Fresh To Death: Best New Music This Friday
Fresh To Death is a series where I write about some of my favourite new music!
Featuring Josaleigh Pollett, D.O.D, niina, Melaina Kol, HAIR CONTROL, Faux Real, ISHA, Memphis LK, Alexa Jaye & BUTCHABOI.
This edition features: a song that would have been a darling of the alternative 1990s music scene; a song that has a music video that feels like a VHS tape from a 1980s-style hairdressing salon in the afterlife; a song that was inspired by Gwen Stefani’s ‘Love Angel Music Baby’ but mean; a song that reminded me of the art pop duo Sparks; an airy, dreamy electronic song that early 00s boy racers would have blared in the white Honda Civics; a song that sounds like something playing in an abandoned garden centre in another dimension; a song that that sounds like the kind of song that would be performed in Jenna Rink’s 1987 basement in ‘13 Going on 30’ and more!
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Fresh To Death: Best New Music This Friday
If you have an upcoming release, email me at eimear.o.sullivan@musicngear.com.
Josaleigh Pollett - Like a River
This is taken from the artist's upcoming album ‘If I Let It Quiet’ which will be out July 24, 2026.
‘Fresh To Death’ is a series that sees you into the weekend ahead - ‘Like a River’ being the kind of song you would listen to while wandering city streets alone. Allow this to be your companion as you walk under the warped silhouettes of old city buildings, taking in the sheer life and kaleidoscopic colors that exist within the black concrete of the metropolis.
On the song, the artist says, “Like a River is about an attempt at quieting the noise of my own thoughts and of a chaotic world around me in order to try to be more resilient. A too-late-coffee-fueled yellow-light-lit silent moment - having arrived at myself just in time to feel my pulse speed up and the news of the day sweep me away into frothing rapids. Hoping for the peace of a quiet river bank, only to remember that a river is swift, chaotic, and ever-changing the earth beneath it. Inspired by Paul Simon's Peace Like a River- a song I've always held in my heart as a beautiful protest song."
Sometimes you can make a piece of art in an attempt to deal with and/or purge something you are experiencing yourself, and in doing so, it can bring peace to others experiencing the same. This calmed the noise of my thoughts - and hopefully, it will for you too.
I love the sampling style; the tapestry of sound is slightly strange, in a way that allows it to fully stand on its own. This is the kind of song that would have been a darling of the alternative 1990s music scene.
Connect with Josaleigh Pollett
Instagram
Melaina Kol - Parallel
Photo Credit: Rory Bolinger
As a child, I had no idea who Gwen Stefani was until I read Meg Cabot’s 2002 novel ‘All-American Girl’.
The main character in this book was obsessed with the No Doubt lead singer, Gwen Stefani, and I, as an individual who loved trying to be more like the characters I read about in books, engaged. I bought ‘Love Angel Music Baby’ when it came out, and it became one of my top 10 albums of childhood (my favourites being ‘Cool’, ‘Rich Girl’, ‘Hollaback Girl’). I bring this up as the artist mentions that ‘Parallel’was inspired by this album, saying:
“I think with ‘Parallel,’ I was trying to do my best attempt at house music with all organic instruments. Husam Suboh does some percussion on the song, and Luna Kupper does some guitar. The lyrics to me are nonsensical, but I was really inspired by Gwen Stefani’s ‘Love Angel Music Baby’ and wanted to do a song like that, but kind of mean.”
‘Parallel’ is bewitchingly peculiar; it has an underwater mermaid quality to it (at least to my ears) while also sounding like something playing in an abandoned garden centre in another dimension. I also loved the collaged botanical music video.
Connect with Melaina Kol
YouTube | Instagram | Bandcamp
Connect with Julia's War Recordings
Website | Bandcamp| Instagram
HAIR CONTROL - TV in the Afterlife
This is a new song from Calgary, AB-based duo HAIR CONTROL (Ryan Bourne & Rebecca Reid).
I love deliciously strange music videos; this is mostly being down to the fact that I spent the early days of the internet seeking out bizarre short films and videos (I am also a huge Adult Swim fan, who I feel personify this style).
This is plastic pink synth-pop with a dark, glamorous side. It kind of feels like a VHS tape from a 1980s-style hairdressing salon in the afterlife. The blow-up plastic hand (which has painted nails and is wearing a ring) that remains slightly out of frame makes it all the more odd and captivating. I would watch a full movie set in this world. HAIR CONTROL - you have a fan.
