Explore Our Latest Music Discoveries Of Talented Independent Artists.
Welcome to Discovery 10/10, where we highlight ten standout artists in every edition. Each feature includes a short, impactful review alongside the artist’s music, making it easy to dive right into the music. Whether you’re here to find fresh talent or just explore new sounds, Discovery 10/10 has you covered. Stay tuned for the latest picks.
Jack Horton – Operator:
With delicate intention, Operator by Jack Horton opens like the slow bloom of memory, gentle piano keys cascading in thoughtful cadence, each note a brushstroke painting scenes of longing and unspoken connection. The atmosphere from the onset is intimate, tenderly suspended in air like dust caught in golden light. Horton’s arrangement eschews urgency in favor of elegance, welcoming the listener into a space where time slows, and reflection takes root. The song’s introduction feels almost like a whispered invitation, quiet, restrained, and undeniably poignant. As the composition unfolds, layers of orchestration emerge with grace. Strings sweep in, not to overwhelm, but to cradle the piano’s introspection, while timpani and subtle percussive elements provide a heartbeat beneath the melancholic melody. The transitions are seamless, almost imperceptible, each instrumental entrance feels organic, as if the arrangement is breathing with the vocal line rather than beside it. There is a symphonic breadth here, a cinematic quality that elevates the folk roots of the original composition without ever diluting its emotional essence. Horton’s reimagining honors the core narrative, yet amplifies it with orchestral depth and compositional nuance. Vocally, there is a hush to the delivery, a restraint that speaks louder than volume ever could. Horton’s voice wades through the instrumental tide with tender clarity, neither dominating nor disappearing, but instead weaving itself into the very fabric of the music. It’s a voice that carries ache and acceptance in equal measure, wrapped in reverberant warmth. The instrumentation never competes; rather, it complements, allowing voice and melody to merge in a harmonious embrace. Together, they craft a mood that is at once nostalgic and freshly intimate, a feeling akin to rereading a forgotten letter under soft lamplight. From the first note to the last fading resonance, Operator evokes a profound quietude, a contemplative stillness that lingers like the scent of rain on old wood. The production is pristine, yet never sterile; each sonic texture is tenderly rendered, capturing both the intricacy and soul of the piece. What emerges is a deeply human experience: a song that doesn’t beg for attention, but rather earns it through sincerity, restraint, and grace. Horton’s rendition stands not as a mere cover, but as a reverent reinterpretation, a bridge between eras, emotions, and unspoken conversations long suspended in time.
FREARSON – Never Heard A song Like That:
From the very first note, Never Heard A Song Like That by FREARSON arrives like a familiar breeze carrying an unfamiliar scent, something nostalgic yet entirely new. It opens with a clean acoustic strum, unhurried and rich in timbre, setting a tone that feels both grounded and gently exploratory. There’s a deliberate softness to the introduction, a kind of invitation whispered through its melodic language, that makes the listener lean in rather than brace themselves. The production doesn’t rush to impress; instead, it builds slowly, allowing space for breath and resonance. By the time the vocals slip in, earthy, resonant, and laced with sincerity, the track has already cast its spell, crafting an atmosphere that feels like twilight: calm, introspective, and tinged with something quietly stirring. As the arrangement unfolds, the instrumentation deepens in subtle layers rather than bold flourishes. A steady drumbeat enters like a heartbeat behind a conversation, followed by tasteful electric guitar swells that echo rather than intrude. The progression from verse to chorus is seamless, yet emotionally weighty; the shift doesn’t jolt, but it moves something internal. FREARSON employs restraint with precision, each transition guided by feeling, not formula. In a musical landscape often crowded with overproduction, the song’s simplicity is a form of eloquence. It leans into the warmth of analog textures and organic rhythm, refusing to shout when it can sing with conviction. What stands out most is the way the vocal performance and the instrumentation intertwine, not as separate forces, but as one emotional current. The voice is textured, worn-in like a favorite jacket, carrying both the ache and the awe of lived experience. It neither dominates nor disappears; it weaves into the instrumentation like thread into fabric. The chorus, subtly anthemic, feels like it was discovered rather than written, an unguarded moment of truth given musical shape. The harmonies are sparse but strategic, adding lift in just the right places, and never overreaching. It’s this restraint that grants the song its power: the refusal to overwhelm, the decision to speak softly and still be heard. By the end, Never Heard A Song Like That leaves behind more than just melody; it leaves a mood suspended in the air, like the golden afterglow of a story well told. There’s a grace to its conclusion, a fading refrain that doesn’t resolve so much as it lingers, echoing in the listener’s chest long after the final note. The quality of the production is pristine without being sterile, polished but never slick, capturing the imperfections that make it human. It’s a song that trusts the quiet, and in doing so, it becomes unforgettable. This isn’t just a well-crafted track, it’s a moment of emotional clarity, rare and unassuming, the kind that sneaks up on the soul and stays there.
