“Only” is the latest track from Oxford UK band MMX. Carefully layered (we’re really into the dynamic between the song’s kinetic multi-dimensional rhythm track and the drama of the song’s guitar atmsopheres) and yet still quite anthemic in many ways, “Only” as a tune ticks many of the same boxes of quality of band’s that occupy a much higher profile and popularity; we don’t expect either of those things to disinclude MMX for much longer. MMX’s “Heir” EP is out soon.
MMX 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.1
Belfast-bred now Liverpool-based brother & sister-fronted newcomers Southern offer their debut single for Marathon Artists (Jagwar Ma, Childhood) in the form of the very good blues & southern soul-influenced “World Don’t Shine” which you can sample in its entirety below.
Southern 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.5
UK artist Sivu returns with the beautifully spare new tune “Over & Over”. Built around Sivu’s heartened slightly shaky croon & falsetto “Over & Over” is soulful, real, & immediate in all the best ways (and then some). Sample some very very good indie pop below.
Sivu (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Vancouver-based R&B golden hope (& new favorite of the site) Sundays delivers the intensely intimate and personal (and crazy good vocally) “Hope It’s Enough” from her forthcoming (self-produced!) Of Eros and I EP. When Sundays sings we listen; do not miss out on the genesis of a truly singular and phenomenally talented new artist. “Of Eros and I” is due in October.
Soundcloud 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.3
Our faves the Twice As Nice crew get tapped for the lead release from fellow Aussie exiled to L.A. Lenka’s upcoming “Shadows of Shadows” remix EP. The syrupy sweet Twice As Nice mix glides about rather playfully all while still maintaining that sort of signature TAN ballast in the drum track’s punchiness and weight. Lenka “Shadows of Shadows” remix EP (remixing her Shadows LP from earlier this year) will see a global digital release on the 10th of September.
Lenka 
(Facebook) (Pre-Order)
Twice As Nice (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
“Cali Love” = 100% easy no brainer. Sabi, whom was a featured artist on Cobra Starship’s hit “You Make Me Feel” a couple years back links up Mr. “Rack City” bro Tyga for the nearly perfect pop/R&B of “Cali Love”. Sabi’s got an EP of the same name “Cali Love” due in October.
Sabi 
(Purchase)
Rating 8.2
The cinematic beach-side slow dance of “Would You Love Me” L.A. band Hills is quite impressive. We can imagine the tune as some sort of soundtrack to the scene where the fallen 60’s matinee idol blows a kiss and a wave to his now departed sweetheart as he speeds away up that dusty highway and a rotted-out Chevelle (at least that’s what it felt like to us). “Would You Love Me” is wall to wall packed w/ great melodic and vocal lines and is truly very cinematic, do not sleep.
Hills (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
L.A.-based duo KITTYGATO debut w/ the melodically very special single “I Don’t Know (What To Do With You)”. Excerpted from the band’s BREEZE EP, “I Don’t Know” is beautifully tuneful, immediate and really quite catchy. There’s a realness/intimacy too to “I Don’t Know” that feels somehow like the band’s performing directly to you (like inside your headphones) every time the play button is pressed. All and all, a very strong track from a band to definitely keep ears on. Well done.
Kittygato (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Following up last week’s quite good remix for Chela’s “Romanticize”, the Gold Fields boys do their fellow Oz compatriots EOTS several magnitudes better on this floor filling J. Bashmore on a bender house take on the hit track “Alive”.
Gold Fields (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Another winner from the Land of Oz is the sunny indie pop of Sydney-based band Set Sail and their catchy track for “Hey!” (exclamation point included). We’re especially digging the inventiveness of the multi-part harmonies in the middle bit of the track; as if “Hey!” hadn’t put us on a beach already. Hey!
Set Sail (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
If you dig NME/Guardian/Q-lauded melancholic UK rock (clearly we do) then new band Let’s Buy Happiness and their single, the stunning Daughter-esque “Run” should be right up your street. Preview “Run” below and look for LBH’s Chants for Friends LP later in the year.
Let’s Buy Happiness (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Brooklyn songstress Justine Skye hooks up everybody’s fave Joey Bada$$ (& apparently 90’s MC AZ, although it’s unclear just where he appears on the track) for the electro-tinged mid-tempo jam “Messing With You”. Justine’s “Everyday Living” EP is due next week, August 20th.
Justine Skye 
(Tumblr)
Rating 8.2
