Welcome to the second instalment of the musomusofm on the radar new music playlist.

It’s not been long since the first playlist was published but as the new music has been coming in thick and fast, I wanted to share another 10 bands or artists that I have heard that I feel need to be heard by a wider audience.

Catalysts – Sparks

Sparks is the latest single by South Wales rock band CATALYSTS. The last twelve months have seen airplay build across BBC, Kerrang and other stations all over the world.

With a succession of single releases over the last twelve months CATALYSTS collect these tracks on their debut EP featuring a brand new song: SPARKS

“This is an exciting period; we’ve loved being able to release the first six singles on our own terms which has given us the opportunity to reach as many people as possible. There is a buzz to get back into the studio with our new ideas and new music, that we hope will push the band’s sound further than ever before”.

Sparks was released on November 5th on Dharma Records.

Cesar Santalo – I’m Done Calling

Hailing from Miami, emerging singer/songwriter, Cesar Santalo, has been captivating listeners with his refreshing sound that is backed by exceptional vocals and infectious songwriting. “I’M DONE CALLING” is a groovy single that is laced with smooth pop drums and lush melodies.

‘I’m Done Calling’ is an uptempo/pop song by Miami-based singer-songwriter Cesar Santalo. This record is produced by singer-songwriter, producer, and engineer ROCCI from Virginia who has worked with artists like Miguel, Pouya, Lana Del Rey and Alessia Cara.

Jesabel – Every Excuse

Jesabel’s story isn't quite the story-book norm. She’s a bit "late" to the musical party but is here to shake things up. This is her 4th single release, and though she doesn't always know what genre to place her music in, she likes to think she’s building a big beautiful musical mosaic with a vibe. Each song is its own entity, capturing her love and inspiration at that moment in her life. Her roots feel like they are in Country. Her heart craves soul. Her emotions yearn for the Blues, and her hips want Pop.

This release, "Every Excuse," was a piece written between the space of anger and hurt. It plays like a breakup song, but its inspiration was a friendship dissolving. Instrumentation-wise it’s like the tropics had a baby with an old-school Country & Western Movie. Lyrically and melodically, it will hit you like a modern Pop tune.

This is her most hip-shaking tune to-date, hope it finds you in a groove.

Jeremy Engel – Secret Place

“If folk music is about depth and delicacy and indie music excels at accessibility and infectiousness, then it is safe to say that Jeremy Engel walks a perfect line between the two camps"

With his captivating voice and intimate storytelling, Jeremy Engel has a unique way of touching listener’s hearts. Inspired by the likes of Leonard Cohen and Rory Gallagher, the French born, Dublin based singer/songwriter creates deeply evocative songs. With fluid guitar playing and adventurous soundscapes, Jeremy has proven himself to be the rare artist capable of perfectly capturing listeners’ emotions.

If ‘Secret Place’ proves just one thing, it is that music doesn’t have to be brash and bombastic to make an impact, it can be clever and cooly understated, emotional, poignant and deftly delivered. It can also be full of space and it is space that is the key ingredient here. Whilst it might seem as if there is often a lot going on, everything is allowed to breathe perfectly and that is what leaves the lasting impression. It is the lingering pause for breath as one line or lyric floats away and before the next one is conjured; it is the space between the chord or beat that allows the sounds to percolate and swirl, form new atmospheres and create anticipation in the spaces between, below and beyond the music; it is about what is not played or sung but in the things that naturally evolve in the DNA of the song which adds so much. And that comes from leaving room for such alchemy to happen naturally. And if you are not sure how you do that, then keep playing this song until you understand the power of understatement.

Manny Moura – Now That You’re Gone

Growing up in between Rio de Janeiro and New York City, the recent Berklee College of Music graduate, manny moura, is now based in Los Angeles.

The singer-songwriter is heavily influenced by artists like Lorde and Taylor Swift, and has spent this past year recording her originals, while sharing covers and unreleased songs on her TikTok and Instagram pages.