Andria – Olympia:
The song Olympia by Andria opens with an air of shimmering confidence, weaving bright synths into a sunlit soundscape that instantly evokes the liberating rush of a summer’s day. From its first glimmering notes, there’s an immediate sense of movement, an invitation to escape the confines of the mundane and step into something vivid and limitless. The tempo is fluid yet punchy, underpinned by a buoyant beat that anchors the ascending melodies. It’s not a brash beginning, but rather one that confidently unfurls with clarity, like light spilling across a rooftop at dawn. As the song progresses, the transitions feel intuitive and purposeful, carrying the listener from one verse into the next with a seamless grace. There’s a rhythmic interplay between crystalline synth textures and tightly controlled percussive patterns, creating a balance that is both danceable and introspective. The arrangement is deliberately layered, with flourishes of electronic warmth rising just when the energy peaks, then retreating gently to give the vocals space to breathe. This careful construction allows the track to maintain a delicate equilibrium between effervescence and restraint. Andria’s vocal performance melds into the production with a silky finesse, neither overpowering the instrumental canvas nor fading into it. The voice acts as a compass through the neon-lit ambiance, guiding the emotional contour of the piece with a subtle blend of yearning and lightheartedness. There’s a softness in the delivery that suggests reflection, but it is buoyed by the bright instrumentation, which consistently leans into optimism. The chorus lifts like a breeze, with lyrical phrases looping like mantras, catchy yet introspective, giving the track both immediacy and lasting texture. What emerges from Olympia is not merely a song, but a sonic atmosphere, cool and radiant, unhurried and hopeful. The production gleams with polish, yet retains enough emotional grain to feel human and lived-in. It is a track that captures the joy of motion and the stillness that can exist within it, a musical embodiment of freedom wrapped in synth-pop elegance. With each listen, Olympia becomes less of a fleeting moment and more of a mood, an open-window feeling, a melodic breath, a gentle pulse that lingers long after it ends.
Sergey Khomenko – Ballad of the Brave:
There is a quiet majesty that descends from the very first notes of Ballad of the Brave by Sergey Khomenko. The composition opens with a delicate interplay of string textures and ambient tones, laced with the brilliance of percussion, a reverent hush before the emotional swell. From the onset, a graceful cinematic quality unfolds, laced with a sense of dignity and restrained drama. It is not loud in its declaration of bravery, it is poised, almost sacred. A soft, grooving percussive rhythm begins to pulse gently beneath the arrangement, anchoring the soaring elements in something deeply human, creating a compelling contrast between fragility and resolve. As the track evolves, so too does its musical narrative. A mellow jazz-influenced progression begins to take shape, quietly commanding attention through its fluid transitions and refined instrumental layering. One can sense how Khomenko weaves elements of new age and electronic serenity with classical warmth and melodic clarity. The progression is both linear and wandering, each section flowing into the next with a kind of intuitive grace. The core melodic voice, possibly a lead synth or gently bowed string, breathes with cinematic intensity, serving as a guide through the song’s emotional landscape without ever overpowering the ensemble. What truly sets Ballad of the Brave apart is its cohesion. The instrumentation, lush strings, tempered percussion, and subtle harmonic drones, interlock like pieces of a solemn mosaic. Each sonic element seems to listen to the others, yielding space where necessary, rising in tandem when called. The production quality reflects an attention to nuance; not a single note feels out of place or rushed. There is a rhythm to the patience in its pacing, a sense that this song was sculpted to echo inner strength rather than parade it. The silence between notes speaks as meaningfully as the instrumentation itself. By the time the final chords dissolve into the ether, Ballad of the Brave leaves behind a stillness, as though the listener has just witnessed something noble and tender, wordless but resounding. It evokes imagery of slow marches, long journeys, and the quiet dignity found in facing adversity. The atmosphere is at once meditative and grand, intimate and universal. In this hauntingly elegant ballad, Sergey Khomenko does not simply compose music, he conjures a moment suspended in time, where courage is felt not in the clamor of horns, but in the graceful endurance of a well-held note.
