Songs of the Week - 20/10/2025
These are the 15 tracks you need to check out this week!
Kat Penkin - 'The Underdog'
This week’s Songs of the Week are kicked off by Kat Penkin, and her stunning new single ‘The Underdog’. This moving song captures the moment Kat decided to keep going. After years of feeling unseen and doubting her path, Kat wrote a track that reminded her why she started, with lyrics powerful enough to inspire anyone listening to keep pursuing their own journey. This release feels like it is ushering in a new era for Kat Penkin, pushing through doubt and adversity to release her best music to date. ‘The Underdog’ is built on resilience, on refusing to let setbacks erase ambition, and is packed with heart and honesty. However, despite this track ushering in a new era, it is completely worth mentioning that Kat has had the most incredible year, releasing a stellar EP, a string of sensational singles, and has now rounded the year out in the most poignantly optimistic way.
piri & tommy - 'miss provocative'
piri & tommy continue the build to their upcoming EP with the release of brand-new track, ‘miss provocative’, a bold and playful celebration of female trailblazers in pop culture. The single is the second track to be dropped from the duo’s EP ‘magic!’ due November 7th. ‘miss provocative’ mixes silky guitar-driven production with bubblegum vocals, blending their signature alt-pop dance sounds with a slightly more funk-tinged approach. The song is a nod to the women who challenged norms, paving the way for freer self-expression, delivered with irresistible energy. This is a fun, confident and empowering anthem that captures the duo’s fearless approach to music while hinting at the magic to come on their new EP.
King No-One - 'Transgressions'
King No-One, one of the UK’s most compelling bands of the last few years, have announced their long-awaited debut album, ‘The Burden of Empathy’, will be released next year. This announcement was paired with a powerful first taste of what’s to come through their new single, ‘Transgressions’. The track showcases the northern trio’s evolving sound, blending glistening guitars, punchy rhythms, and lyrical candour with a newfound ambition. The song is a personal reflection of feeling out of place in society before finding self-acceptance through love. The lyrics explore defiance, vulnerability, and the impact of embracing who you are, painting a vivid portrait of life marked by resilience and reflection. ‘Transgressions’ signals a bold step forward for King No-One, hinting at a debut album that promises honesty, heart, and unflinching emotion.
daisy veacock- 'cool, confused, clapham'
daisy veacock captures the whirlwind of South London life in the jazziest of ways through her new single ‘Cool, Confused, Clapham’. The track is a playful, infectious snapshot of weekends filled with late-night antics, fleeting encounters, and the chaos of city living. daisy balances humour with sharp observation, painting moments of confusion, fleeting romance, and friendship misadventures with a catchy, almost cinematic pop energy. The song’s charm lies in its ability to feel personal yet universally recognisable. Whether it’s waking up in a stranger’s flat or navigating the blurred lines of social life, there’s a sense of movement and unpredictability that drives the track. ‘Cool, Confused, Clapham’ is daisy veacock at her most witty, energetic, and effortlessly relatable.
The Altered Hours - 'Such a Steal'
The Altered Hours have continued the build towards their self-titled third album, set for release on November 7th, with their brand-new track, ‘Such a Steal’. The song takes a more reflective approach than the band’s signature indie-rock fuzz, swapping soaring hooks for a more solemn, contemplative tone, exploring the push and pull of loving the world while keeping it at arm’s length. Layered with shoegaze atmospherics and raw garage-rock energy, the song captures the band at a point of quiet intensity, balancing texture and emotion in a way that feels immediate and alive. Following a duo of energetic releases in ‘Turn Away’ and ‘Lay There with You’, The Altered Hours’ have further showcased the musical fluidity that has made them such a vital band with ‘Such a Steal’.
RIVER - 'I AM CANCER'
Swedish alt-pop artist RIVER unveiled her new single ‘I AM CANCER’ earlier this month, a haunting and emotionally charged exploration of self-protection and inner turmoil. Opening with atmospheric, almost-ghostly synths before drifting into shimmering guitars and intricate percussion, the track captures the tension of wanting love while guarded by walls built from past pain. RIVER’s fragile, soaring vocals and the layered production give the song a dreamlike, hypnotic quality, immersing listeners in the raw vulnerability at its core. RIVER’s songwriting throughout is so powerful, diving deeper into themes of trauma, identity, and healing, blending cinematic instrumentation with fiercely introspective lyricism to solidify her status as one of the most exciting alt-pop voices.
Bradley Jago - 'Killer Queen'
Last week saw Bradley Jago return with his soulful new single ‘Killer Queen’, a track that explores the thrill and danger of falling in love without defences. Fusing timeless textures with vibrant pop flair, the song moves from a groove-driven bassline through swinging drums and velvety chords, underlining Jago’s signature powerful vocals. Playful yet tinged with subtle darkness, ‘Killer Queen’ captures the tension of surrendering to love while navigating the vulnerability that comes with it. The single is the first taste of Bradley’s upcoming EP, arriving March 2026, which will undoubtedly be one of the year’s most anticipated releases. Bradley Jago is one of the most compelling voices in contemporary soul, with ‘Killer Queen’ showing him at his very best, full of confidence and heart.
