SOUND SCOUT - 'cene Mixtape Playlist #42
Featuring reviews of The Zac Schulze Gang, Quinn Bailey, Amelie Roden, Taren Gopi, Deyyes & Tarmac
THE ZAC SCHULZE GANG
HIGH ROLLER / 3:20
Taken from debut album Straight To It, The Zac Schulze Gang’s High Roller is a track that just won’t exit the regular playlist.
The track, which has been A-listed at Planet Rock as well as bagging spins from BBC Introducing and Radio Caroline, continues the Medway band’s blistering blues-rock edge.
Out now on Ruf Records, TZSG have “paired a plea for escape and redemption - grappling with cycles of pain, destructive habits and the longing for a hand to pull you through - with a musical nod to some of their other heroes”.
Winners of Best Emerging Blues Band (UK Blues Awards 2024) and Young Artist of the Year (2025), and fresh from stages with Samantha Fish, Eddie 9V and Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival, 2025 has certainly been the band’s breakout year.
QUINN BAILEY
A MEADOW IN THE RAIN / 2:13
Dipping their toes into softer waters, Quinn Bailey and band present the highly-anticipated follow-up to their debut single Veins. This time leaning into a more tender, melancholy corner of alternative sound, the song bases around wistful acoustic chords and subtle, dreamy synths, paired with wandering guitar slides to create an ambient background for Quinn’s ever-distinct, vulnerable lyricism.
A Meadow in the Rain is described as “candidly denoting what it’s like to feel lacklustre in the light of those around you”.
Quinn Bailey began performing acoustic sets aged 16 and has gradually crafted a distinctive local presence, playing at well-established local venues. Now aged 23, with fully-fledged band backing and an ever-strengthening showing, Quinn offers a soulful insight into the mind’s eye.
AMELIE RODEN
COLLECTING DUST / 3:47
Hailing from Ashford, Amelie Roden has announced herself into the Kent scene with scintillating debut EP Following our Ghosts. But one of her favourites from the record is Collecting Dust, which has been described by the artist as playing “an important role in defining her artistic voice”.
With catchy lyrics and melodies and vocals that transcend into something akin to Christine McVie, Collecting Dust is the “situationship anthem to scream your heart out to”.
TAREN GOPI
INTERPRETATION OF YOU / 2:41
Rooted in the classic UK garage sounds, DJ and producer Taren Gopi has been relentless in releasing tracks in recent times, with new track Interpretation of You being the latest. And arguably, the greatest.
With a nod to electronica, some techy overtones and some nostalgic bass, Interpretation of You has already been hoovering up plays from the likes of BBC’s Jaguar. It’s one of those tracks that makes you say “I’ve heard this before somewhere, but I don’t know where” as it takes you back to a time when garage ruled the airwaves.
LIPS LIKE SUGAR
DEYYESS / 2:49
East Kent alt‑pop artist Déyyess continues in her willingness to wear vulnerability openly. Lips Like Sugar deals with unrequited love and identity in raw emotional tones.
Mixing fantasy and longing, Déyyess describes it as “the hedonistic yearn of a crush… not knowing whether the tension is real or in your head”.
Vocally, Déyyess interchanges between dream‑like softness and a slightly sharper emotional edge when the weight of realisation sets in.
SOAPMAKER
TARMAC / 2:47
For those of you who haven't already blasted your ears with Tarmac, firstly, where the hell have you been? And secondly, Soapmaker is another feisty return to the post-punk/noise rock that TARMAC are becoming so well known for. One of our favourite bands at the moment, and not just because they hail from east Kent, TARMAC are energetic, fun and also seriously talented. The high-octane Soapmaker has the feels of Soft Play and Idles... and it’s only a matter of time until they get the same level of recognition.
