It’s our first Playlist of 2026! We’ve put together another eclectic mix of new music for your listening pleasure; featuring punk anthems, indie bangers, electronic musings, experimental sounds & shoegazey, dream-pop tunes. Scroll through our recommendations below!

In order to best support the female, LGBTQIA+ and non-binary artists that we love here at GIHE, we’ve moved away from using Spotify as our main playlist platform. We now have an account on TIDAL, so please follow us on there! You’ll see that we’ve copied all of our previous GIHE playlists over to TIDAL too. We’ve also included YouTube/bandcamp links for all of the tracks below, so there’s plenty of ways for you to get your new music fix.

You can still access our GIHE profile on Spotify (which we do not have a paid subscription for) but we urge you to use TIDAL, bandcamp or YouTube instead. Happy listening!

 

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YAKKIE – ‘He Sleeps Alone’
One of my Ones To Watch for 2026, mega super-group of faves Yakkie are set to release their debut album, Kill The Cop Inside Your Head, next month and I couldn’t be happier. I don’t think I’ve been this excited for a release for a long time. I just feel like it’s now more important than ever to have bands like them, not afraid to speak up for what’s right and use their platform as a real force for change, and since first seeing them live back in 2023, I’ve been desperate for more of all the rage, joy and unity that they offer. Ahead of the album’s release on 13th February, the band have shared an epic “anti fuck boy anthem” in the form of ‘He Sleeps Alone’ and I just cannot get enough of its fierce, seething energy and immense Pearl Jam reminiscent grunge-fuelled hooks.
(Mari Lane – Managing Editor)

congratulations – ‘Dr. Doctor’
Brighton art-punks congratulations blend chaotic tempos, intensely danceable beats and a foghorn sample on their latest single ‘Dr. Doctor’. Described as a song for “everyone trapped inside their own head, spiralling and catastrophising,” the track is a cacophonous, cathartic reflection on neurotic thought processes. It’s taken from congratulations’ upcoming debut album, Join Hands, which is set for release on 13th February via Bella Union.
(Kate Crudgington – Features Editor)

The Empty Page – ‘Death On Our Side’
A band who’ve played live for us more than once and continue to impress with their dark, shoegaze-tinged offerings, Manchester’s The Empty Page have previously covered topics ranging from climate emergency to house cats. Now, with their latest single that follows from their 2024 album, Imploding, they lament the woes of a generation of people with no pension plan other than to die before they need to rely on one. As ‘Death On Our Side’ ripples with a swirling reverb-strewn splendour, it offers a timely impassioned reflection on the stark reality of life in present day Britain. (ML)

Whitelands – ‘Blank Space’
It was such a bright start to the year having London-based shoegazers Whitelands in the studio with us on our January Soho Radio show (listen back here). Etienne, Jagun and Vanessa spoke to us about the deeply personal nature of the songwriting on their second record, Sunlight Echoes, set for release on 30th January via Sonic Cathedral. This track ‘Blank Space’ is a poignant reflection on grief and memory, buoyed by a seamless blend of soaring and melodic riffs. It’s further proof that Whitelands have expanded and developed their already distinctive sound on this new record. I can’t wait to have the vinyl in my collection. (KC)

deary – ‘Seabird’
I saw London-based deary perform at Sonic Cathedral’s 20th anniversary gig back in 2024, alongside fellow shoegaze icons Whitelands and Slowdive. I was really impressed by guitarist & vocalist Dottie’s diaphanous voice and the band’s lush, fluctuating melodies; both of which permeate their latest single ‘Seabird’. It’s lifted from deary’s upcoming debut album, Birding, which is set for release on 3rd April via Bella Union. (KC)

VERO – ‘100 Calls’
I am SO happy that Stockholm trio VERO are back with new music! ‘100 Calls’ is the follow up to their previous single ‘Calico’, both of which feature on the band’s upcoming second album, Razor Tongue, set for release on 20th March via PNKSLM Recordings. Their brooding, grunge-inspired riffs and sardonic vocals remind me a little bit of Sonic Youth and I feel like they’ve really lent into that influence on these new tracks. The band say that ‘100 Calls’ is the “saddest” song on the album, but it still has VERO’s trademark grit and defiance rumbling beneath the surface. (KC)

