Album: City of the Sun – Under the Moon
On their third full-length record, City of the Sun celebrate their growth as musicians of the world, using global influences to tell stories through their songs.
Will Sisskind
Single: Bending Backwards – I See You From Here
Copenhagen trio’s debut single, though a sonic onslaught, takes tender steps to showcase the intimacy and distance present in fledgling romance.
Single: Lunar Bird – The Things We Used To
The Italian dream pop duo from Wales returns with their second single of 2026, capturing through springy synths the tension at the end of a relationship.
Single: ELIKSA – Never Enough
ELIKSA puts themselves on the map with slacker rock from Brighton that transports the heads of “escape artists and daydreamers” to new heights in the clouds.
Album: Thin Lear – Many Disappeared
Thin Lear’s Matt Longo taps into the otherworldly to process loss and loneliness on a superb yet bittersweet sophomore album.
Single: Lozenge – Bird’s-Eye View
Leeds-based shoegaze crew drops single number three in 2026, a crushing soundtrack for a battle against oneself.
Single: Kel Cohen – Hold You
Kel’s debut single is dedicated to the people she loves most, and a shot of love and joy for anyone who could use some.
Album: St.Arnaud – S/T
Setting words of heartbreak to smooth jazz turns cynicism into celebration on St.Arnaud’s third LP, their first as a full band.
Album: Shapes Like People – Under The Rainbow
Shapes Like People return with their second album, an evolution of the first, with jangle pop mastery hitting every hue, brightness, and shadow on the spectrum.
Single: Hollowblades – Slow Decay
Heavy guitars churn over lyrics that evoke images of spirits singing from the warped signal of a lost video tape in Hollowblades’ new single.
Single: Paycheque – Generic Actress
On the lead single from their upcoming debut LP, Paycheque add a layer of gloss to symbolize making the best out of the bad situations that come with life in LA.
Single: Elizabeth and the Catapult – Responsible Friend
Channeling mid-2000s shiny pop and vulnerable lyrics, the title track from Elizabeth Ziman’s sixth album will attract new listeners to her two decades of work.
Cherub Dream Records’ “Lucky Three”: The split EP for your next California road trip
Three bands – Natasha Sandworms, Christina’s Trip, and Mox – team up to craft a soundtrack for driving down the Golden State’s winding highways.
Single: Tomdahomie – Ego
Melbourne alt-pop contrasts a catchy guitar and bouncy beat with timely lyrics calling out toxic masculinity.
Single: Khyla – Too Big for a Small World
Khyla Granstrom’s second single will punch you in the face and heart with vocal layers singing of vulnerability and lingering trauma.
EP: Midnight Soup Opera – S/T
Ardent readers will note that our very own Joshua Cotrim of Brazil isn’t just a
Single: eilonwy – easier
Warmth and light exist as the destination in eilonwy’s new track, through which she guides us through and away from darkness.
Single: Heavy Water – Never Be A Saint
Solid pop-punk from the Texas panhandle, Heavy Water’s Mitch Rambo reflects on the importance of staying humble.
Single: Stephen Becker – Careless
High fuzz and wordplay accompanies high-octane pain on Becker’s second single from his upcoming album