With more music at our fingertips than ever before, one of the biggest challenges an artist can have is to truly build intrigue around their new project. It's a challenge that's made even more difficult the longer this hype has to be sustained for - which, depending on record label scheming or personal dramas, can range anywhere from weeks to years.

And the consequences that can occur for an album when that hype isn't sustained can be severe. Take Rita Ora's second album Phoenix, which landed at #2 on our Best Albums of 2018 list, but stalled at a measly #11 on the UK charts and only #79 on the US equivalent. Ora had a UK hit with the Ed Sheeran-penned 'Your Song', which hit #7 on the UK charts back when it was released in May 2017; but it took another five months for second single 'Anywhere' to be released. By the time 'Girls' came around seven months after that, fans had all but forgotten about Rita's second album, and the lukewarm reception towards that song didn't help them remember. When the album was finally released six months later, interest was at an all-time low, and even the world's greatest album would have been a flop.

In this list, we'll be looking at five different albums that have managed to sustain interest, in many cases over several years. At this point, all but one of these albums has been confirmed for release in 2019: although we all know how transient Twitter confirmations can be. After all, two of the albums we were looking forward to in 2018 have still yet to be released.

5. Charli XCX - TBA

The journey to Charli XCX's third album has been a long one. Immediately after her second album Sucker was released, Charli revealed she had a punk album ready to go, but this has remained unreleased. In 2017, she further revealed that she'd recorded a whole album over a 24 hour period with A.G. Cook, but this has also failed to manifest. 'After the Afterparty' and 'Boys' were both billed as singles for an upcoming album, but this seems to have been bypassed in order for Charli to focus on her mixtapes, Number #1 Angel and #Pop2. '5 in the Morning', 'Focus', 'No Angel' and 'Girls Night Out' were all released last year as stand-alone singles, but Charli confirmed that they weren't intended for any particular album.

And then towards the end of 2018 Charli released Troye Sivan collab '1999', which seemed like yet another start to the era. Charli even stated that if the song hit top ten in the UK that she would confirm an album release for 2019, but she ended up with egg on her face when the song only peaked at #13. Regardless of whether we do get a full length album from Charli or not in 2019, we're sure that we'll hear from her either through official releases or leaks, and as pop's most interesting star we're sure she'll have something interesting to say.

4. Sky Ferreira - Masochism

Sky Ferreira first confirmed the title of her second album in a Tweet back in 2015, and ever since then it's been a constant on lists of the most anticipated albums of the year. Sadly, it seems as though we're no closer to hearing the album now than we were four years ago. Sky takes to social media once every six months ago to give her fans a half-hearted mysterious update on the album - the latest Instagram post, released in June of last year, said that the album was "FINALLY happening" - but other than that, we've had no concrete confirmation of a release date or tracklisting.

In truth, all that fans have been able to glean about the album is from assorted social media posts that they've jigsawed together into a rough estimate of what it will sound like. Ferreira has described the album as "A little heavier", saying "It's not going to be an electronic album completely - it's going to be a blend of everything." She's also confirmed at least ten songs for the album, including 'Guardian' which she debuted live and a cover of Morissey's 'Last of the Famous International Playboys'.

But if Ferreira's track record is anything to go by, we wouldn't be at all surprised if all of these posts were just more red herrings. Her first album, Night Time, My Time, was fronted by at least five debut singles ranging from pop to electro to rock, and ultimately only one of them ended up on the finished product. Maybe all we can do as fans is sit back, trust the process, and wait for Sky to work her magic.

3. Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell

Even though we already have three official singles from Lana Del Rey's sixth studio album - 'Mariner's Apartment Complex', 'Venice Bitch' and the aptly titled 'hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have - but i have it' - that doesn't change the fact that the era is still shrouded in mystery. Lana first announced the title of her upcoming album during an interview with Zane Lowe, where she also confirmed that it would feature 11 tracks and a surf-rock sound. With that said, Lana is known to change her mind about album directions at the drop of a hat, and given that she's been teasing newly written songs on Instagram frequently we wouldn't be surprised if the album had completely morphed at this point.

Either way, we may not have long to find out - Lana recently liked a tweet saying that the album would be out March 29th, and we'll almost definitely hear at least one more single before that.

2. Lady Gaga - TBA

It seems like Lady Gaga has been in the studio every week since she released Joanne, but that doesn't necessarily mean we're any closer to getting her next album. After recording the A Star Is Born soundtrack, Gaga has possibly chosen to focus on recording her second collaborative album with Tony Bennett next, which may mean we'll have an even longer wait for her upcoming album.

With that said, there has been some very slow progression towards hopefully getting a body of work together. Over the past two years, Gaga has been in the studio with electronic producers such as Boys Noize, Sophie and Umru, none of whom collaborated on ASIB and who definitely wouldn't be working on a Tony Bennett album. Given how frequently Gaga scraps songs, we wouldn't be surprised if none of these made the final album, but we can at least maintain the hope for a return to dance-pop music from the queen herself.

1. Rihanna - TBA

Over the past few years, it seems as though Rihanna has been doing anything but make music. Between appearing in Ocean's 8, releasing a popular makeup line and launching a well received collaboration with Puma, Rih's had little time to head into the studio and give her fans what they really want.

But that all seems set to change this year, with Rih confirming that 2019 is the year when she makes her official return to the music scene. In July of last year, we heard from multiple sources that Rih was focused on making a dancehall-inspired album as homage to her home country Barbados, along with a seperate pop album; but since then we've also heard from DJ Alesso that she's planning on taking over the dance charts with some well-timed collaborations. We wouldn't be at all surprised if all this things are true: a pop-dance record with dancehall influences sounds just like Rihanna's style, and if she plays her cards right it could be the album of the year.

2017 has been a great year for pop music. With new releases from Miley Cyrus, Sia and Taylor Swift, and comebacks from the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Kesha and P!nk, there's been plenty of new and interesting music to keep us busy throughout the year, and plenty of new trends to keep the songs fresh.

That said, it's human nature to always look for the next thing to get excited about, and the ever-changing world of pop music is absolutely no different. In a world in which new albums are teased on social media from their very inception and right up until their release date, there's little room to pause and enjoy the moment before we start anticipating what will happen next.

In this list, we'll be looking at the top five albums to look forward to in 2018. Interestingly, all of these albums have actually been in progress for several years, reflecting how slow the release schedule is in the modern age.

Lily Allen - The 4th Wall

Lily Allen's 2014 comeback album Sheezus may not have been quite as amazing as we hoped for, but that hasn't stopped the English potty mouth from continuing to work on new music. Since that album was released, she's been working on her aptly titled fourth album The 4th Wall, which has taken her to places as far reaching as London (to work with Mark Ronson), Los Angeles (to work with Greg Kurstin) and Jamaica (to work with Sean Paul). So far, the album sounds to be classic Lily - saccharine pop which is just a little left of centre, this time with a trip hop and dancehall vibe - although it's hard to know as up until recently the only song we'd heard was the low quality leak of 'Family Man'. Thankfully, Lily finally released her first official song in years recently, entitled 'Trigger Bang' - although it took an early leak of the track to force her to actually get the song out there. Lily is known to be an incredibly political and observant artist, and given how momentous 2017 has been in terms of politics we're sure she'd have a lot to say, so let's hope that 2018 is finally her year.

Christina Aguilera - CA8 (TBA)

Forget the Justice League movie - Christina Aguilera's album was actually the biggest disappointment of 2017. After 2012's ill-fated Lotus, Aguilera went back to the drawing board, and even took time off from The Voice back in 2015 to work on her new album with fellow judge Pharrell and 'Beautiful' co-writer Linda Perry. She allegedly worked with Kanye West and PARTYNEXTDOOR on the album, suggesting a hip-hop route for the upcoming work. More importantly, she also recorded 'Telepathy' for the soundtrack for The Get Down, one of her best songs in years.

Later in 2016, Aguilera released a charity single dedicated to the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting and Christina Grimmie's family called 'Change', and from the looks of it the single was meant to double as a promotional single from her album. The album artwork style for 'Change' was replicated in posts on Aguilera's social media, and she continuously mentioned the musical "surprise" she had prepared for us. Sadly, nothing came of the promotion, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that after her well received Whitney Houston tribute at the AMA's she'll have the public support she needs to finally get the album out there.

Nicki Minaj - NM4 (TBA)

Nicki Minaj released three singles simultaneously back in March - 'Changed It', 'Regret In Your Tears' and 'No Frauds' - but since then we've heard not a peep about her upcoming album. Instead, Nicki has featured on tracks from the likes of Jason Derulo, Katy Perry, David Guetta, Yo Gotti and Migos to keep her name out in the public's eye. At this point, the album has been so delayed that we're starting to question whether there's some internal drama ala Lil Wayne and Birdman which is causing it to not be released, or if Nicki is just searching for that next #1 single that will define the era like 'Superbass', 'Starships' and 'Anaconda' did in the past. That said, Nicki apparently has a sound and album title already decided on, so it hopefully won't be long before we hear more from her about the project.

Selena Gomez - SG3 (TBA)

Selena Gomez's last album, Revival, was our favourite back when it was released in 2015, but the star has remained relatively quiet since then - at least on the music front. Between producing Thirteen Reasons Why, a very public battle with lupus and her on-again-off-again relationship with Justin Bieber, Selena hasn't had much time to focus on her music career, but we've heard a few snippets here and there of what her upcoming album might sound like. Gomez first started work on her next album while touring for Revival, which is when she wrote 'Feel Me', which would later leak; this lead to the suggestion of a Revival re-release, although this went unrealised presumably due to her health issues.

