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Mercy Kelly – Out in the Night
Mercy Kelly’s “Out in the Night” Paints Youthful Escapes with Anthemic Brushstrokes
Mercy Kelly’s latest single, “Out in the Night,” plunges listeners into a cinematic narrative of youthful escapades and restless nights. This Greater Manchester quartet, having made waves across festival stages and radio airwaves, now channels their momentum into a sound both expansive and intimate. Frontman Jack Marland and guitarist Adam Bridge, joined by Thomas Mullen and Connor Byrne, craft a tapestry woven with Chameleons-esque guitars and stadium-worthy melodies.
Recorded amid the historic vibes of Kempston Street Studio, this track emerges with a refreshed intensity. “It’s about raw emotion and those fleeting moments of escape,” the band reflects. Much like The Killers and Sam Fender, Mercy Kelly’s sound is rich with depth and gritty authenticity. “Out in the Night” stands not merely as a single but as a declaration of their musical evolution—stripped of label constraints, carried by grassroots grit. And in this anthem, the night feels like both refuge and revelation.
The Snow Ponies – The Long Way Home
The Snow Ponies Ride Into a New Era With “The Long Way Home”
Beneath the whispering branches of a central Waikato apple orchard, The Snow Ponies have crafted a sound both familiar and fresh. Led by the intrepid Phil Dean, who’s journeyed through the musical landscapes of London and Melbourne, the band invites listeners into their whimsical yet profound world with the release of “The Long Way Home.”
Phil Dean, the creative force and “head pony,” steers The Snow Ponies towards an epic new wave indie pop horizon, drawing influences from the likes of Neil Young and Bowie. The result is a fusion that sparkles with the eclectic energy of Wet Leg and Pulp, yet remains unmistakably original.
Rooted in Aotearoa, this project marks Phil’s first Kiwi venture—a musical homecoming of sorts—where fresh apples and sugar-cube promises lure his herd together. With an album set for early 2026, this new single gallops ahead, hinting at what’s to come.
Sean MacLeod – I Know Not
Sean MacLeod’s “I Know Not” Defies the Ordinary with Sonic Alchemy
Sean MacLeod’s new single “I Know Not” arrives as a vivid declaration of his fearless creative range. Emerging from Scarriff, Ireland, he fuses 70s punk urgency, 50s Doo-wop charm, and 60s psychedelic eccentricity into an indie pop experiment that feels both unruly and sharply intentional. A founding member of the acclaimed Dublin band Cisco, Sean has shaped his sound through years of collaboration, including work with U2 producer Paul Barrett, refining a style that balances commercial immediacy with avant-garde instincts.
“I Know Not” lands as a collision of melodic hooks and jagged, off-kilter vocals, drawing listeners in with equal parts curiosity and adrenaline. Rooted in microtonal exploration and raw lo-fi production, the track reflects Sean’s homegrown approach, where imperfection becomes texture and experimentation becomes truth. His musing, “Is sound only just sound?” lingers as a thematic anchor, pointing toward the philosophical undercurrent that runs through his work.
With his forthcoming album, That’s When the Earth Becomes a Star, on the horizon, “I Know Not” serves as a compelling preview of an artist in motion—pushing past tradition, stretching the edges of genre, and charting his own celestial path.
Highroad No. 28 – Ache
Highroad No. 28’s “Ache” Echoes with Timeworn Power
Highroad No. 28 returns from their long intermission with “Ache,” a striking reminder of their enduring passion and evolving sonic identity. Reaching back to the emotional weight of their 2005 debut and 2008’s Stumbling to Divinity, the Australian alternative rock outfit digs deeper than ever into themes of loss, longing, and resilience. Guided by Andrew JC’s singular creative vision, “Ache” pairs haunting melody with a brooding, slow-burning tension that feels like a storm gathering over rugged terrain.
Recorded at Melbourne’s Sing Sing Studios, the track unfolds with cinematic scope. “It’s about emotional honesty — the pain that stays from lost love and passion, but also the strange beauty in still feeling something real,” Andrew JC explains, distilling a sentiment that resonates far beyond the song itself.
As they ready the release of their full album, The Will to Endure, Highroad No. 28 opens the door to a compelling new chapter. Raw, atmospheric, and unmistakably theirs, “Ache” signals the band’s return with renewed purpose and a melodic intensity that refuses to fade.
Powers of the Monk – Sleepy Fields
Powers of the Monk’s “Sleepy Fields” Unveils Luminous Tranquility
With “Sleepy Fields”, Powers of the Monk builds a world where the line between dreaming and waking softens into something luminous. Emerging from their Pontiac–Detroit–Ann Arbor creative corridor, the reformed duo of David S. Monk and CasSondra “Pontiac” Powers shapes a sonic environment that breathes with the gentle sway of poppies across a warm afternoon.
Monk’s airy vocal presence entwines effortlessly with Powers’ expressive violin, forming a soundscape that feels serene, transportive, and deeply human. The track gains added dimension from guest drummer John O’Reilly Jr., while the band’s own production, Bryan Cook’s LA mix, and Brian Callhoun’s Nashville master give the song its crystalline finish.
“Sleepy Fields” captures the quiet shimmer of that in-between space where consciousness loosens and imagination takes hold. Powers of the Monk offers it as an invitation to slow down, breathe deeper, and let the edges of the day blur into something softer.
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