Rising singer-songwriter Stephen Mugford is diving back into the deep end with a fresh spotlight on his debut album, ‘Palooza Beach’. This vibrant eight-track release, which features collaborations with producer John Escobar and Grammy-winning guitarist Claudio Ragazzi, blends jazz-infused ’70s and ’80s textures with dynamic, spellbinding vocals. ‘Palooza Beach’ is a sun-soaked experience that draws inspiration from the sunny optimism of Jason Mraz and the crooning storytelling of Paul McCartney, immersing listeners in an atmospheric soundscape filled with slinky trumpet lines and ocean breeze grooves. Stephen’s vision, realized after leaving a corporate career to pursue music, is grounded in decades of reflection and a deep love for language, authentically capturing life’s little truths with soulful storytelling and hopeful optimism.
Indie-Pop Duo Fallin’ Astronauts Release Dreamy Single “Higher” From Debut EP
Vienna-based indie-pop duo Fallin’ Astronauts, featuring vocalist Maximilian Hamedinger and guitarist Emil Breit, shared their latest track, “Higher.” The guitar-led song is the first offering from their debut five-track EP, ‘MONO’. The duo comments that with ‘MONO’, they wanted “to strip everything back to the core—to create something that feels raw, honest, and unfiltered.” “Higher” delivers a dream-pop sound drawing inspiration from bands like Coldplay and Imagine Dragons, using contrasting instruments to craft a lush, minimalist soundscape that offers soaring, atmospheric energy and uplifting lyrics about diving into life.
Traphall Artist Doller Drops Bold New Single “WHO HYPE? WHO BRUK?”
North London Traphall artist Doller has returned with his latest dynamic single, “WHO HYPE? WHO BRUK?,” which is out now via the Beyond Dis World imprint. Doller has been making serious waves with his sound and compelling performances, earning support from publications like NOTION, Wordplay Magazine, and GRM Daily. He even showcased his talent on MTV Base adverts and previously gained recognition when his track “Skadoosh” was featured in the film Sket.
“WHO HYPE? WHO BRUK?” is a bold and powerful anthem that features a brooding instrumental with syncopated drum rhythms supporting Doller’s defiant vocal delivery. His suave and seamless flow is perfectly punctuated by call-and-response choruses, making the song incredibly memorable. Doller says, “I wanted everybody in the world to feel comfortable with their financial status and have an anthem to celebrate that.”
The artist is no stranger to the stage, having toured internationally, including a stint in Dortmund, Germany, alongside Cblock. He has also headlined major events like the Hackney Social’s Wynters Wonder List and the “Sing for Me Tour” with British Grime artist Ghetts. His music is a fixture on BBC Radio 1Xtra, with DJs like DJ Target, Sian Anderson, and Seani B championing his tracks, and his song “This Year” earned “BBC Track of the Week.”
Pop Punk Band Drastic Park Unveils Full-Blown Anthem “Patience Wearing Thin”
Pop punk/emo band Drastic Park has officially unleashed the full-blown anthem “Patience Wearing Thin,” which is out now. The track originally appeared as a brief intro on their ‘Imposter Syndrome’ EP but has been reborn with soaring hooks and raw, melodic energy. What began as a reflection on lockdown life has evolved into an outpouring of frustration, depression, and emotional burnout. Fueled by distorted guitars, the song captures the slow bleed of motivation and the ache of watching dreams stall, making it a perfectly relatable anthem for anyone feeling stuck.
Singer John Stokes shared that “This song started as a snapshot of lockdown fatigue, but as we sat with it longer, it became more about the mental toll of chasing goals that always feel just out of reach.” He added that it’s about “that voice in your head that tells you you’re not doing enough, even when you’re giving it everything.” The music video, in classic Drastic Park fashion, humorously contrasts the track’s grim meaning by enlisting the comedic talents of Patrick Durnan Silva from Melbourne’s own comedic duo “Hot Department.”
Pop Singer Mimi Webb Shares Emotional New Video For “You Don’t Look At Me The Same” Single
Rising UK pop singer-songwriter Mimi Webb is continuing her deeply personal new era with the release of the official music video for her stunning new single, “You Don’t Look At Me The Same,” which is out now. The highly emotional track is the first offering from her sophomore album, ‘Confessions’, which is also out now via Epic Records, and the video brings its emotional weight to life.
The visual, directed by Jake Erland and filmed in London, showcases Mimi’s powerful vocal delivery. Backed by somber piano and bare-bones production, the song puts Mimi’s vulnerable vocals front and center as she confronts the quiet unraveling of a once-close relationship. The track builds toward a devastating realization, as she pleads, “Please tell me I’m not seeing straight, what’s changed. Oh, you don’t look at me the same.”
Mimi shared that “‘You Don’t Look at Me the Same’ is the most vulnerable song I’ve ever released.” She explained that it’s “written from the perspective of a child, telling the story of two people you love who are no longer on the same page.” The album Confessions, written and produced between Los Angeles and London, is a fearless, raw exploration of heartbreak, empowerment, and self-discovery. Mimi states, “I wanted to open up and scream, ‘This is who I am!’.”
Remi Goode’s New Single “Short Circuit” Video Pokes Fun At Anxious Thoughts
Independent alt-folk artist Remi Goode just released the highly entertaining video for her infectious new track, “Short Circuit,” which is out now. The highly relatable song is a light-hearted look at the fears and discomfort we often experience in social settings, poking fun at the exaggerated thoughts that pop up. This single appears on the debut album, ‘Things I’ve Said Before’, out now.
Goode says the song is “a sarcastic critique of my anxious thoughts and inner voices.” She adds, “I wrote it with a throw-up-my-hands mentality while coming to the conclusion that all my struggles are self-inflicted.” The artist thought it would be fun to play into the absolutes and exaggerations that come with anxious thinking. The layered background vocals personify the embarrassed and self-critical voices inside her head and take playful jabs at the lead vocal.
