"Mase J: Derby's Storm in a Rhyme Vesse Mase J has carved out a niche for himself as Derby's most recognised alternative rap musician, despite the city's rich musical history. His music is as unabashedly distinct as it is appealing, embodying the spirit of a maverick and the force of a roiling storm. Mase J has continued the popularity of his early releases after receiving high marks...

Leon Blanchard, a name perhaps faintly echoing from the mid-noughties indie surge, returns not with fanfare, but with a solitary signal flare titled "Astronaut". Hailing from Grimsby, a town known more for its fishing heritage than its celestial aspirations, Blanchard's new song does not really feel like a return, but more like a personal gearbox picked up after years of chatter. In 2007, his old band,...