NewMusic – Most Wanted

Eve Jone

ByLuke BottomleyInArtist InterviewsOn09/12/202510/12/2025

What has 2025 looked like for you?
This year has been a year full of change. For me, finishing at CAPA college just before summer and then beginning to visualise where I stand outside of the education system in the next academic year before looking at the future and university or drama school in 2026, has been exciting and overwhelming all at once. I’ve performed at my first ever festivals, the main stage in Todmorden, two slots at Holmfirth and at the Garforth Summer Jam, it’s really felt like my music has taken off. My writing has developed enormously and I really look forward to showing what has become of me and my music in each and every performance I do.

How did you first get into music?
I first got into music through my parents both being exceptionally musical. I grew up with them playing together, my mum on the whistle and my dad playing guitar. Both sing as well, and with that influence on top of their love of folk music, I don’t think there could’ve been a world where I wasn’t as invested in music as I am. I started off playing the piano and did a couple of grades before getting ill with CFS/ME when I was 11. Gradually I began to feel well enough to play again and started playing what I wanted to instead of just what I was supposed to because of the exam. My dad taught me to play four chords on the guitar and I practically never put it down afterwards. It wasn’t long before I started to write about my thoughts, feelings and experiences.

What was the process for creating your sound?
I think for a lot of people at first it’s really easy to pick somebody else’s sound that you admire and want to sound exactly like them. I know at the start I’d listen to a lot of music by American artists and so would pronounce certain lyrics using that accent. I made the conscious decision that actually that wasn’t me or what I wanted my music to sound like, as I was so passionate about it being a true and genuine expression of who I am. I’ve definitely learned a lot about sounding unique, and I find I always sound the most like me when singing music I’ve written myself.

Who was your biggest inspiration?
I’ve had many varying people that have inspired me. My top artist is Noah Kahan, with his deeply personal lyrics and folk influence I’ve always seen a bit of what I strive for in him and his music. On a more personal note I think the people in my life that have supported me and believed in me inspire me to write and perform, even if I’m doubting myself.

Which song best represents you musically to date?
This one’s a tricky one! Because the song that I want to say is an unreleased song I wrote named Burnt Bridges and Made Amends. I wrote it after a friend I trusted hurt me deeply, I’ve always thought it captured a very raw very painful part of me that I think can only happen by accident. On “The Water and The Trees” it may be cliché but the title track really caught the way I felt about how short life is and the importance of not dismissing that the things you say you want to do might not always happen and so make the most of it. As well as the song being purely my voice and guitar, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Which song has been the easiest / hardest to write?
There have been a few life events that have happened that have just spilled out songs with ease because of the intensity of which I have experienced the emotion of them. I sometimes write songs within 10 minutes and sometimes it can take months to finish. Sometimes I go into a bit of a haze, like with Words Wrapped up in Lies, I don’t even remember the process of writing the song it just sort of happened and I was left with it afterwards. I remember playing it to some friends at the time fully formed as it was on the album the same day I finished it. I would say that the hardest song was Bliss Of Being Alone. I had about 8 different versions of choruses and prechoruses and verses and don’t even get me started on the time and effort it took to make the decisions as to which lyrics and version of the song I liked best. I’m definitely happy with what I ended up with there though.

Which song is “the one” that turns listeners into fans?
I think when I play my music live, especially now, over a year after my album released. The way I perform certain unreleased songs gets people invested. I think the excitement I have about them bleeds through to the songs and the performance. I can’t wait until I can record and show the world some of these newer songs. I do find that once people have heard The Water and The Trees, they tend to take me a bit more seriously than before though!

Do you have any favourite quotes/sayings?
I wouldn’t say there’s anything that massively springs to mind. Although in one of my songs, Indentations (unreleased) I have a lyric that says “I said if you value it truly you shouldn’t need it to always go your way”. And although it may be a very hypocritical statement, I do think it’s really beautiful the idea that you don’t need to control everything for it to be valued and appreciated.

What does the future of “Eve Joné” look like?
I honestly think I’m in a bit of a state of limbo in terms of my future. There’s no doubt I’m going to keep making music and performing whenever anyone will have me, but I’m looking at higher education and moving out, as well as thinking about what the future of releasing music will look like for me. No decisions are 100% made but I’m happy knowing that my music isn’t going anywhere and I will make sure to keep playing, performing, writing and hopefully releasing my music for anyone that wants to hear.

