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With the release of “Monsters & Masochists,” visionary artist Empara Mi closes the book on her most ambitious and personal project yet — a concept album tracing the messy, non-linear path of heartbreak, self-destruction, and transformation. More than a collection of songs, the record unfolds like a cinematic journey through pain and power, told through her uniquely cinematic and genre-bending sound.
Across the project, Empara Mi moves between raw vulnerability and explosive confidence — from the haunting ballad “Cocaine Cassonova” to the dark, pulsing energy of “I Lied.” Tracks like “Shotgun” and “Sucker For Love” explore rediscovered self-worth and desire, while finale “Dragged Me Back To Hell” brings the story full circle — a smoky, Bond-worthy closer that captures the calm after emotional chaos.
The album’s visual world has been equally striking. The singles “I Can’t” and “Masochist” have amassed millions of views across YouTube and TikTok, with “I Can’t” taking home Best Music Video at the Cannes World Film Festival and earning recognition from BBC Introducing.
“‘Monsters & Masochists’ is the most honest thing I’ve ever made,” she said. “It’s an album about transformation, the kind that only happens when you’ve lived through both heaven and hell. I wrote it through the best and worst moments of my life, trying to make sense of all the chaos, and somewhere along the way it turned into this strange mix of autobiography and experimentation.And honestly, my favourite songs aren’t even the singles. After five years in the making, it finally feels like the beginning”.
Born in Guernsey and now based in London, Empara Mi has built a reputation as one of pop’s most cinematic voices. Her debut “Suitcase Full of Sins” became an underground favorite during the pandemic, with songs featured in Ginny & Georgia, Behind Her Eyes, and global campaigns for Apple and Pretty Little Thing.
With “Monsters & Masochists” — complete with orchestral arrangements recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra — she cements herself as a fearless storyteller unafraid to confront the monsters within.
Stream “Monsters & Masochists”: https://ffm.to/monstersandmasochists
AJ Vitanza, a Los Angeles-based pop artist, is back with his latest single, “2 MUCH 2 SAY,” out now via Handmade Records. The track follows a string of buzzworthy releases — including “ONLY MY HANDS,” “BREAK MY RULES,”and “DON’T WANNA KNOW” — and gives listeners a more personal glimpse into the fast-rising artist’s world.
Built around crisp production and Vitanza’s magnetic vocal delivery, “2 MUCH 2 SAY” balances emotional candor with effortless pop appeal.
“‘2 MUCH 2 SAY’ is a bit of an experiment,” Vitanza said. “Most of the music I make is made with the intention of being universally enjoyable. I made ‘2M2S’ for myself, talking about real emotions and experiences with the intention of keeping it lighthearted and self aware.”
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Vitanza has been steadily carving his space in modern pop with viral-ready tracks like “IDGAF,” “INNOCENT,” “STAY THE NIGHT,” and “be somebody.” His knack for pairing raw lyricism with sleek, radio-ready hooks has earned comparisons to Tate McRae, Justin Bieber, and The Kid LAROI — all while maintaining a voice that feels entirely his own.
With “2 MUCH 2 SAY,” AJ Vitanza continues to prove he’s one of pop’s most promising new storytellers — blending introspection and style into something undeniably fresh.
Stream “2 MUCH 2 SAY”: https://ajvitanza.lnk.to/2MUCH2SAY
Beloved punk-rock power trio The Dollyrots are gearing up for a jam-packed fall, hitting the road this November with Bowling For Soup and Don’t Panic, before wrapping the run with a set at Vans Warped Tour in Orlando, FL. Tickets are on sale now.
Coinciding with the tour, the band has unleashed a fiery new cover of Lesley Gore’s 1963 feminist anthem “You Don’t Own Me.” The track, co-produced by Brian Ray (Etta James, Paul McCartney), transforms the classic into a punchy, candy-coated declaration of defiance — all roaring guitars and Kelly Ogden’s unmistakable mix of sweetness and snarl.
“The song is an anthem for female empowerment, about willing to be defiant in the face of something that’s just plain wrong,” singer/bassist Kelly Ogden said. “Sadly, it’s still just as timely as when Lesley sang it over 60 years ago.”
Alongside the new single, The Dollyrots have released a limited-edition evergreen vinyl 7-inch, pairing “You Don’t Own Me” with the high-energy original “Get On This Ride.” Exclusive bundles — including the vinyl, a T-shirt, and a sticker — are available now through The Dollyrots Store and on tour.
Fronted by Kelly Ogden and Luis Cabezas, with Simon Hancock on drums, The Dollyrots continue to fuse punk grit with bubblegum melodies — proving that rebellion has never sounded this fun.
Stream The Dollyrots “You Don’t Own Me” cover: https://orcd.co/dollyrotsyoudontownme
Psychedelic indie-rock outfit Messiness are closing in on the release of their highly anticipated debut album “Messiness” — arriving November 21 via Tarla Records and StoneFree Records — with the searing new single “Eternity Unbound.”
The track is a whirlwind of shifting rhythms and unconventional time signatures, blending art-pop, psychedelia, and space rock into a hypnotic, feverish journey. Lyrically, “Eternity Unbound” explores themes of identity and alienation — the sense of self dissolving as time relentlessly moves forward.
“The result is a pocket-sized trip: feverish, disorienting, and impossible to pin down,” frontman Max Raffa said.
