Is there anything quite like the rush of discovering a new song or artist you can’t get enough of? We think not, and that’s exactly why we at TREMG love spotlighting rising and underappreciated talent to give creators at every level the recognition they deserve. So many artists spent February offering fans new treats, releasing some of the best work of their career, and opening up in their lyrics like never before. Throughout February, we got to talk to incredible artists like Christine Bauer and Jelani Aryeh about their latest projects, but there’s a whole world of talent making their own waves. Here are some of our favorite new releases from this month!
Alfie Templeman – “Eyes Wide Shut”
Your next quirky pop obsession is here in the form of Alfie Templeman! His latest single, “Eyes Wide Shut,” is a bittersweet mosaic of confusion and loneliness, drawing from his morning journal entries while touring. If you deal with anxiety or depression, every line will speak to you as Alfie details his fears about the state of the world and the lives we live in it. He says his next album will have “big, weird pop songs,” and if they sound anything like “Eyes Wide Shut,” then we know we’ll be in for a treat! Keep an eye on Alfie on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and his website.
‘Eyes Wide Shut’ is an amalgamation of ruminations I faced on tour. My brain always seems to be on full volume after a show and I find it really difficult to wind down. The adrenaline used to turn sour pretty quick once you’d get back to your hotel that looked the same as every other hotel. ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ helped me express those feelings and since we started playing it live, I often use it as a reminder to go easy on myself. It deters the burnout.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSdQase20gE
DYLAN – “The Alibi”
With the easily-changing tides of modern love, it’s easy to look over your shoulder at someone who stabbed you in the back and admire how the glimmer of their knife matches the way their eyes shine. There are so many conflicting feelings that pop up after heartbreak and DYLAN manages to turn them into an absolutely addictive pop song with “The Alibi.” She reflects on a relationship that definitely ended for the better in retrospect, while also admitting that she still cares about her ex to the point where she’d defend them from a crime accusation. It’s a brilliant take on the classic Bonnie & Clyde story that shows why DYLAN deserves main pop girl status! Learn more about her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
‘The Alibi’ is my Bonnie and Clyde anthem. Except I nearly let Clyde ruin my life. For me, the song was written about having to let go of a relationship that meant a lot to me – despite it not being a healthy one – and wanting to express how much that person still meant to me after. I think the hardest kind of breakup is when you still think the absolute world of someone after it’s over. It’s taken a year to get this song right but I knew it was special the minute we wrote the first version. Ten versions later, it’s more of a celebration of love rather than loss.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qZSiEdn5vE
LE SSERAFIM – “EASY”
It’s always been easy to love K-Pop superstars LE SSERAFIM, but “EASY” might just be the song to propel them to legendary status worldwide. It shows off the group’s signature confidence while also addressing fear, insecurity, and more, offering a duality that anyone can find pieces of themselves in. Add in some fun references to their debut “FEARLESS” single and Kazuha’s past as a ballerina, and you have a song that FEARNOT and casual listeners will unapologetically have on repeat for months! The rest of their EASY mini-album is just as incredible, so be sure to check that out if you enjoy the title track. Stay in the loop with Sakura, Chaewon, Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae by following them on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNKXxwOQYB8
Letters Sent Home – “Ignorance” feat. Dead Lakes
With every passing day, the political and physical climates feel like they’re getting worse and worse, especially if you’re a young person watching disaster unfold. Letters Sent Home perfectly express the distress that younger generations are feeling with “Ignorance,” a rallying plea for action featuring Sumner Peterson of Dead Lakes. LSH have a gift for channeling complex emotions into something that manages to simultaneously comfort you and drive you to action. It sets the tone for a very empowering project when they release their debut album, Forever Undone, on April 12th! Keep up with the band on Facebook, Instagram, and their website to see what’s next.
‘Ignorance’ represents the frustration and helplessness of young people regarding the climate crisis. At the same time, it is begging the people in power to start working with us to try and save the planet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7_SVKov59k
Tilly Kingston – “Youth Is Wasted”
Gen-Z was long overdue for a proper rebellion anthem, and Tilly Kingston is here to change that with “Youth Is Wasted!” Full of cheeky one-liners that will make you think “wow, she really just said that,” the song is a triumphant middle finger to anyone who tries to shame others, especially young people, for simply living their lives and having fun. Drawing inspiration from boundary-pushing artists like fellow Brit YUNGBLUD, it’s clear that Tilly will become a revolutionary voice for free spirits everywhere. She’ll be releasing her debut EP this spring, so be sure to stay updated on Instagram, TikTok, and her website!
‘Youth Is Wasted’ is a tongue-in-cheek ‘p*ss off’ to all the people who look down on me and say I am wasting my life and having too much fun. Well, if this is wasting my life, then f*ck yeah, I am, and loving every minute of it!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JbmY7ddxCI
What were your favorite releases this month? Let us know in the comments below or link up with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
By Madison Murray
Featured Image: LE SSERAFIM, Courtesy of SOURCE MUSIC
