Curated by Freddie Saunders
Sade Olutola:
2026 marks the debut of one of South London’s most promising singer-songwriter talents Sade Olutola. With her debut EP “Arrow Heart” making waves online and amassing over 70,000 listeners on Spotify, it’s fair to say that Sade is already carving out her niche and doing so on her own terms.
Opting to avoid the typical social media trends and clout chasing that’s become prevalent across TikTok and Instagram, Olutola’s approach to releasing music is more reliant on the use of Soundcloud drops and a personable Tumblr page. The latter of which is a stylistically curated reflection of her personality, as well as a retro-inspired pinup board where fans can directly communicate with her.
This creative approach of interacting with fans is a breath of fresh air in an era where so many artists struggle to break through, opting to try and flood the algorithm with “content” as opposed to well-crafted and aesthetically captivating posts.
There is no doubt however, that Olutola possesses the musicianship and creativity to back up the slick online aesthetic. Her debut EP successfully showcases her stylistic versatility, great ear for production and ability to write infectiously catchy melodies. In a musical landscape populated by artists trying too hard visually or clambering to write music made for TikTok, Olutola’s brand of electro bedroom pop feels fun, authentic and has all the marks of an artist bringing something new to the table.
The cover art of her debut EP depicts her in what appears to be a dark, rural location, wielding an electric guitar over her shoulder like an axe. Most likely an indication of the aforementioned confidence and aesthetic freedom with which she carries herself as an artist.
Having secured a place on the already stacked Reading + Leeds 2026 lineup, it appears that the UK’s well established festival circuit are beginning to take note of her talent. This is a sign perhaps that big things are on the horizon and that the name Sade Olutola is one which has already and may continue to make waves across the UK’s independent music scene.
Standout Tracks: Grey Matter + 2099
LEMONSUCKR:
The raw yet danceable sound of Brighton-based group Lemonsuckr is a breath of fresh air into the UK’s crowded postpunk space. With a steady flow of releases since 2024, culminating in last year’s EP H.E.A.T., the band have allowed themselves time to announce themselves as one of the most promising young talents along the south coast.
Branching their way up north with a string of shows already announced for both Sheffield and Manchester this year, along with a spot at Brighton’s coveted Great Escape Festival, momentum is beginning gain for the four piece.
Musically, their rhythmic, groove-heavy style is one for fans of groups such as Yard Act, Adult DVD and Fat Dog. Their recent H.E.A.T. EP showcasing the seamless combination of fast paced dancefloor bangers and stoic postpunk vocals. Standout tracks include “Instant Kinks” and “Show Me The Money” show it doesn’t matter whether it’s the hypnotic synths or snarling attitude of frontman Guy Ferris, Lemonsuckr are more than capable of grabbing your attention and holding it.
2026 hopefully marks the start of some momentum in the way of live shows and consistent touring for the band, which proves to be make or break for so many young artists in the UK currently. However, if their recent material is anything to go off, I have no doubt that Lemonsuckr is a name we’ll be hearing more and more of in the UK alternative music space in the near future.
Standout Tracks: Instant Kinks + Show Me The Money
Media Puzzle:
Over the previous few years, Australia has given the music world some of the most fun, eclectic acts from all across the alternative landscape. No exception to this is underground New South Wales band Media Puzzle, whose songs manage to incorporate a plethora of snappy, staccato riffs and dry humour despite rarely escaping 2 minutes in length.
There’s a refreshingly direct attitude the band’s lyricist Tom Peter takes to naming tracks and LPs with highlights including their sophomore album “A Brief History of Planets, Space and Shit” and tracks such as the one-minute stoner punk tune “Blastin.”
Comparisons to other Aussie groups like The Chats and Amyl and The Sniffers could easily be made. However, I’d argue that their sharp riffs and dry wit would fit right at home in the UK given the established appetite for groups with a similarly no-nonsense lyrical approach such as Lambrini Girls or Sleaford Mods.
Fans of hectic, snarly and deceptively clever punk rock should absolutely be acquainted with Media Puzzle and their weird, subversive take on the genre. You won’t get luscious melodies and beautifully intricate musicianship but what you will get is fun. Raw, unfiltered, Aussie fun.
Standout Tracks: More Horse, Less Code + Garage Sale
Getdown Services:
West-country duo Getdown Services create the kind of music that defies lyrical conventions in just about every sense possible. Their pension for sleezy electronic instrumentals and deadpan delivery exacerbate frontman Ben Sadler’s pessimistic humour.
Without the poetic frills of other quintessential British songwriters like Alex Turner or Mike Skinner, Sadler’s style feels more akin to that of someone deeply uninterested in romanticism or painting pictures with thought provoking wordplay. Instead, opting for a style more adjacent to the likes of The Fall’s Mark E Smith or John Cooper Clarke.
With a distinctly British flavour of nihilism, Getdown Services revel in that kind of humour that feels part scathing, part cartoonish yet still grounded in the increasingly grim reality of growing up in post-Brexit Britain. Their gallows humour plays over confusingly upbeat and danceable instrumentals as seen on tracks like “Dog Dribble.” A song where Sadler delivers the grim metaphor “Forgotten, wasted and singed – I’m a burnt chip getting sent to the food bin.” Other examples of the aforementioned offbeat humour extend to their track titles such as “Don’t cheese me off” and “James Bay’s Hat.”
If you’re in the market for light-hearted pop melodies and whimsical lyrical content then in all honesty, Getdown Services are a duo worth avoiding. However, if you’re more interested in seeking out sardonic wit over ear grabbing rhythms to nod your head and crack a smile to, this 2-man West Country operation need to be on your radar.
Standout Tracks: I’m Not Feeling It + Caesar
WHATMORE:
Including WHATMORE in a list of what typically aims to be a showcase for underground talent feels a little misrepresentative of just how successful this American group have been since their founding only 2 years ago. Tastefully blending a myriad of genres, the group gained major online traction last summer from a series of promotional clips for the band which felt closer to short films in terms of both storytelling and production.
Upon first listening, their musical style pulls from indie pop, hiphop, punk while still remaining wildly creative aesthetically. It’s clear they have an ear for raw, emotive guitar melodies and memorable hooks on tracks like “Jenny’s” and “Jackie Chan” which convey everything from pretty nostalgia to pure hedonism.
With 5 core members, WHATMORE’s band dynamic plays with typical conventions of hip-hop and indie pop. This is evident through how each member displays a clear personality and ability in front of the microphone, with all 5 of the group capable of demonstrating their individual charm and charisma when given the opportunity.
What really separates WHATMORE from the pack, however, is their live band setup wherein each of the 5 members get to showcase their talent as musicians as well as rappers, allowing them to both bash out nostalgic indie bangers as well as freestyle together cohesively.
In essence, if you’re a fan of artists like Brockhampton or Dominic Fike, you need to know about what this group are doing because their trajectory looks to be a very promising one with the size of the audience they have already amassed. Even if the aforementioned artists don’t particularly inspire you, I ask you this – Who doesn’t love crowd-moving hooks, eye-catching music videos and the genre-bending freedom from a young group only just starting out? It is for these reasons above that I believe the potential for WHATMORE is vast, and I have no doubt over the coming years that they will continue to rise in terms of both fame as well as artistic achievement.
Standout Tracks: Put It On Hearts + Jenny’s
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