DISCOVERING THE NEW MUSIC UNDERGROUND AROUND THE GLOBE
Pop/Review Anna Thoresen - GROUNDHOG DAY
Los Angeles-based artist Anna Thoresen has been transforming personal adversity into compelling sonic narratives since relocating to the West Coast. Working from her home studio, Thoresen channels raw emotion through her guitar-driven songwriting, creating music that bridges classic rock sensibilities with bold experimental production. Drawing influence from iconic acts like The Police and Fleetwood Mac alongside contemporary innovator Dijon, she crafts a sound that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern.
Hip-Hop/Review Deportee - Black Women Are Not Cheap
Deportee is a reggae/dancehall fusion artist based out of Detroit, Michigan, and St. Mary, Jamaica. A true world citizen, Deportee grew up in 8 different countries with his mother, Sylvia Curran, who was a high-ranking United States diplomat. His controversial name comes from the fact that he and his mother were expelled from Uzbekistan in 2006 for his mother's political activism in the country.
Rock/Review GUIDES - FAILURE / DEFINES
GUIDES is a modern hard rock band blending the textured aggression of nu metal with the emotional depth of post-hardcore, delivering a sound built on heavy riffs, atmospheric layers, and melodic intensity. The band has quickly risen through the regional heavy scene, sharing stages with Sevendust, Taproot, Cold, Orgy, and Attack Attack! while building a reputation for raw, high-energy live performances.
Rock/Review Trophic Cascade - Cool Zep
Trophic Cascade is the musical project of Peter Marsh, a multi-instrumentalist based in the coastal town of Bulli, New South Wales, where the ocean meets lush Australian rainforest. Working from his home studio surrounded by this inspiring natural environment, Marsh is a true one-man band who writes, performs, and records all instruments himself—from piano and guitars to bass, congas, live drums, and vocals.
Rock/Review Dave's Manual - Electrical
Minneapolis-based rock band Dave’s Manual returns with their latest single, "Electrical," a high-energy nightlife anthem about hitting the town with your crew and making the most of the night.
Folk/Review Mark Cee - How You Left Me Still
Mark Cee is an ambient indie folk artist dedicated to the art of the "human" recording. With a history of writing poetry and music dating back to 1995, his work is a soulful reflection of the Gen X experience.
Hip-Hop/Review Medium B - Right Hand Man (feat. Ben Miller)
Medium B is the hip-hop production alias of Ben Miller, a Rochester-based jazz pianist, composer, and producer who leads the Ben Miller Trio and Dweller on the Threshold. As founder of Third Motion Studios in Rochester, New York—a creative lab and full-service recording studio—Miller has established himself as a multifaceted artist who traverses the worlds of jazz performance, production, recording engineering, mixing and mastering, film scoring, and large ensemble leadership.
Hip-Hop/Review Ray Gibbz - Royal Ruby
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.
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.