Soul de Vienne – My Life is Mine:
From the very first note, My Life is Mine greets the listener with velvety, punchy trumpet melodies that glide into a soft yet infectious groove. The drums enter with a fluid, jazzy cadence, crisp yet relaxed, laying a rhythmic foundation that moves with both freedom and finesse. There’s an undeniable warmth in the song’s opening: bold brass tones layered atop a subtly syncopated beat, inviting the body to sway while the mind leans in. The bassline, sultry and alive, evokes a gentle reggae undercurrent, its phrasing curving and dipping like sunlight rippling through water. It’s a sonic invitation that balances sophistication with soul, immediately crafting an atmosphere that is both intimate and empowering. As the song unfolds, subtle instrumentation begins to pulse beneath the surface like lifeblood, a mellow electric bassline, warm Fender Rhodes keys, and flecks of synth shimmer that glisten like dew in morning light. The progression is both linear and cyclical, reflecting the nature of personal reclamation: moving forward while glancing inward. Transitions between verses and choruses are seamlessly fluid, almost imperceptible, like the gentle shifting of light across a wall. Rather than build through sheer volume, the track deepens through layers, each instrument entering with purpose, adding new emotional shades without ever crowding the canvas. There is elegance in its restraint and power in its minimalism. The vocal performance anchors the entire arrangement with quiet conviction. Soulful yet grounded, it holds space between vulnerability and strength, allowing every lyric to resonate as both confession and affirmation. The melodic phrasing dances along the contours of the arrangement, sometimes swelling with quiet grandeur, other times settling into near-whispered moments of introspection. Harmonies bloom like wildflowers around key phrases, never overwhelming the lead but emphasizing the emotional weight of every declaration. There’s a certain intimacy that arises, not performative, but lived-in, as though the song is both witness and testament to an inner liberation long overdue. My Life is Mine is less a song and more a soulful ceremony, a quiet coronation of selfhood wrapped in satin grooves and golden-toned production. The mix is impeccable, every detail polished with a reverence for sonic space and emotional clarity. It evokes the sensation of waking slowly from a long, numbing dream, where each sound feels like breath returning to the body. With its emotionally resonant layers, understated instrumentation, and quietly luminous vocal performance, this track is not just heard, it’s felt, deeply and sincerely. In its calm defiance and graceful power, it becomes a hymn for those reclaiming their voice, their story, and their soul.
Glass Mansions – Violet:
From the moment Violet unfurls its dark, glittering textures, there is a sense of being pulled into a digital dreamscape, one where reality and illusion dissolve into a brooding blur. A faint pulse rises beneath glitched-out synth patterns, giving way to a cinematic swell that feels like a descent into the psychological labyrinth of modern life. Glass Mansions carves this tension with surgical precision: the production feels tight yet atmospheric, cloaked in static haze but threaded with clarity. Gritty electronics, tightly coiled drums, and washed-out guitar strikes construct a framework that is as haunting as it is hypnotic. The opening does not merely begin; it blooms ominously, like neon flowers growing from concrete, perfectly evoking the artificial beauty of a curated, algorithm-fed world. The vocal delivery sits at the center of this sonic mirror maze, smoky, urgent, and tinged with both seduction and despair. Her voice glides above the instrumental bed like a spectral guide, offering both comfort and warning. There’s a duality here: the delivery is emotionally raw but stylistically polished, creating a magnetic tension that draws the listener deeper. The chorus erupts in a glistening wave of distorted euphoria, as layers of synth and percussion collide with deliberate force. Each word resonates with eerie familiarity, capturing the hollow echo of scrolling endlessly through curated joy, desperately searching for meaning. Musically, Violet thrives on contrast, glitchy minimalism coexists with lush, cinematic build-ups. Transitions are seamless yet surprising, allowing the track to breathe and evolve like a living organism. A sharp snare hit here, a reverberating bass drop there, each moment feels intentional, part of a larger emotional architecture. As the track intensifies, its production mirrors psychological descent: guitars howl like distant sirens, synths flutter like moths against a screen, and the beat stutters as if caught in a loop of despair and desire. The experience of Violet is not simply auditory, it is immersive, like slipping into a velvet-lined void where beauty and unease coexist. It captures the dissonance of living in a world where connection is instant but authenticity elusive, where static often drowns out the signal. The final moments of the song linger like a bruise: not loud, but deeply felt. It is a track built not for escapism, but for confrontation, for stepping into the flickering glow of one’s own discontent and dancing with it. In its layered production, its haunting melody, and its fearless confrontation of digital-era dread, Violet stands as a shimmering testament to Glass Mansions’ ability to turn anxiety into art, and sound into something that moves beneath the skin.
