We Speak Music

Akaba Explore The Space Between Guitars And Synthesisers On Wither Without

Published

58 minutes ago

October 23, 2026

Music4U

What happens when guitar-led songwriting meets programmed rhythms and layers of synthesisers? On Wither Without, out now via Now Listen, Akaba make that combination central to their second album, building a sound that reaches further into electronic music than their debut, The Rust Within.

The Stockholm trio bring together three distinct contributions. Åsa Carild supplies the vocals and lyrics, Tobias Ljungkvist plays guitar, and Mattias Olsson produces the record. All three share the music credits, giving the nine tracks a collaborative foundation beneath Carild’s personal writing.

The production is particularly important to the album’s character. Synthesised layers and programmed beats sit alongside the guitars rather than simply filling out the arrangements. This gives the songs a different sense of movement, with room for close vocal passages as well as busier, more unsettled sections.

“Go North” offers a clear introduction to the record’s concerns. Its focus on taking another route in life brings questions of departure and belonging into the foreground, without reducing the song to one fixed interpretation.

Across the tracklist, titles such as “Two Rights”, “Mistake” and “Grieve” sit within a wider sequence about a relationship reaching its end. The subject gives the album continuity, while the changing arrangements provide its musical variation.

For Akaba, the shift towards electronic production is more than a change in surface texture. On Wither Without, it becomes an essential part of how the songs communicate, placing the details of the arrangement alongside the writing itself.

We Speak Music

Catch The Young Releases New Single ‘PARANOIA’ Ahead of UK & Europe Tour

Published

5 hours ago

October 23, 2026

Royal Jones

The band returns to Europe not long after being a headliner for K-INDIE ON FESTIVAL 2026 IN BERLIN

"PARANOIA is finally out in the world, and we wish you show it a lot of love. I'm also really looking forward to the UK and Europe tour. There's the curiosity of going somewhere we haven't been, and especially the thought of going to the UK, the home of band music, makes it even more exciting. I hope we can put on our best shows together with our fans in Europe as well." – SANI

PARANOIA is a new style of hard rock that blends various strains of rock music into CATCH THE YOUNG's own sound. The song is about overcoming fear and doubt, believing in yourself, and stepping into a new world. It captures the courage to keep moving forward, pushing beyond your limits, and reaching for the light. PARANOIA marks a new direction for the band, moving beyond their pop-alternative roots and embracing a more anthemic rock sound.

"PARANOIA is a bold, energetic track. Thinking about performing it with all of our fans at the shows already gets my heart racing. I really want to play it live as soon as possible, so please listen to PARANOIA, and I hope you give it lots of love." – NAMHYUN

Not long after the release of their new single, the band will embark on their UK and European tour, CATCH THE YOUNG 2026 EUROPE TOUR IGNITE EVOLVE. It will kick off in November in partnership with European live performance platform FRONTROW. The tour gives European audiences their first chance to hear the new release live. Further details of the tour will be announced through the band's official channels.

ABOUT CATCH THE YOUNG

CATCH THE YOUNG is a South Korean alternative pop-rock band under Evermore Entertainment that debuted on November 1st, 2023, with their first mini album, Catch The Young : Fragments of Youth. The group comprises five members: Sani, Kihoon, Namhyun, Junyong, and Jungmo. The band calls its music genre 'youth pop-rock,' encapsulating the core topic of youth and the band's strength in harmony, multi-vocal, and performance skills. In less than a year since their debut, they performed at the biggest music festivals in Korea, including the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival and Jeonju Ultimate Music Festival in 2024, which they performed for the second time in a row in 2025. As the next-generation K-Rock band, they plan to take on new challenges and expand their activities globally by releasing new music, as well as promoting and performing in and out of Korea.