What are your next steps to get there?
My next steps definitely involve looking at the music I’ve written since my album came out and preparing the songs and myself to have a think about recording and which songs make the cut! It’s also important to me to get out there as much as I can and perform, as that’s what it’s all about really.

Find out more about Eve Joné here; https://www.instagram.com/eve_j_performance/

Kit Le Bihan

ByLuke BottomleyInArtist InterviewsOn05/12/202505/12/2025

What has 2025 looked like for you?

Chaos! I released my second album, “He Called Hex”, at the start of the year, and that whole thing feels like an entire lifetime ago. Since then I’ve pretty much been juggling working on this new album on and off with many, many, Uni deadlines, as I’m just now going into my final year as a music student. I’ve also taken on some of my first soundtracking jobs, been playing in our band Nuclear Fishing, produced some songs for other artists and, in my few minutes of non-musical spare time, have recently been getting into watching anime for the first time. So musically speaking it’s been a lot, and that’s not even counting keeping my own personal life in order! But I’m at a point now where I’m absolutely on fire with making and promoting my music and am just so excited to put all this stuff I’ve been working on out into the world.

How did you first get into music?

I had piano lessons from a pretty young age, which gave me the majority of my background in theory – however, I never really had too much knowledge or interest in producing my own music as a whole until the 2020 pandemic hit, and I was trapped inside with nothing better to do. A friend and I wanted to make some crappy Soundcloud rap as a joke, so I downloaded initially Audacity and later FL Studio to help facilitate this, essentially teaching myself how to make trap through YouTube tutorials. As time went on and I got more to grips with the ins and outs of actually producing music I started to realise I could try and develop a sound of my own, and eventually picked up the guitar and started writing more demos. Probably my first fully realised song using my voice didn’t come until “Weightless” (featured on my first album) in 2023, at which point I knew it was something I wanted to embrace.

What was the process for creating your sound?

So building on that a lot of my early works spawn from a weird cross section of influences – my piano writing, which leaned more classical and soundtrack-music inspired, my production skills which leaned more towards modern hip-hop and my songwriting itself which gravitated towards emo and other left-field online singer songwriter-y stuff. On my first album you can hear all those sounds kind of thrown at a wall at random since, while I’m still really proud of that record, I’ll admit I didn’t exactly know what I was doing! At this point, the influence of a lot of fifth wave emo and similarly online rock and shoegaze began to take ahold of me, and you can hear me trying to emulate these very noisy and chaotic mixes. Only on my more recent material, like on Hex, have I been able to wield these influences with a bit more intent. It’s also helped that I’ve spent a lot of time improving my skills on guitar and finding tones and mixing techniques that I like for the instrument – although, I should say, my next album maybe strays away from the guitar a bit more than the last couple and veers back towards the piano, so to an extent it’s like I’ve come full circle.

Who was your biggest inspiration?

Honestly, it changes every month, but I think the artist who really inspired me and pushed me to start writing songs for myself was Parannoul. I massively admire how his early albums were somehow made entirely in the box, with his vocals recorded on an old Samsung phone, and yet it’s some of the most emotionally raw and compelling shoegaze music out there. I know I’m not alone in taking influence from him, but the fact he was able to make such a resonant record on such a shoestring budget is a testament to how far music production has come in the digital age, and really convinced me that maybe I can do it too. I have so many online generation artists to thank for this kind of inspiration; Asian Glow, what is your name?, acloudyskye, Vylet Pony, even P.Rosa who I collaborated with on my last album – there’s an incredible wave of creatives who started out as just kids writing songs in their bedrooms and again it’s impossible to hear some of this music and not be desperate to write your own.

Which song best represents you musically to date?

Maybe “Softly, Softly”, one of the non-album singles I put out during the summer – I think it’s maybe one of my most direct songs, but it encapsulates a little bit of everything that I’d done up until that point. It’s got a dark and gloomy atmosphere, some super noisy yet blissful guitars, tortured vocals and lyrics and even some of the weird left-field electronics, all packaged into a little bundle under 3 minutes.

Which song has been the easiest / hardest to write?

