Joan Osborne
Seven-time Grammy nominee and multi-platinum selling recording artist Joan Osborne has navigated a varied and exceptional life in music for over 30 years. The KY-born singer/songwriter/producer began her career by accident when, while studying filmmaking at New York University, she stumbled upon the open-mic night that introduced her to the vibrant, funky roots music scene of 1980’s NYC. Since then she has released 10 albums, toured the globe many times over, and performed with icons such as Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Patti Smith, the Dead, Emmylou Harris, and Luciano Pavarotti. Her music has appeared in films like Austin Powers and Vanilla Sky, and in TV shows Sex and the City, The Sopranos, Joan of Arcadia and The Good Wife. Osborne’s performance in the Oscar-nominated film Standing in the Shadows of Motown brought her rave reviews and a legion of new fans. In 2020 she released Trouble and Strife, an album that is both potently political and unabashedly joyous. She lives in NY with her daughter and partner.
Nick Africano
Nick Africano is a creator: a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, solo performer, poet, and sherry lover.
Born in Normal, Illinois to artist parents and baseball fields as his backyard, he now lives in Brooklyn, NY. His style defies the confines of genre, combining the best of folk, storytelling, soul, and rock and roll. Lyrics often softly spoken, or soulfully crooned, Africano is at once powerful and subtle. His live performances are captivating and spontaneous, moving between acoustic guitar, resonator guitar, and piano.
He is currently finishing a full-length LP with acclaimed singer-songwriter, Lera Lynn (True Detective, T-Bone Burnett, John Paul White) as producer - and Grammy winning engineer, Craig Alvin (Kacey Musgraves), recorded at The Sound Emporium in Nashville, TN. Release TBD.
Blanco Niño
Blanco Niño is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, writer, and producer. With ties in both Chicago and Los Angeles, he draws influences from his roots in blues and jazz in combination with alternative, latin, electronic and pop. Blanco Niño has placed music in spots from Gillette to ABC’s Station 19, while collecting over 200,000 streams in his young career. The up-and-coming writer/producer continues to expand his musical horizon while perfecting his unique style and lyrical flair.
Jenn Mundia
Jenn Mundia is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter with Kenyan roots and a southern upbringing. Her raw and honest vocal has carried her storytelling in albums that will take you from a New York paradise all the way to the point of flipping a coin to decide whether or not to stay in a relationship. Although the evolution of her sound is clear, you can always crawl inside the airy and vulnerable voice of this acoustic soul songstress and relive her stories as if they were your own.
James Walker
Introspective songwriter James Walker was born in the UK, but has spent the past three years traveling across Europe and the United States honing his craft and performing as many shows as possible.
His sophomore record, produced by Sam Winfield (Amber Run, Bring Me The Horizon, Supergrass) will be released over the latter stages of 2019 and into 2020 under AWAL/Kobalt.
Courtney Hartman
Colorado-based singer-songwriter Courtney Hartman’s finely-honed musicality has firm roots in her upbringing, which included taking up violin at three, learning to play guitar at 11, and writing her first song at 12. She spent much of her childhood immersed in the bluegrass world, a factor that eventually led to her seven-year stint in Grammy-nominated band Della Mae. During her time with the band, Hartman also released a collaboration album with Robert Ellis (2017’s Dear John) and another with Taylor Ashton (2018’s Been on Your Side). Her new full length, Ready Reckoner, was released on June 14, 2019.
Ralegh Long
English singer-songwriter Ralegh Long, who has drawn comparisons to R.E.M. and Sea Change-era Beck, crafts beautiful, reflective songs steeped in natural imagery and, as MOJO put it, "spooky pastoralism". His intimate and minimalist tunes have a way of sticking with you long after your initial encounter with them.
Mikey Wax
NY-raised, L.A.-based pop singer-songwriter Mikey Wax crafts uplifting, anthemic earworms that are at home on both the charts and in the sync world. Whether he's writing an electro-pop jam or a warm, acoustic tune like his newest single, "Big Little Life", Mikey's songs stick with listeners.
LENORE.
Singer-songwriters Rebecca Marie Miller and Joy Pearson form the core of the Portland, Oregon-based folk group LENORE. Along with Edward Cameron (classical guitar), Jessie Dettwiler (cello), and Austin Christ (bass), with Daniel Hunt (drums) often joining in, Miller and Pearson create a dreamy, melancholic blend of harmony-driven folk that's at once haunting and hopeful.
Towne
Nashville-based duo Towne, consisting of Steevie Steeves and Jon Decious, meld their varied musical backgrounds-- she grew up on pop, soul, and Broadway; he came up in punk rock and Americana country bands-- to build a wonderfully unconventional indie pop sound rooted in strong songwriting and powerful vocals.
