The Beatles Have Just Released New Music (& More New British Music To Add To Your Playlist)
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6 months ago
Looking for music inspo? Look no further
If you’re on the hunt for new music, we’ve got you covered with a roundup of the best new releases from stellar British musicians. Who needs podcasts when your playlist is this good?
Best New British Music To Stream Right Now
The Beatles, ‘Now and Then’
Fans never thought this final song would see the light of day, what with the deaths of John Lennon in 1980 and guitarist George Harrison in 2001. But AI is helping to round off the discography of the world’s most successful band in history with a final flourish. ‘Now and Then’ was written by the late Lennon in the 1970s, in the same home where he was later murdered. The 2023 release features his vocals, recorded in the late 1970s and enhanced by technology. There have been plans to work Lennon’s ‘Now and Then’ vocals into music since the Beatles’ multimedia archive project Anthology (1995–96), but it hasn’t been possible until the recent AI revolution. Is it spooky? Unsettling? Stream it from 2pm on 2 November to decide for yourself.
Bombay Bicycle Club, My Big Day
After breaking up (seemingly for good) in 2016 and a comeback album (Everything Else Has Gone Wrong) in 2020, this vibrant British band is back with a sunny new album, featuring a man with sunny-side-up fried eggs for eyes on the cover. My Big Day leans into the magic of Bombay Bicycle Club’s heyday, with warm flourishes evoking hotter climes. Reinforcing the band’s space in British music, legendary Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn features on the track ‘Heaven’, while younger singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone features on ‘Diving’. Stream it here.
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The Japanese House, In The End It Always Does
Amber Bain is a Buckinghamshire-born musician who performs under the name The Japanese House – a moniker inspired by a childhood holiday home she frequented in her youth. Bain’s music boasts a dreamy indie pop sound, with influences (and occasional contributions) from artists including Matty Healy, lead singer of the British pop rock band The 1975. Stream it here.
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The Japanese House in three words:Â Sunny synth-pop.
Biggest hit? ‘Sunshine Baby’, which features Healy.
Best track on In The End It Always Does? ‘Boyhood’, which features some quietly gut-wrenching nostalgia and a subtly catchy chorus.
Olivia Dean, Messy
Olivia Dean is an R&B musician who grew up in Walthamstow. She rose to prominence with the single ‘Ok Love You Bye’, a tongue-in-cheek reflection on a failing relationship. Her subsequent singles helped to build a substantial fan base, and Messy – her debut album – was met with high praise. Stream it here.
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Olivia Dean in three words: Groovy girl power.
Biggest hit? ‘Dive’, the glittering opener from Messy.
Best track on Messy? ‘Carmen’, a glorious, buoyant celebration of the Windrush Generation.
Bruno Major, Columbo
Bruno Major is a British guitarist and singer-songwriter. After he was dropped by his original record label, his first full-length project, A Song For Every Moon, saw him release a new song every month for a year. Meanwhile, his second album, To Let A Good Thing Die, tied together pop, jazz and R&B, and even featured writing credits from Billie Eillish’s brother Finneas on the track ‘The Most Beautiful Thing’. Stream it here.
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Bruno Major in three words: Languorous, soulful pop.
Biggest hit? ‘Nothing’ (from his second album) which went on viral on TikTok during the pandemic.
Best track on Columbo? The title track, which tells the story of his beloved 1981 Mercedes (named Columbo, naturally) which he unfortunately crashed.
Mahalia, IRL
Mahalia has been releasing music since she was 13 years old. She made waves with her breezily eloquent track ‘Sober,’ followed by an appearance on Jacob Collier’s bubbly offering ‘All I Need’ with Ty Dolla $ign – a song which earned a Grammy nomination in 2021. Beyond the slick drums and enticing R&B melodies, there is a delightful kind of purity to Mahalia’s honeyed vocals, and to the traces of soul music which make her work so unique. Stream it here.
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Mahalia in three words: Delightfully smooth R&B.
Biggest hit? ‘What You Did’ featuring Ella Mai, from Mahalia’s debut album Love and Compromise.
Best track on IRL? The title track, which closes the album and perfectly sums up Mahalia’s musical journey so far.
Tom Grennan, What Ifs & Maybes
Tom Grennan is an indie pop singer-songwriter based in London. He rose to prominence after featuring on the single ‘All Goes Wrong’ by electronic pop duo Chase & Status in 2016. Grennan’s debut album, Lighting Matches, was released in 2018, and it peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart. Stream it here.
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Tom Grennan in three words: Catchy, emotive pop.
Biggest hit? ‘Little Bit of Love’, from his second album Evering Road.
Best track on What If & Maybes? ‘Psychedelic Kisses’, a high-octane, radio-ready track.
Featured image credit: David Pupaza, Unsplash
