Premieres
Discover songs and videos exclusively before they are officially released.
Demonic Violins
RAVAGE premiere their new track «Demon Lover» today. It is a daring, haunting sound.
The sound is like a hellish abyss—noisy, loud, and chaotic. A swirl of sound, a dance of two devilish violins whipped by an unforgiving drum.
Demon Lover by French trio RAVAGE is an experiment exploring the wild, sometimes dark underbelly of noise and doom. And, frankly, it is not for everyone.
Bastien Pelenc and Mathieu Werchowski extract a range of haunting sounds from their violins that sound as loud and bulldozing as a post-rock band. Adding Anthony Laguerre's daring extended drums, their song becomes the soundtrack of an ungodly ceremony. Archaic, blasphemous, but highly intriguing.
The track celebrates its premiere today with Negative White:
The video, recorded in May 2023 by Pierre Veyser at the band's first residency at La Fonderie du Mans in France, feels like uncovered footage of a ritual where the band conjures these extreme sounds—growing more unstable with the musician's relentless escalation.
But as contemporary and maybe weird Demon Lover seems, it is nothing but captivating in its ferocious delivery—and an appropriate teaser for what might come in the future of RAVAGE.
Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys present video for «Virtual Muse»
It is a droning, detached affair.
«Assume. Consume.» — Virtual Muse explores the intangible reality of the digital space and a subsequent feeling of detachment from our human nature.
Isolation is the theme of the intimate yet expressive 13 songs on Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys’ latest album, A Human Home. On this record, South African-born and Berlin-based artist Lucy Kruger explores the feeling of home, heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of these songs, Virtual Muse, was treated to a new visualiser video, which celebrates its premiere here today:
Kruger expands on the influences in A Human Home:
«Berlin was the place that I was living in the moment that a virus stopped the world in its tracks, but I wasn’t quite sure if it was home. There was a sea between me and my family and no way to cross it. Except through the telephone, the computer screen, and a body, heart, brain full of memories, feeling, thought, and imagination.»
The sound of Virtual Muse—a desolate soundscape of droning guitars—palpably reflects digital dehumanisation. It evokes a sense of eerie detachment, yet Lucy Kruger’s whispered monologue injects a poignant, intimate touch into the minimalist composition, creating an emphatic emotional resonance.
Virtual Muse is also a perfect example of the band’s developed sound on the album, which seems far from what the noise and art rock group displayed on last year’s record, Heaving.
Lucy Kruger abandoned the guitar at the beginning of her songwriting process for the first time: «I promised to let go of judgment in the process. A naive and feeling-based exploration of sampled drum sounds and synths, along with some more familiar guitar-based songs.»
While wandering uncharted sonic paths, they remain deeply committed to their signature depth and eccentric atmosphere.
Suzan Köcher’s Suprafon Returns with Impressive «Seventeen»
After five years, Suzan Köcher’s Suprafon reports back with the introspective yet empowering single «Seventeen». We celebrate the song’s video premiere.
What would you tell your 17-year-old self if you could travel back in time? Would you voice warnings, share concerns, or provide encouragement and comfort?
On its surface, this question is one of the overused prompts for self-reflection—and often, the results taste of superficiality. But what if one would take a conversation with one’s younger self seriously? And what if it is more an accidental conversation freed of intentionality and self-fulfilling prophecies?
The result may sound something like Seventeen. 29-year-old Suzan Köcher wrote the song thinking about someone else.
«It was only later that I realised that many lines could also be read as communication between me and my 17-year-old self. Through art, you inevitably reflect facets of yourself,» the German musician reveals.
Seventeen is not just a chance for self-reflection but a poignant turning point for Suzan Köcher’s Suprafon. It delves deep into Köcher’s emotional landscape, revealing a more personal and vulnerable side of her songwriting inspired by therapy. In many ways, it is a heartfelt return to her songwriting roots. Köcher explains:
«I started writing songs when I was 14 because I was afraid to say things and experience rejection. Music was my way of saying what I thought. When my music became more public, I backed off a bit because I was afraid of what people might think of me. Through therapy, I learnt to let go of my fears a bit and started writing much more personal songs.»
