Sophie Grey @ Hammersmith Apollo

Sophie Grey @ Hammersmith Apollo (Kalpesh Patel)

The latest release sees the self-described “Retro Electro” artist continue carving out her own distinctive lane within modern synth-pop, blending nostalgic electronic textures with futuristic production and immersive world-building. Built around shimmering synth layers, driving rhythms and dreamlike hooks, Cyberspace feels like both a dancefloor anthem and a cinematic escape into a hyper-digital universe.

Speaking about the track, SOPHIE GREY. describes Cyberspace as a place “only seconds away from you at all times,” adding: “The weather is perfect, mysterious sound waves encircle you, and the music makes you want to dance. There’s no place like home in Cyberspace.”

That concept is fully realised in the accompanying video, directed by Maximilian Stafford, which pushes SOPHIE GREY.’s futuristic aesthetic even further. Combining surreal imagery, bold visual storytelling and theatrical performance elements, the clip reinforces her growing reputation as an artist equally invested in sonic identity and visual presentation. Impressively, the track itself is entirely written, arranged, performed and produced by SOPHIE GREY., highlighting the depth of her creative control and artistic vision.

Sophie Grey @ Hammersmith Apollo

Sophie Grey @ Hammersmith Apollo (Kalpesh Patel)

Classically trained from the age of four, SOPHIE GREY. brings a strong musical foundation to her work. Mentored by legendary singer-songwriter and pianist Patrice Rushen, she combines technical musicianship with glossy electronic production, creating a sound that feels simultaneously retro-inspired and forward-thinking. Her live shows extend that creative universe even further, often featuring elaborate costumes, theatrical staging and appearances from fictional robotic companion File Collins, blurring the lines between concert and performance art.

Her profile has continued to grow rapidly thanks to support slots with major artists including Sting, Alison Moyet, Shaggy and Marianas Trench. A recent London appearance alongside Trevor Horn performing a reimagined version of Video Killed The Radio Star further cemented her position as one of the most intriguing emerging names in electronic pop.

Now, with Cyberspace, SOPHIE GREY. appears poised to elevate her ambitious “Retro Electro” vision to an even wider audience. The single also launches a busy summer schedule of live appearances across the US and UK, including festival performances and high-profile support slots.

Upcoming UK Live Dates:

JULY
31st – London, Crystal Palace Bowl *

AUGUST
28th – Manchester Pride Festival

* supporting Grace Jones, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Soul II Soul

Sophie Grey Lights Up Hammersmith Apollo With Retro-Electro Dazzle

Cody Simpson (Rashaun Richardson) 2 exp

The tracks arrive after a period that saw Simpson walk away from a successful pop career to fully commit himself to professional swimming. His dedication paid off spectacularly, culminating in Gold and Silver medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games as part of Australia’s national swim team. Now retired from the sport, Simpson is once again embracing music, and doing so with a renewed sense of freedom and optimism.

Lead single Baby Blue is a sun-soaked, uplifting slice of pop that captures the carefree spirit of endless summer days. Built around shimmering guitars, warm synth textures and an infectious hook, the track feels deliberately light on its feet while still carrying the emotional sincerity that has always underpinned Simpson’s songwriting. Companion track When It Comes To Loving You continues that momentum, pairing glossy production with a more intimate emotional edge.

Speaking about his return, Simpson explains that the songs emerged naturally after months of experimentation in the studio alongside producer Harrison Borts. Wanting to create something joyful and immediate, he leaned into instinct rather than expectation, resulting in music that reflects both personal growth and rediscovered creative energy.

The accompanying visuals for both tracks expand on that sense of reinvention. Directed by Antony Muse, the video for Baby Blue follows Simpson wandering through Los Angeles, performing and dancing his way across the city while connecting with strangers along the journey. The narrative then shifts into darker territory with the video for When It Comes To Loving You, which explores tension, aggression and camaraderie within an underground fight club setting.

Simpson’s return to music arrives with considerable anticipation. Before stepping away in 2020, he had already built an impressive career that included a Billboard Top 10 album with Surfer’s Paradise, international tours alongside Justin Bieber and a string of major releases that established him as one of Australia’s biggest global pop exports. Beyond music, Simpson also expanded into theatre and acting, starring on Broadway in Anastasia and more recently appearing in Australia’s acclaimed production of Guys & Dolls.

