Fifteen years on, Speak Now  stands as one of Taylor Swift’s most ambitious and self-written albums, blending country, pop, and pop-punk influences. It marked her artistic independence and lyrical maturity, even if it’s now an underrated gem in her discography. The Mic's Aimee Goldblum Reports Speak Now Album Cover, Taylor Swift 15 years on from its original release, Taylor Swift’s Speak Now is still one of her most ambitious projects to date – no mean feat, considering he

Lily Allen’s West End Girl  is a quiet but piercing return, charting the collapse of her marriage with raw emotional clarity. “Pussy Palace” exposes the hollowing impact of an “open” marriage strained by addiction, while the album’s minimalist, dreamlike production mirrors the disorientation of heartbreak. The Mic's Mide Williams reports. Cover for West End Girl, Lily Allen Much to everyone’s surprise, Lily Allen made a quiet yet poignant return to the music scene last week

Sheffield indie pop four-piece Sundress (@wearesundress) have recently been making waves, in no small part thanks to their dreamy sound and a string of appearances at high-profile UK festivals such as Tramlines. Recently, the band played a lush set in Rough Trade as part of the Keeping Music Live tour, organised by music university institution WaterBear.

Depeche Mode’s new single “In the End,” an outtake from the Memento Mori  sessions, reflects the band’s enduring exploration of mortality with both darkness and optimism. Featured in their upcoming concert film Depeche Mode: M  and live album Memento Mori: Live in Mexico City , the track reinforces that the synthpop icons still have plenty of creative life left. The Mic's Josh Holmes reports. The critical success of Depeche Mode’s latest full length, Memento Mori (2023) , pa

Few could claim to have such a wide-reaching influence upon underground music and culture in the last 30 years as David Pajo. The influence of Spiderland , the wiry, disconcerting odyssey that he and his band Slint made when they were barely adults can be seen everywhere: from the anxious jitters of early London Windmill Scene bands, to North American post-hardcore, to the noise rock scenes in Asia and South America. The pleasure was all Ria Serena 's when she got to sit down

Rooted in Nottingham, LDYA pours her personal stories into heartfelt soul music that moves both heart and feet, creating an atmosphere that pulls you in on and off stage. We had the pleasure of seeing LDYA live at JamCafé during Nottingham’s Hockley Hustle this October, where her soulful energy lit up the room. The atmosphere was electric, a true sense of community ran through the crowd as she wove heartfelt stories between songs, drawing everyone in. Her rich, personal lyric

Hockley Hustle returned this year with a line-up like no other. Creating a parallel universe in which each person could handcraft their own musical world for the day. As a newcomer to gigs, this festival was a masterful intro – whether you’re a seasoned attendee or a beginner. The diverse array of genres, electrifying performances, and salt–of-the-earth artists. The Mic’s Daniela Roux  reports. Pretty Windows, The Angel Microbrewery: My committee and I took a leisurely walk t

Emily Sanders, a Nottingham-local, is acclaimed for her vulnerability and distinct voice. She is an artist with an ability to converge grunge, R&B, and pop. With two incredible singles out now, and more certain to come, Emily Sanders is a local artist to focus on. The Mic’s Daniela Roux  reports.   Emily and I chatted initially, exchanging niceties and introducing ourselves. As I knew we were both music lovers, I asked her what I would ask a friend... Q: What music have you b

The city hosts numerous festivals across its many venues, offering a great way to experience its flourishing scene; Hockley Hustle being just one example. With over 40 venues taking part, and a mixture of music acts, drag artists, DJs, political speakers and more, Hockley Hustle is a vibrant celebration of Nottingham culture. The Mic's Sami De Jong reports. A performance that epitomises my experience was the much loved Nottingham punk band Cheap Dirty Horse . Frontman Finbar

A decade on, Carly Rae Jepsen’s  Emotion  remains a pop masterclass, blending 80s-inspired synths with heartfelt, unfiltered emotion. Initially overlooked, the album has become a cult favorite, celebrated for its joy, vulnerability, and meticulously crafted hooks. More than a collection of songs, it proves that sincerity and pure pop craftsmanship endure. The Mic's Ben Dale reports. Emotion (Carly Rae Jepsen) album cover, photographed Matthew Welch Following her 2011 hit Cal

The modern U.S. shoegaze scene has been dissected countless times, but if you ask its most devoted fans to name the scene’s most ambitious act, one name inevitably surfaces: They Are Gutting a Body of Water. The Mic's Josh Holmes reports on the latest shoegaze spotlight contender. Past full-length projects such as Destiny XL  and Lucky Styles  have earned the Philadelphia outfit a dedicated underground following, while supporting sets for dream pop and shoegaze figureheads

Known predominantly for his 1969 record, Ode to Quetzalcoatl , David Bixby's music is that of a true original: deeply intimate, spiritually powerful psychedelic folk embedded with a powerful sense of both hope and crushing loneliness. The Mic's own Ria Serena sat down with Bixby to discuss religion, his experiences of having been shipwrecked whilst working as a sailor, and the absolute power of music to carry one through the void of depression. I had always entertained the i

Following on from Revolver’s recent Nottingham performance, I was pleased to catch up with frontman Mat Flint regarding the band’s recent reformation, as well as its history. Throughout the conversation, he has an optimistic, confident and polite demeanour, and seems more than excited that life and circumstance has returned him to the pioneering shoegaze band he first formed as a teenager. Throughout the conversation, we touched upon the past, present and future of the music

