While summer seems to have deserted the country, in a case of nature reflecting the human condition as the grim politics of our present unravels, the month of June 2019 has thankfully been a good one for new music!

The main theme of the new album announcements so far in June has been ones from new female artists, or more specifically, female artists who recently released exciting debut records and are following them up. Most notably, there’s a second album from Katherine Paul, whose first Black Belt Eagle Scout album was released barely 12 months ago. Having spent nearly two entire years on the road in support of her brilliant debut Nothing’s Real, Shura is returning with a sophomore effort on Secretly Canadian titled forevher. Laetitia Tamko is releasing her second Vagabon album, Jay Som is readying a new album, and the ever-wonderful Natasha Khan is delivering a new Bat For Lashes record – though she’s been around for a while longer, of course.

On the more established artists from, the All Points East festival in London saw Justin Vernon unveil two brand new Bon Iver songs, potentially from a new studio album – he hasn’t released anything since 22, A Million three years ago. Former Moloko star, and a proper diva in her own right, Roisin Murphy has released yet another brilliant track, in the floaty, rhythmical ‘Incapable’. Chicago-based indie act Whitney also will be delivering a second album, Forever Turned Around, in August. And finally, Swedish band Efterklang, having been silent for a whopping seven years since their last proper studio album, are returning later this year!

There’s also to be new albums from Blanck Mass, Girl Band, Tinariwen, Phantogram and indie legends Pixies. Excitingly, the new St. Vincent-produced album from Pacific North-Western punk legends Sleater-Kinney is on the way, called The Center Won’t Hold and housing another terrific new cut in ‘The Future Is Here’.

READ MORE: An Introduction to Sleater-Kinney

So, check out our playlist over at Spotify of the best new music released during June 2019 so far – or scroll below!

Happy listening!