Offie Mag

Are you looking for some new independent music? Well pull up a bean bag, you're in the right place.

This time, regular contributor and producer of music in his own right, Louis 'Wachuwan' Rowland takes you through his favourite new releases - one short music review at a time.

Niontay, RealYungPhil and SURF GANG - Halftones

A halftone is the distance between one note and the next on a chromatic scale and Halftones sees Niontay and RealYungPhil in perfect harmony riding waves over a melodic, relaxed trap beat from Harrison and Flea that makes you feel as if you’re falling into a nighttime trance.

Babyxsosa - Be My Baby

Babyxsosa is not to be mistaken for a young Chief Keef but Bitches certainly do love Sosa (I am Bitches). The ex-SURF GANG member has been steadily giving us hits this year and she’s keeping the momentum going with her signature high-pitched auto-crooned vocals complimented by sparse production.

Fimiguerro - Mandy

Over the last year, Fimiguerro has captured the London Alt scene like few others. With collaborations with Lancey Foux and Sainté under his bel,t he is bringing us his New World Order and on Mandy we get an Opium-styled trap banger that will keep you up all damn night.

Mercury, Vayda and BISHKIT - Perfect

My mum tells me that no one is perfect but these 3 came pretty close. Production from LAILA is A1, the chop is immaculate and the contrast of the lyrical content with the soft but sweet deliveries has become a signature to this sound.

TFL Blues - Zino Vinci

All Aboard! Destination, happiness? Not sure you’ll find that on the Lizzy line to be honest, but the Newham native is certainly trying his hardest. DLR freestyle is a BIG highlight and just like his gaff, the raps are Filthy.

Carlos Danger presents: Irish Hash Mafia - Rory Sweeney

Rory recently told CLASH “Trap music has always been my favourite kind of hip-hop” so of course I am going to love this. Under the moniker Carlos Danger, Rory has made some of the most thought-provoking alternative trap coming out of not only Ireland but globally.

b4u - orange wednesdays

We used to be a real country. Two for One cinema tickets every Wednesday. What a time to be alive! But unlike Orange Wednesdays, you don’t need to bring a friend to enjoy b4u’s stunning EP of the same name with reps in particular being my personal favourite to listen to alone.

Pholo - Withdraw1

This honestly sounds so expensive. Get me to the closest ATM and take all my money. Pholo’s signature bass-heavy and glistening synth melodies are a sight to behold on Withdraw1. I can see this being a big dance floor filler over the summer.

8SZN - AIN’T DISCUSSIN'

He might not want to discuss but I certainly do: 8SZN flexes some of his versatility on AIN’T DISCUSSIN. He’s a rapper that in recent times I have associated more with a Detroit sound, but is stellar drill-inspired piano beat.

Róisin Murphy & DJ Koze - The House (System Olympia Remix)

My Birthday pub crawl ended at System Olympia’s Hot Long Summer set at Alphabet, and although I can remember very little of that night, this remix of The House by Róisin Murphy & DJ Koze is certainly one that I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

Words by Louis Rowland