Flóki Studios sits at the northernmost point of Iceland on a sliver of land abetted on both sides by water. On lucky nights, that water reflects the enchanting Aurora Borealis. Those lights drew Christian Robert Felner, BKA Felly, to Flóki, where he recorded part of his striking new album, Ambroxyde. The title refers to a synthetic molecule found in perfume and the scent memories that carry us from one stage of life into the next. “Ambroxyde is the start of something new being born,” Felly says. He made his name as a rapper and producer, but on Ambroxyde Felly taps into the indie and alternative music that has always soundtracked his life. This isn’t Felly 2.0 – it’s Felly as he has always been, removed from all expectation. “This is the album I’ve always wanted to make,” he says.  Since Felly started releasing music as a teen in 2011, he’s had no problem amassing a fanbase. From the scrappy early recordings he uploaded to SoundCloud and Bandcamp to his most recent EP, 2023’s I had a beautiful time, now I have to leave, the Connecticut-born, LA-based artist has created community around his introspective lyricism and idiosyncratic production choices. In college at USC, he helped form a collective named after the dorm room number, 2273, where he and friends gathered to make music, and it took off. Sampling records evolved into recording live instrumentation and touring with a full band. Over the course of his career, Felly has racked up over one billion streams across all platforms, headlined multiple U.S. headline tours, and collaborated with a wide array of artists, from Carlos Santana to Jack Harlow. Throughout his impressive career, Felly has developed a cult-like following through the raw energy of his live performances, where it wouldn’t be uncommon to find fans boasting tattoos related to his albums. “People have come up to me and shown me tattoos saying this music changed their lives,” Felly says. “Resonating with people in that way is beyond me.”  Ambroxyde contains some of the most personal songs of Felly’s career. “This album revisits some periods of my childhood,” he says. “Songs for the Crows” recounts the premonition of crows appearing on his lawn the day before Felly’s father was diagnosed with cancer. “My dad died when I was a kid, and as the youngest of five, I had to grow up fast.” On “Emmy,” Felly offers a message to his niece and his brother about “the fragility of life,  preciousness of youth, the indifference that time holds over us all.”  That indifference drives Felly to create. To make Ambroxyde, Felly chased inspiration outside of his familiar Los Angeles. Accompanied by producer Gianluca Buccellati, he traveled to remote parts of California and far-flung parts of the world. “Luca approaches production holistically. He’ll pick up a project and work with the artist for a long time,” Felly says. In this case, the duo spent over a year on the road together between Felly’s tour dates. “We went to Iceland first where we were really far from the rest of the world and could really tune out any type of influence.” They wrote “Wildfire” inspired in part by the remote, natural beauty of their surroundings. Its chorus  blows in like an unanticipated gale-force wind as Felly sings: “Come around like a wildfire/ When my wells run dry/ You fill my desire/ And make it all feel alright.”

Arizona alt-indie act Breakup Shoes has no plans of stopping anytime soon.  Formed in 2015 by close high school friends, now 10 years later, the hardworking group has evolved into their current lineup — Nick Zawisa (vocals / guitar), Matthew Witsoe (drums), Michael Montiel (bass) and Michael Cully (guitar) — thanks in part to the DIY show culture across their hometown of Phoenix and leaning into extensive US touring with bands like Summer Salt, WILLIS, Phoneboy and more. From 2016’s acclaimed debut EP, Nicotine Dream, the band has proceeded to self-release two additional EPs as well as three full-length albums — with 2018’s Unrequited Love (& other clichés) garnering nearly fifty million streams across platforms.   Most recently the band put out 2023’s The Death of Everything Worrisome. The eight-track LP — featuring singles “At Least I’ve Still Got Some Friends,” “Rat Race” and “Get Lost” — is an earnest reflection on modern anxiety that balances blunt vulnerability with catchy hooks and melodies. Moving into the second half of 2025, Breakup Shoes is set to release their highly anticipated follow-up titled, Standing Still.  Produced by Charlie Brand (Miniature Tigers), someone who was hugely influential to the group, Breakup Shoes says they found a great “sonic match” for their upcoming record.   “[Charlie] helped us forge a new chapter in our sound that is ambitious and original while still keeping the earnest lyricism and storytelling that Breakup Shoes is known for front and center,” says Nick Zawisa. “The album chronicles the story of my last few years, centered around feeling dissatisfaction with the status quo,” Zawisa adds. “It grapples with feeling stuck, complacent, and unhappy; all the feelings that culminated in uprooting my life and moving across the country.”  The band’s infectious lead single “Brainwash” is streaming worldwide now, with the album releasing October 10th, 2025 and is available for pre-order now at breakupshoes.com.