For those new to the style, you might find similar vibes amidst the hit movies of eras past – the days when street rap battles, break dancing and colourful clothes hung on the air like a stylish hit of opposition to the mundane. Reis Armstrong recaptures the purity of those days, and does so with original songwriting and a clear sense of unity and passion for the process.
Rebecca Cullen
Hailing from Garut in West Java, now creating out of Jakarta, long-time guitarist and songwriter Sonny brings a welcomed twist of humility and heart to alternative rock.
Known for their purely improvised albums, the self-defined instrumental cult Mycena are a Croatian collaborative project with four albums already to their name. Their approach is to fearlessly push the boundaries of musical expression, to find new flavours of psychedelic intensity and depth, and to limit nothing and no one during that process.
Somewhat mildly reminiscent of both Ani DiFranco and Rusted Root, but ultimately not adhering to either comparison for long, Follow The Crow build their sound upon feelings and reflections unique to themselves, and the brilliance of the musicianship in unison with that makes for a beautifully all-encompassing listen.
The familiar ache of desperation, of inescapable self-burden, resounds throughout the fearlessly honest lyrics of the song, and the contrast between these thoughtful, clearly informed verses, and the heavier resolve of the hook, helps the topic and feeling really connect.
It’s a simple but essential take on the matter, and the music sounds immense – hopefully Better Off Alive will reach the right people at just the right time.
Creatively side-stepping away form the norm, but with professionalism and emotion to meet the clear talent on display, Troielle captures a style of her own, for the alluring new single Always In Time.
Producer and musician, songwriter and performer, artist – Christopher Dallman has long since been one of modern music’s most adventurous creators. Time and time again Dallman manages to successfully capture an engaging balance between sheer experimentation and passionate connection.
Utilising both the French and Fongbé languages from their native Benin, Duo Landry+ underline the power and beauty of music in connecting on a profound level. There is no barrier between the band and the listeners with any other native tongue – the music is a simple joy and inspiring pleasure to listen to.
JaneliaSoul is a Nigerian-American artist, driving with an unlimited array of influences from Soul and Jazz to traditional Yoruba Folk. Her seven-piece band is currently making waves across the live venues of Baltimore, Maryland, and with the sound of indie gems like How It Started, that comes as no surprise at all.
Singer and songwriter Michael Marquart returns under the creative moniker A Bad Think. The project’s 12th studio album Cottonwood intrigues in both title and artwork, and the storytelling plus the engaging fusion of Folk, Americana and Rock consistently maintains that appeal.
Creatively intertwining lo-fi guitar pop with long-form RnB vocals and poetic, appreciative lyrics, Oisín impresses with a fine fusion of professionalism and passion, for the infectious new single Summer.
Softly stunning vocals, acoustic guitar and brilliantly unexpected lyrics blending gritty realism with heartfelt reflections – Gracie Rey impresses and connects, with the familiar yet refreshing icarus.