New Lease Music’s New Music Roundup – 06/03/26

Welcome to the first NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Round-up of 2026, where you can discover your next favourite track at a flick of an eye!

If you do happen to find a new favourite, why not let us know in the comments below!

NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Roundup is featured on Mondays or Fridays. If you are a indie or an unsigned artist and would like your music featured on the list, send your music links and a short info about the release to submit@newleasemusic.com, with NEW MUSIC ROUNDUP in the subject line.

INDIGO SYNDICATE – DND

Nashville-based trio INDIGO SYNDICATE steps into 2026 with ‘DND’ (Do Not Distrub), a sleek, R&B-leaning departure that trades their usual alt edge for something darker and late-night ready. Built on a pulsing groove and moody production, the track moves through mixed signals and emotional stalemates, anchored by the hook: “You haven’t heard a thing I said / I’ve been getting left on read / I’m stressing, now you’re messing with my head, I’ll come around so wait on me.” The repetition of “wait on me” becomes the heartbeat of the song — a phrase that feels equal parts defensive and desperate, capturing the toxic push-and-pull at its core.

Comprising of Preston Pospisil, Samantha Sanford, and Jharyss Granger, Indigo Syndicate became quickly known for their genre-fluid blend of alternative, pop, indie and soul. The band continues to carve out a distinct space within the modern alternative music landscape.

Their rapid rise includes multiple placements across Apple Music’s New in Alternative and New in Indie, along with several singles featured on Live Nation’s Ones to Watch playlist.

Why not check out ‘DND’ below…

XO SOUNDTRACK – TALK ABOUT ME

Nashville-based pop-rock/alternative outfit XO SOUNDTRACK‘s latest single, ‘Talk About Me’ sits in that familiar grey area where feelings linger longer than commitment. XO Soundtrack keeps things grounded sonically, with production that echoes glimmers of Walk the Moon, The 1975, and other indie rock darlings, pairing a clean synth line with a subtle pop-rock edge that lets the emotion while keeping intentional polish.

“Talk About Me” is inspired by the all too common “situationship.” The song tells the story of a couple who have been seeing each other off and on, and when the breakup happens, one person keeps talking about the other, even though THEY were the one to end it. I think everyone can relate to a “what are we?” kind of situation, and this song describes the emotions that come from it all.” – XOS

Renowned for high-energy, emotionally immersive live performances, XO Soundtrack – comprising of drummer Kai Clark, guitarist Austin Henderson, and vocalist Rock- has captivated audiences at notable Nashville venues including The End and The Basement. With a clear vision and a modern, emotionally driven sound, the band continues to carve out its place in the pop-rock/alternative landscape.

Check out ‘Talk About Me’ below…

BEKRATIVE – LET IT BREATHE

New Orleans–born artist BEKREATIVE returns with his new single, ‘Let It Breathe,’ a slick R&B offering that reflects a period in which he stepped away from the music scene to spend more time with his family.

With over 11 million streams across all music platforms, the Houston-based artist has built an extensive music career, writing more than 300 songs and releasing five albums to date.

Now back on the scene, BeKreative plans to release a new single every week, so be sure to keep an eye on his latest work…and why not start by checking out ‘Let It Breathe below…

CLARITY LIAO – LIKE I DO

Written as an English assignment before evolving into a fully realised studio release, ‘Like I Do’ captures the ache of unrequited love through the vivid metaphor of wandering endlessly through a desert. Stripped back and intimate, the track places Clarity’s delicate yet commanding vocal performance at the forefront, allowing her lyrical maturity and emotional nuance to shine.

“‘Like I Do’ was a song written just as homework given from my English tutor at first. The song really brought out my emotions from the current situation I was in at the time, also exploring a genre I’ve been liking but never really got to pursue, so I decided to take it to the studio. This song has so far been one of my favourite tracks to sing and listen to, also being one of the best expressed in my lyrics.” – Clarity Liao.

