Rising alternative pop artist Maxwell Knowles has released his debut album, Daydreaming In The Dark, a powerful and intimate 10-track journey through heartbreak, self-rediscovery, and healing. Blending lush melodies, dreamy synths, and deeply reflective lyrics, Knowles invites listeners to explore the raw terrain of emotional growth and vulnerability. Daydreaming In The Dark is now available on all streaming platforms worldwide.
The album opens with “A Message In A Bottle,” a spoken-word piece layered over an ambient instrumental, an audio essay that sets the conceptual tone of the record. The piece weaves references to other songs across the album, offering an introspective and poetic entry point into Knowles’s emotional landscape. From there, the title track “Daydreaming In The Dark” delivers a late-night meditation on longing, built on soft piano, strings, and a sample recorded outside his favorite Austin cafe. Songs like “When I Remember You” and “SEA (Forget The River)” blend bold, emotive vocals with nostalgic and cinematic production, offering both the ache of distance and the catharsis of vocal release. “Letters,” a genre-bending electronic ballad originally penned on flights to New York and San Francisco, highlights Knowles’s ability to fuse narrative intimacy with adventurous sound design. Other tracks, like “I Can’t Die (Without You),” dive into deeper existential territory, inspired by Sufi poetry to explore the tension between romantic love and spiritual yearning. The raw composition came together almost accidentally, beginning with lyrics written in a wine bar and culminating in a co-write that Knowles credits as one of the most natural and profound moments of the album’s creation. Instrumentals like “it’s 10:47pm and i’m thinking of you” and waltz-influenced songs like “Heal Holding Hands” bring contrast and warmth, reflecting the quieter moments of clarity and connection. “Can’t Break Me Down,” originally written for a film contest, injects a burst of upbeat resilience into the tracklist, while the closing single “Monsters” delivers the album’s core message: healing comes not from battle, but from compassion. Drawing on dreams and anxiety, Maxwell Knowles reframes his fears not as enemies but as misunderstood protectors, a message that has already resonated with audiences at live shows and now finds its full voice on the record.
Marking the beginning of a new chapter, SECOND CHANCE MUSIC; the debut full-length from Kentucky (Jordan Holman) is now available on all streaming platforms. At once intimate and unflinching, the record threads its way through hardship, accountability, longing, and newfound clarity,ultimately landing on a profound sense of grace.
Opening with “No More Tomorrows,” the album immediately sets the tone: a life once nearly lost, now examined with soul-baring honesty and hard-won perspective. Through songs like the pariah’s lament “I Walked In The Night All Alone” and the bittersweet yet buoyant “Same Street (Different Towns),” Kentucky navigates emotional terrain that ranges from aching regret to redemptive hope. There’s spiritual resonance in “Closer to Amazing,” desertlike desperation in “I Have Been Waiting,” and tender reckoning in “Second Hand Love.”
The album closes on the jubilant “The First Day of The Rest of Your Life”, a fitting endnote that looks forward with open-hearted optimism. Together, these eleven songs form what feels less like a traditional debut and more like a confessional rock opera: a deeply personal yet universally resonant hero’s journey rendered in melody.
SECOND CHANCE MUSIC isn’t just Kentucky’s story, it’s a mirror held up to anyone who’s ever lost their way, hurt someone they loved, or doubted if they’d ever get another chance. It’s a reckoning, an act of acceptance, and a thank-you to the unseen forces that guided him back.
Swiss-American alt/indie rocker Sam Himself returns with “Perfect Strangers,” the striking new single off his forthcoming full-length album Moonsongs; out this September. A quietly powerful ballad, “Perfect Strangers” captures the artist’s signature blend of vulnerability and confidence in a soundscape that’s as sparse as it is evocative.
The “Swiss-born, Brooklyn-bred” (SPIN) artist, hailed as the “King of Tears” by Swiss national broadcasters, brings a sense of future nostalgia to the new track—a heartfelt meditation on love, time, and letting go. His rich baritone is front and center, accompanied only by understated guitar work and ambient synth textures. The result is an intimate and cinematic listening experience shaped by longtime Sam Himself producer Daniel Schlett (Iggy Pop, The War on Drugs).
Though “Perfect Strangers” began as a full-band arrangement with drums, bass, and percussion, Sam and his producer gradually deconstructed the song during the production process. “The longer we worked on it, the more we found in less,” Sam says. “In the end, we just let the song speak for itself.”
