Editors' Picks

In 2023, some of the band members of McFly might be familiar to audiences through other media channels, such as The Voice Kids, Strictly, and their work as children's authors. However, the group has been a mainstay of pop music for 20 years, earning a massive following and impressive gigs along the way. No one has ever questioned their musical talent, and their latest album, Where Did All The Guitars Go?, is a great showcase of it.

For over 20 years, The National has been releasing material for our enjoyment. The Ohio-based five-piece has proven to their worldwide fan base that they are not just a great recording band, but also a wonderful touring band. With clear Democratic political leanings, they have often given their support to candidates in the last four primaries, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Nell Mescal is a young Irish born singer, with a very musical background. Whilst she has a famous brother in Paul Mescal, she is very much making her own name as an artist. With her debut releases earlier this year already gaining her critical acclaim, it is probably fair to say that she will continue to be involved in the music business for many years to come. 

Wimborne, located in Dorset, England, is renowned for its historical significance and aesthetic appeal. However, it is also the birthplace of Roo Panes, whose new song, Fairy Falls, is the latest release from his fifth studio album, The Summer Isles. Upon researching Roo Panes, whose real name is Andrew Panes, one discovers that Roo is a tribute to the Winnie the Pooh character, who suffered a similar fate of falling in a river, resulting in the nickname sticking!

Tom Santa is an Australian producer who has been releasing music for just under a year. During that time he has received critical acclaim, making some groundbreaking music that has received some very positive reviews.

Lewis Capaldi may have only been around for a short time, but it would seem strange to imagine a music world without him. With his big personality and comical persona, he has won the hearts and minds of many musical generations. He has the ability to be a performer with real passion and write some wonderfully soulful pop songs.

With one of the most distinctive voices and songwriting styles in popular culture over the last 50 years, Yusuf / Cat Stevens has influenced and inspired generations with his music. Since his period of devotion to his faith, taking his time away from creating music from 1977 to 2006, he has been back producing more of the soulful music his fans have craved in his absence.

The 28-year-old multi-instrumentalist has been a significant fixture of the music scene since 2016. With outstanding talents as a songwriter and performer, she has broken new ground with her material and has amassed a wide range of followers during that time.

The British rapper Slowthai made a name for himself in 2019 with his politically charged work, particularly around the controversial topic of Brexit and the then Prime Minster Theresa May’s leadership of the country. With a steady release of singles and gradual climbing up the charts, the popularity and reach of the Northampton born artist is now getting to much wider audiences. 

It would be hard to write a review of a Hozier song without a reference to the sensational Take Me to Church, that well and truly put Hozier on the international music map, back in 2013. The Irish born artist enthuses styles that have influenced his musical journey, with blues and jazz traditions certainly appearing to shape some of the structures and melody lines. However, he isn’t just a one hit wonder, as he is steadily building up a strong body of work that Eat Your Young will add to. 

The Swedish-born star, who started her career at the age of 10, has made a huge impression on the world of music since her debut in 2008. Now, at the still-tender age of 25, she is releasing hit after hit. Her most recent offering, "Can't Tame Her," was released in January of this year, but this latest release showcases an acoustic version of the song that deserves to be celebrated as a wonderful creation.

Meghan Trainor needs little introduction. As one of pop's most celebrated artists, she is back with new music that will undoubtedly gain her more critical acclaim, as her talent in songwriting and performance is seldom equalled around the globe.

Country music fans flocked to The O2 Arena in London over the weekend to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Country to Country (C2C), Europe's biggest country music festival. With a stellar lineup of performers and exciting new features, C2C 2023 proved to be another huge success - the three day event from Friday to Sunday is definitely growing each year.

If you’re a child of the 90s, you’ll know well about the energy that this girl group gave to millions. Arguably, their most successful track, "C’est La Vie," was a staple of the late 90s and put them firmly on the music industry’s map. "Birthday" is a celebration of their 25th Year, but there are other subtle messages that come through within the lyrics that need a little more attention.

Portugal. The Man has a long history together. The name, which may raise some questions, derives from a David Bowie concept that suggests that the artist or song is bigger than the idea. With Portugal being a country, the symbolism of every man and woman belonging to one identity is important in this notion and creates a wonderful idea for the name of a band.

BIA is a shortened name of Bianca, the Christian name of the American rapper. With an ancestry of Italian and Puerto Rican descent, she has a rich tapestry of culture to pull on when it comes to her influences. She signed to RCA way back in 2014, but it wasn’t until 2018 that her first EP was released. Since then, there have been regular releases and a string of accolades that are well-deserved.

Demi Lovato must now be classed as one of the superstars of the pop world. Having initially found fame in 2007 as a star of the Disney Channel’ ‘As the Bell Rings’, her career as a singer took off soon after and she became an idol and role model for millions. There are some impressive statistics too for Lovato to reflect on with her songs, her astonishing 5.6 billion streams and 2.7 million album sales would suggest an artist who is basking in her popularity and she continues to give fans some excellent music. 

