Music Reviews – Most Wanted

Hannah Rowe – Bellevue

ByAbigail UnsworthInMusic ReviewsOn29/09/202526/09/2025

Hannah Rowe is an upcoming jazz vocalist based in West Yorkshire. After selling out a multitude of local venues and a summer full of festivals, her 10-piece band of close friends are now celebrating their recent EP with a new single called ‘Bellevue’. It’s a bittersweet, beautiful song which takes the listener on a journey of hesitant growth after friendship break-ups and growing apart. Rowe’s soulful sound and lyricism guide us through being young and learning to live, nostalgia and embracing the nature of change.

‘Bellevue’ starts with some enchanting, fingerpicked guitar and it’s only a few seconds before Hannah’s vocals flow into the song like water. A simply paced bassline then brings more reliant rhythm into the first verse and a lack of percussion at this point produces calm ambience with emphasis on the emotional vocals. From the beginning, this track is an obvious musical masterclass because we’re constantly being introduced to new instrumentation. So much energetic innovation is packed into this 3-minute song, yet it still upholds a sense of settled tranquillity. The chorus is vulnerable, intimate and is soon built with a swelling brass section and backing vocals which completely transform the song into its own alluring scene which still re-enforces that classic lounge jazz sound.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/hannahr0we

Rohith Sakthy – HASRAT

ByAbigail UnsworthInMusic ReviewsOn29/09/202528/09/2025

Rohith Sakthy is an award winning classically trained singer, composer and sound engineer. The latter is made evident within his new song “Hasrat” which explores themes of unrequited desire and deep longing for something more. Sakathy’s music is primarily shaped by curiosity, collaboration, passion and a drive to bring Indian music to a global stage. The use of complex chord progressions in “Hasrat” generate a sense of free movement throughout the song, meanwhile classical Indian gamaka’s ground the music in its distinctive cultural heritage. Because the song isn’t reliant upon static notes/chords, it’s independent and intricate as we’re pulled along by Sakathy’s vocals which acts as its own instrument. Rohith Sakthy is successful in his ambition to create art which resonates across cultures. He produced this track for Manasamitra and “Hasrat” received a special Jury award at the Tune into Nature Awards organised by Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/rohith_sakthy

Cuckoo – Waiting

ByAbigail UnsworthInMusic ReviewsOn29/09/202526/09/2025

Cuckoo is an up-and-coming rapper who’s celebrating the recent release of his second album ‘Orpheus’. Leading this project is his new track ‘Waiting All Night’ which blends his signature Yorkshire edge and hip-hop sound with a great storytelling ability. ‘Waiting All Night’ samples Rudimental and Ella Eyre but transforms that into a fresher and more relatable song. The narrative surrounds Cuckoo’s partner anticipating him coming home from the studio whilst she’s unconditionally faithful to him and his inevitable success as an artist. The song mirrors the rapper’s complex emotions as it constantly disorientates its listener by shifting perspective.

In the first verse, Cuckoo defines himself in his ambition towards his relationship and career. As a fully independent musician, he’s committed to mixing and mastering by himself as he waits for success. He’s also grateful for his perfect girlfriend who’s always ‘Waiting all night’ for him to return to her. This universal need of waiting for progression in different aspects of life haunts the song as the third verse leaves its familiar optimism behind. In its unpredictability, ‘Waiting All Night’ then resorts to heartbreak as Cuckoo honestly admits he feels his girlfriend’s incentive is too good to be true and so he’s still waiting for the right partner.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/cuckoo_cs

Tony Phorse – Austerity Chamber

ByAbigail UnsworthInMusic ReviewsOn29/09/202528/09/2025

At its forefront, “Austerity Chamber” is a unique, interesting track made up of never heard before sounds which scratch the brain in just the right places. EDM artist Tony Phorse describes himself as an “all round turbo rave lord”, he created this song in lock down whilst tackling constrictive emotions. It’s an instrumental house piece which literally sounds like it’s being echoed around a physical chamber closing in on itself, each beat feels like it’s being bounced off a wall and into the ear. As the song flows, you can’t help but move along to the funk rhythmic changes. Tony Phorse defines himself in the out of the ordinary, this is simultaneously a clubbing or chill-out song perfect for any mood.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/tonyphorse/

Fishing 4 Compliments – Hard To Please

ByAbigail UnsworthInMusic ReviewsOn29/09/202528/09/2025

‘Hard to Please’ is the latest single from long-standing indie-folk-pop band Fishing 4 Compliments. The song’s intro quickly establishes a quirky and optimistic mood for its listeners, then the vocals break through with more seemingly uplifting energy. The track does have some real depth to it when demonstrating music as a coping mechanism for facing difficult feelings towards somebody who will “chew you up behind the scenes”. It’s interesting how these troubled feelings can manifest into such catchy, quirky and bouncy music. The backing vocals throughout the song have a real The Cranberries feel to them and it’s clear how the band write and perform with live audiences in mind. This tune is a real crowd pleaser because finding somebody “hard to please” is very relatable, and now a fun sing-along too. Fishing 4 Compliments intend to share more joy along with the journey of their second upcoming album ‘Lost in Good Intentions’, and you can catch them at one of their many gigs across Yorkshire in the meantime.

