Maya de Vitry's energetic and passionate voice, described as having a "soulful intimacy" by Folk Alley, appears to emerge from some need to bring melodies to life. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, she grew up in a musical household where music was a means to socialize and enjoy a summer evening by a campfire. Country, gospel and folk tunes, as well as... read full bio
Eric Reid and Brianna Bordihn are the charismatic leaders of the captivating Toronto band Orson Wilds. They established the foundation for a new album, issued their first singles and landed a record deal with "Black Cement Records." They combine a strong production with an endless supply of talent, exhibiting a variety of powerful genres. It's difficult to categorize Orson Wilds, as they have... read full bio
Scottish band NORTH ATLAS, who are from the Solway Firth's lowlands, incorporates elements of their rural environment into both their music and images. Their immersive sound bridges the gap between well-known favorites like Biffy Clyro, Bring Me the Horizon and Nine Inch Nails by fusing cryptic electronica with strong, anthemic lyricism. The band celebrated their partnership with award-winning producer Dan Weller (Enter... read full bio
Led By Lanterns, a band from Birmingham, is on a quest to transform alt-rock into something darker by enhancing the greatest elements of pop songs with metal and electronic influences. The consequence is that the band has perfected a contagious combination of "boyband vocals" crossed with massive chords. Shaun Hill (vocals), Chris Lanterns (guitar), Rob Hawkins (bass) and Snake (drums) make up... read full bio
Sean McKenna, Charles and Andrew Hendy made up the original lineup of The Wallopers, an Irish traditional (trad) band that originated in Dundalk, County Louth. With their DIY mindset and attention to the human condition, traditional music is frequently subversive and articulates social and political commentary. The Wallopers got their start performing traditional music in taverns, where musicians would jam for hours... read full bio
The rock-blues guitar/drums duet known as THE INSPECTOR CLUZO was founded in Mont-de-Marsan by Laurent (guitars, vocals) and Mathieu (drums). They began playing music at the age of 7, have been performing together for almost 30 years, and Mathieu and Laurent both play multiple instruments (tenor sax and trumpet, respectively). In a wholly self-produced manner, TIC has performed more than 1200 times... read full bio
A diverse, energetic and well-hydrated progressive rock band from New Jersey is called Thank You Scientist. Terraformer, the boy-like septet's forthcoming album, finds them at their most ambitious and unexpected. By presenting an incredibly ambitious and continually engaging 84 minutes of experimental rock and roll music, the band has advanced its experimental, genre-defying sound. The group was started by guitarist and... read full bio
Alternative country band RYAN NECCI AND THE BUFFALO GOSPEL hails from Nashville through Milwaukee. Live performances by the band are intense and energetic, ranging from wildcat boot-stomping country to dusty, mournful Americana heartbreakers. Critics have praised every studio album they've ever released, describing it as "minimalist and masterful," "musically arresting," and "country music's best kept secret." The band has seen success touring worldwide... read full bio
The guitarist and band Covet's writer is Yvette Young. She has a solo project where she performs on piano, acoustic guitar and violin in addition to her band. Yvette studied the piano and violin classically as a child before picking up the guitar in the hospital. She worked as an art teacher for a while after earning a degree in fine... read full bio
Georgia-based independent rapper, singer and songwriter Wiley is from Atlanta. With his unusual delivery and focus on poetry and is recognized for artists like 6lack, Future and Gucci Mane, introduces a fresh sound to the area that is best known for trap and r&b. Rock, soul, r&b, folk and hip hop are all combined in Wiley's music to defy categorization and carve out a... read full bio
On breathing, Tiny Moving Parts has consistently served as a platform for catharsis. The Minnesota trio's sixth full-length addresses topics like mental health, anxiety and death while also extending their sound. Vocalist/guitarist Dylan Mattheisen and his cousins, brothers Matt (bass) and Billy (drums) Chevalier, both play bass and drums. Breathe is a valuable reminder that we're all in this together, channeled through the band's... read full bio
The world's first Anti-Boyband, AQUIHAYAQUIHAY, is made up of Jay-lee, Neqer, Phynx, Zizzy and Nehly. They define M-pop with crossover genres including R&B, hip-hop and traditional Latin rhythms. Everyone holds the belief that in order to be a member of anything, you must have a link or characteristic, something that sets a group of individuals apart or gives them a common trait. It... read full bio
Toronto-based rhythmic pop artist Matthew Dubois, better known by his stage as 12AM, is on the rise. With a seemingly endless supply of ink, the gifted singer-songwriter created a stir with his genre-defying EP, After Midnight. The album included well-known songs including "Voices," which has had 7 million listens and "come over," which made its debut on Travis Mills' Apple Music... read full bio
London-based Elkka is a musician who started out as a singer-songwriter before becoming a versatile producer, DJ and label owner. Elkka's music is a fusion of house, electronica, percussion and dreamy vocals that firmly occupies a genre of its own. She really commits to her craft when performing, whether it's in her expansive, exhilarating DJ sets or her captivating live presentation. Elkka changed from... read full bio
The Wisconsin-based alternative rock band DISQ appeared to have everything necessary to rule the world with their debut album Collector. Respected veteran indie label Saddle Creek offered them its full backing. They'd gotten glowing reviews from publications including Stereogum, the NME and the Guardian. They had an explosive live performance that was certain to win over a sea of fans and they... read full bio
Daniel Quien, a musician, was born in Mazatlan, Sinaloa. When he was 11 years old, at a difficult time of city transition, his father handed him a guitar and instructed him to sing some Beatles songs for his grandfather next time he came to visit. Luis Alberto Spinetta, Agustin Lara, Jorge Drexler, Sufjan Stevens, Devendra Banhart, Adan Jodorowsky (Adanowsky), Nick Drake and... read full bio
Marinero's Hardly Art debut, Hella Love, is an album about ending a book. It serves as Jess Sylvester's farewell and love letter to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he was born and raised, before moving to Los Angeles after finishing his debut album. Jess Sylvester chose the name Marinero, which translates to "sailor" in Spanish, as a way to... read full bio
Lava La Rue is a West London native who was reared in Ladbroke Grove and still calls it home. It's more than just a place to live; for the singer/musician, it serves as a source of support and inspiration. She first recognized this on her languid debut single, "Widdit," which features the lyrical chorus "City was a mother to me."... read full bio
JW Francis is one of Sunday Best Recordings' newest artists. He was born in Oklahoma, was reared in Paris, now resides in New York City, works as a Nobel Prize winner's assistant, is a certified tour guide in New York City and owns a murder mystery company. With echoes of Jonathan Richman, The Velvet Underground and the lo-fi sound New York has... read full bio
With "All Your Love," the Norwegian musician Jakob (also known as Jakob Ogawa) launched his career and rapidly became a favorite among tastemakers. His much awaited first EP Bedroom Tapes was released later that year. The EP got favorable reviews from both domestic and foreign media, making Jakob a well-known figure in the world of music. The pleasant contrast between... read full bio
