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Leah Cleaver Drops Bold Second Single ‘Have You Ever’
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.


LYVIA Gets Confessional On New Single ‘Little White Lie'
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 + The Machine Are Back With Their Sixth Studio Album 'Everybody Scream'
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.


Tiana Major9 Flips Mobb Deep Classic Into Her Powerful Return ‘shook one’
Tiana Major9 returns with ‘shook one’, a smoky, jazz-infused reimagining of Mobb Deep’s iconic ‘Shook Ones Pt II’. Calling out emotional immaturity with precision and bite, the track marks a new chapter for one of the UK’s most distinctive modern soul voices.


From London with Soul: The Rise of Odeal and the UK R&B Summer Revival
His sun has broken through the clouds, and Odeal now stands as a defining presence in the new wave of UK R&B.


JayaHadADream Teams Up With Big Zuu On Hard-Hitting New Single ‘Main Characters’
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.
![[REVIEW] Kae Tempest’s Self-Titled Is Defiant And Intimate With A Stark Sense Of Urgency](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b163f3_5a3fb297ba154705ab96fae72a337fae~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_251,h_250,al_c,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/b163f3_5a3fb297ba154705ab96fae72a337fae~mv2.webp)
![[REVIEW] Kae Tempest’s Self-Titled Is Defiant And Intimate With A Stark Sense Of Urgency](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b163f3_5a3fb297ba154705ab96fae72a337fae~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_238,h_237,al_c,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/b163f3_5a3fb297ba154705ab96fae72a337fae~mv2.webp)
[REVIEW] Kae Tempest’s Self-Titled Is Defiant And Intimate With A Stark Sense Of Urgency
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.


Houghton 2025: The Beating Heart Of Boutique Festivals
When Craig Richards launched Houghton in 2017, he set out to create something deeply personal, a festival driven by impeccable music, meticulous attention to detail, and artistic vision rather than profit.


Louis Dunford Releases ‘Did You Hear About Charlie?’ Ahead Of Deluxe Album ‘Be Lucky - Last Orders’
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.


Corteiz And Boy Better Know Link Up For Historic 20th Anniversary Collab
Boy Better Know just turned 20, and they’re marking it with their first-ever fashion collab, naturally, it’s with Corteiz.


Tiwa Savage And Skepta Drop ‘On A Low’ Ahead Of Her New Album 'This One Is Personal'
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.
![[REVIEW] Jim Legxacy Turns Years of DIY Graft Into One of the UK’s Most Important Projects This Decade ‘Black British Music (2025)’](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b163f3_37ff81b8fbd34bfe9353fb20497087f1~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,al_c,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/b163f3_37ff81b8fbd34bfe9353fb20497087f1~mv2.webp)
![[REVIEW] Jim Legxacy Turns Years of DIY Graft Into One of the UK’s Most Important Projects This Decade ‘Black British Music (2025)’](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b163f3_37ff81b8fbd34bfe9353fb20497087f1~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_237,h_237,al_c,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/b163f3_37ff81b8fbd34bfe9353fb20497087f1~mv2.webp)
[REVIEW] Jim Legxacy Turns Years of DIY Graft Into One of the UK’s Most Important Projects This Decade ‘Black British Music (2025)’
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 ‘Fone Sex’ Is A Raw, Intimate Statement From A Rising UK Star
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.
![[IN THE CROWD] Barry Can’t Swim Takes Loner to Leeds](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b163f3_31103262025a44418d22ef490578bec9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/b163f3_31103262025a44418d22ef490578bec9~mv2.webp)
![[IN THE CROWD] Barry Can’t Swim Takes Loner to Leeds](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b163f3_31103262025a44418d22ef490578bec9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_237,h_237,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/b163f3_31103262025a44418d22ef490578bec9~mv2.webp)
[IN THE CROWD] Barry Can’t Swim Takes Loner to Leeds
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.


dEE TdL Blurs Genre Lines On His Vibrant Return 'Barry Allen'
London’s dEE TdL drops his most exciting track yet with ‘Barry Allen’, a bold, genre-bending single backed by a slick, self-directed visual. Pulling from grime and indie influences, the track sees dEE carving his own lane with serious confidence.


This Week In Music: Jim Legxacy, Nectar Woode, Sainté, Freddie Gibbs...
Oculate UK's round-up of all the highlights in new music releases from the past week. Featuring Jim Legxacy, Nectar Woode, Sainté, Freddie Gibbs, Amie Blu & more.


Mahalia Commands Us To Dance On Her Latest Release ‘Instructions’
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.
![[REVIEW] Barry Can’t Swim Fuses Depth with Distortion and Disco on Loner](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/593d58_ffe8fcaa4eb848999ad22c5d08f3272a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/593d58_ffe8fcaa4eb848999ad22c5d08f3272a~mv2.webp)
![[REVIEW] Barry Can’t Swim Fuses Depth with Distortion and Disco on Loner](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/593d58_ffe8fcaa4eb848999ad22c5d08f3272a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_237,h_237,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/593d58_ffe8fcaa4eb848999ad22c5d08f3272a~mv2.webp)
[REVIEW] Barry Can’t Swim Fuses Depth with Distortion and Disco on Loner
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: This Week In Music
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 VS. USA: Skepta Lands the First Punch with Friendly Fire
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.


Jim Legxacy Announces ' Black British Music (2025)', Gearing Us Up For The Next Gen Of UK Rap
Jim Legxacy has confirmed his new mixtape black british music (2025) will drop on July 18 via XL Recordings. It’s his biggest statement yet, building on years of raw storytelling and restless experimentation. With this release, he’s taking his place at the centre of a new generation shaping UK rap on their own terms.


From Pitch to Pendant: Bazanetti and The Lionesses Blend Sport and Style with Jewellery Collection
England Women’s team and London-based jeweller Bazanetti have unveiled a limited-edition jewellery collection that captures the evolving spirit of modern football.


[REVIEW] Lorde's 'Virgin' transcends her past works with instinctive emotion and grace
The 4th studio album finds Lorde transcending her past works with grit, intent and effortless emotional prowess.


Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Break The Norm As They Unveil Their Slawn Livery For Silverstone
Visa Cash App Racing Bulls are throwing out the usual F1 playbook this weekend. The team has brought on Nigerian-British street artist Slawn to reimagine their car, their racewear, and their entire Silverstone presence. The result is one of the boldest visual statements the paddock has ever seen.
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