Vibez Release Radar

Throughout the past year, we've experienced a year of ups and downs, a life no one could have imagined, but music has been our saving grace.

From soaring indie-rock anthems to characteristics pop tunes, artists have truly gifted us in time of need. Whilst society is slowly going back to the way it was, we've picked out our top five tracks of the week.

King No-One - Bad Porno

Known for their heart-throbbing anthems that take twisting risk towards the soundscapes of indie-alt, York-based King No-One are back with their latest hit, 'Bad Porno'.

Photo courtesy of CloseUp

Thriving between the alluring vocals and dark experimental synths, the trio throw it back to the world of noughties in 'Bad Porno' through detailed pop beats alongside a slice of sophisticated yet heavy metal. As they give an introspective sight of our society throughout their artistry, 'Bad Porno' delve into the toxicity and pretentiousness surrounding sex culture.

From perfecting their sound to catching the feelings of many, King No-One have taken the music industry by storm and, no one is going to stop them.

Merpire - Dinosaur

Indie-pop sensation Merpie is slowly rising for all the rights reason as she opens her 2021 account with 'Dinosaur'.

Photo Credit: Nick Mckk

Originally crafted through the acoustic oaths of a ukulele, Merpire takes a dark route of arrangements as she entwines between the tension of social anxiety. Speaking about her latest release, she added: “‘Dinosaur’ is inspired by a line in the first Jurassic Park movie when Sam Neil’s character says, “If you stay still, they can’t see you.” Whether it’s a fact about the T-Rex or not, I always wished this could be the case with humans. If you don’t feel like seeing anyone or you want to smoke a bomb from a social interaction, you can freeze and become invisible. Oh no, it’s just the opposite.”

Since bursting onto the scene back in 2018, Merpie has captivated listeners with her approach of pop ballads with the infusion of alt-indie that's chasing us across the seas.

Mad Hatter's Daughter - Diggin in the Dirt

German duo soars through 2021 with their intriguing country yet pop offering 'Diggin in the Dirt'.

Photo Credit: Marcus May

Through the undertones of acoustic guitar strings with the flow of sharp-catchy melodies, Mad Hatter's Daughter delves into the detailed lyricism of the negative impact we have all faced during the pandemic. "We made it for ourselves, and we made it for everyone struggling out there in this crazy experience we all share," added Mad Hatter's Daughter.

Taken from their forthcoming album, Mad Hatter's Daughter latest single gives us a glimpse into what we can expect.

Headshrinkers - Haggard Muggins

Forming back in 2019, Headshrinkers latest release 'Haggard Muggins' is their most post-punk to date and, I am all for it.

Photo Credit: Dhana Green

Taking influence from their experiences of society and what we have become, Headshrinkers modern approach on poetic lyricism with eerie yet driving soundscapes holds a deeper meaning of what they have to say about us. As frontman Garran Hickman depicts the everlasting battle between parents, he adds: "Muggins reflects on my childhood and life now. Being brought up in a household where my parents' relationship is aching in toxicity and permanently ramshackle and was ready to implode at any one time. However, my relationship with one parent separately was and still is great. I didn’t have an upbringing of destruction; I had an upbringing of love which is documented throughout the song."

Whilst they continue to make a name within their local music scene, Headshrinkers is fastly crossing the borders to bigger things.

Conor Scott - Slip

Forget about Lewis Calpadi pulling your heartstrings as not so new boy Conor Scott signals a new era within 'Slip'.

Photo Credit: Sarah

Delving in the objective view of the world, Scott dwells within the spectrum of indie-pop entwined with alt production as he looks back on the journey of moving to Belfast from London throughout 'Slip'. Speaking about his travels, he adds: "I had a lot of doubts, fears & anxieties of what the outcome would be. Having the trust and support of those close to me helped me to go forward with the move, and in the end, it was the right thing for me.”

Whilst Scott has been a name circling for a while now within the music industry - the Belfast based singer-songwriter latest track is his most honest to date as he shows growth and maturity.