New Music Friday 2/14/25

Welcome back readers to another installment of New Music Friday! This list is curated by the Voltage Live Staff and the the community. Did we miss your favorite release this week? Let us know on Bluesky!

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SED N DUN - Bermuda Search Party

IYL: Six Foot Blonde, MEOWBOYS, Spirit of the Bear

Unapologetically energetic, uplifting and with a live show that has been described as a “celebration of life”, Bermuda Search Party have emerged as a vibrant act that continues to touch audience’s hearts while getting them up on their feet. After meeting in college and cutting their teeth in the Boston DIY music scene, the band recorded and released their self-produced debut LP, Melancholy Flowers, in 2022. Dynamic yet intimate, Melancholy Flowers features the vocal stylings and songwriting of both guitarist Leo Son and bassist Claire Davis, and smooth and soaring trumpet and trombone from Maclin Tucker and Hoyt Parquet. The band toured in support of the record throughout the year, culminating in four Boston Music Awards nominations, for Live and Pop Act of the Year, Song of the Year for “Daisy,” and Album of the Year. Since then, the band has played hundreds of stages across the country, making their way from coast to coast and hitting festivals along the way including Boston Calling, Levitate Music Festival, SXSW, and Treefort Music Festival, before returning to the studio in September 2023 with producer Eric Palmquist (half•alive, Tate McRae, Bad Suns, Hunny) to record a new collection of music, and signing with Nettwerk Music Group.

Phonetics On and On - Horsegirl

IYL: mary in the junkyard, Porridge Radio, Kim Deal

There is something about the bitter cold in Chicago that unites the city in January— the two weeks in 2024 that Horsegirl spent recording Phonetics On and On were some of the coldest days in Chicago that year. With the heating off in The Loft to avoid sound interference, the band was bundled in multiple sweaters and sitting on their hands between takes. Working closely with musician/producer Cate Le Bon (Deerhunter, Kurt Vile, Wilco) Horsegirl found focus and intimacy in the studio that can only arise when it’s simply too cold to step outside. Abandoning the heavy saturation and character studies of Versions of Modern Performance, Le Bon leads them into new, bright, clear, sonic territories that highlight the inventive nature of these new songs. After playing together for four years, Horsegirl explores the limits of the trio configuration within Phonetics On and On— what if instead of filling out songs with distortion, they utilized the expanse that the three of them didn’t occupy? This question seems to be the motivating force behind the record, and the songs are a testament to experimenting with space and texture while maintaining a pop song at the core. New tools help bring this world to life; violins, synths, and gamelan tiles are all woven into the record with complete effect.

LIGHT HIT MY FACE LIKE A STRAIGHT RIGHT - Mallrat

IYL: Cub Sport, LAUREL, Sjowgreen

Mallrat has been breaking barriers since her influential debut in 2016 – accumulating over half a billion career streams in her discography and ARIA Platinum status. The project of Grace Shaw has shared stages with Maggie Rogers, Post Malone, King Princess, Conan Gray; collaborated with Azealia Banks, The Chainsmokers, BENEE, Blu DeTiger, Cub Sport; a late night TV debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden; headline world tours amongst globally recognized festivals Reading and Leeds, Austin City Limits, Laneway, Splendour In The Grass, Listen Out and boasts multiple triple j Hottest 100 entries from 2017 – 2020. The adored songwriter and producer catapulted Mallrat across the globe with critical acclaim from NPR, Stereogum, NME, NYLON, PAPER Magazine, The New York Times, Billboard, Noisey and more further affirming Mallrat as a beacon primed for the world stage.

Sabotage - Kennedy Fine

IYL: Sasha Baker, Taylor Lenz, Giselle

Kennedy Fine is a pop/indie artist whose passion for music began at a young age. Finding it easiest to express herself through art, she started writing songs at age twelve. Not long after, she began sharing her music throughout her home state of Oklahoma, and eventually, Nashville. Kennedy sees music as a way to connect all walks of life and loves sharing raw vulnerability in her lyrics. She hopes her songs will find those who need them and resonate with even more audiences to come.

Bloom - The Sleepy Haunts

IYL: The Harder We Fall, The Hard Maybes, Saving Fiona

The Sleepy Haunts is an indie alt/rock band with "Bubble Grunge" influences from artists like Beabadoobee and Beach Bunny. Based in Seattle, WA, and led by singer/songwriter, Gillian McMahon, the band makes music that celebrates popular and comic-con culture while exploring the insecurities and struggles of adolescence. The name comes from the Spotify name generator since Gillian loves spooky things and taking naps. If you want fun, catchy songs, The Sleepy Haunts have plenty of songs to bounce to, while giving those who want something on a deeper emotional level a number of thoughtful ballads .If you love artists like Alanis Morissette, Beach Bunny, Chloe Moriondo, Beabadoobee, Hole, The Cranberries, Paramore, and Olivia Rodrigo, then click to follow, The Sleepy Haunts.

