Hello world,
We’ve got your latest FP Picks update with banging new tunes as always inc trx fm Perfume Genius, Kae Tempest, Frances Lion & more. If you like what you hear please follow and share this playlist, it helps us keep doing our thing by getting the algorithms on our side. Also please support the artists featured in any way you can!
Until next week
Helen (Futureproof) x
Wet Leg – catch these fists
Isle of Wight’s indie outfit Wet Leg are back with zesty new single catch these fists, taken from their upcoming album Moisturizer – a frenetic, catchy track which focuses on an “interaction with a belligerent man”. According to a press release Moisturizer, which sees all five members contributing to the album, is “fun and freaky and fabulous” and “it is an album of manic love songs and well-timed kiss-offs, delivered by a clan of the UK’s most beloved oddballs.” It also “contains love songs of every stripe: stressed-out, gooey-eyed, gratuitously horny, blissed out, obsessive and mysterious.”
ratbag – juliet & juliet
New Zealand artist ratbag has shared a romantic new single and states: “juliet & juliet is about that feeling you get when you’re with your partner in crime. romantic or not, they’re that one person who just gets you and can make any night better by just existing. think of it as a tribute to all the juliets out there.” ratbag spoke to NME about the inspiration for the project’s name: “In New Zealand, it’s a mischievous kid who doesn’t follow the rules, who doesn’t behave. I used to draw on walls, I was that kid unfortunately. I know how to get on people’s nerves.” We’re loving this slightly sinister love song with its captivating lyrics.
Self Esteem – If Not Now, It’s Soon
Self Esteem has unveiled her powerful new single If Not Now, It’s Soon, taken from the highly anticipated upcoming album A Complicated Woman. The song blends powerful pop production with sweeping synths and intricate electronic elements, further expanding the album’s diverse sonic landscape. A profoundly personal reflection on Rebecca’s pre-fame years, which were defined by excess and self-destruction, the lyrics delve into the complexities of self-worth, with her questioning the way she treated herself during that tumultuous period. For the song she describes to be about exploring the union of perseverance and patience, she enlisted the help of Lancaster legend Julie Hesmondhalgh, who delivers a powerful call to action with the line: “Something will happen because it has to – it’s not just perseverance we need, it’s patience.”
Kae Tempest – Statue In The Square
Poet, producer, playwright, and author Kae Tempest has shared the honest, raw new single Statue In The Square which features an eye-catching emphasis on rhythm, as Tempest delivers hard-hitting lyrics in a fast flow, making a nod to their early days as an open mic MC. It takes you into Kae’s world – marked by the inflection points of South London streets, and the voices they hear around them. It’s a powerful track that saw them team up with producer Fraser T Smith (Stormzy, Adele, Dave) in the studio, and which is our first taste of a new album due to arrive later this year. Kae states: “There is power in showing up for yourself and showing up for your people. I hope this song powers you up. I hope it moves you. Take courage my friends we got this.”
Decius – Queen Of 14th St
Queen Of 14th St is an ode to New York nightlife, from when the members of Decius would DJ in the old meatpacking district. There’s a taste of classic disco to this particular dish. Smoke. Sweat. Bass. Bodies writhing. This is the scene conjured by Decius on Decius Vol. II (Splendour and Obedience), heightening the cravings aroused by Decius Vol. I. The South London supergroup’s namesake adorns the cover; draped, dominant and Dionysiac. Paranoid London’s Quinn Whalley and Trashmouth Records’ Luke and Liam May luxuriate in techno and house from Manchester, Berlin, Chicago and Detroit, while Fat White Family’s Lias Saoudi drenches the tracklist in sopping, sultry vocals.
Barry Can’t Swim – The Person You’d Like To Be
Edinburgh’s Barry Can’t Swim is back with new single The Person You’d Like To Be. Featuring spoken-word vocals laid over an industrial, somewhat claustrophobic beat, the lyrics ‘there is nothing permanent, except change’ cut in over an unexpected rhythm, heavily inspired by the formative electronic music Barry grew up listening to. The track signals a more personal and ambiguous approach, further showcasing Barry’s skills as an ever-evolving producer and arrives after a momentous 18 months for Barry who has become widely recognised as one of the most exciting electronic artists in the world. Barry Can’t Swim will play All Points East in London this summer, alongside Lost Village Festival and Bristol event FORWARDS.
Steve Queralt – Lonely Town (ft. Emma Anderson)
Ride‘s Steve Queralt has shared new single Lonely Town (ft. Emma Anderson), taken from upcoming debut solo album Swallow. Steve states: “I’d been going through another Joy Division stage and so the rhythm and tempo were the starting point and, once they were in place, the bass part followed naturally. Emma follows the synth melody for the chorus, but it’s the bridge part that does it for me. Just after we finished it, Emma came up with more vocal parts which were too good to miss out on, so back to the studio we went.” The lyrics are about “revisiting a familiar place and having your memories jogged and remembering things how they were in reality and not how you thought you remembered them.”
Frances Lion – Castaway
Alt rock singer/songwriter Frances Lion recently shared the infectious new single Castaway and it’s a powerful rock anthem. The track’s tightly wound opening moments soon give way to cathartic instrumental drama as the spacious mix fills out with synths, keys, and hammering percussion. Yet, even as the instrumentation ebbs and flows, the track continues pushing forward with unwavering rhythmic precision. Frances states: “I wrote Castaway with my brother, Sam, in one of the lockdowns when it really felt like the world was against everyone. It’s about chasing a dream that perhaps sometimes feels impossible but knowing that the only way to achieve it is to take the plunge and keep trying.” A toe-tapping banger – loving this one!
Neev – I Put it in a Frame
Scottish-born, London-based indie-folk artist Neev has been making her mark on the UK’s indie-folk scene with her intricate storytelling and evocative vocals. I Put it in a Frame is particularly catchy, bursting with rhythmic energy, big drums, and electric guitars. Her second album How Things Tie in Knots explores the complexities of identity, heritage, and self-discovery through a rich, cinematic soundscape. With its sweeping arrangements, storytelling, and striking honesty, Neev cements herself as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary indie-folk. Stunning vocals and a great storyteller – a fantastic track.
Perfume Genius – Me & Angel
Perfume Genius has a new album – Glory and Hadreas’ songwriting — along with contributions from his partner Alan Wyffels and producer Blake Mills — is pristine, exact, deeply honest. The heartfelt track Me & Angel is a tribute to Alan: “When you’re with someone for a long time, there’s a way you want to think about them that’s hard. There’s a generosity and a kindness that’s hard to do because, it sucks, but the closer you are to people the more you just say it anyway. There’s no filter. If I’m in a bad mood, he’s going to know. I’ll hide it from everyone else, but he’ll know. But then when he’s sleeping and he looks so sweet I’m like, ‘Wait, I love you!'” Perfume Genius can do no wrong for us and this track is just beautiful.
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