YELF. – ‘loud’
British-Swedish artist YELF. is a loyal follower of GIHE and involved in multiple musical outfits, including Aether Speaker and Pets and Doom and Gloom – so she’s a prolific talent! This track ‘loud’ is her debut solo offering; a shoegazey tune about “the electric, maddening feeling of liking someone, but being unsure whether they like you back.” Through her grunge infused guitars and yearning vocals, she personifies the feeling of being in romantic limbo perfectly. I’m really looking forward to hearing more from YELF. over the next 12 months. (KC)

Maria BC – ‘Marathon’
‘Marathon’ is the title track from Maria BC’s upcoming third album, which is set for release on 27th February via Sacred Bones – one of my favourite labels. The American artist dissects the spectrum of human emotion and how we endure and persevere through shifting moods throughout the LP, expanding their own sonic palette in the process. Maria’s distorted guitars and serene vocals on ‘Marathon’ help to communicate this experience, making it both a soothing and unsettling listen. I’m looking forward to hearing their new record in full. (KC)

Mi.el – ‘Grains Of Sand’
‘Grains Of Sand’ from London-based dream-pop band Mi.el is a lovely leftover from my December 2025 inbox. Full of atmospheric riffs and brooding vocals, the band say the track is about “positive nihilism, a reflection on finding freedom in insignificance” which hopefully provides listeners with a sense of liberation – an apt sentiment for the new year. (KC)

Alice Sloan – ‘Return The Ghost’
A brooding alt-folk contemplation on identity and people pleasing, ‘Return The Ghost’ is the debut single from Belfast queer singer-songwriter Alice Sloan. Her rich vocals and grungy ’90s inspired guitar sounds mesh together to make her first solo offering a moody and memorable affair. “‘Return The Ghost’ is trying to find yourself within the noise, when you stop trying to please everyone and realise you don’t know who you are beneath that,” she shares. “Dig deeper, you may discover the parts of yourself you tried to bury.” (KC)

Softcult – ‘Queen Of Nothing’
Since I began following Softcult in 2020, I’ve been consistently impressed with everything that the Toronto-based shoegaze sibling duo have released. They’ve shared multiple EPs over the past six years, but now they are gearing up to release their debut album, When A Flower Doesn’t Grow, on 30th January via Easy Life Records. When I interviewed guitarist and vocalist Mercedes Arn-Horn back in 2024, she hinted that Softcult had pushed their sonic boundaries whilst writing and recording their album, and this single ‘Queen Of Nothing’ beautifully showcases this development. Sharply produced and deeply resonant, the track tackles patriarchal double standards and feelings of inadequacy via dreamy vocals and hazy riffs. (KC)

Thee Soreheards – ‘I’m Not Your Fucking Sex Doll’
‘I’m Not Your Fucking Sex Doll’ is the title track from Montréal punks Thee Soreheads’ debut EP, which they released last year via Outhouse Records. It’s both a visceral and gleeful rejection of objectification and misogyny, fuelled by grinding riffs, intense beats and singer Maria’s Kathleen-Hanna-esque vocals. (KC)

HAWXX – ‘Resistance Is Justified’
Having been big fans of HAWXX since they played live for us back in 2018, I’m excited to hear that they’ve got a new album coming out this Spring. Ahead of the album, they’ve shared an immense and poignant tribute to their friend Jordan, who’s one of the ‘Filton 24’ and has been in prison for over a year without trial for allegedly destroying weapons in the Elbit Factory that were due to be sent to Israel. As they scream “Free, free Palestine!” with a fiercely impassioned grit and a raging energy that builds throughout, their message seems more necessary than ever. This song is a tapestry of collaborations from Ahmed Muin Abu Amsha, a talented music teacher in Gaza whose singing with children over drones circling above have gone viral on social media, members of the Greek Flotilla mission to Gaza (including my cousin Ploutarxos), Petrol Girls, Jasmine 4.t., Bekor, members of Choir Noir, Soren Bryce, Millie Manders, Orchestrated Discontent, Ruby Wednesday and more artists in support of the cause. There is also a sample of Jordan’s sister Brogan, giving a speech in the song. (ML)