The music video visually enhances the concept, with Goode stating, “I wanted to play that up further by turning these voices into separate characters and letting them interact.” The album, ‘Things I’ve Said Before’, is a stunning nine-song introduction that balances the intimate and reflective with the eclectic and expansive. Goode, a trained classical guitarist, has been influenced by artists like Suzanne Vega, Kathleen Edwards, and Sarah Harmer, who pushed their folk foundations forward.
U.K.’s Official Christmas #1 Single Will Be Crowned On Friday, December 19
The race for 2025’s Official Christmas Number 1 single is a major tradition, and the winner will be announced on Friday, December 19. The final chart race begins on December 12, giving everyone from star-studded charity groups to telly talent show winners a shot at the coveted top spot. This British tradition has seen 73 Christmas Number 1s since Al Martino claimed the first in 1952.
The Official Charts Company compiles the only chart that counts, surveying over 8,000 retailers and digital services daily to count UK physical sales, digital downloads, audio streams, and video streams. The announcement will be fully counted down on BBC Radio 1’s The Official Chart with Jack Saunders starting at 4pm GMT. You can catch the full Top 100 Official Christmas Singles Chart on OfficialCharts.com from 5.45pm GMT that Friday.
Galactic Empire Unleash Metal Version Of “Avengers” Single From ‘CINEMETAL’ Album
Galactic Empire, the galaxy’s favorite metal band, is definitely putting the metal twist on the Marvel Cinematic Universe with their new single “Avengers,” out now via Pure Noise Records. This track is a tribute to the most iconic and well-known piece in the MCU, originally written by Alan Silvestri. The band has built a reputation for genre-blending innovation, and this release shows why.
Lord Sihk shared the excitement, announcing, “Citizens of the Empire ASSEMBLE. Prepare yourself for our metal rendition of the ‘Avengers’ theme from Planet Earth’s MARVEL Studios.” He added, “We felt this was a fitting theme to join the rest of the track lineup for our new album ‘CINEMETAL’.” The upcoming album sees the band journeying to other universes as they put their signature metal twist on popular film franchises.
‘CINEMETAL’ is out now and features metal takes on songs from franchises like Harry Potter, Back To The Future, Lord Of The Rings, Batman, and more, including the recently released singles “Superman” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The band recently wrapped up a summer tour with NiNi and this fall they’ll hit the road for headline shows and a tour with Bit Brigade. They are also setting sail to Cozumel, Mexico on the S.S. Neverender with Coheed and Cambria.
MOONSPELL’s ‘Opus Diabolicum’ Live Symphonic Spectacle Is Out Now
Metal pioneers MOONSPELL’s historic symphonic show, ‘Opus Diabolicum’, is out now via Napalm Records, available in DVD/Blu-ray, 2-CD, Black and Colored Vinyl, and Digital formats. This monumental live event was recorded at the MEO Arena in Lisbon on October 26, 2024. The band’s heavy metallic power meets the classical magnitude of the 45-piece Lisbon Sinfonietta Orchestra, conducted by maestro Vasco Pearce de Azevedo, for a one-off, exclusive show.
The release revisits MOONSPELL classics and their bombastic album ‘1755’ in a truly grand setting. To give you a taste, the new video for the anthem “Vampiria” is premiering today, captured live at the show. Frontman Fernando Ribeiro says “VAMPIRIA’ is a Moonspell classic, as old as time itself,” adding that the arrangement “granted new blood and life… to a timeless, eternal song.” This is truly an untamed, unprocessed work of passion.
The show makes history for metal music in Portugal and MOONSPELL’s own legacy, marking their biggest production to date. Ribeiro notes that he asked the mixer, Jaime Gomez Arellano, to avoid sounding like other metal meets orchestra efforts, aiming for an “imperfect, unprocessed, untamed” result. This release is a special project “made by friends to all the friends we have around this goth forsaken world.”
‘Opus Diabolicum’ Track Listing:
- Tungstennio
- Em Nome do Medo
- 1755
- In Tremor Dei
- Desastre
- Ruínas
- Breathe (Until We Are No More)
- Extinct
- Proliferation
- Finisterra
- Everything Invaded
- Scorpion Flower
- Vampiria
- Alma Mater
- Fullmoon Madness
Austin Meade Shares New Single “HONEY DO YA” From ‘ALMOST FAMOUS’ Album
Road warrior Austin Meade is gearing up for his most personal and fully realized album to date, ‘ALMOST FAMOUS’, and it is out now via Snakefarm. Today, he’s giving us a taste of that album with the brand new single “HONEY DO YA,” which is out now alongside its official music video. This track follows the title song “ALMOST FAMOUS” and leans into Meade’s signature blend of hard rock grit, southern storytelling, and seriously catchy hooks.
“HONEY DO YA” started as a fun reference to the “honey do” list but evolved into a sincere love song for his wife. Meade shares, “I was feeling really grateful on the day we wrote this and wanted to tip the hat to my wife on this record.” He continues, “It started as a joke… but then we dug deeper to change it to mean Honey, do you wanna do this forever? It’s really special to find that person who is willing to build a whole life with you.” The music video truly illustrates his vision.
‘ALMOST FAMOUS’ is an anthemic collection that shows who Meade is now: an honest music veteran with plenty to share. Recorded between a Nashville garage and his Texas spare bedroom, the album delivers a raw, honest look at ambition, burnout, and perseverance. Meade explains, “This is the best grouping of songs we have put together yet. It’s timeless, authentic, and family-driven. There are big hooks, strong guitar work, and a lot of honesty.”