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
​

Magic Wands and John Ashton 
Sacred Mirrors 
Metropolis Records 
 
Probably best known for being the guitarist in The Psychedelic Furs, music producer and composer John Ashton had been a fan of Magic Wands since he was introduced to their music via a friend’s mixtape. He even wrote an instrumental piece called Sacred Mirrors in honour of their sound. When he was doing interviews for his own projects, he happened to mention his love of Magic Wands to someone who could link them up. He got in touch and sent them his ode, which they gladly added their trademark glimmering guitars and spacious mesmerism along with a fantastic vocal line. Dexy and Chris Valentine began their music career in Nashville, where so many great artists have found their golden wings. Once they’d proven themselves as no Icarus, their took flight and headed to L.A. Now with six albums and having always been fans of The Psychedelic Furs, this twinning of talent-pools provides something extraordinary for dreampop, post-punk, and goth. 
 
Vibrant and melancholy guitars begin the piece with a chunky chorus distortion to add extra shine. The rhythm emerges with a chord progression and the arrival of drums. Heavy yet easy-going, the rhythm takes us into the music through the side-door. The keyboards rise with breathing tones and climbing harmony while the dreamy vocal keeps us moving through the busy streets of luminance and life. The motion of story and music combines with beautiful chord changes and hidden abstractions within drum breaks and lyrical enchantment.  
 
Find out more on the Magic Wands website

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Charlie Nieland 
Today 
New York City 
 
When he’s not writing hits for megastars like Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, and Scissor Sisters, producer and composer Charlie Nieland finds the time to harness his own direction. With his expert understanding and a taste for the mentally evocative, Nieland continues the score with his latest album Stories From The Borderlines. The record is out now and explores themes of connection, severance, and the space in between. The latest single features Joe McGinty from The Psychedelic Furs, Ryan Adams, Nada Surf, and The Loser’s Lounge. Borderlines has already had glittering and explosively promotional reviews from some seriously top-drawer media, so to be sent this track at this time can only mean one thing. This is Today.  
 
A luminous intro unfurls with sparkling and graceful liquid movements of tone. The vocal begins, intimate and poetic, it’s cinematic in scope with flowing harmonies merging with iconic storyline like imagery. The progression shifts as the vocal melody builds with influence from new-found energy and pivots of feeling. A flurry of orchestration ambiently climbs within the flux of music and delicate notions of charming layer greet and flow together with meandering clarity. A soliloquy meant to be heard by a memory, sometimes the feeling and awareness of the moment is as complex as the ones bound in dialogue and strategy.  
 
 You can find out more on the Charlie Nieland website

​Get music by Charlie Nieland on Bandcamp

You can follow Charlie Nieland on Facebook

and Instagram