Following this, Selena seemed primed and ready to release a new album in May of this year when she released the funky 'Bad Liar' and the R&B tinged 'Fetish' with rapper Gucci Mane; but since then, she seems to have gone back to the drawing board, delving more into the EDM world by releasing 'It Ain't Me' with Kygo and 'Wolves' with Marshmello. She's also worked with producers like The Futuristics, Jonas Jeberg and Ryan Tedder, and reunited with writers Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, Charli XCX and Jacob Kasher. Gomez's last televised performance for the latter song at the AMA's was pretty heavily panned for her lip syncing, so we wouldn't be surprised if we have a little while to wait before Selena saves her image and this album comes out.

Lady Gaga - LG6 (TBA)

You never quite know what you're going to get next with Gaga's music, and that same element of surprise seems to hold for her release structures. Gaga is constantly working on music which means that LG6 was in the works immediately after the release of Gaga's last album Joanne, but she seems to have put it off to work on not only her impressive Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, but also her upcoming starring role in the musical feature film A Star Is Born. The soundtrack for that film should be out in around May of next year, and so far seems to be carrying on the same country-pop vibe that Joanne introduced to Gaga's fans with production from the likes of Mark Ronson and Lukas Nelson; but in the meantime, Gaga has also been working on her own music without the limitations of a character to write for.

Gaga released 'The Cure' as a single earlier this year, but it was implied that the track did not serve as the lead single for any particular project: that said, Gaga has been pictured in the studio frequently with the producer of that song, DJ White Shadow, along with engineer Benjamin Rice. Last month during a backstage meet and greet, Gaga also played fans a new song called 'Frankenstein' which was apparently about "putting the pieces of your heart back together" in a Shelley-esque manner. Fans speculated that Gaga might perform the new single at the AMA's last month, but sadly it was not to be. Fans shouldn't have long to wait though: according to Gaga collaborator Mark Nilan, "2018 radio is ours!".

Special thanks to @jlnsgr for inspiring this article with his list of upcoming albums in 2018. Which album are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments down below!

Empowering anthems have been popular in the music industry throughout the decades. When I think of my favourite self-empowerment songs, my mind immediately goes to P!nk's 'Fucking Perfect', Miley's 'We Can't Stop', Christina Aguilera's 'Beautiful', or Kelly Rowland's 'Stole'. People can relate to these songs for a variety of reasons, whether they feel insecure about themselves or are persecuted by their peers. Their catchy choruses and relatability allow them to stay in your mind for a long time.

Let's face it, being a teenager is hard. In the 90s and early 2000s, self-empowerment songs tended to be aimed mostly at teenage girls as they were the ones the media seemed to target the most. But if you're a teenager and gay, life is even harder. With all of the pressure on you to succeed, plus the fact that you might be ugly, fat, closeted, or a nerd, the world can completely destroy any ounce of confidence that you have. That's why artists have noticed this and started producing more and more self-empowerment songs focused on the LGBTQ community than you can shake a stick at.

It's not like teenage girls problems are no longer relevant whatsoever. They are and we still hear songs about them on a daily basis. We have Britney's 'Brave New Girl', Miley's 'Can't Be Tamed', Selena Gomez' 'Who Says', and Fifth Harmony's 'Bo$$'. My point was that the LGBTQ community's problems have become more visible recently and artists have tried to profit from them the most (and mostly succeeded). Of course, we cannot claim that they do it only for money. There are still musicians who really care about changing the world and fight with social injustices. 

Our fifth PHF Song of the Week is Rebecca Black's 'Heart Full of Scars'.

This song is not particularly aimed at girls or the LGBTQ community. It points its focus towards everyone who feels oppressed regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

Rebecca's first steps into the music industry weren't a perfect dream. She is probably still best-known for her infamous debut single 'Friday' which became a global sensation back in 2011. The music video has surpassed 2.7 million dislikes from YouTube uses making it the fourth most disliked video on the social media website. Not an accomplishment you would brag about to your relatives, huh?

Rebecca was fourteen back then. She faced international backlash. People were sending terrible things to this teenage girl including death threats. Can you imagine being fourteen years old and one of the most hated people on Earth? It took a long time for Rebecca to overcome this shame and re-establish herself as an artist. She continued uploading new covers of popular hits like Miley's 'Malibu' or Alessia Cara's 'Scars To Your Beautiful' on her YouTube channel and she also releases her own stuff which is a huge improvement to her debut single.

After dropping two singles entitled 'The Great Divide' and 'Foolish', Rebecca has come back with a brand new single called 'Heart Full of Scars'. All three songs are set to appear on her EP RE/BL which is to drop on September 15, 2017.

Buy the single on iTunes, and pre-order the EP on PledgeMusic!

Hi, guys! It's time for the new PHF Song of the Week! I know how excited you are!  

This week I have been thinking about a lot of stuff - mostly reflecting on my life. I've recalled all of the bad things that happened and all the good times. One day I finally realized that I am at a good place right now. But then I started thinking about other people. We read the news every day. Sometimes it's about Korea threatening the USA and sometimes it's about Selena Gomez hitting x number of likes on her new photo on Instagram. One day, I was scrolling down my Facebook feed because I was bored and I bumped into an article about Venezuela.

If you aren't familiar with what's going on there right now, let me tell you. There was a so called Venezuelan Constituent Assembly election in which the Venezuelan government chose to take a step closer to dictatorship. What does it mean for poor Venezuelans? The country will become fully communist. The government will have total control of international and national media. Even internet access will be regulated by the government. Furthermore, the new president Nicolás Maduro will stay in control of the country until the day he dies or selects a successor. Finally, the government will take over all private properties. From stores and businesses to people's own homes. It seems like an abstraction for us, inhabitants of civilized, democratic countries. However, that stuff really happens on Earth.

Nevertheless, we don't really have to look that far to see  examples of a person trying to take control of their nation. Let's not forget who the president of the USA is. Donald Trump has been signaling his authoritarianism for some time now in various ways - ranging from his fear-mongering demagogy on immigration and crime, to the ways in which he praised Putin as a more effective President than Obama. 

And what about all of the recent terrorist attacks? ISIS tries to spread fear among us when they launch their attacks. They want us to believe that we can't be safe anywhere. That they are stronger and much more powerful than we are. Seeing the ways in which the media speculate about new probable attacks, ISIS continues to achieve their goal.

Here comes a question: should we actually fold under the pressure? Should we allow the fear to take over our brains and make us afraid of being shot or persecuted?

Considering all these facts and trying to find the answers to these questions, I had one one song in mind. Not even the whole song, but a verse. It goes like this: "Tell me what we're fighting for. I don't wanna fight your war right now." Alexz Johnson in her new song 'Right Now' seems to give us the answers.

She strongly opposes the "superiors" who try to rule over us. She says, "I never knew the situation. Didn't think that it was one of those kinds. From a different generation, you can't deny this is a stranger time." Just like me, Alexz seems to be lost somewhere in this world. When I was a child I never paid too much attention to what was going on in the world. The world seemed to be a much more joyful place where I always felt safe. That's why, now that I am older, it strikes me how much cruelty, hatred, and hostility we can encounter on a daily basis. It is no longer Arcadia - the land of luck and happiness. That utopian vision turned into chaos at some point.

Later, Alexz mentions an issue which she can personally relate to which is immigration. The singer is a Canadian native who is currently living in the US. She sings: "You think you're safe behind a passport. You were shaking in the airport line. Telling stories you were hearing. You can't deny someone could lose their mind." She gives us a taste of how uncertain an immigrant's life must be in a world that builds up borders. Then, in the chorus, she says she doesn't want to play somebody else's games. She is a human being and not a counter. The song is truly poignant and relatable to the days ahead of us.

The song itself perfectly showcases Alexz's soft crooning. Her voice is not filled with anger as we might have expected from an antagonistic song. It is rather melancholic and soulful. What really amazes me in Alexz' music is her astounding ability to express certain emotions through her voice. Whether she sings a powerful break-up song (like 'Skipping Stone') or a broad love song (like 'Back Of The Room'), you don't have to even pay attention to the lyrics to know what emotions she wants to convey. Noteworthy is the fact that she is also a genius songwriter. Her lyricism is something which has touched my heart since the first day I heard any of her songs.

Alexz Johnson's new album A Stranger Time is out this Friday! Buy a physical copy in her official store or pick it up on iTunes!

In a world where people are preoccupied with the rat race and days race by irretrievably, it's important to reflect on the question, "Why do we live so fast?". Do we have to take the plunge into routine and get stuck in it forever, seeing our life and its billions of opportunities pass us by? What if one day we wake up and realize that we're 50 with no personal accomplishments to include in our memoirs? This is the sad truth of our contemporary world. We are young, then there is a period of work, and we are old already. 

And what about those who are already old? Should they feel like they are running out of time? Hopeless? Senseless? Should they spend their days worrying about their bodies being transformed? I may ask a lot of questions, but I think that the majority of us can relate to the feeling.

Well, the answer is, to channel Shania Twain's song title: 'Nah!'. Instead of complaining about our lives being boring, we should do something about it. Age ain't nothing but a number and we should bear that in mind. We are as old as we feel we are so why not feel young all the time?

My recipe? Go on a walk, ride on a bike, meet with friends, find love and stream our third PHF Song of the Week!

Music legend Miley Cyrus has dropped her brand new single 'Younger Now', the title track from her upcoming album, and she has also revealed an amazing new video for the song which made me pick her as our official third PHF Song Of The Week!

