Up and Comers Music

The Sheffield Sound via Southern Italy

If you closed your eyes and pressed play on “never stop believing,” you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d just discovered a lost, more-orchestrated B-side from the Arctic Monkeys’ mid-career peak. sdoku is a 16-year-old independent artist producing and designing everything from his base in Southern Italy, yet he has somehow captured the quintessential Northern England sound. It’s an unexpected combination that evokes curiosity – how does a teenager from the Mediterranean coast channel the rainy indie-rock grit of a Sheffield warehouse?

“never stop believing” is laden with instrumentation that leads with the vocals, but then the drums pop out with intent, followed by little bass riffs that dance between the vocal lines. The lyrics present a stark, anxious narrative – ghosts inside coffee steam and neighbors whispering in dreams – before the track delivers a Classic Rock guitar solo that feels like a defiant release. It’s authentic, moody, and technically impressive, especially for one still in their teens. He’s managed to make “never stop believing” sound like both a plea and a promise.

Stream never stop believing here and follow sdoku on Instagram to stay up to date on his latest.

Check out our Up and Comers playlist to discover more emerging artists.

–Stephen Choi for Up and Comers