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September 25, 2025 Sam Macdonald Unveils Debut Solo Track ‘Distant Light’ with Northern Roots

Sam Macdonald Unveils Debut Solo Track ‘Distant Light’ with Northern Roots

Northern singer-songwriter Sam Macdonald dropped his first solo single ‘Distant Light’ on September 23, 2025, taking a big leap into independent territory. Coming from Carlisle, Macdonald has been creating music for over a decade, and has shared stages with heavy hitters such as The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Telescopes, and Dead Skeletons, while building a name for himself in the indie scene. His sound pulls from childhood staples—Buddy Holly vibes and his dad’s old 50s and 60s tapes—mixed with Scouse and Northern icons like The La’s, The Coral, Shack, Echo & the Bunnymen, Oasis, and The Stone Roses. Add in classics from Neil Young, R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub, The Rolling Stones, plus Motown’s groove and hip-hop’s rhythmic punch, and you’ve got a foundation that’s shaped his knack for blending melody with beat.

The track itself is a quirky fusion of rock, pop, and soul elements, delivered with a melodic twist that’s anything but straightforward. Macdonald channels those varied inspirations into something intimate, sharpening the edges for a personal touch. Lyrically, it weaves themes of chasing freedom, transformation, and glimpses of what’s ahead, all wrapped in a sound that’s concise and punchy with an alternative slant that sets it apart from his group efforts.

This shift to solo work highlights Macdonald‘s drive for self-direction, moving away from team dynamics to own every beat and visual. Sam Macdonald shared: “I have learned a lot about what I want to make. This is a movement towards something that is not driven by trying to appease other people’s ideas of what is right and wrong. The basslines, the drums and everything else is all at my direction. The make-up of everything, audio, visual is all driven by myself.” He wrapped up his mindset with: “Rarely is anything set in stone or black and white I think is certainly one thing. And making the most of what is right for you in an artistic sense, staying true to yourself.”

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June 26, 2025 ‘WHERE U R (angel with no feathers)’ Showcases FiFi Zhang’s Hyperpop Evolution

‘WHERE U R (angel with no feathers)’ Showcases FiFi Zhang’s Hyperpop Evolution

(FiFi Zhang / Courtesy PR)

FiFi Zhang, the Shanghai-to-New York electronic music force, launched her new single ‘WHERE U R (angel with no feathers)’ on June 25, 2025, via her own Liquid Pearl imprint. She’s a one-woman powerhouse—producer, singer-songwriter, DJ, visual artist, and music engineer rolled into one. After her 2023 EP So Beautiful So Lonely turned heads and racked up over 2 million streams for its lead track, FiFi’s been a fixture at festivals like Head In The Clouds across continents and a staple in New York’s underground at venues like Elsewhere. Her latest drop cements her as a game-changer in the scene.

The track itself, ‘WHERE U R (angel with no feathers)’, is a hyperpop stunner—think crisp, quirky sound design layered with vocals that feel like they’re floating through a dream. “‘WHERE U R (angel with no feathers)’ is my 1999 apocalyptic dream – filled with fragile emotions and escapist sentiments,” FiFi explains, and it shows. She pulls from Drum ‘n’ Bass, UK Garage, and House, twisting them into a sound that’s equal parts vulnerable and expansive, perfect for late-night listens or cutting loose on the dancefloor.

Set to drop on June 27, the visualiser is where FiFi Zhang really flexes her creative muscle. Picture her suspended in a futuristic glow, draped in avant-garde threads by Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester, PerceptionF, and Sisio, with LED angel wings minus the feathers stealing the show. It’s not just a video—it’s a statement, tying her music to a visual narrative that’s as striking as her sound. FiFi’s proving she’s here to push boundaries, one beat and one frame at a time.

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May 19, 2025 Jacqui’s New Single ‘fries, bb’, Captures The Art of Unspoken Attraction

Jacqui’s New Single ‘fries, bb’, Captures The Art of Unspoken Attraction

Jacqui’s latest single ‘fries, bb’, released on May 9, 2025, via Beeline Records, highlights her distinctive fusion of neo-soul and Korean heritage. Born in South Korea, raised in China & the U.S., and now based mostly in South Korea, Jacqui’s music reflects her global journey. With over half a million Spotify streams and performances at SXSW Sydney and Bangkok Music City, she’s swiftly gaining recognition. Her tracks have appeared in Netflix’s My Holo Love and Amazon Prime’s BUTTERFLY, earning her comparisons to neo-soul pioneers like Erykah Badu and FKA Twigs.

The song ‘fries, bb’ is a groove-driven track that captures the quiet intimacy of a late-night diner. Its production mixes clean neo-soul rhythms with subtle distorted elements, creating a modern twist. Jacqui’s vocals are warm and expressive, carrying the theme of unspoken attraction with ease. The lyrics focus on ordering fries as a reason to stay longer with someone, blending clever wordplay with a relatable scenario that feels personal yet widely appealing.

Jacqui has said about the song, “It’s set in a late-night burger shop where you order fries just to spend more time with that person you’re crushing on.” This choice shapes the track’s laid-back yet intentional vibe, with the distorted instrumentals adding a layer of tension to the lighthearted premise. It shows her skill in taking a simple idea and giving it emotional weight through production and delivery, connecting her personal vision to a broader audience.

With ‘fries, bb’, Jacqui keeps pushing neo-soul forward, blending her Korean roots into the genre’s core. Stepping off of The Great Escape Festival stage in Brighton on May 15 and 16, we’re excited to hear what influences she’ll weave into her upcoming projects.

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May 9, 2025 Discover Tommy Down’s breakout single ‘Mrs Blue’, a soul-rock masterpiece from 21st Century Living!

Discover Tommy Down’s breakout single ‘Mrs Blue’, a soul-rock masterpiece from 21st Century Living!

Tommy Down, the London-based multi-instrumentalist, is redefining soulful storytelling with his 2024 single ‘Mrs Blue’, a heartfelt track from his album 21st Century Living that’s amassed 5.7 million Spotify streams. Hailed by Radio X and Earmilk for its raw emotion, the song showcases Down’s evocative vocals and minimalist style, while his upcoming 2025 EP, previewed by the psychedelic ‘Do You Want It All?’ in CLASH Magazine, hints at an ambitious sonic evolution.

Rooted in his UK-Ghanaian heritage, Tommy’s music channels legends like Marvin Gaye and Al Green, blending soul with rock and introspective lyricism. His dynamic performances at Camden Rocks Festival alongside Frank Turner and regular London gigs, paired with six songs featured in HBO’s Industry—co-created by his brother Mickey Down—have solidified his rising star status. Down’s collaborations with producers like Jeffrey Silverman and Invisible Men (Jon Shave and Jason Pebworth) elevate his genre-defying sound.

The tender ‘Mrs Blue’, with its Al Green-inspired rhythm and vulnerable depth, captures unspoken longing. Tommy Down revealed: “The song was produced by Grammy and Brit award winning producer Jon Shave. I brought Jason Pebworth, one of the Invisible Men, a song I wrote about my girlfriend. It felt like a sixth sense and I wrote a song about that feeling. Jason suggested getting a sort of Al Green ‘Lets stay together’ beat for the track, which worked very well.” 

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