Listen: Rat Race by Reality Distortion

Opening with the kind of low-slung bass guitar Kim Deal would be proud of, Rat Race ricochets across styles and genres, as Reality Distortion weave together a tapestry of dream-pop, grunge and post-punk.

Inspired by a desire to drop out of the mundanity of day-to-day work, the new single acts as an invitation to embrace the possibilities of an alternative existence. With the talent on display here, Rat Race is both a reflection of Reality Distortion’s own experiences, and a call to arms for others to leave the safety of conventional careers behind, and see where their passion can take them. Crisp percussion underpins vocals that invite the listener to dream bigger, ethereal melodies acting as a rejection of the earthly mundanity of working for a conventional salary.

Reality Distortion are a sister-brother duo who have been making music together for almost ten years. Describing the inspiration for Rat Race, they said:

‘We all get wrapped up in the mundane, daily routines sometimes, and forget to pursue what is really important to us. We want people to listen to Rat Race and think about what leaving the rat race means for them. For us, leaving the rat race means continuing to pursue this crazy dream of making music. It is the thing in our life that makes the most sense, and consistently brings the most joy, so we're still doing it!’

The overall sound created by Reality Distortion blends together lightness and darkness to create something appropriately thrilling, as the song soundtracks the jump into the unknown that comes with embracing your passion.

Watch: Mint Green Vespa Boy by Superweak

Superweak is a musical collaboration between Gaspar Narby and post-pop duo Express Therapy. Born out of jam sessions in their Switzerland hometown of Porrentruy, the group shaped their sound during a week-long stint in Narby’s London studio.

The resulting sound blurs genres, as heard here on the single Mint Green Vespa Boy. Basking in a sunny pop atmosphere, the song has a mid-00s indie aesthetic that sits beneath the surface, bringing a dose of wistful melancholy to the song.

Mint Green Vespa Boy was triggered by a moment, one summer’s day in July, when a person flew past Narby on a scooter, triggering reflection on what could have been. The song floats in my ears like a daydream as Gaspar’s regales us with experiences not had and a life never lived. The instrumentation wraps perfectly around the vocals, lethargic bass and crisp drums conjuring a mid-Atlantic feeling synonymous with travel. The resulting is chilled and yet speaks to one of the most universal experiences — we only have so much time, and every moment lived represents endless ones lost.

Mint Green Vespa Boy is talent from Superweak’s forthcoming eponymous debut EP, which you can pre-save here. Check out the video below:

Listen: Crumb Giver by Vanessa Van Ness

Crumb Giver gives me strong 00s vibes, ARP synths and tense drums evoking the intersection of electroclash and post-punk that dominated my ears in that period.

The foreboding atmosphere and pitch blackness on this new single reminds me of Trevor Jackson’s Output label at its best. With dead pan, woozy alto vocals, Crumb Giver has a doped and disoriented feel to it as Van Ness lays out a seething takedown of a friendship that turned into something darker. Describing the song, she says:

‘Crumb Giver is about an ex-close friend who breadcrumbed me after we slept together—a confusing and painful dynamic that went on for years. I often felt like I was an object to her—wanted when it suited her, irrelevant when it didn’t—though in her mind she told herself she gave everything.

‘I wrote and produced the track at home two years ago during the fallout, then shelved it; the lyrics felt too biting to release. But when a friend asked if she could share it with someone going through something similar, I realized there’s a point when songs become bigger than the people they’re about.

‘Crumb Giver is an empowering dance track for anyone who has been used—romantically or otherwise—who never got to name the dynamic or say what they needed to say.’

The whole song has a taut feel to it — stretched to the point of breaking point, a threat that teeters on the verge of outright violence. That moment comes, sonically at least, in the song’s final third, with a clattering drum roll that leads into a wailing guitar solo. Vanessa pairs that with an instantly iconic line that likens herself to ZZ Top, laying into her subject as she sheds her own sense of not being enough.

Venessa Van Ness is a British American single who grew up in Venice Beach, California, in the building Jim Morrison had once lived in before he found success and infamy. Born of immigrants from Kent in England, her parents were both crafts people and makers, with her father believing music the ultimate art-form. Inspired by the DIY atmospheric of the Venice boardwalk, Van Ness began to make music. Investing in her talent with instruments was her way to offset her perception of her voice, which she saw as a weakness, yet is now a distinctive component of her sound.

Crumb Giver is one of the most thrilling pieces of electronic music I’ve heard this year, reminding me of the avant-garde work of Planningtorock. Check it out below:

Listen: Let Go by Foxako feat. AsunaSanchi

The latest single from artist Foxako, Let Go is a slice of French Touch, utilising bumpy percussion and layered elements to create something fresh from nostalgic components.

Whilst Foxako is based in Vevey in Switzerland, he has always shared the language, cultural and an emotional connection with France and the French Touch sound. With slamming bass and stabs of brass, on Let Go he has a created a dynamic and elastic feel. Filtered guitars provide a funky edge, channelling the work of Daft Punk, which combine with the crunchier feel more akin to the classic Ed Banger sound. Vocals are provided by Foxako’s close friend, AsunaSanchi, who lends the project an additional dose of human emotion.

Coming ahead of a full-length album, planned for 2026, Let Go teases the kind of vibrant kaleidoscopic sound Foxako may create across a broader tapestry. The intention is for that release to come with a 2D animated video, further expanding the canvas of creativity. Here, Foxago releases Let Go with a distinctive visualiser, with AsunaSanchi herself creatively playing a role in the overall video. With such a tightly formulated musical piece on display here, it will be interesting to experience what Foxako does with the space when he has it.

Check out Let Go, below:

Watch: Buckshot by Willoh

Opening with experimental percussion, Willoh’s new single, Buckshot, creates a textured, autumnal atmosphere as fragile vocals establish a sense of emotional depth.

Born and raised in Missouri, WIlloh records her music within her bedroom, using equipment purchased with savings from a job worked at a McDonald's in her hometown. There is a homely feel to the staccato rhythms and gentle melodies on Buckshot, but the layered production has a sophistication that transcends the song’s origins.

Throughout the duration of Buckshot, you can hear a tension in Willoh’s delivery. Her vocals at times accelerating uncontrollably as she loses control of her emotions, before stepping back, slowing down, and regaining composure. The song itself is a depiction of the struggle to find acceptance, whilst recognising acceptance itself doesn’t mean you no longer care. Describing the song’s inspiration, Willoh says:

‘Throughout the creation of Buckshot, I learned a lot about acceptance. Realizing that acceptance doesn’t mean you’re instantly unaffected by change. I went through cycles of guilt for pouring too much of myself out, shrinking, losing confidence, blaming, being okay and then not okay again. Each section of the song was written in the middle of one of those emotions, ending only to begin the cycle all over again.’

The cycle Willoh describes here is carefully and cleverly captured and represented in the song, creating an affecting and emotionally resonant piece of music.