DISCOVERING THE NEW MUSIC UNDERGROUND AROUND THE GLOBE
Rock/Review Wreckless Strangers - Dirty Souls
Wreckless Strangers is a collective of friends and musicians carrying the torch for San Francisco’s grand rock ‘n’ roll tradition. Their unique blend of “Ameri-Cali Soul” melds the contemporary blues stylings of Bonnie Raitt and Boz Scaggs; the songwriting sensibilities of Sons of Champlin and Fleetwood Mac; the swashbuckling Americana of the Lost Planet Airmen and Peter Rowan; and the funk of Sly Stone and Tower of Power with a dash of Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane for flavor and unpredictability.
Rock/Review Peningo Riders - Love Ain't Everything
Based in Marianna, Florida, Peningo Riders blends the storytelling of classic Americana with the driving energy of Southern Rock. After exploding onto the scene with the viral hit "Duck That Jeep," the band is carving out a lane for authentic, road-ready rock music that speaks to the rebel in everyone.
Rock/Review Ellery Twining - Oy!
Ellery Twining - Oy!
Electronic/Review Radical Man - Power Systems
Radical Man is an experimental electronic project based in western Colorado focused on the tension between structure and chaos. Built around repetition and structural pressure, the music treats rhythm as architecture rather than genre. Patterns destabilize and reform over time, favoring mutation over resolution. Each release explores a different configuration of controlled friction.
Rock/Review Headmaster - Seasons Spring, Vol.4
Headmaster, a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, is unveiling his ambitious and prolific "Seasons" tetralogy with 4 albums released at the meteorological start date of the season, starting with Summer on June 1st, Autumn on September 1st, Winter on December 1st, and Spring on March 1st. With roots in North Wales, now hailing from the vibrant musical melting pot of London, Headmaster emerges with a sound that is both expansive and deeply set in the rich tapestry of human experience.
Rock/Review Razed by Rebels - Broken Paradigm
Jason Winfield is a writer, producer, director, and the creative force behind Razed by Rebels, an industrial art-rock project that fuses music, film, and visual storytelling. Born from a lifelong passion for music and collaboration, Razed by Rebels brings together a diverse range of artists and musicians to create immersive songs, videos, and multimedia experiences. Though not a traditional band, the project thrives on creative partnerships, blending industrial soundscapes, art-rock aesthetics, and cinematic visuals, often with a distinctive sci-fi twist.
World/Review Tita Nzebi - Réminiscence
Tita Nzebi, hailing from the lush forests of Mbigou in Gabon, has emerged as a powerful voice in the international music scene. With a career spanning continents from Gabon to India, Canada to Germany, she skillfully blends African rhythms with modern sounds, all while singing predominantly in the Nzebi language to assert a strong identity and a commitment to heritage.
Rock/Review Terminal Fear - Flowchart
Terminal Fear, hailing from Winchester, England, is a dynamic music group comprised of Skip, Stu, Rumm, and Twiggy. These talented individuals have been collaborating for several years, nurturing their friendship and musical chemistry.
R&B/Review Ricky Earlywine - move like this
Ricky Earlywine is a singer and independent main performer based in Lacey, WA, currently operating in a "resurrection" era of high-stakes technicality. Grounded by a 90/100 vocal standard, Ricky’s sound is an intentional bridge between commercial pop and technical R&B, drawing direct influence from his "Vocal Trinity": Tori Kelly, Kehlani, and Rihanna. His foundation is built on years of rigorous training—mastering choir dynamics and harmonic layering under Mr. Terry Shaw and theatrical projection with Ms. Brenda Amburgy.
Country/Review Ker - Big Boots and Wide Brimmed Hats
Ker was born in Edinburgh, a city whose rich cultural backdrop quietly shaped an early appreciation for storytelling and expression. Later, a move to London opened the door to an international career in marketing, where Ker worked across major British, American, German, and French companies. The industries were as varied as they were prestigious—ranging from coffee and whiskey to premium champagne—providing a dynamic and fast-paced professional life grounded in creativity, branding, and global perspective.