Ceiling Spirits
Created by Milwaukee-based composer and guitarist Mario Quadracci using just guitar, effects, and unconventional playing techniques, the music of Ceiling Spirits does not fit neatly into the traditional categories of genre, but has hints of classical minimalism, post rock, electronic and ambient music sprinkled throughout.
Hayley Coupon
NYC-based singer-songwriter Hayley Coupon entrances listeners with her powerful, soaring vocals and introspective songcraft.
Jesus On The Mainline
The New York-based founders and main songwriters of Jesus On The Mainline, Andrew Neesley and Tim Emmerick, have gathered together a group of fifteen musicians to bring their songs to life, while drawing from influences that include everything from gospel traditionals to John Coltrane to Alabama Shakes to Abbey Road.
Pickwick
Seattle's Pickwick make mesmerizing indie rock that draws from a variety of different sonic influences, including rock, funk, and soul, to create a slinky, shimmering sound all their own.
Kyle James Hauser
Singer-songwriter Kyle James Hauser, of Ft. Collins, CO, melds folk, bluegrass, and indie influences to create warm, emotive songs centered around memorable melodies.
Rachel Sermanni
From the Scottish highlands, Rachel Sermanni is a dynamic singer and songwriter, whose performance and lyrics draw from a deep well of mysticism, dreams, nature and the simple-complex experience of being human. A contemporary folk musician, influenced by a wealth of genres including jazz, rock, old-time and traditional. Rachel’s most recent album, So it Turns, was inspired by her time studying & volunteering at a buddhist monastery, and was released in August 2019, having been recorded in Berlin.
Most of Rachel’s astrological being resides in the 5th house; The House Of Fun. Whether or not you adhere to horoscopic notions, this works as a succinct way to explain that, for her, Creation equals existence and Creative Expression equals Joy.
Rachel Sermanni has toured the globe, played alongside artists such as Mumford & Sons, Fink, Ron Sexsmith, John Grant, The Staves, Karine Polwart, The Maes and many more.
Voli Contra
Voli Contra is an alternative rapper, singer, and producer based in Los Angeles by way of New Jersey. Influenced by the golden era of hip hop and pop, the artist sonically blends old school New York 90’s rap, alternative hip hop, and thought-provoking subject matter. Having worked with the likes of rapper J.Cole, pop artist Bebe Rexha, rapper Rapsody, legendary mixing engineer Young Guru, and producer 9th Wonder, Voli travels a wide spectrum of sonic and lyrical exploration. Voli elaborates, “I’ve always wanted to speak for every man, woman, and child through different genres but also through their experiences.”
Candi Staton
four-time Grammy® Award-nominated singer and R&B legend Candi Staton has sweetly strutted between several musical genres over the course of her celebrated career. However, danceable music has always been her main groove, as her iconic tracks “Young Hearts Run Free” and the multi-platinum “You Got the Love” attest. The former is a liberating self-preservation anthem that peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles chart in 1976 (No. 2 on the UK Pop chart). The latter is an inspiring chant that has, through various remixes, hit the British Top 10 Pop Singles chart in 1991, 1997 and again in 2006 – an amazing feat. Staton has just released her 30th album, Unstoppable, a new retro R&B album out via Nashville’s Thirty Tigers label.
In The City
Ashley Jane and Timon Wientzek are In the City - a band and songwriting duo from Toronto, Canada. Their music has been showcased on television programs as well as award-winning films that have screened at TIFF, Hotdocs, WFF, and more.
They were the first songwriting duo to be accepted into the prestigious Slaight Family Music Residency at Norman Jewison's Canadian Film Center where they studied with renowned musicians and creatives. Their songs have received airplay on CBC Radio and Sirius XM, graced Spotify editorial playlists and have earned recognition in national and international songwriting competitions. Together they create beautiful story driven music in a variety of genres and styles.
Sleepy Kitty
St. Louis-based indie rockers Sleepy Kitty, featuring Paige Brubeck on vocals/guitar and Evan Sult (former Bound Stems and Harvey Danger) on drums/tapes, makes what NYLON magazine describes as “rainbow-tinged indie pop" filled with distorted guitar layers, hooky vocals, garagey drums, engrossing melodies and layered harmonies. Both musicians are also designers and screenprinters, and the influence of Warhol and Rauschenberg doesn’t stop in their visual art – Sleepy Kitty's songs are often spiked with shards of French 60s yé-yé, jazz standards, and even deconstructed Beatles songs, making both their live sets and recordings a surprising audio pop-art collage.
March to May
From their first encounter around a roaring bonfire on the Washington coast to headlining sold-out shows at Seattle’s most prominent venues and touring throughout the U.S. and Europe, March to May has quietly become a group to watch in today’s modern folk landscape.