Jaixia - 'All My Love to You'
Jaixia releases her enchanting new single ‘All My Love to You’ on October 6, a tender farewell to a relationship she has outgrown. Her vocals are wrapped around delicate strings that highlight the ethereal vocals, crafting a song full of emotional nuance. Though it may seem like a love song at first, it’s really about letting go with care and finding strength in yourself, a quiet reflection on growth and self-acceptance. This is yet another incredible release from Jaixia, an artist who continues to blend music, visual storytelling, and healing artistry into a multidimensional experience that you cannot help but get drawn into. This is a space where listeners can feel seen, heard, and uplifted.
Miranda Faul - 'Been Here Before'
Miranda Faul continues her impressive 2025 with new single ‘Been Here Before’, a cinematic folk-pop track that delves into the emotional turbulence of situationships, exploring the tension between hope and inevitability. The song captures the feeling of being stuck, grappling with attachment while knowing the outcome is unlikely to change. Miranda’s vocals soar over an instrumental built upon stripped-back intimacy, highlighting both vulnerability and drama. Miranda’s debut EP ‘Rise & Run’ more than proved her strength as a songwriter, but every release since has just got better and better, culminating in ‘Been Here Before’, which for me, is Miranda’s best release to date. Miranda Faul is undoubtedly one of the compelling emerging singer-songwriters around, and I cannot recommend enough that you get on board.
pyncher - 'Back to the Country'
After a year filled with fiery singles, Manchester garage-rock quartet pyncher have just released their long-awaited debut EP ‘Every Town Needs A Stranger’, a raw, eight-track (Plus a bonus 9th demo!) record that captures the grit, chaos, and camaraderie of their rise so far. From buzzsaw riffs to playful vocals, the EP channels feelings of youth, confusion, and the joy of four people learning to write and perform as one. Picking just one song to highlight therefore proves a difficult task, but the lead single ‘Back To The Country’ combines the primal garage-rock immediacy and melodic hooks that pyncher have become known for so perfectly. This is an exciting debut from a group who will undoubtedly play a big role in the UK’s rock scene for some time.
Sara Baroni - 'Your Eyes'
I will never seize to be amazed by the brilliance of Sara Baroni’s music, as she continues to impress with her latest single ‘Your Eyes’, a melancholic yet heartfelt indie-pop track that captures the bittersweet ache of being led on and caught in the blur of a situationship. Sara’s delicate vocals convey the moment someone makes you feel truly seen, only for it to slip away. The song combines introspective lyricism with tender production, highlighting Sara’s evolving artistry and knack for emotional storytelling. With each release, Sara cements her place as a rising voice in indie-pop, blending her multicultural roots and personal experiences into music that feels both intimate and deeply resonant.
Oli Bruce - 'Feels Like Home'
Oli Bruce is preparing to cap off a sensational 2025 with the release of his debut album on November 14th. However, before the album drops, there has been time to release the fifth and final single of the year, ‘Feels Like Home’. The new release is a warm, uplifting ballad that captures the comfort of finding your footing and feeling like everything is falling into place. With clean guitar lines, gentle strings, and a supportive bass, the track blends soft-indie influences amongst a melodic pop soundscape. Oli’s songwriting reflects his personal journey, using music as both a refuge and a form of self-expression, and his distinctive melodies and heartfelt lyrics shine through. ‘Feels Like Home’ will undoubtedly be a standout moment from Oli’s upcoming album, offering listeners a soothing, relatable anthem about grounding yourself and finding peace in life’s small victories.
Martin Yates - 'Now or Never'
Last week saw Martin Yates return with ‘Now or Never’, his first single in two years, delivering a soulful, introspective pop track that blends modern production with the warm, bluesy spirit of ’60s vocalists. As a songwriter, Martin manages to capture the quiet intensity of love and personal growth, exploring the delicate moments of maturing relationships with lyrical honesty. Opening softly before a subtle trumpet weaves in, the arrangement builds with thoughtful restraint, letting Yates’ emotive voice shine. This track feels the perfect balance between a release being polished yet maintaining its humanity, balancing warmth and fragility. This is a monumental return from a genre-diverse artist who possesses a voice that could define generations. ‘Now or Never’ sets the stage for Martin’s second EP, due in Spring 2026, and I could not be more excited.
meliss - 'talk us to death'
Another artist who returned last week is meliss, who just released her new single ‘talk us to death’, the first track from upcoming debut EP ‘emotional hangover’. The song is honest, conversational, and full of feeling, capturing the frustration of carrying a conversation alone while longing for connection. meliss’ possesses a natural ability of turning everyday emotions into catchy, memorable melodies, with the new single providing a candid, cathartic moment that lands incredibly hard. The lyrics explore the tension between speaking your heart and being met with silence, balancing playful lyricism with emotional honesty. It’s a song that feels immediate and relatable, a perfect snapshot of vulnerability and strength in equal measure, delivered with unapologetic sincerity.
Liv Dawn - 'Not Let You Go'
This week’s Songs of the Week are rounded out by ‘Not Let You Go’, one of many stand out songs from Liv Dawn’s new EP ‘Hopeful Wandering’. In just six tracks, Liv manages to blend folk, pop, soft rock and country effortlessly, making highlighting just one song incredibly difficult. However, the moving reflection on mental health, resilience and the power of support that ‘Not Let You Go’ provides, meant it had to be the track for me. Written for someone close to Liv facing a difficult time, the song is carried by stirring strings and layered arrangements that lift her stunning vocals to new emotional heights. This is a powerful, heartfelt moment, in a truly masterful EP that showcases Liv Dawn’s ability to translate vulnerability into striking, resonant music.