Superstar Crush are a four-piece pop group that pack a punch and a backbeat. Taking influence from the likes of Blondie, Arcade Fire, and Pulp, their stage show is packed with fiery hooks, explosive stage presence and their tender – oh, so very tender – pocket-poetry pedestrian lunchbucket lyrics. They first got together in Hamilton, Ontario as the house band for a series of coffeehouse-social-justice-conversational-arts-punk-global-consciousness-high-school-casual-fashion-social-electric-9-volt-action-oriented events organized by Marzieh Darling. The nights consisted of globally-focused conversation followed by live music from a rotating roster of vocalists and friends from local high-schools. Chloe Butler-Stubbs, Sam Hansell and Truaxe Fox, sat in on bass, guitar, and drums respectively, and Marzieh frequently filled in on vocals. Between decade-spanning punk/indie-rock covers the gang snuck in originals that quickly became crowd favourites. The 4 piece was happily roped into high school basement parties and the Hamilton club and bar scene circa 2022, where their audacious good looks and uniquely pop-oriented songwriting made them local faves. As they graduated high school and learned how to drive and act normal they infiltrated Toronto, Montreal, Boston, and other cities across Ontario, soon naming themselves Superstar Crush after a local celebrity.
The group dropped a self-recorded tringle (triple-single) titled “Crushed to Meet You” in May 2024. The EP included three crowd favourite songs from their live set tracked on laptops in their former grade school – where they’re tight with the headmaster Tony Evans of Growl fame. That summer the band played monthly shows at their fave Hamilton venue the Casbah where Dwayne Gretzky frontman Tyler Kyte eventually saw them perform. After seeing them play at the club a few times Kyte, standing by the bar, produced a small hand-held noir-style detective’s tape machine from his overcoat and covertly recorded “Note to self: They’re ready.” He started producing the band soon after, recording their debut album in his studio in Toronto. The record’s slated to release summer 2025, kicking off a Canada/US summer tour.
Austin-based alternative rock musician Bee Blackwell continues to preview her new EP Nine Lives, arriving June 20, 2025. Written, self-produced and then recorded at the famed Sonic Ranch studio in three days during a sabbatical, Nine Lives is an inspiring indie rock-tinged tale of surviving through chaos and coming out of it better than ever. Today, she shares “Claws,” which features her signature brooding and gritty but fuzzed-out guitar work paired with emotionally charged vocals. An official music video for the track also premieres today, paying homage to a 1993 live performance from shoegaze icons Swirlies.
“CLAWS” is the struggle of being caught between wanting connection and fearing vulnerability,” Bee explains. “Expressing emotion is hard, being a control freak is even harder.”
Alt-pop singer-songwriter, Dela Kay, has officially released her latest single, “Between The Lines,” today—a soul-searching, guitar-laced track that marks a bold new chapter in her sonic evolution. “It talks about how unusual and confusing peace can feel,” says Dela Kay. “Reading ‘between the lines’ to self-soothe can sometimes turn into self-destruction. But in my case, my overthinking ended up being a strong intuition. The line between the two isn’t always easy to see.” Originally written in July 2024 at collaborator Nick Cozine’s East Nashville home, “Between The Lines” explores the psychological push and pull of vulnerability, intuition, and self-sabotage in relationships. “It’s definitely a vibe I haven’t done before,” Dela Kay shares. “It’s moodier, built around vibey guitar lines, and it might actually be the first song I’ve released with a guitar solo—which is dope!”
Gina Zo, a powerhouse vocalist hailing from the suburbs of Philadelphia and now making waves in LA, is not just a rock-pop singer-songwriter—she’s a beacon of authenticity and empowerment within every performance, song, and beat. With her bisexuality boldly declared in her 2023 anthem “Faking It,” Gina has transformed her personal journey into a powerful narrative for the LGBTQIA+ community, proving that true identity is a form of rebellion against conformity and that the tribe you ride with is where you truly belong. Her journey was further shaped by her time on The Voice as a member of Team Blake, where Gwen Stefani’s mentorship led her to discover a unique authenticity within herself—so profound that it brought her to tears after their first meeting, as Stefani challenged her to be more genuine.
Her musical influences, from the soulful strains of Norah Jones to the mystical allure of Stevie Nicks, shaped her artistry from a young age. Family moments with her grandparents in her youth were spent dancing with flashlights as strobe lights and singing into makeshift microphones laid the foundation for a passion that would later ignite her career. Gina’s early days were a whirlwind of homemade videos and impromptu performances, a testament to her unyielding spirit.
At just 18, Gina signed with an indie label in Philadelphia, where she soon faced the harsh realities of the music industry. Disillusioned by its darker side, she stepped away, only to feel an undeniable pull back to her true calling after a breakup that left her reaching for her lost identity. Reuniting with her original band, she forged Velvet Rouge, a rock band that embodies defiance and the pursuit of artistic freedom.
Velvet Rouge’s debut EP, released in 2024, is a visceral journey through Gina’s soul. From the haunting truth of being with someone you never loved in “Lonely Since The Day We Met” to the deep conflict of not knowing who you are or what you should be in “I Don’t Know Why,” the EP resonates with raw, unapologetic emotion. Produced by the esteemed Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey (The War on Drugs, Dr. Dog, Sharon Van Etten), it channels the gritty essence of early 2000s rock and ‘90s grit, offering a soundtrack to the struggles and triumphs of self-discovery.
