Katie Macbeth's Portfolio.

Indie is not a genre • 22nd April 2025

Self Esteem's A Complicated Woman: A Powerful Dive into Identity and Womanhood. - Indie is not a genre

In A Complicated Woman, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, known as Self Esteem, delivers a potent and nuanced exploration of identity, societal expectations, and the multifaceted realities of womanhood. This compelling third studio album showcases her fearless sincerity and remarkable musical versatility, seamlessly weaving together diverse genres to craft an enthralling landscape that powerfully mirrors its central themes. The album’s striking cover, a visual echo of The Handmaid’s Tale, immediately conveys...

Indie is not a genre • 16th April 2025

Heavy Lungs' Caviar: A Chaotic Onslaught - Indie is not a genre

Heavy Lungs’ sophomore album, Caviar, is an intense and bold journey through sonic chaos, merging punk ferocity with industrial grit and grand ambition. This Bristol-based quartet has effectively captured their untamed live energy in a recorded format, although the full force of their sound truly thrives in the sweat-soaked atmosphere of a live venue.

The sonic barrage begins with “Yes Chef,” a sub-two-minute burst of frenetic energy that reflects the high-pressure environment of a restaurant...

Indie is not a genre • 7th April 2025

The Beat of Blondie Falls Silent: Remembering Clem Burke - Indie is not a genre

The rhythmic heartbeat of the legendary band Blondie, Clem Burke, has now stilled at the age of 70. Originally from the vibrant streets of New Jersey, Burke found his place among the colourful outcasts and misfits of New York City by the mid-1970s. This emerging musical talent honed his exceptional drumming skills in various New Jersey cover bands throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. However, it wasn’t until he moved to the pulsating New York music scene that his brilliance caught the atte...

Indie is not a genre • 3rd April 2025

Djo's 'The Crux': Transcending Expectations - Indie is not a genre

The often-overlooked connection between acting and singing reveals a shared lineage, as both disciplines rely on vocal delivery and narrative expression. While transitioning from singing to acting is viewed as natural, the reverse is often met with skepticism. Joe Keery, known for his role as Steve Harrington on Stranger Things, has developed a distinct musical identity under the name Djo, initially using disguises to ensure his music was judged independently from his acting background. The TikT...

Indie is not a genre • 28th March 2025

Tracks of the Week: CMAT, Self Esteem, Black Country, New Road, Model/Actriz, and More! - Indie is not a genre

IINAG offers a curated selection of sounds to enhance your weekend.


‘Running/Planning’ is a mesmerising introduction to CMAT’s upcoming third album, ‘EURO-COUNTRY, ’ out 29th August. It develops from a calm introduction into an intense and emotive piece, with the repetitive chorus “I keep on running / planning, running / planning” becoming more fractured and frantic, a nod to a woman’s societal pressure to always be thinking about the next step in life. Once again, we’re captivated by CMAT’s...

Indie is not a genre • 27th March 2025

Sam Akpro's Evenfall: Nocturnal Soundscapes of the Modern City. - Indie is not a genre

Sam Akpro’s debut album, Evenfall, cements his identity as a creator of atmospheric urban soundscapes. The South London artist skillfully fuses the ethereal elements of shoegaze with the jagged edges of post-hardcore, resulting in a record that is both carefully crafted and emotionally impactful. The album excels at establishing a tangible atmosphere, portraying the city’s nighttime heartbeat as a character unto itself.


The opening track, “I Can’t See The Sun,” instantly sets the mood with a...

Stereoboard.com • 26th March 2025

Japanese Breakfast - For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) (Album Review) - Stereoboard

Throughout Japanese Breakfast’s discography, Michelle Zauner has consistently offered listeners a portal into her inner world. Each album has functioned as a diary, where raw emotion is alchemised into intricate indie-rock explorations. ‘For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)’ continues this tradition, offering a deeply felt exploration of the dizzying heights of love, the sting of yearning, and the weight of sorrow.

Opening the record, Here is Someone is a masterclass in gentle invitation. Its...

Indie is not a genre • 25th March 2025

Somebody's Child's When Youth Fades Away: Youthful Exuberance and a Mature Reflection - Indie is not a genre

The resurgence of Irish music within the indie landscape, marked by pivotal albums from Fontaines D.C., The Murder Capital, and NewDad, sets the stage for Somebody’s Child’s When Youth Fades Away. This album, a testament to Cian Godfrey’s artistic evolution, distills the raw energy of his formative years supporting Kings of Leon and headlining Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre into a poignant exploration of youth’s complexities and time’s relentless passage, solidifying Somebody’s Child’s potential for...