Fightmilk – ‘Sounds Like A You Problem’
What’s been described as their heaviest song to date, Fightmilk’s new one is an absolutely perfect return to from one of my most favourite bands. As Lily’s gravelly vocals soar with a rich, sweeping power alongside Alex and Healey’s racing gritty hooks, and Nick’s thrashing beats blast consistently throughout, ‘Sounds Like A You Problem’ offers a proper “big angry song”. Reflecting on Lily’s own experiences with an abusive ex partner with a refreshing honesty, the all-too relatable and recognisable feelings of terror and frustration emanate through the song’s fierce energy, whilst a cathartic sense of empowerment comes at realising it was never your fault. A welcome new direction from a band continuing to hone their sound and show that they’re not afraid to address sensitive topics head on. (ML)

Junk Whale – ‘Lime n Soda’
Responsible for one of my favourite EPs of last year, Junk Whale have started 2026 by releasing more gorgeous new music. One half of their new double single, ‘Lime n Soda’ reflects on the contrasting feelings of being at a gig: “It can be an overwhelming sensory experience for me. It’s dark, it’s loud, it’s cramped with sweaty bodies…but as soon as the music starts, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” vocalist Josie explains. Offering all the gloriously scuzzy hooks and lilting indie-pop energy that we know and love from the band, I can’t get enough of its sparkling raw emotion and cannot wait to have Junk Whale headline for us at The Cavendish Arms on 19th February, along with twee queercore supergroup Tomboy Grandpa (featuring members of Fightmilk and adults) and First Timers alumni Pink Bucky. Tickets are on DICE now and cheaper in advance. (ML)

Me Rex – ‘Angel Hammer’
Another band who’ve played live for us and I’ve been very much in love with for a long time, Me Rex have continued to charm us with their previous five EPs and two albums, and have now shared the first new single to be released on their own label Pterodactyl Limited. Reflecting on vocalist Myles’ chaotic experiences that lead to him getting sober when he was 20, ‘Angel Hammer’ fizzes with an impassioned sense of vulnerability and raw immersive emotion, as the band’s trademark twinkling hooks and introspective lyricism are intertwined with a cathartic driving energy. (ML)

Scarebears – ‘Scapegoat’
“Brand new, fresh-out-of-the-oven, aggressive post-punk” is how Bristol trio Scarebears describe themselves, and I’m a big fan already. With debut single ‘Scapegoat’ they seethe against the rise of far-right rhetoric in the UK media and mainstream politics with a riotous sense of urgency, reflecting on the hypocrisy and danger of ignorant false narratives that are used to incite violence and discrimination. A fiercely defiant, brutally honest and instantly addictive slice of empowering punk, it’s the first taste from Scarebears’ upcoming EP, Worse for Everyone, which will be released in Spring 2026. I cannot wait to hear more! (ML)

 

Kim Gordon – ‘NOT TODAY’
I probably don’t need to write an intro for this exceptional new Kim Gordon track – but in case you missed it – the acclaimed Girl In A Band author is releasing her third solo album, PLAY ME, on 13th March via Matador Records. ‘NOT TODAY’ embodies the same potent conviction and self assurance that all of the former Sonic Youth bassist & vocalist’s solo offerings have radiated – only here it sounds fuller and more fluid. (KC)

Midori Jaeger – ‘exasperate’
Another of my Ones To Watch for this year, cellist and songwriter Midori Jaeger has now announced the release of her EP, (Un)planted, on 9th March. Having instantly caught my attention with their unique style of playing the cello and the soothing allure of her vocals while playing in Tanita Tikaram’s band back in October, the Japanese London-based artist creates immersive soundscapes that are truly her own, with latest single ‘exasperate’ being no exception. Swirling with angular yet beautifully smooth finger-picked hooks and Jaeger’s sumptuous vocals, it soars with an invigorating energy and I can’t wait to hear the full EP very soon. (ML)

TTSSFU – ‘Upstairs’
This stand alone single from Wigan-born, Manchester-based artist TTSSFU was released late last year, but it’s been swirling around my head ever since. Based on an unhealthy romantic infatuation, it’s a tender rumination on the disconnection and isolation that can fester with this kind of obsession. TTSSFU released one of my favourite EPs of 2025, titled Blown, so I’ll be keeping a keen eye on the new music she shares over the next 12 months. (KC)

