Discovering the new music underground around the globe
Folk/Review Said Sara - Then There You Are
After performances in Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Berkeley in 2023, San Francisco singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Said Sara, aka David Benson, is coming full circle. Said Sara is a smoldering extension of Benson’s essence—a true itch. As a child of the 70’s, he grew up on the singer-songwriters of that era of emergence: Baez, Stevens, Croce, Taylor, Buckingham, and Mitchell. But Benson was/is a metalhead and a punk (yes, both) in the 80s, 90s, and beyond. In 2008, he joined crust punk-turned-death metal warhorse Acephalix, of which he remains the drummer.
Afrobeat/Review Prince Coffeo - Mammy Cuss
Prince Coffeo is a songwriter and singer with love and feelings.
Rock/Review Mercvrial - Glittering Oblivion
Rock/Review Slim Loris - Hands Up
Slim Loris from Stockholm, Sweden, blends Indie Pop/Rock with Americana and a pinch of Swedish melancholy. Formed in 2009 in Stockholm, Sweden, Slim Loris consists of singer/bass player Mattias Cederstam, guitarist Robert Barrefelt, drummer Tobias Lundgren, and singer/guitarist Leon Lindström. As the leading light of Scandicana, the Swedish cousin of Americana, Slim Loris has already received glowing tributes from the likes of Huffington Post and Axs. After releasing three albums, however, the band was forced to take a break, battling collectively through personal setbacks.
Hip-Hop/Review Proklaim - LIFE
Proklaim (Kult Status) is a Ugandan-born MC raised in Zambia and based in Namibia with a passion to glorify the name of God through the medium of hip-hop music and to do so with excellence and passion.
Pop/Review Melina Hazewood - Simple Desire
Melina Hazewood is an English-French 16-year-old singer-songwriter, and she has written 76 songs in the last 4 years. Through her songs, she hopes to share experiences and give a voice to all who want to be heard.
Rock/Review Harry Kappen - Cool Down
Harry Kappen is a Dutch musician and music therapist. He is a multi-instrumentalist and composes his songs in his home studio in the Netherlands. His music is eclectic: catchy songs, dramatic works, poppy, solid guitar rock, smooth ballads, and classical. Most of his lyrics are very personal. About his past, his love, his fears, etc. Music and text are presented as one coherent whole. A nice mix of Bowie, McCartney, Motorpsycho, and especially a lot of ‘Harry’.
Pop/Review Anacy - Delight
Original, revolutionary, and compellingly creative, Anacy is an Indie Pop musician like no other. Anacy's creative exploration is part of her multi-disciplinary practice, spanning music, performance, acting, dance, and radio. As an artist, she sketches a musical experience. The last few years have seen Anacy's attention driven towards live performances at shows including Cape Town Coffee Festival, Cafe Roux, and Raptor Room, to name a few.
Rock/Review Mark Howard - The Light Behind Us
Phillip Island troubadour, Mark Howard has shared his musical tales across 45 countries, earning critical acclaim in both his native Australia and across the globe. Crafting his debut album, 'Passing Strangers,' while navigating the global pandemic in his coastal hometown of Phillip Island, Victoria, Mark's music blends swampy grooves with fresh melodic twists weaving between the boundaries of folk, rock, blues, and alt-country.
Metal/Review Illyria - Wanderlust
Originally based in Perth, Western Australia, Illyria was founded by Ilija Stajić in late 2013 whilst travelling in Europe looking for a new, refreshing sound to compose and bring back to the Southern hemisphere. Inspired by fellow contemporaries Alcest, Deafheaven, Lantlôs, and Les Discrets, Illyria's goal is to capture the gracious melodies and pulsating rhythms of the hybrid genre while promoting the accessibility of the genre to new listeners around the world.
Rock/Review Shaun Finn - So Bad So Good
For those who don't "know," Shaun Finn is one of the best-kept Canadian secrets, though that will soon change. The indie musician out of Vancouver, Canada, possesses the rare ability to command the elements of rock and soul to combine an elegant yet raw mix of music. For his live shows, he expertly uses a live loop pedal and an ever-evolving tool kit of multi-FX pedals and instruments: guitar, vocals, percussion (beatbox, whacking his guitar), harmonica, and a midi keyboard equipped with synths and drum pads.
Rock/Review Erelah - Epochs
Erelah is a studio project by Alexander Platon, aimed at songwriting and a DIY approach to music production. With a passion for creating cinematic music with rock influences, he invites guest musicians to collaborate on various projects. His unique sound is a blend of atmospheric compositions and powerful rock melodies. Erelah draws inspiration from cinematic scores and rock classics, resulting in a sound that is both nostalgic and innovative.
Rock/Review Monrad - The Game
Monrad is the solo moniker of Matthew Ramon. Part of a reverb-drenched, instrumental surf punk band for most of his twenties (Rencontrez l’amour - Born of punk and reverb), he only grabbed back to music when he finally settled in a rural Italian village. Loyal to a reverby guitar sound, Matthew started experimenting with other instruments and different genres, styles, and sounds.
Rock/Review Monotronic - Sun Song
Since emerging in 2016, Monotronic has maintained its status as a ponderous and provocative enigma. Conceived by guitarist/producer Ramsey Elkholy, Monotronic started as a loose collective of NYC-based musicians. The rotating cast of musicians has shared the stage and recorded with the likes of Joe Jackson, Robert Randolph, Elliot Moss, The Spin Doctors, and Dweezil Zappa, to name a few.
Rock/Review Almost - Disarm
Almost is a five-piece group with Arik Fritz and Tyler Schmidt on guitars, Syria Bonkowski on bass, Bramwell Miller on drums, and Cameron Bash on vocals. Bash and Schmidt have been internet friends for years. When Bash was leaving Chicago for Michigan, the two finally met in person and right away began collaborating on the handful of songs Bash had written. At a coffee shop in town, they first met Bonkowski and Miller, who were then playing in a punk band called ‘The Pink Skirts.’ The four joined forces and began hashing out the songs even more, but it wasn’t until Fritz joined the band that the group really came together to be the 5-piece rock act that they are today.
Electronic/Review Cassava Groove Temple - Mountains of the Moon
Cassava Groove Temple is a collective of musicians from the UK, Sweden, Uganda, and Ukraine, delivering a unique blend of music.
Pop/Review Anna Thoresen - MARY JANE
Anna Thoresen is a 22-year-old singer-songwriter from New Jersey. Her influences are Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, Alanis Morissette, and Charli Xc.
Electronic/Review Me & Melancholy - Illusio Veri
Me & Melancholy is the brainchild of musician and producer Peter Ehrling, a one-man project that delves into the world of electronic music with a focus on melancholic, synth-based sounds. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Me & Melancholy was derived from Gränsen, established in 2022, and draws inspiration from some of the most influential synthpop and new wave bands of the 80s and 90s, including New Order & Depeche Mode, as well as indie bands from the 90s and today such as Radiohead, Pavement & Bloc Party.
Dance/Review Ateska - Beautiful Day
Ateska is a burgeoning music artist who, despite having no formal training, has leveraged AI technology to create and share their unique musical creations. Ateska remains an anonymous figure, preferring to let their music.
Electronic/Review Neodym - Good Times
Neodym is not an average EDM artist. Hailing from Poland but now calling Germany her home, she is a force to be reckoned with in the electronic music scene. With her powerful vocals, masterful compositions, and thought-provoking lyrics, Neodym is able to connect with her audience on a deeper level. In just two years, Neodym has carved a distinctive path for herself in the music industry. Media attention in the Gossip LA and over 60 placements in various international radio stations are just a few notable milestones.