Rapid-rising London band sounds mint unleash their incendiary new single and
visual for “Tin” – dropped via EQT Recordings. A searing call-to-action for broken social and political systems, sounds mint ignite with heavy-set drums and a rolling bassline to full effect. Comprised of Kelvin (frontman), Rudy (drummer), Robbie (lead guitarist) and Layla (bassist), their highly infectious sound waves and raw, intricate lyricism highlight the angst of a society neglected by its leaders; vivid reflections of greed, ego, and a toxic government, whose lies and manipulation seem a constant presence, continue to fuel the rebellious force against authority across the UK and beyond. The sharp backdrop builds up to an ear-shattering apex before settling into the chaos, their electric chemistry maintaining control as they plead for real change.
From empty pubs to the bustling streets of London, the frantic music video instantly brings the powerful soundwaves to life – Kelvin’s abrasive, all-consuming persona
embodying the mundane and absurdism of modern life. Cold, monochrome, clueless, and destructive in the face of adversity, backed by a generational ambition to break the system.
Speaking on the record, frontman Kelvin states: “Tin is a metaphorical representation of a man locked into the monotony and meaninglessness of his own life. It’s also definitely my feelings towards the powers that run this country, the monotony and lack of change in that sphere. The boys club out of touch, entitled man-babies who continuously control our lives since the start of time. It’s my struggle with keeping any sort of faith or belief in those who make decisions on our behalf. I think the only thing that’s kept me and I’m sure many others in the world from completely losing their shit and staying in a state of constant resentment and rage towards the powers that be, is pretty much a fight or flight response, desensitising myself to it all when it gets too much. Numbing out. Disassociating. Becoming like a tin man who just does and does not feel or think. Ignorance is bliss but the truth is always there plain to see. So this is my duality and my struggle with it all.”
NYC-based artist and DJ Lumia is set to drop her captivating new house anthem, “Heartaches,” on May 28th. This highly anticipated track marks her second release as she continues to evolve as both an artist and producer, showcasing her unique vocal talent.
Lumia transforms Patsy Cline’s ‘Heartaches’ into a fierce electronic anthem. Her breathless vocals and soaring vocoder layers collide in a thunderous, euphoric drop—delivering a breakup offering made for those who choose to dance through the wreckage. Heartbreak has never hit this hard.
Talking on the track Lumia tells us: “I really love music from the 50’s and 60’s because my dad would always play songs from that era when I was growing up. I’ve always loved singing Patsy Cline’s rendition of “Heartaches” and wanted to sing some of it on a track”
Lumia adds: “I love upbeat songs about heartbreak! They’re empowering in a strange way.”
Lumia is a fast-rising force in the electronic music scene, known for fusing bass-driven melodic house, deep grooves, and tech-house energy. Her dynamic sound has already drawn critical attention, with standout performances opening for artists like Chloé Caillet, ChaseWest, and Devault, as well as a high-profile set at the URBAN OUTFITTERS x Pinterest event alongside Tinashe.
Multi-Platinum duo Cafuné – musicians Noah Yoo and Sedona Schat – today announce their new album Bite Reality will arrive on September 12 via SoundOn. Bite Reality finds Cafuné in a more confrontational state. Lyrics that stare head-on into a world of digital degradation, the duo asks themselves what humanity looks like in an era increasingly defined by AI, algorithms, and artificial intimacy. The album captures Cafuné in a rogue and real state, no longer running from the bite of reality, but biting reality back. Their guitars growl; their vocals snarl; their lyrics teem with brutal honesty, not avoidant analogy.
The band today releases the album’s thematic centerpiece, the single and video “e-Asphyxiation.” The guitar-driven electro-pop ballad confronts the cyberpunk conceit of “high-tech low-life” — the difficult task of remaining human in the dehumanizing world we have built — Stream “e-Asphyxiation.”
Cafuné shares, “Every time you doom-scroll, you’re letting your phone choke you out. Wake up, check the feed, feel bad about yourself – rinse and repeat. Even the ‘good stuff’ on the Internet doesn’t feel fun or sustainable anymore. The world has never seemed more connected and further apart at the same time, stuck in a cycle of ‘e-Asphyxiation.’ Why do I have to prove that I am alive online?”
Cafuné’s 3X Platinum song “Tek It” surpassed 1 billion streams in part due to its cultural moment on TikTok, making SoundOn a fitting release partner for the band’s new music about the pitfalls of the internet. Since 2022, the song has received its own Fortnite emote, and was sampled in Lil Uzi Vert’s single “Red Moon.” After their journey the last ten years, Cafuné are prepared to face themselves, the world around them, and bite back.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
Source: OutLoud! Culture – outloudculture.com
