ALT FEATURED

Cass Cardelle has lived enough different lives to fill more than one record. There was the small coastal town outside Boston, the move to Los Angeles, years spent traveling, a chapter in Japan, an appearance on a CMT dating show, experiments with electronic music, and eventually Nashville. Somewhere in all of that, music never really stopped being part of the picture. Now, those years have found their way into I'm Changing, Cass's debut project and a collection of heartfelt c

Simone Feroci does not exactly ease into “BassQuakes.” The second solo single from the Italian-born, Los Angeles-based bassist comes in with a much more aggressive attitude, putting slap bass right at the center of an instrumental funk-rock collision. There are no vocals to guide the way here. Instead, the bass carries the personality, pushing through the track with groovy hooks and hard-edged basslines while distorted guitars, synthesizers and relentless drums build up the r

Sighmon has taken a rather different route into his latest chapter. After years of making music, building his craft through the DIY circuit and eventually relocating from Florida to Los Angeles, he has arrived at ‘REPTILE’, a project that brings his past and present together. The album has been described by Sighmon as the most personal expression of himself he has put onto a record so far, with Florida playing a particularly important role in its identity. That feels signific

Kieran McKenna does not sound particularly interested in choosing a lane. “TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR” makes that pretty clear. Guitars come in with some grit, the drums have a proper punch to them and the bass keeps the whole thing moving at a pace that feels more instinctive than carefully calculated. It is catchy, but there is enough edge left in the production to stop it from feeling too neat. The track has the spirit of a band playing in a room together. You can feel the moveme

Photo By: Joseph Rubinstein Reimagining a beloved classic is never an easy task. Some songs have become so deeply woven into music history that simply covering them can feel like an impossible challenge. Angela Chambers approaches "Everybody's Talkin'" with a different mindset altogether. Rather than trying to compete with the original, she allows the song to become her own, delivering a version that feels deeply personal while preserving the timeless spirit that has made it

Summer means something different to everyone. For some, it's a season of freedom and unforgettable memories. For others, it's where old feelings resurface and unexpected emotions begin to take shape. Exus leans into both sides on Emotional Summer, creating an EP that doesn't try to define the season as one thing, but instead embraces everything that comes with it. Across four tracks, the Springfield, Massachusetts artist builds a project that feels relaxed, expressive, and em

Bird x Butterfly don't rely on grand moments to leave an impression. Instead, Origami Hotel finds its strength in patience, allowing every melody, harmony, and carefully placed instrument to settle naturally before revealing just how much is happening beneath the surface. It is a debut that feels remarkably assured, built from gentle ideas that quietly grow into something unforgettable. The Chicago duo of Frances Kang and Paul Kim have crafted an album that understands the be

There is something captivating about music that doesn't rush to reveal itself. Some songs unfold gradually, inviting listeners to sit with their emotions rather than offering easy answers. That is the space Orah & The Kites occupy with their latest single, "ember (m31-2014-ds1)", a release that feels thoughtful, immersive, and beautifully restrained. The Cape Town six-piece continue to carve out a distinctive place within the alternative pop landscape, blending atmospheric pr

Some songs ask for your attention. Others walk into the room already knowing they have it. LARA's latest single, "I Be Okay," belongs in the second category. Confident from its very first moments, the track radiates a fearless energy that feels impossible to ignore, marking yet another exciting step in what has already been an impressive year for the rising artist. As her third release of the year, "I Be Okay" feels like another clear reminder that LARA is continuing to sharp

There are songs that document heartbreak, and then there are songs that trap you inside the thought loop that follows it. Lily Crow's "rub it in" belongs firmly in the second category. No stranger to Alt Recess, Crow returns sounding sharper, more vulnerable, and more willing than ever to sit with discomfort. The track opens with an intimate, heart-on-sleeve honesty that immediately draws you in. It feels almost conversational, as though you're hearing thoughts that were neve

Ross Alan is stepping into Pride season with their foot firmly on the accelerator. Following the momentum of recent singles "Cry Again" and "Loveland," the country-disco artist returns with "Backseat Joyride," an electrifying new release that captures the thrill of living entirely in the moment. Built on shimmering disco grooves, country swagger, and Ross Alan's unmistakably seductive vocal delivery, "Backseat Joyride" is unapologetically bold. It's the sound of impulse takin

There is something special about a song that does not need a wall of production to make you feel something. Just a guitar, a voice, and a story. Mars Baby proves exactly that with his acoustic live releases, “The Ceremony” and “I’ll Wait”, two records that strip everything back and let the emotion do the heavy lifting. Known for pushing boundaries through alternative sounds, poetic songwriting, and emotionally charged storytelling, the Cape Town-born artist shows a different

