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MAY-A Lets Loose With Queer Pop-Rock Anthem “(I’m Here For The) GIRLS”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 23, 2026

MAY-A Lets Loose With Queer Pop-Rock Anthem “(I’m Here For The) GIRLS”

MAY-A switches gears with her new single “(I’m Here For The) GIRLS,” a sexy, pop-rock-driven anthem that arrives alongside a self-directed music video. Following the weightier, politically charged “[REDACTED],” the track leans fully into release and fun, powered by guitar-led dance energy and late-night chaos. “This song was created because I felt like the album writing process was getting quite heavy and serious, and I needed some kind of sense of relief and fun,” MAY-A says. Drawing inspiration from late-2000s Yeah Yeah Yeahs and early Calvin Harris, she adds, “We were just having fun and writing something stupid and less intense than the other tracks.”

The video mirrors that spirit, serving as a Y2K-flavored love letter to warehouse raves, club nights, and dancing until sunrise. The release lands amid a huge run for MAY-A, who has spent the past year building momentum through major festival appearances and high-profile support slots, including opening for Glass Animals and sharing the stage with Cyndi Lauper. With “(I’m Here For The) GIRLS,” MAY-A delivers a sharp, liberated moment that celebrates queerness, movement, and joy without overthinking it.

Anna Lunoe Returns to the Club With New Single ‘Trick’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 23, 2026

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Anna Lunoe Returns to the Club With New Single ‘Trick’

Anna Lunoe is back with her new single ‘Trick,’ out now via NLV Records. Built on tight percussion, heavy basslines, and warehouse-ready drums, the track leans into the raw, playful energy that has long defined Lunoe’s club output. Stripped back and forward-facing, ‘Trick’ is designed for the dancefloor, balancing physical momentum with restless experimentation. “Took me a minute post-album to find my studio flow,” Lunoe says. “I found myself stripping back to bones… sonic experiments, de-centering my vocals, gamifying the production and just enjoying working alone again with no outcome or agenda.”

The release follows a landmark period for Lunoe, who last year shared her debut album ‘Pearl,’ earning triple j Feature Album status and recognition as one of Billboard’s Best Dance Albums of 2024. Since then, she’s expanded that world with ‘Pearl (Remixes)’ and continued to cement her status as a global force through high-profile live performances and support slots across the U.S., UK, and Australia. ‘Trick’ signals the start of a new, club-focused chapter, with Lunoe describing it as “tried and tested, playable and ready to load up,” setting the tone for what’s next.

Violet Orlandi Channels Cinematic Darkness on New Album ‘Birdeater’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 23, 2026

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Violet Orlandi Channels Cinematic Darkness on New Album ‘Birdeater’

Violet Orlandi steps fully into her own with ‘Birdeater,’ a visceral new album that blends rock, metal, and cinematic alternative music into an unflinchingly personal statement. Born and raised in São Paulo, Orlandi first gained global attention through her atmospheric YouTube covers, building an audience of over 1.2 million subscribers, but ‘Birdeater’ marks her most decisive move toward original work. Produced by her husband and creative partner Ricardo Gifford, the album rejects over-polished modern production in favor of live instrumentation, minimal processing, and performance-driven intensity. “We weren’t looking for perfection,” Orlandi says. “We were looking for rawness and authenticity.”

Deeply influenced by cinema, ‘Birdeater’ draws inspiration from cult films like The Exorcist, Hellraiser, and Alice in Wonderland, with each song unfolding like a psychological scene. Many tracks were written alone in her bedroom with films playing in the background, giving the album a dreamlike, unsettling flow. Beneath its dark atmosphere, ‘Birdeater’ is ultimately about agency and transformation. “Life can bring so much suffering,” Orlandi reflects, “but in the end, it’s up to you to decide how you’ll react — which path you’ll take… this prison cell has a wide open door.” The result is a record that feels intimate, fearless, and quietly powerful.

JEEN Returns With Raw, Resilient New EP ‘For The Romance’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 23, 2026

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JEEN Returns With Raw, Resilient New EP ‘For The Romance’

JEEN is back with her new EP ‘For The Romance,’ a five-song release shaped by perseverance, exhaustion, and creative survival. Written during a difficult period marked by uncertainty and burnout, the EP channels frustration into catharsis while leaning fully into vulnerability. “These five songs surfaced after a very difficult period in my career where I wasn’t sure if I could keep going,” JEEN says. “Perseverance,” she adds simply when asked about its core theme. “I’m just trying not to become too jaded or bitter in this industry. It’s a hard battle sometimes, but I’m still here.”

