🎧 Picks of the Week

1. Doghouse Rose — “It Gets Worse”

Release Date: July 10 | Genre: Melodic Punk / Power Pop / Alternative Rock

Recommended If You Like (RIYL): Paramore, No Doubt, The Dollyrots, Blondie

Preview:

Toronto’s DIY champions Doghouse Rose return with “It Gets Worse,” the soaring second single from their highly anticipated album Born To Break Even (due July 31 on Stomp Records). While the band is well-known for their relentless skate-punk energy, this track leans gracefully into their masterful songwriting. Produced by Scott Komer (Silverstein, Boys Night Out), “It Gets Worse” balances heavy emotional themes like grief and frustration with towering vocal harmonies, razor-sharp hooks, and an infectious, positive power-pop charm. It’s a sweet reminder that even when life gets tough, we can still turn uncertainty into a celebration.

2. Riley Marsh — “Maybe It’s the Rain”

Genre: Indie Folk / Raw Acoustic Rock / Americana

Recommended If You Like: Jake Bugg, Damien Rice, Martin Harley

Preview:

Derby/Nottingham-based singer-songwriter Riley Marsh has been making massive waves on BBC Introducing and across the UK festival circuit. His latest offering, “Maybe It’s the Rain,” is a masterclass in dynamic, emotional storytelling. Backed by Art Marshall (drums) and Alfie Reeves (bass), the track opens with tender, delicately delivered vocals and soft electric layers before swelling into an intensely raw mid-section filled with heavy riffs and thrashing percussion. Written about a close friend navigating a difficult chapter, the song captures the overwhelming feeling of struggle with beautiful honesty.

3. Kyle Boswell — “Where Do We Go From Here”

Release Date: August 14, 2026 | Genre: Indie Rock / Punk Rock

Recommended If You Like: The Enemy, Arctic Monkeys, Jake Bugg

Preview:

Born out of a chaotic, promoter-less London gig where everything that could go wrong did, Kyle Boswell’s “Where Do We Go From Here” is a high-octane anthem dedicated to grit and collaboration. Rather than letting the night descend into disaster, the musicians took control of the venue, turning a nightmare show into an unforgettable triumph. Driven by relentless, fast-paced guitars and infectious indie-rock urgency, this track serves as the roaring lead single for his upcoming album PandaPop Rock! (slated for early next year). It’s a defiant celebration of what happens when a band refuses to back down.

4. Novelistme — “Wondering What To Say”

Release Date: Tuesday, July 14 | Genre: Indie Rock / Shoegaze / Dream Pop

Recommended If You Like: The Strokes, My Bloody Valentine, Phoenix, The Verve

Preview:

Multi-talented UK act Novelistme returns with “Wondering What To Say” (WW2S), a track that beautifully funnels hazy shoegaze textures into a tight, melodic pop structure reminiscent of Phoenix and early Strokes. Lyrically exploring the awkward, funny, and self-conscious moments when love collides with social anxiety, the track features clever Graham Coxon-inspired guitar work and a hooky, emotive chorus.

The single is backed by the expansive B-side “Vibes”—a nearly seven-minute, guitar-dense journey that trading traditional verse-chorus structures for immersive soundscapes and a powerful, optimistic message in the face of modern anxiety.