Stereo Queen - Stela Cole

IYL: Cloudy June, emlyn, UPSAHL

Hot Mess - EVNNE

IYL: CRAVITY, EPEX, CIX

As seven newly rising stars, the members gather from their original place to become one and shine brighter than ever. EVNNE consists of the seven members KEITA, PARK HANBIN, LEE JEONGHYEON, YOO SEUNGEON, JI YUNSEO, MUN JUNGHYUN, and PARK JIHOO, all of whom have already been recognized for their talents through survival shows. EVNNE, standing for ‘Evening’s Newest Etoiles’, holds the members’ wishes to shine higher and brighter than anybody else to attract everyone’s attention. EVNNE 4th Mini Album [HOT MESS]Following the showcase of the group’s rascal-like charms through their debut album [Target: ME] and the subsequent [Un: SEEN], EVNNE was able to depict a more sentimental journey towards love in their third Mini Album [RIDE or DIE].Now their 4th Mini Album [HOT MESS] aims to show off EVNNE’s ability to savor and enjoy a messy situation through the group’s unique colors. A series of unpredictable situations may lead into a mess, albeit one that emits undeniable charm, much like EVNNE in this album.

Adventure - ISHAN

IYL: KID RAIN, Carter Ryan, ryman leon

All time, is happening somewhere near. Does that mean that time’s not real? Is that why you’re always late?

Give It A Break - Bo Staloch

IYL: harf. Stenzia, Ethan Regan

Hey everyone! My name is Bo Staloch (pronounced stah-low.. I know it’s weird). I am petrified of jellyfish, and I hate pickles. I’m born and raised in Austin, Texas, and I’m excited to be sharing my thoughts, emotions, prayers, feelings, and stories with you through music. Love y’all🫶

I Don't (But I Do) - Braden Bales

IYL: KNOX, Taylor Bickett, BIZZY

Ontario born artist/writer/producer

rhyme or reason - CHAISLYN

IYL: Jenny Baker, Ben Ellis, Connor Austin

Chaislyn is a 23-year-old pop artist and songwriter hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She began her journey at 6 years old in the local community theatre, and her roots in musical theatre have transferred seamlessly to her pop project—prioritizing storytelling, agile vocals, and an expressive performance.It wasn't until the age of 16 that Chaislyn discovered her passion for songwriting. After winning a local singing competition, she was contacted by American Idol and awarded a golden ticket by judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. Though her performances were not televised, the experience opened Chaislyn's eyes to performing outside of the context of musical theatre, inspiring her to write her first song when she returned home.Since then, Chaislyn has consistently worked to pursue her dream of a career in music. While a full-time college student studying Entertainment Management and Audio Engineering, she continued to focus on her music career, streaming music on Twitch and building a dedicated fan community connected by her music. Chaislyn has also found success on TikTok, with multiple original songs going viral. Since graduating, she has remained driven, with plenty of new music on the horizon in the coming year. Fans should stay tuned to see what Chaislyn has in store.

i think i love you - comfort club

IYL: a kid named rufus, Au Gres, Elephant Motel

Los Angeles-based Comfort Club is an indie pop artist, channeling honesty in gut-wrenching lyricism that takes every listener on a journey through love and heartbreak, forging a community out of his lonely moments. Sonically, he epitomizes dream pop with silky guitar and effervescent melodies, emulating his favorite artists like John Mayer. His catalog collected over 3.5 Million streams and counting, while also landing him on Spotify playlists like “Indie Pop” and “Undercurrents” as well as earning him a spot in the Fresh Finds Class of 2021, further proving he is truly an artist to watch in years to come.

Turtleneck - Maddie Regent

IYL: Eleanor Kingston. Caroline Dare, Kayla DiVenere

I don’t know what I’m doing but I’m doing it 🫶

20 Years From Now - David Kushner

IYL: Tom Odell, Benson Boone, Chance Pena

David Kushner is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter known for his ethereal sound and storytelling. Originally from Chicago, he first gained attention with Miserable Man in 2022, a song that unexpectedly took off on TikTok and introduced audiences to his raw, emotive style.His breakout moment came in 2023 with Daylight, a hauntingly cinematic track that resonated worldwide, racking up hundreds of millions of streams. The song’s success propelled him onto major stages, leading to his Daylight 2.0 tour and a growing reputation for emotionally charged performances.Now living in Nashville, Kushner continues to evolve as an artist. His 2024 debut album, The Dichotomy, delves into themes of contrast—light and dark, faith and doubt—while pushing his sound into new territory. With a loyal fanbase and a distinct artistic vision, Kushner is building something that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Other Side of the World - LAUNDRY DAY

IYL: Danny Dwyer, Roy Blair, Jelani Aryeh

LAUNDRY DAY was formed in 2016 at Beacon High School in New York City. Jude, Sawyer, Henry, and Henry (yes, there’s two, and they share a birthday) would spend any free time they had writing songs in the basement. By their graduation in 2020, they’d independently released 3 albums, 2 EPs, and toured all around the country. Headline shows, festival gigs at Austin City Limits and Tyler, the Creator's Camp Flog Gnaw, and opening slots with Omar Apollo, Clairo, and the 1975. When the pandemic hit, they stuck together to make their fourth record, “We Switched Bodies”. Meanwhile, their song "Friends" was making waves on TikTok after being used as the closing song in the Season 3 finale of the Netflix series, “On My Block”.Fast forward: the boys are self proclaimed “Road Dogs,” who drive themselves around the U.S. in their sprinter van, playing everywhere from college gigs in rural Pennsylvania to the Barclays Center opening for Ed Sheeran. In early 2024, the boys leveled up their social media game, exponentially growing their audiences on Instagram and TikTok. The buzz got the attention of Teezo Touchdown, who brought them out on the European leg of his "Spend the Night Tour". Since then, the boys have continued to release music, sell out venues, bike around Brooklyn with Ed Sheeran, while still being the “funniest band on your for you page” according to Rolling Stone Magazine.

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