Rock/Review Kelsie Kimberlin - Champ
Kelsie Kimberlin is a 26-year-old singer-songwriter who has been involved with music her entire life, starting with children’s and church choirs and then recording her first song at age eight for Yoko Ono’s Peace Project, which won first prize and a $5000 award. She spent all of that money on music lessons and started recording her own music in the studio at age 12. Over the past several years, she has recorded more than 100 original songs.
Metal/Review Non-Divine - Eyeball
Non-Divine’s music is like melodic groove rock metal in its own original way. It was early 1999 when Dutch musician Ivor van Beek fulfilled his ambition to form a mainstream metal-sounding band based on danceable grooves, melodic guitars, and a diverse spectrum of vocals.
Rock/Review Harry Kappen - Balance
Harry Kappen is an internationally recognized singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music therapist whose work bridges artistic expression and human connection. Known for his emotionally rich songwriting and stylistic versatility, Kappen continues to create music that challenges perspectives while celebrating empathy and authenticity.
Hip-Hop/Review Exzenya - International Power
Exzenya is a globally based, genre-defying artist blending pop, R&B, rock, jazz, Latin, soul, techno, indie, and more. Her sound is as fluid as her passport—bold, emotional, and unpredictable. From lush harmonies to raw vulnerability, every song is handcrafted with intent, range, and story. Her songs introduce a voice that’s unapologetically human—no autotune, no AI, no shortcuts. Every lyric is written by Exzenya. Every vocal is sung live in paid sessions with her vocal coach.
Rock/Review The Burton D'agostini Procedure - Do You Feel Alright
The Burton D'agostini Procedure, hailing from the United States, is a musical duo formed by Jeff Burton and John D'Agostini, who have a rich history in the music industry. Having supported several touring bands over the years, their influences span from 60s psychedelia to modern alternative, resulting in a unique sound that blends the best of past and present.
Rock/Review The Wow Wows - Johny's Gone Invisible
The Wow Wows are an independent psychedelic 4-piece band from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, that craft their own blend of modern rock music.
Rock/Review Parked Outside - Whispers of 1000 Dreams Ago
Parked Outside, hailing from Los Angeles and Houston, United States, is a dynamic musical collective led by Chris Kinkade on vocals and Slayden Clarkson on guitar and bass. Originally coming together in Houston as part of the band "Six Days Off," their shared passion for music led them to form Parked Outside, a project that allows them to fully realize their vision and influences. With the addition of Mike Brown on drums and Brett Busch on lead guitar, Parked Outside brings a unique blend of creativity and talent to the music scene, captivating audiences with their eclectic sound.
Electronic/Review Magdi Aboul-Kheir - Slow Heat
Magdi Aboul-Kheir is a Germany-based composer and journalist whose musical world spans from baroque to metal, from string quartet to trance, and from late romanticism to urban groove. A pianist by training, he composes intuitively—guided by emotion as much as by craft. Deeply committed to melody, his music is expressive and accessible, whether written for full orchestra or retro synthesizers.
Hip-Hop/Review 13illy - bringmeback
Independent Canadian R&B/hip-hop artist 13illy continues to refine his sound, showing versatility with his latest single, "bringmeback."
Soul/Review Chris Oledude - If A Woman Had Made The World (feat. Kiena Williams)
Chris Oledude, a Puerto Rican-born artist with a lifelong dedication to truth-telling, has evolved as a musician over the years, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of musical influences. Growing up harmonizing with his siblings in a household filled with classical, folk, pop, and protest music, Oledude's musical journey has been shaped by his family's creativity. Following a period of civic and political activism, Oledude reconnected with his passion for music in 2020, emerging as a renewed artist with a mission to blend old-school genres like pop, funk, and R&B with contemporary urgency.