DISCOVERING THE NEW MUSIC UNDERGROUND AROUND THE GLOBE
Country/Review Ben Bailey - Vienna
Ben Bailey and Tyler Coles, dear friends from the coal mining town of Price, Utah, have cultivated a musical odyssey deeply rooted in the folk traditions of their hometown. Their story began in the corridors of high school, where they found harmony in the melodies of folk music, resonating with the soul of their tight-knit community.
Rock/Review Electric High - Crooks
Electric High from Bergen, Norway, plays a special blend of alternative rock and hard rock, kind of like if Rival Sons and Royal Blood had crashed the stage at an Aerosmith concert. Fronted by two lead singers, they hit you right in the face with a whole new level of electric energy. The members hail from bands like Sahg, Faith Circus, and Emmerhoff & The Melancholy Babies.
Pop/Review Natalie Clark - Freedom
Scottish singer-songwriter Natalie Clark, who has reaped plaudits from Virgin’s Richard Branson and BBC Radio 1's Nick Grimshaw, was selected as a Mercedes Benz KTLA "Artist to Watch” after moving to the US. Natalie was featured in the Mercedes-Benz commercial campaign, which also included performances at the famous Roxy on Sunset and The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. She was handpicked to open for the Grammy-award-winning Indigo Girls tour and has been recording in L.A when not busy touring the US.
Pop/Review Jojo Engelbert - Not a Real Blond
If you grew up in a family of talented siblings, would you shy away from the spotlight or step into it? If you're like punk-pop artist Jojo Engelbert, you not only step into the spotlight but blaze a trail of your own. While her siblings became Daytime-Emmy-nominated stars of Steal the Show and Ariel & Zoey & Eli Too through their light-hearted messages of support and vibrant pop fun, Jojo courageously explored and expressed the more shadowy sides of adolescence, relationships, and life.
Rock/Review Knút - Vit sótu við havið
Knút (Knút Háberg Eysturstein) is a musician, songwriter, and singer on the Faroese music scene. He has composed, performed, and released music since the turn of the millennium, and his upcoming fourth album is underway. Keywords in describing Knút’s new music are uplift, modern, psychedelic, gospel, spacious, dynamic, and heartfelt. In keeping with the conviction that the most interesting music is made from the melding of different inputs, Knút draws inspiration from a wide variety of styles and genres.
Electronic/Review Blak Emoji - Antidote (Deluxe Edition)
Blak Emoji is the nom de plume of acclaimed New York City producer, recording artist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kelsey Warren. Following a series of critically and commercially successful releases, multiple TV and film placements, U.S. and European tours, and a host of accolades from front-line publications like Clash Magazine and Tape Op, Blak Emoji has joined the esteemed roster at ECR Music Group for these catalog reissues.
Electronic/Review Dennul - Muay Thai
Hailing from Miami, Florida, and raised in Lima, Peru, Dennul (Danniel De La Cruz) grew up surrounded by music. Drawing inspiration from his father’s love for rock and santana, his mother's passion for ballads, and the reggaeton and cumbia rhythms of where he grew up, Dennul has cultivated a sound all his own. Although his initial career focus didn’t lean towards music, his trajectory changed when he moved back to Miami.
Dubstep/Review CRONAM - Decompression
Starting out as a turntablist in the 90s, CRONAM’s original underground style has morphed into an amalgamation of many things as he’s progressed as a musician and forged ahead with a myriad of productions that cross the borders between Techno, Dubstep, IDM and DNB. Instruments like synthesizers, drumsets, and occasionally some samples are part of the secret sauce to crafting his sound.
Hip-Hop/Review MC Hammersmith - Mother's Fettuccine
MC Hammersmith is a multi-award-winning hip-hop comedian. He writes and performs original hip-hop comedy tracks and improvised freestyle rap comedy based on audience suggestions. He is the world's leading rapper to ever emerge from the ghetto of middle-class west London. Now based in Edinburgh, he performs across the UK and internationally.
