Summer may be drawing to a close but we're still feeling the heat from some of the hottest up-and-coming acts on the Townsend Music platform; from fluorescent alt-pop to feminist folk, there's still time to catch these artists as they break on through. ☀️
Larkins - JCOY
For Fans Of: Red Rum Club, Only Sun
Hailing from Manchester, alt-pop band Larkins have announced the release of their long-awaited debut album JCOY. They take inspiration from the likes of Haim, Bon Iver, and Daft Punk and have built up their fanbase through social media, discord servers, and WhatsApp groups. The four-piece write and produce all of their own stuff and dream of playing the gloriously grand Glastonbury pyramid in the future.
Their debut album is set for release this October and the band have just dropped the music video for their latest single 'This Is Gonna Hurt'. After touring having to take a backseat to the pandemic, the band are raring to get back out on the road and perform new material for their devoted fans. Catch them at a string of shows across the UK this September.
"A lot of people will have used this time to write new music and it will be amazing to hear it." - Joe Gaskell, Larkins
Pre-order JCOY on limited edition lime green vinyl and exclusive lime green cassette, along with other formats and bundles on the official store.
M1llionz - Provisional Licence
For Fans Of: Digga D, Potter Payper
Birmingham star M1llionz is due to release his first full mixtape Provisional Licence this September. Since he first stepped onto the drill scene towards the end of 2019, the rapper has continued to gift fans with big singles leading up to this full project. The mixtape features 12 tracks including recently released 'Badnis', 'Bando Spot', 'How Many Times' with Lotto Ash, and his latest single 'Regular Bag'.
The artist's debut depicts the ups and downs of his life so far. When announcing the release of his first full-length mixtape on Instagram, the artist wrote: "Drill has given me a good platform to showcase my talent, I'm trying to elevate the sound and make it possible for the genre to transcend all the natural stereotypes."
"I put my city on my back and I'm trying to relate to every yute out there grinding through their come up in Birmingham and the UK." - M1llionz
Provisional Licence is available to pre-order on CD and cassette alongside exclusive merch.
Before Breakfast - I Could Sleep If It Weren't For You
For Fans Of: Abbie Ozard, Bjork
Sheffield duo Before Breakfast are a band that have always explored feminist issues through the telling of personal stories, fusing their classical knowledge and rich arrangements with raw expression, and their new album I Could Be Asleep If It Weren't For You is no exception to this.
The debut album, which lands in early 2022, blends alt-folk with lyricism that touches on personal independence and feminism and explores shifts in perspectives, speaking to the malaise of the last "wasted" year. The two-piece are telling stories on their own terms and backed by two new live band members and as gig venues gradually open up again, the band are going for it.
I Could Be Asleep If It Weren't For You is available to pre-order on signed forest green vinyl alongside other formats on the official store.
Cathy Jain - Artificial
For Fans Of: Tame Impala, Disclosure
Hotly-tipped 17-year old Cathy Jain is on the cusp of releasing her forthcoming debut EP Artificial. The YALA! Records signee has already made an impact at BBC Radio 1 with her debut single 'Cool Kid' making an appearance on their Introducing Playlist and getting big on-air talks from Annie Mac, Clara Amfo and Greg James as well as support from BBC 6 Music's Lauren Laverne and Steve Lamacq. The rising star's music echoes the modernist pop of Billie Eilish, the production flair of Frank Ocean and Lana Del Rey's nostalgia for the recent past.
Cathy's first EP lands this November and showcases her singular voice, remarkable songcraft, and bedroom production skills. "In a word, my Artificial EP is about authenticity," explains Cathy. "Together, the four tracks take a look at how we define what is really 'real' when we spend so much of our time in our own heads or in a virtual world online."
Pre-order the Artificial EP on limited edition lavender 12-inch vinyl from the YALA! Records store.
Wunderhorse - Teal
For Fans Of: Do Nothing, Willie J Healy
Wunderhorse is the alias of British musician Jacob Slater, who previously fronted London-based band The Dead Pretties and will soon be portraying Sex Pistols drummer, Paul Cook, in a biopic series directed by Danny Boyle. The singer-songwriter takes inspiration from Tom Waits, Adrianne Lenker, and Fontaines D.C.
The first debut single 'Teal' is a mesmerising slice of arthouse indie-rock and a glimpse at what he's got in store for the future. Speaking on the solo song, the singer explains that the track was about a person that was very close to him who went through a rough patch in the past. A rare, raw and assured talent, 'Teal' is a fever-dream of a number, tumbling downhill with the brakes off.
"I think we live in an age where authenticity and raw, naked honesty has become quite a rare thing." - Jacob Slater
Available on 7-Inch Vinyl from the YALA! Records Store.