This week’s FEISTY Likes highlights a wealth of spectacular new music, including new singles from TOPS, Grimes, PINS, I Break Horses and many more.
FEISTY Likes is our weekly feature showcasing the best new singles, including dazzling alternative, punchy indie, raucous rock, decisive pop and eclectic selections from across the musical spectrum.
The highlights in the seventh installment include another peppy offering from teenage newcomers Chasing Daze, grunge-pop from Aussie newcomers Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers and a cut from Beach Bunny’s new album Promises.
There’s plenty of talented women to discover (the men do get a look-in as well!), from solo upstarts Eilish Gilligan and golda to female-fronted bands Tiny Fighter, Cable Ties and Spyres.
Our single of the week, though, comes from Melbourne band Romero, whose gleaming debut is sharp power pop of the highest standard, packed with keen riffs and topped off with striking vocals from frontwoman Alanna Oliver.
The latest FEISTY Likes is a bumper installment featuring everything we’ve vibed with since the last edition of the Alternative Singles Chart, which it replaces, meaning there’s some 38 tracks to potentially fall in love with.
We’ll be compiling and publishing a new FEISTY Likes every weekend, with a write-up from FEISTY editor Katy on each of the picks, and a Spotify playlist for your listening pleasure.
Listen now via the playlist below, and read on for profiles of all 38 selections:
Love our music taste? Follow the playlist to hear your fresh dose of FEISTY Likes every weekend, and follow us on Twitter at @feistymag for the latest throughout the week.
Romero – Honey
The first single from Aussie band Romero, and what a way to debut! This introduction to the Melburnians is an accomplished modern-day spin on power pop, with snappy vocals from frontwoman Alanna Oliver and lively riffs aplenty. – FEISTY’s Single of the Week
TOPS – Witching Hour
Fans of Sunflower Bean’s power pop will adore the latest track from TOPS. Its endless warmth and analogue charm mask the darker meaning behind the lyrics: Vocalist Jane Penney has explained the new track is about “reckoning” and “retribution”.
MarthaGunn – We Don’t Need Each Other
MarthaGunn’s star continues to rise with this absolute earworm of a single. It reminds us of classic Days Are Gone-era HAIM, adding rock swagger to just the right amount of pop sensibility. Their UK tour is set for late March through early April.
I Break Horses – I’ll Be the Death of You
Another lush, shoegazey single from I Break Horses’ forthcoming album Warnings, as set for release on 10 May. While previous single Death Engine was an 8-minute epic, this one brings in a heavier helping of synths and showcases the pair’s dreamier side.
Chasing Daze – Teenager
We introduced Chasing Daze when we featured the brother-sister duo’s debut single a few weeks ago. Their second single, about the rigour and challenges of teenage life, is a continuation of their bubbling brand of peppy indie pop.
Ratboys – Anj
The highly-melodic new single from Ratboys features bold riffs and a slew of 1990s indie influences. It’s taken from their new album Printer’s Devil, out on 28 February on Topshelf Records.
Circa Waves – Sad Happy
A bonafide indie pop anthem from Circa Waves that’s sure to be one of the highlights of their album of the same name. The band are also holding an all-dayer, Circa Fest, next month in their hometown Liverpool.
U.S. Girls – 4 Million Dollars
This lavish production is the latest track from art pop stalwart U.S. Girls’ forthcoming album Heavy Light, as set for release on 4AD in three weeks and recorded live with the assistance of 20 session musicians.
PINS – Hot Slick
PINS are back with their first single since 2017, and it’s a groovy piece of modern-day indie disco that’s been growing on us ever since our first listen. Welcome back, ladies!
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers – Desk Chair
Infectious grunge-pop from the wonderfully-named Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, four 19-year-old girls from Australia who first got together after watching School of Rock at a sleepover.
Catholic Action – Another Name for Loneliness
Catholic Action vocalist-guitarist Chris McCrory describes this luxurious single, with its bold strings and urging beat, as themed around the rediscovery of “pure, joyful and meaningful love as an adult”.
Sons – Sweat
Something gruffer from Brighton’s Sons, who continue to forge their reputation as one of the UK’s best new rock bands with another single packed with stormy punk machismo.
Cable Ties – Self-Made Man
The follow-up to Sandcastles, as featured in the Alternative Singles Chart in January, showcases a more heated side of Cable Ties’ vocalist-guitarist Jenny McKenchie and packs a serious post-punk punch.
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Cars in Space
A delightfully high-spirited indie single from the jangly Aussies, who are set to play three UK dates – at All Points East Festival, Neighbourhood Festival and Edinburgh’s Liquid Room – in the spring.
San Cisco – Reasons
It’s summer in Australia, so it’s fitting that San Cisco’s sunny new single is ready-made for bright days and beach weather. The trio have a new EP, Flaws, on the way in March.
