South East London’s Deptford Sound Collective tackles modern apathy head-on with "#StopRunning", an urgently glittering single that dresses political resistance in the irresistible groove of electronic dance pop. It feels strangely therapeutic to hear a heavy demand for societal compassion wrapped up in such a brightly syncopated, uplifting package. https://open.spotify.com/track/3K63bCMpRcwhbbnRNtD27H?si=lebV9XEGQvGqJKVMUAZrMQ Founder and driving force Ray Barron-Woolford leads this sprawling assembly of artists and campaigners into the...

When you hear the name Stephen Thomas, you might right away think of Charleston, West Virginia, or maybe his own genre name, "Universal" As a label, it does not feel like a neat box. Instead, it feels like an open field where hip-hop and alternative pop music mix. His most recent song, "Breaking Hearts," sounds a lot like that. It utilises sounds from artists like...