Find out More: https://www.instagram.com/fishingforcomplimentsband/

Devon Salinas – Say It

ByAbigail UnsworthInMusic ReviewsOn29/09/202528/09/2025

Devon Salinas is a singer-songwriter from Leeds who’s investing more into the city with his new single ‘Say It’ which he describes as “the biggest stepping stone in [his] whole music career”. ‘Say It’ opens with some romantic guitar layered over jazzy percussion, making way for intimate lyricism and a smooth bassline to re-enforce that atmosphere. There are uplifting vocals about experiences of love, brighter tones and some background brass. But just as we’re settling in, the chorus turns to minor chords and a shift in perspective tells us that Salinas in fact mourns the bliss of a past relationship. Although the sound remains restful and calm, verse 2 indicates the downhill trajectory of love and its gloomy consequence. Fluctuation is a key theme to this track, as the second chorus picks us up off the ground and quickly moves us towards an emotional, intense string section then final guitar solo. Devon Salinas is impeccable in demonstrating human feelings through his music. This performance of emotion lies even beneath his beautiful lyricism and into the skilled instrumentation of his song.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/devon_salinas/

Don Gonzo – Quit Your Job

ByAbigail UnsworthInMusic ReviewsOn29/09/202528/09/2025

Don Gonzo are back bigger than ever with their new punchy psychedelic rock song “Quit Your Job”. You can always depend on a danceable, spacey tune from the band and this one launches straight into rapid percussion with electrifying jazz chords. Their driving post-punk riff seamlessly blends into some tension building vocals. At its peak, there’s a sudden pause along with the ironic lyric “my mind’s so noisy”, then once more the radical rhythm changes and we feel like the instruments are chasing the vocalist in a more action packed second verse. The bridge of this song consists of some stripped-back guitar and the simple repeated line – “quit your job, it won’t do no harm”, further emphasising the band’s message.

A new switch into the second half of the song turns it into a totally different musical direction with funkier sounds and a new melody. Don Gonzo provides a unique and unpredictable listening experience at break neck speed.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/ohdongonzo/

Hebble – With You

ByAbigail UnsworthInMusic ReviewsOn29/09/202528/09/2025

Hebble are an electric world folk band with a unique set of instruments, set upon crafting rare and beautiful folk songs from around Europe and America. Their new song “with you” reflects on the butterfly effect, how every choice and even mistake has led Sam (the lead songwriter) to his current lifestyle. “With you” has an alternative folk sound, beginning with four simple and full acoustic guitar chords, which continue to blend into Bouzouki, Bodhran and Cello. Charming vocals then relay “I’ve made some mistakes in this life but haven’t we all” which leads on to the simple refrain “I’d make them again and again as long as I ended up in the end with you”. The track expresses a very human and familiar message about getting lost but always returning to the person you love. The second chorus then intertwines with string solos, three-part harmonies and the natural, earthly desire to “take me over the hills, I’ll follow you there”. Hebble often utilise the myth and landscape of the British Isles to inspire a lasting warm feeling with classic singer-songwriter feelings.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/hebble.band/

Flowers – Mystic Mystery

ByAbigail UnsworthInMusic ReviewsOn29/09/202528/09/2025

The artist Flowers is obsessive about music uniting its listeners, which is made evident by their new song “Mystic Mystery”. This track harnesses music as a positive force to help people believe in themselves and always strive for greatness. Even before any lyrics, “Mystic Mystery” is immediately uplifting with an introduction of soulful brass over simple chords, at once the song is so complex but an easy listen. Next, smooth vocals explore defying a society which wants to question your worth, and how there is feminine community in inspiring and rising through apparent constraints. Whilst still maintaining a relaxing tone, Flowers then breaks into an interesting rap verse further cementing the message. It’s an unexpected alternative track, and a welcoming, self-soothing track to whoever presses play.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/fiestalaginger/

Joey’s Knuckle – Love

ByAbigail UnsworthInMusic ReviewsOn29/09/202526/09/2025

Breaking through the Northern indie scene are four-piece indie-rock band Joey’s Knuckle. The band’s name reveals the unpredictable punches life throws at you, with emotional lyrics layered over their fast-paced, evolving sound. The new single ‘Love’ further explores complexities of a messy, modern romance. It’s undeniably dangerous and their loudest project to date. Lead guitarist Fen comes to define this song as he drives us into the verses and chorus where the vocals gain momentum and always return crashing back with grit and a grooving bassline. Following this, the bridge encapsulates a conversational discourse between lead vocals and that familiar guitar. Then both parts cross over and build argumentative tension before breaking away into a final harmonic chorus which pulls the listener along.

The music is chaotic and volatile when it matches its intense lyricism, but the instruments do well to capture listeners and always keep us engaged. “Love” exists in its own complex liminal space, between an unstable relationship and its indefinite heartbreak. The band says, “we’ve all been through versions of this story”, a relatable need but not a want to let go. These universal feelings engrained into their energetic music is just another reason why Joey’s Knuckle are meant for a live audience. It’s intoxicatingly honest, and what everybody needs blasting through concert loudspeakers or their headphones on a late-night walk home.

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/joeys_knuckle