Songs of the Week - 29/09/2025
These are the 13 tracks you need to check out this week!
Photo Credit: Joel Palmer
YONAKA - 'Problems'
This week’s Songs of the Week are kicked off with the huge new return track from YONAKA, ‘Problems’, the trio’s first release in over a year. As a longtime fan of the band, this track feels like a perfect distillation of everything that has made YONAKA so vital to the UK’s music scene, while also bringing a fresh energy that hints at an even bigger future. The track opens with a stripped-back instrumental, highlighting Theresa Jarvis’ commanding vocal, before exploding into a blissful chaos that you cannot help but listen to on repeat. Capturing the moment love turns sour, this new single is an emotionally raw and ferociously delivered song that acts as the perfect way to usher in this new era. With biting intensity and a chorus that demands to be shouted back, ‘Problems’ feels both a statement of intent and an emphatic reminder of YONAKA’s ability.
Beth McKenzie - 'My Skeleton Mocks Me'
Last November saw Beth McKenzie release her stellar debut UP ‘Does This Make Me A Bitter Woman?’, and now, nearly a year later, the follow-up deluxe version has been released, featuring two stunning new singles. Both ‘Catching The Next Train’ and ‘My Skeleton Mocks Me’ are works of art, but the latter gets the nod for my Songs of the Week due to the overwhelming emotion that has come across me every time I have listened. It is a fragile, yet piercing track written in raw honesty with complete vulnerability. The song circles around the idea that trauma doesn’t vanish when ignored, it lingers in the body, shaping how we move through life until it’s confronted. You can tell just by hearing the emotion in Beth’s voice how personal this track is, but lyrically it perfectly captures the weight of suppressed memories and the slow, painful process of acknowledging them, no matter what situation you are going through.
BEX - 'silence'
BEX closes out 2025 with ‘silence’, an explosive release that bookends what has been a momentous year for one of punk’s most exciting talents. True to its name only in irony, the track is a snarling rejection of being muted, whether it be by authority, by circumstance, or by a world that so often looks away from those who need attention the most. Built on jagged riffs and a relentless vocal delivery, this is yet another dose of pure nu-punk catharsis from BEX. The single is brimming with fury and delivered with unshakeable conviction, with every line feeling like a rallying cry to speak up, stand tall, and refuse to be ignored. It’s loud, uncompromising, and utterly unmissable, summing up everything BEX stands for as an artist.
Tom A. Smith - 'I Don't Blame You'
Tom A. Smith dropped his brilliant new EP ‘Say What You Want’ last week, featuring five tracks that showcase exactly why Tom has become regarded as one of the most exciting new names on the UK indie scene. Whilst all 5 songs are sensational in their own rights, the new sonic territory explored in ‘I Don’t Blame You’ makes it the EP’s standout track for me. The track sees Tom swap his sharp guitar-led anthemic indie stylings for a darker synth-based track. Written during a period of personal change, it captures a raw honesty that is prevalent across the EP, exploring the messy line between adolescence and adulthood. The lyrics are full of resignation and clarity, being backed up by a production that is both intimate and expansive. ‘I Don’t Blame You’ shows just how far Tom’s songwriting has come, getting better with every passing release. Tom A. Smith is confident, honest, and unafraid to evolve, and that will see him rise to the very top.
cozyjoe - 'best friends couch'
cozyjoe continues his huge 2025 with a brand-new single ‘best friends couch’, capturing the chaos and charm of post-uni life. The relatable lyricism present on the track almost makes it a generation-defining song, showcasing the uncertainty of early adulthood that is becoming increasingly all too familiar. cozyjoe uses bright indie-pop melodies and warm, mellow delivery to capture a period of time when big questions linger, but friendships remain the anchor. It is as much a celebration of gratitude as it is an anthem for growing pains, a reminder that while the future feels unclear, there’s comfort to be found in the people who stick by your side. It’s also a reflective piece on cozyjoe’s career, featuring lines like “Playing to a crowd of 20,000,” which, if he keeps releasing songs this strong, seems almost a certainty.
EERA - 'Honey, do you see me?'
EERA’s brand new album ‘I’ll stop when I’m done.’ dropped last week, featuring the hauntingly cinematic, ‘Honey, do you see me?’. The song captures the desperation of wanting to be seen by someone who never truly looks back. It is written from the perspective of a woman caught in a toxic love, where self-worth slips away in the shadow of empty promises. EERA leans into that fragility and obsession, delivering lyrics that blur the line between vulnerability and madness, her voice threading through hypnotic rhythms and dreamlike textures. Both intimate and unsettling, ‘Honey, do you see me?’ feels like a whispered confession that grows heavier with each listen, offering a glimpse into the delicate yet powerful storytelling of EERA’s new record.