Ailbhe Reddy – ‘That Girl’
Existing in the emotional ether of a breakup, Dublin-born artist Ailbhe Reddy’s upcoming third album, KISS BIG, is a wholehearted affair that continues to spotlight her talent for empathetic songwriting. Set for release on 30th January via Don Giovanni Records, ‘That Girl’ features on the record and is described by Ailbhe as the “emotional anchor” of her upcoming offering, full of her tender vocals and observational lyricism. She’ll be playing a London headline show at The Lexington on 21st April to celebrate her new album. Tickets are on sale now! (KC)

Tenderness – ‘The Salt Flats’
As someone who had Deep Throat Choir soundtrack me walking down the aisle, hearing the voice of anyone from that incredible collective always feels pretty special. And so the news that Katy Beth Young (also of Peggy Sue) is sharing more new music from her solo project Tenderness is very welcome to my ears. Ahead of the release of her debut album, True, on 13th March, ‘Salt Flats’ showcases Young’s gorgeously rich vocals as twinkling Americana-tinged hooks ripple throughout, reflecting with a stirring gentle melancholy on the fleeting nature of joy. I can’t wait to witness Tenderness’ beautiful offerings in the perfect setting of St Pancras Old Church on 18th March. (ML)

Charlotte Cornfield – ‘Hurts Like Hell’
Ahead of the release of her sixth album in March, Charlotte Cornfield has now shared the beautiful title track. A poignant rumination on addressing insecurities and putting yourself out there, ‘Hurts Like Hell’ flows with warm Americana-infused melodies alongside Cornfield’s distinctive rich vocals. Showcasing Cornfield’s ability for heartfelt lyrical storytelling and exposing an endearing vulnerability, its delicate grace shimmers throughout as we’re introduced to what promises to be an exquisite album. (ML)

Special Friend – ‘Breakfast’
Set to release their new album, Clipping, on 30th March, French-American Paris based duo Special Friend may be new to me but I’m already pretty obsessed with their fuzzy uptempo hooks, lilting energy and rich syrupy harmonies. A perfectly short but extremely sweet slice of sunny dream-pop, ‘Breakfast’ is our first taste of the upcoming album, and if that’s what’s on the menu, I can’t wait for lunch and dinner…(sorry) (ML)

Radhika ft. Gerard Love & Mitch Mitchell – ‘Starry Eyes’
A supergroup of sorts, featuring Gerard Love (Lightships, Ex Teenage Fanclub) and Mitch Mitchell (The Pastels) alongside vocalist Radhika Meera Dade, Radhika have started the year with an effervescent taste of their upcoming new album, Cine Pop. Interweaving a range of influences, from the films of David Lynch to her own Indian heritage, Radhika creates utterly dreamy, shimmering soundscapes rippling with a spellbinding allure. Reflecting on intergenerational connections and the passing of souls into the next realm, ‘Starry Eyes’ demands multiple listens and will draw you into the cosmic world of Radhika on first listen. (ML)

Hater – ‘Angel Cupid’
Malmö-based indie-pop band Hater said they weren’t expecting to write a bunch of love songs for their upcoming album, Mosquito – set for release on 6th March via Fire Records – but that’s what flowed from their fingertips after a long hiatus. This reluctant feeling is epitomised on the band’s latest single ‘Angel Cupid’, which sees them tenderly, yet disdainfully reject the omnipresent notion of traditional love and the archetype of Cupid, by seamlessly combining explicit lyrics and lush melodies together. (KC)

Sunflower Thieves – ‘Already Taken’
Leeds alt-folk duo Sunflower Thieves have returned with their new single ‘Already Taken’ – a poignant reflection on the emotional resilience that’s earned after enduring a difficult breakup. Full of their lush dual vocals and gentle acoustic riffs, Amy and Lily provide listeners with a calm resolution to a troubling period of time. The band will be touring the UK this year, including a London headline show at The Grace in Islington on 28th April. (KC)

Flip Top Head – ‘Porcelain Plugs’
Brighton art-rockers Flip Top Head draw inspiration from acclaimed poet Sylvia Plath on their latest offering ‘Porcelain Plugs’. Taken from their recent EP, Trilateral Machine, the track alludes to the restorative qualities of a hot bath, something which Plath notably mentioned in her 1963 novel, The Bell Jar. Flip Top Head are currently on tour across the UK in support of Independent Venue Week and they’ll be returning to London on 7th March to play one of their biggest headline shows to date at The Lexington. (KC)