His decision to pursue swimming full-time only added to his unique story. A former junior swimming champion, Simpson’s comeback to the pool became one of the most talked-about sporting narratives in Australia, ultimately leading him to Commonwealth success before narrowly missing qualification for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Cody Simpson

Cody Simpson (Rashaun Richardson)

Now firmly back in the studio and signed to BMG, Cody Simpson’s latest material feels less like a comeback and more like the beginning of a completely new phase. Baby Blue and When It Comes To Loving You showcase an artist reconnecting with music on his own terms — confident, revitalised and clearly enjoying the process once again.

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The War And Treaty

The War And Treaty (Luke Rogers)

The two-time GRAMMY®-nominated pair launch this new chapter with the soaring lead single Don’t Say Goodbye, a deeply emotional introduction to what promises to be one of the duo’s most ambitious and personal records to date. Combining their trademark fusion of Americana, soul, gospel and country, the track highlights the magnetic chemistry and powerhouse vocal performances that have made one of modern roots music’s most compelling acts.

The forthcoming album follows 2025’s Plus One and sees The War And Treaty expanding both musically and emotionally, embracing a broader sonic palette while continuing to explore themes of resilience, faith, heartbreak and redemption. The record also boasts an impressive roster of collaborators, including Whoopi Goldberg, Valerie June, Wynonna and legendary producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds.

Among the standout moments is Reclaim All Of Your Time, featuring Valerie June and Wynonna, which reportedly captures the spirit of the album’s central message — reclaiming identity, strength and connection through honest storytelling and deeply human songwriting.

Across the album, Michael and Tanya Trotter continue to blur the boundaries between sacred and secular music, drawing from gospel traditions, Southern soul, country storytelling and raw emotional confession. Tracks such as Holy Ghost Fire and Darlene And Gene showcase the duo’s ability to move seamlessly between explosive passion and intimate vulnerability.

Speaking about the record, Michael Trotter explains that the pair now seek a deeper emotional connection in every song they create, while Tanya describes the process as one of confronting difficult truths and allowing those emotions to fully surface through the music.

Over the last decade, The War And Treaty have built a formidable reputation through both their recorded output and electrifying live performances. Their rise has seen them earn multiple GRAMMY® nominations, including Best New Artist recognition, while also receiving acclaim across the Americana and country music worlds for their emotionally charged performances and genre-defying songwriting.

Their live shows, in particular, have become central to the band’s growing reputation. Whether performing stripped-back ballads or full-throttle soul anthems, the duo consistently deliver performances driven by passion, chemistry and unfiltered emotional honesty.

To celebrate the album release, The War And Treaty will headline Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on 13th September — another milestone moment for a duo whose upward trajectory continues to gather momentum.

The Story Of Michael And Tanya looks set to further cement The War And Treaty as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Americana, balancing classic influences with fearless emotional openness and a modern sense of musical ambition.

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Angus & Julia Stone

Angus & Julia Stone (Sean McDonald)

The new single, Karaoke Bar, marks the beginning of a fresh creative chapter for the pair, capturing the loose spontaneity and emotional connection that has long defined their music while introducing a more celebratory and communal spirit. Built around gentle melodies, atmospheric instrumentation and the duo’s instantly recognisable vocal chemistry, the track evokes the intimacy of late-night conversations and fleeting moments of connection between strangers.

Written during a period of travelling across Europe, the song emerged while Angus and Julia were staying on the Greek island of Hydra, only a short walk from Leonard Cohen’s former home. The idyllic surroundings and slower pace of island life helped shape the creative direction of the record, with the duo drawing inspiration from nights spent writing music, exploring the island and soaking in its unique atmosphere.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the song, Julia describes karaoke bars as places where barriers disappear and people briefly find common ground through music and shared emotion. That sense of openness and human connection flows throughout the single, giving it an uplifting undercurrent beneath its dreamy exterior.

The forthcoming album Karaoke Bar was created across Greece, France and Australia, with the changing landscapes and experiences feeding directly into the songs. While Angus & Julia Stone have always excelled at crafting intimate, cinematic folk-pop, the new material reportedly expands their sonic palette while maintaining the emotional honesty that first made them global favourites.