San Francisco-based singer-songwriter CLARITY LIAO continues to establish herself as one of pop’s most promising young voices with the release of her latest single, ‘Like I Do’. The mesmerising piano-led ballad follows the poignant alt-pop debut “Hurt My Heart” and further cements Clarity’s transition from award-winning band songwriter to compelling solo artist.

Listen to ‘Like I Do’ below…

BELLA WOOD – DIRTY CHERRY

Rising pop artist BELLA WOOD returns with her most defining release yet in the intoxicating new single ‘Dirty Cherry’, a lust-fuelled, sharp-edged alt-pop statement that announces her arrival as one of 2026’s most compelling emerging voices.

Bella learned early that “home” isn’t always a safe word. At just thirteen, she was forced to leave behind instability and move in with her grandparents in Kelowna, trading chaos for quiet nights and the hum of crickets. But even in the stillness, music never stopped playing in her mind. By seventeen, determined to carve out her own future, Bella packed a duffel bag and moved to Vancouver with one goal: make it in music.

“I wrote this song at a time when the gap between who I was and who people said I was felt like a really big jump,” Bella explains. “Instead of internalising my frustration, I write – it’s kind of like keeping a diary for me. Songwriting is the only way I really know how to process my emotions. Me and my producer Nic Charuk explored several iterations before landing on the final version.” – Bella Wood

Listen to ‘Dirty Cherry’ below…

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Song of the Day: God Is There – Michael Upshaw (ft. Raquel Britton)

‘God Is There’, the latest single from MICHAEL UPSHAW, featuring Raquel Britton, serves as a comforting reminder to all believers that, regardless of the challenges we encounter—be they positive or negative—He is consistently present, aware of every circumstance. He stands alone as the one who can aid and guide us through the obstacles, trials, and situations we may face in life.

Michael pulls together yet another top-notch line up who brought the single to life. With long term collaborator Mark A. Walker on bass guitar, Rakim Harris on Drums and Austin Woodlin on Keyboards and String arrangements, ‘God Is There’ blooms with breath-taking soothing soulful textures that’s soothing and comforting to the soul. Backing vocalists Gabrielle Jackson (Soprano), Gwen Jackson (Soprano), Brittany Pleasant (Soprano), Juanita Harvey (Alto), Tashanna Logan-Garrett (Alto), Janay Wilson (Alto), Jenée Shawnice Batts (Tenor), CJ Price and (Tenor), Christopher Paul Freeman (Tenor) adds emotional depth to the offering, reinvigorating for anyone in a place of darkness.

Born into a family with a rich heritage and legacy of singing and preaching the Gospel, Raquel began singing in church at the tender age of two; leading and singing solos regularly. Raquel went on to become the director of the youth choir at The Galilee Baptist Church – at the impressive age of 12. Under her leadership, the choir grew to over fifty members. Showing such achievements in her formative years, it was clear that the future was very bright for Raquel…

A firm pillar in the church community across several US states, Raquel also has a fruitful singing career. Releasing her 2018 debut single ‘I Do Worship’, Raquel has been a backing vocalist for gospel greats including Vickie Winans, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Charles Butler. Her sweet, harmonic vocals are also a firm fixture across TV and theatre:  Raquel has sung in Broadway play Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and provided background vocals for Tyler Perry’s I Don’t Want to Do Wrong. She also guest starred in his movie, Love Thy Neighborhood.

Michael Upshaw has an extensive career as a singer/songwriter and producer. As a featured artist, Michael soulful baritone vocals could be heard on more than 60 recording projects internationally. 

In 2012, Michael started his record label MiParis Music, which covers Smooth Jazz and Inspirational music. With regular collaborations with multi-Grammy Nominated musicians, saxophonist Gerald Albright and Producer Chris “Big Dog” Davis, the Philadelphia-based label has produced a number of well-received singles, including Mark A Walker’s instrumental ‘Duke’s Walk,’ featuring multi-Grammy award–winning trumpeter/arranger Paul Lassiter and, ‘I Love Me Too’, featuring acclaimed soul songstress Carol Roddick. A smooth jazz instrumental dedicated to the legendary George Duke, ‘Duke’s Stroll’ topped the CHBN Radio’s Playlist chart for four consecutive weeks. ‘I Love Me Too’ was met with acclaim from soul and jazz stations across the globe. For more information, please MiParis Music.