Rock/Review Will Sims - You Have a Voice, Use It
Baltimore-based alternative rock and pop artist Will Sims creates themes that focus strongly on both romantic and social relationships and the difficulties faced in our modern society. His rich, powerful music reaches out to connect on a personal level while still maintaining infectious components that make his songs stick in your head.
Pop/Review Kim McClay - Comin' Home
A St. Louis native, Kim McClay is a New York City-based actor, dancer, singer and songwriter and a proud member of Actor's Equity. A multi-disciplined artist, she enjoys dancing (particularly tap), singing, and songwriting, though acting remains her first love. Kim has spent the past 3–4 years performing her original songs in music venues across Manhattan.
Rock/Review Repeat - Repeat
Repeat is a newly formed alternative rock band from Sweden. The band was founded by Torbjörn Hallberg, a Stockholm-based guitarist and vocalist, and Johan Holmberg (formerly Liberator). Mattias Belin plays bass. The single "Repeat", released in September 2023, represents the essence of the band. Combining elements of stoner rock and alternative rock with repetitive riffs and lyrics.
Jazz/Review Philippe Petrucciani & Nathalie Blanc - Let's Have a Walk
Embark on a mystical journey through the dreamy world of jazz with Nathalie Blanc and Phillippe Petrucciani, two artists entwined in perfect harmony. Their style forms a beautiful ballad that sails through jazz, subtly tinted with Bossa Nova and generously scented with bebop, creating a unique and enchanting synergy. Invoking all the voluptuousness jazz has to offer, their rhythmically masterful music lifts listeners into the elevated realms of a duo that has truly found each other.
Pop/Review The Heroic Enthusiasts - Tears Run Rings
“There’s no such thing as coincidence” seems to be a recurrent theme for The Heroic Enthusiasts since embarking on their now-acclaimed recording career with Meridian/ECR Music Group. Continuing their collaboration with their legendary producer, the duo’s star is on the rise, and they’re far from content to rest on recent laurels.
Deep House/Review Julien Noma - Mi Amore
Julien Noma is a Dijon-born DJ and producer with a passion for music that dates back to his childhood. From piano to guitar and drums, he has always been immersed in the culture of music. Julien's music is driven by his emotions, and he seeks to share these feelings with his audience through his electrifying beats.
Electronic/Review Me & Melancholy - Under the cover of darkness
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 Depeche Mode, New Order & Camouflage as well as Swedish synth acts like The Mobile Homes, Elegant Machinery.
Electronic/Review Genevieve Sovereign - Midday Blue
Since launching her debut EP “It’s yours.” in March 2022, Melbourne (Australia) based electronic singer-songwriter Genevieve Sovereign has continued exploring various creative avenues, collaboration opportunities, and genres. Sovereign's newest electronic-acoustic hybrid, “Midday Blue” particularly showcases her dynamic vocal presence, talent for nuanced lyricism, and enduring drive to blur stylistic boundaries.
Pop/Review Marine Manasian - Hayastanin
Marine Manasian has come up with her signature sound, in which the traditional eastern feel and the Armenian language merge with the contemporary western electronic sound. She is able to maintain a fine balance when mixing and matching elements from different cultures. Her lyrics are as universal as her music; she sings about love and the universe, about the soul and the truth, light, and movement.
Funk/Review nasmore - Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
nasmore is an acclaimed songwriter and producer known for his innovative sound and powerful lyricism, nasmore has been a force in the music scene for a while now, consistently delivering hits that challenge and captivate.
Pop/Review Madam Who? - Reclaim Your Power
Madam Who?, GenZ's cool aunt and genre-fluid humanist music artist, defies expectations. She's been through the wringer—that included brain cancer—but came out on the other side, writing inspiring pop anthems for underdogs. In her quirky and catchy melodies, you may hear notes of The Beatles, The B-52's, and The Beastie Boys. But it is her thoughtful and fun lyrics that get stuck in your head.