DISCOVERING THE NEW MUSIC UNDERGROUND AROUND THE GLOBE
Jazz/Review Suzanne Grzanna - Sunset Dreams
Suzanne Grzanna grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee in a musical family. Her parents, Don and Maureen Grzanna, are professional musicians, and she began piano lessons with her mother at age five. She added clarinet at age nine and later focused on alto saxophone in seventh grade. From an early age, she performed in her family band, gaining experience in jazz, rock, and dance music. She continued her musical journey through school bands, choir, and eventually the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, where she performed for many years beginning at age eighteen.
Rock/Review Shortout Kid - Toy Shop
Shortout Kid is a one-of-a-kind artist. For over 15 years he worked in seclusion, building an instrument yet unseen by the human eye, with the fused looks and sounds of an electric guitar and a chainsaw. It took him another 3 years to get his hands permanently attached to his razor belt and to learn to play it virtuously.
Metal/Review Surgent - Ruthless Logics
Surgent is a progressive death metal band born from the depths of Estonia’s underground scene, blending the brutality of death metal with groove, progressive elements, and genre-defying experimentation. Musically, Surgent draws from a wide range of influences—both expected and unconventional. Core inspiration comes from metal giants like Pantera, Death, Opeth, Strapping Young Lad, Gojira, Meshuggah, Scarve, and Extol.
Rock/Review Sutlej - Tell Me You Care
Sutlej are a three-piece alternative rock band from London. Their sound brings together 90s grunge and emo with elements of modern post-punk, creating something that feels familiar but not derivative—sitting somewhere in the same world as Deftones and Sunny Day Real Estate while carving out a distinct identity of their own. The mix of these styles gives their music a balance of weight, melody, and intensity that feels both raw and fresh.
Punk/Review St. Divine - 30 Dolls
St. Divine is a critically acclaimed NYC-based punk/Americana five-piece band fronted by Will Croxton and Judy Ann Nock. Featuring duets, obscure covers, and majestic rock, St. Divine has deep roots in the humid South but is firmly planted in the blacktopped urban wilds. Formed in 2024 by vocalist/guitarist Will Croxton and Judy Ann Nock, after performing together with punk legend Ivan Julian, the band quickly gained traction on WFMU, The Underground Garage, and college radio across the U.S., including WMFO, KDVS, and WZBC, surpassing 350 radio plays across the world by 2026.
Electronic/Review Synthaurion - Echos Of Your Blessing
Synthaurion is an independent electronic music project focused on melodic, atmospheric trance and other EDM genres with a luminous, forward-looking emotional core. Across releases, the project blends uplifting energy with reflective storytelling, often touching on inner strength, gratitude, and spiritual light.
Punk/Review Shotgun Marmalade - Boomtown
Shotgun Marmalade are an original, hi-energy pop-punk-ska-folk fusion three-piece from Stourbridge in the West Midlands. Described as ‘The Black Country Clash’ (Attila the Stockbroker), their music is reminiscent of late seventies/early eighties guitar pop-punk with elements of Rancid, The Buzzcocks, Ferocious Dog, The Ruts, Dropkick Murphys, The Rumjacks and The Members.
Rock/Review Sean MacLeod - Light Up The Sun
Sean T MacLeod is a former and founding member of the Dublin-based band Cisco. Having recorded with U2's one-time producer Paul Barrett, the band achieved critical acclaim in their home country as well as serious interest abroad with their album No 1. Since the split of the band, Sean has been recording and releasing his own solo work, which includes numerous singles and three albums of entirely original music.
Rock/Review Seven Nation Army - Power and Money
Seven Nation Army was founded in Cracow (Poland) in 2006 by Jarek Balsamski, who created the project with the vision of combining emotional rock music with modern electronic influences and cinematic atmosphere. Since its beginnings, the band has evolved from classic alternative rock and post-grunge into a unique fusion of synthrock, electro rock, industrial influences, and modern electronic production.
Jazz/Review Suzanne Grzanna - Cat's Meow XO
Suzanne Grzanna is an award-winning songwriter, saxophonist, vocalist, arranger, producer, music publisher, and sync music library creator who composes both music and lyrics. She is a member of the Recording Academy, SAG-AFTRA, the Society of Composers & Lyricists, and the Guild of Music Supervisors (Friend). Suzanne has released multiple albums on her label, Diva Records, and has recorded over ninety songs.
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 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 Satsuma - Anodyne
Satsuma is the solo project of Edinburgh multi-instrumentalist Cam Halkerston. The music is of a completely DIY nature, where he plays all the instruments as well as produces all the music himself. At 25 he released his debut EP Anodyne and drew a lot of inspiration from 90s alt-rock as well as early 10s DIY artists with a huge focus on personal songwriting and lyricism.
Hip-Hop/Review Scotty Up - Roller Coaster
Hailing from West Sacramento, California, Scotty Up is a compelling artist whose work bridges generational perspectives with authentic emotional storytelling. What sets Scotty apart is his willingness to collaborate in deeply personal ways—most notably inviting his teenage and young adult children to contribute to the lyrical process, creating a rare blend of seasoned artistry and youthful honesty. This intergenerational approach brings a fresh emotional lens to his music that feels both timeless and contemporary.
Pop/Review Son Mieux - 24 Hours
Son Mieux - 24 Hours
Rock/Review Sentinel Events - Comorbidites
Sentinel Events (meaning worst-case scenario in medical terminology) is a satirical art-rock band from Orlando, FL.
Classical/Review Serij d'Artosis - Rêve1: Vent Fragile
Serij d'Artosis, an emerging artist from Paris, France, is set to captivate audiences with the release of the original single, 'Rêve1: Vent Fragile.' Serij is a truly independent artist, taking complete control of the music composition process from start to finish. Drawing inspiration from neoclassical luminaries such as Ludovico Einaudi and Yann Tiersen, Serij infuses a minimalist style into their work, creating a unique and enchanting musical experience that resonates with listeners on a profound level.
Folk/Review Seann Medicina - You don't know me
Seann Medicina is a singer-songwriter from Ottawa, Canada. He envelopes listeners with a distinctive blend of folk, rock, and indie influences, drawing from his life experiences and world travels. Weaving lyrics with elegant simplicity, he journeys through feelings of connection, vulnerability, and empowerment with his dynamic guitar and versatile voice.
Country/Review Stevie Lee Woods & The NRL Band - Don't Let Heartache Turn To Heartbreak
Stevie Lee Woods, a seasoned artist hailing from Branson, United States, has teamed up with his Nashville Roadhouse Live Band, which includes talents like Devin Callahan from American Idol and Rich Watson, to craft his latest original single, "Don't Let Heartache Turn To Heartbreak."
Pop/Review Sharbel Wahbee - The Portrait of Us
Sharbel Wahbee is an independent composer and artist creating cinematic, emotionally driven music that explores human connection, memory, and shared identity. Blending modern orchestration, ambient textures, and alternative influences, his work focuses less on traditional genre boundaries and more on storytelling through sound. Sharbel’s music is designed to feel immersive and reflective—often described as cinematic, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant—inviting listeners to pause, observe, and reconnect with the human experience beyond language or borders.