Since emerging with 2007 debut A Book Like This, the duo have built an acclaimed catalogue that blends folk, indie and atmospheric pop. Their breakthrough album Down The Way propelled them to international recognition thanks to the enduring success of Big Jet Plane, while later releases such as the Rick Rubin-produced self-titled album, Snow and the soundtrack to Life Is Strange further cemented their reputation for emotionally rich songwriting and immersive soundscapes.

Their most recent album, Cape Forestier, saw the siblings return to Angus’s Sugarcane Mountain Studios before embarking on a major international tour that included sold-out performances at prestigious venues including London’s Royal Albert Hall and Paris’ L’Olympia.

With Karaoke Bar, Angus & Julia Stone appear poised to continue evolving while staying true to the intimate storytelling and dreamlike atmosphere that have defined their career for nearly two decades. The title track feels both nostalgic and quietly euphoric — a gentle reminder of music’s power to bring people together, even for a single fleeting moment.

Upcoming UK Tour Date:

JULY
1st – London, KOKO

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Rosa Walton

Rosa Walton (Nicole Ngai)

Best known as one half of Let’s Eat Grandma, Walton steps further into her own creative world on Heart To Heartbreak, a dazzling slice of emotionally charged synth-pop that balances heartbreak, liberation and self-discovery in equal measure. Inspired by the emotional depth of The Cure and Prefab Sprout, the track layers sparkling guitars, lush synth textures and soaring melodies into one of her most immediate solo releases to date.

Lyrically, the song captures the strange duality that follows the collapse of a relationship — the devastation of loss intertwined with the sudden possibility of freedom and renewal.

“This is a song about feeling like everything in your life has shattered but realising that relationship was holding you back and the world is opening up,” Walton explains. “I wanted this song to feel really visual, like things are starting to sparkle and look colourful again.”

Premiered by Jodie Bryant on BBC Radio 1’s Future Pop, the single continues the growing momentum surrounding Walton’s solo material following previous releases Halfway Round The World and Sorry Anyway. The latter introduced listeners to the vibrant sonic palette and emotional honesty at the heart of Tell Me It’s A Dream, pairing hook-heavy indie-pop with themes of vulnerability, identity and self-acceptance.

The album itself marks a significant new chapter for Walton creatively. Originally conceived during lockdown writing sessions with producer Sam E Yamaha, the material evolved over time as Walton refined both her songwriting voice and the emotional scope of the record. Co-produced alongside acclaimed producer David Wrench — known for his work with FKA twigs, Jamie xx and Frank Ocean — the album embraces warmth, escapism and creative freedom, while retaining the introspective lyricism that has defined Walton’s work to date.

Recorded during sessions at StudiOwz in Wales alongside guitarist John Victor, bassist Kam Khan and drummer Elena Costa, the record also features a guest appearance from longtime collaborator Jenny Hollingworth on album highlight Prettier Things.

Outside of Let’s Eat Grandma, Walton has already carved out an impressive solo résumé. Her song I Really Want To Stay At Your House, written for Cyberpunk 2077, became a global streaming phenomenon with over 400 million streams, introducing her songwriting to an even wider audience and cementing her status as one of modern pop’s most distinctive voices.

Musically, Tell Me It’s A Dream appears to channel a broader and more cinematic vision, blending dream-pop, indie electronica and expansive alternative pop into a deeply personal but universally resonant collection.

“Tell Me It’s A Dream is about being ambitious and seeing enhanced beauty in the world,” Walton says. “It’s about striving for ultimate freedom. A lot of the attitude in these songs is about following your dreams — and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

Alongside the album release, Walton will hit the road for a series of intimate UK shows later this year, following appearances at The Great Escape Festival and a run of special record store performances in June.

Upcoming UK Tour Dates:

MAY
15th – Brighton, Chalk (Transgressive Takeover at The Great Escape)

JUNE
4th – Nottingham, Rough Trade Nottingham
5th – London, Rough Trade East
6th – Bristol, Rough Trade Bristol

SEPTEMBER
14th – Glasgow, Hug & Pint
15th – Manchester, YES Basement
17th – London, The Lower Third
18th – Norwich, Voodoo Daddy’s

Sophie Grey Lights Up Hammersmith Apollo With Retro-Electro Dazzle