In the video for 'Younger Now', Miley pays homage to her country roots and the older generations of those among us. The great message of the song is that even though Miley has gotten older, she feels younger than ever with a zest for life. She wants older people to feel the same. Despite your body getting saggy, you should appreciate the gift of life and live it to the fullest. She sings: "No one stays the same, you know what goes up must come down. Change is a thing you can count on, I feel so much younger now." This sentiment is presented with the help of elderly ladies performing circus tricks and the final dance sequence, which brings back memories of old 60s performance videos. Her fans may also think of her iconic dance sequence for 'Hoedown Throwdown' from Hannah Montana: The Movie. It's a heart warmer! Miley also channels one of her biggest musical inspirations Elvis Presley in the video, as she's dressed in a rhinestone jumpsuit while recreating his puppet show scene from the movie G.I. Blues.

Miley has also unveiled her album's artwork and tracklisting. Younger Now, released on September 29, is 11 tracks long and features one collaboration with Miley's godmother Dolly Parton.

What do you think of the song? Pre-order Younger Now on iTunes and stream the song on Spotify NOW!

I would like to introduce you to the second PHF Song of The Week with a little quotation:

"The weight of this sad time we must obey.
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
The oldest hath borne most. We that are young
Shall never see so much, nor live so long."
- William Shakespeare, King Lear

For those who didn't keep abreast of the events that happened in Charlottesville, here's a little recap. The city became a place where American racists rallied. The majority of them were white men with extreme right-wing views. The pretext for the rally was to save a monument that was to be removed in the centre of the city of a confederate general commanding the Civil War in the 19th century opposed to the abolition of slavery.. There were clashes between the participants of the rally and its opponents. Before the police took control of the situation, a young, 20-year-old neo-Nazi had driven into a group of civilians on the model of Islamic terrorists. A young woman named Heather Heyer died as a repercussion of the disgusting act of hatred and many of the victims were taken to the hospital. Heather's last Facebook post read, "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention."

Many of our favorite stars took to their social media to speak their opinions about the whole event:

In light of the recent upsetting events that took place in Charlottesville a few days ago, I think that the world needs a song that will speak to the masses. A song that will lift our spirits and make us feel stronger and united. That's when P!nk came through with her brand new soaring protest song, 'What About Us'. The single was written by P!nk herself with the help of Johnny McDaid of Snow Patrol and Steve Mac who also produced it. With its gentle piano progressions, the track takes flight during the chorus as P!nk bemoans all that's lost and nowhere to be found.

P!nk asks a series of rhetorical questions nobody seem to be able to answer. "What about us? What about all the times you said you had the answers? What about us? What about all the broken happy ever afters?", the singer asks in the chorus. The song is transparently political, but not in an angry way. It is rather a call for action. As the US president Donald Trump seems to be deaf to people's anger and sadness, there is a kind of desperation for political anthems now. P!nk provided us with a great, up to date track that surely will help many people to deal with contemporary times.

'What About Us' is the first single from P!nk's upcoming album Beautiful Trauma which comes out October 13th, as shared with her fans via her social media. P!nk will also be honored with the Video Vanguard Award at the 2017 MTV VMAs on the 27th of August!

What do you think of the song? Tell us in the comments below!

Because the majority of us have vacation now, where we'll be going on long walks by the beach or sipping on fancy drinks by the pool, we tend to think about mostly one thing...boys. Whether it's about how sexy they are or how many problems with them we all have.

We see them every day - at the gym, on the beach, in the store. We stare at them like little creeps or convince ourselves not to look at them so our moms don't find out about our desires.

Furthermore, they say that summer is the season of love which is conducive to letting our imagination flow and dreaming about relationships blooming. Undoubtedly, kisses and caresses feel better when performed by boys.  

In this atmosphere of pleasurably seductive summer, the choice for the first PHF Song of the Week was relatively easy. The British singing sensation Charli XCX served a real bop with her brand new single 'Boys'.

This is the second single off the singers upcoming and highly-anticipated third album. The summery vibes of the instrumental flow great with Charli's soothing voice.

She sings, "I need that bad boy to do me right on a Friday/And I need that good one to wake me up on a Sunday/That one from work can come over on Monday night/I want 'em all, I want 'em all."

 It indicates that this girl, just like most of us, is super boy-crazy. This shtick of a schoolgirl consumed with the sexiness of the eye-candies surrounding her is something we all can relate to.

As if the sexy song wasn't enough, Charli bestowed us with a mesmerising music video in which we can see extremely hawt guys such as Joe Jonas from DNCE, Brendan Urie from Panic! At The Disco, Olympian swimmer Tom Daley, influencer Cameron Dallas, singer Charlie Puth, and many others.

I don't know about you, but I am melting with lust just watching it.

Watch the music video below and tell us what you think in this thread!

Plenty of todays European acts struggle every day to blow up outside of their mother countries. The main reasons for that are that they tend to sing in their mother tongues or are having issues with promo...or lack thereof. Many such artists follow their dreams in music contests: for singers like Loreen, Måns Zelmerlöw, Conchita Wurst, Elena Paparizou and ABBA participating in Eurovision was the best thing since sliced bread. Nevertheless, there are artists who prefer to earn their fame without cutting corners. Not many artists have been able to attract the attention of international audiences, but one Danish artist has managed to do so.

Maria Louise Joensen, better known as Aura Dione, was born in Copenhagen in 1985. Not many people know that this multi-platinum selling artist is of Faroese, Spanish, French and Danish origin. Her talent was a blessing in disguise. She debuted with the song 'Something From Nothing' in 2007. Sadly, the song didn’t have a significant impact on radio stations and wasn’t hugely successful. However, despite poor reception of the first single, Aura knew that every cloud has a silver lining and decided not to leave the building so quickly.

However, it was her third single that gave Aura the most publicity yet: 'I Will Love You Monday'. In Germany, 'I Will Love You Monday (365)' reached #1 in its fourth week on the chart. It hit #2 in Switzerland and Austria and charted within the European Hot 100.

After the huge success of 'I Will Love You Monday', Aura started working on her sophomore album called Before The Dinosaurs. It was released in 2011 by Universal Music. The first single off it was 'Geronimo'. The banger peaked at number one in Austria, Denmark, and Germany.

The second single from this album is noteworthy. 'Friends' saw Aura working with the American producing duo Rock Mafia, known for working on such hits as Miley Cyrus’s 'Who Owns My Heart' and 'Can’t Be Tamed', Selena Gomez’s 'Naturally', 'Love You Like a Love Song' and 'Kill ‘Em With Kindness' to name just a few. 'Friends' brought Aura the most recognition and success so far.

The last single from Before The Dinosaurs was called 'In Love With The World'. The track didn’t have too much impact on radio stations and quickly disappeared from charts. However, it is such an underrated bop and y’all should check it out as well.  

Right now, the artist has changed her name from Aura Dione to just Aura and is cooking up her third album Can't Steal The Music which is set to drop later this year. She has already released two singles from the project: 'Love Somebody' and 'Indian Giver'. 

She has also taken to Instagram to post a mysterious photo from behind the scenes of her new music video. We still don't know which song it will be for, but we can't wait!

UPDATE!

Aura has released  a brand new single called "Can't Steal The Music" Get it on iTunes or other stores NOW!

You can find Aura on Facebook and Instagram.  

It's a new year in pop music, and already artists are gearing up for their 2017 releases. While we can never be 100% sure what's around the corner nowadays (we can thank Beyoncé and her surprise release strategy for that), we do already have some idea of how the next twelve months in music will play out if all goes according to plan - and from what we can tell, this year will be an even bigger year than the last when it comes to amazing new releases. Check out all you have to look forward to down below!

Allie X - CollXtion II

The release of Allie X's second EP, CollXtion II, has been a long and convoluted one thanks largely to an ill-advised plan to get fans involved in the creative process. Taking to Spotify, Allie announced her ɄNSOLVED initiative, in which she would post early demos and acoustic versions of her songs so that her fans to vote on which would make the ultimate album cut: we got singles 'Too Much To Dream', 'All The Rage', 'Casanova', 'Old Habits Die Hard' and 'That's So Us' that way. But fans preferred to be involved in other capacities, leaking dozens of songs that potentially have a place on the album in the radio silence that followed each single release. There's definitely enough material out there to make this EP an LP, but it remains to be seen if the project will ever be completed at all.

Charli XCX - TBA

Charli XCX had ambitious plans for 2016, hoping to release an EP, an album and a mixtape all in the same calendar year; although at the end of the day we only got the EP, the genre-defying Vroom Vroom project. The EP debuted a new sound XCX had masterminded with Tumblr It Girl and PC Music producer SOPHIE, a clash of 90s pop, J-Pop and trip-hop beats which was further showcased in her live performances for tracks like 'Girls Night Out', 'No Angel' and 'Bounce'. So far, though, the only sound we have of the album is the lead single 'After the Afterparty', which stepped away from the alternative sound she had been exploring for a pure bubblegum pop fantasy. Hopefully XCX will manage to tread the line between label desire and personal creativity successfully.

Dua Lipa - Dua Lipa

Since the release of her debut single ‘New Love’ back in August of last year and the blow up of her breakthrough track 'Be The One', Dua Lipa has captured the hearts of pop fans who prefer a little more substance from their tunes. Although she’s released six more singles and several collaborations since then, Dua’s album has been pushed back majorly from September of last year to February of this year as she focuses on breaking into the US market, so we’re still not sure if she has the chops to pull off a full-length album. Time will tell if she has what it takes!

Fergie - Double Dutchess

Fergie's second album has been a long time coming since the release of her first solo album, The Dutchess, back in 2006. We've had several false starts so far - from 2014's moderate R&B hit 'L.A. Love (La La)' to last year's hard-hitting hip-hop hit 'M.I.L.F. $' to the recently released reggae-inspired 'Life Goes On' - but from what we can tell Fergie has more than enough tracks for the album and photoshoots and music videos already handled, so a release seems imminent. Her first album was marked by it's variety, and we can expect more of the same here, with a range of collaborators from will.i.am to Mike Will Made It to Dr. Luke to Nicki Minaj all expected to contribute.

