Discovering the new music underground around the globe

Pop/Review Claudia Balla - Video Game
Claudia Balla is a singer-songwriter, a chanteuse, whose dreamy folk-pop is like a melancholic and nostalgic journey through technicolor landscapes of big, unfiltered emotions. Hungarian-born and Switzerland-based Claudia adeptly mixes classical and jazz influences with modern pop sensibilities in her songs, which, according to her, are “movies told in three minutes.” Claudia grew up listening to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky while learning to play the piano and studying music theory.

Rock/Review Sugar Scars - Dark Charm
Sugar Scars is a binational musical project from a couple of multi-instrumental DJs that border each other between the US and Mexico. The sound was supposed to be a clash of ideas influenced by two different border cultures, but the result is a superb and unique production that seemed destined to happen.

Blues/Review Aly Berry - A Matter So Small
Aly Berry has been named as 'one of the UK's most exciting rising jazz artists.' Her smooth, sultry vocals and distinctive style have begun to quickly captivate audiences, bringing a whole new sound to the music scene. Originally from the North of England, at 18, she made the bold decision to move to London, determined to succeed in the competitive worlds of both music and modeling, which she began at the young age of 14.

Electronic/Review The Numb Project - Dream
The Numb Project is the downtempo alias of Portland, Oregon, producer Chris Calarco, trafficking in moody atmospheres, abstract hip-hop grooves, and intricate, mutable rhythm.

Rock/Review Bright Shining Lights - The Sun Is A Star
Bright Shining Lights is a band from NJ. Their goal is to write music that evokes the imagination. Anchored in storytelling, they aim to take the audience on a musical journey. Their love of film and music fuels their musical fire to create a visual journey through music.

Hip-Hop/Review Exzenya - V.I.P.
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 Tom Minor - Next Stop Brixton
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 CRACKAJACK - CLANKAS
CRACKAJACK, hailing from Pittsburgh, United States, is a rising independent artist making waves in the bass music scene. Drawing inspiration from heavy hitters in the genre like WHZLY, MAD DUBZ, Subtronics, and Samplifire, CRACKAJACK infuses his unique style with trench bass elements, creating a distinct sound that sets him apart from the rest.

Rock/Review Lost Velvet - Endless
Lost Velvet drifts through a haunting ’90s dreamscape where shoegaze, grunge, and dark dream pop collide. UK duo Robert Butcher (multi-instrumentalist) and Melissa Morris (vocals) craft cinematic textures, layered guitars, and hazy dual vocals to create music that feels pulled from a forgotten film reel.

Pop/Review Hazelize - Signal Lost
Hazelize, hailing from Rome, Italy, is a rising artist with a unique sound that blends raw emotion with catchy pop melodies. Hazelize's journey from a mundane 9-5 job to the world of Spotify is a testament to her dedication and passion for music, fueled by collaborations with her sister and a fortuitous encounter with a producer who understood her vision.

Electronic/Review Cupid Spell - Look Alike
Cupid Spell is a dark synthpop duo founded by Josh Kreuzman and Mandy Buffington in Bloomington, IN, earlier this year. Josh (the darkwave artist known as Twice Dark) and Mandy created a project where they could explore themes of love, loss, and mystery together. Josh and Mandy created Cupid Spell to craft a single called “Look Alike” for the 10th issue of Lover’s Eye Press.

Hip-Hop/Review 9 o'clock Nasty - Game Fit
9 o'clock Nasty is emerging, glistening from the plague pits of Leicester. They play with glitter, and they take no prisoners. Relentless and yet full of love, they take a side-eyed look at the world and punish it with driving beats and mild sarcasm.

Electronic/Review Elisa V - Love of Yesterday
Elisa Järvelä, aka Elisa V, is a Finnish violinist redefining the boundaries of her instrument by blending classical training with contemporary performance art. A graduate of the prestigious Sibelius Academy, Elisa brings emotional depth, charisma, and bold creativity to every stage she steps on. Her career spans global festivals, VIP events, and renowned venues worldwide. From performing for royalty and world leaders to sharing stages with DJs at luxury clubs and festivals, Elisa transforms each performance into a multi-sensory experience.

Hip-Hop/Review John Keenan - Wreckage Of The Past
John Keenan is an independent artist from Arizona by way of Great Bend, Kansas. With a career spanning over two decades, Keenan is known for his lyrical intensity, philosophical honesty, and refusal to conform. “Wreckage Of The Past” is his most personal and politically charged project to date.

Rock/Review Transgalactica - Joyce Of The Market
Transgalactica is a father-and-son progressive rock and metal band from Kraków, Poland, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Their music harks back to the symphonic rock bands Tomasz grew up with, mainly the Big Four: Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, and King Crimson.

Classical/Review Chameleon Music - Silence & Tears: 17 Musical Short Stories
Mark Taylor (Chameleon Music)—Birmingham, UK. He has been creating original music and sound design for various media platforms since 1994. All of the composing, arranging, performing, and recording is done in his own private studio. He has provided music and general sound design for productions all over the world—USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, UK, Panama, Ireland, and mainland Europe.

Rock/Review The House Flies - Sweet Foxhound
Formed in the Midwest, The House Flies weave gothic atmosphere, post-punk textures, and a brooding melodic sensibility into their sound. Their debut, the Glimmer EP (2023), introduced their haunting style, followed by the full-length Mannequin Deposit (2024), which expanded their sonic palette and gained critical attention.

Rock/Review Knabokov Collective - Borderline
Patrick Costello leads a project called The Knabokov Collective. He is a multi-genre, multi-instrumentalist/singer/writer/composer. His original songs are from a variety of genres; many are political, and he also composes and performs rock-jazz-Latin-reggae instrumentals.

Electronic/Review J Eden - Dance Through the Waves
Born and raised in Chicago, J. Eden grew up surrounded by the city’s diverse musical culture, where hip hop, soul, house, and dance music collide. Originally known as Jay Smoove, his early years in music were spent honing his lyrical craft and performing locally, laying the foundation for the versatile artist he would later become.

R&B/Review James Vickery - JAMES.
James Vickery bares his soul in "JAMES.," a bold, self-titled album that redefines his sound. From the cinematic strings of “Hotel Lobby” to the woozy beat of “Higher,” each track showcases his exceptional voice—one he nearly lost due to a life-threatening ear condition. Diagnosed with cholesteatoma at eight, Vickery was left deaf in one ear, but a vocal coach helped him discover his gift.