The importance of music in Justin Stein's family has never changed. His great grandpa, the person whose last name Justin adopted as his stage name, was a well-known bandleader in Chicago's underworld during the Roaring Twenties, frequently performing at the infamous Al Capone's request. Justin's grandma also had a huge impact on his career by forcing the little boy to... read full bio
"Wordgirl" Jensen McRae says, "Everything I do is about, and in service of, words and stories." McRae's music tackles many facets of identity, from race to concerns of despair and unrequited love, as a bi-racial, black and Jewish lady growing up. Inspired by artists like Stevie Wonder, Carole King, Alicia Keys and James Taylor, McRae began writing songs in her bedroom and... read full bio
Greer has rapidly advanced in a short period of time. Happy People, the Orange County rock quartet's second EP in the past 18 months, is comprised of four songs with airtight lyrics and killer guitars that suggest a band well beyond their years in the best possible way but simultaneously having an undeniable young energy. Happy People, Greer's follow-up to... read full bio
Ethan Gruska is an independent singer-songwriter who, before commencing his solo career with Slowmotionary, was one-half of the indie pop duo the Belle Brigade. His introspective, bookish sound is influenced by artists like Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. He expanded his career as a producer and songwriter as well, contributing to Kimbra and John Legend's and other artists' tracks on... read full bio
On her self-titled first album for Glassnote Records, Cecilia Castleman demonstrates that she is mature beyond her years, yet lamenting the perils of youth. It's a stunning collection of songs, produced by Don Was, that showcase everything the Tennessee-born artist excels at, including lyrics that convey all the intimacy of a diary, a dynamic, honeyed voice that effortlessly switches between a... read full bio
The latest album by singer-songwriter Stephanie Lambring, Autonomy, welcomes the weight that may occasionally be present in life by tackling harsh realities and exploring touchy subjects through the eyes of someone trying to make sense of their feelings about it all. Lambring is "one of Nashville's most bold young singer-songwriters," according to Ann Powers, and her song "Joy of Jesus"... read full bio
Americana singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Robert Francis hails from Los Angeles, California. Robert Commagere was raised in a musical family by his Mexican mother, who sung ranchera songs from her own country around the house, his late pianist/producer father and his sister Juliette Commagere, who wrote songs. Francis made his debut with the musically diversified One by One at the young age of... read full bio
Rett Madison, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist located in Los Angeles, California, is originally from West Virginia. Her music has been praised for being "simultaneously brash and vulnerable" in outlets including Billboard, American Songwriter and Rolling Stone, placing her "in the emerging school of acclaim-worthy troubadours." In addition to opening acts for Jason Isbell, Elle King, Five for Fighting, Shawn Colvin, JP... read full bio
Cardiff-based Himalayas is a four-piece garage rock band that has spent the last few years perfecting its sound and aesthetic. Audiences, whether old or new, are held and captivated by the heavy guitar lines, dual voices and enormous anthemic hooks. They began the New Year with hopes to further up their game after playing at numerous festivals, such as Reading and Leeds... read full bio
Several seasoned musicians make up the American rock ensemble Dead Cross, which plays hardcore punk at breakneck pace. Drummer Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Fantômas) first proposed the concept of forming a straightforward hardcore punk band to guitarist Mike Crain (Retox), bassist Justin Pearson (the Locust, Head Wound City, Retox) and singer Gabe Serbian (the Locust, Head Wound City, Retox). The next year,... read full bio
Stijn, Peter and Stefanie founded Brutus. While participating in various bands from the same area of Leuven (Belgium), they all became friends. They have created a powerful unity, both musically and interpersonally, by fusing their disparate viewpoints and musical preferences. The band's drummer and vocalist Stefanie Mannaerts blends math-rock flourishes with black-metal blast beats, belting out the most passionate vocals that can go from appearing... read full bio
When Nashville, Tennessee-based garage band Be Your Own Pet were still in their teens, the band was beloved by critics for both their music and their notoriously erratic live performances. The band made two highly regarded albums and contributed to the emergence of garage punk after being signed to Thurston Moore by Sonic Youth's Ecstatic Peace record label in the... read full bio
Tamzene is an artist to treasure. She has the voice of an ancient soul and combines those flawless, traditional influences—a childhood spent listening up Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald—with a desire to express oneself. Her new EP, "Details," which she wrote while strolling by the harbor while listening to the waves lapping against the pier and the Firth stretching out... read full bio
Matt Johnson is and has always been THE THE. There is a tremendous scope within the material, despite the fact that it was developed in the late 70s and early 80s beneath the sodium glare of London's streetlamps, reacting to punk and battling against the corny Thatcherite pop of early MTV. His genre is entirely unique. It is music that... read full bio
Shinedown's Brent Smith and guitarist Zach Myers' secondary project is an acoustic one called Smith & Myers. The duo released Volume 1, their debut album, which had a mixture of passionate original songs and covers. The idea for the initiative came from the Florida band's marketing representative at Atlantic Records, who proposed they run an internet competition where fans could suggest... read full bio
Irish indie music group NewDad hails from Galway. NME magazine has compared their sound to The Cure, Beabadoobee and Just Mustard. "The band radiates individuality with sardonic but honest songs, vibrant visual components and profound messages about coping with the, albeit harsh, formative experiences," noted Atwood Magazine of the group. The band has performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Paris, the... read full bio
Australian singer-songwriter Matthew John "Matt" Corby is someone who began his career at the age of 16 on a reality TV talent show and has undoubtedly carved out a special path. Before moving to London and signing with famed UK indie label Communion, he independently published his debut EP, "Song For...," which caught the attention of the company's owner, Ben Lovett... read full bio
Patty Walters and Ronald Ish's international pop-rock group As It Is made a splash with the singles Okay and Never Happy, Ever After. The Great Depression, a concept film, was what they brought back. The band released the tracks as a series of four EPs after reimagining the entire album in a brave and ambitious manner. With their fourth album,... read full bio
Ari Abdul, a native of Brooklyn has developed her own style of melancholy alternative pop. Ari Abdul's love of music developed quickly as she was growing up. Her Costa Rican/Palestinian father introduced her to classic rock, while her Ecuadorian mother enjoyed Latin music. Her brothers, who were huge fans of metal and hip-hop, completed the picture. At age 14, she advanced... read full bio
Ambar Lucid, a New Jersey native of Dominican and Mexican descent, grew up in the sleepy hamlet of Little Ferry, just outside of New York City, where she spent her formative years longing of a better life. She started learning how to play the ukulele and piano while in school and joined clubs like chorus and band. She started using YouTube... read full bio