Iggy Azalea - Digital Distortion

Iggy Azalea may not be the most popular girl on the Internet these days, but if nothing else the girl knows how to write a fun tune. Her second album, the interestingly named Digital Distortion, was due for release last year but has been retuned since the commercial failure of the lead single ‘Team’, which only managed a position of #42 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite that, other tracks (including the promo single 'Azillion' and leaked tracks 'Sexy' and 'Savior') have been confirmed for the album, along with registered titles such as 'Middle Man' and 'I Got That Boom Boom'. Since then, she's headed back into the studio to work with the likes of Zedd and Verse Simmonds on new tracks which are apparently inspired by her newfound sense of freedom and fun as a single woman. Hopefully she'll be able to recapture the magic of 'Fancy'.

Katy Perry - TBA

Katy Perry’s fourth studio album has been teased mercilessly, with multiple leaks of snippets, the stellar leaked song ‘Witness’ and stand-alone single ‘Rise’ all hinting at possible directions the project might take. If ‘Rise’ and her new nose ring are anything to go by, Katy might be aiming for a more dark-pop sound this time around; although with Max Martin, Savan Kotecha and Shellback all still in the mix for her recording sessions you can expect some more radio-friendly hits like ‘California Girls’ on the way as well.

Kesha - TBA

Kesha’s long-awaited third studio album was also on last years list of the most anticipated albums of the year, which should be some indication of how long fans have longed for this album. Back then, there was a single called 'Lover' released with Spookey Ruben, along with rumours of a lead single called 'Child of the Moon' which had a "Stevie Nicks-witchy vibe"; although lately Kesha's been working with a country music band called Yeast Infection. Thanks to the lawsuit between her and her accused rapist Dr. Luke which has been dominating most of her life in recent years, the album has been continuously delayed; but Kesha has apparently submitted over twenty two songs to her label for consideration and Sony itself has issued a statement saying that they “hope to share exciting new music with Kesha’s fans soon”. Take that with a grain of salt.

Major Lazer - Music Is the Weapon

Aside from a few bops that were released in the form of singles, Major Lazer's last album Peace Is the Mission was a bit disappointing in terms of tracklisting, featuring only eight tracks of which about four of them were listenable. Thankfully, the supergroup seems to be taking their time for their sophomore release, and they've already lined up a veritable whos who of pop music for collaborators. The album is set to feature vocals from Justin Bieber, MØ, Ariana Grande, Sia, Nicki Minaj, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Gwen Stefani, Iggy Azalea, Konshens, Benny Blanco, Tinashe, The Weeknd, Travis $cott, Bonnie McKee and Camila Cabello, just to name the works that have already been announced. Do we sense the album of the year coming soon?

Rihanna - TBA (#R9)

Rihanna’s #R9, the unofficial title fans have already given her upcoming album, seems to have been in the works since at least when the Bajan popstar dashed fans hopes for an ANTI re-relase by confirming she was instead working on something new. Despite this, Rih’s gone uncharacteristically quiet about the release and her planned collaborators, which suggests it might be further away than we originally thought. With upcoming roles in Bates Motel and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, however, we know Rihanna will still manage to keep herself busy in 2017.

Tove Lo - TBA (Lady Wood Part 2)

Tove Lo’s latest album, the inventively titled Lady Wood, was released this year to positive reception - its lead single ‘Cool Girl’ made it to our list of the top ten best songs of 2016, and the album itself made the cut as well - so it’s no surprise that she’ll be moving forward with plans to release a sequel to the album, which according to her has already been finished. Lady Wood was split into two parts - ‘Fairy Dust’ and ‘Fire Fade’ - and we can expect more of the same with this one, which will apparently be split into 'Light Beams' and 'Pitch Black'. Our only concern is one of variety - Tove’s already covered the highs and lows of love and drug addiction with her last album, and we’re not really sure where she’s going to go with this one. Still, given how talented of a songwriter she is (Tove has written songs for stars like Hilary Duff, Ellie Goulding and Girls Aloud), we’re pretty positive she’ll make it work somehow.

Nelly Furtado - The Ride

Nelly Furtado's been almost completely absent from the popular charts since the release of 2007's groundbreaking Loose, the album which spawned singles such as 'Maneater' and 'Promiscuous' and which made her a household name. Despite that, she's still been quietly releasing songs which range from the Spanish-language 'Manos Al Aire' to the hip-hop inspired 'Big Hoops' to last years collaboration with Blood Orange, 'Hadron Collider'. She's set to make a comeback this March with her album The Ride, which seems to harness a new experimental sound thanks to a partnership with producer John Congleton. The lead single 'Pipe Dreams' is already out: check it out here for a sample of the project.

Zara Larsson - TBA

When she's not talking about how much she hates men, Zara Larsson can occasionally release some pretty good pop songs: and hard as it is to believe given her age, she's released plenty of them, with a debut album and several EPs already under her belt. She's set to make her international debut this year with her new album, which already has the hits 'Lush Life', 'Never Forget You' 'Ain't My Fault' and 'I Would Like' to back it up. Apparently there's only one more single to go before the albums released, so you can expect this one to pop up on our radars pretty soon.

And there's more...

Also coming this year are albums from Bonnie McKee (the project may or may not be connected to her recent 'Stars In Your Heart' single, which was recorded several years ago), Kanye West (Turbo Grafx 16, which was announced as soon as work on his last album wrapped up but which has been put on pause as he recovers from his well publicised mental breakdown last year), Kiiara (her first full length album, led by single 'Dopamine'), Melanie Martinez (her yet to be titled second album which has already been completed), Rita Ora (her long-awaited second album) and Terror Jr (their first, which may feature songs 'Trippin' and 'heartbreaks'. Plus, they may not have been officially confirmed yet, but we've been dropped hints by artists like Aly & AJ, Kylie Minogue, Lana Del Rey and Nicki Minaj that new music from them is imminent.

Which album are you most looking forward to in 2017? Let us know your thoughts down below?

The subject of my third article for PHF is yet another up-and-coming European musician, one which I really hope doesn’t retire days after my article is released (I didn’t know my writing was that bad but I can push through that pain another time). This article is merely an artist profile, something small I wanted to do help spread the word without going into overdrive and writing two thousand words.

London-born singer-songwriter Izzy Bizu’s debut album A Moment of Madness was released in early September and quickly flew to the highest reaches of my top albums of 2016 list with its infectious lyrics and breezy production. Bizu’s music is an infused blend of soul, R&B, and pop inspired by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Amy Winehouse, with tracks like 'White Tiger', 'Mad Behaviour', and 'I Know' bringing the album together seamlessly. If you’ve ever heard of Bizu before it’s probably because of the aforementioned hit 'White Tiger', a track taken from her equally as successful debut EP Coolbeanz, released in September 2013. The reception to the EP set Bizu firmly on a path to a debut album, ultimately released on Epic Records and promoted by performances such as a well received return to the iconic Glastonbury Festival, a set I sadly missed due to my desire for a warm shower and relief from the never ending rain. Bizu previously performed in 2014 on the BBC Introducing stage, a program which this year featured a secret set by fellow up and comer Låpsley.

The BBC and Bizu recently collaborated once more for a cover of Edith Piaf’s iconic 'La Foule' for the BBC’s coverage of L’Euro 2016, the biggest footballing competition in the Europe. Regarding collaborations, Bizu also borrows a track for A Moment of Madness from fellow British musicians HONNE called 'Someone That Loves You', that Bizu featured on back in May. The visuals for 'Someone That Loves You' see Bizu and HONNE lead vocalist Andy Clutterbuck singing in a karaoke-esque manner in urban Tokyo amongst hazy LED lights.

Bizu is set to keep on rising up through the ranks and carries a portfolio bursting at the seams with acclaim, something we can expect to keep growing as Bizu continues to master her craft. Whether or not Bizu decides to release another single to add to the already impressive six is anybody’s game. Tracks such as 'Circles', 'Trees & Fire', and 'I Know' all deserve a bit of the spotlight and are yet more highlights from an album that doesn’t ever seem to slow down.

A Moment of Madness is out on iTunes now.

Art, philosophy, and music are engaged in a tumultuous relationship, often stretching each other to their limits. Arguably a new dawn for the pop scene, 2008 saw the introduction of fresh-faced artists like Lady Gaga who were willing to test the boundaries of the commercial music scene and its respective audiences; as well as the reintroduction of artists like Katy Perry and Rihanna, who were once known for their modesty but who were now rebranded into sexy pop icons donning outlandish latex outfits and meter-high heels. Weird and arty became the new cool, and labels capitalized on that.

When the mainstream hit a speed hump going one hundred miles per hour and began its nosedive in 2013, a new wave of more authentic young visionaries rose over the heaped corpses of neon catsuits and meat dresses. At the forefront of that charge were artists like Mykki Blanco, Banks, Jenny Hval, and the subject of this article, Parisian nuevo-jazz chanteuse Petite Meller. Artists not afraid to be themselves. Individually, up-and-coming musicians such as these are breaking down preconceptions of image and continuously diversifying the market and industry.

Beginning her musical career as the pianist and occasional vocalist for Israeli electro band Terry Poison, the ever joyful Petite Meller branched out on her own in 2012 with a cover of 'Joe La Taxi', her first release under the 'PETITE' project. After releasing several more solo tracks, such as 'PC' and 'Icebear', Meller received moderate commercial success with her single 'Backpack' after it's video, directed by A.T. Mann and Napoleon Habeica, was nominated for 'Best European Music Video' at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Having found a way into the spotlight, Meller featured in a seemingly endless list of magazines and fashion shoots with acclaimed photographers, before returning properly with 'Baby Love' in January 2015. The track went viral due to its vibrant and exotic video, shot in Africa and inspired by Brigitte Bardot’s 1956 film And God Created Woman. Featuring Meller going from kissing giraffes in a stunning mansion to dancing with young village children, the pure joy the 'Baby Love' video radiates put Meller firmly on many radio rotation lists. A year and a half after the video had premiered, it had already amassed eight million views.