Created with longtime collaborator and producer Ian Blurton, the sessions took place in early 2025 and blend studio recordings with intimate home demos. “Recording with Ian is always a great process, very grateful for that,” JEEN shares. “Under the harsher business circumstances around this release, adding two of my recent home recordings – including a solo live cover – just felt like the right combination.” The title track sits at the emotional center of the EP, offering a tongue-in-cheek but deeply sincere reflection on why she keeps making music. “‘For The Romance’ is a reminder not to give up until you find what you’re looking for,” she explains. “I wrote it at the end of my rope, trying to convince myself there’s still something worth fighting for.”

From the disco-tinged ache of “Look What You Did” to the driving pop-rock pulse of “Psychedelic Silver Lining,” ‘For The Romance’ captures JEEN at her most exposed and defiant. “I had a series of existential crises trying to get this EP to the finish line, but I’m proud of the tracks that came out of it,” she says. “I decided a long time ago this is the only way I can live if I’m going to be real with myself.” Across a career defined by persistence, JEEN continues to treat songwriting as necessity rather than luxury. “Making music is like breathing for me,” she adds. “I’m always trying to write something better than I did before, something that I don’t think sucks.”

HighSchool Release Self-Titled Debut Album

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 23, 2026

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HighSchool Release Self-Titled Debut Album

HighSchool, the duo of Rory Trobbiani and Luke Scott, have released their self-titled debut album ‘HighSchool,’ out now via PIAS Australia. Produced by Ben Hillier and Finn Bellingham, and recorded across London, Lewes, and Melbourne, the album delivers a meticulously built blend of 80s post-punk and modern alternative revivalism. Across twelve tracks, the record functions as a coming-of-age document, using the band’s name as both concept and lens, filtering adolescence, memory, and identity through dense guitars and emotionally charged songwriting.

Expanding on the sound first heard on their EPs ‘Forever At Last’ and ‘Accelerator,’ HighSchool draw from a wide pool of influences, from slowcore and alt-rock to hip-hop-adjacent textures, while maintaining a strong emotional throughline rooted in suburban youth. “When you’re young and dumb, everything hits harder… love, hate, boredom, desire. It all feels sacred somehow,” the band share. “Then you grow up and it fades. Maybe that’s why everyone romanticises youth. This album is forty-two minutes of trying to feel that again.” The record moves fluidly between restlessness and reflection, building immersive worlds that elevate everyday teenage moments into something mythic.

Having honed their live presence on the London Windmill circuit and through international touring across Australia, Europe, Japan, and North America, HighSchool have steadily built a reputation for their enveloping wall of sound. ‘HighSchool’ feels like a culmination of those years, leaning into the romanticised imagery of school life seen in film and television while grounding it in lived experience. The album stands as both a nostalgic glance backward and a confident step forward, cementing the duo as a compelling voice in contemporary alternative music.

Daniel Vincent Announces New Album ‘Means of Escape’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 23, 2026

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Daniel Vincent Announces New Album ‘Means of Escape’

Daniel Vincent has announced his new studio album ‘Means of Escape,’ a deeply immersive release that blends ambient textures, progressive structures, and introspective lyricism. Spanning twelve tracks, the album represents a creative high point, pulling together threads from Vincent’s 22-year catalogue into a cohesive, emotionally rich journey. Moving beyond the post-progressive psychedelia of his earlier work, ‘Means of Escape’ reflects an artist taking stock of life, change, and acceptance. “Put succinctly, these songs are about living the life that we have, and not spending too much time worrying about the things you can’t change,” Vincent says. “Life is short.”

The album also marks Vincent’s first solo release to appear in the catalogue of long-time collaborator Burning Shed. “Making such an emotional and personal record like this, I knew I wanted to work with Pete [Morgan] and Tim [Bowness] to help guide me to where I needed to be,” he explains. Visually, the project is matched by artwork from legendary designer Carl Glover, known for his work with Porcupine Tree, Marillion, No-Man, and King Crimson. Glover’s return brings a visual depth that mirrors the album’s expansive and reflective tone, completing a release that feels carefully considered at every level.

Maria Rosa La Kakiee Unleashes Defiant New Single “Trigger My Aria”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 23, 2026

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Maria Rosa La Kakiee Unleashes Defiant New Single “Trigger My Aria”

Maria Rosa La Kakiee has released her fierce new single “Trigger My Aria,” a hip-hop/pop anthem driven by self-preservation, confidence, and unfiltered honesty. Produced by Mike Midura at Cyber Sound Studios, the track captures Maria Rosa’s ability to transform personal conflict into something empowering and confrontational. “My triggers! For my bullies—they fuel my fire. They trigger my aria,” she says. “I cut off anyone who doesn’t have my best interests at heart. Love me correctly, or get the steppin’. My time is precious, and I protect my peace by any means necessary.”