There’s a song on my next album called “Ever Turning Field” which is by far the hardest song I’ve ever had to put together for a number of reasons; not just because it’s 8 minutes long or so but also because it’s a massive dirge of emotions that I still haven’t quite managed to wrap my finger around. It’s the one time in my career so far where I’ve put together a song that’s larger than life – it feels like I’m trying to confront something unknowable throughout that song, which I hope will make sense within the context of the record when it eventually comes out.

Which song is “the one” that turns listeners into fans?

I’d like to think my new song “I’ll Be There”! Maybe it’s recency bias, but I feel like people who might have been curious about or enjoyed elements of my music in the past, maybe even people who didn’t like my last album, can hear it and get the impression that this is Kit Le Bihan 2.0 so to speak, and that now’s the time to really start taking note of my music. It’s why I think it’s a perfect single – it’s got elements of my first 2 albums, but a new layer of tenderness and clarity that I think maybe they lacked at points.

Do you have any favourite quotes/sayings?

“…even if something is a lie, even if it’s fiction… If it has the power to change the world, then it must contain some kind of truth. Aren’t we proof of that?” – Shuichi Saihara

What does the future of “Kit Le Bihan” look like?

Aside from my own university deadlines, I’m currently hard at work putting the finishing touches on my next album, which will come out in 2026. I started writing it sometime towards the end of 2024, and had envisioned it to be my “rock” album, but as time went on it actually ended up being my most electronic and piano-leaning album yet! I feel like every record is a bit of a left turn for me, but all I want to say is be prepared for something different, something more gentle and yet more emotionally intense, something brighter and yet more heartbreaking. Oh, and some more weird genre combinations – there’s bits of synthpop, EDM, indie rock, folk, even a bit of glam. I’m also really hoping to play some more live shows – I did one which was streamed live on the Live forever twitch and had such a great time doing it, so I really think I’d like to try and carve some opportunities to play my songs a bit more in the live space in person.

What are your next steps to get there?

Lots of work and promotion! It’s no secret that it’s always gonna be hard to carve out a niche for yourself as an indie artist, but I really think I can build on the steady growth I’ve had this year and do something really special in 2026.

Find out more about Kit Le Bihan here; https://www.instagram.com/kitlebihan/

Sophie & Songs

ByDaniel PackhamInArtist InterviewsOn15/11/202514/11/2025

What was it like to be a student studying music whilst also trying to get your name out there in the industry? – How has studying music affected your musical understanding?

From when I studied music in college, I found my coursework was a great way to motivate myself to build my skills in both performance and production. However, coursework was extremely overwhelming, and I struggled to find the time to work on my solo project whilst also working hard for my grades. I wouldn’t change my choice to have studied music, though, because it’s helped me to raise my understanding of composition, the art of performance and has helped me gain a lot of musical connections.

What got you into making music and specifically folk music?

I’ve loved music from a very young age: I have memories of dancing around the room singing ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ with my dad from when I was two years old, to learning to play ‘Song from Bridget’ with my mum on the ukulele when I was around 7. Singing and performing mean the world to me, and if I could do it every day, I would. I’m not quite sure how I’ve ended up making folk music, as the majority of what I listen to is rock and pop with a lot of other genres in the mix. I’ve found folk to be the only music I’m able to write freely without thinking too much about it and how it’s going to work with other instruments; it’s just me and my guitar.

Who are your main musical influences?

My musical influences change a lot, but my main ones at the moment have got to be Sofia Isella, Ok Goodnight (specifically their vocalist Casey Lee Williams) and Seb Lowe. All create very different sounds, but all are absolutely incredible music.

Have you got anything in the works right now that we can expect soon?

I have a few pieces of work at the moment, but how soon we can expect them is a different question. I produce and record everything at home right now, and, with my limited knowledge and skill with production, I’m struggling to get anything finalised to a standard that I think is acceptable. With regards to producing at home, I find writing is the easier part, although it’s still pretty difficult. I’ve got several songs that haven’t seen the light of day because they’re incomplete or just aren’t up to my usual standards. Recording is fun but extremely hard work and I need a lot of motivation to manage to get any done; the actual recording part is fine but getting the best take and then all the editing afterwards as well as trying to compose extra instruments is so difficult and more days than not I just give up, leaving behind a project until I can come back to it with fresh ears.

What is the story behind your song ‘Love betrayed me’?