Suzan Köcher explores in Seventeen themes of adolescence: unrequited love, insecurity, and abuse of power. Despite these difficult topics, the song not only confronts past pains but also serves as a beacon of empowerment for young women.
And when I look back from where I’m standing todayI can’t believe you treated me this wayI’m glad I didn’t stay the same
In the video for Seventeen, Köcher meets with her 17-year-old ghost—not haunted but with clarity. There is a notion of tender forgiveness within the dreamy pop notes. The mellotron bits and Hammond organ add depth and texture, while Köcher’s soft, almost whispering voice takes centre stage. It’s a masterful composition that perfectly complements the emotional depth of the lyrics.
Seventeen has a more mature, refined sound—but one that preserves Suzan Köcher’s qualities: a seamless blend of psychedelic hints, krautrock vibes, and dream pop ambience spread gently on a cinematic canvas.
After half a decade, the song is a stunning return to the stage for Suzan Köcher’s Suprafon, captivating attention with emotional depth and melody. And it is a promising herald of their upcoming new album, scheduled to be released in October 2024.
Dawns Mystery – Tease Me
Switzerland's Dawns Mystery conjure the rough and gritty roots of indie rock in their new single «Tease Me».
Rock music is an anachronism—handcrafted in the digital age, gritty and raw in nature. As an underdog genre, one might even say: It went back to its rebel roots.
One band that celebrates these origins is Dawns Mystery, frenetically resounding in the streets of Zurich. Their new album, Hot Showers, is coming on May 10, but the quartet already teases us—quite literally—with their new single Tease Me.
The track celebrates its exclusive premiere today with Negative White:
Love me, tease me
I want you to strive with me
Let’s have a look and see
All we gotta do, is to keep it on and bad things will be gone
With Tease Me, Dawns Mystery tip their hats to hedonism, incarnated in the song's euphoric sound. The fuzz-heavy indie rock roams through smoke-filled bars, hot and sticky dancefloors; it blazes through nightlife's haze.
Despite the dense sound, the band grants the composition room to breathe and fills it with focus on the instruments—and a refreshing guitar solo, something that is almost a lost art nowadays. Tease Me sits right in the middle of the addictive melodies of indie rock and a rough, boiling vintage sound.
THYMIAN – Unintentional
With «Unintentional», Swiss post-punk artist THYMIAN premieres his last single from the upcoming EP «White Knuckled».
Amid a global pandemic, one genre made a surprising return: post-punk. Spearheaded by Molchat Doma's Судно, a track that went viral on TikTok, the sound matched the world's state of doom and gloom. And we suddenly observed a rise in popularity far beyond the Goth subculture, where post-punk echoed the years prior.
However, it was not just a brief momentum. New bands and artists dusted off the quintessential 80s sound and slapped on a new coat of concrete greys and midnight blacks.
One of these artists' names is Josip Tijan, aka THYMIAN. With the self-titled EP, he made his debut, featuring the still most-played song, Composure. The early sound's minimalism had already started to fade in 2021's album Rhythm of Doubt.
But THYMIAN's signature had always been his stylistic baritone vocals—some people loved it, some were easily annoyed by the performance. However, the musician demonstrated a less constrained, more natural way of singing on stage.
While THYMIAN moved his sound from post-punk's sparseness to a lush blend of wave and synth-pop, he also focused his vocal performance on melody. The result is stunning: In both already published singles, Sentimental and Kozmos, he reminds me of Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan.
Today, we exclusively host the premiere of Unintentional, the third and last single from THYMIAN's upcoming EP, White Knuckled, which will be released on May 17.
Why can't I be different, why do I rely on, something special, one-dimensional
Why can't I be different, why do I deny, something special, unintentional
Unintentional overwhelms you with its densely layered composition yet remains deeply driven by vast synths and melody. It is a hymn to one's irrelevance and the urge to tune out of everyday life.
But there's a dark undertone rooted in personal experience: Alcohol as a coping mechanism for ever-increasing stress led THYMIAN down a vicious path, only interrupted by a traumatic experience. So, Unintentional is less an ode to hedonism but, at its core, a cautionary tale.
Dug a hole, before my eyes I can feel it, underneath it, I am leaving
Despite the sombre subject, THYMIAN displays a new and exciting side in Unintentional. He never sounded bigger; a song filled with refined urgency and verve.