Meller’s most recent visual for album-opener 'The Flute' is the last she’ll be releasing from Lil Empire and sees the artist and her team venture out to rural Mongolia in the hunt for her “source” in a joyous ode to the 1923 Russian ballet piece The Rite of Spring and the iconic 1965 musical The Sound of Music. Amongst oceans of luscious grassland, Meller dances along with several Northern Nomad community members, notably a child named Tuya with naturally blushed cheeks similar to Meller’s own (albeit that Meller's is the result of makeup). “I remember how as a child I saw a photo of a blushed Mongolian girl and felt a strange connection”, Meller said in an interview with NME. “Filming began after a 13-hour cross-country drive and a horseback ride to reach the Northern Nomads, the girls with natural blush, the sumo guys and the reindeers. We had no Wi-Fi, no phone reception, just beautiful animals and endless grass.”

Meller’s signature blushed cheeks originate back to her childhood, where as a young child she suffered harsh burns on her face from exposure to the sun. Years later, Meller has reclaimed that trauma and wears the red blush as a reminder of past struggles and as an artistic statement. Meller’s educational background, however, doesn't fall into art: instead, the 21 year old is a recent graduate of philosophy, drawing inspiration for her music from her philosophical idols and the subjects of her recent graduate thesis Kant and Schiller and often writing the songs for her album during lectures.

Lil Empire, affectionately named after her ever-growing global fanbase, sees the synthesis of Meller's past few years of hard work with producers such as Jocke Åhlund and Craigie Dodds, drawing in a melting pot of diverse influences spanning the globe. From the Mongolian flutes in 'The Flute' to the African bongos in 'Baby Love', Lil Empire is a continental voyage guaranteed to leave you feeling refreshed. Highlights include the aforementioned album opener 'The Flute', and the only collaboration on the album 'Lil Love', the musical lovechild of Meller and Australian duo cum Elton John protégés Pnau. 'Lil Love' sees Meller utilise a more aggressive vocal style in comparison to the usual calm yet cheeky verses gently moulded by her moderate French inflections, shouting out an empowering hook and outro. The technique, she says in an interview with the Independent, was suggested to her by Nick Littlemore of Empire of The Sun: "I had a broken foot that day and Nick Littlemore showed me a new technique of writing songs – it was to shout the pain away to the mic, I’ve never shouted so loud in my life then in this song. I’m a bit embarrassed when I hear it, to realise that it’s me. It’s about a forever connection between two people, through time space and infinity, but of a one sided love."

Lil Empire is available now on iTunes.

Photography Credits: Khasar Sandag

In a post-Clinton pop world full of strong females such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Beyoncé and of course, Madonna, it can be hard to get excited over the debut of any male popstar. Between the obsessive fangirls, the predictably dull vocals, the awkward dance moves and the regular female objectification, there's not generally much for pop music stans to get into it when it comes to most dudes, meaning that most of us will only really pay attention when the music is really stellar - see 'Uptown Funk' or 'Where Are Ü Now' for more.

Which is why it was a surprise when Jon Bellion showed up on our radar and pop fans started paying attention. Fresh off a co-writing credit on one of the biggest hits of 2013, Eminem and Rihanna's 'The Monster', and features on tracks by the likes of Zedd and B.o.B., Bellion's fame hit a tipping point earlier this year when he released his debut album The Human Condition. The album was released by Capitol Records, a record label which Bellion wooed with the release of four critically acclaimed free mixtapes on his Facebook page and several national tours throughout America.

Backed by three promotional singles - 'Guillotine', '80's Films' and 'Maybe IDK' - and his first official single, the Travis Mendes-assisted 'All Time Low', The Human Condition was released on the 10th of June to rave reviews. Impressively, given that he's only had one charting single ('All Time Low' at a position worthy of it's name at #82), the album debuted at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, a testament to Bellion's business savvy and connection with his fanbase. The album was praised for its creators strong personality and sense of sound, which capitalises on the tropical pop movement taking place without ever sounding generic - as well as for its masterful songwriting, which blends strong metaphors with emotional power ("The secrets you tell me I'll take to my grave/There's bones in my closet, but you hang stuff anyway/And if you have nightmares, we'll dance on the bed/I know that you love me/Even when I lose my head/Guillotine").

And the most impressive thing about Bellion? He has yet to release a video where he walks around shirtless, bites his lip or is twerked on by a girl half his age. Even his album artwork omits his figure, instead featuring drawings from Indonesian artist David Ardinaryas Lojaya, whom Bellion commissioned with $50 000 of his own money. Now all he needs is to avoid reality stars and make sure his fans don't come up with a pet name for his penis - even if Jonaconda does have a ring to it.

It doesn't come around often, but every now and then a seemingly ordinary musician goes from singing a popular Lady Gaga song at an open mic night to writing, funding and releasing an EP without any label support; from reaching number ten on the UK album charts to selling out her first headline tour within two days; from becoming the best selling independent UK artist of 2012 to surpassing over 100 000 records sold within two years; from beating Adele in the charts to opening for Taylor Swift at one of the biggest musical events of British summertime - and she’s not done yet. As a firm believer in supporting local talent it wasn't too long until the name Lauren Aquilina began cropping up on my radar. From the moment I bought her debut EP Fools I knew I was in for the long ride, and nearly four years and four EPs later I’m finally holding her debut album in my hands. 

Aquilina's roots hail back to the country of Malta, with her success bringing her a newfound role as a Maltese icon, being asked to represent the small nation in Eurovision multiple times much to her bemusement. However, Aquilina’s stomping ground isn't in a small country fifty kilometers south of Italy: it’s in a British city 3000 kilometers away from Malta. Twenty one year old Lauren Aquilina’s career took its first big step in the city of Bristol in South West England with the release of her debut EP Fools, written fully by Aquilina and pal Daniel Goudie. Fools acted as the first in Aquilina’s three-part EP series, with the remaining two parts, Sinners and Liars coming in the following years. The trilogy told the story of a relationship Aquilina had fallen in and out of, beginning with the groovy titular track ‘Fools’ and ending with the harrowing ‘Broke’, with the final verses throwing the circle back to the beginning.

Aquilina’s already impressive body of work wooed the likes of label giants like Island Records, who soon signed her after hearing the final installment to her trilogy and helped kickstart the journey towards a major label debut. The album was preceded by one more release, the enchanting Ocean EP which spawned an emotionally vivid visual for the titular track directed by Weronika Tofilska, who later went on to direct the video for the album’s future lead single. The ‘Ocean’ video features Aquilina in an overturned-furniture laden room with ocean-related imagery being projected upon the artist and the surrounding room in a double-exposure type effect. The bleakness of the composition juxtaposed against the glorious rising instrumental creates an effective and impressive first impression of the new Aquilina, one who has the confidence of the music industry behind her; and finally in August 2016, after two longs years of hard work, it was time for Aquilina to present her first full-length release, the aptly named Isn't It Strange?.

The album opens confidently with the spine-tingling fan favorite ‘Midnight Mouths,’ before flowing into my personal favorite from the album, ‘Wicked Game’, a track reminiscent of fellow British singers Foxes and Nina Nesbitt’s more recent work, with a powerful chorus showcasing the pinnacle of the modern British pop scene. Other notable tracks come in the form of the album’s empowering and freeing lead single ‘Kicks’, as well as the equally as poppy ‘Suddenly Strangers’, which explores how quickly the intimacy of a relationship can change.

What sets the album apart from many debuts is the maturity in which Aquilina carries her topics, while many others choose to stick to fluffy ways of discussing love and how "oh so hard" it can be. Aquilina doesn’t beat around the bush, launching headfirst into the fray and murk with a heartbreakingly honest depiction of how painful relationships can truly be, with tracks like ‘Thinking About’ keeping the album grounded between pop joints such as ‘Hurt Any Less’. Also included in the album is an updated version of the track that started it all, the ever crafty ‘Fools’, recorded live at the legendary RAK studios, showcasing the degree to which Aquilina’s voice has matured since 2012.

Isn’t It Strange? continues on the trend of impressive 2016 debuts, providing a satisfying culmination to the huge anticipation for Aquilina’s first full length album. My only qualms with the album is the ignoring of some of Aquilina’s recent tracks such as ‘Low’, ‘Echoes’, and ‘Out Of Our Depth’, all of which would have been more than at home within the body of work and would've helped the album to maintain that familiarity that it sometimes misses. Despite this, ‘Isn’t It Strange?’ remains a very solid addition to Aquilina’s portfolio, and we’re excited to see what comes next from the Bristolian songstress!

Isn’t It Strange? was released on August 26th under Island Records. Buy the album on iTunes now.

Photography Credit: Eleanor Hardwick

Much has been made of the reduced importance of the record label in the Internet age, a time in which artists have almost unlimited opportunity to distribute their music as they see fit. Social media websites like YouTube, Facebook and Soundcloud all have functionalities that allow musicians to release and promote their work, something used to its full advantage by YouTube stars turned major label signees such as Justin Bieber, Pentatonix and Lindsey Stirling; while other websites like IndieGoGo and Pledge Music are entirely formulated around allowing fans to essentially act as financial backers for their favourite artists - something Neon Hitch took to the furthest extreme when she set up the first crowd-funded "fan label", #WeRNeon.