Terje Gravdal – Nomadic Grey Spirits:
From the first breath of Nomadic Grey Spirits by Terje Gravdal, there’s a sense of solemnity that cloaks the soundscape like early morning mist over ancient tundras. The track opens with gentle acoustic guitar phrases that feel both grounded and wandering, like footsteps over frostbitten soil. Beneath its restrained tempo lies a quiet heartbeat, echoing the pulse of nomadic life and the still rhythm of nature untouched by time. There is something wistful yet sturdy in its opening cadence, as though the song remembers something it cannot quite speak aloud, and instead hums its memory into the strings. The musicality of the piece is evocative in its simplicity, avoiding grandeur in favor of authenticity. The arrangement is sparse, but this sparseness is not emptiness, it is atmosphere. Each instrumental layer, whether the soft undercurrent of percussion or the brushstroke-like accents of ambient tones, exists not to dazzle but to deepen the experience. The transitions between passages are seamless, like wind gliding over snowbanks, nothing interrupts the flow, and yet, subtle evolutions carry the listener further into the sonic terrain. This is music that breathes, expands, and contracts organically, as if it were alive. Vocally, the delivery is understated yet deeply emotive, mirroring the restrained elegance of the instrumentation. The voice sits low in the mix, almost as if it is a whisper from an old soul rather than a dominant narrative force. This blending of vocal and instrumentation creates a haunting cohesion, the lines between human and landscape blur. It’s not about spotlighting the singer but immersing the listener in a shared space between spirit and earth. The timbre feels weather-worn and genuine, reinforcing the sense of travel, memory, and the quiet resilience of those who move through life untethered. As the song unfolds, it conjures a vast, open landscape in the mind, icy plateaus, twilight skies, the silhouettes of reindeer moving like ghosts across the horizon. There is a cinematic stillness to it, heightened by the inclusion of video imagery from the series Søringen, which complements the sonic narrative with visual poetry. The production quality, while subtle, is crisp and intentional, each sound has space to echo, as if recorded in a cathedral of snow. Nomadic Grey Spirits does not ask to be heard; it simply exists, like a distant fire on the horizon, glowing with memory, heritage, and the quiet dignity of a vanishing way of life.
Erik Krystal – Love Is Coercion:
From the very first note, Love Is Coercion by Erik Krystal exudes an intimate tension that hums beneath its synth-driven veil. The opening sequence leans into atmospheric minimalism, cool, suspended synth pads stretch across the sonic field like fog at dusk, only to be pierced delicately by subtle electronic pulses that resemble an anxious heartbeat. There’s an almost cinematic darkness to the introduction, where restraint becomes a tool for seduction, drawing the listener closer with each whispered measure. This beginning is less about grandeur and more about emotional gravity, a quiet, magnetic pull into Krystal’s carefully constructed emotional corridor. As the track unfolds, the musicality reveals itself to be both brooding and intricately woven. The percussion is skeletal yet persistent, ticking like the inner workings of a conflicted mind, while the synth motifs evolve with an understated elegance. Warm low-end textures pulse just beneath the surface, grounding the song in its melancholic tone, while higher frequency embellishments shimmer with an icy fragility. The transitions between sections are seamless, almost imperceptible, each layer dissolving into the next like ink in water. These movements lend the track a dreamlike quality, where time feels suspended and emotions swell in slow motion. The vocal performance, or perhaps more aptly, the central melodic voice, feels less like a declaration and more like a confession. There is an inherent weariness in the delivery, as though the singer carries the weight of unspoken truths and frayed trust. The vocals do not dominate the arrangement; rather, they float within it, echoing through the darkened hallways of the production. This blending creates a cohesive sonic mood, where words melt into texture and the instrumentation breathes like a living organism. It is in this delicate balance, between presence and disappearance, that the song finds its emotional resonance. Ultimately, Love Is Coercion evokes a slow-burning emotional unraveling. It paints an abstract portrait of desire interlaced with disillusionment, using its carefully measured pacing and polished production to communicate vulnerability without overt dramatics. The production quality is meticulous, with each sound sculpted to contribute to the overarching mood without ever demanding attention. The song doesn’t seek resolution; instead, it sits in the uneasy space between longing and powerlessness, between affection and control. In doing so, it becomes less a conventional pop piece and more an immersive emotional vignette, poignant, restrained, and hauntingly unforgettable.
