We Speak Music

Michele Ducci lays down synth-heavy soundscapes on new single ‘Rain On Me’

Published

2 months ago

May 15, 2026

Don Reed

‘Rain on Me’ is the third and final single from the forthcoming album and animated film, ‘Snail in the Clouds’ by Michele Ducci, recorded and produced by Simon Milner (Is Tropical, Ysing) in his 4 am Studios in London.

The album and film tell the story of a planet called ‘Snail’, inhabited by hybrids – primarily a mixture between scorpions, snails and humans – who lead a life according to the style of Pythagoras, devoted to music. There is also a cloud man named Agostos, a writer of musical operettas, who together with a talking smoke machine called Doctor Subtilis, begins to kill all hybrids, targeting in particular the hybrid musician Diodoros and his band, in an effort to steal the ark of melodies, an ancient ship that allows the whole planet to survive with music and joy.

‘Rain on Me’ features synth-heavy soundscapes and dancing bass along with Ducci’s cracked, world-weary vocals.

About the song, Ducci says, “I wrote it thinking about what the rain would say if it could speak. Before starting the recordings, I was listening to “Born Slippy” by Underworld, appreciating the soundscape that they managed to recall with the synth. When I entered the studio Simon told me that he thought a sound like “Born Slippy” would be perfect for the song. So, I think it was a telepathic communication. We recorded all the synth and then we let Leo dance with the bass on the song.”

The video for the single, created and animated by Ducci and Letizia Mandoleisi, is a beautifully choreographed episode in which Diodorus activates the tear ducts of the planet with the song ‘Rain on Me’ and is carried in flight by an umbrella.

The album and full-length film will be released on the 5^th of June on Monotreme Records. A Limited edition 200 copies 180 g vinyl LP will follow in July.

Michele and Letizia’s previous musical short film, ‘The Great Book of Nature’, is an official selection for the 2026 Venice Shorts Film Festival.

We Speak Music

The Songs of Butler & Cupples Prioritise Craft on Intimate New Single ‘Better off Lost’

Published

5 days ago

July 3, 2026

Brett Wylie

Following the momentum of their first three breakout releases earlier this year, genre-fluid project The Songs of Butler & Cupples have returned with ‘Better off Lost’. A stripped-back, intimate offering that further sharpens their songcraft-first ethos, the release reinforces the duo’s position as one of the most forward-thinking, emerging songwriting projects operating outside the traditional band framework.

Conceived entirely as a vehicle where pure songcraft remains the central focus, The Songs of Butler & Cupples was formed in direct response to a contemporary music landscape increasingly shaped by image, algorithms, and visual perception rather than musical composition.

Led by two highly experienced industry songwriters, the project is intentionally fluid. It allows musical ideas to dictate their own final form without being restricted by rigid genre conventions or commercial chart expectations. With ‘Better off Lost’, the pair turn inward, embracing an acoustic-led direction underpinned by Americana-leaning textures and delicate, emotive vocal arrangements.

Sonically, the track marks a further evolution in their rapidly expanding creative palette. Built around a gentle acoustic guitar foundation, ‘Better off Lost’ foregrounds vulnerability and vocal performance above all else. The raw emotional delivery is elevated by subtle, layered harmonies and understated pop sensibilities that give the track its modern, polished edge.

The duo’s stylistic range has already drawn comparisons to boundary-pushing artists such as Miley Cyrus and Kacey Musgraves, whose recent celebrated works have helped reframe contemporary Americana within the broader pop landscape. Like those icons, Butler & Cupples demonstrate a versatile range that fiercely resists easy categorization.

Across their 2026 discography, they have proven comfortable shifting between entirely different sonic worlds, including: Electronic-Leaning Production: Utilising sleek, modern digital textures. Experimental & Rock Influence: Embracing grittier, guitar-driven edge and unpredictable structures. Acoustic Minimalism: As heard on the new single, proving that a strong emotional through-line remains intact regardless of the instrumentation.

Rather than chasing viral TikTok trends or tailoring their masters for playlist algorithms, the project remains deeply rooted in strong structural songwriting, genuine emotional resonance, and absolute creative freedom.

At its core, The Songs of Butler & Cupples functions as an open creative framework without built-in limitations or outside expectations. ‘Better off Lost’ stands as another clear statement of intent from the duo: that well-crafted songs, when given proper breathing room and unfiltered honesty, still possess the power to cut through the modern noise.