‘Love betrayed me’ is honestly quite funny, the more time that passes since I wrote it. I was in a very bad place and struggling with communication in my relationship at the time. I got it in my head and wrote this just a day after I thought everything had finally become clear, my anxiety overwhelming me and leaving me feeling like I couldn’t breathe right. This song became an expression of my anger and was almost like my voice of reason, trying to snap me out of the little delusions I’d trapped myself in. ‘Love betrayed me’ is a reality check up until the last chorus. A drastic change to the first two lines, flipping the song from a rational place of rage to one of hope and longing, almost childlike in a way: “Do you love me, do you love me not? Because I’m getting sick and tired of all these anxious thoughts.” Honestly, I could ramble on about the way I interpret my songs for hours, especially this one. I love getting to analyse writing and go over the potential meanings because a lot of the time, I still haven’t fully understood what I was writing about, or even better, the meaning of the song changes with time, and I get to look at it in lots of new ways.

What does performing your music mean to you?

Performing, in my experience, can be almost euphoric, especially if I’m feeling confident about my setlist. I’m usually extremely nervous and pessimistic before I go onstage, but once I’m there, I’m having such a great time getting to sing my heart out. Whether it’s covers or originals, in a band or on my own, I have so much fun performing, and I would love to get more opportunities to be able to do it much more frequently.

What’s next for you?

I have absolutely no idea what’s next for me. I’m trying to figure out everything all at once for both my personal and musical life. I hope that I’ll get to perform a lot more gigs, write hundreds of songs and release them (with good quality production of course), but I know I struggle to stay motivated and have been in a slump with anything musical for months now, but I’m hoping to bounce back soon. Ideally, I’ll be better than ever when that happens.

Find out more about Sophie & Songs here; https://www.instagram.com/sophieandsongs/

Slinki – ANX BNX

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/10/202527/10/2025

Bass that booms, beats that bounce – what more could you ask for from a high-energy grime hit? Slinki endeavours to make every listening experience one to remember, whether you are hearing him play for the first time at a festival or on the go. His style is recognisable by his complex rhythms and sweeping synths, and hard to turn off once you explore his discography. Performing in Bristol alongside big names like Nova Cheq, Sam Binga and many more, Slinki has no plans to stop anytime soon.

‘ANX BNX’ is nothing short of an “epic club heater” with melodies that captivate and a groove you can’t run from. This elaborate masterpiece is a hybrid of footwork, grime, jungle and bassline and is sure to be a hit at your next rave. An unrelenting track reminding its listener of summertime, dancing well into the morning, walking home while the sun rises and getting ready to do it all over again the next night!

If you’re a fan of high-energy grime, ‘ANX BNX’ is a track that you’ll find hard to ignore.

Find out more – https://www.instagram.com/slinki_uk/

Spencer Lee Wilson (aka The Dead Poet) – The Last Waltz

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/10/202527/10/2025

If there ever were an artist who illustrated the human condition so thoughtfully and authentically, it was Spencer Lee Wilson aka The Dead Poet. It’s not wrong to call him a poet with his nostalgic vocals and unsurpassable storytelling, in fact there are few other words that completely summarise Wilson’s artistry.

‘The Last Waltz’ is the third and final track from Wilson’s project ‘Only Human’, a project mirroring our relationship with time. The track is “about standing up when the world feels heavy, holding on when everything seems lost, and finding meaning in the passing of time”, and is the perfect dose of acoustic folk. Wilson uses creative imagery to highlight how fleeting our time on earth is, and that we can either worry and waste that time away, or choose to enjoy it anyway.

“In that final line – “then we danced the whole night through” – there’s a kind of release. A reminder that even in the face of time, we can still choose joy. We can still move. We can still dance – and without complacency, trust that time is on your side.”

Find out more – https://www.instagram.com/spencer_lee_wilson

The Exotic Ices Project – Neurorotica

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/10/202527/10/2025

The Exotic Ices Project aims to unite their listeners, break genre barriers and have fun while doing it! This trailblazing duo, consisting of Ruby Jones and Patrick Spillane, creates immersive listening experiences handling all the instrumentation and production themselves – illustrating how the creative process for modern musicians goes beyond boundaries formed in past decades. Innovative and experimental, there’s something within this band’s discography for everyone.

