As part of New Music Friday, Fresh Sounds at Harmonize spotlights recent standout releases from both established and emerging artists.
Each edition showcases a handful releases that are fresh, exciting, and impossible to ignore. We offer listeners a glimpse into the sounds that are defining the moment and bringing a spark into the week’s sonic landscape. Listen to the full Fresh Sounds playlist HERE and find a new song to add to your rotation.
Here are our picks for May 8th, 2026:
HOTLINE – Mikayla Geier
Rising pop artist Mikayla Geier, known for her “orchestral pop music” has released her latest single “HOTLINE” – a mischievous and campy break-up-with-your-boyfriend anthem. About “HOTLINE”, Geier says via press release: “I want everyone who listens to my music to feel seen and have fun!” “I’m thrilled to share “HOTLINE” with the world and hope it makes you feel HOT.” This is the beginning of a big year for Mikayla – she was named as one of Spotify’s 2026 Artists to Watch in January, and this summer she’ll be heading abroad to open for MARINA’s UK tour. Listen HERE.
Rock Music – Charli xcx
Charli xcx continues to push boundaries with her latest release “Rock Music” after major success with BRAT in 2024 and Wuthering Heights in 2026. Charli xcx has become an iconic figure in music, having helped expand the landscape of popular music over the last decade by seamlessly traversing the underground and mainstream with her artistic output. “Rock Music” still carries her signature self-referential and authentic lyrics that fans love, but features grungy guitars that are a sonic shift from BRAT’s dance-heavy beats, while still living in the same musical landscape. On Instagram, she shared a behind-the-scenes video of making “Rock Music” with a cheeky caption that read: “a video of me making a song called “rock music” that is not actually rock music which is funny because i never said i was making a rock album.” Listen HERE.
A Million & One – Val Texas
Val Texas is an indie artist out of Nashville, TN. Val’s artistry leans into contrast: warm, intimate acoustic textures against atmospheric, sometimes abrasive neo-psychedelic production. It’s music that lives in the tension between the beautiful and the uncomfortable. “A Million & One” is the first of two tracks on Val’s latest release, Prelude, and recounts the memories of a lingering relationship, developed in a folky, synth-laced blend of Bedroom Pop and Indie R&B. Val’s broader vision is not just a collection of songs, but the portrait of an artist developing with discipline and a clear sonic identity, rooted in honest songwriting and a
willingness to sit in complexity. In the underground music scene, Val lives in a gray area
alongside artists like Dijon, Kevin Abstract, and other growing “indie” contemporaries, blending
organic instrumentation with experimental textures, appealing to listeners who gravitate toward
music that feels both personal and slightly off-center. Listen HERE.
Have I Been Good To You – Ian Cobiella