Indie is not a genre • 21st March 2025

Tracks of the Week: The Moonlandingz, The Pill, Marika Hackman, caroline, and More! - Indie is not a genre

Discover the sounds that will define your weekend, courtesy of IINAG’s curated list.


The second teaser for their new album, No Rocket Required, is set for release next month. The Moonlandingz have launched “Roustabout,” featuring Nadine Shah. Known for her powerful vocals, Shah combines her sound with Johnny Rocket, portrayed by Lias Saoudi, in a narrative about a fallen indie icon facing personal struggles. Described by Rocked as “a fictional re-imagining,” the song explores the complexiti...

Indie is not a genre • 14th March 2025

Tracks of the Week: Matt Berninger, HAIM, Lucy Dacus, Whitehorse, and More! - Indie is not a genre

Get ahead of the curve. IINAG’s curated list delivers the freshest new music just in time to elevate your weekend.


Matt Berninger – Bonnet of Pins


‘Bonnet of Pins’ is the lead single from Matt Berninger’s second album ‘Get Sunk, ’ out 30th May 2025. Never one to sit still, and off the back of two The National albums and a tour that included headlining The Other Stage at Glastonbury, the prolific Berninger has managed to craft a song with wonderful rhythm, lyrics and harmonies that tells a...

Katie Speaks! • 10th March 2025

Lady Gaga's "Mayhem": A Grand Reclamation of Pop's Power

"The category is… dance or die.” That declaration, delivered by a red-leather-clad Lady Gaga in the opening scene of her hit single, “Abracadabra,” resonates profoundly with her career's trajectory. Gaga has consistently defined herself through moments where stage and performance reignite her artistic spirit. Her seventh album, Mayhem, mirrors this dynamic, transcending the conventional album release to become a meticulously crafted intervention, deconstructing the polished facade of contemporary celebrity culture.

Indie is not a genre • 7th March 2025

Tracks of the Week: Black Country, New Road, Panic Shack, Car Seat Headrest, and More! - Indie is not a genre

We’ve done the work, you reap the rewards. IINAG’s curated list delivers the best new music of the week, just in time for the weekend


Black Country, New Road – Happy Birthday


An eccentrically eclectic assortment of strings, piano and woodwind, ‘Happy Birthday’ is Black Country New Road at their most confident. The second single from their upcoming album, ‘Forever Howlong’, ‘Happy Birthday’ is four minutes of Baroque pop, with bassist Tyler Hyde’s’ velvet vocals detailing the inevitability...

Pop Base • 6th March 2025

Before Lady Gaga's MAYHEM, There was ARTPOP

A Misunderstood Masterpiece

Lady Gaga’s third studio album, ARTPOP, originally met with mixed reviews and criticism upon its 2013 release, is now being re-evaluated as a misunderstood work in her discography. Following a serious hip injury that led to the cancellation of her Born This Way world tour, Gaga crafted ARTPOP, exploring themes of fame, vulnerability, and addiction through vibrant EDM and Synth-Pop sounds.

Indie is not a genre • 4th March 2025

Divorce's Drive to Goldenhammer: An Experience to Embrace Wholeheartedly. - Indie is not a genre

Divorce built a fervent following long before the announcement of Drive to Goldenhammer. Sold-out tours, including a mini-residency at Nottingham’s Bodega, and 6Music’s acclaim created high expectations. Could this buzz translate into a debut album? ‘Goldenhammer’ answers with a resounding yes. It’s a sonic road trip, a journey through their eclectic soundscape and raw, unflinching lyrics, igniting their cult following and proving they’re more than worthy of the hype.


‘Goldenhammer’ isn’t sim...

Indie is not a genre • 28th February 2025

Tracks of the Week: Peter Doherty, The Moonlandingz, No Windows, Adore, and More! - Indie is not a genre

As the week draws to a close, a treasure trove of new music awaits. Feeling lost in the sea of releases? The IINAG team has done the digging for you, presenting our curated list of the week’s standout tracks.


Peter Doherty – ‘Calvados’


With the second single from his upcoming album ‘Felt Better Alive’, Peter Doherty poetically presents a tender ode to a seller of Normandy’s beloved brandy of the same name, ‘Calvados’. A warm mix of softly strummed guitar and serenading strings, Doherty’s a...

Stereoboard.com • 21st February 2025

Tate McRae - So Close to What (Album Review) - Stereoboard

‘So Close to What’ is a reflective record. Having broken out musically at just 14 with the viral hit One Day, Tate McRae’s journey has been rapid but remarkably reflective. On 2024’s ‘Think Later’ she delivered a vivid exploration of young womanhood, complete with its attendant themes of self-discovery and resilience, but with ‘So Close to What’ she revisits the challenges of growing up.

