DISCOVERING THE NEW MUSIC UNDERGROUND AROUND THE GLOBE
Hip-Hop/Review 13illy - NOTHING W/O YOU
13illy is an independent 20-year-old Canadian R&B/hip-hop artist blending melodic rap, alt-R&B, and atmospheric trap into emotionally charged, late-night records. Raised between Vancouver and Beijing, he has been making music since age 12 and playing piano since age 4. Drawing influence from artists like The Kid LAROI, Brent Faiyaz, Don Toliver, and PARTYNEXTDOOR, 13illy creates songs that balance smooth vocals, introspective songwriting, and modern, polished production.
Folk/Review Finlay Birch - Weight Will Unwind
Finlay Birch is a Scottish singer-songwriter originally from Inverclyde and now based on the Isle of Mull, where his creative spirit has long felt at home. His music blends alternative folk, indie, and soft rock, shaped by a reflective writing style and a strong sense of place.
Rock/Review Sutlej - Tell Me You Care
Sutlej are a three-piece alternative rock band from London. Their sound brings together 90s grunge and emo with elements of modern post-punk, creating something that feels familiar but not derivative—sitting somewhere in the same world as Deftones and Sunny Day Real Estate while carving out a distinct identity of their own. The mix of these styles gives their music a balance of weight, melody, and intensity that feels both raw and fresh.
Pop/Review Paper Swords - Breathe In The Light
Paper Swords is the dark sci-fi music and visual universe of Wyoming artist Phil Black. Blending indie electronic dark pop, cinematic synth textures, live instrumentation, and story-driven visuals, Paper Swords explores themes of love, loss, memory, technology, and the unknown. Written, performed, produced, mixed, mastered, filmed, edited, and visually created by Black, the project brings together music, 3D world-building, and narrative filmmaking into one connected universe.
Punk/Review St. Divine - 30 Dolls
St. Divine is a critically acclaimed NYC-based punk/Americana five-piece band fronted by Will Croxton and Judy Ann Nock. Featuring duets, obscure covers, and majestic rock, St. Divine has deep roots in the humid South but is firmly planted in the blacktopped urban wilds. Formed in 2024 by vocalist/guitarist Will Croxton and Judy Ann Nock, after performing together with punk legend Ivan Julian, the band quickly gained traction on WFMU, The Underground Garage, and college radio across the U.S., including WMFO, KDVS, and WZBC, surpassing 350 radio plays across the world by 2026.
Metal/Review Panda Clan - Leave Your Shit Out Of My Brain
Born in Milan out of the cultural antagonism scene, Panda Clan is a collective that combines music and critical thinking. In opposition to the image society—which produces billions of visual contents every day—its members choose not to expose themselves publicly.
Metal/Review Karma Noir - This Is Her Time
Hailing from Brussels, Belgium, Karma Noir delivers a visceral collision of metal's most explosive eras. Drawing from the ferocity of 80's thrash, the raw intensity of 90's hardcore, and the devastating precision of early metalcore and deathcore, this collective has forged a sound that honours their formative influences while carving out distinct sonic territory.
Rock/Review Yair Noam - Guardian Devil
Hailing from Kiryat Yam, Israel, Yair Noam is an artist whose music speaks to the struggles and triumphs of the human experience. After stepping away from music for several years, Noam found his creative spark reignited by Twenty One Pilots, with Tyler Joseph's songwriting proving to be a lifeline during particularly difficult times.
Hip-Hop/Review Dolu - Self Conscious
Dolu is a Nigerian-born, Canada-based rapper and producer whose music blends Afro-influenced sounds with introspective hip-hop. Formerly known as Uno Denie, his work centers on identity, lived experience, and personal growth. His evolution into the name Dolu represents a stronger connection between the artist and the person behind the music.
Electronic/Review Synthaurion - Echos Of Your Blessing
Synthaurion is an independent electronic music project focused on melodic, atmospheric trance and other EDM genres with a luminous, forward-looking emotional core. Across releases, the project blends uplifting energy with reflective storytelling, often touching on inner strength, gratitude, and spiritual light.
Hip-Hop/Review Philmac - Live My Life
Philmac is an independent recording artist, producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends hip-hop, rock, soul, and cinematic storytelling. A true one-man-band artist, Philmac writes, produces, performs, and records much of his own material, creating immersive songs built around live instrumentation, powerful melodies, and emotionally honest themes. His work explores purpose, perseverance, identity, freedom, and the human search for meaning.
Hip-Hop/Review Igor - Lisboa Na Cabeça
Ïgor is a Portuguese-born, London-based artist blending alternative hip-hop, R&B, and pop influences. Following a serious knee injury that left him sidelined for an extended period, he turned his focus entirely to songwriting and recording.
R&B/Review WiLL - IG Love
WiLL is an R&B and pop recording artist from Washington, D.C., whose music transforms deeply personal experiences into emotionally powerful stories. Through soulful vocals, honest songwriting, and modern production, WiLL explores the realities of love, relationships, identity, and self-discovery from a same-gender-loving perspective.
Metal/Review X-ANONYMOUS - CLAIM IT ALL
Musically, X-ANONYMOUS combines modern metal, hard rock, industrial influences, cinematic atmospheres, and emotionally driven storytelling. The project explores themes such as identity, technology, psychological conflict, societal manipulation, human resilience, consciousness, and the search for authenticity in an increasingly fragmented world.
Electronic/Review Valley Lights - Devil May Care
There’s a stretch of the Sunset Strip where glamour fades into grit. Where alleyways behind velvet ropes smell of perfume, sweat, and regret. That’s the emotional terrain of Valley Lights, an L.A.-based artist sculpting sleek, electronic pop that pulses with lust, longing, and late-night loneliness.
Rock/Review ReeToxA - Love Keeps Burning Still
ReeToxA originally emerged as the brainchild of Melbourne’s own Jason McKee, a lifelong songwriter whose musical awakening took place as a teenager against the gritty backdrop of 1990s Frankston, although life quickly got in the way of his creative dreams.
Hip-Hop/Review Ray Gibbz - If I Ruled
Ray Gibbz is a self-taught producer, songwriter, and rapper emerging from San Diego's vibrant music scene. What makes his journey particularly compelling is his completely independent approach to music creation—with no formal schooling or traditional music background, he's crafted his sound entirely through dedication and raw talent. Working from his San Diego apartment, Ray Gibbz handles every aspect of his production, demonstrating the kind of artistic authenticity that resonates in today's music landscape.
Rock/Review Patti Zlaket - Dance Again
Patti Zlaket - Dance Again
Rock/Review 4fro Nick - Don't Waste My Time (LA mix)
4fro Nick, a.k.a. Nick Anastasakis, is a Greek-born, U.S.-based artist whose journey began in Crete, was shaped in New York, and continues to evolve in Los Angeles. As the frontman of the indie rock band 4fro Nick draws inspiration from his childhood on the island of Crete, nestled between the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Among his earliest memories are the sounds of gypsies performing on Venetian cobblestone streets, playing guitars for spare coins—moments that would later influence his raw and passionate musical style.
Metal/Review The Lazz - The Descent
"The Lazz" is a high-concept metal project led by Ben Lazzaro, a veteran composer and guitarist with over 40 years of performance experience (est. 1982). Lazzaro is not only a seasoned musician but also a formally trained visual artist, holding an Associate of Science in Visual Communication (Honors) and bringing 13 years of professional experience as a 3D digital artist in the video game industry.