This edition of LITM Rock Picks brings to you gritty funk-rock, confrontational post-punk, reflective folk-rock, and more. The list features artists DirtPhunks, THE WiDOWS, Losem, Mark Winters, and Blenko.
DirtPhunks - Subway Reflections
There's something appealingly unpolished about DirtPhunks' 'Subway Reflections'. The Norwegian band, the brainchild of longtime musician FH Baloo, calls its sound "Dirtphunk," guitar-driven rock with a healthy dose of funk and, in their own words, dirty fingernails. It's music that cares more about personality than perfection. The song was sparked by a chance encounter with an older man in a wheelchair playing harmonica for spare change, who turned out to have been a World War II resistance hero. That story gives the track real heart, honoring the quiet courage of people we walk past every day without a second thought. Nothing here chases a trend, and that's exactly the appeal. 'Subway Reflections' is proof that a good groove, some attitude, and a little character go a long way.
THE WiDOWS - False Idols
THE WiDOWS aren't interested in playing nice on 'False Idols', and that's exactly what makes it work. The London-based four-piece, fronted by vocalist Kim Le Tan, sits somewhere between post-punk, psych, and old-school rock 'n' roll, and this track leans hard into its confrontational side. Distorted guitars and an insistent rhythm push the song forward as the lyrics take aim at manipulation, media influence, and the people who profit from keeping everyone confused. The repeated references to false prophets aren't exactly subtle, but subtlety isn't the point. Underneath all the frustration is a call to stop blindly trusting the loudest voices and start thinking for yourself again. 'False Idols' is rebellious, politically charged rock with something worth saying.
Losem - Hangnail
'Hangnail' is a wonderfully uncomfortable title, the kind of small irritation that just won't leave you alone. It's also the first taste of Losem (pronounced "loo-zum"), the project of Nashville-based songwriter Kels Taylor, who started it as a break from their roots and found an honesty they'd never quite had under their own name. The track brings a rough-edged sensibility to alternative rock, favoring raw personality over excess polish, while rich production gives it real weight. What I like most is its willingness to stay a little messy. Not every song needs to resolve neatly or reassure you, and sometimes a bit of friction is exactly what gives a song its character. With the debut album The Act arriving in January 2027, Losem is one to keep an eye on.
Mark Winters - Can I Rise
Mark Winters asks a surprisingly tough question on 'Can I Rise': how much of who we become is shaped by the people who came before us? Winters, who also works as an aerospace engineer, co-wrote the song with his son, and it shows. What started as a personal reflection became, in his words, "a conversation between generations." The gentle, guitar-led folk-rock arrangement suits the reflective writing without ever tipping into sentimentality. What I particularly like is that ambition and gratitude aren't treated as opposites here. You can appreciate your roots and still want something different for yourself. Part of his forthcoming project Boundary Layer, 'Can I Rise' is thoughtful songwriting that finds meaning in the questions rather than in easy answers.
Blenko - Unwanted Guest
'Unwanted Guest' has a wickedly clever premise: what happens when the thing taking over your life isn't even paying rent? Blenko, the project of bassist and songwriter Rebecca Simmonds, turns that frustration into a darkly funny indie-rock tune. The unwanted guest could be a destructive habit, an exhausting person, or an entire political system, and that ambiguity is what keeps the writing so interesting. True to Blenko's style, the song is built around a bass line hook, pairing catchy melodies with a fairly unsettling message. There's something amusing about how casually the lyrics describe a situation that's clearly spiraling out of control, but beneath the playful surface lies a sharp observation about complicity. It's easy to see why BBC Introducing named her one of its Ones to Watch.
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