DISCOVERING THE NEW MUSIC UNDERGROUND AROUND THE GLOBE
Rock/Review Sweet Mess - Let's Just Go
Phoenix-based rock powerhouse Sweet Mess has emerged as one of Arizona's most electrifying live acts, seamlessly bridging the worlds of classic rock tribute and original songwriting. Founded in 2018 by drummer Michael Hayes and lead vocalist Sylvie, the four-piece lineup—completed by guitarist Fer Lopez and bassist Rob Watson—spent years commanding stages across the Southwest, paying homage to iconic female rock legends from Pat Benatar and Joan Jett to Halestorm and Paramore.
Electronic/Review Angelos Zgaras - Erchome
Angelos Zgaras is a music producer and former DJ with a deep connection to music since the age of 7. His first inspirations came from Byzantine music, forming a strong melodic perception. He started professionally as a DJ in Greece, gradually developing his own artistic identity. In 2015, he released “The Dark Road," a turning point with significant impact. International collaborations based in Berlin and participation in projects with a presence in the American market followed.
Electronic/Review Iuliano - Time
Born in Italy, Iuliano discovered music as a young boy through his grandfather, who played the piano. He pursued this artistic path when he moved to Boston to enroll at Berklee College of Music. With his engineering and arranging expertise finely tuned, Iuliano gravitated to the role of a producer between Europe and Asia. After a four-year experience in Malaysia, he chose to launch his solo career as a world citizen.
Pop/Review Alex Tolm - Présence Absente
Alex Tolm is a Belgian artist who brings a wealth of life experience to his music, viewing songwriting as a refined space for reflection and storytelling. Moving away from traditional industry paths, he focuses on the raw, poetic intersection of classic chanson and modern alternative pop. His work is defined by atmospheric textures and a cinematic quality, capturing the quiet, melancholic moments of life with a perspective that only comes with time and maturity.
Pop/Review LiMaVii - New World 33
Lidia Magdalena Pozańska, professionally known as LimaVii, is a Polish singer, songwriter, dancer, model, and energy healer. Her music goes beyond entertainment, harnessing healing frequencies to create transformative experiences. As a lyricist and co-composer, LimaVii has always been passionate about music, dreaming from a young age of sharing her talent with the world.
Rock/Review The Flavor That Kills - Thunderbird Lodge
The Flavor That Kills - Thunderbird Lodge
Classical/Review Tamer Sağcan - Home: Universes
Tamer Sağcan is a Turkish composer, classical guitarist, and author based in Ankara. His instrumental compositions — built on classical guitar and extended through orchestration — blend cinematic depth with Anatolian warmth. The Home Trilogy (Home: Roots, Home: Universes, and the forthcoming Home: Echoes) is the sonic layer of the Eleyrrha Universe, a 19-book science fiction and fantasy saga to be published by Ötüken Neşriyat.
Metal/Review The Lazz - The Resonance
"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.
Afrobeat/Review Ladymakavelli - Selena Tested
Ladymakavelli is a London-based Nigerian artist known for her distinctive sound and electrifying, out-of-this-world stage performances. She has made her mark headlining iconic venues, including Coco Camden, Legacy Live Lounge, and BBC Introducing showcases. Beyond music, Ladymakavelli is currently exploring neuroscience, researching the impact of musical nostalgia on people in comas, blending artistry with purpose and innovation.
EDM/Review m0n0 jay - L. L. L. (ATH Remix)
m0n0 jay makes pop music from the gym floor. Glitter, sweat, breath, rhythm. Her sound combines pop hooks with industrial textures and playful chaos, creating songs that feel physical, unapologetic, and alive. No before-and-after narratives. No perfection arcs. Just strength, movement, and presence. Candy-colored, body-forward, and slightly unhinged—this is pop as power, not performance.
Classical/Review Lorenzo Cimino & Sergio Sorrentino - Enoscapes
Lorenzo Cimino, trumpeter, composer, and a prominent figure in cultural programming, embodies the idea of a "total musician," moving naturally between contemporary jazz, experimental music, and visual arts. Sergio Sorrentino, described as "an extraordinary musician" (The Wire Magazine) and "the best electric guitarist of classical music" (Il Manifesto), is internationally acclaimed for his distinctive use of the electric archtop guitar.
Metal/Review The Lazz - Observer
"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.
Electronic/Review Steam Lizard - Music Is My Medicine
Steam Lizard is the songwriting alias of Steve Bonham, an independent artist from Fleetwood, Lancashire, UK. His musical journey began in the late 2000s, with early tracks featured on BBC Radio 1’s Dave Pearce Dance Anthems and BBC Introducing on BBC Radio Lancashire. In 2009, his music was selected for the Blackpool Glam Rocks art installation, blending electronic textures with visual storytelling.
Rock/Review Don't Look Now - Second Time Around
Don't Look Now are a band based in Windsor in the UK who have mastered the art of intelligent, story-driven songwriting with an irresistible sense of fun. Drawing inspiration from the witty observations of The Beautiful South, the jangly irreverence of The Smiths, and the cheeky charm of The Kinks and Madness, they've carved out a distinctive sound that refuses to follow the well-worn path of conventional pop.
Pop/Review C'batch - Trapped (I'm Doin' Fine)
Stephen H. Cumberbatch, a/k/a C'batch, is a composer, author, producer, and musician (guitarist) from White Plains, New York, United States. He is also a keyboard, synthesizer, and sampler programmer who has worked in association with many music professionals. Stephen proudly stands as a distinguished member of ASCAP.
Rock/Review Cries of Redemption - Torn (feat. sriracha)
Cries of Redemption (COR) is a Modern Rock recording project founded by guitarist and songwriter Ed Silva in 2007 in Savannah, GA. Ed often blends elements of NuMetal, Classic Trance, Cinematic Trap, and Romanian Deep House, pushing its sonic DNA deep into the “Experimental” zone rather than rigidly adhering to an immediately recognizable genre. Ed’s works and musical affiliations are well documented on platforms such as ReverbNation, Kompoz, and BandCamp dating back to 2006.
Country/Review Adam Wedd - here we go AGAIN
London-based artist Adam Wedd is carving out a distinctive path in the music industry, one that prioritizes artistic integrity over instant gratification. Working alongside esteemed producer Paul Tipler at Unit 13 in Bermondsey—the studio synonymous with iconic acts like Placebo, Idlewild, and Stereophonics—Wedd has crafted a sound that balances ambition with authenticity.
Folk/Review Karen Salicath Jamali - Seeds of God
Karen Salicath Jamali has been a multi-award-winning composer, pianist, and producer since 2015 and a professional American artist, painter, sculptor, and photographer for the last 30 years. Born in Denmark and living and working in NYC & Orlando, she is a voting member of The Recording Academy.
EDM/Review DJ Cards - Lose It in the Lights
DJ Cards is a lawyer by day and an EDM producer by night, bringing a unique balance of precision and creativity into his music. With a musical foundation rooted in over a decade of playing drums, he later explored synthesizers and electronic sound design, ultimately finding his stride in EDM. His sound leans toward uplifting, euphoric melodies with subtle trance influences, creating tracks that aim to connect emotionally while maintaining a strong rhythmic pulse.
Techno/Review Ani Even - Wannabe Woke-Foe
With roots across Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark, Ani Even merges electronic production with North Atlantic cultural undercurrents, creating immersive sonic spaces that balance intensity and transformation. His work has drawn comparisons to Fever Ray, Gesaffelstein, and the industrial lineage of Trent Reznor.