In The Spotlight

Summer Bennett – “Just A Phase”

Hailing from Paradise, Newfoundland, this award-winning Canadian singer and songwriter has been singing and playing music her whole life. Having written her first song aged 6, she’s also proficient on guitar, ukulele and piano. In 2021 she won MusicNL’s Newfound Talent Contest and the 2022 Arts And Letters Award. She was also selected as one of just 15 female artists to perform at HoneyJam 2022. Often compared to Lorde and Kate Bush, she released her debut single “Carsick” in 2021.

Offering a teenage perspective of the toxicity and negativity of social media and the internet as a whole, her new single dares to hold up a mirror to her contemporaries. Taken from her recently released EP “One Thousand Fahrenheit”, the track starts with playful piano chords and develops into an infectious, high-octane pop tune. With a bracing beat, electronic runs and unexpected violins, it’s her formidable vocal range that makes this enthralling groove sound infectious and unique.

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In The Spotlight

Dominic Wright – “Picking At The Bones”

Raised in London and based in Brighton, this emerging British singer and songwriter was introduced to music by his father and used it as an emotive lifeline when his parents divorced. After his move to Brighton, he studied at BIMM. During lockdown he took to TikTok and started releasing a new cover every week, from Billie Eilish to The XX. He also got to play The Great Escape festival this year. Inspired by Lyle Lovett, Passenger and Elliott Smith, he released his debut “I’ll Be Alright” in 2024.

Singing about the emotional weight of feeling that you’re losing your identity – your sense of self – during a relationship, his new single combines the introspective lyrics with a breezy, indie-pop melody. Taken from his upcoming debut EP “Ghosts”, expected on September 6th, the track is driven by a throbbing beat. Layered with a laidback guitar, airy harmonies and a touch of retro vibes, it’s his lithe vocals that fuse all elements together with a welcoming warmth and honesty.

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In The Spotlight

Ashley Elle – “Falling”

Born in a small town in Wisconsin and now based in Los Angeles, this singer and songwriter’s love for music was evident from a young age. She spent her formative years singing and playing piano and guitar. At 15 she began writing her own songs and pursuing a musical future more seriously. Currently she’s balancing attending Loyola Marymount University with creating her music. Inspired by Gracie Abrams and Taylor Swift, she debuted with “How Do You Stop Loving Someone?” in 2021.

Taking the listener step by step through all the emotions that present themselves when you fall in love with someone new, her new single translates the butterflies in your stomach to fluttering musical notes. Carefully layering sonic textures, the song begins with a breezy acoustic guitar and is later joined by an upbeat rhythm and gentle keys. And with her polished, velveteen vocals floating over the enchanting melody, it’s easy to fall in love with this luscious slice of charming pop.

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In The Spotlight

Poppy Ajudha – “Girl Next Door”

Based in South-London, this British singer and songwriter grew up with a diverse set of musical influences. Thanks to a Saint Lucian born dad and British mom, her childhood was filled with Motown and Roots Reggae music. Singing all of her life, she wrote her first song aged 10. Since starting her career, she’s toured with Tom Misch and Mahalia and played at renowned venues like Village Underground. Inspired by Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and P!nk, she debuted with “David’s Song” in 2015.

Written about her falling in love with the girl who moved in next door and experiencing her first queer relationship, her new single follows her journey to self-acceptance. Trying to inject a more pop sound into her jazzy roots, she’s successfully experimenting with a new sound. With a lively R&B beat, joyous keys and sanguine guitars capturing the Los Angeles sun, where the song was written, it’s the dazzling depths of her soaring vocals that puts the cherry on this delicious sonic treat.

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In The Spotlight

Elliot James Reay – “I Think They Call This Love”

Hailing from Bury, near Manchester, this British singer and songwriter has built up a following of millions on social media. Recording videos of him singing 50s and 60s classics and impressing with his velveteen voice and vintage style, he went viral on his TikTok channel. Since he’s travelled across Southeast Asia, been busking in Australia and worked with The Stereotypes in Los Angeles. Inspired by Elvis Presley, Roy Oribison and Billy Fury, he’s now ready to introduce his original sound.

Telling the all too familiar tale of the overwhelming feeling you get the moment you realize you’re in love, his debut single truly celebrates the glorious sound of the 50s. Staying true to the retro techniques of the era, he’s used live instruments and vintage equipment. With a smooth piano, a laidback doo-wop cadence and gentle guitars laying down the melody, it’s his swooning vocal tone that will get the girls screaming and creates a timeless tune that sounds like a long lost classic gem.

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In The Spotlight

Yasmin Hass – “Won’t Hold My Breath”

Born in Melbourne to an opera singing German mother and a reggae-loving Jamaican father and now based in London, UK, this singer and songwriter is influenced by an eclectic fusion of varied cultures. Raised on diverse musical styles, she first got enamoured by musical theatre star Bernadette Peters. Since she’s honed a blend of soul and reggae and played the Wilderness Festival in 2023. Inspired by Angie Stone, Eva Cassidy and Olivia Dean, she ironically debuted with “Goodbye” in 2021.

Written as an anthem for the heartbroken, her new single reminds us not just to wait for promises to be kept, when we really already know they won’t. Staying true to her musical amalgamation, the song starts with a soft acoustic piano, invoking an Adele-like sense, before it develops into a more upbeat pop soundscape. With a lively percussion and multi-layered harmonies taking the listeners on a sonic expedition, it’s her enchanting voice that adds that special kind of sensory sparkle.

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