Songs of the Week - 18/05/2026
These are the essential tracks you need to check out this week!
Photo Credit: Frazer McGoldrick
Bleech 9:3 - 'No Surprise'
Bleech 9:3, one of the fastest rising bands of the last few years, have just released their stellar self-titled debut EP. The EP features their four previously released tracks alongside new release 'No Surprise'. Born out of a truly remarkable story of two people finding each other through recovery, the Irish four-piece turn that shared experience into a thunderous alt-rock anthem. The track crashes and burns with a raw emotional intensity that perfectly sums up everything that makes Bleech 9:3 so special. It is the perfect addition to one of the most compelling debut EPs you will ever hear.
Chloe Slater - 'Ugly'
Chloe Slater continues her monumental rise with 'UGLY', her first release of 2026 and one of the most urgent and confrontational tracks she has ever released. The song is a sharp and frenetic dissection of consumer culture and the almost religious compulsion we have towards buying and consuming. Much like many of Chloe's other songs, she manages to make vital social commentary in the catchiest way, with 'Ugly' building into a chant-like chorus that feels like a genuine moment of collective release.
The Amazons - 'Blood on the Bone'
The Amazons step into a bold new era with 'Blood On The Bone', their first release as a newly expanded five-piece. The expanded line-up, which has been gracing the stage over the last year, brings a fuller and more powerful sound to their studio work, and the results are immediately apparent. Ella McRobb's vocals perfectly harmonise with lead singer Matt Thomson, whilst George Le Page brings a hard-hitting intensity to the drum track. This new release has been paired with the exciting news of a deluxe album '21st Century Fiction: Epilogue', set for release this August.
RAGEFLOWER - 'PUSH PIN'
RAGEFLOWER continues her remarkable creative run with 'PUSH PIN', a track that takes adoration and pushes it to the very edge of obsession. Blurring punk and alt-country into something deliriously unhinged, this is a track that manages to feel chaotic and compelling in equal measure. This has been a fan favourite for some time and it is easy to see why. It is the perfect example of why RAGEFLOWER is fast becoming one of the most exciting and ambitious artists around right now.
Orla Noble - 'flower'
Orla Noble has been a musical force in 2026, putting out a single every month right up until now, when she’s released her extraordinary debut album unfurl. It’s a deeply personal set of songs that bridges everyday life and fairytale through ethereal folk‑inspired storytelling that feels unlike anything else out there. My pick of the bunch (pun very much intended) has to be the moving track 'flower'.
Stanleys - 'Never Like You'
Stanleys continue their exciting return with 'Never Like You', a driving and hook‑laden indie track that comes from a band firing on all cylinders. Sharp songwriting and an undeniable chorus make it one of their most infectious releases to date, carrying the perfect sunny vibe as we head into the summer. This feels like a clear statement of where Stanleys are headed, and it is a place I very much want to be.
Grack Mack & The Pack - 'pistachios'
Grack Mack & The Pack recently released their incredible second EP ‘shells’, with ‘pistachios’ being a quietly beautiful highlight. The song blends soft‑rock with folk‑gaze to deliver a message of self‑care. It is about the craving for rain on a summer's day, using that as a sign to slow down and be kind to yourself. This sort of introspective songwriting is consistent across the entire EP, making it feel like a genuinely special piece of work.
Hollie Gautiér - 'Thinkin' Bout U'
Hollie Gautiér has just released her genre‑blending EP ‘After Hours’, an energetic seven‑track journey that mixes some of her best pre‑released songs with new cuts like ‘Thinkin’ Bout U’. This sharp and unfiltered electropop song sits perfectly within an EP built for the dancefloor and the afters. For a project two years in the making, ‘After Hours’ feels worth every second of the wait.
Mara Liddle - 'YOUR MIND'
Mara Liddle returns with ‘Your Mind’, the final single ahead of her upcoming EP ‘Extreme Confidence’ out in June. This vibrant track mixes upbeat instrumental with more emotional lyricism, tackling the feeling of watching someone you care about change beyond recognition. It captures that specific emotional limbo of not losing someone but losing who they were. The mix between this sharp, relatable songwriting and anthemic instrumental is a perfect example of why Mara Liddle is becoming one of the most honest and affecting voices in UK pop.
Grace Angelique - 'All Time Low'
Grace Angelique has just dropped her new single ‘All Time Low’, a rip‑roaring rock track with a slight country-rock twang to it, giving her vocals the space to really bite. The song began as something much more stripped back when Grace first wrote it, but its growth into a full, stage‑ready anthem feels like a natural extension of her craft. It’s a clear sign of how easily Grace Angelique can take a raw idea and turn it into something that hits with real force.
Angel Wong - 'Hide n Seek'
Angel Wong announces herself with debut single 'Hide n Seek' and what an introduction it is. A cinematic synth-pop track about a toxic love affair so consuming it follows you into your dreams, it wraps confessional lyricism in euphoric danceable production that immediately lodges itself in your head. Angel has immediately cementer herself as an artist with a genuinely distinctive vision and this is a really exciting first step into that journey.
Beth Miller - 'Ctrl Alt Delete'
Beth Miller has just dropped arguably her best single to date with ‘Ctrl Alt Delete’. The track was originally born from a dark period that somehow became a reminder of the power of letting go. This emotional journey is present throughout the song, with the sense of breaking free carried by the joyful instrumental. It is a song that feels genuinely cathartic and makes you feel like you can push through anything
Irina Imme - 'Spicy Kids'
This week's Songs of the Week are rounded up by ‘Spicy Kids’ from Irina Imme’s new EP ‘Y2K’. The song draws on Irina’s own experience of growing up neurodivergent but has become something wider, speaking to anyone who spent their early years feeling different or overlooked. It reflects those long, difficult stretches of childhood with honesty while still finding a sense of hope. It’s a standout moment on a debut EP that Irina has clearly put her whole self into.
