Jae Stephens makes a sharp return with Boyfriend Forever, her latest single. It’s playful, confident and packed with early-2000s pop attitude, a knowing wink to an era of candy-coated heartbreaks and radio-ready hooks.

Once you start going to a fair amount of shows and gigs, you slowly start noticing over time, that some shows are a bit too similar. Minimal talking, a strict set list and usually not much room with any improvisation or personality allowed to shine through. This however, was not the case with lizmnk’s single launch party at The Old Queens Head in Islington. 

Scottish rising-star Blair Davie (they/them) has today released new EP, First And Last, offering a range of sincere musings on the topic of love.

Comprising close friends FINNEAS and Ashe, The Favors have brought tender songwriting and heart-swelling harmonies to the fore on debut album, The Dream.  

It's been two years since Newham-born musician Lizmnk released her debut EP, 'Message from above'. She now returns with two new tracks, ‘Sun Is My Lover/Mirage’.

Lord Apex ends the Smoke Sessions saga on an effortless yet timeless, hazy high.

Girls Don’t Sync have released their debut EP Code Orange, capturing the sound of a collective who have gone from underground club champions to one of the UK’s most-watched electronic groups.

THE CURE, DOJA CAT, THE XX, GORILLAZ, MASSIVE ATTACK, ADDISON RAE AND MY BLOODY VALENTINE, MAC DEMARCO, PINKPANTHERESS - Crikey, they've done it again, haven't they?

Dreaming Eli has always been a house of survival. Its previous seasons charted a woman’s journey through rebellion, trauma, and self-preservation, a narrative sewn with pain, defiance, and eventual rebirth. But for Spring/Summer 2026, Elisa Trombatore loosens her grip on armour.

Footpatrol and Salomon have linked for their first collaboration, reimagining the XT-4 OG with a monochrome gradient finish. The pair, previewed earlier at Paris Fashion Week, brings together Salomon’s technical DNA and Footpatrol’s city-minded aesthetic.

Moon Panda's 'Dumb Luck' is a blissfully dreamy offering, born out of joy and complexity, with the strength of collaboration and connection right at its core.

Lucila Safdie does not design clothes so much as she builds dreamscapes. For Spring/Summer 2026, that dreamscape is “tristesse impériale”: a moodboard of obsession, inheritance, and the fragile fever of girlhood, refracted through both history and the pixelated glare of the present.

With “La Famiglia”, Demna injects playful energy, daring silhouettes, and modern luxury into Gucci, offering a glimpse of the house’s new direction.

JayaHadADream steps up again with ‘Bug’, a lo-fi, jazz-tinged rap track produced by New Machine that pairs laid-back instrumentation with sharp-tongued delivery. At the same time, she’s announced her debut full-length project, Happiness From Agony, set for release on October 24.

Nestled within Dorset’s rolling countryside lies a nexus of UK jazz, soul and beyond. Expertly curated with an expansive spectrum of music and culture, WOH has mastered a magical alchemy that draws together people of all ages and walks of life into a glistening, love-bound community.

Ocean Alley's signature sun-drenched groove with a playful, psychedelic edge is still ever present, but on Love Balloon it feels brighter, a little looser, and a lot more confident. 

Mick Jenkins has joined forces with London producer EMIL and ENNY on ‘Words I Should’ve Said’, a track that pairs stripped-back production with raw lyrical honesty. It’s the second single from their joint project A Murder of Crows, landing October 3rd, and it arrives with a Flora Scott-directed video.

Geo Baddoo returns with ‘Silver Lining,’ her first true love song. Drawing on ‘70s Lovers Rock and reggae classics, the British soul-R&B artist strips back the drama of modern romance in favour of honesty and connection.

The MOBOs have today announced that the latest iteration of the awards ceremony will take place on 26 March 2026, at CO-OP Live in Manchester.

Through collaborative project, 'it’s over, we tried', rising Birmingham duo ix & uyi. fuse emotion, community, and innovation into a groundbreaking live experience. 

If you want an eclectic collection of strong pop bangers, then this is the album for you.

Kofi Stone has announced his third album, All The Flowers Have Bloomed, a 14-track release due on Friday, November 7th. The Birmingham rapper has spent the past few years carving out a place for himself as one of the most honest voices in UK rap, and this record is set to feel like the natural extension of that path.

Loyle Carner has confirmed the line-up for his hopefully ! world tour, which begins next month. Navy Blue, Rejjie Snow, Léa Sen, and Brian Nasty will join him across different dates, underscoring the collaborative spirit that’s always defined Carner’s approach.

Pozer is back with ‘Jersey King’, a track that proves why he’s become one of the most talked-about names in UK rap.

Blood Orange’s Essex Honey is a striking return after six years, weaving grief, Essex memories, and a heavy roster of collaborators into a 14-track record that feels both intimate and expansive. With moments of raw vulnerability and flashes of bold experimentation, Dev Hynes delivers one of his most personal works to date.

Skepta and Fred again.. have dropped Skepta .. Fred, a surprise five-track EP blending grime and dance energy. Following their chart-smashing “Victory Lap” and the high-voltage “Back 2 Back,” the project adds three new tracks; “London,” “Last 1s Left,” and “21 Years.” Across 16 minutes, Skepta and Fred prove their unlikely partnership just works: raw, fun, and built for both festival chaos and headphones at full blast.