Now Michael Upshaw join forces Raquel Britton to offer solace in difficult times with ‘God Is There’, out now Apple Music and Spotify.

Connect with Michael Upshaw via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/michael.upshaw.5/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/miparismusic
Miparis Music website: https://miparismusic.com/

Connect with Raquel Britton via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/raquel.britton92
IG: https://www.instagram.com/raquelbsings/

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Bonnie Freechild Teases With Sultry New Single ‘Peach’ From Aftertaste EP

R &B-pop songstress BONNIE FREECHILD bares all in her latest single, ‘Peach’, out now on all major streaming platforms. The sensual track arrives alongside her new five-track EP, ‘Aftertaste’, released on 23rd February — a date that also marks Bonnie’s birthday.

Described as the ultimate wink emoji in musical form, ‘Peach’ is suggestive, cheeky and playful. Built around minimal, intimate production, the track leaves space for Bonnie’s honey-toned vocals to take centre stage. Rooted in imagination — where anything could happen — ‘Peach’ blurs the line between fantasy and reality, inviting listeners into a world that feels flirtatious yet freeing. The single artwork, featuring Bonnie bare-faced with her hair tied back, mirrors the song’s essence: stripped-back simplicity with a spark of mischief.

‘Aftertaste’ sets the tone for a new era. The EP traces Bonnie’s journey through love, loss, sensuality and self-discovery. Each track was born from emotional overflow — a process of releasing, reckoning and rebuilding. The project marks a pivotal shift: a shedding, a letting go, and the beginning of something more self-possessed.

Born in Australia and raised in Borneo, Bonnie’s love of music has long been her anchor. After losing her mother at 14, that passion deepened into solace and survival. Her voice first found an audience across Southeast Asia, amassing nearly two million YouTube views singing songs she learned growing up in the jungles of Borneo. Now based in the UK, Bonnie crafts lush, layered Pop R&B that is intimate and vocal-forward, balancing softness with quiet edge. Her music centres around connection, sensuality and self-expression.

Over the past year, Bonnie has released a steady run of singles building toward this cohesive body of work. Her music has been championed by publications including EARMILK, C-Heads, Lock Magazine, Rotate Magazine, Mixtape Madness, No Transmission, Wordplay Magazine, and The PitLDN, alongside placements on curated playlists across Spotify. Rotate Magazine has described her as “one of the UK’s most compelling emerging voices.” She has also gained support from BBC Radio 1Xtra and written and performed original pop/R&B work as part of the BBC Proms.

Bonnie has performed at major London venues and cultural landmarks including Trafalgar Square, the Natural History Museum, Notting Hill Arts Club, and Clapham Grand — spanning intimate rooms to large-scale landmark events.

While independently releasing music, Bonnie has also sought more human, outside-the-box ways to connect — from handing out handwritten compliment notes on the street to curating intimate gatherings centred around conversation, art and shared experience.

Now, as she prepares to enter another milestone in her journey — a bold new live chapter of full-band shows, beginning with a performance at Soul Mama on 13th May, supporting soul singer Ricky Jones — Bonnie slips out her rather cheeky single ‘Peach’, taken from her EP Aftertaste: a playful, intimate teaser that sets the tone for everything still to come.

‘Peach’ is now available across all streaming platforms.

Connect with Bonnie Freechild via:
IG:https://www.instagram.com/bonniefreechild
Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@bonniefreechildofficial

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Handshake In Space returns in 2026 with track, ‘If You Are Waiting’.

Swedish producer and DJ HANDSHAKE IN SPACE gets the weekend started with new single ‘If You Are Waiting’, out now on all digital platforms.