“Now That You’re Gone”, the single directly after the bubbly summer song “Idealize Me” takes the listener in a completely different direction. It’s a sad ballad, featuring minimal instrumentation. The acoustic guitar sets the ground while dreamy cello lines accompany the singer’s heart wrenching lyrics about a long distance breakup. “This song is as raw and honest as I can get. I wrote it to understand my own feelings and I wanted to keep it close to the original demo, which was just me and my guitar. Now That You’re Gone is about how the end never really feels like the end. Heartbreak is something that follows you around until you are able to fully let go,” manny says. The artist defines her music to be personal yet relatable and hopes the listener can find themselves in the specific details of this new song.

Kristian Phillip Valentino – The Answer

Kristian Phillip Valentino is a solo acoustic, singer-songwriter born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now residing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. After the passing of his father, ending up homeless and being broken up with all within one month, Kristian began writing songs in the summer of 2010, as a way to start processing all he'd been through and begin the healing process.

The new album is a concept record based on the 4 seasons Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The plot is a love story that starts in Spring and weaves through the other seasons leading to a breakup in the Winter. There are 12 songs, 3 for each season and Kristian is currently releasing 1 song a month for the next year starting in March 2021.

"The Answer", is the second Autumn release. This is a song for anyone in an unhealthy relationship that is finding it hard to let go and move on. It’s the tension we feel in our hearts when we need to make a change but not finding the strength to make it happen.

Tina Loeffler – The Greatest Gift

Based in the North of the Black Forest in Germany, Tina Loeffler crafts every song from start to finish in her tiny home studio next to the woods. Not only does she love to produce her music on her own, she also covers the whole process of creating artwork, videos etc.

With ’The Greatest Gift’, she wanted to capture the special essence of the Christmas Eve, when you know you are going to spend some time with your loved ones and you get this feeling of coming home.

Broken Clouds – Eyes Shut

Pop music for the underdog.

A thick slab of guitars, drums and distorted vocals, ‘Eyes Shut’ is the debut single from ‘Broken Clouds’, the garage-pop alter ego of Scottish musician Gareth John Anderson.

Broken Clouds makes garage-pop inspired by trashy rom coms, lukewarm coffee and a move to the middle of nowhere.
The first of three singles to be released this winter, Eyes Shut was produced by Rod Jones at Edinburgh’s Post Electric Studio. Eyes Shut is released on Edinburgh independent label Cosmic Peace Jazz.

Howlite – Blood Type (Electro Orchestral Remix)

‘Blood Type (electro-orchestral remix)’ opens with the ethereal vocals of frontwoman Alison Thom, backed with subtle electro instrumentation that quickly envelope the indie foundations. Remixed by French artist mokroïé, the track's emotive vocal harmonies melt away beneath dynamic orchestral elements, delivering a powerful climax, captivating in the same vein as bands such as Kaleida and The Knife.

The original track closed out Howlite's recently released EP ‘Not Here’, filled with pillowy-pop, indie brilliance and garnering attention locally and internationally. Rolling Stone described the sound as “brooding, borderline folk, but inches-from-pop” with KALTBLUT Magazine claiming “Howlite are a much welcomed escape from reality at this moment in time.”

Kami Kehoe – Lovesick

Kami Kehoe is an 18 y/o artist who writes and producers her own music. "LOVESICK" is Kami's debut single she released on Oct. 21, 2021. A catchy, pop, playful song with a driving bass line, written from a different perspective about a toxic relationship.

"LOVESICK" was produced in Kami Kehoe's bedroom, and vocals were recorded at her friends studio.

On her approach to music, Kami added, "I make music because I can't stop, I share my music because I know someone out there has felt that same way, and looking back I wish there was a song I could play that would understand my pain. So someone out there knows, I understand theirs. I do what I love and spread love to the world through my music.”

Now that you’ve heard all 10 bands and artists, do yourselves a favour and go and show them some love, explore their music on Spotify, if you like it, go and buy a track or two from them and look out for them on the live circuit.