DISCOVERING THE NEW MUSIC UNDERGROUND AROUND THE GLOBE
Folk/Review JD Days - Christmas Anthology
JD Days is a UK-based creative collective led by singer-songwriter James, blending pop-rock, folk, and cinematic visual storytelling. Their mission is to create timeless music and imagery that celebrate love, forgiveness, and the shared humanity at the heart of the holiday season.
Folk/Review Nice Verdes - Magic in Minutiae
Nice Verdes, a musical duo formed in 2003, creates a distinctive blend of original music inspired by the rhythms and melodies of Cuba, Colombia, and beyond. With Cuban tres, accordion, guitar, harmonica, and rich vocal harmonies, they weave together soundscapes that are vibrant, textured, and full of energy. Moving fluidly across genres, they have crafted a sound uniquely their own within the world of indie global folk.
Metal/Review Nordic Hamster - The Battle For Christmas
Nordic Hamster is a progressive-metal duo from Orlando, Florida. After years as an instrumental guitar project, the band evolved with Cody Nordine stepping up on vocals and Cody Hamilton on guitar. Lifelong friends, full-time dads, and part-time riff machines. Proudly signed to Indian River Music Company.
Hip-Hop/Review Mike Quintor - TRANCE
Born on October 25, 2001, Mike Quintor is a Mexican/Yemeni psychedelic hip-hop artist/producer from San Ramon, CA. Quintor expresses his unique insights through music, offering a profound reflection of his inner world. As an artist and producer, he seamlessly blends together his Mexican and Yemeni heritage into his sound.
Rock/Review Erro - Shadowland
Erro is a Pittsburgh-born, female-fronted pop-rock collective led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Nikki Stagel, whose vision is to anchor the project in an unmistakably human sound. Built on the belief that modern music can still feel alive, Erro creates songs the old-fashioned way: instruments in a room, feelings on the surface, press record.
Classical/Review Hilgrove Kenrick, Ǣfendrēama, Chloe May Evans - Four Songs for Christmastime
First a cathedral chorister in Birmingham, UK, and then jazz gigs across the West Midlands, Hilgrove Kenrick eventually settled in Worcestershire, where he writes award-winning music for film, television, and games alongside classical and choral commissions. Composer, chorister, and musician Chloe May Evans has connected with millions of international listeners through her careful, evocative compositions, including crossover classical piano pieces, traditional choral scores, duets focusing on motherhood, and performances at Arte Laguna, Venice. Founded by Hilgrove Kenrick and Chloe May Evans, Aefendreama (styled as Ǣfendrēama, literally “Evening Song”) is a passion project borne out of a love of choral music and The Marches.
Hip-Hop/Review Chandra Edinburgh - Crashing Out
Chandra Edinburgh, also known as CJ KanGuru, is a talented hip hop artist hailing from the vibrant music scene of Coachella Valley, California. As a three-time cancer survivor and outspoken LGBT advocate, Chandra infuses her music with raw emotion and personal experiences. With a passion for producing, writing, and graphic design, she crafts music that resonates with listeners on a deep level, setting her apart in the industry.
Jazz/Review Jill Desiree - Broken
Few artists embody the spirit of classic soul, jazz, and R&B like Jill Desiree. Born in Australia, raised in Indonesia, and educated at the Berklee College of Music, Jill follows in the tradition of artists like Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston by blending evocative vocals with the expert musicianship of some of LA's most creative and virtuosic players.
Jazz/Review Fons & the Chargers - The Last Little Christmas Tree
Fons & the Chargers, hailing from Utrecht, Netherlands, is the brainchild of Fons Slieker, a talented oral maxillofacial surgeon in training with a passion for music and creativity. Residing in Utrecht city with his wife, Leandra Ros, and their newborn son, Guus, Fons draws inspiration from classic '40s-'60s crooner jazz and big band Christmas music, citing influences like Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.
Rock/Review Lost in Town - Whales
Formed in London, Lost in Town blend raw emotion, cinematic atmosphere, and philosophical depth. Their lyrics shift between surreal imagery and personal truth, exploring insomnia, doubt, connection, protest, and spirituality. Their music bridges powerful alternative rock with intimate storytelling and a distinctive sense of identity.
Rock/Review Dandy Lions - Christmas (or any other day)
Outfits first, songs later. Dandy Lions, sibling songwriters, formed at SUNY Purchase in 2007.
Rock/Review Moon Construction Kit - Chemicals
Moon Construction Kit is the one-man project of Olivier Cornu, a musician and songwriter exploring the intersection of psychedelic pop, synthpop, cinematic textures, and late 60s influences. With a fascination for timeless, otherworldly aesthetics, his music blends dreamy harmonies and immersive soundscapes, creating a universe where the past and future collide.
Hip-Hop/Review Deepwise - Slow Down
Blending golden-era lyricism with cloud-rap atmospherics, Salt Lake City artist Deepwise is a rising conscious hip-hop artist spreading imaginative positivity through his music. Currently based in Las Vegas, he mixes jazz and funk undertones with electronic psychedelia to create a fresh, genre-fluid hip-hop sound. Growing up on 2Pac, Biggie, OutKast, and other 90s greats, Deepwise’s flow contains traces of the past while remaining distinctly modern. His substantive lyrics explore self-actualization, existential philosophy, and empowerment through a playful, relatable lens. While the beats bop, boom, and swerve, his words uplift.
Country/Review JCCutter - We Live Through it All
JCCutter, hailing from New Mexico, United States, embarks on a musical journey that encapsulates resilience and perseverance. Influenced by years of global travels and facing a myriad of challenges, JCCutter's music reflects personal hardships as well as the strength found within communities.
Folk/Review JD Hinton - Should Have Said Hello
A singer/songwriter, JD Hinton has composed songs and music for Hollywood films, including GLORIA, TICK-TOCK, and Mark Medoff’s film CHILDREN ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS. This 1942 period film features his song I HAVE TO DREAM, sung by Celine Dion. JD takes his original music into Los Angeles and New York clubs with sold-out shows at Rockwood Music Hall, Vitello’s, Rockwell, House of Blues, and Viper Room. A personal highlight was singing at the Vatican for the Pope.
Metal/Review Ben Rankin - Save Your Tears
Ben Rankin is a 21-year-old singer/songwriter from Canberra who attempts to combine his rock/metal influences with his love for pop artists such as Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi.
Jazz/Review Michael Friedinger - Winter Joys
Michael Friedinger - Winter Joys
Jazz/Review Meegan & Tobin - The Season's Back Again
Together, Jeff Meegan and David Tobin have crafted more than 1,000 works across jazz, classical, pop, big band, and film/TV music. Their compositions have appeared in Fleabag, This Is Us, RuPaul’s Drag Race, NCIS, The Equalizer, A Million Little Things, Big Mouth, and other top-tier productions.
Rock/Review JP Kennedy - The Grass Widow
JP Kennedy is a self-written artist that masterfully blends his punk rock spirit with influences from the opposing genres of country folk and grunge. Hailing from Ardara, County Donegal, he is a music graduate of Ballyfermot Rock School, Dublin, and the University of Popular Music and Music Business in Mannheim, Germany.
Pop/Review Michellar - Game of Love (feat. Rad Datsun)
Michellar hails from the vibrant music scene of San Francisco, United States. She has been writing songs from the age of 15 and had a 40-year hiatus from the skill. Until recently, her songwriting craft has been ignited by a confidence-boosting acceptance to The de Young Museum Open Call Exhibition in 2023.