It's Friday again, and time for fresh tunes to entertain us over the weekend and beyond! First #newtunes this year! 2026 has already started. The world is changing before our eyes, and so is music. Musicians, production companies, and, more recently, various AI enthusiasts are trying to grab our attention with new products (I think that's a better term than songs 🤔).
But regardless of where and how we end up, I invite you to explore a selection of #newtunes, discover fresh musical vibes and styles, and be enchanted by soundscapes from all over the globe.
Is there even a future global hit among them? You won't know until you listen :)
Eight songs of different genres and styles for curious music lovers! And if you like something, you can dig deeper into musical treasures to find more detailed info.
If you don't like, skip it.
Music4life!
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BONG KONG is a Portuguese band from São João da Madeira, formed in 2016, that calls itself "the first and only Bongcore band in the world." To date, they have released several singles, one EP, and one album. Their music is a mixture of experimental metal, electronica, and socially satirical lyrics.
The song Weirdmageddon is their latest single from the end of December last year, featuring their typical humor and self-irony, a mix between Mr. Bungle and System of a Down. They are a new band for me, but I will be following them from now on.
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Животни (or Životni in Latin script) is a new project by Macedonian musician Martin Djorlev from Skopje. At the end of November last year, they released their debut album Na Balkanu, sam (In the Balkans, alone). For me, it's a new name.
The music is a mixture of indie, folk, and rock, with a typical Balkan melancholic atmosphere and lyrics in Macedonian, introspective, longing for home, love for the Balkans, and criticism of all the other crap around.
The song Kalemegdan talks about the Belgrade fortress, the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, as a symbol of Balkan history.
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Ancient Death is a new American band from Walpole, Massachusetts. They have been playing since 2021 and have released several singles, one EP, and, last year, their debut album Ego Dissolution, which includes the instrumental song Journey to the Inner Soul. Old school death metal with progressive and psychedelic elements, clean vocals, and mystical themes of transcendence and esotericism. I like this new band and will be following them.
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HUMAN ERROR CLUB is an American band from Los Angeles that has been playing since 2019. They are known for their complete improvisation, especially with producer Kenny Segal, who strictly demands it during recordings. Unique eccentrics, avant-garde, with hip-hop jazz, downtempo, synths, and down-to-earth drums. They invited Elucid to sing vocals with intense and abstract lyrics.
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Another band from Macedonia! Mizar is a cult Macedonian band from Skopje, formed way back in 1981, and I've been following them since the very beginning. In the former Yugoslavia, they were pioneers of gothic and dark wave, strongly influenced by traditional Macedonian folklore and Orthodox church chants. They have released several singles and EPs, as well as six studio albums.
The song Vardar e Stiks is their latest single, released on January 2 this year, with a characteristic gothic/darkwave atmosphere, melancholic guitar, deep Byzantine vocals, and potent symbolism. Vardar is the main Macedonian river that flows through Skopje, while Styx is the mythological river of the dead in the underworld.
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Kula Shaker is an English band from London, formed in 1995, which split up in 1999 and then reformed with the original lineup in 2006. They have released seven studio albums, with their eighth, Wormslayer, expected at the end of January. I have mentioned them several times in #newtunes. Britpop mixed with sixties psychedelia and Indian influences.
The song Lucky Number was released immediately after New Year's as a preview of the new album. A glam rock rhythm with psychedelic guitar riffs, colorful Hammond organs, and enigmatic lyrics.
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Long Distance Calling is a German band from Münster. They were formed in 2006 and have released eight studio albums to date. Among music connoisseurs, they are known as "the best post-rock band you've never heard of." I have read several reviews where music critics highly praise their live album Live at Lichtburg, released last December, and, of course, I am listening to it.
Instrumental post-rock and cinematic music with heavy riffs and math-rock precision. I can hear influences from Pink Floyd, Tool, and Goodspeed You! Black Emperor, but with a unique German touch.
The song Hazard is from the 2020 album How Do We Want To Live, and the live performance adds organicity and lively energy.
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And finally, something from the AI camp: everywhere is a prediction that 2026 will be the year of AI in all areas... (well, we'll see about that)...,
Mash up of Lana Del Ray with her hypnotic, detached vocals and Jack White with his manic garage rock guitar sound and raw retro garage/blues energy. However, they have never collaborated; this is just a so-called "conceptual AI fan version."
It's a pretty good track, pure guilty pleasure or l'art pour l'art.
🎶 That should be all for today, thanks for your attention, and enjoy your weekend with new songs!
If you're interested in #newtunes suggestions from the past six years, you can listen to them at these links - there are Spotify playlists for each year:
@seckorama/new-tunes-2019
@seckorama/new-tunes-2020
@seckorama/new-tunes-2021
@seckorama/new-tunes-2022
@seckorama/new-tunes-2023
@seckorama/new-tunes-2024
@seckorama/new-tunes-2025
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Curious about rare and alternative live performances?
Check out my recordings on the 3speak video channel,
or take a look at my #threetunetuesday posts.
@seckorama/three-tune-tuesday-forever
If you like jazz, I recommend Jazz-Matinee, a blog by 
@w74/jazz-matinee-music-should-be
The main image was created by me (from screenshots of video frames) and edited in Photoshop.
Support and vote for those exceptional witnesses:
@good-karma, @liotes, @fbslo, @detlev.witness, and @stresskiller. They appreciate any help you can provide.
Listen loud!
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