Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, Neutral Snap is the pop punk powerhouse of the southeast. Their energy can best be described as a 2005 Gusher’s commercial, bringing catchy hooks, hard riffs, and nostalgic breakdowns to Louisiana and beyond. Recently, they stepped into Audio Pilot Studio with Rob Freeman (Hidden in Plain View) and created the “I Hardly Know Her” EP. The collection of songs perfectly captures the nostalgic pop punk sound with a little extra energy and production. These songs were the first time Neutral Snap collaborated with other artists as well, having Tom Denney (A Day to Remember), Fred Mascherino (Taking Back Sunday, Say Anything, The Color Fred) and others assist in the songwriting process. “I Hardly Know Her” is a fresh take on a re-emerging sound that immediately grabs you and sucks you in.
The first single off of their forthcoming EP “Danny ACOG”was co written with Tom Denney, A Day To Remember, and is a timeless story of unrequited lust packaged in a sugar-coated explosive musical missile with punchy rhythms, sharp hooks and raw but melodic vocals, hitting that emotional sweet spot between angst and youthful optimism. Their new single “Waltz” highlights that all too relatable “situationship” often found in romantic relationships. The band collaborated with Fred Mascherino (Say Anything, The Color Fred, Taking Back Sunday) and Rob Freeman (Hidden in Plain View) for the riveting release.
“Waltz” features melodic hooks culminating into a chorus exploding with unfiltered emotion and a frantic energy that is uniquely theirs.
Pop singer-songwriter Rachel Grae returns with a powerful emotional release on her new single “Safe With Me,” available to stream on all DSPs worldwide via Hard Working Records/Virgin. A heartfelt piano-driven ballad, the track tells the story of someone who has spent far too long bending, breaking, and shrinking just to keep the peace – the people pleaser in her doing anything for someone she cares about even if it hurts in the process. It will be a highlight of Rachel’s sophomore studio album, Turned Into Me, set for release this October.
“Safe With Me” follows the buzz of Rachel’s soul-pop anthem “Raised by a Woman” and arrives as excitement builds for her upcoming festival debut at Lollapalooza on August 2nd. She will perform alongside icons like Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, and Gracie Abrams.
With nearly 1.5 million TikTok followers, nearly half a billion streams, and a growing list of sold-out shows under her belt, Rachel Grae is firmly establishing herself as one of pop’s most promising rising stars. Signed to Hard Working Records in partnership with Virgin Music, the NYC-based artist is known for her unflinching honesty, vocal prowess, and emotionally resonant songwriting.
As 2025 unfolds, Rachel continues to showcase her signature blend of raw emotion and polished pop sensibility—both in the studio and on stage. “Safe With Me” marks another powerful chapter in a year set to catapult her even further into the spotlight.
Grace Davies’ debut album ‘The Wrong Side of 25’ is more than just a debut project, it’s a defining milestone, years in the making. This album is a bold, emotionally-charged body of work that showcases her growth as a singer, songwriter and producer. Packed with standout tracks and fierce honesty, it captures the highs, lows, and messy in-betweens of your twenties with lyrical precision. You can stream ‘The Wrong Side of 25’ on all platforms here.
Vulnerable, raw and fearless whilst stepping into her power, Grace Davies is her most authentic self yet. Grace has crafted a record that not only cements her as a rising pop force, but connects deeply with a generation figuring it all out in real time. With dynamic shifts from magical, haunting and heart wrenching ballads such as ‘I Hope I Never Live To Love Again’ and ‘Butterflies‘ to floorfiller anthems like ‘Hotel Delilah’ and ‘Super Love Me’ – it is clear this album has something for everyone.
‘The Wrong Side of 25’ is a collection of songs driven by painfully honest lyrics – detailing Grace’s fear of getting older, time moving too quickly and the difficulties we all face whilst realising adulthood. Alongside trying to stay afloat as an independent artist in a ferocious industry, and with TV talent shows branding anyone over the age of 25 ‘past it’, at the age of 28 Grace describes the overwhelming feeling of being ‘too old to be a pop star’ and her findings of life on ‘The Wrong Side of 25’.
After the emotionally charged “Pity Party”, Bulgarian alt-pop artist VICTORIA returns with her latest release — the introspective single “We Don’t Get Along”, accompanied by the spoken-word interlude “Crumbs of a Modern Tragedy”. Together, the two pieces form a cohesive emotional story exploring the complexities of self-worth, toxic expectations, and the silent pressure of living in a hyperconnected world.
‘We Don’t Get Along’ is a raw yet restrained track that examines the kind of relationship many people find themselves stuck in — one built more on habit and emotional avoidance than real connection. With understated production and cutting lyrics, VICTORIA captures the feeling of being emotionally drained but unable to walk away. Lines like “You got my number, but you never call” and “You’re just a way for me to run out the clock” speak to a universal experience of wanting to be seen while staying guarded.
Flying the flag for the Midlands, Trappy and Drizz GB team up for Champion Season, a six-track project that showcases their seamless lyricism and sharp delivery. Featuring standout tracks like “None of Them Allstar Remix,” “Stress,” and the energetic opener “Detroit Flow,” the project cements their status as two of the UK’s most exciting rap voices beyond the capital’s spotlight. With natural chemistry and a fearless approach to collaboration, the duo is carving their own path—and 2025 is shaping up to be a milestone year.
