Download media kitIn an era where streaming platforms are inundated with tens of thousands of tracks daily, discovering high-quality new music requires a discerning ear. To help you filter through the noise, the editorial team at Rolling Stone UK has curated a selection of the most compelling records hitting streaming services this week.
Our latest roundup features a diverse range of sounds, including new offerings from Shygirl, Skepta, Royal Blood, La Roux, James Blunt, Kings of Leon, Ciarán, Katie Gregson-Macleod, Do Nothing, and Girl Tones.
Shygirl explores themes of tenderness and intimacy on her latest album, SWALLOW!. While the record marks a shift in her sonic aesthetic, the artist maintains that this evolution is additive rather than exclusionary. "I don’t really like to box myself in," Shygirl told Rolling Stone UK. "SWALLOW! is just another feather in my bow, rather than anything else – it’s not me saying goodbye. I’m widening the space I’m able to enter into."
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Skepta, an established pillar of the UK grime scene, uses his new project, The Fork and Knife, to reflect on his personal trajectory. The album serves as an origin narrative, balancing the perspectives of his early critics with the validation of his success, providing a comprehensive look at the artist's rise.
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Royal Blood returns with their fifth studio effort, Dead Company, a record they describe as "anti-produced." Recorded in their Brighton home studio, the album leans into raw, primal instrumentation. Tracks like "Ten Over Ten" showcase the band's commitment to a stripped-back, ambitious sound.
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La Roux’s Old Flames arrives as a poignant exploration of loss and personal rebirth. Written prior to the dissolution of a 17-year relationship, the album takes on a prophetic quality, particularly on tracks like "To Make Our Love." It marks a significant return for the electro-pop artist, offering a vulnerable look at a life in transition.
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James Blunt’s eighth album, Airplane Mode, finds the singer-songwriter retreating from external pressures to focus on internal clarity. Through a blend of pop melodies and rock influences, the record serves as a grounded response to contemporary instability.
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Kings of Leon embrace a more reflective, Americana-infused sound on O My Beloved. The album highlights the band's growth, with tracks like "My Whole World" offering a sincere look at family life, resulting in one of their most cohesive projects to date.
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Former Brockhampton member Ciarán MacDonald steps into the spotlight with his debut solo album, Róisín. The project allows him to explore his Belfast roots and creative identity in a way that wasn't possible within a group dynamic. "It’s too nuanced of a thing for me to shoehorn into a band context, so I’m able to indulge in myself a little bit more when it’s a solo thing," he explained.
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Katie Gregson-Macleod continues to showcase her songwriting prowess on Albatross. Drawing inspiration from Coleridge, the album examines the complexities of independence and the burdens that can accompany long-held ambitions, delivered with her characteristic unflinching honesty.
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Nottingham-based band Do Nothing finds beauty in discomfort on their latest release, Friend World. Vocalist Chris Bailey notes that the album navigates bleak themes without succumbing to them, emphasizing the duality of the human experience.
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Sisters Kenzie Shultz and Laila Crowe, performing as Girl Tones, deliver a spirited debut with Precious. Produced by Brad Schulz of Cage The Elephant, the record blends garage rock and power pop, showcasing the duo's ability to balance high-energy punk stompers with more intimate, contemplative tracks.
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