We all  know it’s only the most on-the-pulse artists who are reviving the ‘80s right now. Dua Lipa, Jessie Ware and now, VISSIA are bringing back those sweet synth pop anthems, and ‘On My Mind’ is the latest ode to the disco beats of yesteryear. 

Encompassing the sweaty momentum of the dancefloors which we all miss so much, VISSIA’s latest single is an ode to the simplicity of being in the moment with someone you love and appreciate – mind, body and soul. Tapping into the neo-disco beats of the 80s revival, VISSIA’s ‘On My Mind’ is reminiscent of the 2020 favourite JESSIE WARE’s What’s Your Pleasure? The subtlety of the synths used as soundscapes with a backing beat creates a nostalgic and heady atmosphere, reflecting the nature of the relationship which VISSIA sings about.

With a burning heart, a searing voice and explosive choruses, KEIR is not afraid to play with fire. At 25 years old, the singer-songwriter displays a bright mind and a dark soul, nourished on heartache, Weltschmerz and decades of pop-music history – ready to spit it all back out into the future like fuel on a flame.

KEIR may stand on the shoulders of soul divas and rock gods, but his craft shows no sense of retro fetishism. This is what the blues sounds like in the 21st century, and there’s barely a trace of those worn-out, 12-bar formulas. Instead, KEIR offers simultaneously a distillation and an innovation of that musical ritual: transforming inner turmoil into a tune – not to spread misery but to exorcize demons, and in the best case, incite compassion. “Shiver” is a shining example, a seductive groove that shudders with red-hot, angst-ridden sensuality.

In describing his own songs, the word that comes up the most is “heavy”. Musically, there’s enough mass that you start to feel a gravitational pull, and in lyrical tandem, KEIR reveals a heavy heart. But there’s nothing heavy-handed about his words – piercingly sharp when needed, yet bold enough to stay soft. Always honest but often ambiguous, like a painting made of poetry. Ambitious melodies that reach for the radio; a sonic rawness he’s unwilling to tame for the sake of pop appeal.

Over the past two decades Papa Roach have established themselves as true trendsetters in rock music: They’ve been nominated for two Grammys, toured the globe with everyone from Eminem to Marilyn Manson and crafted the nü metal anthem “Last Resort,” which is still in heavy rotation on rock radio seventeen years after its release. However, the group’s ninth full-length Crooked Teeth sees the band returning to their humble—and hungry—roots.

The album was recorded in a cramped North Hollywood studio with up-and-coming producers Nicholas “RAS” Furlong and Colin Brittain, who grew up listening to Papa Roach and inspired them to revisit some of the traits that personally endeared the band to them, most notably frontman Jacoby Shaddix’s remarkable rapping technique. From the instantly infectious nature of the title track to the atmospheric sheen of the ballad “Periscope” (which features Skylar Grey) and the hip-hop rock mashup “Sunrise Trailer Park” (which features an impassioned verse from Machine Gun Kelly), Crooked Teeth displays the various sides of Papa Roach and illustrates why they’ve managed to remain relevant while musical trends ebb and flow.

Cara Hammond is an indie pop, singer-songwriter artist, from North Wales now based in London. She has been writing songs since she was 11 and performing them since she was 14. She graduated from the Leeds College of Music with a first in 2017.

Cara’s music can be described as soulful-pop with influence from some of her favorite artists: Amy Winehouse, Lianne La Havas, and Paolo Nutini. Her deep and powerful voice bewitch everyone avid of great music and authenticity.