Songs of the Week - 27/04/2026
These are the essential tracks you need to check out this week!
Photo Credit: Millie Caldon
Lydia May - 'PURGER'
Last week saw Lydia May release 'PURGER' a track which was not just her most anticipated release to date, but also her most honest and courageous. It is a song about overcoming the darkest periods of life, choosing to let go of the version of yourself that was once holding you back. A soft, emotional intro builds into a cathartic release that floored me on first listen. It is an incredibly brave piece of songwriting and one of the most affecting listens of the year so far.
Luvcat - 'Vampire at the Beach'
Luvcat is back with 'Vampire At The Beach', the first taste of her upcoming EP 'Lovebites' out May 22nd. It is a song full of everything that has made Luvcat so beloved over the last few years. It is a gloriously macabre tale of a ghostly lover with an unsettling hold, written with the signature blend of razor-sharp wit and noir storytelling. If there were any doubts Luvcat could follow her stellar debut album, this release has put them all to rest.
The Cab - 'Sweet Kerosene'
The Cab have returned with 'Chasing Crowns', their first album for well over a decade. The record features some of their best work to date, including this effortlessly catchy single 'Sweet Kerosene'. It is a heartfelt pop-rock track about the kind of love that burns you to the ground and somehow still feels worth it. The Cab have taken that and created a song that is anthemic and emotionally charged in equal measure.
Ian Harrison - 'Not Yours'
Ian Harrison announces his debut EP 'Jealous', due May 22nd, with new single 'Not Yours'. It is the perfect track to suppoty this exciting news, off the back of an exciting few years that has made the hype for this EP palpable. The track taps into the feeling of being unable to move on from someone, not just because you don't want to but because something deeper keeps pulling you back. Despite this emotional weight, it is delivered in the most poppy and summery way imaginable.
CASANDRA - 'WANT VS NEED'
CASANDRA shares the final preview of her upcoming EP 'ISLA TRANQUILITA' with 'WANT VS NEED'. It is a beautifully crafted track that unpacks how early expectations can shape and silence our instincts well into adulthood. Her heavenly vocals contrast against the conflicting lyricism perfectly, delivering a quietly devastating reminder of how the experiences that shape us in childhood can linger and influence our choices long after we have outgrown them. It is a stellar piece of songwriting that has me deeply excited for the EP.
Gabriella Cilmi - 'Pure Love'
Gabriella Cilmi has made her long-awaited return with the free-spirited 'Pure Love. From the very first notes this track feels like it is coming from an aritst with a new sense of freedom, finally doing things entirely on her own terms. There is a real sense of joy running throughout the track, pushed on by the brass-backed instrumentals and Gabriellas' soulful vocals. This i sundoubtedly one of the most welcome comebacks in recent memory.
Milune - 'SWITCH'
Milune continues this bold new era with 'SWITCH', one of her most electrifying releases to date. Built around that single electric moment when friendship crosses into something more, it builds with a slow-burning, beat-driven tension before exploding into pure euphoric release. It is another radiantly catchy release from an artist who can seemingly do no wrong at the moment.
King No-One - 'The Burden of Empathy'
Ten years in the making, King No-One's debut album 'The Burden Of Empathy' is finally here and it has been worth every second of the wait. It is an extremely timely record, taking an honest look at modern Britain through a working class lens. There really isn't a bad track on the record, but the title track is one of the strongest the band have ever put out. It closes with a 90-second burst of instrumental energy that somehow manages to channel so much frustration.
Ingrid - 'Ruin & Reason'
Ingrid has finally released her breakthrough song 'Ruin & Reason' following its standout moment during her Swedish Idol 2025 audition. You don't have to listen for long to understand why it stopped the judges in their tracks. It is a country-pop track that builds from an acoustic opening into a string-backed masterpiece. Ingrid tells the story of giving everything to something and only getting half in return, yet being unable to walk away. It is the kind of song that stays with you long after it ends.
Chloe Charlotte - 'IMMORTAL'
'IMMORTAL' sees Chloe Charlotte continue her stellar run of releases, this time with a darker sound. The result is undoubtedly one of Chloe's most exciting releases to date. It is a bold and self-assured track that tackles her biggest fears with a confidence that manages to empower everyone listening too. With every new release, Chloe Charlotte raises the bar a little higher and 'IMMORTAL' may be the biggest step forward yet.
KNIFE BRIDE - 'lilies'
Knife Bride have just released their incredible concept EP 'sorry about the plague', featuring this rapturous single. 'lilies' is a visceral and unflinching exploration of the complicated relationship between antidepressants and emotional numbness. The quartet have managed to tackle such a serious issue in such a resonant and deeply affecting way that it feels like a song that will mean everything to the people who need it most. It is one of many seriously impressive moments on what is one of the best EPs you will hear this year.
Dolder - 'Bone Structure'
Twin duo Dolder continue their rise with 'Bone Structure', a sun-tinged step into a new era. Wrapped in dreamy nostalgic arrangements and vibrant harmonies, the song captures the emotional pull of knowing someone is wrong for you yet being unable to shake the feeling they once gave you. On first listen, it sounds like the perfect pleasant summer listen, then the more you replay, the more the relatability of the lyrics hit.
LANI - '24'
LANI captures the all too familiar feelings of early adulthood on '24'. It's a release that explores the strange in-between of craving simpler times whilst knowing you have to keep moving forward. There is a coming-of-age feeling across the track that balances looking back and stepping into the future in a way that will resonate with anyone navigating their twenties. It is yet another brilliant release from one of the best indie-pop voices.
YONAH - 'Bird of Miracles'
Last week saw YONAH release his debut album 'Bird of Miracles', a deeply moving and personal body of work that traces a path from rebellion to reconciliation. Written as a tribute to his late father and an exploration of identity rooted in religion and the messy process of growing up, it takes a real special level of songwriting to tackle such personal journeys in such a resonant way. Perhaps no song summed this up more for me than the album's moving title track.
MINOE - 'Foghorns'
MINOE has dropped her second single of the year, 'Foghorns', and it is another compelling step forward from an artist who continues to grow with every release. Built around DnB inspired beats and clean production, the track captures that quiet creeping dread of visiting someone, or somewhere, you know will cause you pain. It is deeply unsettling in the best possible way, yet utterly impossible to stop listening to.
RVE - 'running'
RVE marks a new direction with 'running', their first new song release since their 2025 EP, and a genuinely lovely one at that. 'running' is soft and dreamy track about the moment doubt falls away and love finally feels safe to step into. Gentle synth textures are wrapped in warmth to deliver one of the most quietly hopeful messages you will hear this week. This is a really exciting hint of what is to come from an artist who consistently gets better and better.
Alivia Clark - 'Breathless'
Alivia Clark makes her return after a year away with 'Breathless', an energetic dance-pop track that captures the intoxicating feeling of losing yourself in a moment of desire. Stellar vocals sit perfectly atop club-ready instrumentation to create a late-night tune that is as carefree as it is irresistible. This is a confident and exciting statement of intent for this new chapter. I cannot wait to see what comes next from Alivia.
Ajla - 'Violet'
This week's Songs of the Week are rounded out by Ajla's sophomore single, 'Violet'. The self-written and self-produced track highlights the insane level of musicality Ajla possesses, starting off as a soft, stripped-back number that grows into an explosive alt-rock masterpiece. This is a hugely impressive second release from an artist who is clearly only just getting started. There is no doubt Ajla is one to keep an eye on