But for many artists, a record label is still the most viable choice. When it's good, a label can propel its artists into superstardom, providing not only financial resources but also a multitude of industry connections and years of business advice. But when it's bad, an overbearing and controlling record label can micromanage an artists personal life, censor their artistic output, and even trigger a descent into depression, as it has with the extreme case of Kesha. It's a dichotomy that Kerli has found herself stuck between many times.

At age 29, the Estonian-born musician has finally found a method of distribution that works for her, as opposed to her for it; but Kerli's road to independence has been far from quick or easy. After faking her age to win a singing competition, Fizz Superstar, Kerli was signed to Universal Records in Europe at 14 before her mentor Rob Stevenson left the label - and left her out in the cold. Strike one. She later signed to Stevenson's own label and passion project Stolen Transmission, but was dropped from this as well when the label went bankrupt. Strike two. Finally, a frustrated Kerli took the plunge and moved to New York at the age of 18, finally gaining an audition with The X Factor USA judge L.A. Reid, who signed her to Island in 2006.

But as Kerli soon learned, a record contract did not include a clause for immediate and eternal joy. Despite the release of a well-received fan favorite project, the dark and moody twisted fairytale of a rock album Love Is Dead, Kerli faced multiple frustrations with her label. Love Is Dead spawned two singles: 'Walking on Air' and 'The Creationist', both of which were well-received and boosted by placements in multiple TV shows; but the label clearly had little faith in their artist, ignoring her success in the rock world in place of a rather misguided request for her to record R&B, likely a ploy to capitalize on the success of their other signees Bieber and Leona Lewis.

A sophomore album - originally called Weapons of Mass Creation and later I.Nimene - was teased through the singles 'Army of Love' and 'Zero Gravity', but faced multiple delays, before a poorly timed leak stopped any chance of an official release. Later reworked as an EP, Utopia, and fronted by the lead single 'The Lucky Ones', the project was the ying to Love Is Dead's yang, a joyful celebration of life and ode to happiness which was released to to positive results in the pop world. A performance on Dancing with the Stars was described as a "major milestone in the EDM community", and both 'Army of Love' and 'The Lucky Ones' peaked at #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart, a feat undoubtedly helped by Kerli's high-profile writing credit on Demi Lovato's 'Skyscraper'. But despite all her hard work, Kerli's music wasn't given the promotion it deserved, and she ultimately parted ways with the label. Strike three.

It was then that Kerli decided to take matters into her own hands. Ever the resourceful creator, Kerli returned to her Estonian roots, setting up her version of a studio in a small woodland cottage with no running water and little electricity. Inspired by the beauty of the nature surrounding her, Kerli transitioned from the high-sugar dance-pop of her EP to a genre she calls 'Transcendental Electronic Music' - one which, from the sounds of singles 'Feral Hearts' and 'Blossom', is a fusion of downcast synths, earthy beats and skyscraper harmonies. It's a happy medium between the edgy, gothic vibe of Love Is Dead and the pure elation of Utopia; and one her audience seems to be responding to. A Pledge Music page set up by Kerli and her team to raise funds for the album release received thousands of donations in exchange for items such as thigh high socks, handwritten lyrics, and rings filled with seeds "gathered by Kerli under the full moon of ancient Estonia" - and all without any label backing.

Now, with third single 'Diamond Hard', Kerli has reinvented herself once again. With a harsh percussive beat, 80s strings synths, a grungy, almost dubstep breakdown and imagery that Illuminati fanatics are going to lose their minds over, it's a completely new side to the upcoming album, due out independently within the next six months.

And the intention for the song?

"I hope these vibrations teleport you into a land of uninhibited fairytales and connect you with your wildest self."

It may sound like the wildest of dreams, but knowing Kerli it may just come true.

What are your thoughts on Kerli's latest reinvention? Check out her latest single 'Diamond Hard' above and let us know your opinions in the comments section below!

You may not have heard Dua Lipa's name, but you almost definitely know her songs. With a deep, husky tone that sounds like a less pained Amy Winehouse or a grown up Gabriella Cilmi, Lipa's voice seems custom-made for radio, which explains why her songs have been blowing up all over the airwaves for the past year. And with each single launching her further and further into pop super-stardom, we think it's probably a good idea for everyone to listen back to all her previous single releases and get used to the voice that will likely be in our heads for years to come.

Lipa's debut single was the stomping electro-ballad 'New Love', a foray into dark-pop that would define the sound of all her future releases. Produced by Emile Haynie (best known for his fusion of R&B, blue eyed soul and pop on Lana Del Rey's Born To Die album), the track created buzz online but failed to make any impact on the charts. It wasn't until the follow-up single, 'Be the One', that a major label push allowed Lipa to chart internationally, hitting #1 in Belgium, Poland and Slovakia and charting highly throughout Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Using her debut single's formula of spare synth instrumentation, repetitive chorus, and pounding bass, Lipa slurs her way through the song like a drunk Adele, hitting the higher notes with an emotional strain that's perfect to scream at the clubs.

'Last Dance', the next track to be given single treatment, ups the tempo even more with a dance-floor ready beat and a distorted vocal in the post chorus worthy of Major Lazer themselves. But surprisingly, the track emulated 'New Love' in it's failure to chart. Perhaps it was just making way for 'Hotter Than Hell', which will by all accounts be Lipa's breakthrough. "He calls me the devil/I make him wanna sin," she murmurs seductively over a pulsating bassline before leaping into her most radio friendly chorus yet. With it's lighter production and a video that seems to be completely formed from a selection of Tumblr gif sets, it's no surprise that the single has charted at #15 in the UK, making it her first entry on the chart.

She may not have too many songs yet, but for a girl of only 20 years old Lipa has already made a huge impact with her somewhat limited output. All four songs are set to be released on Lipa's much-anticipated and often pushed back self-titled debut album due out in February of next year; while the English born, Albanian heritage star will spend the remainder of this year touring throughout England and Europe. And while it's yet to be seen if she has enough strong material to support an entire album's worth of bops, the consistency and steadiness in her releases seems to indicate that she's found her own style, even without a full length project to back it up. 

What do you think of Lipa? Does she have what it takes to be the next big thing in pop or is she just more of the same? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

In what's possibly the most natural by-product of the Internet age, the lines between an artists personal and creative lives have been blurred and warped beyond distinction. While it used to be possible - obvious, even - to distinguish between the Cher who enacted the role of native American sex goddess on stage and the Cher who liked to have TV dinners with her husband Sonny and her daughter Chastity, musicians of the digital age tend to blend the personal and artistic together more seamlessly. The appeal of artists like Lady Gaga and Lana Del Rey is not only their admittedly catchy tunes, but the ambiguity regarding their histories. In Gaga's case, there is an obvious tension between the Italian girl Stefani who sings jazz in downtown bars and the Gaga who performs at Madison Square Garden; in Lana's case, it seems impossible to consolidate the roles of trailer trash, meth addict, cult groupie, Brooklyn baby, west coast artist and international superstar into the one person.

The latest artist to explore this dichotomy is Allie X, the Canadian-born pop singer who sits happily in the middle of hyperreal and surreal. With her signature look of poker straight hair, near-omnipresent sunglasses and sharp, geometric fashion, the singer looks more like the design of the perfect popstar than a singer herself - and her enigmatic past, which has encompassed personas such as Allie X Andra and ALX, does nothing to clarify the situation. All we know about the girl born Allie Hughes is her Canadian heritage (although she now resides in Hollywood), her art school past and the few online artefacts we've managed to excavate from before her pre-pop past (check out her dramatic performance on the Sound of Music-inspired talent show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria here).

But when it comes to the character of Allie X, the possibilities are almost endless. Behind those dark-rimmed sunglasses is a mind capable of crafting some of the catchiest pop melodies we've heard in a while ('Prime' still stands as one of my favourite pop songs from the past five years), as well as some of the strangest burlesque showtunes you'll ever hear (check out her piano rendition of latest single 'All The Rage' above). And if you thought that bubblegum pop and cabaret were a weird mix, just wait until you experience Allie's visuals. Her first official music video for 'Catch' plays out like a lazy-eyed trip into the schizophrenic creator of GIFMaker's secret lair; while the latest production for 'Too Much To Dream' is a washed out take on the neon lights of the Vegas strip.

'Too Much To Dream' and 'All the Rage' - along with 'Old Habits Die Hard' - are all we've heard from Collxtion II, the sequel to Allie's debut album released last year. This time around, X is planning an unconventional release style for the album which will involve her uploading a slew of final songs, demos, voice memos, remixes and piano versions to her social media pages before allowing her fans to choose which songs should be perfected in order to make the final product. To make your voice heard and decide the outcome of the album, stay tuned to Allie's official Spotify, YouTube and Twitter accounts for updates.

Past, present, and future are all X. You decide the outcome.

Throughout the history of pop music, archetypes have remained a constant presence even while their specific classifications evolve or disappear. Whether it's the blue eyed soul crooner, the long haired rocker or the blinged out rapper, these archetypes are used in association with genre to identify and promote new  artists and to set up expectations based on past successes. One of the newer archetypes which has only come to prominence in the last twenty years is the hook bitch, who's blown up with with the increase in hip-hop and EDM tracks pervading the charts.

2016's version of the video model, the hook bitch is defined as the female voice you hear on rap and dance tracks who creates the most catchy and memorable part of the song but who is generally credited last (if at all). Skylar Grey first epitomised the idea when she rose to prominence with her multiple features on big hip-pop tracks such as Diddy - Dirty Money's 'Coming Home', Dr. Dre's 'I Need A Doctor' and Nicki Minaj's 'Bed of Lies', but later struggled to establish a career outside of her features, even when calling in favours from her previous collaborators like Eminem and Big Sean. Although Skylar often performed the songs live, and later released solo versions on an EP called The Buried Sessions of Skylar Grey, she rarely appeared in promotional music videos, making her pretty much a non-presence for most of the general public who were singing along to her words.

