Artists on My Radar (That Should Be on Yours Too)

I’ve been in a bit of a music slump lately. Not much has been landing, and honestly, I’ve just been craving silence. The kind that feels like a reset. I haven’t had the urge to write about anything for a while either, not because there wasn’t anything out there, but because nothing felt like it cut through the noise.

But slowly, things started to shift. A few songs made it past the filter. A couple artists showed up at just the right time. These are the ones that pulled me out of the quiet, even just a little. If you’ve been feeling the same way, tired of everything or just not moved, I hope one of these hits.

Oklou

I first found Oklou on Bandcamp back in 2020 and haven’t stopped listening since. Her music sits somewhere between trance, ambient, and R&B, but it never feels like it’s trying to fit into a genre. Her latest album choke enough is full of light, airy vocals layered over glitchy, emotional production. It’s delicate but sharp. There’s a live version of the album on NTS that’s worth checking out, along with a DJ set where she plays tracks that inspired the project. This album feels like the most refined version of what she’s been building toward for a while.

Sea Lemon

Seattle’s Sea Lemon has a sound that’s soft and soaked in emotion, without being overly sentimental. I used to keep her music to myself but that feels pointless now. She’s too good not to share. Start with “Crystals” featuring Benjamin Gibbard. It’s the kind of song that feels effortless, but every piece is so intentional. Her music lives in that dreamy space, but it still has teeth. Once I heard that track, I knew I needed to dig into everything she’s done.

Nala Sinephro

If you like jazz, ambient, or experimental music that leans into space and patience, Nala Sinephro is essential. Her album Endlessness is built from harp, modular synths, saxophone, and instinct. It’s not flashy, but it pulls you in. It feels meditative and expansive, like it’s giving you room to think. I keep coming back to it, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated. It clears a path.

Chanel Beads

I saw Chanel Beads live recently in Bushwick and it felt like being pulled into something strange and beautiful. The lights, the sound, the pacing of it all; it was immersive. Their album Your Day Will Come is one of my favorites right now. It’s got that dreamy, lo-fi energy with moments that catch you off guard. Think Blood Orange or Dean Blunt energy, but not derivative. The songwriting is confident, and the shifts in sound keep you locked in. It’s hard to describe, but easy to feel.

haloplus+

Copenhagen is on a roll right now. haloplus+ released Born to Sing and it immediately reminded me of something that could play at the start of a nature doc or a surreal video game. It’s synthy, textured, and strange in the best way. I started jokingly calling it “midi-gaze”'somewhere between shoegaze and synth pop. It’s not loud or obvious, but it gets under your skin.

Fine

Fine, also from Copenhagen, makes music that sits at the edge of electronic, folk, and singer-songwriter. Her album Rocky Top Ballads is her solo debut, but she’s been around for a while; she was the vocalist for CHINAH and has worked with people like Erika de Casier and Astrid Sonne. This record feels very personal. The production is minimal, but nothing feels bare. It’s emotionally layered and really well written. One of those albums that sneaks up on you.

Colle

I found Montalvo [TRU008] by Colle through a TikTok comment after someone mentioned it in a thread about ML Buch. It’s Maya McGrory’s solo project (she’s also in Chanel Beads), and it’s one of the most quietly beautiful albums I’ve heard in a while. Her voice is soft and slightly out of reach, floating over trip-hop inspired beats, ambient synths, and stripped-back guitar. The whole album plays like a memory you’re not sure is real. If you want something introspective and a little blurry around the edges, this one’s for you.

That’s what I’ve been into lately. If you end up checking any of these out, let me know what hits.

stay noisy friends,
xoxo
Saint Virgil