The band layers mesmerizing harmonies and intimate lyrics over harp, acoustic guitar and piano, augmented by lush violin and cello, delicate drum patterns and electric bass. They continually push against genre boundaries to create a sound that is simultaneously familiar and foreign, integrating folk instrumentation with chamber pop and indie rock influences to create a cohesive sound that’s rich in color and texture.
Haybaby
Haybaby is a very good band from Brooklyn, NY, that makes music for human beings. It is post-90s pre-death sometimes loud sometimes less so music for flipping out or being sad to. Vice's Noisey called Haybaby's 2015 LP Sleepy Kids "everything you love about grunge, punk, art rock, indie rock, and riot grrrl rolled into one".
Merci Raines
With a mood that mirrors her home state of Louisiana, Merci Raines writes pop songs with an undeniable dark side. She claims inspiration from all art forms, from Cabaret shows to Shel Silverstein. Her songs range from ghostly and enigmatic to danceable exclamations of perseverance.
Theresa
Advertising music executive by day, aspiring pop star by night - New York native Theresa is an undeniable new force on the pop scene. Taking cues from the ‘80s and ‘90s, she credits Blondie, Madonna, Duran Duran, Mariah Carey and Lady Gaga as major influences. Theresa's debut single, "Things About To Change" reached over 40K streams in its first month on Spotify, and there's no plans of slowing down as she plans to release new music well into the new year. Follow Theresa's #evolutionofalady @theresa_music_official to see why she will be one of the most buzzed about artists and songwriters of 2020.
Rue Snider
Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Rue Snider combines '80s alt sonics with a lyrical style reminiscent of '60s rock revolutionaries.
Shy Beast
Shy Beast is undeniably Austin, with a strong following of fans, but the band is not bound by geography or genre—the appeal is universal, while all their own. This tight-knit group evolved organically, with deep connections to one another and to the local music scene. Shy Beast is made up of Mariclaire “MC” Glaeser (lead vocals, synth), David Tenczar (guitar, backing vocals, synth), Jay Cesak (bass), and Drew Silverman (drums). All have collaborated in different iterations before joining MC in Shy Beast. Newest member, Taylor Wilkins (lead guitar), joined the group after the band finished recording their forthcoming album, Shy ‘Til You Die, which is due out May 30th, 2019. With inspiration ranging from The Cardigans to Burt Bacharach, MC says her ultimate goal in writing songs is to “make people feel something similar to my experience, and also get them to move.”
AO Tøndra
London producer and composer Aidan O'Brien, best known (until now!) for his collaborative work with London duo IDER, as well as stunning productions for artists including FOURS, Richard Walters, and TesseracT, creates gorgeous, spare instrumental compositions as AO Tøndra. His ambient musical creations are by turns uplifting and warm, mysterious and entrancing.
Freddy Hall
Deemed "a true artist of the human condition" by Performer Magazine, indie/folk/pop darling Freddy Hall fuses compelling lyrics with anthemic melodies and groove-based music. Freddy has shared the stage with such musical icons as Carole King, Duncan Sheik and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong. He has played for many Tony Award winning Broadway shows, and has had his musicianship featured on Disney+, podcasts like This American Life, and independent movies.
Earlier this year Freddy teamed up with producer Anthony "Rocky" Gallo (John Legend, Cigarettes After Sex) to record his third studio album Dazy. Due out this fall, Dazy is a journey of self-discovery through loss, and is offered as a beacon of hope, especially to the most fragile among us.
Daisy the Great
Daisy the Great is the Brooklyn-based indie pop ensemble fronted by Kelley Nicole Dugan and Mina Walker. The dynamic duo is “joining a larger chorus of female pop musicians that are leaning into anarchy and melancholia” (according to Refinery 29) with their intimate, tactile lyrical observations, sung through beautiful, heartfelt harmonies. Kelley and Mina create an inviting, playful sound by combining the heavenly harmonies of First Aid Kit, the vulnerable plucking of Kimya Dawson, and the robust sincerity of Lucy Dacus.
Mina and Kelley started writing music together in 2016. The band’s debut EP, 2018’s I’ve Got a Few Friends and I Wish They Were Mine, reached success when the single “The Record Player Song” struck TikTok audiences in 2019, since amassing over five million streams. Following the release of their first album, I’m Not Getting Any Taller, in 2019, Kelley and Mina wrote & recorded their 2020 EP soft songs while quarantined apart from each other. Over the last couple of years, the pair has supported acts like Indigo Girls, Sidney Gish, and Samia. They are currently working on their next record, which will be full of bops. After releasing a handful of mid-2020 singles, Daisy the Great returns with two new songs, “Persephone” and a cover of the Simon & Garfunkel classic “Scarborough Fair.”