The song was written and performed spontaneously, born directly from a moment of real-life tension and bullying. “I went into the studio and freestyled it,” Maria Rosa explains. “It was a mood that day, and the result is pure honesty and fire. Fool me once but not twice—Trigger My Aria is about clarity, self-preservation, and turning pain into artistry.” The result is a bold statement of control and resilience, channeling confrontation into catharsis and placing Maria Rosa firmly in her power.

Asleep At The Helm Close ‘Ornate Resentment’ With Brutal New Single “Bloodline”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 23, 2026

0

Asleep At The Helm Close ‘Ornate Resentment’ With Brutal New Single “Bloodline”

Asleep At The Helm are sharpening their edge with “Bloodline,” the ferocious closing track from their EP ‘Ornate Resentment,’ out now via Year Of The Rat Records. Hailing from Manchester, the five-piece blend melodic foundations with the raw, punishing influence of the Australian metalcore scene, resulting in a sound that’s fast, aggressive, and unrelenting. With growing support from Kerrang Radio, Music Choice, Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora, the band have quickly built a reputation for high-intensity live shows and a no-compromise approach.

“Bloodline” finds the band at their most volatile, closing ‘Ornate Resentment’ with scorched-earth energy and feral precision. Every riff hits with contempt, and every lyric cuts toward themes of betrayal and emotional decay, serving as a final act of defiance rather than resolution. The EP follows a recent UK tour with Polar and marks the first release since signing to Year Of The Rat Records, positioning Asleep At The Helm as one of the most uncompromising new voices in modern UK metalcore.

Daniel Caesar Performs “Who Knows” From ‘Son Of Spergy’ on The Tonight Show

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 23, 2026

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Daniel Caesar Performs “Who Knows” From ‘Son Of Spergy’ on The Tonight Show

Daniel Caesar delivered a moving late-night performance of “Who Knows” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, spotlighting a standout moment from his new album ‘Son Of Spergy,’ out now via Republic Records. The appearance follows the album’s debut at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart, marking Caesar’s highest-charting release to date and his first Top 10 album. The performance leaned into the record’s emotional core, pairing restraint and vulnerability in a way that has become central to this era of his work.

Serving as the follow-up to ‘NEVER ENOUGH,’ ‘Son Of Spergy’ centers on reconciliation, particularly within Caesar’s relationship with his father. “I have a lot of respect for my dad, and I hold him in high regard. The album is about me realizing that I am exactly like him,” Caesar shares. “In that sense, it’s about having patience, respect, and admiration for myself.” Recorded largely in Jamaica, the album features contributions from Sampha, Bon Iver, Blood Orange, Yebba, and Caesar’s father Norwill Simmonds, weaving introspection with lush, melodic ambition.

In the lead-up to the album, Caesar staged a series of pop-up performances across North America, favoring intimacy over spectacle and reinforcing the personal nature of the project. He has continued expanding that creative circle through collaborations with artists like Tyler, The Creator, Rex Orange County, and Justin Bieber, positioning ‘Son Of Spergy’ as both a deeply inward-looking album and a defining moment in his broader artistic evolution.

Jake Owen Releases ‘Dreams To Dream,’ Featuring Reflective New Track “Wouldn’t Be Gone”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 23, 2026

0

Jake Owen Releases ‘Dreams To Dream,’ Featuring Reflective New Track “Wouldn’t Be Gone”

Jake Owen has released his new studio album ‘Dreams To Dream,’ a deeply personal project that marks his first independently released full-length. Co-produced with Shooter Jennings and recorded in Los Angeles at Sunset Sound, the album finds Owen leaning into honesty, maturity, and risk-taking after a career that includes ten number one hits. “I’ve just become a guy that wants to sing songs for people that have also matured with me in my life,” Owen says. “Sometimes you need to get outside what’s comfortable… and take a risk. I’m always going to chase the passions that keep me moving forward.”

At the emotional center of the record is “Wouldn’t Be Gone,” a reflective track in which Owen imagines an alternate life away from the road. “It really feels cathartic to be honest about a lot of stuff in my life,” he shares, later adding of the song, “It would keep me goin’, but I wouldn’t be gone,” picturing a simpler life spent closer to home and family. ‘Dreams To Dream’ expands on that vulnerability across songs shaped by heartbreak, defiance, and self-reflection, while still honoring Owen’s country roots. The album also features guest appearances from Jamey Johnson and Savannah Conley, and includes a reimagined cover of Waylon Jennings’ “Them Old Love Songs.” Mixed by Trina Shoemaker and mastered by Pete Lyman, the record stands as Owen’s most unguarded statement to date.