Eilish Gilligan – I Just Want to Look at You
Eilish Gilligan is a singer-songwriter and producer who pairs her striking vocals with smooth synth arrangements. I Just Want to Look at You is the latest in a string of singles that show off her raw talent, and our favourite to date.
Tiny Fighter – Strangest Thing
Vocalist Therese Karlsson really pops on this bright single from Stockholm band Tiny Fighter. It’s taken from their debut album Going Home, as carefully created over a 12-month period with Grammy-winning producer Thomas Johansson.
Skott – Kodak & Codeine
We featured Skott in our Women on Vox feature back in 2018, and since then she’s gone on to become one of Scandipop’s leading names. After a couple of lukewarm efforts her latest Kodak & Codeine is a return to pop form.
COIN – Valentine
Our favourite COIN single for a while, and it’s no surprise that it was a Valentine’s Day release! The alt-pop trio’s new album Dreamland drops next Friday.
Indian Queens – Bubblewrap
Drums pummel and synths warble as vocalist Jennifer O’Neill laments the climate crisis on this mesmerising effort from under-the-radar Londoners Indian Queens.
Mystery Jets – A Billion Heartbeats
As the cover art suggests, Mystery Jet’s anthemic new single A Billion Heartbeats is a rousing commentary on power and protest. It’s the title track from their album of the same name, set for release on 3 April.
Arabnormal – Digital Veil
Belgian band Arabnormal feature ex-Das Pop man Niek Meul and effortlessly marry post-punk with psychedelia on Digital Veil, a polished cut from their self-titled debut album.
Beach Bunny – Promises
The final pre-release single from the Chicago band’s new album Honeymoon, as freshly released on Friday on Mom+Pop.
Working Men’s Club – White Rooms and People
Inspired by the originators of post-punk in the late ’70s, Working Men’s Club’s new single is driven by funky guitar lines and Sydney Minsky-Sargeant’s stony, deadpan vocals.
The Pale White – Polaroid
Melodic indie rock from Newcastle’s The Pale White, who continue to flesh out their sound and are potentially set for a mighty 2020 and beyond as their fanbase continues to grow.
Spyres – Fake ID
Spyres are a young Glasgow foursome whose debut single Otherwise topped 100,000 streams. Fake ID is their energetic second single, bemoaning the familiar youthful challenge of getting into nightclubs while underage.
Low Hummer – The Real Thing
A prominent synth line drives this Shopping-esque single from promising Hull post-punks Low Hummer, known in a previous life as La Bête Blooms and now working with Leeds label Dance to the Radio.
golda – Under
Los Angeles newcomer golda counts Florence + the Machine and Lana Del Rey as two of her influences, and such inspirations are apparent on her pretty new single.
Grimes – Delete Forever
The final pre-release single for Grimes’ new album Miss Anthropocene showcases a different side of Claire Boucher, with acoustic guitar and stripped-back production.
EGOISM – You You
Syrupy dream pop from Australian duo EGOISM, whose diverse influences include Beach House, Elliott Smith and The Veronicas.
FXRRVST – Bad Things
Toronto alternatives FXRRVST describe themselves as an “environmentally-conscious band”, ensuring all of their merchandise is eco-friendly and handing part of the profits to selected charities. Their new single Bad Things is a touching, melodic effort.
Steve Buscemi’s Dreamy Eyes – Set Me Free
One of Sweden’s best kept secrets of the late 2010s finally released their first album, Sweetie, on Friday. New single Set Me Free is one of the highlights, a cosy, wistful effort starring Siri Sjöberg’s always-dazzling vocals.
Beverly Kills – I Dreamt in Commercials
Gothenburg’s Beverly Kills are gearing up to release their debut EP in April, and fans of Agent blå are sure to like the sleepy charm and post-punk vibes of tracks like I Dreamt in Commercials.
Pom Pom Squad – Red With Love
Rough-edged, riot grrrl-inspired punk from New York and another single scheduled to coincide with Valentine’s Day. Pom Pom Squad, who say they’re a band that would “rather growl than yell”, have previously supported Soccer Mommy and Pronoun.
KYTES – Runaway
Munich-based foursome KYTES wear their ’80s influences on their sleeves and pack them plentifully into their punchy, surprisingly-catchy new track Runaway. Their second album is out on 28 February.
Bad Love – More Than Friends
This Stoke-on-Trent trio, featuring members of former FEISTY tips Fears Chella, are a brand new alt-pop band for your playlists. More Than Friends is their debut single.
Nicole Sabouné – Come Along
We’re long-time fans of Swedish goth songstress Nicole Sabouné. This cover of Titiyo takes a 2001 pop song, a huge hit in Europe if not in the United Kingdom, and turns it into a breathtaking, ethereal ballad.
Kite – Tranås/Stenslanda
It’s a long time since Kite have released new music, but on their new single they’ve lost none of their eccentric charm. Named after the two small towns Kite’s Nicklas Stenemo and Christian Berg hail from, Tranås/Stenslanda is a precise, dramatic piece of art pop.