There’s palpable excitement woven into the narrative and Miss Possessive, the album’s opener, immediately es...

Indie is not a genre • 21st February 2025

Tracks of the Week: Fontaines D.C., Miso Extra, The Murder Capital, and More! - Indie is not a genre

The world of music has been exceptionally vibrant this week, with a continual stream of new releases vying for our attention. Understandably, such an abundance of choice can also feel overwhelming. To help you navigate these new releases, we’ve carefully curated a selection of releases that have resonated with our team, providing a glimpse into our personal favourites of the week.


Fontaines D.C. – ‘It’s Amazing To Be Young’


With ‘It’s Amazing To Be Young,’ Fontaines D.C. have gifted us a t...

Stereoboard.com • 19th February 2025

Manic Street Preachers - Critical Thinking (Album Review) - Stereoboard

Manic Street Preachers have continually evolved throughout a decades-long career, choosing to step around the pitfalls waiting for bands who are happy to rely on past successes. Duly, their 15th album houses critiques of the modern world while questioning the purpose of art and their own continued relevance.

The Manics’ refusal to stay in their lane is a key aspect of their longevity and ‘Critical Thinking’ continues this trend, moving ever further away from their raw glam-punk origins. The alb...

Indie is not a genre • 18th February 2025

The Murder Capital's Blindness: A Voice of Significance in an Era Craving Authentic Discourse - Indie is not a genre

The Murder Capital’s journey has been marked by constant evolution. The band’s first album, When I Have Fears, offered a raw, intimate glimpse into their vulnerability, while their second, Gigi’s Recovery, charted a course toward healing, its tracks fueled by a palpable sense of optimism.  With their third album, Blindness, The Murder Capital masterfully synthesise the emotional depth of their earlier explorations, weaving the intensity of When I Have Fears with the hopeful undertones of Gigi’s...

Indie is not a genre • 30th January 2025

Decius Vol. II (Splendour and Obedience): A Powerful, Immersive Experience - Indie is not a genre

Imagine stepping into a basement club, the air thick with sweat and cigarette smoke, the atmosphere electric, pulsating to a relentless bass that resonates deep within your bones. This immersive experience reaches new heights in Decius Vol. II (Splendour and Obedience), a captivating album that not only builds upon its predecessor but invites listeners into a sonic labyrinth of emotion and rhythm. Each track intensifies the cravings ignited before, wrapping enthusiasts in a cocoon of deep, reson...

Stereoboard.com • 24th January 2025

FKA Twigs - Eusexua (Album Review) - Stereoboard

The title of FKA Twigs’ new record requires some unpacking. Coined at a rave in Prague, ‘Eusexua’ is a neologism encapsulating the transcendent feeling of losing oneself entirely in the present moment. Whether it's channelling the ecstatic abandon of all-night dancing or the intoxicating intimacy of a deep connection, the accompanying collection captures that blissful state of oblivion.

“Eusexua is a practice. Eusexua is a state of being. Eusexua is the pinnacle of human experience,” she has ob...

Stereoboard.com • 13th December 2024

The List: Stereoboard's Best Albums of 2024 - Stereoboard

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Welcome to Stereoboard's Album of the Year rundown for 2024, where we delve into 12 months of head-spinning, pulse-quickening, thought-provoking music. Join us.

Forget ‘Brat’ summer — this was ‘Brat’ year. Charli XCX’s impetuous sixth effort is a masterpiece that became a movement, later spawning remixes and reinventions that added new sounds and eye-popping collaborations with Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande and Troye Sivan, to name just a few. While ‘Crash’ show...

Stereoboard.com • 2nd December 2024

Gwen Stefani - Bouquet (Album Review) - Stereoboard

Gwen Stefani’s early solo work slotted into a vibrant era of pop music, with the infectious energy and bold attitude of songs such as Hollaback Girl and What You Waiting For? offering a refreshing extension of her latter-day work with No Doubt. If her new album is anything to go by, though, the past couple of decades have eroded the rebellious spirit that once defined her music.

While ‘Bouquet’ showcases her vocal strengths, it’s generally subdued and lacking in the edge that made her a pop ico...

Stereoboard.com • 30th October 2024

Halsey - The Great Impersonator (Album Review) - Stereoboard

Halsey’s ‘The Great Impersonator’ was introduced with a bit of hero-worship. Recreating  iconic photoshoots from Fiona Apple, Aaliyah, Dolores O’Riordan, Britney Spears, Stevie Nicks, and Bruce Springsteen, she provided a fascinating peek into the musical influences that informed album five. Equally, though, it was shaped by her experience of living with lupus and a rare T-cell disorder while being a young mother. As a result, this is a profound exploration of identity, illness, and the power of...