REVIEWS | New Music Discoveries: Alt-Pop, Post-Punk & R&B Gems with Ain't, Yoni & More

This week, we bring you our reviews of new music discoveries, diving deep into six striking new releases that blur genre lines and hit with emotional force. South London’s Ain’t open with “Long Short Road”, a gritty, fuzz-soaked post-punk journey, while Brisbane’s Quarter Short offers dark alt-pop drama on “It Keeps”. Yoni’s smooth “Runaway” explores the push and pull of love, and Local Blood turn heartbreak into sharp defiance with “Come Around”. Mary Middlefield’s orchestral “The Feast” burns with beauty and pain, while Stone Sea’s “Age of Tears” channels heavy riffs into cathartic reflection. Read our reviews below!

"Long Short Round" by Ain't

South London’s Ain’t unveil "Long Short Round", a six-minute journey of fuzzed guitars, post-punk energy, and shoegaze textures. The track moves from distorted hooks to reflective passages, capturing the tension of small, hopeful rituals that ultimately change nothing. It’s a richly layered song that lingers, showcasing the band’s ability to blend emotion with expansive sound.

"It Keeps" by Quarter Short

Brisbane artist Quarter Short delivers a stunning debut with "It Keeps" — a dark alt-pop anthem about feeling trapped in the grind of modern life. With thick synths, pulsing drums, and vocals that cut through the haze, it’s a raw, cinematic track that captures exhaustion and defiance in equal measure. The result is both haunting and cathartic — a modern cry for freedom wrapped in irresistible, slow-burning intensity.

"Runaway" by Yoni

Sacramento’s Yoni returns with "Runaway", a smooth, mid-tempo R&B track about the cycle of love, conflict, and reconciliation. Built on silky grooves and soulful guitar layers, it’s an honest reflection on messy relationships that still feels effortlessly cool. We love how "Runaway" blends vulnerability with swagger — intimate, mellow, and impossible not to vibe with.

"Come Around" by Local Blood

Vilnius-based post-punk band Local Blood channel sharp wit and defiance in their latest release — a tongue-in-cheek take on love, self-worth, and emotional survival. The song flips heartbreak into something magnetic, blending irony with vulnerability and turning bruised feelings into bold energy. Gritty, stylish, and full of bite, it captures everything that makes Local Blood such a thrilling band to watch right now.

"The Feast" by Mary Middlefield

"The Feast" finds Mary Middlefield at her most daring — a haunting, orchestral confession that dances between longing and self-destruction. With soaring strings and unflinching honesty, she captures the chaos of a love too intense to survive. It’s a track that burns slow, then consumes everything in its path.

"Age of Tears" by Stone Sea

Heavy, hypnotic, and cathartic — "Age of Tears" is Stone Sea at their most intense. The track channels crushing riffs and fluid rhythms into a meditation on transformation, decay, and emotional rebirth. Lyrically surreal yet deeply human, it captures that moment when you have to break to grow. "Age of Tears" balances raw heaviness with introspective depth — it’s both a storm and a release, perfectly embodying Stone Sea’s fusion of weight and flow.

Want to be included in our next New Music Discoveries reviews?

Sign up as a musician and submit your music!