Smag På Dig Selv 
Like A Word I Never Knew 
Denmark 
 
The Danish alternative dance music group Smag På Dig Selv release not only a new single, but they also announce a European tour to deliver the new album that’s out in May. The first single from This Is Why We Lost is Like A Word I Never Knew. It’s a darker take on their altogether uplifting character, with the acoustic techno taking an emotional pivot as the band expresses a deeper sense of presence. Noted for bringing out a calmer and more introspective aura, the new single and its album to follow both extend the band’s backstory further with a more sensitive edge and tender warmth. The band is reaching out the middle ground between trance like listening and dancefloor genius, so the music can easily slot into both fields at varying volumes and bass levels. Like four words I never knew, but do now, here is Smag På Dig Selv with Like A Word.  
 
A resounding bass tone begins to plummet the sensation and deliver the rhythm. Extra percussion wanders in, quick metallic cymbals and tinny snare taps rampage across the throb of bass. A buzzing tone reveals itself from within and adds a hypnotic fizz to the mix of cerebral beats. A semblance of tones rises from the swirling rhythm, pipes with low tone air passages mark the pause. The track simmers down to the kick, continuous and persistent. Brass and woodwind sounds then begin the storyline anew, a meandering message of unspoken sentiments draws us in. As the melody begins to take shape and the drums rise from their muffled silence, a forward-facing and intense section ensues, where somewhat melancholy tones mix with vibrant and soulcatching patterns of cadence.  


You can follow Smag På Dig Selv on Facebook
 
and Instagram
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Tour dates - more to follow

15/4 Pustervik, Göteborg
16/4 Blaa, Oslo
17/4 Debaser, Stockholm
18/4 Plan B, Malmø
20/5 Hug and Pint, Glasgow
21/5 Voodoo Daddy's, Norwich
22/5 Shindig, Charlton Park
23/5 Bearded Theory Festival, Catton Park.

They Might Be Giants 
Eyeball 
Brooklyn 
 
What began as a jam between friends sometime in the very early 1980s quickly grew to become a great sounding band. They Might Be Giants have been on the headline more than a few times since then and the alternative rock group return in 2026 with Eyeball. The new EP rolls out the red carpet for the long-awaited new album that will rush the gates and break the mould one more time. With a handful of originals on the EP to start the session, the title-track explores elements of mind control and mixed-up realities. From the duo and a drum-machine days that no musician should ever shy away from, if necessary, to a world-conquering outfit with a regal brand power, everyone will want a slice of the meringue. For now, we are given Eyeball, and it looks like it’s rising nicely. Let’s listen to the song.   
 
The music hits with full force, the classic rock n roll blues sound volleys a moseying chord selection and vocal. It describes a guy who gives his power away by claiming that everything is a psyop anyway, a fun and upbeat beat continues the story and builds the image with further bouts of design. Before we know it we’re a satellite, orbiting the Earth and we’re still listening to the music, enjoying the chorus with its harmonising duets, and it’s bouncy let-loose sentiment. It’s not that serious, it’s just great to listen to. 
 
Find out more on the They Might Be Giants website 
 
Follow They Might Be Giants on Facebook 
 
Instagram 
 
And Threads 
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Ant Thomaz 
Good Times Roll 
Glasgow 
 
He’s on a mission to bring the lively and upbeat party spirit to us all. Regardless of the social vampires and downbeat anti-dandies, Ant Thomaz unleashes an unstoppable vibe. Good Times Roll is a fun enabling number that builds on his dual heritage of Louisiana’s South and Britain’s North. The culture clash has developed into a symbiosis of sentiments that complement, expand, and balance one another. His music style has progressed via a love for all kinds of genres, where his homely folk base grows extra limbs and wings along the themes of rock, soul, pop, and zydeco. That’s a Louisiana-specific form of dancing folk. Ant Thomaz has been writing music since he was only 12 and began busking as he was only just growing up. Now with all the street-cred he can wish for and the back-catalogue to prove it, slots supporting Happy Mondays, BBC Radio airplay, and agents sending his work to people like me, let’s see what’s cooking.  
 
A sleek acoustic guitar swells outward on the bass notes while a groove of brass colours the spaces between the vibrating strings. The beat breaks, it’s got a seriously deep dance groove, clicking reels and kicking rumbles act like balls in a bingo machine, bouncing in an abstract yet rhythmic kinesis. A layering of the vocal brings out an even higher feel of energy and insistence; we’re dragged to the party by our heart strings, we’re made to dance by some strange hypnosis, and we all get the girl or the charming to dance with until the wee hours. This guy is a legend.  
 