Nicky Youre has made a lot of new fans since his debut, ‘Sex and Lemonade’ was released in 2020. This latest release is only the fifth single that has been put out by Youre (birth name Ure), but he has covered a lot of ground in terms of his songwriting and production that means that Shut me up will no doubt receive much critical acclaim. 

Hailing from Australia, Conrad Sewell is a 34 year old singer songwriter from Brisbane. Ego is the latest release from this album, which is actually the first collection of works he has released in nearly 3 years. He has an impressive CV as an artist, but he has also collaborated with some exceptional talents from around the world and commands great respect from those who work with him. 

Metallica have been a band for over 40 years, with a huge worldwide following and they need very little instruction. To date, they have amassed a staggering 125 million record sales around the world and can fill stadiums in most continents. Their latest release is from their 11th studio album, 72 seasons, and is already making a big impression. 

Lola Young is a fascinating artist that has released lots of new material recently that I have had the pleasure of reviewing. She is interesting in her influences, as they help her create a completely unique and fresh sound that is a refreshing change to some of her contemporaries. ‘Don’t Hate Me’ is her latest release and it is gathering pace as a commercial success. 

Sometimes, being creative can run in the family and for Gracie Abrams, that is most certainly the case. As the daughter of one of America’s most respected film-makers, J J Abrams, it is fair to say that she has a good pedigree in creating new and wonderful things! 

People from around the world will have heard the Jonas Brothers in one form or another, as their work has been used in countless Disney productions and their music has crossed genres over the nearly 20 years they have had in the industry. The 3 brothers, Kevin, Joe and Nick continue to produce new music regularly, and Wings is their latest single release. 

Mica Millar has been working on music for many years, and has gradually grown a good following around the country. More recently the 33 year old has been making headway with a string of critically acclaimed releases. Not only does she write and perform as tracks, but more often than not, she is the producer too! She is truly an allrounder in the music industry's ever changing landscape. 

Whilst now being in his 30s, the Masked Wolf is still a newcomer to mainstream music audiences around the world. This is thanks mainly to his hit Astronaut in the Ocean, that was a favourite of many in 2021. He has been writing for a long time and his experience and talent can be seen in his latest release, Never the Same.

Role Model is a US based artist, who even at the tender age of 25 has already reformed his musical career. Starting life as a rapper, under the pseudonym of Tucker, he changed to singing in early 2017 and adopted his new name of Role Model, and the rest as they say, is history. With an eclectic set of influences, we now see the influences in his work. 

Ellie Dixon is developing an online presence and energy that is seeing her fanbase grow around the UK. Originally from Cambridge, she is now sharing her music throughout the UK, with a city tour planned for May of this year. 

Niall Horan needs little introduction! Since the establishment of his solo career, he has developed as a songwriter and an international personality in his own right. He cites some legendary artists as major influences on his music career, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles have all played a part in inspiring his creative work. You can really hear these in his latest releases. 

Last year, Laufey blessed us all with one of the greatest vocal jazz performances with Valentine from her newest album, ‘Everything I Know About Love’. The only thing that could make that song better would be a full symphony to accompany the talented singer, which is what we got.

If there’s two things that go together better than peanut butter and jelly, it’s Maro and acoustic guitars. With her newest single, ‘Just Wanna Forget You’, Maro uses the beautification of the acoustic guitar to its full extent for a gorgeous track.

Cody Fry’s latest album, ‘Pictures of Mountains’, was one of the greatest musical achievements of the decade. It illustrated a side to pop that has only existed in imagination, a feat which Cody Fry made seem so easy. One of the highlights from that album, where the record takes its first turn, was the song ‘Photograph’. An orchestral ballad that slowly unveils itself layer after layer, telling the heart-wrenching story of one’s desire to live in their favorites moments forever. That song, touching so many, has been reimagined with Clair de Lune as a prelude, which only emphasizes the beauty of the original song, not only in theme but also as it stands strongly alongside one of the greatest classical pieces ever composed.

Once upon a time, Hak Baker was a member of the UK grime outfit B.O.M.B squad, but after some time away, he has come back to being a solo artist. His latest release is a great showcase of the undoubted talent he has.

Paramore has blessed us once again with a new album release titled This is Why. The band capitalizes on a softer sound, sounding elegant and smooth all the while maintaining the edge Paramore has been known for all their career. The penultimate song from the record, titled ‘Crave’, is not only a brilliant single on its own, but a wonderful way to prepare the album’s sendoff.

After seven studio albums, the British based rock band are clearly still thirsty for more success, as their creativity grows from strength to strength. Their first EP from 2004 catapulted You and Me at Six to mainstream audiences and now they have a huge loyal fanbase. With the band now in their early 30s, you can imagine that they themselves were influenced by the explosion of guitar music of the 90s, and you won’t be surprised that this song is a celebration of that. 

US rockers Paramore are back with their first studio album in almost six years. But trust us when we say, “This is Why” has been well and truly worth the wait. They may have taken an extended break during COVID lockdowns but have emerged stronger than ever with an album that grabs your attention from the very first track and does not let go.