The track ‘Neurorotica’ from their latest album ‘Necessarily Unnecessary’ explores neurodiversity and autism awareness, and how we can break down the stigma within these terms. Blending rock with indie to convey the feelings of angst and truthfulness, ‘Neurorotica’ highlights the issues that coincide with neurodivergency and the impact it has on the lives of those with and without a diagnosis. Breaking down the boundaries around these terms means we can all gain a better understanding of the human condition, embrace our individuality and build a world where we welcome diversity not just within the creative industries, but in every area of life. The eclectic balance of classic rock instrumentation and honest lyricism pulls the listener in, and the sonic landscape of every song from ‘Necessarily Unnecessary’ makes for a compelling listen.

Find out more – https://www.instagram.com/exotic_ices/

Mundi Club – Merry Go Round

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/10/202527/10/2025

Mundi Club finds solace in music, “writing songs about life, death, and purpose”. The eclectic indie/rock band have sculpted their sound together, slowly forming over 35+ years, and write about their past experiences. No ego’s involved, just passion and self-reflection.

‘Merry Go Round’ is about the sad loss of somebody close to them due to depression, and the impact this can have on loved ones for years after. The lyricism reflects regret, and wishing you could go back and have that conversation – but it also highlights how everybody grieves differently, and how changing your behaviour can have a positive impact on the way you carry this grief.

The track itself has a rolling bassline, hard-hitting drums and classic distorted guitar in legendary rock fashion. The vocals hold hopelessness and mourning, along with power and growth, and that is what sets Mundi Club apart from the crowd.

Find out more – https://www.instagram.com/mundiclub

DuckLin Curls – All That

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/10/202527/10/2025

DuckLin Curls is a UK hip-hop pioneer, grabbing the attention of every listener whether it’s the first time or hundredth time listening. His lyricism is second to none, and his production style is inspired by the likes of The Neptunes and Mac Miller. Described as prolific and unpredictable, Curls takes what we know about UK rap and flips it on its head – the product of this is unique, refreshing and all-round addictive.

‘All That’ is poetry, making light of financial hardships. It begins with a catchy chorus but leaves you with a new outlook on the uphill battle that is our economic state, then lists each monetary issue we have while highlighting the false confidence we may adopt to help ourselves through it, alongside the grooviest of baselines and indisputable danceability.

Curls isn’t a stranger to highlighting universal issues, and his discography takes you on a journey of self-reflection whilst supplying the bubbliest, bounciest beats and inventive rhymes.

Find out more – https://www.instagram.com/ducklin_curlz/

Amaya – Places Unknown

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/2025

AMAYA, the mesmerising duo made up of Duncan Chapman and Supriya Nagarajan, mix traditional with experimental in their new single ‘Places Unknown’. The track “takes listeners on a journey of spiritual discovery” celebrating Lord Shiva in all his glory, utilising the serene sounds of the flugelhorn and experimental landscapes.

Duncan and Supriya make a brilliant sonic team with the use of Chapman’s flugelhorn and field recordings, while “Supriya’s soulful voice and intricate Carnatic stylings bring a rich vocal presence to the stage”. This unique combination is what makes their work so special, as it brings various musical traditions to the ears of a wider audience whilst harbouring vibrant soundscapes that speak to each of us in a different way.

AMAYA also perform their timeless bodies of work live, and if you are lucky enough to catch a live performance you are transported “to another world where music and sound are the only guideposts”. If you are a fan of innovation, electronic, acoustic or traditional music, this is definitely an act to look out for.

Listen here:

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

Good Good Blood – Seagulls Beach

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/202530/07/2025

Nostalgic and sweet-sounding, ‘Seagull Beach’ is a song about “superstitions, and imagery that brings us strength, hope and a will to carry on”. Based in the North, Good Good Blood (also known as James Smith) uses his lyricism to remind us that beauty is everywhere, and that there is happiness in the recognition of this beauty. “The red breast of a robin, the kindness and joy of a rainbow, seagulls swarming on a beach; these types of things often remind me of the beauty that surrounds us and how lucky we are to be here, even when we don’t always feel it.”

Good Good Blood has honoured his folk influences like Bon Iver and Alex G whilst carving his very own path in the industry, and has formed a reputation “for beautiful, affecting and honest songwriting”. With the use of found sound, he sprinkles everyday noises into his music such as birds singing and children playing for a wholesome, grounded and atmospheric experience. Like magic, he conjures up songs from his minimal, lo-fi recording set up and blesses the ears of whoever is lucky enough to come across his work.

Listen here: