Simon Lucas-Hughes

Jak Lizard has never been an artist interested in musical boundaries, and Vulnerable Forms reinforces that reputation with confidence and emotional clarity. Across its runtime, the album blends indie rock, lo-fi pop, folk, soul and Americana into a sound that feels expansive yet grounded, and at points intimate and reflective thanks to its boxy, inventive production, which is as comparable to Bon Iver as it is to Mk.gee thanks to the modulation drenched guitar tones and lo-fi treatments.

Brooklyn-born artist Kenjah blends reggae, Afrobeats, R&B, and pop influences in a vibrant celebration of love, culture, and self-expression.

British songwriter and composer Michael Waters returns with ‘Requiem For Earth’, a moving new single that shifts his songwriting focus from personal romance to a much wider subject: the planet we all share.

South East London art-rock outfit Black Bordello have announced their forthcoming EP Midheaven Tempest, arriving on 18th September 2026 via AWAL, alongside the release of its striking first single, ‘Fugue’.

After 15 years between albums, Time in the Light arrives not as an exercise in nostalgia but as the sound of a band returning with renewed purpose. Strawhouses have spent the intervening years reshaping ideas that first emerged in the late 2000s, transforming them into something far more ambitious than a simple collection of revisited songs. The result is an album that feels patient and considered, carrying the weight of time without ever being weighed down by it.

London-based art-rock collective This Is The Deep have announced details of their ambitious debut album, Everything (Dick Herman, The Whale, and The End Of The Beginning), due for release on November 11 via 5dB Records, alongside the arrival of its kaleidoscopic new single, ‘I’m Making’.

Twenty years of Latitude Festival. It’s a festival that is close to my heart. Review by Simon Lucas-Hughes with photos by Adam Wiliams

Norwegian alt-pop artist MIIA has unveiled her long-awaited debut album, Huldra, a richly atmospheric collection inspired by one of Scandinavia’s most enduring legends. Released on July 13, 2026, the 13-track record marks a defining moment in the singer-songwriter’s career, weaving together themes of personal freedom, femininity, nature, healing and self-acceptance.

Singer-songwriter Chris Pannella has released his deeply personal new single, ‘Holdin On,’ an emotional tribute to friendship, loss, and the memories that continue to shape us long after someone is gone.

A cinematic blend of pop, electro-pop, fantasy, and emotional storytelling, ‘INIT’ serves as both an introduction and a transformation. Across five tracks, the project captures a pivotal chapter in The Kountess’ artistic journey, exploring themes of self-discovery, introspection, and emotional duality.