At 20, Neska Rose is already moving between several creative roles: songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, actor and composer. Onstage, she shifts between guitar and piano, delivering performances with an intensity that matches the music she makes. Her sound is bold and cinematic, with an emotional edge and a point of view that doesn’t ask for easy interpretation.

Rose draws from a wide range of influences. The stark, expressive work of Nick Cave, PJ Harvey and Amy Winehouse sits alongside the punchier spirit of No Doubt. That mix gives her singles an unpredictable quality: personal, sharp and full of character. She says listeners don’t have to catch every lyric on the first listen. She’d rather the meaning find its way to them later.

Her latest single, “Mad Man,” arrived October 21. Co-written and produced with Tal Avital, the indie-pop track explores betrayal, vulnerability and anger, bringing a darker emotional edge to Rose’s distinctive point of view.

“Mad Man” could be a fit to pitch to Spotify’s Fresh Finds, Fresh Finds Indie and All New Indie playlists. These are potential targets, not confirmed placements.

Rose is now finishing an 11-song album and has worked with Grammy-winning producers David Greenbaum, known for projects with Beck, U2 and Paul McCartney, and Tim Anderson, whose credits include Halsey and Twenty One Pilots. She also records original songs for the music library Artlist, with new material continuing to come.

Her creative work extends to television and film. Rose appeared in the third episode of Apple TV+’s anthology series Extrapolations, alongside David Schwimmer and Daveed Diggs. She played Gertie in Nickelodeon’s Drama Club, composing original music for the show, and wrote comedy songs for the network’s sketch series Nick Shorts.

Later this year, Rose is set to star in a psychological thriller filming in Australia. As she takes on that lead role and completes her new album, she continues to build a career that moves between music and the screen, guided by a sound and perspective distinctly her own.

Up and coming singer-songwriter Nyah Huck closes out her fifth-song EP with “DNA”—a song that feels like the right way to wrap up this chapter.

It’s about going through a difficult time, learning to accept yourself and realizing you don’t have to face everything alone. Nyah sings, “You don’t need to hide away so you won’t feel the pain,” and reminds us, “Just because you do things on your own / That don’t mean you’re all alone.”

“DNA” has a pop, indie and alternative sound, with an organic feel to the production. The track was recorded in Nashville with Tom Michael, and its message of finding your way through change gives the EP a hopeful finish.

With its personal lyrics and indie-pop sound, “DNA” could fit on Spotify playlists like Fresh Finds, Indie Shuffle and the new alt.

UK singer-songwriter Billie-May Wood introduces herself with “Echoes of You,” a debut track produced in Nashville by Tom Michael.

The song opens with piano before strings gradually layer in, building an atmospheric sound that feels both nostalgic and expansive. Wood’s heartfelt vocal carries the track into a memorable, anthemic chorus that lingers after the song ends.

The lyrics capture the song’s sense of longing and emotional reflection: “I’m talking to the sky, hoping you can hear, all the words I never said when you were near.” With its blend of intimate songwriting and widescreen production, “Echoes of You” gives Billie-May Wood a compelling introduction.

The track would feel at home on Spotify’s Fresh Finds Indie, a playlist spotlighting new indie music from independent artists and labels.

Songwriter and instrumentalist Alyssa Caroline has released her brand-new single, “Hey Moon,” a vibrant synth-pop track that explores the vulnerable realities of modern romance.

You never quite know what to expect from Alyssa. She moves effortlessly from one sound to the next while keeping the same winning formula: every release feels fresh and adventurous without becoming a chaotic mess. She takes cues from Taylor Swift and today’s modern pop artists but clearly carves out a path of her own. There is something magical and almost fairytale-like about her songwriting, and “Hey Moon” captures that quality through shimmering synths, strong melodies and an emotional pop core.

The song could feel at home on Spotify playlists such as Fresh Finds Pop, Indie Pop, New Pop Picks, Night Pop and Pop Rising.

Ivy Madison makes a striking first impression with her debut single, “Hope You’re Not Hurting.”
Refreshing, haunting and remarkably mature for a first release, the slow-burning indie-pop track is layered with piano, cello and atmospheric production. There are shades of Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift, but Ivy Madison makes the sound entirely her own. The song gradually unfolds, taking the listener on an emotional late-night journey.
It could feel at home on Spotify playlists such as Fresh Finds Pop, sad hour, Chill Pop, Mellow Pop and Late Night Vibes.