Carpe Carmina: When singles mingle: 8 songs to fall for at first listen

Tickling excitement takes hold of you whilst diving into the unknown, bracing yourself to find new love, inevitably, intense, new music love, to be precisely, among these eight carefully selected genre-defying gems.

Stock-On-Trent indie rockers Camens have leveled up recently with their playfully gritty track 'Violent Video Games' – which, in fact, is as thrillingly entertaining and tirelessly energetic as its title suggests. Upbeat rhythms, rousing and edgy instrumentals, charmingly jaunty vocals, there's lots to be keen on here, and if that's not what gets you hooked immediately, it will be either the song's dashing narrative or its retro-bright visual match. Game Over, guys, try not to be absorbed in this appealingly addictive aural adventure, I dare you. It ain't easy.

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Check on their keenly blue brand new release 'Slept On The Sofa' here.

Irish darling ROE lays it on the line when calling out bullies in her latest synth-pop mix 'Hey Thomas'. Seductively sassy and sarcastic in sound and storytelling, never alien from being real and straightforward about a relevant issue throughout though, the singer/songwriter weaves vibrantly clashing and ludically sparkling instrumental lines together, brings an uplifting and encouraging, groovy and dynamically gripping anthem into being for all of those who faced discrimination and hate because of their unique, authentic nature and lifestyle. It is exactly what makes 'Hey Thomas' a bright and rightfully bold artistic outlet, one complemented by an equally zeitgeisty and quick-witted music video.

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You can vote for 'Hey Thomas' to win the NI Music Prize for 'Best Single' here. (also listed, i. a., are brand new friend with their youthfully staggering single 'Girl', just saying)

Drinks and drama is what Lewis Bootle serves with 'Sorry' and though he has a lot of explaining to do in the song, he's got nothing to feel sorry about when raising his voice this time (a smoothly melodious and soulfully flirty one, just to be clear); accompanied by ambient and sparse melodies, darling harmonies and smartly rhythmic cymbal accents an endearingly cozy mood is created, perfect for the irresistibly debonair narrative to work (its charm), ideal for it to appeal to its already favourable audience.

photo courtesy of Harry Adams

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Check on his sunny and serene collaboration with Gecko ('City In The Sun') here.

Eye witness of what a force the british singer is on stage, expectations for Bishop Briggs' not-so-juvenile (all the more upfront and attractively provocative) single 'Baby' were high on this side; so, let's put it straight straightaway: the 26-years old alt-electro artist doesn't disappoint – hypnotically swirling synth sounds, rhythmically radiant and powerfully pulsing beats, daringly glowing and catchy melodics fall right into line with sharp-tongued but luringly lush, velvety-toned vocals, visually backed by absorbingly colourful comic aesthetics on point.

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Moody and mesmerizing, gravely soaring and fiercely passionate – XAINS' impulsive soul-pop hymn ascends to spiralling tonal heights and carries you along with its alluringly audacious, electrifying and opulent tonality, makes you root for its adamantly analyzing and sceptic modern tale. Can you feel the thrill of first love a second time around? (yes, you heard right, you've been introduced to 'Modern Love' on carpe carmina before, in a more delightfully vivacious style, however, then). - I certainly do!

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photo courtesy of Ella Dixon Hood

There is pure, achingly mellow beauty to behold when the invitingly ethereal and emotionally yearning melodies of Megan Dixon Hood's single 'Drown' rise. Gracefully languorous vocals haunt you in the most pleasingly poignant fashion, imagery and sound breathe a dreamfully dark and enigmatically enchanting flair which sows both scenic and sonic seeds for a mysteriously surging, suspensefully stirring soundscape to unfold, dangerously spellbinding and closing on a delicate, dramatically driven creative as well as compositional crescendo.

music video directed by Kai Ohio (Samsara Sessions)

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From acoustic days to anthemic ways, Jack Woodward has found his sound. And it's a boisterous one beaming with piercing melodic pizazz and pep as new outing 'Look Looking Around' displays strikingly clear: the eager muso's voice abounds in ardently vivifying swagger, is engagingly melodious and easy on the ear still. Coupled with infectious instrumental entities full of spirit, fast-paced and valiantly jubilant, this vividly vehement track demands to be on repeat. So why not have it?

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Captivating melodic momentum and firm, unfeigned feelings collide in a spectacular still comfortably low-key manner as the blissfully brisk tonal aura of Douglas Joshua's wistful ballad 'Stray' enthralls its easily entranced listeners; easily entranced due to enticingly nimble acoustic guitar play and swift, symphonious percussions at work, laying a satisfying foundation for warmly longing harmonies and fervently sensitive vocal verve to move wholeheartedly.