deluxe album.
Whitney - 'Back to the Wind'
Last week saw Whitney release ‘Back to the Wind’, another offering from their upcoming album ‘Small Talk’, which is set for release on November 7th. ‘Back to the Wind’ perfectly captures the warmth and ease that Whitney have become so known for, feeling like the perfect soundtrack for carefree moments of escapism. Built around airy melodies and a fluid groove, this feels like the perfect introduction to Whitney for those who have somehow not discovered their brilliance. The new track was also the first penned by the duo for the upcoming album, setting the tone both sonically and lyrically for what is to come. If the first track written is this good, I cannot wait to discover what is in store for the rest of the record.
Long Fling - 'Cool Bottle Water Park'
2025’s new favourite supergroup Long Fling continue their takeover with latest single ‘Cool Bottle Water Park’, another offering from their upcoming self-titled debut album. The duo, consisting of Pip Blom and Personal Trainer’s Willem Smit have crafted a second single that embraces kraut-inspired guitar lines and mesmerising parallel-vocal work. Their voices weave in and out with understated ease, reflecting the pair’s instinctive approach to collaboration and natural ease for delivering spellbinding melodies. It’s another exciting step forward that captures the radiant chemistry throughout the project, in the build up to what is becoming one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year.
vegas water taxi - 'jerry'
Last week also saw indie twang outfit vegas water taxi release ‘Jerry’, the next single from upcoming EP ‘long time caller’, set for release October 3rd. The new song takes the paranoia and spiralling thoughts that follow a breakup and turns them into something both playful and bittersweet. vegas water taxi sonically imagines an ex’s perfect replacement, a guy absurdly put-together and impossible to live up to, mixing humour with melancholy in a way that makes heartbreak feel relatable. The track also hints at what’s to come on the upcoming EP, with more smart storytelling full of Americana tones, wry lyricism, and small snapshots of everyday life.
Aimie Fleur - 'Mr Sinner'
Another of this year’s breakout stars, Aimie Fleur, dropped her highly anticipated debut EP ‘Kiss’ last week, alongside the brilliant new track ‘Mr Sinner’. The new release sees Aimie balancing intimacy with empowerment, exploring the restless tension of waiting on someone you know is toxic. The song is composed of lyrics taken straight from Aimie’s diary, reflecting on the push and pull of desire and self-worth. The vocals carry the kind of relatable honesty that makes the lyrics hit hard for listeners' own personal experiences, moving effortlessly between vulnerable confession and bold declarations of moving on. As one of Aimie’s more ballad-style songs to date, the track turns personal reflection into an anthem of empowerment, marking another standout moment from a debut EP that more than cements Aimie Fleur as one of 2025’s most exciting new artists.
SHEARS - 'FEEL IT'
SHEARS has spent the year releasing stellar singles in the build up to her highly anticipated debut album ‘WE ARE BUT CHEMICALS’, which is set for release on October 10th. The last of these singles dropped last week, a shimmering pop track called ‘FEEL IT’. The album’s last single is a euphoric and empowering anthem about shedding negativity and finding strength in your own choices, continuing SHEARS’ empowering approach to music. The Scottish producer/artist has turned personal liberation into an irresistible dancefloor moment, with lyrics celebrating freedom from the need for validation and embracing what makes you comfortable being delivered over shimmering synths and infectious club-ready beats.
jem wax - 'In My Corner'
Everything jem wax has touched has turned to gold this year, and her latest single ‘In My Corner’ is no different. The neo-soul-tinged love ballad balances intimacy with confidence, pairing jem’s smooth vocals and rich harmonies with jazz and pop flourishes. The track captures the delicate push and pull between wanting to open up to someone new and carrying the doubts left behind from past experiences. jem’s expert approach to songwriting means this track manages to be vulnerable yet warm and comforting. It is a stellar release from an artist who is really carving out a sonic identity that feels bold, soulful and ready to hit the mainstream.
Annie and The Jays - 'If You Wanted To You Would'
After releasing a demo version last year, Annie and The Jays have finally stepped into the spotlight with their full debut single ‘If You Wanted To You Would’. The band’s debut is a dreamy slice of indie pop that carries the wistfulness of unspoken feelings with the feeling of a summer love anthem. Now refined and re-recorded, the track is even more polished, whilst still maintaining some of that raw charm. Pairing confessional lyrics with glowing melodies and nostalgic indie rock textures, ‘If You Wanted To You Would’ captures the delicate mix of heartache and hope that I really hope will continue to run through the band’s songwriting, as they have managed to approach the topic in such an impressive way.
Poesie - 'Lost Romantic'
Poesie followed on from her July debut single last week with the title track of her upcoming EP, 'Lost Romantic'. The new single is a nostalgic 80s-inspired anthem that brings a fresh twist to modern love. Playful and tongue-in-cheek in its delivery, the track pairs witty, confessional lyrics with an irresistibly catchy melody, funky bassline and a chorus that sticks after just one listen. There’s a carefree charm running through the whole song, but it never loses its emotional pull, making it both fun and relatable. If debut single ‘Hunter-Gatherer’ somehow wasn’t enough to sell you on Poesie, then ‘Lost Romantic’ absolutely will. She has a natural talent for crafting songs that feel personal yet instantly infectious, setting the stage for an EP that promises to be just as bold and full of personality.
Claudia Fenoglio - 'Make you mine'
We may be moving towards autumn, but Claudia Fenoglio is managing to keep the summer spirit alive with new single 'Make You Mine'. The new song is a sun-soaked slice of indie-pop taken from her upcoming EP It Always Fades In The End, out 3 October. Brimming with confidence and charged with desire, the track captures that heady rush of being swept up in someone and wanting to say it all out loud. Claudia’s soaring vocals and shimmering production give the song a sense of freedom that feels tailor-made for long nights and fleeting summer moments, but underneath the brightness lies a more intimate honesty about connection and vulnerability. Claudia gets better with every release, with the upcoming EP looking set to be her boldest work yet.
Fools & Sages - 'All That Could Have Been'
Fools & Sages strike an emotive chord with their third single 'All That Could Have Been', a powerful piece that lingers in the fragile space between self-reflection and identity. Drawing on the spirit of 70s rock while leaning into modern hard rock intensity, the track layers bold guitars and dual vocals with a raw vulnerability that makes it one of their most striking releases yet. The band’s DIY ethos runs through everything they do, from the music to the artwork, giving their work a unified sense of purpose and creativity that is authentically Fool & Sages. Lyrically, it’s an intimate meditation on the versions of ourselves we live with and the ones we leave behind, pushing through the cycle of doubt to reach honesty, acceptance and ultimately self-worth.
lina sounds - 'summer's end'
This week’s Songs of the Week are rather fittingly closed out by lina sounds’ season-closing track ‘summer’s end’, a warm, slightly bruised slice of alt-pop from her debut EP pink summers. lina’s voice floats over sunlit guitars and skittering beats, carrying a bittersweet warmth that makes the song feel like the last slow drive before school returns. Written solo and released entirely DIY, the track balances playful, carefree melodies with a quietly honest lyricism about being let down, lina’s struggles with dyslexia, and the stress of heading back to school. As a song, it is deeply personal, but full of relatable lyricism that will make listeners want to forgive their summer mistakes and press play again.
