introvertbrighter than the sun - part ii - radio edit – phyne
The verdict
“phyne turn a campfire song into a sun-drenched indie-disco anthem with a defiant heart and serious groove”
this one opens with that punchy post-punk vocal drive, but the real magic is in how it melts into something warmer. there's 70s funk guitar, vintage keyboards catching light, and a groove that keeps building without ever letting go. the song started life as a campfire strummer, and you can a hint of that intimate core underneath all the disco shine. lyrically it's about stopping time, finding strength in a single moment, letting bliss win. there's a lovely whirly indie defiance here, a longing that hits harder because it sounds so bright. it's an empowering, groove-heavy banger that refuses to sit still.
phyne is a swiss alternative indie-pop project founded in 2020 by sascha tittmann and christoph biastoch. following their 2022 debut album the highest high, tittmann has been joined by long-time collaborator benjamin mueller, drawing on twelve years of shared history and over 130 shows together. that deep creative bond shapes everything here. upcoming releases mark a shift toward a rawer, more unpolished sound, and on this evidence, they're making good on it. a gem.
thank u for making this phyne 🌞
small stuff – curtis millen
The verdict
“curtis millen channels james brown's raw spontaneity into 'small stuff', a gorgeous slice of retro funk for 2026”
'small stuff' opens with that unmistakable funk swagger, all tight grooves and brass-edged warmth, before curtis millen's voice cuts through with an improvised vocal take that captures something instantly recognisable: the way tiny frustrations cling to you long after they should. love the concept, and how the track was born on christmas eve in belfast with producer tribal ting, then finished in amsterdam with an international band including drummer adam gammage, whose credits run from tom grennan to the libertines. there's a deliberate looseness here, the sound of a song that's been tested on stages across the benelux and lithuania before anyone pressed record on the final mix. it's retro soul with real dancefloor energy, and it works like a groovy, technicolour dream.
curtis millen is a belfast-born soul and funk singer now based in rotterdam, where he moved in 2021 to plant himself in one of europe's most vibrant spots for funk and jazz fusion. his influences run through prince, stevie wonder and tom jones, and you can hear all three in how he conducts energy on stage. he's spent the summer bringing high-energy original sets to audiences across the benelux and lithuania, building a reputation as a performer who leaves nothing in the tank. loads of fun this one, keep your eye on this guy.
thank u for making this curtis millen 🎺