Some bands sound better on record; others make more sense the moment they step onto a stage. The Howlers fall firmly into the second category. Have a listen to some of their songs on Spotify while you read about their live show at Nottingham's Bodega on February 13th! There’s something cinematic about their sound — dusty guitar tones, swaggering rhythms and vocals that feel dragged straight through the smoke of a late-night bar. Their music leans into desert rock textures while still carrying the restless pulse of UK indie. It’s gritty, melodic and just rough around the edges in the best possible way. But it’s live where things really click. A Howlers show isn’t perfectly polished in the glossy, stadium-ready sense. Instead it’s raw and immediate — the kind of performance where the room warms quickly, bodies edge closer to the stage and the band seem to feed directly off the crowd’s energy. The guitars snarl rather than shimmer, the drums land heavy, and frontman Adam Young holds the centre of it all with a presence that feels both effortless and unpredictable. There’s a confidence in how they move through a set. Songs surge forward with a loose, rolling momentum, building that feeling that something could tip over into chaos at any moment — but never quite does. It keeps the crowd locked in, riding every riff and chorus. In the right venue — dim lights, sticky floors, a crowd pressed shoulder-to-shoulder — The Howlers create the kind of atmosphere that reminds you why small gigs still matter: and the Bodega was the perfect [lace to do this! It’s loud, sweaty, a little wild, and exactly the sort of night that lingers long after the amps switch off. If Nottingham thrives on bands that bring character as much as sound, then The Howlers are a perfect fit: a group that understands that live music should feel energy and alive , not just performed. Following their "Towns and Cites" tour over February/March, The Howlers are said to be dropping a new album in April- so keep an eye out for that on their social media and streaming platforms! Instagram Facebook Words by Holly Surguy

MirrorMouth  doesn’t write songs to reassure. His latest release, ‘Honest Emancipation’, sits deliberately outside the language of slogans and instant alignment, favouring instead a slower, more considered form of confrontation. Framed within alternative pop, the track is calm, restrained, and quietly intense — a piece that trusts thought as much as feeling… What sets ‘Honest Emancipation’ apart is its refusal to dramatise its message. It doesn’t tell the listener what to think, nor does it seek approval. Instead, it creates space — for discomfort, reflection, and conversation. In an era where urgency often replaces nuance, MirrorMouth offers something rarer: a song that slows the pace, sharpens the focus, and asks whether truth still matters when it’s inconvenient. The song avoids dramatic peaks or overstated hooks. Guitars move with purpose rather than flourish, the rhythm section holds steady without demanding attention, and electronic elements are applied sparingly, creating tension without excess. This economy of sound mirrors the lyrical intent: nothing is added unless it earns its place. The result is a track that feels disciplined, almost architectural, allowing the listener to focus on meaning rather than momentum. ‘Honest Emancipation’ interrogates the idea of fairness itself. It questions whether equality can exist when standards shift depending on who they’re applied to, and whether emancipation loses its integrity when filtered through ideology or bias. The writing is direct but not didactic, philosophical without drifting into abstraction. These are questions shaped by lived observation, not theoretical positioning, and that grounding gives the song its authority. MirrorMouth’s background in high-level international finance is not used as a talking point, but it quietly informs the work. There’s a sense of someone who has spent years listening rather than speaking, absorbing how power, responsibility, and incentives operate behind closed doors. That perspective translates into songwriting that feels deliberate and unsentimental, yet deeply human. FACEBOOK  | INSTAGRAM  | X  | YOUTUBE  | SPOTIFY  | SOUNDCLOUD

There are some songs that arrive like a carefully planned statement. ‘Bésame’ is not one of those songs — and that’s exactly the point. Released on 5th February 2026, Daniela’s latest single feels more like a raised eyebrow across a dancefloor than a press-ready proclamation. It flirts, it loops, it refuses to over-explain itself. Built from warm guitar strokes, soft percussion, and hypnotic rhythmic cycles, ‘Bésame’ thrives in that delicious grey area between intention and impulse. The track’s repetition isn’t accidental or lazy — it’s the musical equivalent of saying “just one more song” and meaning it every time. Daniela leans into the dopamine rush of a new connection: the music gets louder, the lights get softer, the night starts to feel infinite. In a culture obsessed with screenshots and timestamps, ‘Bésame’ opts for touch, movement, and presence. No filters. No overthinking. Just chemistry doing what chemistry does best. INSTAGRAM  | YOUTUBE  | SPOTIFY Daniela herself is no stranger to worlds colliding. Born in Mexico City and now based in Houston, Texas, her sound reflects a life lived between cultures, languages, and creative disciplines. She’s built her catalogue independently, with releases like ‘Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá’, ‘Contigo’, and ‘UNFORGETTABLE’ establishing her as an artist drawn to emotional clarity over spectacle. If pop is often about chasing the moment, Daniela prefers to sit inside it. That instinct deepened in 2025, when she took a step back from releasing music to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. It shows — not through theatrical grandstanding, but in restraint. ‘Bésame’ knows when to hold back. It lets groove do the talking. It trusts the listener to meet it halfway. The track moves between subtle R&B, Latin pop, and tropical warmth — perfect for playlists that lean towards Karol G, Camila Cabello, or Kali Uchis, but with Daniela’s own conversational softness at the centre. Her vocal delivery is confident without shouting, playful without performance-face. ‘Bésame’ doesn’t demand commitment. It asks for a moment. Preferably one involving dancing, good lighting, and zero notifications. And really, what more could you want from a song? If this is Daniela warming up for what comes next — with more releases already lined up — consider this the spark before the fire.