Charlie Ashcroft’s Musosoup Round-Up March 2024
Charlie Ashcroft: Presenter @amazingradio, DJ @SomebodyTM_Club. Also a @QPR fan, a @RecCollMag columnist + #Spotify Playlist curator with @music_gateway
What an incredible month of new musical discoveries! Just as the live circuit begins to hot up, and with the festival season getting ever closer, here are ten new names for your radar.
Starting off with Alexa Perez, who released a phenomenal EP called ‘Dear Future Me’ towards the end of the month. Collating all her previous singles alongside a great new track ‘On My Own’, it’s a stirring collection of futurist alt-pop from the Alabama star.
UK-based songwriter and producer Saer also released a massive record as the month drew to a close, in the shape of ‘Spectrum’. Combining big riffs and stadium-ready, maximalist pop leanings, this is clearly an artist with a brilliant creative vision.
Moving in more of a folky direction, excellent Shetland Islands outfit Seán R. McLaughlin & The Wind-Up Crows recently unleashed a country-tinged, heartfelt stomper called ‘Wishing Well’. There’s a distinct festival-ready vibe with this band! Definitely ones to keep an eye on.
Seasonal Falls were another to leap off the page a couple of weeks back, thanks to their superb slow burner ‘Lie Down’, channelling a beautiful mix of slacker pop and indie rock balladry. The Switzerland-based duo have been on prolific form recently.
Speaking of slow-burning balladry, Sam Caldwell has shown himself to be a master of the art form with his latest release, ‘feeding the wound’. It escalates into the kind of stunning crescendo which would be right at home as the centrepiece of an emotional film soundtrack.
Next stop Brixton, where we find the superb Freddy Merkky. His first official release of 2024 is called ‘Coasting’, which easily rewards repeated listens by worming its way into your brain. A genuinely hypnotic slice of folk-leaning pop noir.
The March collaboration between Sheffy and Jen Ella is another single with a sense of glorious timelessness to it. ‘Dazed’ finds a wonderful sweet spot between the worlds of Mazzy Star-esque dreampop and acoustic campfire anthems.
Having been named as part of the MOBO Unsung Class of 2022, Natalie Lindi continued building an impressive reputation with the release of ‘Keeper’ last year. Now we have her new single ‘Purple Shoes’ to enjoy, showcasing her stunning vocals and some beautiful production.
The debut single from Kallai is also very much worth your time. Fusing some classic grunge textures with elements of shoegaze and dreampop, ‘Always/Never’ is a tremendous introduction to their work. Can’t wait to hear more from them!
Finally in the column this time around, we dive headfirst into the gorgeous soundscapes of Loema. The aptly-titled ‘Sleep Song’ is an incredible taster from the Dutch band’s upcoming EP ‘Flowers For No One’. I’m really excited to hear the full collection when it arrives.