introvertcartoon heart – ray nita
The verdict
“ray nita channels 80s new wave heartache into 'cartoon heart', a brilliantly bittersweet indie pop gem”
'cartoon heart' opens with shimmering synths and a guitar line that could have walked straight out of 1985, but there's nothing nostalgic about the weight it carries. the track explores health scares and love regrets, those big feelings that knock the wind out of you when you least expect them. the smiths comparisons are earned here. there's that same melodic ache threaded through the verses, but ray nita bring their own warmth to it, letting the hooks land before the heavier themes settle in. this sound world is right up my street and i love how this one balances bright new wave shimmer against something rawer underneath, and when the chorus hits, it's all rush and release. it's a sharp, affecting slice of indie pop rock,
ray nita are a puerto rican duo now based in ventura, california, making indie pop that leans hard into 80s sensibilities without ever feeling like a retro exercise. there's real craft in how they balance melody and mood, drawing from new wave and synth rock while keeping the songwriting personal and grounded. the california sun hasn't softened any of the edges here. if anything, it's sharpened them. this one should do really well, it's great.
thank u for making this ray nita 💙
wish you never had – ula
The verdict
“ula wraps insurmountable emotion in a breathtaking blanket of dark pop atmosphere on 'wish you never had'”
'wish you never had' opens with rare patience, a soft kick, an envelope of sound that settles before it moves. written and recorded with longtime collaborator daniel lazenby across a long winter month at zigzag studios, the arrangement finds its weight in restraint. there's an uneasy calm running through the whole thing, the feeling of sitting with something enormous and choosing not to fight it. vocally is where it really shines, but the production is also fantastic; somewhere between st. vincent's art-pop edges and aurora's eerie melodic drift. but ula's voice is the anchor, threading through textures that threaten to swallow it whole. it's dark, it's gorgeous, and it absolutely lands.
ula is a london-based artist originally from poland, having moved to the uk alone at 17 to study at the brit school. since then she's built a serious resume: frontwoman of prog-pop group tenacity, nearly 70 live shows across london, and work as a studio engineer, producer and session musician. this single marks her push into fresh solo material, drawing on avant-garde flair and melodic pop in equal measure. that background shows in every layer here, and we really love it.
thank u for making this ula 🌙
shiva shambho kirtan – vidura barrios
The verdict
“vidura barrios delivers a stunning, rhythm-driven celebration that breathes new life into ancient kirtan chanting”
'shiva shambho kirtan' opens on a bed of organic percussion before the voices arrive, layered and warm, pulling the listener straight into something beautiful feels like shared ritual. the track blends traditional sanskrit chanting with a contemporary world music arrangement, all acoustic instrumentation and no shortcuts. production and arrangement by kento tachibana give the piece shape without ever smoothing away its edges; it breathes the way a live room does. the melody circles and builds, and it's genuinely a vibe it's a track that doesn't ask you to understand every word. the joy comes through in the pulse and the call and response lift. a brilliantly warm, open hearted listen.
vidura barrios is a new york based composer and recording artist who has spent over two decades creating meditation and spiritual music. he founded inner splendor media in 2006, an independent label specialising in contemplative and sacred recordings rooted in indian traditions. his work draws on a lifelong meditation practice, and that depth shows in the patience and intention threaded through 'shiva shambho kirtan'. expect this one to find listeners who need exactly what it offers, they've definitely found one here.
thank u for making this vidura barrios 🙏
acupuncture – ava valianti
The verdict
“ava valianti's 'acupuncture' is a playful, jazz-kissed pop gem about falling for the wrong person anyway”
'acupuncture' arrives as the second single from ava valianti's upcoming ep kismet, and it leans into jazz-pop territory with real confidence. the track lives in that space between friendship and something more, where every lingering touch becomes evidence of feelings that might not be there. it's a song about unrequited love, but played with self-awareness and beautiful, lazy groove. the production shines, and ava's vocal sits right in the centre of it, making the whole thing feel intimate without ever getting heavy. she's already racked up over 680,000 streams and airplay across 300+ stations worldwide, and this one shows why. it's flirty, fun and full of character.
ava valianti has proved herself to be one of our faves this year. she's a seventeen year old singer-songwriter from newbury, massachusetts, building a catalogue that refuses to sit still. her debut ep petunias leaned indie pop, sophomore slump pushed into guitar-driven rock, and now kismet draws on jazz and r&b while keeping the emotional honesty that runs through all of it. she's picked up recognition from the boston music awards, new england music awards and was first runner-up in american songwriter's road ready talent contest, performing at nashville's basement east. three eps before finishing high school, and every one sounds like a different corner of her. we absolutely love this.
thank u for making this ava valianti 🎷
when love walks in – jimi bennett band
The verdict
“jimi bennett band deliver a wonderfully warm slice of melodic rock channeling classic 80s heart into something fresh”
'when love walks in' arrives with the lushest of guitar tones and vocal sincerity lifted straight from the best of the late 80s, but there's nothing dated about the emotion running through it. the track is about transformation, that single moment where love shifts everything, and the arrangement lets that message breathe without drowning it in nostalgia. recorded in bennett's home studio, the production keeps things warm and direct, each layer sitting exactly where it needs to. the melody sticks, the message lands, and there's a real sense of hope woven through every chorus. it's heartfelt pop rock done right.
jimi bennett band are an atlanta, georgia based trio bringing together decades of international touring and industry experience. jimi bennett fronts on vocals, having toured the u.s. with grammy-winning acts like petra and mylon lefevre & broken heart. guitarist john davis brings berklee training and a catalogue of over 200 songs aired across ten countries, while keyboardist jean carllos lemes miranda is a latin grammy winner with eleven albums under his belt from brazilian rock group oficina g3. they're working on bookings and festival appearances now. definitely one to keep an eye on.
thank u for making this jimi bennett band 🌅