Hannah Schneider – ‘In This Room’
Another artist who we’ve been fans of for a number of years now (and having played live for us as one half of the electronic duo AyOwA), Danish artist Hannah Schneider returns to grace our ears with a new album set for release on 7th February. Title track ‘In This Room’ swirls with a shimmering melancholy, reminiscent of the stirring grace of Beth Gibbons, as it offers a heartfelt meditation on the stories we tell and the memories we cherish. The upcoming album focuses on acoustic instrumentation and craftsmanship and was created in collaboration with a number of different musicians at a residency at Thorvaldsens Museum in Copenhagen. (ML)

Kee Avil – ‘itch’
Since the release of her debut album, Crease, in 2022, I have been intrigued by the glitchy, distinctive sounds of Montréal-based experimental artist and producer Vicky Mettler aka Kee Avil. Her appetite for exploring the human condition through her cell-tingling soundscapes seems to know no bounds, and these ambitions have been amplified by her upcoming project. Starting with this evocative offering ‘itch’, Kee Avil has teamed up with NNA Tapes and plans to write and record her new album, Vapor, in real time – releasing the songs in chronological order over the next 12 months. “My hope is that at the end, a natural cohesion appears, a concept reflecting a frozen moment in time, a process from start to finish,” she explains. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with. (KC)

Isabel Pine – ‘A Flickering Light’
This beautifully soothing piece of music is lifted from Fables, the upcoming debut album from British Columbia-based, classically trained musician Isabel Pine. Set for release on 20th February via kranky, Isabel recorded her new LP in a remote cabin, playing her instruments outside amongst the sounds of nature, which gives Fables a truly pensive, peaceful quality. This intuitive collaboration is deftly captured on ‘A Flickering Light’. (KC)

Sarah Pagé – ‘Spring Is Here’
This beautiful soundscape from Montreal-based harpist Sarah Pagé features on grassroots benefit compilation album, Gaza Is The Moral Compass, released digitally & on cassette via Beacon Sound and launched publicly on Radio AlHara (Bethlehem). It is one of sixteen altruistic and eclectic tracks on the record, which features contributions from Amulets, Efrim Menuck (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) and Kareem Samara. Sales of the album will benefit two Palestinian-led mutual aid groups on the ground in Gaza: Seeds Of Hope and Reviving Gaza. This is the first in a series of compilations that Beacon Sound have planned to help provide relief to the long suffering people of Palestine. You can purchase a copy of Gaza Is The Moral Compass from bandcamp here. (KC)

 

 

Noémi Büchi – ‘I was almost there’
Inspired by everything from “the dislocated bodies of Francis Bacon” to the transience of memory, physical touch and intimacy; this experimental soundscape from Swiss/French artist Noémi Büchi is deeply intriguing. It’s lifted from her upcoming album Exuvie – derived from the Latin word ‘exuviae’ meaning ‘what has been shed’ – which is due on 27th February. Through her genre-blending, idiosyncratic instrumentation, Noémi manages to truly get under the skin and conjure up a potent, emotional response to her sounds. (KC)

Hannya White – ‘Slow my mind’
Released as part of a compilation album by Metamorphika – an artist-led community-driven arts space, commercial gallery & music label – this industrial-tinged track from London-based artist Hannya White slipped into my GIHE inbox at the end of 2025. It’s an unnerving, visceral offering with its piston-like beats and breathy voicework. Definitely check out the whole compilation, Metamorphika Vol. 1, if you like what you hear from Hannya – it’s an intense amalgamation of noise, industrial textures and genre-bending sounds from an array of unusual artists. (KC)

Tanya Tagaq – ‘Foxtrot’
Having been a big fan of innovative vocalist and composer Tanya Tagaq at Get In Her Ears for a number of years now, we’re excited to hear that she’s releasing her new album, Saputjiji, on 6th March. Weaponising the military alphabet into a protest callsign, latest single ‘Foxtrot’ offers us an insight into the starkly compelling power of the upcoming album. Venturing between beautifully ambient and fiercely abrasive soundscapes, Saputjiji offers a potent counter-strike against billionaires, genocide, abuse and colonial systems, and I cannot wait to immerse myself in it fully. (ML)

 

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