New Noise: April 2025
- BOOT - - - MUSIC
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
From energetic Indie newcomers and album teasers to punchy Art-Rock singles and debut EPs, here's a roundup of some of our favourite new releases from emerging artists this month.
Man/Woman/Chainsaw
There is alway a moment in life where you have to make a decision, no planning, no forethought, a strange, breathless decision. This is Man/Woman/Chainsaw’s new single 'Adam and Steve', a moment in time, the flash of a camera, the glimpse of the sunset, the look before a kiss.
Their drums scatter across the song like a frightened deer, chased by the skipping of a violin. Their lyrics are in the looks exchanged by queer kids across a youth group. Everything is toeing the line between a glorious escape and a crushing disaster, the layers of keys, and vocals, and guitar getting ever more frantic as the song hurtles towards its end.
By the time it’s over, you’re left reeling, unsure of your footing. The only certain thing is that you’ve reached a decision, to move on into gentle predictability, or to throw yourself into the exhilarating world that Man/Woman/Chainsaw are creating, one single at a time.
Words by Esme Morgan-Jones
Office Party
Infused into the grooves of ‘Tongue Tied’ are nods to the nostalgia of a simplistic youth, carried along a bright and bashful soundwave by punchy guitar work and toe-tapping drum beats. Hailing from London, three-piece Indie Pop outfit Office Party effortlessly navigate the classic arbiters of glimmering sun-soaked festival sounds, almost akin to the likes of The Night Cafe and The Magic Gang.
The single promises a well-polished clean-cut sound that truly makes an entrance as the band’s first offering in their discography; the trio may be new on the scene but certainly know their way around an anthemic, confessional fairytale propelled by sentimental lyricism. ‘Tongue Tied’ boasts a foot-to-the-floor chorus driven by intricate frills and energetic, infectious guitar riffs. Office Party’s vocal soundscape echoes with musical inspiration as frontwoman Chloe channels her inner Haley Williams to place a feminine twist on the dreamy, raw sound of Indie Pop we all know, and continue to love.
Words by Michaela Roper
Sasha Asaad
The incredibly gifted London based Indie-Rock artist, Sasha Assad has finally released her first electrifying single of 2025, with listeners beginning for more since the August 2024 EP ‘Casablanker’. The fabulously candid track in question, ‘La La London’ critiques the intensely high rent and tube prices and severe lack of support for those suffering from poverty in the UK’s Capital city, London. Although the song is tongue-in-cheek it raises severely important questions and does not romanticise the city, despite the uplifting melody of the song itself, with its punchy guitar riffs and upbeat drum sounds.
The beautiful juxtaposition of the danceability of the fiery track with the devastatingly real commentary of life in the city, perfectly capturing what life in London is really all about! The production of the song is tight without feeling overly-polished, as the track captures some elements of early 2000’s Britpop while not supporting the gritty lifestyles that SO many romanticise, with this song acting as an essential listen for a cultural critique. Live at The Victoria, Dalston on May 27th, this is not an act you want to miss!
Words by Ella Wynne
Gingham
Birmingham five-piece Gingham have followed up their debut track ‘From the Start’ with a beautifully woozy single, ‘Lucky’. The band tie together elements of Dream Pop and Alt-Country to create a sweet, yet melancholic sound.
A mix of dazed guitars and cello, as well as a trio of vocalists, Ted Spivey, Guy Bancroft and Charlotte Edgington blend seamlessly to create a sonic experience reminiscent of Alternative groups of the 1990s, such as the Smashing Pumpkins. Feelings of imposter syndrome and loneliness surrounds the track, as the group’s spacey harmonies describe being “uninspired” and “always wanting more”.
The repetition of the lines “When you’re not lost but you’re not found / When you’re the lucky one around” make the track feel anthemic and passionate, despite the comforting, tranquil instrumental. If you’re searching for dreamy, yet moody Alternative Pop, Gingham could be for you!
Royal Blush
Gifting listeners with another nostalgic taste of Alt-Rock flavour is Royal Blush with their new release ‘Cherry Cola’. The track’s pace and 90s-esque instrumentation merge with themes of escape and playful defiance to create a song that could perfect any summer soundtrack.
