WORDS MAISIE JANE DANIELS Ending the year with a bang, BANA — the boundary-pushing pop artist effortlessly bridging her Kurdish heritage with contemporary global sounds — signs off 2025 with “Ripple Effect” , a slick, high-energy release that feels like a statement of intent as much as a celebration. Hot on the heels of her intoxicating, dance-infused single “ Air ”, and a run of remixes from electronic heavyweights Meg Ward, Josh Parkinson and Ossie, “Ripple Effect” is poli

From Coffee Shops to Sold-Out Shows, F Word catches up with Izzy Escobar Fresh off a sold-out night here in F Word’s home city of London, Cuban–Italian singer, songwriter, and pianist Izzy Escobar lets us step into a day in her life on tour - the coffee, the chaos, the quiet, and the rituals that keep her grounded between cities. London isn’t just another tour stop for Izzy. After a breakup, she took herself on a solo trip here - a reset, a reckoning, a place where she someh

WORDS RACHEL EDWARDS - PHOTOGRAPHY HASHIM MUSA JR Last Saturday marked the summer solstice, and if there's one thing people cannot get enough of, it's a reason to manifest. " The universe is not on a budget !" my friend shouts at me over a glass of wine, eyeing my two measly resolutions scribbled on the back of a receipt. It's one thing to make the vision board, quite another to follow through. But for singer-songwriter KATMORE , transformation wasn’t just a whim; it was an

WORDS MAISIE JANE DANIELS It had been one of those weeks, the sort of week that ends with me in the bath with a Babybel (don’t knock it till you’ve tried it). With one soapy hand dangerously close to dripping my laptop, I pressed play on Yijia’s new album TU . There’s something about the thrill of risking breaking your laptop while discovering new music that makes it feel extra alive. The opening track, Willow Flowers , eases you in softly - a gentle, transportive piece tha

WORDS RACHEL EDWARDS PHOTOGRAPHY HAMPUS HJELLSTROM Swedish singer-songwriter and Ivor Novello nominee Elina returns with her most personal work to date, " A Place I Recognize ", out today. Written during a transformative period in her life, A Place I Recognize  was born after Elina made the huge decision to leave Stockholm and return to the countryside where she grew up. Returning to her roots turned out to serve her well, allowing her the space to reconnect with herself an

WORDS MAISIE JANE DANIELS November is calling and, with it, ten days where London becomes a living instrument — the EFG London Jazz Festival returns from 14–23 November 2025 , bringing with it a global tide of music, movement and conversation. Now in its 33rd year, the Festival has built a world of its own: a meeting ground for icons, boundary-pushers and quiet radicals. This year’s programme leans into what jazz has always done best — collaboration, collision, and communio

WORDS RACHEL EDWARDS Last night the sky was lit up with fireworks, and if there’s one thing about a firework, it’s that it demands to be seen. It makes sense then that today, singer-songwriter Allegra  releases her brand new EP. Out now via Radikal Records, the five-track EP marks her most confident era yet. Having already built a loyal fanbase due to her candid lyrics and honesty regarding her own experiences in love, her recently released track Red  feels like a turning poi

WORDS ROB CORSINI In Iran's Zagros Mountains, gabbeh rugs are woven by Kurdish, Luri, and Qashqai women. These rugs are made from Iran's organic materials - the colours formed from dyes made from the area’s flowers. For NAVA , these rugs represent a connection that these women have to their roots - which is why she chose to name her new album after the rugs.   Now NAVA creates music in exile. She is no longer able to safely travel back to Iran after she spoke out in support o

WORDS ROB CORSINI If you were asked to name America’s musical hubs – you’d probably say New York, Los Angeles, Nashville – maybe New Orleans or Memphis. One name that might not necessarily spring to mind is Tulsa, Oklahoma – but that’s where dream-pop duo Sports have been creating music for the last decade.    For Christian Theriot and Cale Chronister, Sports isn’t just an outlet for their creativity – but the culmination of a lifelong relationship. The pair first found each

WORDS BETH CUTTING Karin Ann isn’t your typical pop artist. At just 23, the Slovak singer-songwriter is already making waves far beyond her home country with her bold, genre-blending sound and unapologetic honesty. Whether she’s tackling topics like mental health, identity, or the queer experience, Karin brings a refreshing sense of authenticity to everything she creates. Her music (whether it’s gothic alt-pop or brutalist folk) feels both deeply personal, yet relatable.  

WORDS ROB CORSINI Master Peace is always three steps ahead. When he dropped his first album in 2023 - a fresh take on the electroclash scene of the early 2000s - no one was talking about indie music. Less than six months later, all anyone cared about was indie sleaze. His first album brought him a world of success - a European tour, a slot at Glastonbury, an Ivo Novello for Rising Star - but for Master Peace, it was only the start of his ambitions.  He wants his albums to be

Discover singer-songwriter Rose Betts as she talks about her new album There Is No Ship, exploring identity, belonging, and the bittersweet passage of time through intimate, heartfelt storytelling.