The Zine UK

How on earth is it August already? I swear the years go faster and faster as we spin more and more around the sun. .. And it’s been so hot. Luckily for you this month, we have some summer lovin’ bangers as well as a few deep cuts to chill out/melt away to.

First up we have #Zeenager faves, and strong thread in the tapestry - MOSES with ‘Sheep and Skyscrapers’. MOSES have come at us with Brit-Disco-Pop with outsider lyrics, deep soul guitars and the catchy choruses they’re famous for at this point. Love the track? Go see them live!

Next up is The Shan Vans with debut single ‘Inside’. I found the Belfast indie-punk band by pure algorithmic luck on Instagram, and I’m glad I did. The North of Ireland is having a moment with music at the moment, and The Shan Vans are riding aling in the front for the ride if ‘Inside’ is anything to go by - gorgeous guitar riffs accompanied by both English and Irish language poetry that yearns for freedom. Through Ireland to Palestine, this sonic soul sound will resonate.

Staying with Ireland (I said they were having a moment) with Blue Niall and ‘Aisling’. A collaboration with Melanin Tee, it’s part hip-hop, part political commentary lef drill music and part Irish Mythology in retelling Tír na nÓg and the tale of Oisín and Niamh. Most of all though, it’s catchy as feck, and you’re going to have it on heavy rotation.

True to eclectic form, something different from Swansea’s Monet with ‘Bone Man’, The perfect pogo until whiplash song with an unexpected yet welcome catch-your-breath moment in the middle. It’s audible chaos. In such a good way.

Synth-pop goodness with Sweden’s Ängie & Skoj and ‘Cobalt Blue’. A recommendation from #Zeenage Superstar Ruby Blue, it’s as glamorous, decadent and infectious as you’d expect. That sexy baseline too…

Track 6 is Bad Habits and ‘Down in Flames’. Inspired by global warming and the 2021 Wildfires in their native Greece - they’ve managed to make it sexy, catchy and strangely empowering. The guitar solo will blow your mind. Bad Habits are like Greece’s answer to Vice Squad.

Lilith Ai and ‘Riot, Riot, Revolution’ next. Lilith is cool as feck in general, being a member of the Fight Like A Girl Collective - but Riot.. really cements her status as the rebel grrrl, who we all want to be our best friend. A high octane punk song with soul, with a shadow of The Gits about it. It’s glorious, it’s empowering and it’s the beginning of something MASSIVE.

‘Unattractive’ by Sofia Isella is the other devil in the shoulder opposite Lilith Ai - with dark night synth trip melody and a lyrical maturity that doesn’t betray that Sofia is only 19, this one is for the recovering Tumblr girls.

Weather Underground with ‘Partytime USA’, a part 2 of debut track Sister Palestine if you will, calling out both UK and USA accountability for what its happening in Gaza and beyond, with catchy chorus, and lyrical puns complete with cameo from Joe Biden, not that he remembers of course.

I don’t think we’ve ever had a playlist without a band from Manchester, and that honour belongs to Shape of Water this time with ‘NAKED’. A hot bloodied, seductive song for the summer, which is dripping in desire and want. and such irresistible guitar riffs.

‘LICK’ by Glossy Boy gives us ice cream summer romance in three and a half minutes. A high energy song about passing romance. It’s chorus is ridiculously catchy and will stay in your head for ages after first listen.

Our first of two Italian bands on the list this month, it’s RUT! with “Rut Monday Mood”. Traversing genres, its high energy, punky, grungy goodness that you can dance to. We’ll be hearing more from them. /

The other Italians follow with FLUOSEXXX and ‘Scossa’ (It means Shock, you know?) Yes it’s in Italian, but how seductive is that guitar and baseline… It’s foot tapping good and as a debut single from them, it’s only going to get better.

Lastly, bit not leastly, ‘You Better Get Your Shit Together’ says Sabatta. It’s a song that once you think you’ve got it marked, it surprises you with slipping though another genre and completely blowing your mind. It’s 70’s rock gone funk, gone psych, gone soul… and it gives us some good advice too.

Fancy being on the #ZeenageDaydreams playlist for September? Just click here to email me with a link to your Spotify.