The latest in new music from Gabriella Bongo, OSKA, Better Joy, Pale Waves & more in this week’s 1883 On Rotation playlist.
On rotation this week is the rising UK songwriter and producer, Gabriella Bongo. The South-Londoner has returned with the new single “Someone Else” featuring vocals from Alexander Mills. The song is full of energetic, lush production, shimmering synth pads, dramatic piano chords, and decent vocals. It soon ups the pace with its punchy drum and bass production. It’s just a beautiful club-ready dance single. Gabriella wrote the track at the age of 16 in her bedroom and came across Alexander on YouTube. Expect to see more from this emerging talented producer. Toronto artist Kalisway has dropped the new tune, “Superstar”. The song is a gorgeous slice of alt-R&B and funk, with 80s-infused grooves. “Superstar” is lifted from her forthcoming album, A Kid From Toronto which is due for release in August. Pop, R&B, and soul artist SABINA has shared the beautiful new single “Somebody Else”. Thematically, the single explores the importance of finding self-love and it’s a full-on, pop-ballad. Sabina is a powerhouse on the track thanks to her captivating vocals. Speaking about the song, SABINA said: “It reflects a moment in my life when I suddenly understood that what I had been doing until that point was driven by fear, not love. From that moment on, I learned how to flex a love muscle, not a fear one.” Austrian singer-songwriter OSKA has offered up a new musical release called “Forever Blue”. It boasts mesmerising vocals, jangly guitars, upbeat percussion, and otherworldly vocal harmonies. You can catch OSKA supporting Coldplay in August.
Elsewhere in the playlist, you can find the new track “Situations” from Better Joy. It’s a punchy indie tune with fast-paced drums, effortlessly cool vocals, infectious guitars, and lyrically it looks back at past actions after having the time to heal. The song was produced by Steve Osborne (New Order, Happy Mondays) and it’s lifted from a new EP which will be announced soon. You can catch Better Joy live supporting Swim Deep in Newcastle on Saturday and Edinburgh on Sunday. Alt-pop group flor have released the brilliant single, “Tethered”, it’s a tender love song with lush vocals, and numerous production layers. The trio are inspired by the likes of MGMT, Phoenix, The Killers, and M83 to name a few, and released a debut record entitled Future Shine in 2022. Next up, The Stews have shared the fantastic single, “So Much More To You”. It’s a mix of folky influences, stellar vocals, and emotive lyricism. Finally, Pale Waves are back with the first single “Perfume” from the band’s forthcoming fourth studio LP, SMITTEN, which lands September 20. “Perfume” is an ethereal anthem which is reminiscent of bands like The Cure and The Cranberries. Speaking about “Perfume”, Heather Baron-Gracie said: “‘Perfume’ is the perfect introduction into the new world we’ve created. It’s queer, feminine and romantic and it encapsulates the essence of Smitten.”
Listen to all this and more via the playlist below.