Lioba – Paperthin
Hamburg-based indie-pop artist Lioba premieres her new single, «Paperthin», today with Negative White.
Nothing is more beautiful and frightening than the early days of falling in love. The tender nervousness, the pulsating euphoria, and deep insecurities go hand in hand. How long do we walk together through life?
In the stunning new single, Paperthin, Hamburg artist Lioba delves into the intricate interplay of emotions arisising in the beginning of love where the human desire for intimacy and the fear of being vulnerable are maybe as evident as they could ever be.
«With you, I'm feeling paper-thin.»
Paperthin closely follows Lioba's debut album, Magnolia, which released in February 2024. The single is officially out tomorrow but celebrates its premiere already today right here with an impressive video clip—featuring a paper dress designed and created by the artist herself.
Lioba composed Paperthin without overbearing gestures. The restrained instruments naturally complement her evocative voice, seamlessly meandering between larger-than-life pop and soul's warm intimacy and rhythm. Her vocal performance mirrors the duality of falling in love, both in its delicate and fragile but also the overwhelming and powerful moments.
Annie Taylor – Perfect Pretender
Switzerland's Annie Taylor are back with new music. «Perfect Pretender» has all the ingredients an energetic rock song needs.
The rock quartet Annie Taylor just returned to Switzerland after playing a tour in the US with performances at SXSW and KEXP.
Time for a break? No way!
Their acclaimed 2023 sophomore album, Inner Smile, laid down the tracks for Annie Taylor to stomp down the gas pedal as hard as they could. With Push Me, taken from the album and released back in March, the band displayed a melodic blend of alternative rock and grungy vibe. However, we were still deprived of their new material so far… until today.
Today, we celebrate the premiere of Annie Taylor's new song, Perfect Pretender, which will be released tomorrow. Grab your seats—it will be an electrifying ride!
The guitars growl, the drums whip relentlessly, a driven push forward. Written on a dark and rainy summer day, singer and guitarist Gini Jungi remembers: «After a drive through the pouring rain after rehearsal, I sat soaking wet in my unusually dark room and started humming this song.»
Perfect Pretender sticks out like a sore thumb in today's polished pop-filled puddle and rises like the messiah—bringing dearly missed rock anachronism back to the starved masses. The song screams loud and proud its raw heritage. And, oh boy, the guitar solo is like the first sip of a cool beer in the scorching summer heat.
But Perfect Pretender is not only a rough rock anthem but, as it is Annie Talyor's signature by now, there is always a slight notion of creeping anxiety and melancholia: «You got me thinking about… that I'm the perfect pretender.» Self-doubt as a subject that is simultaneously shattered with the exceptionality of Perfect Pretender.
Markus Nikolaus – Pure Tears
Markus Nikolaus is about to play his first solo gigs in the US. Meanwhile, we are hosting the premiere of his beautifully stripped-down track «Pure Tears».
A message arrives at 2 am—sent by Markus Nikolaus, who is currently on the other side of the pond, in the United States of America, and about to play his first gigs in the land of the free and the home of bravely divided politics.
«Do you want to present my new single?» he asks—and the question might very well be rhetorical. Of course, we do.
Markus Nikolaus, singer of Lea Porcelain and the embodiment of general creative craziness, already starred in a previous premiere. With Hartes Porzellan—a collaboration with Simon Kaiser—he delivered the rumbling All In Your Head. And solo, Nikolaus made it even in our 2023 best list with the heartfelt Never Let You Go.
With his new song, Pure Tears, Markus Nikolaus stays on the soft and gentle side, similar to Never Let You Go, and yet, the composition has a unique vibe. Recorded with a great deal of room for the sound to expand, he kept it as stripped-down, as reduced as humanly possible: a flamenco guitar, a voice.
«Pure tears are the nicest way to die before your eyes»
However, the profound beauty of Pure Tears reaches deeper than its simplicity. It is an intimate feeling that the song is created while you are listening—a sonic stream of consciousness, underlined by its DIY-styled, lo-fi production, which, for once, does not feel like an act but a deliberate choice to facilitate immediacy.
