“My classical training has been a valuable addition to my musical skills, providing a strong foundation in sight-reading and precision. Later on, I decided to focus solely on the guitar, though I still enjoy playing the clarinet from time to time.”

GuitarJazz

Ukrainian artist and multi-instrumentalist Kondo wa Kondo, having relocated to America, found creative inspiration in the depths of nostalgia and missing something like home. In searching for the right word to explain these feelings, this struggle to adapt and accept such new surroundings, appeared to fit well under the Welsh word ‘Hiraeth’. The idea is a deep sense of longing for a place that no longer exists or can no longer be reached.

Dream WaveGuitarIndie PopShoegazeSoft RockSurf Rock

Introducing one of those rare occasions when the artwork perfectly encapsulates the essence and style of a release. Maxim’s Whispers of the Eternal is a uniquely vast and rather epic exploration of cinematic depth, built around an idea and dramatic vocal opening, layered with soaring guitar solos and distorted chords united in this progressive and fiercely soulful instrumental.

GuitarHard RockInstrumentalMetalProgressive Rock

Marco Palmieri manages to be all at once creatively eccentric and defiantly aware of what audiences appreciate. Here we can get lost in the music with ease – the experience is about us, the listener, rather than purely about the performer. That’s a rare quality in modern jazz, and as such, this music feels original at the same time as really letting and even nudging your imagination to wander freely.

AmbientComposerExperimentalGuitarGuitaristInstrumentalJazzNeo Jazz

Backed by another fireside set of visuals, juxtaposition is a crucial aspect of the artistry of Björn Donath. The music presents an ambient to heavy metal arrangement but at a surprisingly mellow, cinematic tempo, the scene feels arena-ready and boldly passionate, yet the setting is calm, collected, ready to relax. The whole thing utilises polar opposites to captivate its audience, and the result is a rather perfectly timed three-plus minutes of expressive and modestly evolving emotion.

AtmosphericElectric GuitarGuitarInstrumentalMetalRock