A Sicilian polymath — singer, composer, sociologist, and multi-instrumentalist — Raffa leads Messiness alongside Rosario Lo Monaco (guitars), Filippo La Marca (keyboards), Giovanni Calella (bass), and Luca Anello (drums). Together, they channel the jazz-infused complexity of the Canterbury scene, the mystique of West Coast psychedelia, and Mediterranean tonal color into something entirely their own.
Following standout singles “Fatally,” “Feature With a Rapper,” and “Previous Life,” “Eternity Unbound” cements Messiness as one of the most compelling new voices in experimental rock.
Stream “Eternity Unbound”: https://orcd.co/eternityunbound
Derry indie-punk trio CHERYM are back with new music, announcing “The Afterparty” — a split AA single with Glasgow pop-punk quartet Uninvited, set for release October 24, 2025. To celebrate, CHERYM dropped their A-side track “Sofabed” today across all major streaming platforms.
Described by the band as “a song about coming to realise romantic feelings you may be having about someone you would consider a close friend,” “Sofabed” explores the blurred lines of sapphic connection with CHERYM’s signature punchy pop-punk edge.
“It’s McBusted but more homoerotic and way better looking,” the band quips of their collaboration with Uninvited.
Uninvited — formed in 2020 by Taylor-Ray Dillon, Jay Dhlakama, Alex Young, and Fiorenza Cocozza — rose to prominence after winning the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge competition in 2022. Their honest, queer-forward songwriting and infectious hooks have quickly earned them acclaim across the UK indie scene.
“Working on this release with Cherym has been the best experience,” the band shared. “Their energy, creativity, and authenticity brought so much to the track, and the process was inspiring and exciting from start to finish”
“Sofabed” marks CHERYM’s first new release since their fiery 2024 International Women’s Day cover of Doja Cat’s “Boss Bitch.” It follows their acclaimed debut album “Take It Or Leave It” (via Alcopop! Records), which earned praise from NME, The Line of Best Fit, Kerrang!, and Hot Press, who named them among their Hot for 2024 acts.
Following a headline UK tour and slots with Enter Shikari, Snow Patrol, and The Undertones, CHERYM have solidified their place among the brightest voices in modern punk — and they’re already hard at work on their second album.
Stream “Sofabed”: https://bfan.link/sofa-bed
Pre-save “The Afterparty”: https://bfan.link/the-after-party-x
Nashville-based singer and songwriter Sam Varga peels back the layers of heartbreak, growth, and self-reflection on his new EP, “The Fallout,” out now on all streaming platforms. The seven-track collection gathers his recent singles alongside two new songs — “What If I’m Okay?” and “Sticking With It” — revealing an artist finding beauty in mess and catharsis in chaos.
Blending his emo roots with alt-country grit, Varga crafts a sound that defies easy categorization — Americana with jagged edges, punk with a storyteller’s heart, and pop hooks that carry emotional weight. The result feels both raw and anthemic, with steel guitars meeting distortion and confession colliding with catharsis.
“‘The Fallout’ represents the entire past year of my life,” Varga said. “For me, it’s my emotional and social diary of 2025, and it’s allowed me to process the world around me — whether it be breakups, growth, or the political and social hellscapes of this year. It’s also the accumulation of my sonic development since moving to Nashville, with punk, country, singer-songwriter, and folk elements all dancing in rhythm.”
Originally from Louisville’s DIY emo scene, Varga brings a restless, heart-on-sleeve intensity to his Nashville sound. His songs — equal parts grit and grace — channel the spirit of long drives, 2 a.m. realizations, and moments of fleeting clarity. With “The Fallout,” Sam Varga isn’t just documenting survival; he’s celebrating transformation.
Stream “The Fallout”: https://onerpm.link/137194339341
Canadian pop-punk mainstays Chief State returned today with “No Brakes,” a high-octane anthem forged from one of the band’s most harrowing tour experiences.
Frontman Fraser Simpson recalls the story behind the song.
“Summer 2022 we were sailing down the interstate heading from Houston, Texas, to Austin when all of a sudden the worst thing happened — no brakes. I was driving at the time and so, to not create panic, I didn’t mention our predicament to the rest of the guys until I managed to grind the van to a halt with what brake fluid we had left. What happened next was a week of being stranded in Austin (s/o Rare Bloom for letting us crash) while we waited for an out of stock part to arrive to fix our van. The mechanic then said our vehicle was so rusted he wouldn’t advise driving 50 yards down the street, we cancelled shows, we ran out of money, we considered flying home. The poignant lyric “Nothing ever goes our way” repeats throughout the song because honestly, nothing has ever gone our way. But here we are, back again, doing the thing we love because we’re young and dumb and would like another excuse to get in a van and tour the continent.”
Produced, engineered, and mixed by Tim Creviston (Spiritbox, Youth Fountain) and mastered by Stu McKillop (Midnight Peg, By A Thread) at Rain City Recorders, the track captures Chief State’s signature blend of urgency, grit, and bittersweet honesty.
With a history of acclaimed releases and relentless touring, “No Brakes” proves Chief State remains at the forefront of modern pop-punk — louder, sharper, and hungrier than ever.
Stream “No Breaks”: https://orcd.co/dl57xrd
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Nicole Hackett
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