Five new songs landed on our radar this week, and between them they cover heartbreak, forbidden romance, and one very specific old Toyota. Here's what's worth listening to before Friday hits.
‘Fears + Troubles’ — Sienna Wileman
Sienna Wileman has been writing songs since she was seven, which sounds like a cute fact until you actually hear ‘Fears + Troubles’ and realise the kid clearly knew what she was doing. Over the years, she's built a sound that sits somewhere between indie folk and dark-pop, and her latest single leans into that tension, with enough softness to feel confessional. Every lyric is pulled straight from her own life, and is relatable to anyone navigating the depths of a relationship. The track is accompanied by a fully DIY-made music video, another reminder of why I love discovering smaller, independent artists.
‘She's at it again’ — Kyle O
Glasgow-born and raised Kyle O has been gigging since he was 14 and has picked up a proper cult following at home along the way. It’s no surprise once you hear ‘She's at it again,’ a track built on the kind of local gossip that everyone secretly loves (it's about a mate’s forbidden romance with his best friend’s sister). Sonically, it’s a perfect mix of indie and folk, with that cheeky twang of country in the chorus.
"old toyota" — Jude Todd
Franco-British artist Jude Todd makes music that sounds like summer. Lo-fi keyboards, 80s synths, and folk-tinged guitars all mixed together with refreshing lyrics. ‘old toyota’ is unhurried, a little nostalgic and the sonic equivalent of a road trip with the windows down. Todd's already had two songs picked as BBC Radio Track of the Week and has supported the likes of Alice Merton and Livingston, so it's fair to say people are paying attention. His debut EP is due in 2027, and this track is a good reason to have him on your radar from now on.
‘You're Gonna Ruin Me’ — Mary Hennessy
It’s September, and we’re leaving summer behind for the perfect autumn track. In her recent single ‘You’re Gonna Ruin Me’, singer-songwriter Mary Hennessy calls us all out with this song about knowing better and doing it anyway. It's about ignoring red flags and giving into desire regardless — a feeling most people know intimately, even if they'd rather not admit it. She has an amazingly soft voice and adds these dreamy, almost whispered parts to her track. It’s ghostly in the best way possible.
‘as resistance comes to be’ — sharpened.lives
If you want something heavier, sharpened.lives deliver it. The queer-fronted independent band formed in 2023 and pulls from hardcore punk, emo and electronica in equal measure, drawing clear lineage from bands like Enter Shikari, Deftones, and Loathe without settling into any one of those boxes. Their song ‘as resistance comes to be’, is a messy mix of multiple genres and it works very well. They're currently building toward their debut album, following up 2024's "st//tches" EP, and this track suggests it's going to be worth the wait. If you love hard vocals and screams, definitely keep them on your radar.