Mosquito by Toria Rainey wraps emotional bruises inside a hypnotic indie-pop track that lingers long after it ends. Based in Brooklyn, Toria Rainey has been quietly building a catalog that feels deeply personal without ever losing its pull. Her music moves between indie pop, folk, and R&B influences, but what really defines her sound is the emotional honesty threaded through everything she writes. She does not soften difficult feelings into vague poetry. She lets them sit ful

There’s something hypnotic about Lore by Girl Scout. Not in the way most electronic pop tracks try to pull you in with instant hooks or polished predictability, but in a slower, stranger way. It creeps up on you. One listen turns into three before you even realize what happened. Coming out of Perth, Girl Scout arrives with the kind of debut single that feels unusually self aware. “Lore” does not sound like someone figuring themselves out in real time. It sounds like an artist

There is something quietly devastating about realizing you no longer know someone who once knew everything about you. Not because of one dramatic ending or explosion, but because time kept moving and somehow the connection faded with it. Tasha Keswani taps directly into that feeling on “Hello Stranger Hello,” and the result is one of those songs that sits with you long after it ends. The Bangalore based singer-songwriter has been steadily carving out her own lane with emotion

You ever look back at a relationship and realize the version you fell in love with never really existed? That feeling sits at the core of Randy Beth’s “classy,” a record that walks through the illusion, the chaos, and the quiet realization that follows when you finally choose yourself. The New York based singer-songwriter has been building her world one release at a time since her debut “make a home” in 2021, and with “classy,” she leans fully into storytelling that does not

The Los Angeles based singer, songwriter, and producer has been building her own lane with a kind of ambient pop that feels less like a performance and more like a late night thought you finally put into words. Her music moves slowly, intentionally, like she is letting every feeling land before moving on to the next. Meet Sadie Miller. Her latest release "Superstar" feels like stepping into a moment you were not supposed to overhear. The production is soft and spacey, built f

Some records feel like they were made for quiet nights in. Others feel like they were made to be played way too loud with your friends in the car, windows down, no real destination in mind. Turning Jane’s “Let’s Play Doctor” is very much the second kind. The all girl rock and alt band out of Los Angeles is stepping into a big moment with their upcoming album Queen of Hearts , set to drop June 5, 2026, and if this single is any indication, they are not holding anything back. T

Some artists spend years behind the scenes helping shape hits before stepping into their own spotlight. When they finally do, you can usually tell within the first few seconds if they were ready for it. Cooper Hill sounds more than ready. With They Control The Volume , the Nashville-based songwriter and producer turns the page from behind-the-scenes architect to full-on artist, and it does not feel like a leap. It feels natural. This is someone who has already spent time unde

There is a certain kind of hunger you can hear in a voice before you even catch the words. It sits underneath everything. It is in the tone, the pacing, the way someone delivers a line like it actually means something. That is the first thing that stands out when you press play on Mark Saunders’ latest project, IN DUE TIME . Straight out of the Bronx, Mark is not trying to fit into a box or chase whatever sound is trending this week. His approach feels more personal than that

There is something special about songs that do not try to hold onto a moment too tightly. The ones that let it pass, sit with it, and somehow turn it into something even more meaningful. That is exactly where Hallie Marie’s new single “A Space of Clarity” lives. From the first few seconds, the track feels open. Light. Like stepping outside after a long stretch of cloudy days and realizing the sky has cleared without you noticing. There is a softness to it, but not in a fragil

Photo: Chloe Subia There is a certain kind of pop song that does not ask for your attention. It takes it. Loud, glossy, a little dramatic in the best way. Leake’s new single “Sweet” lands right in that lane and does not let go. Released on March 13, the track feels like a throwback and a step forward at the same time. If you grew up on big choruses, dramatic vocal runs, and songs that practically beg to be sung at full volume in the car, this one is going to feel very familia

Sean Leon has never really moved like everyone else, and that is exactly why people keep paying attention. If you only know him from co-writing “Peaches” or working alongside Ye with co-written tracks on the albums Jesus is King , Donda , Vultures 1 and Donda 2, you are only seeing one piece of the picture. The real story is way bigger, and honestly a little harder to box in. He is not just dropping music. He is building something that feels more like a world you step into.

If you have been tapped into R&B for even a little while, you already know the legacy. From her debut in the late 90s to now, Mýa has built a career that stretches across music, film, and culture without ever losing her identity. Over 20 million records sold, a Grammy win, iconic collaborations, and visuals that helped define an era. Still, what stands out most is how she continues to move on her own terms. With “ASAP,” she taps back into that feeling that made people fall in