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You can follow Ant Thomaz on Instagram 
 
Facebook 
 
And TikTok 
  

Cormac 
Defenceless 
United Kingdom 
 
Sometimes someone comes along with more talent than their shoe size and we have to wait for them to grow into it. It seems Cormac went through this creative predicament as he established himself as a brilliant singer at aged 11. Signing a one album deal with Decca, the kid-voice pop music sound made its mark and put Cormac on the airwaves. He knew there was more, he wanted more, and the independent scene has no gatekeeper. After his deal came to an end, with the experience and reputation that came with it permanently, Cormac went professional all on his own. Bearing in mind that he was only 12, this was incredibly brave and extraordinarily executive of him. He’s a bit more grown-up now, nearly 17 going on 20 I think, and his mood and character have matured well. Having worked to retrain the algorithms that categorise him as his former incarnation, and developed a new and more tenured position, we are treated to Defenceless. His dive into completely original material allows him to showcase his award-winning song-writing abilities and to craft a brand that is more fitting to his journey. The very deepest magic on this new world may have already been spoken however the enchantments are still ringing in our ears. Let’s listen.  
 
It begins with a gentle acoustic guitar plucking bouncily along with introspective patterns. Cormac starts immediately; his pitch perfect vocal dispels any doubt. Beautiful timbre meets thoughtful lyrics against the backdrop of perfect notes that hang on the guitar like lifeforms rooted into the transient geological time. The vulnerability and stoicism form a juxtaposition of strengths and realities that emerge as direction and deft captainship. An anthem that calls out to all of us, the nervousness of a big future and the confidence to meet it head on frames an important chapter for everyone.   

You can follow Cormac on Instagram

 TikTok

 and Facebook

Ecce Shnak 
Katy’s Wart 
New York City 
 
Their 2025 rise in the indie art rock world has been nothing less than explosive; the NYC-based group Ecce Shnak invites intrigue and melodic introspection with a fantastic rhythm. The band released their long-anticipated Shadows Grow Fangs EP and then a subsequent live record to complete the experience. Next, they teamed up with DJ Eskei23 from Germany for a Kill ‘Em Mix of Jeremy, Utilitarian Sadboy. Then they met up with Madison Mars, the world-famous DJ, who made a remix of Prayer On Love. Both dancehall mixes took the floor like a natural and established the band even further in the field of sound exploration. To start the new year and to precede the release of the forthcoming record, Dandy Variances, Ecce Shnak present Katy’s Wart. There’s a radio friendly three and a bit minute version, and then a nearly ten-minute feature version that explores a story of bigotry and chauvinism with unpredictable consequences. Here’s what it sounds like.  
 
A massive heavy metal riff breaks open like a crate of beer and a floodlit stage set. The beat throbs like an engine keeping a vast airship afloat with the band’s name in black lettering along the side. The riff continues with a hardcore style evolution, palm-muted hardball rhythms crash into the surge of consistent drumming. The lyrics flow in a strange telephone message, or a preacher’s reading, we sit hypnotised by the abstraction that forms within the guitar, drawn in and tied to the beat.  
 
You can follow Ecce Shnak on Facebook

and Instagram

Get music by Ecce Shnak on Bandcamp

The Slackers 
The Whole World Was In On It 
Pirates Press Records 
 
A good reggae groove is one of life’s little essentials and New York City-based The Slackers bring a ska edge to the offbeat major 7th. They’re currently resting up at home before they kick off some serious performances on a rammed schedule. Listing at the end so keep reading. During the latter days of last year The Slackers released two records, Money Is King EP and the rarities collection Lost & Found Vol. 2. With a fiery trail behind them, awe-struck music fans in their wake, and excitement for the future, the band have continued their opus with an acceleration of shows and creativity. As they start packing up their gear for next month’s Slackfest in Mexico City, that’s right – they have their own festival, it’s a pleasure to bring you track two from their new EP, The Whole World Was In On It.  
 
A bash of laid-back drumming, a roll of the bass, and the rush or horns leans right over the bar and helps itself to our attention. The gruff and meaningful vocal of Vic Ruggiero finds a home between Dylan and Dire Straights, the American style meets reggae influence with an uplifting draft of high spirits. The band plays in a well-oiled animation, each musician takes their place in the music and elevates the next with monumental licks and secretive underscores we don‘t ignore.  

​Find out more on The Slackers website

Follow The Slackers on Instagram

and Facebook

Get digital and vinyl music by The Slackers on Bandcamp

THE SLACKERS ON TOUR: (US date code)
02/06/2026 - Mexico City, MX - Multiforo Alicia - Slackfest CDMX
02/07/2026 - Mexico City, MX - Multiforo Alicia - Slackfest CDMX

03/06/2026 - Clinton, CT - Scottish Dave’s
03/07/2026 - Brattleboro, VT - The Stone Church
03/08/2026 - Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair
03/13/2026 - Millersville, PA - Phantom Power
03/14/2026 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
03/15/2026 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
03/19/2026 - Phoenix, AZ - The Rebel Lounge
03/20/2026 - Phoenix, AZ - The Rebel Lounge
03/22/2026 - Tucson, AZ - La Rosa
03/25/2026 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
03/27/2026 - Fort Worth, TX - Tulips
03/28/2026 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
03/29/2026 - San Antonio,TX - Sam’s Burger Joint

05/23/2026 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
05/28/2026 - Cumberland, BC - Waverly Hotel
05/29/2026 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater
05/30/2026 - Victoria, BC - 919 Hall
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