DISCOVERING THE NEW MUSIC UNDERGROUND AROUND THE GLOBE
Pop/Review Staff Brett - Amigo
Singer-songwriter Staff Brett hails from the Isle of Wight, UK. In 2004, aged 25, he produced a demo EP in a converted pig shed that had echoes of 70’s British rock band The Faces and subsequently set up his own label called ‘PIG Recordings,’ in which he went on to employ legendary Rolling Stones producer Chris Kimsey to mix the album ‘Moodswings & Personalities.’
Pop/Review Hanne Leland - The Christmas Songs
Hanne Leland is an Oslo-based Norwegian independent artist and songwriter who has made a name for herself far beyond Norway’s borders. From starting as a singer-songwriter in Nashville to becoming a confident pop artist with over 17 million streams on Spotify, she has built her career from the ground up—entirely on her own terms. With an impressive work ethic and an entrepreneurial mindset in her music career, she took control of her own path early on.
Rock/Review Lewis Stubbs Junior - Back Home to You
Lewis Stubbs Junior, hailing from Fairview, TN, is a talented singer-songwriter who has captured the essence of Americana music with his latest original single, "Back Home to You."
Folk/Review Giuseppe Cucé - 21grammi
Giuseppe Cucé, hailing from Catania, Italy, unveils his deeply introspective and emotionally resonant original album, "21grammi."
Hip-Hop/Review D-Terence - CATHARSIS
D-Terence is a Frankfurt-based Cameroonian artist whose music is a powerful blend of emotion, storytelling, and cultural resonance. With over a decade in the game, D-Terence has carved out a space that bridges Afrobeats, hip-hop, and soul, giving voice to stories of struggle, healing, and personal transformation.
Rock/Review The Widows - Bardo Blues
Formed in 2015, The Widows earned a reputation for electrifying live shows and releases that stirred equal parts confusion and acclaim—most notably their album Popular Demand and the provocatively titled single Brexit Chainstore Massacre.
Pop/Review Korda Korder - Goodbye My Friend
Formed in October 2024, Korda Korder has grabbed attention from the get-go. Fans of dream pop and huge tunes will feel at home here, as Korda Korder masterfully crafts a surreal atmosphere where vocals melt into the instrumental background, almost as though they’re beckoning from another world.
Punk/Review Nick Neumann - Our Time Starts Now
Nick Neumann is an independent musician from Michigan who combines punk energy with the emotional weight of alternative rock. After stepping away from music for nearly twenty years, he returned with a renewed sense of purpose to finally create the music he always felt drawn to. Nick currently writes, records, and produces everything himself. His approach is straightforward: guitar, bass, drums, and raw vocals.
Pop/Review Ava Valianti - Hot Mess
Ava Valianti is a 16-year-old singer-songwriter from Newbury, Massachusetts, blending pop and indie influences into music that's raw, heartfelt, and unforgettable. With spins on more than 300+ radio stations, multiple award nominations, and singles like Middle Ground, January, Buttercups, and Clean My Room, Ava has already made her mark. Her debut EP, petunias, is a striking coming-of-age collection that transforms vulnerability and resilience into indie pop anthems, positioning her as one of the most compelling young voices in music today.
Rock/Review West Wickhams - Sakura
West Wickhams are Jon Othello and Elle Flores, a psychedelique Noir Deux peace, originally from Tresco on the Isles of Scilly. Tresco is famously the island of lost souls and is home to subtropical plants and shipwrecked figureheads. They recently relocated to Richmond, Surrey, where the creatures rule. The West Wickhams are an imagined rival gang to punk-style icons the Bromley Contingent.