This track embodies the 4th release for the group’s upcoming EP ‘A Ways Away’ and the New Jersey ensemble have shown no signs of letting up. Al’s powerful and rhythmic vocals reveal shades of Hayley Williams and Jack Off Jill, blending 2000s Rock with a modern twist. As for the band's instrumentation, drum waves and guitar flicks give the track a dreamy vibe that makes it even more enticing. ‘Cherry Cola’ is a really fun song, one that gives us all the more reason to be excited for ‘A Ways Away’. Royal Blush. Don’t sleep on them.
Words by Cormac O'Carroll
Kymarcr
Kymarcr’s highly anticipated sophomore release ‘know*u’ has already taken the internet by storm, and rightfully so. At its heart, the track beats with a high-energy danceable essence, and running through its veins is a darker, industrial sonic injection that serves as a bold take on the traditionalities of Indie Rap as a genre. ‘know*u’ effortlessly fuses together the classic arbiters of industrial Cold Wave with a Post-Punk attitude, carried along by energetic vocal stints that fans of Bakar and Steve Lacy are bound to resonate with.
The track may offer a short and sweet lyrical exposè into a fleeting encounter between two star-crossed souls, but instrumentally bounces around the room with an incomparable vibrancy. Kymarcr’s charm reverberates in every corner of the track as he marks the beginning of a unique journey, twisting familiar musical conventions to offer a fresh, well-produced soundscape already bolstered by his online success.
Words by Michaela Roper
HMRC
HMRC’s latest offering is crafted with electrifying punk energy and hard-hitting instrumentals to explore the tale of ‘Frank Bruno’. Inspired by the life and times of the former boxer, the single encompasses a gladiator attitude backed by relentless vitality and strong drum work akin to the likes of IDLES and Bob Vylan. The DIY Post-Punk quartet have grown out of the darkest corners of Newcastle Upon Tyne, boasting grizzly lyrics and ferocious fuzzy guitar licks to provide listeners with an anti-establishment commentary on the wasteland of modern life.
‘Frank Bruno’ is shameless in nature, propelled by unapologetic old-school guitar work that combines Post-Punk sentiments with raw and brutalist lyricism. The track wades through the swamp of the mainstream scene to provide an angsty yet impeccably-produced rollercoaster ride as instrumentals cathartically ebb and flow into a raucous soundscape. Haunting at times, with cutting streams of consciousness lyrics, HMRC have crafted a song which confronts common societal fears, whilst standing as a powerful expression of their Post-Punk influences.
Public Order
Emerging Indie Rock outfit Public Order have exploded back into life with the sun-soaked sound of their latest EP, ‘HELLO’. The four-track assortment of anthemic tunes effortlessly captures the sentiment of teenage romance and gut-wrenching nostalgia, guiding listeners on a journey through youthful euphoria supported by fiery instrumentals and bright lyrical work.
The four-piece may hail from the bucolic town of Merthyr Tydfil, but they’re not afraid of making huge waves in the mainstream scene. The EP’s title track ‘HELLO’ is sincere in its nature but explosive in sound. Propelled by an intoxicating sonic aura and the fuzzy distortion of Indie Rock guitar work, the song encompasses the band’s recognisable soundscape that would perfectly suit a festival stage. Read the full EP review here.
Words by Michaela Roper
Eggcorn
‘Observer Effect’ offers ethereal Alternative Pop vocals backed by a dainty diaphanous string instrumental that evolves into a unique sonic landscape packed with grungy reverberations and powerful crescendo. The new single under the moniker eggcorn marks the end of a three-year break in singer-songwriter Lara Hoffman’s discography as she explodes back onto the scene with a dreamy expression of listener’s own experiences of shifting identities and making sense of the world.
Lara Hoffman has allowed ‘Observer Effect’ to fly the nest of her lyrical mind to lay the foundations for her highly-anticipated new album, releasing this May. Her track serves as a therapeutic tool that dabbles in arbiters of glimmering Bedroom Pop, as a sparkling string instrumental makes way for the singer-songwriter’s vulnerable lyrical work and empyrean vocals. ‘Observer Effect’ is enamoured with familiar storytelling tropes but pivots from the usual synth-laden electronic dimensions of eggcorn’s discography into a more gentle, endearing approach. Listeners are treated to beautiful versatility that showcases pure emotion across a pop-tinged Chamber Folk soundscape.
Words by Michaela Roper
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