Chroniques d’une colère ordinaire – Vous n’en avez pas marre ?
The song Vous n’en avez pas marre ? by Chroniques d’une colère ordinaire is an exquisite expression of vulnerability and emotional depth, delivered through a refined French classical palette. From the very first note, the listener is embraced by soft, soul-stirring strings that seem to echo from within. These initial moments immediately establish a serene atmosphere, inviting the heart to settle into something meaningful and delicately profound. There’s a quiet intensity in the way the sound unfolds, never rushed, always intentional, allowing every melodic gesture to resonate deeply. The piano work is particularly remarkable, cascading in a manner that evokes the image of raindrops falling with purpose, gentle yet penetrating. Each keystroke carries emotional weight, crafting a melancholic yet soothing soundscape that perfectly complements the string arrangement. There’s a subtle echo woven into the melody, enriching the experience with a sense of space and intimacy. This auditory layering gives the song its rich texture, making it feel both grand and personal at once, a rare duality that only a carefully composed piece can achieve. What elevates this piece even further is the vocal interplay. The male and female voices blend in a way that feels entirely organic and heartfelt. Their tone is soft and inviting, carrying the kind of emotional clarity that doesn’t demand attention but earns it. They don’t just sing the lyrics, they live them. The delivery is restrained yet expressive, vulnerable yet strong. It’s the kind of performance that gently pulls you in, making you feel not like an outsider listening to a story, but like a soul remembering its own. Perhaps what makes Vous n’en avez pas marre ? so special is its honesty. There’s no pretension in the instrumentation, no overproduction, just pure, balanced, emotionally rich music. The composition progresses with quiet crescendos, stirring moments of resonance that never overshadow the message. It’s a song that doesn’t just aim to be heard; it longs to be felt. In its simplicity lies its brilliance, a moving, thoughtful, and achingly beautiful experience that lingers in the heart long after the final note fades.
John Gallen – Pornstar:
From the very first beat, Pornstar by John Gallen unfolds with a smoky allure, a track that dares to lean into provocative terrain with surprising grace and insight. It opens with a subtle pulse, like a distant heartbeat in a city that never sleeps, setting an intimate yet cinematic tone. There’s something unmistakably magnetic in how the rhythm unfurls: restrained but knowing, as if the song is quietly slipping into a confessional booth beneath dim red lights. What begins as a groove-laced introduction quickly morphs into a layered narrative where every note breathes in tandem with the silence that surrounds it, giving space for contemplation. It feels less like a performance and more like a whispered journal entry caught on tape. The instrumentation flows like a stream of consciousness, organic, genre-blurring, and seductively understated. Gallen paints with shades of rock, hints of hip-hop cadence, and flickers of reggae’s sway, all bound by a pop sensibility that refuses to become predictable. The guitars hum with a low, sultry energy, while the percussion rolls and folds into itself like waves meeting concrete. Synth flourishes hover like neon glows, never overtaking but always coloring the edges. This seamless transition between styles creates a sonic atmosphere that feels both streetwise and poetic, a delicate equilibrium between grit and vulnerability. The song doesn’t rush; it knows when to pause, when to sigh, when to let a moment linger. At the center of it all is the vocal, smooth and soulful, yet tinged with an edge that suggests lived experience. The delivery is neither theatrical nor overly polished; instead, it glides with an introspective cool, wrapping the verses in both empathy and quiet rebellion. Rather than confront with volume, the voice confronts with truth, measured and reflective. Its blend with the instrumentation is unforced and organic, as if voice and arrangement were carved from the same emotional stone. Together, they form a mood that is both hypnotic and sobering, like watching city lights blur through a rain-slicked taxi window, beautiful, haunting, and real. Pornstar is less a song and more a spell, a sonic photograph capturing the tension between longing and liberation. The production is crisp and intentional, echoing with just enough reverb to create depth without detachment. There’s an elegance in its restraint and a courage in its candor. By its close, the track leaves a trace, an aftertaste of emotion that doesn’t resolve easily but lingers, thoughtful and evocative. In a world teeming with noise, this is a song that speaks softly yet resonates deeply, offering not answers but a mirror, unflinching and unforgettable.