Juliette Irons
Juliette Irons is a Canadian singer-songwriter and choreographer that now lives in Los Angeles and spends her days traveling the world pursuing dance and music. She released her first single, ”Lighthouse,“ last year and it has already garnered over 250,000 streams on Spotify. The self-directed music video was shot by an Icelandic cinematographer in his home country and was featured on DCWS and When The Horn Blows. Additionally, Juliette has been featured in articles by VoyageLA and LeFutureWave. She is heavily influenced by artists like Bon Iver and Taylor Swift, but shows a raw intimacy that tethers her audience to her in a deep connection through the unfiltered emotion she releases not only through her songs, but through her stories. Her debut EP “Out of the Blue” was released summer of 2020, but a lucky few have been able to preview these songs at her live shows around Los Angeles including the historic Hotel Cafe. Juliette has also recently released a music video for her single “Satellite” filmed in Death valley, and now has full length album on the way. Juliette has a unique edge with a goal to create a new kind of brand in emotional dance music and is likely to be a breakthrough artist in the coming year.
Emily McNally
Emily McNally is creating the soundtrack for the lovelorn and anxious generation of young people with her genre-fluid, DIY bedroom pop music. With vulnerable lyricism, Emily confronts their own naivete and yearning in layers of lush vocals. She hopes to share a time capsule of the emotional whirlwind of queer adolescence in order to ease the sense of loneliness in others (and herself). A graduate of NYU and a current Brooklyn resident, Emily has spent the past few years gigging around the New York area, from famed venues like Rockwood Music Hall and The Bitter End, to local coffee shops and bars. They have written and released two solo EPs, with a third one on the way in 2021, as well as collaborating with young up-and-coming producers. She signed to Corkscrew Records in 2020, an upstart indie label dedicated to uplifting young artists from minority communities.
Matthew Connor
Matthew Connor is a crooner for the 21st century, writing heart-wrenching songs that combine the windswept ideals of classic American balladry with stark depictions of modern-day alienation. The Boston-based Connor has a haunting voice that conjures ghosts of past heartbreaks, and he pairs it with spectral guitars that recall country tearjerkers and alt-pop brooding. Connor, who also writes film scores, has proven himself adept at crafting intricately wrought mood music that grabs the most painful parts of his listeners’ souls, then soothes those wounds with his knowing lyrics and evocative voice.
Bootes Void
After graduating from an NYC music conservatory, drummer and multi-instrumentalist Joey Harmon moved back home to Portland, where he formed Bootes Void (the name of a supermassive region in outer space suspiciously devoid of galaxies). After writing his first full-length record, he headed to the studio to team up with producer Danny O’Hanlon at Bungalow 9 Recording, where the two created Cave Paintings. The ten-song album captures a vibe that is honest and ethereal. Watery vocals, shimmering guitars, punchy bass, and driving drums meld in an ambient wall of sound reminiscent of ‘60s and ‘70s psych rock, but refreshingly modern.
Chris Staples
Chris Staples is a Seattle-based multi-instrumentalist and song maker. His songs are narratives that are plainspoken and universal, with simple, disarming arrangements and delicate melodies that seemed to float on air. His music has been featured on NPR Music, Paste Magazine, American Songwriter, and Apple Music. Chris's forthcoming album, Holy Moly, will be released on June 28th via Barsuk Records; the four songs off Holy Moly included here comprise his Old Friends EP (released June 14th), a preview of what's to come on the full length.
Grieves
Seattle-based hip-hop musician and rapper Benjamin Laub, better known as Grieves, balances his dueling impulses through his music: the need to cut loose and the need to vent. Grieves wants to have a good time while also keeping it real and honest. Sonically, listeners will find him experimenting with fluttering trap beats one moment and hallmarks of classic soul, like rich guitar and humming organs, the next.
Baby Baby
Atlanta-based rockers Baby Baby draw from a variety of genres to create their own uniquely irresistible brand of fun-rock.
Living Phantoms
Connecticut-based electronic/synth-pop project Living Phantoms, the solo project of multi-faceted composer, producer, and audio engineer Will Benoit, creates shoegaze and '80s lo-fi-inspired musical dreamscapes that embrace a dark-yet-uplifting vibe. Benoit's other projects, including his original score music and a variety of rock, pop, electronic, and hip hop collaborations, round out his impressive and ever-expanding catalog of music.
Sera Cahoone
Seattle-based singer-songwriter Sera Cahoone (formerly of Carissa's Weird and Band of Horses) creates stirring, hushed Americana music with masterfully intimate lyrics and stunning vocals.