Discovering the new music underground around the globe
Pop/Review Andrew Flynn - Narcissist
Andrew Flynn is a singer and songwriter based in the UK and a proud queer music artist. He was a stage performer in his youth, so he is a fan of the dramatic, and that informs his work. He loves his listeners to hear the emotion in his music.
Rock/Review Packetloss - Modern Day Meltdown
Packetloss is a band that breaks up what it means to be a band. Thanks to COVID, working from home is a real thing. Not just for your average day job, but music too. Their name comes from the headache of “Packetloss” when playing together online; it causes lag between them and white noise.
Folk/Review James Spencer - Your Ship's Coming In
At the core of James Spencer's music is the desire to tell stories. Tales of life, love, loss, and folklore. He writes songs comprised of folk and country-infused rock. From North Devon, James has been playing in a popular duo, Bicycle Repair Man, since 2015. As a multi-instrumentalist, he draws on traditional acoustic sounds and combines them with pop/punk/rock rhythms.
Pop/Review DEWAR - Rudiment
DEWAR is a Scottish artist who has been writing music for over 10 years. The release of her brand new album "Rudiment' marks the beginning of a new chapter in her career, and a UK tour will follow the release of "Rudiment.”
Rock/Review Kid Mammoth - Past, Present, Future
Kid Mammoth was formed when frontman Kerry Henderson began to write songs as a side project. Kerry wrote around 125 song "sketches" and sent a few of them to his musical friends to help bring them to life. Primary collaborators Eric Hall (guitar) and Dean Anshutz (drums) contributed heavily, along with a number of Kerry’s other badass musician friends from Ohio.
Rock/Review GUT HEALTH - RUNAWAY HIGH
GUT HEALTH are an aggressive alternative rock outfit that spawned from the spoils of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hailing from Worcester, MA, the lineup includes current/former members of Ian Sweet, HERRA TERRA, Gloss Goddess, Not Bad Not Well, Cope, and usLights. The band's 90's forward gutter rock and post-hardcore vibes typically leave the listener feeling rad and cerebral on the streets, begging for another beer and a slice of pizza.
Folk/Review The Mars McClanes - December Songs
Fresh from the studio with a new wave of electrifying tracks, The Mars McClanes are redefining indie rock. This band, with roots in Dallas, TX, has carved out a sound that's as unpredictable as their journey. They stumbled upon their unique style when faced with an unusual booking predicament early in their career at a well-known country bar.
Pop/Review Aldís Fjóla - Quiet the Storm
From rock we were born, to rock we will return. The musicians that inspired Aldís Fjóla might have inspired us all at one point. From 90s spearheads like Skunk Anansie, Radiohead, and Cranberries, there was a streak in rock music that Aldís revisited constantly. She was musically raised by her older brother in grunge and rock, mainly by Pearl Jam and Metallica. From thrash titans to grunge mastodons, she studied and understood what made a song simmer.
Metal/Review Rictus of Rage - Variant
2 lifelong friends embarking on a multistate musical endeavor. Part heavy metal, progressive, and just full of anger comes Rictus of Rage. Mike Masser and Jeff Watson have been working together for over 30 years on one project or another. This is a labor of love for the two, with the hope that all can find something to grab them by the throat and enjoy.
Techno/Review Sldghram 1er - Le marteau et l'enclume
From the energy of late 1990's hardcore scene and techno influences to the uneasy vibe of dark ambient, Sldghram 1er's work digs into the dreams and uncharted depths of the unconscious.
Country/Review Jennifer Alvarado - Colorado
At just four years old, Jennifer Alvarado started writing songs. Her passion for songwriting only comes second to her love for God. As a teenager, she began leading worship in her church and felt a call to ministry. Her first single, "Relentlessly,” was released in 2015, followed by her first Christian album, "Hello Life," which consisted of 13 original songs.
Punk/Review Griffen Handshake - Backwards Country
Griffen Handshake is an alt-punk band forged in Pittsburgh, PA. Consisting of brothers Millen (guitar, vocals) and Arjun Schuchert (drums, vocals), the duo released their new single, "Backwards Country," on November 3, 2023. This track will be the lead single to their upcoming EP titled "Three Strikes and You're Out." The brothers are proud members of the Pittsburgh underground punk scene, having played countless shows across their hometown as well as Cleveland, Buffalo, Lancaster, and Philadelphia, among others.
Rock/Review The Listros - Into The Otherside
Brothers Sean & Evan Listro, The Listros, are bringing their hard-hitting, hook-driven modern rock sound to today's music scene. Fitting in a similar soundscape as the Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood, YUNGBLUD, and Tame Impala, and with a fully produced live show, these veteran performers have already sold out Toronto’s El Mocambo (400 cap), showcasing their debut unsigned EP.
Pop/Review Mick J. Clark - It's Getting Near Christmas
Mick J. Clark is a singer/songwriter on the Sonorus Record Label. With over 1,000,000 Spotify streams on his songs, he reached No. 3 in the UK and No. 2 in the USA iTunes Top 100 Rock Songs in June 2020 with: We Know It's True. He has written over 60 songs, of which 54 are being played by Emerge Music in shops, and with two songs on the ‘Goa Chillout Zone Vol. 9’ album, which reached No. 1 in the iTunes Electronic Chart.
Rock/Review Knút - Hjartasláttur
Knút (Knút Háberg Eysturstein) is a musician, songwriter, and singer. He’s also a researcher in Music Education at the University of the Faroe Islands. He has been a central figure in Faroese music life for over two decades as a musician, programmer, producer, scholar, and all-around "doer.”
Rock/Review Gary Dranow - Destiny Road (Re-Mix)
Gary Dranow and the Manic Emotions. They play Alt Rock to Hard Rock. English and Ukrainian songs. Gary has released singles from his Destiny Road album, which Gary and Klim are re-mixing now, and he has four songs from his 24-song double album, Never Give Up. Starting in January 2024, the band will be releasing one song a week for 24 weeks. Gary, Chris, and Klim are already writing songs for their third album.
Pop/Review All Things Automatic - This Is an Invitation
All Things Automatic. Not everything's automatic, mind. There's the playground bully theme, an impending war track, the achingly empty spot where your beloved should be, a peek into your kid's world with an invitation into yours, and the struggle to spit out your soul when words fail. ATA's new tunes unpack all this.
Pop/Review Robert Vendetta - Fool
Robert Vendetta loves Mexico and all kinds of music. This has made him into a melting pot of influences, which all shine through in his music and stage performance! Robert Vendetta invented retropop—or modern old, as he sometimes calls it—and carries its flag as a producer, songwriter, and artist. Robert Vendetta calls the stage his second, if not first, home. He’s played for the Norwegian royal family several times.
Rock/Review Koalra - The Clouds Still Hang On You
Fusing the fuzz-fueled guitars and loose rhythms of acts like Dinosaur Jr. To the experimental soundscapes of artists such as Sonic Youth and The Cure, Koalra is an emerging indie rock band who recently moved to Portland from their native Chicago. The 90's-influenced four-piece released their self-titled album in December of 2019. The eight-track debut is a noise-fest of uplifting yet thrashing guitar tracks full of grungy melodies.
Pop/Review Allen Yu - One Shared Destiny
Allen Yu is a piano composer who, after over three decades of composing privately (he has been composing since high school), finally decided in 2023 to publish some of his music. In 2023, he had the pleasure of meeting a great musician and pianist, Victor Morales, serendipitously. He decided to collaborate with him to release some of his music, and it has been a wonderful experience.