today’s picks move through emotional alt-pop, camp dancefloor energy, nostalgic guitar hooks and a thoughtful electronic reworking. each release brings a distinct voice, balancing personality, melody and polished production.
overwhelmed - medeni
The verdict
“medeni turns emotional exhaustion into a powerful alt-pop release shaped by a compelling blend of vulnerability and control”
overwhelmed opens around medeni’s beautiful and husky lower register, with restrained piano, spacious production and rising dynamics building a tense emotional pull. the arrangement leaves room for every phrase to land, before expanding into a fuller chorus that really just lets loose in the best kinda way. vocally it's great, i love the direct melody, the build out of the verses, and generally the controlled intensity here. it gives 'overhwelmed' an immediate, deeply human quality.
medeni is a welsh artist from brongest, near newcastle emlyn, now based in west london. the single begins an upcoming ep exploring the lasting effects of destructive relationships, anxiety and controlled love. it represents a more vulnerable chapter in her writing, turning personal exhaustion into a clear moment of release, resistance and emotional self-recognition. we're here for it, and i'd love to here from medeni this year. essential alt-pop this month.
thank u for making this medeni ❤️
i’m bored - teena
The verdict
“teena delivers a bright camp-pop rush loaded with a stunning blend of humour, defiance and personality”
i’m bored pairs high-energy dance-pop beats with a playful vocal performance and a knowingly dramatic sense of timing. its sharp repetition, punchy production and comic lyrical turns transform everyday frustration into something colourful, cheeky and very, very memorable. beneath the humour, the track carries a confident message about refusing other people’s labels and owning every part of your identity. and melodically it genuinely packs a punch. in short, it slaps.
teena is a drag performer from kettering whose work brings together pop music, stand-up comedy and theatrical storytelling. the single leads into the album i’m too famous and supports the narrative of the upcoming edinburgh fringe show who’s the daddy. it represents a bold extension of teena’s larger-than-life character, using camp spectacle and queer humour to create a celebratory pride-ready anthem. we're definitely not bored with this single, it's fabulous.
thank u for making this teena 💅
one in a million - a thousand hills
The verdict
“a thousand hills revive a lost song through warm guitar hooks and polished nostalgic pop”
one in a million blends a distinctive guitar refrain with bright melodic writing, steady rhythms and production that draws from classic new wave and guitar-pop. i love the riffs in this; all optimistic and bouncy, and the track carries the warmth a straight up, well written track. best of all is its central hook in the chorus. it's really catchy in a kinda 90s way. and that balance of familiarity and modern polish gives the song an easy, lasting charm.
a thousand hills is a musical project based in nowy sacz, poland, led by james macfarlane. originally written during the 1990s, with its guitar hook provided by john newton, the song has now been reshaped for contemporary listeners. and we're very glad they went back to it, because it's a great track. the release represents a recovered musical time capsule, preserving its original character while giving an unheard piece of the project’s past a fresh life. a fabulous track.
thank u for making this a thousand hills ✨
another day in paradise - signate
The verdict
“signate reshape a familiar classic with beautiful electronic detail and genuine emotional respect”
another day in paradise places polished programmed textures around the song’s reflective core, giving the familiar melody a measured home-studio finish. subtle electronic layers, controlled percussion and a spacious arrangement allow the emotional weight of the original to remain central. rather than chasing a dramatic reinvention, the duo focus on atmosphere, clarity and small production choices that make the track feel personal to them. the original is such a banger that it's a tough one to cover, but signate really nail this one.
signate is the augusta, georgia partnership of scott and jr, whose friendship and musical collaboration spans more than two decades. their version revives an idea first attempted over ten years ago, when the arrangement never fully connected. the release represents both a successful return to their back catalogue and a reminder of the creative chemistry that continues to hold their studio-only passion project together. wonder where they'll go next, another cover? let's hope there's more stunners like this one in their draft folder.
thank u for making this signate 🙌