DISCOVERING THE NEW MUSIC UNDERGROUND AROUND THE GLOBE
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.
Classical/Review Jim Klein, Ian Jamison - Klein & Jamison: Piano Trio No. 2 "Mary Margaret"
Jim Klein and Ian Jamison have been collaborating since 2018. They are based in Colorado and Arizona. In 2021, concert pianist Adam Zukiewicz played an all-Klein-Jamison concert during The Beethoven in the Rockies Series: Six Preludes, Piano Sonata (The Abyss), Breaking Waves, and Ah. The Colorado Piano Trio debuted Jamison’s arrangements of George Gershwin’s SummerTime and other American standards for piano trio at UNC Greeley in August 2022.
Jazz/Review Matterform - Matterform
Matterform is a Ventura-based instrumental groove band living at the intersection of deep pocket, cosmic improvisation, and late-night jazz harmony. This is their first year of releasing material after performing in California for the past four years.
Hip-Hop/Review Busydakid - Heron Wave 3
Busydakid is an independent recording artist blending grime, rap, and melodic trap into a distinctive sound built on authenticity, storytelling, and versatility. Drawing inspiration from real-life experiences, his music combines sharp lyricism, memorable flows, and emotional depth, creating records that connect with listeners on a personal level.
Hip-Hop/Review Ice Jackson - The Flu
Ice Jackson is a hip-hop artist from Tallahassee, FL. He is renowned for his shrewd lyricism and his ability to weave together catchy hooks with thought-provoking concepts. A lifelong fan of the culture, Ice counts Outkast, LL Cool J, Scarface, Ice Cube, Nas, and 2Pac as some of his biggest influences. In addition to music, Ice is the co-creator and co-host of the web-based travel show “Give Us The Strength." When he is not rapping or traveling, Ice is a comedian that has performed in several high-profile comedy festivals across the nation. He has shared the stage with talents such as Shane Gillis and Learnmore Jonasi, among others.
Pop/Review Energy Whores - Planet B
Energy Whores is an avant-electro project led by Carrie Schoenfeld in collaboration with guitarist Attilio Valenti and Grant (NYC), whose contributions as producer, sound designer, synthesist, keyboardist, mixer, and mastering engineer help shape the project's distinctive sonic identity.
Electronic/Review Goldfish 404 - Sky Gazing
Goldfish 404 is the enduring creative partnership between Steven Twery and Lynn Schumann, a North Wales, Pennsylvania-based duo. Lynn, a former poetry major, brings evocative vocals and lyrical depth to the project, while Steven—trained in electronic composition—handles guitars, bass, keyboards, production, and an array of other instruments.
Rock/Review Baïki - KosmoX
Baïki is a rather committed Belgian rock band and has been for 3 albums, 1 EP and a set of singles already. The lyrics, sometimes in French, sometimes in English and sometimes even in Polish or Spanish, are often frontal because how could it be otherwise? For Baïki, a song must necessarily carry a message, be the reflection of a social analysis. Baïki comes from the Polish word "bajki", which means "tales, stories". None of this is real, though, on second thoughts.