Now Bebe Rexha has stepped into her shoes, becoming one of the year's most sought after hitmakers for both her writing and singing abilities while remaining a relative unknown to the listening public. After writing songs for the likes of Selena Gomez, Eminem, Rihanna and Tinashe, Bebe began with a slight head start to Skylar when she was officially credited as a "duet" partner on her biggest single yet - the collaborative 'Me, Myself & I' with G-Eazy. She appeared in the track's music video, and in the clip for 'Take Me Home', her dance collaboration with Cash Cash; but her good luck didn't last long. Despite a high profile placement on David Guetta and Nicki Minaj's 'Hey Mama', Bebe's name wasn't mentioned when the music video for that song was uploaded to YouTube, and she was a no show for both that clip and her feature on Havana Brown's 'Battle Cry'. Word on the street is that she won't appear in the music video for her upcoming feature on Martin Garrix's much-hyped 'Name of Love' either.

It's a shame, because even a cursory glance at one of Rexha's solo tracks would show she has huge potential. After collaborating with Pete Wentz on the short-lived dance-rock band The Black Cards, Rexha went solo in 2012, nabbing a record deal on the strength of her Eminem and Rihanna co-write 'The Monster'. But it wasn't until 2015 when her first EP, I Don't Wanna Grow Up, was released. Featuring a nice range of songs from the rock-tinged lead single 'I'm Gonna Show You Crazy' to the dancey 'I Can't Stop Drinking About You' and the dreampop 'Sweet Beginnings', the EP cemented Rexha as one to watch thanks to her ability to combine personal storytelling and catchy hooks. Rexha's leaked material is just as brilliant, whether it be the dance-floor ready 'Cry Wolf' (seriously, why wasn't that released as a single?) or the R&B-tinged 'Atmosphere', which sounds like the perfect joint for a crooner like Tinashe to jump on.

Now, it seems as though Rexha is making motions to leave her past as a hook bitch far behind her. With a new choppy blonde hairdo and a set of A-list collaborators, Rexha has reintroduced herself to the public with 'No Broken Hearts', a "star studded collaboration" featuring her 'Hey Mama' buddy Minaj. Building on the sound she introduced with 'Atmosphere', 'Hearts' is Bebe's most urban song to date, an obvious attempt to cash in on the success she faced with 'Me, Myself & I'; but it received a mixed single from fans and the charts alike, failing to inspire the lovers of her previous music and struggling to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Rexha might have nabbed 75 million views for the 'Hearts' music video, but it was at the expense of alienating a vocal portion of her core fanbase and discrediting most of the work she'd been doing for the past eight years. It's a timely reminder that not every rebranding is necessary or successful, and that not every hook bitch is meant to set the charts afire, regardless of how good their actual material is.

What are your thoughts on Rexha's music? Do you prefer Black Cards-era Bebe, her foray into dance-pop or her urban reinvention? Let us know in the comments below!

As the music industry has expanded internationally over the past decade, and the growth of the Internet and it's accompanying ability to bring together fans of niche artists has allowed musical fixations to flourish communally, it's become harder and harder to decipher the true level of an artists fame. Singers who blow up on the underground pop scene by releasing a critically acclaimed EP or co-writing a song for a star can just as easily be dropped from their record label as they can blow up to be the next big thing; and meanwhile, an relative unknown can swoop in from left of field and blow up out of nowhere.

Bouncing between B list, C list and D list is former Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta, whose small but dedicated followings in an assortment of fields has lead to a surprisingly large amount of online hype. While most would know her from the PCD franchise (which included not only hit albums and worldwide tours but also reality TV shows, cosmetics, lingerie and, naturally, a line of dolls), others know her from her EDM hits with Dave Audé and Paul Van Dyk, or from her appearances on shows such as America's Next Top Model. But through it all, from the first note of 'Don't Cha' to the last beat of her new single 'Forever', Sutta's eyes have always remained squarely on the prize as she pushes forward in making a name for herself as a solo artist.

Unlike her fellow Dolls Nicole Scherzinger and Melody Thornton, Sutta's music career has never officially taken a true break, instead choosing to drizzle out singles sporadically as she settles on a cohesive and mainstream sound. Amidst rumours of a debut called Sutta Pop, 'I Wanna Be Bad' was released just eight months after The Pussycat Dolls officially disbanded in September 2010; and 2011 brought Sutta's biggest hit to date, 'Show Me', released under the nightmarish Disney-owned Hollywood Records. A RedOne produced single 'Make It Loud' was scrapped after Sutta left the record label, but every cloud has a silver lining; and Sutta's dismissal served to make way for 2013's EDM-tinged jams 'Again' and 'Lights Out', both of which were released under Citrusonic Records.

And that's not to mention the collaborations. Of all the ex-PCD singers, Sutta has to have had the most successful line up of features, starting with her two EDM bangers released during her time in the group - 'Make It Last' with Dave Audé and 'White Lies' with Paul Van Dyk. Later, in 2011, she featured on Erick Morillo's single 'Pin-Up Girl' and a pre-'Summertime Sadness' Cedric Gervais' track 'Where Ever U Are', both of which were underground club hits.

But it was only with her first release of 2016, 'Forever', that Sutta seemed to be ready to truly break out. Backed by what was a no doubt pricy YouTube-based marketing campaign and her catchiest hook since 'Show Me', 'Forever' is already shaping up to be her biggest hit yet, amassing over a million views on YouTube in the month since it's release - a far cry from the couple of hundred thousand views that precursors 'Feline Resurrection' and 'Let It Be Love' gained.

And judging from what Sutta's said on social media, 'Forever' is only the start. Since breaking out as a solo artist, Sutta has recorded over two albums worth of material which has been eagerly anticipated by those following her career - and her fans are about to be rewarded. Unlike most other girls in the flop-pop genre, Jessica is actually following through on the promises she's made, with two projects set to be released in the coming months. Feline Ressurection, which was originally the title of her debut album, has now been reworked as a mixtape to house all the previously released singles and the songs that don't quite make the cut for her album, and Jessica is releasing a new song every week for her fans to enjoy. So far, we've bopped too 'I Tried', a sultry R&B slow jam; 'Miracle', a Cyhi The Prince-assisted synth-pop ballad; and 'FWYH', a bolshy dose of sass in which Sutta tells haters to "fuck what you heard".

But Feline Ressurection isn't all fans have to look forward to. Later in the year, fans can expect Sutta's first ever debut album, I Say Yes, which 'Forever' serves as the lead single for. It's a genius and surprisingly generous way of giving long-time diehard fans what they want from her back catalogue while still keeping all her official releases fresh and polished.

Sutta may not have made it to the A list quite yet, and it's a stretch to say that she's quite reached the level of a household name. But her dedication to giving her fans what they want and the prolific nature of her tunes allows her to stand out in contrast against other singers who've let fans pay for a non-existent album which has been promised to be released soon for several years. In the midst of artists who simply complain about the pressures of a record label or the difficulties of going indie, Jessica is making a name for herself her own way: and from the sounds of it 2016 is definitely her year.

Growing up isn’t always easy. Hormones course rampantly through your body like cheap liquor, insignificant issues are morphed into earth-shattering natural disasters, and all the while you walk the floss-fine tightrope between parental expectations and inner desires. If life is merely a series of hurdles established by the gods for mortals to overcome, adolescence is surely the first major challenge that most people would face - and often it offers stumbles that can’t be recovered from. And yet, as soon as the thickets of youth begin to clear and innocent smiles are transformed into wrinkled parchments, its terrors are often forgotten or overlooked, written off as the by-products of a natural chemical imbalance.

Thus is the paradox explored in Nicholas Dante’s debut album, Hue (released on April 1st, 2016), which ambitiously strives towards a serious comprehension and acknowledgement of the troubles of teenagehood by distilling them into musical form. Described by Dante as a lyrical “story”, the album narrates the turbulence of growing up in an uncertain world and experiencing the novelty of first love, all while dealing with the loss of innocence that comes from understanding the world around you in a new way. It’s an issue that Dante, who hails from opulent Long Island in New York, has had a long time to consider in his sixteen years of life. Inspired by the idols of his childhood, Dante looked towards such mononyms as Britney, Beyonce and Michael to create what has become as much a tribute to his inspirations as it is an assertion of independence.

It is the Gatsby-esque experiences which coloured these sixteen years that culminate in Dante's lead single from the project, 'Make U Weep'. Featuring an absolutely relentless barrage of a bassline and lyrics that read like an entry straight from Heidi Montag's sex diary about going "down on you low/Taking control/Give you some good/Cause ya' know that I could give you what you deserve", the track distills the feeling of drunk sex into a total of three minutes and twenty-three seconds. ‘Make U Weep’, which is written and produced by Luke Gus, is an anomaly on an album which is otherwise entirely self-written and produced by Gryves Martell of Britney Spears' Bare fan-made album fame; but in reality, all eight tracks excel in production and professionalism far beyond what you might expect from a first-time singer and self-professed ATRL star.

And despite the five-star calibre of the tracks, they’re all centred around a vulnerability and intimacy which you’d be hard pressed to find in any A-list star. Dante says that his main goal with his music is to relate to people on a visceral level, bonding over the shared experience of first love and the awkwardness of teenage affection. For him, Hue is a realisation of self-worth and confidence as an independent musician making his way in the twenty-first century; but it also marks the end of an era, and the nostalgia for those adolescent days behind him pulses through the album. It’s a feeling that everyone can relate to: the sense of an ending that comes with the final chapter of every book and every final goodbye to a departing friend. But with every ending comes the beginning of something new; and with Hue, we get the sense that Dante’s possibilities are as limitless as the spectrum of colours which inspired its title.

