Discovering the new music underground around the globe
Pop/Review Andreas Grannes - Royal Space Dog
Andreas Grannes is an independent artist, curator, and songwriter based in Torvastad, Norway. The birthplace of the Vikings! With a penchant for crafting music that spans dream pop, singer-songwriter, and indie folk, Grannes brings a fresh and dynamic perspective to the independent music scene.
Pop/Review Sam Feinstein - Hamster Wheel
Born and raised in Peabody, Massachusetts, Sam Feinstein got his musical start on the piano at age 7, adding bass-guitar, upright bass, guitar, cello, ukulele, percussion, synth, harmonica, and more to the mix. In high school, he started a ska band and a klezmer band. He moved to Miami for college to study music engineering at the Frost School of Music. In college, he formed a bluegrass/folk band and another ska band.
Pop/Review Kiesza & Sugar Jesus - Christmas Without You
Kiesza stormed onto the scene in 2014 with her impassioned hit "Hideaway,” which has since accrued over a billion streams; the accompanying one-shot video has been featured on several best-of-decade lists. Her debut studio album, Sound Of A Woman reached the top of the charts globally and sold over a million units. Top-tier musicians soon rushed to work with her, and the rising Canadian talent soon counted herself as a feature on releases from the likes of Skrillex, Diplo, Duran Duran, and Joey Bada$$, to name a few.
EDM/Review Astralix - The Rhythm Fills My Soul
“The Rhythm Fills My Soul” is the first EDM song produced by Gary Dranow of The Manic Emotions and Astralix and Chris Zoupa of Teramaze and The Manic Emotions.
Hip-Hop/Review AGGRASOPPAR - KONSEPTUALISERA SAMANHALD HVØRSÍNAMILLUM
AGGRASOPPAR is a flower-punk/axekiller-pop band from the Faroe Islands. They are infamous for their chaotic live performances, where you never know what to expect out of their surprisingly big and diverse repertoire—everything from harsh noise to soft country. AGGRASOPPAR published its self-referential debut album on Christmas Eve of 2020.
Jazz/Review d'Z - Something New
Born to a conservative family in Rotterdam, a gateway to Europe, the life of a Dutch drummer and composer, Hans-Peter de Zeeuw, a.k.a d'Z, changed at the age of nine when he took his first drum lesson. He sat down behind the drumkit, the feel of the drumstick comfortable as if they had been waiting for this moment to meet. He knew he was destined to be a drummer.
Rock/Review Jack Simpson - Trees
Jack Simpson is North Yorkshire, England songwriter and occasional singer inspired by nature, those around him, and St. Francis. No one writes songs like these.
Rock/Review Santa Claws - She Turns
After an absence of almost 2 years and a first album produced by Greg Gordon, Santa Claws is back with a new line-up, with Colin Le Moigne on drums from 2021 to 2023, replaced in May by Guillaume Hamon. The opportunity to take a new musical direction. A very seventies identity, some work on the backing vocals, and a few folk/psychedelic touches are the quartet's new ingredients.
Rock/Review Martyn Scott - Turn
Martyn Scott is a solo indie musician. His music takes inspiration from some of the great bands of the past. The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Oasis, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, and 90’s Britpop, to name a few. Martyn’s style is laced with effective guitar work, carefully crafted vocal harmonies, and thoughtful instrumentation, with “the song" always at the heart of it all.
Pop/Review Limahl - One Wish For Christmas
Winning millions of fans in the early 80's as the lead singer and songwriter with British band Kajagoogoo, Limahl enjoyed the instant celebrity of hitting the top of the charts with his debut single ‘Too Shy', which was followed by two more Top 20 hits, ‘Ooh To Be Ah’ and ‘Hang On Now’. After the band split, Limahl struck out on his own and soon re-emerged in the charts again with his first solo single, ‘Only For Love’.
Hip-Hop/Review Dax - Catch The Rain
Dax is a rising artist who is currently making something from absolutely nothing.
Punk/Review Department S - Whistle For The Wind (feat. Leigh Heggarty)
Department S is most famous for their 1981 hit single "Is Vic There?" but also achieved success with follow-up singles "Going Left Right” and "I Want." Although the original band recorded an album, they split before it was released, and "Sub-Stance" was shelved. This was turned out to be a missed opportunity. The album was produced by Dave Tickle, who had previously worked on Blondie's “Parallel Lines" and went on to great success with The Police, Prince, and U2.
Pop/Review Ki To - West ft. Delorians
Inspired by vintage, coming-of-age films and bands like Dayglow, ADOY, and HYBS Ki To’s discography oftentimes pairs lyrics that evoke lingering feelings with lush vocals and a production that provides warmth and escapism. After a series of long nights, dates, and heartbreak, Ki To was inspired to write his next record. During this time period, he started performing at jazz bars in different states and in more intimate settings, which led to his most recent release.
Hip-Hop/Review Polyvoda - Homeless
Ukraine-based, genre-fluid Polyvoda emerged amidst the chaos of besieged Kyiv in 2022. Instrumentalists Denis Levchenko (bass), Kyrylo Chykhradze (keys), and Mykhailo Birchenko (drums) transcend borders, partnering with international voices to articulate their shared experience.
Hip-Hop/Review POINT3NINE - The iLLEST
POINT3NINE is the one-man band for this one. His influences are Mo Wax Records from the mid-90's, hip-hop, rock music, and soul-funk music.
Electronic/Review The Screaming Pope - Our Love Is Music
The Screaming Pope is techno music veteran George Bolton, who has been doing electronic music since 1979. He has played with, written for, done session work for, and opened for many bands. He even worked as a music video production assistant in the 80s and 90s and was an assistant engineer at the Cars studio SyncroSound in Boston.
Rock/Review Thirst and the Cow (TATC) - The Main Sequence at Last
Thirst and the Cow (TATC) is an ambient and progressive rock project by Tim Gardner. Tim is a Portland, Maine-based experimental guitarist and Touch Guitar player. TATC music began as ambient/improvisational instrumental music. TATC has released 4 ambient albums to date (Glacial Pools, Gates, Distances Vol. 1, and Distances Vol. 2). With the release of Time Gardeners in 2021, the project branches into more traditional instrumental progressive rock territory with layers of touch guitars, polyrhythms, and ambient textures.
Pop/Review Wotts - WANNABE
Wotts is an Ottawa, Canada-based indie pop duo made up of vocalist/multiinstrumentalist Jayem and bassist/guitarist Ricky 100. Wotts has hit the stages of RBC Bluesfest, Canadian Music Week, and Junofest and has received shoutouts for their work from several outlets, including CBC Radio (Canada), The Luna Collective (U.S.), Iggy Magazine (France), and Mystic Sons (UK).
Rock/Review Love Ghost x Go Golden Junk - Hollywood Blvd.
Love clings to you forever, whether you’re in it or out of it. Like an apparition you can’t shake, it never leaves. Love Ghost’s music conjures a style equally informed by Seattle tradition and Souncloud-era fearlessness. Love Ghost is for the misfits, and their music mostly deals with personal battles of mental health.
Rock/Review Gary Dranow - Sandy Beahes
Gary Dranow is a guitar player and athlete from Park City, Utah. He draws inspiration from his life experiences, and his dedication to his craft is a source of inspiration to fans and aspiring artists alike. With musical influences including Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn, Gary and The Manic Emotions have made a name for themselves in the Blues and Rock music scenes.