Whilst speaking to him, it felt as though Ndabezinhle was actively ascending into his passion, getting lost in it and finding his gravity in it all at the same time. It was as though he was resting whilst being fuelled simultaneously. The Mic's Bea Kasale reports. The Original Cover of 33 Tall, Dark & Formidable — What might it sound like when a Black man cries? It’s many a time that I am softened by the quaint nature of creation. I am caressed and swayed gently each time m

Black British artists are redefining the nation’s sound, blending heritage, innovation, and resilience to shape the future of modern British music. The Mic's Mide Williams reports. Black British culture continues to flourish, weaving itself into the very fabric of modern British identity. From the way we speak to the food we eat, and most strikingly, through music, Black Brits have reshaped the nation’s cultural landscape since the early waves of migration. In the 2020s, our

Welly was back at Nottingham’s The Bodega  for the second time this year. His self-deprecation is an extremely humble act, because there is no way that what Welly is experiencing right now is anything but a comeuppance. Having released their debut album “Big in the Suburbs” in March this year, the band is surrounded by an air of excitement and budding recognition. “They say you play the Bodega twice –once on the way up and... nice to see you again”, Welly quipped. The Mic's A

In a city fuelled by basslines, one collective is redefining community through Dub, Jungle, and shared rhythms — carrying forward the tradition of sound systems, where music isn’t performed to  people, but with  them. The Mic's Roberta Douglas-Todd reports: As a resurgence of these eclectic genres transforms the music scene across the UK, somewhere between the coastal calm of Cornwall and the city pulse of Nottingham, a new sound is taking shape. While keeping the groove aliv

Oasis introduced the world to (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?  in April 1995 with the song Some Might Say.  The band’s classic guitar sound signalled to the world that Oasis were back. Noel Gallagher has often mused that it is his favourite Oasis song; the British public agreed, and Some Might Say  was launched to the top of the charts making it the band’s first number one single. It was clear from this moment that the Manchester band were on the brink of becoming cultural

“ Brother, brother, brother . There’s far too many of you dying .”— Marvin Gaye The Original Cover of What's Going On You know, I can admit that I am young. Far more juvenile than juvenile can account for. Be that as it may, the consequence of love, the consequence of song, has bred a sense akin to knowledge but far more softer. The likes of love, song and dance have shaped in me what we might have regarded as inscrutable — what I am desperately endeavouring to convey, as car

“If I lost control, or did not have control, things would just... be fatal .” - Audrey Mubarak-Rowe The Original Cover of Ctrl Singer-songwriter SZA’s debut album Ctrl  is a dynamic piece that dives into the experience of self-discovery in early adulthood, encapsulating the good, the bad, and the ugly. While it resonates with young people from all backgrounds, the raw and unfiltered way in which she breaks down the constant balancing act between trying to maintain control w

Beyoncé, to date, is one of the most prolific living artists we’ve seen. For every critic she’s had, ten fans have risen to defend her name. She’s a woman who has cultivated a mass following and collected nearly every commercial accolade imaginable — from the world’s highest-grossing tours to record-breaking sales, and as of now, the most Grammy wins of any artist in history. Yet, there’s an underbelly to her discography — a body of work that doesn’t just fall under the radar

In May 2025, PinkPantheress released her mixtape, and the musical world has not been the same since. After dropping the two crowd-pleasing singles, Illegal  and Tonight , she explicitly illustrated that she not only fears experimentation with her production, but her lyrics as well. This mixtape contrasts her previous two albums through its exploration of themes such as desire, attraction, and young love. Her earlier projects leaned towards the sombre, but Fancy That was a mix

For almost as long as Gorillaz have existed, a deep concern for the happenings of the world surrounding the band at any particular moment...

As Revolver frontman Mat Flint mentioned in my interview with him, any understanding of shoegaze as a genre needs to be prefaced by an...

Nottingham’s prolific Hockley Hustle returns this October, transforming the city into a vibrant scene of sound, rhythm, and consensus. For just £15, you’ll gain access to over 45 venues and more than 400 performances across Hockley and Sneinton. Whether you’re into jazz, hip hop, drag, indie riffs, or have never seen a 60-piece orchestra in-person – the 19th of October is a date to remember. The Mic's Daniela Roux reports. Beyond the glitz and noise, the festival lives and b

How an East London-born artist is pushing the boundaries of genre and leading the evolution of emerging subcultures in the UK's music scene. Thomas does not just ensure that his listeners are hearing his music, but rather, experiencing the pulse of a generation. The Mic's Ellena Onyinah reports. Upon his latest album release, Submerge , with producer Pitch 92, it is more than overdue to shed light on the genre-defying vocalist that is Jerome Thomas. This riffing and running

Across the last five years, the resurgence of shoegaze within a new generation of music fans has been a phenomenon that many music...

The next huge rock band might be here, and their name is Geese. Since their debut album Projector , the NYC locals have been on an upward...

Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin form the synth pop duo we know as Magdalena Bay. Previous prog rockers Tenenbaum and Lewin pivoted to...

Taylor Swift's highly anticipated The Life of a Showgirl features her return to iconic producers Max Martin and Shellback. Marketed,...