One of the brightest young rappers in London right now, Stepz continues to cross international waters with “Titanic” – dropped alongside the official music video directed by creative powerhouse DONPROD. The single and visual emerge as the final release ahead of his highly anticipated EP, ‘Good Influence’, dropping on July 25th via broke.
A mainstay for viral youth leading the charge, Stepz returns with his powerful new single “Titanic” – a bold, spiritual statement of intent wrapped in sharp, glitchy
percussion and a soaring gospel sample. The Croydon native emerges at his most comfortable and potent, delivering intricate flows as he weaves affirmations of faith with reflections on perseverance, purpose, self-discipline, and the youth-led spark to create real impact. Staying focused while rejecting toxic influences, Stepz stands firm in his convictions, urging a generation to find solace, elevate morally, and embrace their true potential. With a vibrant, cinematic visual directed by DONPROD (Central Cee, Nemzzz, Headie One), “Titanic” affirms a formidable creative force in the UK – led by Stepz, who marks himself as one of the most recognisable young talents in the UK.
J.Fla is a South Korean singer-songwriter, producer, and performer whose journey began with heartfelt YouTube covers that captivated a global audience. With over 17 million subscribers and billions of views, she quickly became one of the platform’s most recognizable music creators. But behind the viral success, J.Fla always had a bigger vision — to share her own voice through original music.
Now entering a bold new chapter as an independent artist, J.Fla is set to release her upcoming EP in late summer 2025, fully written, produced, and recorded in her private studio in Seoul. Blending alternative pop-rock with vintage textures and modern electronic flourishes, the EP captures her evolution as a self-sufficient artist breaking away from the “cover artist” label.
At the heart of this release is her powerful new single, “Stellar Paradox,” a track that fuses raw emotion with high-energy pop-rock production. Written in the quiet of her bedroom in 2020 and completed four years later, the song explores themes of duality, inner conflict, and cosmic wonder — a reflection of J.Fla’s long personal and artistic journey.
“The lyrics lived on my iPad for years,” she shares. “It wasn’t until I grew into the meaning behind them that I could bring the song to life.”
“Stellar Paradox” is designed for moments of motion and momentum — think night drives, workouts, or any time listeners crave a sense of escape and empowerment. Its retro-inspired sound was crafted using ribbon microphones and vintage gear from the 60s and 70s, giving the track a warm, analog feel that’s both nostalgic and fresh.
Introducing Little Dog Star, the emerging Manchester-born, London-based indie artist making her debut with the radiant new single It’s you. A dreamy track for “everyone living away from home, to risk-takers and to lovers”, this debut perfectly captures the essence of her sound – emotive, shimmering, and genre-defying.
It’s you is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Obed Padilla, the Oceanside-based Chicano singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, is redefining Latin Alternative with a sound as dynamic as his roots – spanning Mexico, Costa Rica, and Southern California. His new single, Broncos y Benzes, is a playful and vibrant fusion of Latin hip-hop and street flair. With sun-soaked rhythms and bold cultural textures, the track transports listeners straight into the heart of Latin America, alive with color, rhythm, and soul.
Up next from their forthcoming album Bite Reality, multi-Platinum duo Cafuné today release the record’s second single “Attack + Release.” The overcast, sultry ballad sees the band allowing the weight of their subconscious float to the surface, with contributions from percussionist Connor Parks and saxophonist Alfredo Colón — Stream.
Diving into their new release, Cafuné shared, “This song is about a crisis of faith; how people can lose their sense of self and belief in each other. Reject the cycle of cynicism because life is always a cycle of ebb and flow, here and gone, attack and release.”
Written and produced by band members Noah Yoo and Sedona Schat, Bite Reality will arrive on September 12 via SoundOn. As the New York duo stare head-on into a world of digital degradation, they ask what humanity looks like in an era increasingly defined by AI, algorithms, and artificial intimacy. They’re no longer running from the bite of reality, but biting reality back; their lyrics teem with brutal honesty, not avoidant analogy.
At the end of May, the band released the album’s thematic centerpiece, the single and video “e-Asphyxiation.” The guitar-driven electro-pop track confronts the cyberpunk conceit of “high-tech low-life” — the difficult task of remaining human in the dehumanizing world we have built. In the first few weeks, the single received over 600k streams, was used in almost 4k TikTok videos that pulled in 40 million views, was spun on BBC Radio 1’s Future Artists and much more.
RITA WILSON
“It’s Too Late”
• Rita Wilson shares a new take on the Carole King classic “It’s Too Late,” co-produced with Jenn Decilveo (Miley Cyrus). The track features guitarist David Levita (Lionel Richie) and was mixed/mastered by Nick “Squids” Squillante (Hozier).
• The cover was inspired by Rita’s role in the new Netflix series Too Much, where she performs the song in character. This show marks her second collaboration with Lena Dunham, following Girls.
• “[King] is one of the greatest songwriters there is… It felt fitting to cover ‘It’s Too Late’ following my time on set filming ‘Too Much.’ There’s a scene where my character is driving, singing along to the song. I remember being a teenager when it was released and driving around Hollywood praying it would come on the radio. A full circle moment!” – Rita Wilson
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