If you're looking for the perfect anthem to blast out of that convertible you borrowed from your grandprarents, or to include on the suggestive mixtape you made for your girlfriend, we might just have the perfect artist for you. Sizzy Rocket, the Las Vegas native with a penchant for catchy hooks and a story to tell, has already proven her chops when it comes to provocatively bi-curious bangers; but with latest single 'Bad Kids', she takes her music out of the clubs and into the streets with her inspirational ode to the rebels of the night.

While her early performance experience involved dancing to Britney Spears with her dance group at age seven, Rocket seems to have traded the strip malls for strip clubs lately as she's released string after string of dancefloor banger. 'Girls' doubles as both a role-reversed satirical Beastie Boys cover which explores the pressures placed on females in the media and a melodic synth-pop jam perfect for your next beach turn up; while 'Bestie', our personal favourite, explores that awkward space in between best friend and lesbian lover and manages to turn the phrase "I wanna fuck my best friend" into the catchiest hook we've heard in months.

But with 'Bad Kids', the musical manifestation of a cloud of glitter floating over a pool of lava, Rocket slows it down to approach power ballad territory with her nostalgia for teenage angst parties. The name may be Gaga related, but the similiarities end with the song's concept: "We've got no future/Nothing but the high that we get from the time that we're wasting just from the thrill of it all," Rocket laments over some melodic synths straight out of Super Mario, while inspiring a new 'Gangnam Style' dance trend with her choreography in the video. The 80s may be long gone, but the spirit of rebelliousness and the scent of leather they inspired still live on in this girl.

No word yet on a full-length album rollout, but with collaborations from Diplo, The Scissor Sisters' Babydaddy and DJ Khalil, we wouldn't be surprised if we the future brought much more from this diva in training.

Check out 'Bad Kids' below and let us know what you think!

With 2016 upon us, it's time to finally start thinking about the new year in music. There's bound to be a lot of great albums coming in the New Year, so lets take a look at some of the ones I'm most excited for!

Allie X - CollXtion II

Just a little over a year after CollXtion I was released, Allie has plans to release another EP. Except, she doesn't really call them EPs, she calls them CollXtions, duh. She recently revealed the theme for the upcoming record is "longing and being lost". Some titles confirmed by her are 'Alexandra' and 'Weak Jaw'. In November, she dropped a new single 'Never Enough', taken off the re-release of the Catch single to hold fans over until she drops her next compilation. There's no official date, but she promised it will be coming out in 2016, so patiently we'll wait.

Lady Gaga - LG5

The hype started right after ARTPOP was released and hasn't stopped since! Gaga began working on the album in spring, and so far no release date or even title has been announced. However, it has been confirmed she worked with writer and producer Nile Rodgers, RedOne and Mark Ronson, who she had a 12 hour recording session with; and the album will most likely include other long-time collaborators like DJ White Shadow and Zedd. This is for sure one of the albums I'm most excited to hear in 2016. I'm just worried because she's staying really quiet this time around. Surprise release or an ANTi situation?

Tove Lo - TBA

After Habits found its way on to the charts last year and she released her debut album, Tove Lo fans were waiting for any word on a new release. But vocal chord surgery left her scared she wouldn't be able to sing again. Thankfully after healing, she got back into the studio and surprised fans with a Christmas present - a demo from her upcoming album, titled titled 'Influence', getting everyone hyped for her next release.  Tove said the album is "still going to be personal and emotional", and that she is experimenting with deep house beats. It's been over a year since she dropped her debut album, so fans are for sure ready!

Sia - This Is Acting

I'm personally a very casual Sia fan, but the singles she has put out for this album so far have been phenomenal. The concept of the whole record being rejected songs she wrote for other artists is really cool to me, and I can't wait to hear the whole album. I have a feeling it's gonna put me into full stan mode.

Kesha - TBA

Well, sadly there's actually no word on an an album release this year since the battle with her ex-producer is still going, but I could totally see her pulling a Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz.  

What albums are you excited to see drop this year? Tell us in the comments!

Pop music stans may have stumbled upon her by now, but for those who haven't, prepare to be introduced to one of pop culture's most exciting new entrants! Endorsed by Taylor Swift and hand-picked by Melanie Martinez, Phoebe Ryan is your new favourite synthpop star with one foot in the world of high-fructose pop and the other in the shadowy grunge of the indie music world.

Growing up in New Jersey and attending the prestigious Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, Ryan rose through the ranks in the traditional way, writing music for artists such as Melanie Martinez, Bea Miller and Oh Honey before deciding to take the plunge as a solo artist. It was a mash-up of R. Kelly's 'Ignition' and Miguel's 'Do You...' that initially brought her into the public eye, making waves on social media and allowing Ryan to open for fellow alt-pop flop Tove Lo.

In what has become a mark of truly making it, however, it was Ryan's initiation into the Taylor Swift squad which cemented her status as it girl of the moment and burgeoning musician to watch.

'Mine' is the title track off Ryan's debut EP, which was released earlier this year in anticipation of her debut album. Check out the official music video below and don't forget to tell us what you think in the comments!

Words are a funny thing. We spend so much time trapped inside the prisons of our own minds that when we go to share our thoughts with others, we often feel as though our carefully curated words fall short of the meaning they're designed to carry. We overthink, we hold our tongue, we hit backspace, and we discard what's on our mind from fear of judgement.

But the imprint of these unspoken words remains behind, scratching at us like grains of sand left over from a day at the beach. It's these leftover phrases that haunt and inspire the Ontario-based quartet Glass Face. Layered by the ethereal harmony of Amelia Fraser on vocals, Cole Sefton on guitar, Dylan King on keyboard, and Rowan Grice on drums, the band has been working together for over a year now, treading the line between organically developed musicianship and electronic enhancement with masterful expertise. With each member a classically trained musician in their own right, it's not surprising that such a fusion of talents would lead to a productive and cathartic release of unspoken moments.

What might have been unexpected was how many people around the world connected with them. After a high profile placement of their haunting dreamscape of a debut single, 'Holland', on MTV's hit TV show Teen Wolf, the track was propelled forward to become one of the most popular songs on Shazam for that week as viewers scurried to their phones to find the faces behind the genius. Since then, the song has only grown in popularity, accruing over 250 000 streams worldwide.

Now the band is moving on to their most ambitious project yet. After a surge of online buzz from blogs such as CBC and HillyDilly, the band has released their technodelic video for their cover of song of the moment, Drake's 'Hotline Bling'. Included in the video is a toll-free number, which when dialed will give some clues to their debut EP and invite you to leave a message for the band. And with EP You Are Nowhere scheduled for release on Christmas Day, all those thoughts they kept to themselves for so long are about to be set free.

Words can't always express our thoughts, but music can. Bite your lip or sing your lungs out: Glass Face has you covered.

Download Glass Face's cover of 'Hotline Bling' for free on their Soundcloud, and call their toll free number on 1-844-401-5638 to chat with the band.

There's an old conflict that's been raging in the music scene like two kids at a Rolling Stones concert, and that continues to burn bright to this day. It is that between a pre-destined fate and an autonomous aspiration - between natural talent and damn hard work. It's not difficult to find artists with little of the first trying, and failing to make it big by running themselves down to the ground - and even more common is those artists who rely solely on their natural gifts, but fail to cultivate them in an interesting, unique way. But it's rare to find the musician whose natural talent is merely a supplement to their incredible drive, passion and energy - who possesses both of these qualities in droves and yet whose insatiable desire for self-improvement keeps them running nonetheless.

The world may just have found that artist, for the first time in years, in Kira Longeuay. It's been a few years since a young Kira, fresh out of her Ontario high school, decided to make the leap out of the nine to five job the world had planned for her and explore music as a professional career - but her love affair with the art started at a much younger age. After longstanding obsessions with legends such as Kurt Cobain, The Foo Fighters, and City and Colour, Kira took her career into her own hands when she learned how to play guitar entirely by herself. Following pitch perfect renditions of the artists she looked up to so much, Kira discovered that merely emulating these icons wasn't enough - she had to have more, and express herself in an entirely new way. And so it was that while other kids were idly doodling endless spirals in the margins of their schoolbooks, Kira was obsessively jotting down lyrics for her latest song; or figuring out the chords for a particularly difficult bridge. Inspired by the names that meant so much to her during her late night listens, Kira developed a sound that simultaneously honours them while offering audiences something entirely fresh and unique - an indie/hard rock hybrid which allowed her to easily make a name for herself throughout high school.

It wasn't until after high school, however, that Kira's career really started to take off. Attending Ontario's prestigious Fanshawe College, Kira's musically inclined course allowed her to excel in both her guitar and vocal skills - and the dreams she'd had since she was a child started to slowly spring to life. With regular shows at local Ontario hotspots The Roxbury and Norma Jean's, as well as interviews, performances and streams on local radio shows, the songstress began to build up a small but dedicated fanbase around her who was only too happy to spread the word about her burgeoning success. With the release of her official debut single, 'Do Or Die', Kira's fanbase only expanded to include a variety of online commentators and blogs who all started to pick up on the Canadian making waves internationally.

With sessions lined up throughout the rest of the year, Kira's album is currently set for release in mid-2015, after which she can be expected to continue embarking on her true passion of touring. After that, who knows? By fusing the natural talent she showed at a young age through her self-taught guitar and vocal skills, and the external forces of prestigious and highly regarded music establishments and producers, Kira's already proven to the world that she has the talent and the passion to make it big in a competitive industry. We get the feeling that this 20-something year old can take on just about anything she puts her mind to.

Check out Kira's Soundcloud page here.