Hello world,
Get ready for this week’s FP Picks update with great new music as always inc trx fm Peter Doherty, Blondshell, Mariel Buckley & many more. If you like what you hear please follow and share this playlist, it helps us keep doing our thing by getting the algorithms on our side. Also please support the artists featured in any way you can!
Until next week
Helen (Futureproof) x
Blondshell – 23’s A Baby
Blondshell recently shared reflective new single 23’s A Baby, taken from the upcoming album If You Asked For A Picture. “The song is partially about being in your 20s and feeling like you’re supposed to know everything (your parents even had kids around that age!) yet you’re truly in the weeds trying to figure out who you are,” Sabrina Teitelbaum said about the inspiration. “I wanted it to have a bit of a nursery rhyme feel. It’s a heavy subject so it was important to have fun when we made it.” It’s a wistful, upbeat guitar song where Blondshell teeters between resentment and admiration, coming to some sort of acceptance about familial trauma.
Strange Pink – Pencil Chewer
East Yorkshire’s freshest new indie rock phenomenon Strange Pink come straight out the starting blocks with the debut single Pencil Chewer – a bright and uplifting indie belter that neatly fuses indie-pop and rock vibes to great effect. With its psych guitar lines and upbeat production, the track spins a story of woe and destruction based on the character Aaron from Shakespeare’s play Titus Andronicus and his bullying behaviour, while in pursuit of pleasure and power at the expense of his subjects, even his sons and daughters! Strange Pink are set to burst onto the scene this summer with a string of singles leading up to the release of their debut EP Out Of Focus in August. On it are a superb mix of slacker, lo-fi and post-grunge vibes that reflect each member’s deep understanding of the genre.
The Avenues – Insomniac
Explosive Hull 5-piece indie-rock outfit The Avenues share their highly relatable new single Insomniac. Produced by Embrace keyboardist Mickey Dale at his Bradford based studio The Cellar of Dreams, this guitar led indie gem with its anthemic chorus channels the energy of bands like Interpol, Reverend And The Makers, The Walkmen & alike. Lead vocalist Tom says of the track “Insomniac is exciting to perform live as audiences really pick up on its energy. Lyrically, the track explores the inner conflict between understanding the importance of being politically informed & maintaining your relationships with friends while also recognising the need to escape doom scrolling, social fatigue & burnout at times”.
Sleuth Gang – Safe Bet
Gritty Leeds based punk-rappers, the 7-piece Sleuth Gang, follow last year’s debut EP Initiation (supported by BBC Radio 1’s Alyx Holcombe & Introducing’s Jericho Keys), with the release of their new single Safe Bet – an emotionally charged indie-rock gem that dives headlong into the chaos of toxic relationships. With its infectious chorus hook & slammin’ groove, the track channels lived experiences from each of the band’s three vocalists, focusing on controlling & disrespectful behaviour, through to people pleasing, self-sabotage & the resulting overwhelming sense of desperation when caught in a cycle of emotional manipulation.
Bug Teeth – Topiary
Experimental 5-piece Bug Teeth snarl through grief in the frenzied psychedelic rock track Topiary. Buzzing synthesizers meet raucous guitar in the hazy Topiary, the rhythmic foundation providing a searing contrast to PJ Johnson’s dreamy vocals. Shaded by an ethereal shroud, Johnson’s voice ricochets off of the invigorating rock landscape. Full of anger and sadness alike, the song pays homage to the dueling feelings within grief after Johnson suddenly lost their mother in 2021. “Imagining life as walking down a corridor, the song sees life changing naturally towards death, growing around grief like a tree. Referencing the work of artist Ivor Abrahams, the lyrics take familiar images of the natural world, and twist the meaning into something more surreal and disturbing,” Johnson says.
Peter Doherty – Pot Of Gold
Peter Doherty has just released his warm, witty new song Pot Of Gold, taken from his fifth solo album, Felt Better Alive; a gorgeous collection of poetic vignettes; acoustic and orchestral, indie-folk and country. With soaring strings, buoyant riffs, quirky harmonies, and charming slanted hooks, it’s a darkly joyous earworm. The fatherly love shines through every note. This authentic track reflects the muses still channelling through Doherty’s voice. Peter says of the track: “After Billie-May was old enough to move about, it became difficult to get five minutes alone at home with the guitar. So, the only way to do it is to engage her. I’d sing her lullabies, about things she likes, a teddy, and in the end she’d join in and dance along. Rather than, ‘shurrup, I’m trying to write’ or run away to a different room. Get her involved!”
Morgana – Nothing Kills A Party Like A Song
Irish singer-songwriter Morgana has shared beautiful new single Nothing Kills A Party Like A Song, taken from the upcoming debut EP Party Killer. Opening with a subdued piano line before growing with the addition of minimal string accompaniment midway through the first verse, the track sees Morgana detail the difficulty of translating life on the road with her former band Saint Sister, to quiet nights in on the couch, yearning for the attention that live shows bring, and searching high and low for something that will bring her that indescribable feeling of adrenaline. Inspired by 80’s synth pop and Italo disco, the EP’s main focus is to have fun.
Alan Sparhawk – Not Broken (ft. Trampled by Turtles)
It means something for Alan Sparhawk to have a song called Not Broken. In 2022, Sparhawk lost his wife and Low bandmate Mimi Parker to cancer. On this track, Sparhawk and his daughter Hollis sing over Trampled By Turtles’ hushed, ornate folk. Hollis sounds uncannily like Mimi Parker, and the counterpoint of those two verses recalls Low in some intensely evocative ways. Its repetitive structure does not dull its impact, but rather enhances the emotional weight of the vocals. It’s one of those rare tracks that invites the listener to imagine the story beyond the lyrics, and to fill in the blanks of pain, loss, and resilience that would underpin such a tender exchange.
Wednesday – Elderberry Wine
On Wednesday‘s new single Elderberry Wine, Karly Hartzman is drowning in the apple-bobbing barrel, suffocated by small-town life. The track drops the shoegazey noise of previous Wednesday records, veering more towards their country side with a heavy dose of pedal steel and twangy vocal harmonies. What’s stayed the same, however, is Karly’s penchant for uncannily-heartwarming lyrics: “Say I wanna have your baby/ ‘Cause I freckle and you tan/ I find comfort that angels don’t give a damn.” She states: “Elderberry Wine is about the potential for sweet things in life (love, family, success) to become poison if not prepared for and attended to correctly.”
Mariel Buckley – Vending Machines
Mariel Buckley has shared new single Vending Machines which signals a fresh chapter, both musically and personally. While listeners will recognise hints of her signature darker tones and themes, the track sees her exploring a heavier sonic territory. As she explains, “I was itching to try something a little heavier than my previous stuff. I wanted to move away from synths and keys in general, citing references from indie rock, pop music, and alt-country.” The track immediately grabs you with an inviting pedal steel line, underpinned by a steady beat that establishes a deep, compelling groove. A touch of rustic charm comes from the jangly acoustic guitar work, complementing Buckley’s smooth, melancholic vocals. Her vivid, storytelling lyrics draw you into the song’s world, unfolding like a short film with each line.
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