Connect with HAIR CONTROL
Instagram
Faux Real - Seesaw
This technically came out last week, but I had to include it as it is so much fun.
One of the top comments under the music video is “suddenly im french now”, and I have to agree that I felt the same while watching this. There is an art-pop quality to both the visuals and the music that reminded me of Sparks (a true compliment - they are one of the most interesting acts out there in terms of creativity and range). The visuals are surreal, synced to perfection with the beat - the chorus takes a kind of haunting turn, making it all the more bewitching.
Connect with Faux Real
Website | Instagram
Memphis LK - Out My Body
This is an early 00s trance-influenced dreamscape. This is exactly the kind of song that early Noughties Boy Racers would have been blaring in their white Honda Civics (a group who I feel do not get enough credit for their taste in music). The production sublime - immerse yourself in this wonderland and dance under the purple night skies.
Connect with Memphis LK
Instagram | X
Alexa Jaye - five more minutes
I personally find the exploration of friendship and platonic love to be a more interesting subject than romantic love; this is possibly why I love movies like ‘Romy and Michelle’ and ‘Aquamarine’ so much. The exploration of this subject is rather underutilized, which is a pity, as the sparkling, sustaining lifeforce that emerges from a friendship is something that makes for compelling and substantive art.
‘five more minutes’ is taken from LA-based pop artist’s new EP ‘the unrivaled enchantment of platonic love.’ The opening synths shimmer like the glittering sparkling stars in the artwork; the whole song has a very 1980s vibe. The first thing I thought when I heard this was that it sounds like the kind of song that would be performed in Jenna Rink’s 1987 basement in ‘13 Going on 30’.
The song’s subject is heartbreaking; dealing with watching someone you love lose someone; the lyrics “You’re holding your breath, and everyone bracing/But that’s when heaven called” are devastating.
“A courageous fight
Never seen someone so tough
Was a blazing light
Even called the Dealer’s bluff
And no amount of time
Could ever truly be enough
But all you really want
Just five more minutes with the one you love”
Connect with Alexa Jaye
Instagram | X
BUTCHABOI - RHYTHM IS TAKING CONTROL
I have been fixated on the Korg M1 Organ 2 sound (and any and all offshoots/derivatives of this sound) ever since I heard Love Inc’s ‘You’re A Superstar’ and Robin S’s ‘Show Me Love’ as a teenager. ‘RHYTHM IS TAKING CONTROL’ features something similar to this sound under a dreamy bed of UK garage and bassline textures, with some 90s style house chords thrown in there to make this even more addictive. This song is going to take over my life.
‘RHYTHM IS TAKING CONTROL’ is taken from the EP ‘Catalyst’, which is out today via label Southpoint.
Connect with BUTCHABOI
Instagram
D.O.D & niina - Feel For You
I have been following niina’s music for a while - ‘Feel For You’ sees her collaborate with multi-platinum house music producer D.O.D. This is honestly just a good time; a fun house track that will make you feel like you are at a summer festival, even if you're listening to it while stuck on the bus after work.
Connect with D.O.D
Instagram | Facebook | X
Connect with niina
Instagram | X
ISHA - Stories
This is taken from the Dutch producer and multi-instrumentalist's upcoming debut album ‘’Feel At Home’(out September 18, 2026). This opens with piano chords paired with some foley sounds, before flowing into a smooth, dreamy funk beat, with some jazz elements sprinkled in. The soundscape is plush and organic, allowing the life force of the song to breathe.
Connect with ISHA
Instagram | Facebook
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About Eimear O Sullivan
Eimear Ann O Sullivan is a multi-genre music producer, audio engineer and vocalist. After receiving a Masters in Music Technology from the CIT Cork School of Music, she went on to operate as a producer under the name Blakkheart. Her releases have received critical acclaim from Ireland's biggest music publications, such as District Magazine and Nialler9, alongside receiving heavy commercial radio airplay. She currently works in Cork recording studio Flashpoint CC. Previous clients of hers include the likes of Comedy Central’s Dragony Aunt star Candy Warhol, rapper Darce and Outsider YP. (Photo credit @Fabian Boros)
Contact Eimear O Sullivan at eimear.o.sullivan@musicngear.com
In this blog section we host new music releases, artist features and handpicked playlists by the Musicngear staff.
Interested in a music feature, writing a story as a guest or joining the Musicngear team as a Contributing Author? Contact us at info+blog@musicngear.com
