Blood Orange’s Essex Honey is a striking return after six years, weaving grief, Essex memories, and a heavy roster of collaborators into a 14-track record that feels both intimate and expansive. With moments of raw vulnerability and flashes of bold experimentation, Dev Hynes delivers one of his most personal works to date.

Skepta and Fred again.. have dropped Skepta .. Fred, a surprise five-track EP blending grime and dance energy. Following their chart-smashing “Victory Lap” and the high-voltage “Back 2 Back,” the project adds three new tracks; “London,” “Last 1s Left,” and “21 Years.” Across 16 minutes, Skepta and Fred prove their unlikely partnership just works: raw, fun, and built for both festival chaos and headphones at full blast.

Cardiff producer/DJ Douvelle19 has joined forces with North London rap powerhouse AntsLive on their brand-new single ‘Ghost’, fusing Douvelle19’s hypnotic, bass-heavy production with AntsLive’s razor-sharp wordplay, bringing together two rising forces from different corners of the UK scene.

Cat Burns announces her new album How to be Human, out 31st October, following her acclaimed debut early twenties. Spanning 16 tracks including singles “All This Love” and “GIRLS!”, the record explores grief, heartbreak, and self-growth with raw authenticity. Written entirely by Cat and paired with visuals she conceptualised, the album will be supported by a seven-date UK headline tour this November, alongside an upcoming All Points East festival appearance.

Leah Cleaver keeps her momentum alive with new single ‘Have You Ever’, the sparkling follow-up to her debut ‘Last Time’. It’s a playful track that balances chaos with charm, leaning into Leah’s gift for turning confessional moments into something everyone can connect with.

Nottingham’s own LYVIA is done keeping secrets. Her new single “Little White Lie” is as bold as it is confessional, a sharp-edged pop cut that takes messy honesty and turns it into something you can move to.

Florence Welch confirms her sixth Florence + The Machine album Everybody Scream, due October 31. The title track arrives with a video by Autumn de Wilde and collaborations from IDLES’ Mark Bowen, Mitski, and The National’s Aaron Dessner.

His sun has broken through the clouds, and Odeal now stands as a defining presence in the new wave of UK R&B.

Cambridge rapper JayaHadADream links with Big Zuu for their first collaboration ‘Main Characters’, produced by Crafty893. Confident, sharp, and full of heart, the track pushes Jaya’s rise forward while highlighting her chemistry with one of the UK’s most respected MCs.

One thing you can always count on in the music landscape is that there will never be a shortage of ‘Self Titled’ albums released. Usually saved for up-and-coming acts ready to drop their debut albums or larger acts struggling to think of a strong title for their new album. The baggage that also arrives with this title is the overused statement: “Their most personal work yet.” It’ll pop up on many press releases for self-titled albums, whether that’s actually true or not.

Louis Dunford’s new single “Did You Hear About Charlie?” is one of his rawest yet. It’s built around a simple guitar line and a clear message: loss, memory, and the kind of childhood friendship that leaves a permanent mark. The chorus hits hard: “run Charlie, run, ”no filler, just that same emotional honesty Louis has built his name on.

After what feels like a lifetime of constant teasing with clips, Tiwa Savage and Skepta finally make it official on “On A Low,” their long-rumoured collab that’s been years in the making.

Jim Legxacy’s Black British Music isn’t just a mixtape. It’s a generational project, ambitious, personal, and sharp. Built on pain, humour, and heritage, this is a record that captures the state of modern British culture with clarity and nerve.

Jessy Blakemore’s new track “fone sex” gets under your skin without forcing anything. It’s slow, raw, and completely unguarded, just her voice, her guitar, and a clear headspace, stripping everything back to talk about something most people avoid: how easy it is to lose yourself online.

Though the set was made up of ad hoc remixes and club classics rather than simply showcasing his catalogue to date, the evening still highlighted exactly why Barry Can’t Swim resonates so strongly with audiences of all ages. Blending near-futuristic mechanical elements with Balearic bass and Brazilian funk, there wasn’t a single track in the hour-and-a-half set that felt out of place, with each one met with enthusiastic response from the lively mob in front of him.

Mahalia’s back. Instructions lands as the second single of her Luvergirl era, following the Masicka-assisted Different Type Of Love. Where that leaned romantic, Instructions throws itself straight into the dancefloor.

Barry Can’t Swim has steadily risen to be one of the UK’s most acclaimed electronic artists. Now, he’s returned with Loner, his highly anticipated second album.

Oculate UK's round-up of all the highlights in new music releases from the past week. Featuring KOKOROKO, Skepta, Barry Can't Swim, Wet Leg, Kojey Radical & more.

UK heavyweight Skepta is standing on business. After sparking a debate on UK vs. USA rap, Skepta has dropped his first diss track for Joyner Lucas: Friendly Fire.

Frozemode have dropped their first track of 2025, and it’s a warning shot. “LOOKING AT US” is a loud, unfiltered blast of alt-rap fused with punk guitars and crowd-killing drums, building on their natural extension of the chaos they’ve built onstage over the past year.