Despite lockdown restrictions keeping music venues closed and artists quarantined at home, many musicians have been delighting fans with surprise releases and new projects. It may not be an ideal time for the artists themselves to bring new music into the world, but for all of us stuck at home, we couldn't be more thrilled to have new music to keep us company and for that, we're very grateful. Here, we round up some new releases you may have missed that are well worth checking out. For more new music, have a look at our regularly updated playLIST, which features highlights across genres. Also, don't forget that Bandcamp are once again waiving their fees on Fri 1 May so now is the perfect time to support your favourites!

HeForShe x femme culture Vol. 3

In partnership with the UN Women UK, femme culture return with another edition of their HeForShe compilation, with guest spots from Violet, DJ BORING, S-Type, ELLLL, Elkka and more. As usual, all proceeds go to United Nations Women, the global champion for gender equality, but with a huge rise in domestic violence and sexual exploitation as a result of lockdown restrictions, donations from sales will also go towards UN Women's COVID-19 fund, supporting womxn and girls during the pandemic. Listen/buy on Bandcamp.

Kali Uchis – To Feel Alive

Since the release of her debut album Isolation in 2018, the brilliant Kali Uchis has been popping up all over the place, featuring on tracks by Little Dragon, Kaytranada, Thundercat and more. With plans for her new album currently on hold, Uchis has released an EP of demos, which she announced in an Instagram post last week. The dreamy To Feel Alive EP includes four tracks: 'Honey Baby (Spoiled!)', 'Angel', 'I Want War (But I Need Peace)' and 'To Feel Alive'. Listen/buy on Apple Music or Amazon.

Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes – What Kinda Music

As two key figures in the rising contemporary jazz scene in the UK, producer and guitarist Tom Misch and drummer Yussef Dayes have separately worked on some phenomenal projects. But as two artists of different disciplines, their collaboration in new album What Kinda Music presents something new, exciting and very original. The 12-track album traverses various genres from electronica to hip hop and acid jazz to funk, featuring guests like Freddie Gibbs, Rocco Palladino and Kaidi Akinnibi along the way. Listen/buy on Apple Music or Amazon.

Klein – Frozen

London artist and producer Klein self-released her third album Frozen last week via Bandcamp. As the follow-up to 2019's Lifetime, Frozen is another excellent release, with Klein expertly demonstrating her ability to create unnerving atmospheres that ebb and flow, using creative sampling and abstract sounds. Listen/buy on Bandcamp.

Quelle Chris & Chris Keys – Innocent Country 2

Detroit producer and rapper Quelle Chris returns with another collaboration with producer Chris Keys, which serves as their sequel to 2015 album Innocent Country. When we spoke to Quelle Chris last month, he described the new album as building on the themes of Innocent Country: 'It was like, as much as we try, at our core, we're all fucked up. This one is more along the lines of, yeah it's fucked up, but we can handle it. Here's a blanket and shield and possibly a sword to carry along the way.' Listen/buy on Bandcamp, Apple Music or Amazon.

Isabella Koen – Melody Depleted

Boston techno producer Isabella Koen has just released her debut album via iDEAL Recordings, and it's a record that packs in techno, industrial, trance and more across 12 tracks. From big breakbeat numbers to more ambient and mellow moments, Melody Depleted is a great insight into the producer's ability to generate both experimental soundscapes and absolute club-ready bangers. Buy on Boomkat.

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