Altameda - 'Crazy Blue'
Another new album dropped this month is Altameda’s ‘Crazy Blue’, a 10-track journey of alt-folk excellence. The album opens with the title track, ‘Crazy Blue,’ setting a tone that is calm, refined, and quietly captivating. The song moves with a gentle momentum, unfolding into an extended instrumental finish that lingers in the mind long after it ends. It is a nostalgia-fuelled 6-minute epic that encourages attentive listening, hinting at the broader emotional and narrative threads of the album. Altameda effortlessly explores shifting textures and unexpected turns, balancing grounded guitar and bass riffs with moments of subtle delicacy. The title track embodies this approach, blending warmth with a sense of unpredictability that makes you eager to hear the rest of the record.
Chasing Dolls - 'Cobweb'
After dropping a demo release last November, Chasing Dolls have now graced the airwaves with their sensational debut full release, ‘Cobweb’, a hazy song that acts as the perfect introduction to the band. The track spins a delicate metaphor into something both grounding and uplifting. Built around a shimmering guitar riff, the track grows into a richer soundscape of fuzzy rhythms, warm bass, and off-guard flourishes that mirror the shifting nature of thought. As a debut release, this is a strong statement of the musical brilliance incoming from Chasing Dolls. It is dynamic in sound, and lyrically strong. There’s a comforting chaos in its drums and textures, carrying you through the turbulence while always offering a safe landing. More than a song, ‘Cobweb’ feels like a reminder that believing in yourself creates the space to believe in others, and that the beauty of human connection lies within that space.
Be Like Milo - 'Childish Mindgames'
Be Like Milo dropped his massive EP ‘BROKEN RECORD’ earlier this month, which is kicked off by the excellent ‘Childish Mindgames’. The song is built on a surge of bold synthpop energy, setting the emotional tone for an EP that is nothing short of a masterpiece. Balancing glossy, euphoric production with raw vulnerability, the track explores the cycles of intimacy, miscommunication, and heartbreak that Milo unpacks throughout the wider project. There’s a restless pulse beneath the song’s shimmering synths, a tension between wanting connection and recognising the patterns that keep it out of reach. What makes this track stand out for me is its duality. On the one hand, it is club-ready in its rhythm, yet on the other, the lyricism is deeply personal. ‘Childish Mindgames’ is the perfect entry point into Milo’s world, but I cannot recommend enough that you check out the full EP.
Justine Beverley - 'Passenger Seat'
Last week saw a future superstar stamp their mark on the country-pop scene, as Justine Beverley dropped her debut single ‘Passenger Seat’. Justine’s first release is a bold and cinematic country-pop track that turns a real-life moment into storytelling gold. Justine Beverley wrote the song after a long car ride where conversations with a colleague blurred personal and professional boundaries, sparking feelings of rejection and imbalance. This bitterness, frustration, and eventual strength has fuelled the song's lyrics, which are both sharp and witty. It is an anthemic debut which is confident yet relatable, showcasing Justine’s knack for transforming personal experiences into compelling, moving music. If the follow-up singles maintain this dazzling start, then we could be looking at the future of country music right here.
Beth Merill - 'I Will Thrive'
‘I Will Thrive’ is an empowering anthem from Beth Merill, celebrating growth, self-discovery and resilience. Written during Beth’s ADHD diagnosis journey, the song is an open diary of leaving behind old versions of yourself, unmasking and breaking free. Its lyrics encourage listeners to embrace their true selves, overcome obstacles and claim the life they deserve. Beth blends heartfelt melodies with bold, uplifting instrumentation, fuelling the feelings of strength in all who listen. Beth’s intention is to inspire others to believe in their worth no matter their background or circumstances, and this track could not have done that more perfectly. ‘I Will Thrive’ is both a statement and a celebration, a reminder that you can rise above challenges, stay true to yourself and flourish in your own way.
Sophie Gordon - 'Sunday Blues'
‘Sunday Blues’ is the first new track from Sophie Gordon in over 18 months, and what a comeback track it is. The high-energy single is a perfect listen to shake off that end-of-week slump. The song fuses a funky guitar line with a driving bassline, creating a groove that instantly hooks you in. Sophie’s gritty, powerful vocals carry the track with attitude and emotion, cutting through the instrumentation with effortless confidence. The chant-like, harmonised verses add an infectious, communal energy, making it impossible not to sing along. There’s a sense of release in the way the track builds and drops, turning the typical Sunday melancholy into something fun and empowering. ‘Sunday Blues’ is the perfect antidote to lazy Sunday vibes, combining sass, energy and musicality to lift your mood and get you moving.
the truth - 'i'm a musician'
This week’s Songs of the Week are rounded out by ‘I’m a musician’, the second full release from producer-artist extraordinaire the truth. Blending indie-pop with elements of hyperpop, the truth has created one of the most sonically unique and musically excellent tracks I have heard for some time. Drawing on his love of early 2000s garage rock, the truth transforms that energy into a track that feels raw and DIY, yet polished and punchy, delivering a sound that is both gritty and irresistibly catchy. ‘I’m a musician’ riffs on overheard gossip and the chaotic life of London’s creative scene, capturing the disillusioned, sarcastic perspective of someone who has already “been there and done that.” With self-written, produced, and mixed instrumentation, the song evokes sticky-floored dive bar nights and indie nostalgia, delivering a bold and chaotic statement for The Truth’s new musical era.