With a melodic, atmospheric sound, ‘If You Are Waiting’ moves on the border between electronic pop and cinematic house, focusing on emotion, dynamics and a clear melodic theme. The song is created for both late-night listening on headphones and electronic club music playlists.

In November, Stefan Halling – the producer behind Handshake in Space – suffered a brain hemorrhage during a visit to his daughter in Malaysia, which led to emergency surgery and a long recovery with medical restrictions. Despite fatigue and limited creative energy, working on ‘If You Are Waiting’ became a way to reconnect with creation and find a way back to focus.

“I am often tired and it affects creativity, but when I listen to If You Are Waiting, all problems disappear for a while. The song took on a new meaning for me – it is about waiting, but also about not giving up hope“, says Stefan.

Handshake in Space has established itself in recent years with a series of digital releases in electronic music, focusing on melody-driven house and emotionally charged productions. The new single marks the start of a new phase after a life-changing event and will be followed by more releases in 2026.

‘If You Are Waiting’ is now out for the pleasure…so go on, why not check it out below…

Connect with HANDSHAKE IN SPACE via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/handshakeinspace
IG: https://www.instagram.com/handshake_in_space
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@handshakeinspace

Source: Stefan Halling (Handshake In Space)

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Gena Perala unveils her sophomore album, ‘Somewhere New’

GENA PERALA has released her sophomore album, ‘Somewhere New’ last Friday (13th February), across all leading music platforms. Produced by Erik Nielsen, the 12-track album was recorded at Afterlife Studios and finished at Smooth Operator Studios, the result of nearly three years of work, shaped slowly by people in a room making music together.

‘Somewhere New’ is about motion rather than milestones—leaving without spectacle, choosing yourself, and continuing forward even when it feels like pushing the same boulder uphill, again and again. There’s no grand arrival here, no welcome-home party. Just quiet resolve.

The sense of time passing is embedded in the album itself. Songs like ‘Baby Girl’ were written years ago, while others, including ‘Machete,’ came together in the studio. “Letting the band shape and challenge the songs in real time was one of the great gifts of making this record,” Perala says.

“Somewhere New is a journey—about who we were, who we’re becoming, and learning to accept ourselves somewhere in between,” she continues. “I’ve often been described as disarming, difficult, or defiant. Those words are usually meant as insults, and this record spends a lot of time sitting with that—what it means to take up space, to stay true without explaining or apologizing, and to stand your ground, especially as a woman.”

Nielsen’s production keeps the focus on feel, leaving room for silence, tension, and breath. In an era dominated by speed and polish, ‘Somewhere New’ leans into something increasingly rare: musicians listening to each other in real time. The songs linger in the spaces between messages, the silences left by ghosting, and the quiet work of staying present in an increasingly online, distracted world. Rather than rejecting modern life outright, the record gently asks what we lose when attention becomes fractured—and what it means to seek real connection anyway.

Subtle instrumentation deepens that sense of forward motion. A string quartet threads through the album with visceral tension, while pedal steel appears on nearly every track, bending and holding emotion in place. Nielsen’s role was often one of restraint, continually reining things in and giving the songs space. The result is a sound that feels intimate and expansive, guided more by instinct than excess.

The album’s cover image reflects that same spirit. Shot by Perala’s late father, the photograph captures a hot air balloon, carnival swings, and light caught at just the right moment—fleeting, weightless, and quietly beautiful. Motion suspended in time.

Raised traveling the carnival circuit with her family, Perala has long been attuned to impermanence, memory, and the strange comfort of movement. Those early experiences continue to shape her songwriting—work that finds meaning in the everyday and beauty in the overlooked.

‘Somewhere New’ is a record about arrival—not at a place, but at a self. No ceremony. No applause. Just forward motion as quiet cause for celebration. Have a listen below…

Must Listens: Machete, Lucky One, Goodbye Friend, Losing Ground, Baby Girl

Connect with Gena Perala via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/GenaPeralaMusic/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/genaperala
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@genaperala
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@genaperala

Source: Gena Perala

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