- Words Notion Staff
Undiscovered is a weekly playlist sharing our pick of the best new music from the world's most exciting emerging musicians. You heard it here first.
"Cardboard Box" by FLO
There’s a new R&B girl group in town: wunderkind trio FLO fuse the old and the new schools of R&B in the instantly captivating sounds of their debut single, “Cardboard Box”.
"Downers" by Jalle ft. Issey Cross
Rising Nottingham star Jalle skewers modern Internet anxieties in a good vibes track featuring leftfield pop star Issey Cross, “Downers”. Jalle comments, “My school life definitely had an influence on this song for me, particularly how I felt during my school years. I always hated school and never really felt like I fit in. I always felt like an outsider and was constantly changing myself to try and fit in. Issey and I really connected over this and had similar experiences so 'Downers' was created.”
"Home" by Matthew Hall
Glasgow-based TikTok star Matthew Hall has finally dropped the full-length version of the track that catapulted him to Internet fame, a cover of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros’ “Home”.
"How It Is" by DEJA
DEJA offers a fresh spin on romance in “How It Is”, a track filled of love but with no love interest but oneself to be found. She says, “We love men. We really do. So how can we be expected to only be with ONE for the rest of our lives? It might be harsh but although he’s living his fantasy with me, I’m keeping my options open. Forgive me but... that’s just how it is. You’ll hear “How It Is” and think ‘romance’ and you’d be right. It’s a love letter to my sweet damn self.”
"Not Yours" by Effy
Effy cranks up the volume in a full-throttle new track that’s full of gritty vibes, “Not Yours”. She comments, “I made “Not Yours” as a nod to not being owned or controlled by any one person, society, stereotype or group of people. It was during a period of finding myself and gaining new confidence after dealing with some of life's challenges, after the world had reopened. This also for me was a celebration of clubs opening and I tried to channel the kind of music I had particularly enjoyed hearing out and playing at recent shows.”
"UFO" by Cathy Jain
Expectation-subverting, imagination-powered rising star Cathy Jain takes it extra-terrestrial with the new single “UFO”. She says, “UFO’, is about the end of the world as we know it: the sky is falling, the town is burning down in flames, and extra-terrestrial beings are taking over. You know when you’re with someone and you think they’re someone they’re not? And then, in the end, they betray you, and you realise they’re not going to be there for you? It’s made into this big, apocalyptic alien invasion story. It’s quite dramatic, really!”
"Deserve" by Black Sands (feat. Isadora)
Alt-pop maestro and natural collaborator Black Sands adds another to the list in his new single “Deserve”, which tags in rising Australina R&B artist Isadora.
"Lost Song" by Rose Grey
Fresh off playtime on BBC Radio 1, Rose Gray has returned with her new tune “Lost Song”, a raucous anthem ready for those uninhibited summer dance parties. She comments, “I wrote ‘Last Song’ about falling for someone on the dancefloor, just as the night is coming to a close – the sun’s coming up, the lights are about to come on. It’s that knowing feeling that it can’t last. In essence, it’s a love song to myself; lyrically I play with an inner debate I actually had in the moment about being strong and leaving a situation, keeping it as something short and sweet rather than pursuing a connection. It's an ethereal house record with a sprinkle of rave and a nod to Kylie early 00’s. I love it.”
"Like Thunder" by Orchid
Orchid launches her debut EP "Like Thunder" today, a six-track project packed with punchy pop hooks and uniquely experimental production, packaged up with album artwork worthy of a frame on your wall. Standout title track "Like Thunder" lands with a bewitching one-take video we'll be playing on repeat into the weekend.
"10 percent" by Charlotte Jane
Charlotte Jane lays it bare on the emotionally raw new single “10 percent”, a pop outcry at a partner who refuses to give everything they have in a relationship.
"More Than You'll Ever Know" by Franky Wah
Producer-curator Franky Wah has been tearing it up on the live circuit lately, and for good reason – his latest double single is an ascendant experience that plunges the listener in from the beginning.
"It Doesn't Matter" by Jack Cullen (feat SNØW)
Jack Cullen has been steadily building his reputation at epic live shows recently, and he’s ready to prove why in his awaited debut single “It Doesn’t Matter”, featuring frequent collaborator SNØW. Oh, and did we mention Questlove is on drums?
"Romeo & Juliet" by Bertie
Having been featured on BBC Introducing’s Oxfordshire strand, Bertie keeps the energy up on “Romeo & Juliet”, a new tune which brings a playful and light-hearted approach to that time-worn theme of bad romance.
"miss u" by niina
Self-sufficient rising star niina does it all herself, and the results are truly singular – find out for yourself on the immersive new tune, “miss u”.