Songs of the Week - 29/06/2026
These are the essential tracks you need to check out this week!
Photo Credit: Julian Klincewicz
Empress Of - 'Wild Storm'
Empress Of has opened her new era with ‘Wild Storm’, a track that will also open her upcoming album 'Dream House', out September 18th. The single is a haunting reflection written earlier in her life but rediscovered after losing her family home to the Altadena fires, taking on an even more emotional meaning. Harmonic vocals and an instrumental that blends strings and synths give the song a real sense of depth, making it one of Empress Of's most moving pieces of work to date.
Sex Mask - 'Raid'
Sex Mask have just announced their upcoming EP 'Raid', out July 31st, with this riotous title track. It’s a release that sees the band pushing their sound further than ever, mixing high‑adrenaline guitar work and snarled vocals into something raw and full of momentum. It is a genuinely exciting next step for one of the most compelling bands coming out of Australia right now, making me even more excited for this EP's release.
Au/Ra - 'E-MOTION'
Au/Ra has just released her long‑awaited debut album ‘heartcore’, a 16‑track concept record built around a world that traces mental health, childhood and the climb back from rock bottom. Picking just one standout track on this masterpiece is tough, especially with so many prior Songs of the Week tracks on there, but the way ‘E‑MOTION’ lands near the end of the album is special. It captures the instant where hope begins to push through the darkness, bringing a real sense of power to both the story and to listeners in their own life.
Jady & colby! - 'Take What You Want'
colby! teams up with alt duo Jady for ‘TAKE WHAT YOU WANT’, a collaboration that came together quickly once they realised how naturally their approaches fit. The song sits in that space where a relationship is falling apart, but you’re still trying to hold onto whatever hasn’t broken yet, with both artists leaning into that tension with real clarity. The vocals move around each other in a way that feels instinctive, as if you are listening to a musical dispute between a real couple, building into a release that lands with real impact.
Flora Hibberd - 'Ache'
Flora Hibberd announces her sophomore album 'Mammoth', out October 16th, with new single 'Ache'. Leaning into melodic bass and joyous synth lines, the track sees Hibberd move away from the guitar-driven warmth of her debut towards something far more electric and ambitious, and the music is all the better for it. This is a confident and richly detailed glimpse of what is to come, which looks set to be a real special album.
daisy veacock - 'Highrise'
daisy veacock continues to stamp her mark as one of the country’s most exciting artists with new single ‘Highrise’. It’s a song that has been nearly two years in the making and you can hear that care in every part of it, from her standout vocals to an instrumental shaped by bossa nova and northern soul touches. The lyrics carry that signature daisy veacock tongue‑in‑cheek edge too, giving the whole thing real character. daisy is on a remarkable run right now and shows no signs of slowing down.
Charlotte MacInnes - 'Beast'
Charlotte MacInnes released her debut EP ‘HIGHWATER’ last week, with new song ‘Beast’ capturing everything that makes the record so special. Charlotte’s soaring vocals sit over an almost cinematic instrumental that grabs your attention straight away, building into something bold and emotionally charged. It’s the moment where the EP’s scale and ambition come fully into focus, further highlighting just how strong Charlotte's arrival as an artist has been.
Mara Liddle - 'LOCKSCREEN'
Mara Liddle releases her new EP ‘EXTREME CONFIDENCE’ today, a six track project that examines the gap between the confidence we try to show and the insecurities sitting underneath. New song ‘LOCKSCREEN’ is one of the EP’s standout moments, taking a playful hyperpop idea about wanting to be someone’s lockscreen and turning it into something far more universal about reassurance and visible affection. Diary‑like lyricism wrapped in glossy pop production makes this one of Mara's most accomplished tracks yet.
Bella Cutts - 'Curious'
Bella Cutts follows up her breakout debut single with ‘Curious’, sleek and sophisticated pop led by a fresh voice full of character. Lyrically, it digs into the experience of being with someone who shows no real curiosity about who you actually are, delivered with a wry wit that lifts it well above any clichés. It’s a sharp, confident second release that makes it clear Bella's early momentum is only going one way.
Abbie Ozard - 'Baby I'm Your Star'
Abbie Ozard announces her new EP ‘Baby I’m Your Star’, out August 21st, with the title track setting the tone for what’s to come. It’s a defiant return from one of Manchester’s most distinctive voices, built around low slung guitars and vocals that carry real catharsis. The song digs into the tension between the confidence we try to project and the self doubt sitting underneath, delivered with a mix of bite and honesty that feels unmistakably hers. It’s a sharp reminder of why Abbie Ozard’s writing connects so deeply and why this new era will be so exciting.
TV Pins - 'Version of Love'
TV Pins celebrate Pride Month with 'Version of Love', their first new material since their acclaimed debut album 'Aircutter' and easily their most direct statement yet. Built on vibrant indie rock textures and the rich vocal harmonies that have become their signature, it is a feel-good anthem about celebrating every form of love openly, especially queer joy. It is an empowering song with a feel-good spirit that's impossible to ignore.
Ayla Claire - 'Gentleman'
Ayla Claire shares ‘Gentleman’, the second single from her upcoming EP ‘HABITS’ and one of her most moving releases to date. The song traces that early moment of falling for someone while still carrying old fears, being delivered with vocals that are genuinely stunning throughout. A stripped instrumental keeps the focus on those vocals, with atmospheric backing adding a quiet intensity that builds across the track. It’s another clear example of the real emotional depth Ayla is bringing to this EP.
HÜSH - 'Constant Slideshow'
HÜSH return with ‘Constant Slideshow’, a cathartic release that captures the slow drift of a relationship losing its shape. The track builds from tightly wound frustration into a moment of real clarity, landing on a full band chant that feels tailor made for the stage. There’s a rawness to the track's performance that suits it perfectly, whilst the writing cuts straight to the point without getting lost in the noise. There’s a confidence running through the track that has me curious about where HÜSH are going next.
Pseudopomp - 'Pickles'
Pseudopomp look at the way childhood memories blur over time with ‘Pickles’, a track that digs into how nostalgia smooths out the details we can’t quite hold onto. Warm guitar lines and a quietly building arrangement set the scene before everything flips into the cathartic finale that’s becoming a real calling card for Pseudopomp. It’s a sharp reminder of why their reputation has grown so quickly across London and a sign the wider music scene need to start paying even more attention.
Remember Adeline - 'Poison'
Remember Adeline opens a new chapter with ‘Poison’, a track that almost never existed after years of having her work taken from her. The injustice behind that gives the song a weight, leading to a piece of music that carries real emotion and is stronger because of it. Even with that personal core, there’s an openness in the writing that listeners can apply to their own experiences. This is the sound of an artist reclaiming what was taken from her and turning it into something that speaks for more than just herself, doing so in the most stunning way.
Jane Marie ft Jessica Mia & Friends - 'Dance With Me'
This week’s Songs of the Week are rounded out by the title track of Jane Marie and Jessica Mia’s new EP ‘Dance With Me’. Their jazz‑tinged vocals sit against a tight band of equally brilliant musicians who give the song its full shape. Cinematic arrangements wrap around lyrics that dig into the messiness of falling in and out of love, creating something that lands with a kind of timeless clarity. It’s a classic sound delivered with a modern edge.