Jazz/Review B.I.T. - R-Esistenze
Since forming their duo in 2019, saxophonist Danielle Di Majo and pianist Manuela Pasqui have built a musical partnership grounded in shared curiosity, mutual listening, and a refined sense of lyricism. Together, they explore the boundaries between jazz, classical, and contemporary composition, crafting music that feels both intimate and conceptually bold. The name B.I.T. (Back In Time) carries a double meaning…
Pop/Review Rellyo Bambini - Cloned and Upgraded, Insert Soul Here
Rellyo Bambini is a genre-defying artist known for his bold, futuristic vision and immersive storytelling. Drawing inspiration from sci-fi cinema, cyberpunk aesthetics, and underground music culture, Bambini creates art that feels both ahead of its time and deeply connected to human emotion. With a growing fan base and a fearless approach to sound, Bambini is quickly establishing themselves as a unique voice in modern music.
Pop/Review Mark Anthony Bartolo - Up Brown
Mark Anthony Bartolo is a Maltese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and music teacher whose sound blends emotional storytelling with melodic indie-pop and acoustic textures. With experience in national competitions such as the Malta Eurovision Song Contest and X Factor Malta, Mark continues to grow as an independent artist, creating heartfelt songs that connect through honesty and atmosphere. His music combines intimate vocals, expressive guitar work, and cinematic elements, offering listeners a warm, relatable, and authentic sound.
Rock/Review Tom Minor - Bring Back the Good Ol' Boys
Hailing from London N1, singer-songwriter Tom Minor feels inspired by indie rock, new wave and punk, power pop, psychedelic and garage rock, soul, and R&B, etc. After several years of all kinds of uncredited hack writing for others in various parts of the globe Tom (né Miner) now focuses on his own brand of existential indie, gathering high praise all across the blogosphere for his debut album Eleven Easy Pieces on Anger & Disappointment.
Electronic/Review Camille Fischer - Fractools
Camille Fischer is a French sound producer and composer crafting music at the intersection of cinema and contemporary electronic experimentation. Inspired by the sweeping emotional scope of Hans Zimmer and the sonic innovation of Aphex Twin, Rival Consoles, Max Cooper, and Rone, his work blends immersive textures, minimal emotion, and forward-thinking sound design.
Afrobeat/Review Twodahh Bugg - Love Chokehold
Twodahh Bugg hails from the Bay Area, United States.
Hip-Hop/Review Switch The Mc - Smoke & Sex
Originating from Paris, France, Switch The MC presents his latest EP, "Smoke & Sex," with a bold and visceral musical offering as part of his Comme Moi trilogy. Embracing a fusion of Afrobeat and Franco-British rap, Switch delves into the tensions between sensuality, vulnerability, and cultural heritage in a project that is as intimate as it is impactful. Hailing from Benin and raised between France and the UK, Switch embodies a new generation of transnational artists, blending the edgy technicality of British grime with the melodic finesse and punchlines of French rap.
Rock/Review Luka & the Nightbirds - Last Resort
Luka & the Nightbirds hails from Metz, France, offering a unique blend of musical heritage and resilience. With a childhood immersed in the sounds of Chopin, Debussy, Duke Ellington, and the Beatles, Luka's musical journey began early on, evolving into a passion for Abbey Road at just 6 years old. Following a successful solo career with Mercury/Universal, including chart-topping hits like "Rêves polyesters" and "Je ne pars pas sans toi," Luka embraces a new chapter with the band, channeling his artistic fire and creativity into the project alongside longtime collaborators.
Electronic/Review Le Comité Restreint - Révolution
Le Comité Restreint, based in Paris, France, is a unique artistic collective blending music, poetry, and visual arts. Founded in 2017 by Sabine Bouyala and Léo Pouzoulet, the group expanded to include Geneviève Gleize, Max Imbert, and Jérémy Mahieu, creating a rich and sensory universe where the personal meets the political.
Electronic/Review SLAPPER - Hope
SLAPPER is the electronic project of Bucharest-based producer Claudiu‑Gabriel Tache, fusing retro synth nostalgia with modern melodic techno, trance, and atmospheric electronica. Active since the late ’90s, SLAPPER builds immersive, cinematic soundscapes shaped by emotion and storytelling.