Atlanta R&B act Mariah the Scientist positions herself at the  ‘HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY’ military base and aims to rule victorious through a 10 track, 80’s inspired, love-engrossed call to arms, under soldier pseudonym Buckles.

Cardiff producer/DJ Douvelle19 has joined forces with North London rap powerhouse AntsLive on their brand-new single ‘Ghost’, fusing Douvelle19’s hypnotic, bass-heavy production with AntsLive’s razor-sharp wordplay, bringing together two rising forces from different corners of the UK scene.

Cat Burns announces her new album How to be Human, out 31st October, following her acclaimed debut early twenties. Spanning 16 tracks including singles “All This Love” and “GIRLS!”, the record explores grief, heartbreak, and self-growth with raw authenticity. Written entirely by Cat and paired with visuals she conceptualised, the album will be supported by a seven-date UK headline tour this November, alongside an upcoming All Points East festival appearance.

Leah Cleaver keeps her momentum alive with new single ‘Have You Ever’, the sparkling follow-up to her debut ‘Last Time’. It’s a playful track that balances chaos with charm, leaning into Leah’s gift for turning confessional moments into something everyone can connect with.

Nottingham’s own LYVIA is done keeping secrets. Her new single “Little White Lie” is as bold as it is confessional, a sharp-edged pop cut that takes messy honesty and turns it into something you can move to.

Florence Welch confirms her sixth Florence + The Machine album Everybody Scream, due October 31. The title track arrives with a video by Autumn de Wilde and collaborations from IDLES’ Mark Bowen, Mitski, and The National’s Aaron Dessner.

Tiana Major9 returns with ‘shook one’, a smoky, jazz-infused reimagining of Mobb Deep’s iconic ‘Shook Ones Pt II’. Calling out emotional immaturity with precision and bite, the track marks a new chapter for one of the UK’s most distinctive modern soul voices.

His sun has broken through the clouds, and Odeal now stands as a defining presence in the new wave of UK R&B.

Cambridge rapper JayaHadADream links with Big Zuu for their first collaboration ‘Main Characters’, produced by Crafty893. Confident, sharp, and full of heart, the track pushes Jaya’s rise forward while highlighting her chemistry with one of the UK’s most respected MCs.

One thing you can always count on in the music landscape is that there will never be a shortage of ‘Self Titled’ albums released. Usually saved for up-and-coming acts ready to drop their debut albums or larger acts struggling to think of a strong title for their new album. The baggage that also arrives with this title is the overused statement: “Their most personal work yet.” It’ll pop up on many press releases for self-titled albums, whether that’s actually true or not.

When Craig Richards launched Houghton in 2017, he set out to create something deeply personal, a festival driven by impeccable music, meticulous attention to detail, and artistic vision rather than profit. 

Louis Dunford’s new single “Did You Hear About Charlie?” is one of his rawest yet. It’s built around a simple guitar line and a clear message: loss, memory, and the kind of childhood friendship that leaves a permanent mark. The chorus hits hard: “run Charlie, run, ”no filler, just that same emotional honesty Louis has built his name on.

Boy Better Know just turned 20, and they’re marking it with their first-ever fashion collab, naturally, it’s with Corteiz.

After what feels like a lifetime of constant teasing with clips, Tiwa Savage and Skepta finally make it official on “On A Low,” their long-rumoured collab that’s been years in the making.

Jim Legxacy’s Black British Music isn’t just a mixtape. It’s a generational project, ambitious, personal, and sharp. Built on pain, humour, and heritage, this is a record that captures the state of modern British culture with clarity and nerve.

Jessy Blakemore’s new track “fone sex” gets under your skin without forcing anything. It’s slow, raw, and completely unguarded, just her voice, her guitar, and a clear headspace, stripping everything back to talk about something most people avoid: how easy it is to lose yourself online.

Though the set was made up of ad hoc remixes and club classics rather than simply showcasing his catalogue to date, the evening still highlighted exactly why Barry Can’t Swim resonates so strongly with audiences of all ages. Blending near-futuristic mechanical elements with Balearic bass and Brazilian funk, there wasn’t a single track in the hour-and-a-half set that felt out of place, with each one met with enthusiastic response from the lively mob in front of him.

London’s dEE TdL drops his most exciting track yet with ‘Barry Allen’, a bold, genre-bending single backed by a slick, self-directed visual. Pulling from grime and indie influences, the track sees dEE carving his own lane with serious confidence.

Oculate UK's round-up of all the highlights in new music releases from the past week. Featuring Jim Legxacy, Nectar Woode, Sainté, Freddie Gibbs, Amie Blu & more.

Mahalia’s back. Instructions lands as the second single of her Luvergirl era, following the Masicka-assisted Different Type Of Love. Where that leaned romantic, Instructions throws itself straight into the dancefloor.

Barry Can’t Swim has steadily risen to be one of the UK’s most acclaimed electronic artists. Now, he’s returned with Loner, his highly anticipated second album.

Oculate UK's round-up of all the highlights in new music releases from the past week. Featuring KOKOROKO, Skepta, Barry Can't Swim, Wet Leg, Kojey Radical & more.

UK heavyweight Skepta is standing on business. After sparking a debate on UK vs. USA rap, Skepta has dropped his first diss track for Joyner Lucas: Friendly Fire.

Jim Legxacy has confirmed his new mixtape black british music (2025) will drop on July 18 via XL Recordings. It’s his biggest statement yet, building on years of raw storytelling and restless experimentation. With this release, he’s taking his place at the centre of a new generation shaping UK rap on their own terms.