ALT-POP, SOUL-POP & EXPERIMENTAL SOUNDS: THE LATEST WAVE

 

Each release in this selection carries a different kind of pulse. Some lean into intimacy, others into defiance, but all share a sense of intent. The artists featured build from emotion rather than polish, letting instinct lead the sound. There is nostalgia woven into the melodies, a quiet confidence in the performances, and a willingness to take risks that make each track feel alive. Listening to them is like stepping into a moment where music exists on its own terms, unforced and fully present.

Luna Blaise x Hayes Bradley

Music feels inevitable, and actress Luna Blaise proves it. After eight years away from recording studios, she returns with a song and video created alongside her partner, composer and producer Hayes Bradley.

Dear Treasure was born as a sensual, captivating track that recalls the best of 90s alt-pop-rock, transporting listeners to the era when portable CD players pulsed to the rhythm of Natalie Imbruglia, Tori Amos, or No Doubt. 

The song teases Bradley’s upcoming album, while the video offers a glimpse into the couple’s chemistry, a dreamy, psychedelic home vignette capable of pulling anyone into a wave of calm control.

 

India Shawn

Far from the raw edges of Blaise and Bradley’s work, yet equally magnetic, singer-songwriter India Shawn returns to digital platforms with Gone. The track is meant to be heard but also seen, a subtle anthem of self-love and liberation from someone who knows her worth and isn’t afraid to shout it out loud.

Gone is lush with sonic layers and accompanied by an exquisitely produced, aesthetically precise video. Behind its creation stand heavyweights like Oscar and Grammy-winning D’Mile, Bianca “Blush” Atterbery, and Jean Baptiste Kouame, who co-wrote the track with India, while David Maxwell handled the neo-western visual concept.

India Shawn is hitting the road with Free Nationals and Giveon at the moment!

 

Lily Lane

This season’s retro spark comes from soul-pop singer-songwriter Lily Lane, with her effervescent new single Don’t Stop, a bright, colorful track that channels the golden age of late 90s and early 2000s pop, echoing the energy of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Mariah Carey.

From the very first note, Don’t Stop radiates pure joy, setting the tone for her upcoming EP, Domesticated, a clever, razor-sharp take on what really happens after “happily ever after,” perfectly aligned with Lily’s signature wit and bite. A fierce advocate for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, Lily Lane brings more than pop; she brings purpose. The perfect blend of empowerment, style, and attitude to earn a permanent spot on your playlist.

On October 21st, Lily Lane takes the stage at Hotel Ziggy in Los Angeles, bringing her unmistakable mix of glamour, grit, and unapologetic soul-pop.

Parallelle

Searching For The Groove, the new single by French duo Parallelle, is not just different, it’s irresistibly fun and fresh. Blending the best of acid jazz and funk, it moves through unexpected falsettos and smooth sax lines underpinned by a bold, rhythmic keyboard. The song previews their upcoming album, 11th Avenue, a gift for lovers of fine experimental music, who will undoubtedly crave more after hearing Groove.

Parallelle is preparing to bring 11th Avenue to life through a global album tour that blends immersive storytelling, tailored production, and hybrid DJ sets, offering fans a unique, intimate experience before the album officially drops. Ahead of its release on October 29, the duo has collaborated with rising streetwear brand Ciaran on a limited-edition capsule collection of T-shirts, hats, and jackets, debuting during ADE.

Jessica Carter Altman

With Trick of the Light, Jessica Carter Altman continues to refine the emotional, cinematic pop sound that has established her as an artist to watch. Co-written with Latifah Alattas and Grammy-winning producer Jason Lehning, the song explores a simple yet resonant idea: how love can bend perception and blur reality, like a trick of light.

Blending vulnerability with sophistication, Trick of the Light features immersive production that shines whether played through headphones or on a full sound system. Following her acclaimed debut album, Aftermath, Altman’s new work showcases a growing artistic depth and emotional nuance that elevate her beyond the bounds of the traditional pop ballad.

Mimika

Dark, theatrical, and magnetic, Mimika returns with Daughter of Aphrodite, an ode to feminine power and sensuality inspired by Greek mythology. Her sound, a blend of orchestral pop, electronic layers, and cinematic drama, positions her among the most intriguing voices in the alternative scene.

With razor-sharp lyrics and visuals as sophisticated as they are provocative, Mimika reimagines the classic myth through the lens of contemporary independence and seduction. It’s empowerment, but with a twist, embracing both vulnerability and strength in the same breath.

Tripping Jupiter

From New York comes pure queer energy and a dose of theater reminiscent of Bowie or Scissor Sisters. CrackThat Drum, the latest single by Tripping Jupiter, is an explosion of rhythm and cosmopolitan attitude—intense, unapologetic, and unmistakably theirs.

Produced by Audible Yays (Barb Morrison and Bart Schoudel), the track blends infectious indie-pop grooves with lyrics meant to be both felt and danced to, freely, boldly, and defiantly. “Complete freedom,” says frontperson Madstone, perfectly summing up the song’s rebellious core.

kylekelly

Closing this round-up with pure alt-pop adrenaline, kylekelly delivers break up this time, a punchy, emotionally unfiltered track built for late-night drives and post-heartbreak dance floors. break up this time channels catharsis through energy, turning heartache into a communal, shout-it-out moment.

After a breakout year touring internationally with Daniel Seavey and releasing his debut EP, a melancholic romcom, kylekelly has become one of pop’s most refreshing new voices.