In the spotlight: JonSaw
JonSaw are a two-piece band based in Gothenburg (Sweden) that play bluesy southern rock with a splash of bourbon and 70s. The band consists of Robert Jonsson (vocals and guitar) and Mikael Säwström (drums). JonSaw first saw the light of day in February 2022 after a conversation during the Christmas holidays. Now they release a…
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In the spotlight: Orange Creek Riders
Orange Creek Riders are a folk rock band from Orlando, Florida (USA) consisting of Darren Soto (singer, guitarist and songwriter), Darren Vierday (harmonica), Jeff Jordan (bass) and Jeff Sudbury (drums). The band is influenced by different genres including punk and country. How did the band form and get started? “We formed in 2013 to play…
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In the spotlight: Yogishine
Yogishine is a band based in based in Trondheim and Oslo (Norway) founded in 2014. They make music inspired by genres like hip hop, funk, r&b and soul. The band consists of Therese on vocals and synths, Kristian on Guitars and synths and Are on bass and synths. In May 2022 they released their single…
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In the spotlight: Dust City Opera
Dust City Opera is an eccentric rock band from the deserts of New Mexico, consisting of Paul Hunton (vocals, guitar, songwriter), Clara Byom (clarinet, accordion, keys), Travis Rourk (trombone), Scott Brewer (bass), and Dave Purcell (drums). They entwine strands of grunge, gothic country, punk, folk, and rock as the soundtrack to stories steeped in cosmic…
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In the spotlight: Lee Ford
Lee Ford is a singer/songwriter from Liverpool (UK). Lee, backed with a full band, has a catalogue of tunes with raw relatable lyrics and loud guitars ready to be released into the world of new music and make an impact. “I’m a singer/songwriter when I’m not snowed under with work trying to get my songs…
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In the spotlight: The Arcades
The Arcades are a four piece-band from St. Neots (UK). The band consists of Tom Hall (lead singer), Matt Keating (lead guitar, songwriter), Perry Wright (Drums) and Dean Merrick (bass). I spoke to Dean about their influences and favourite performances. How did it all start? “As friends our common interest was going to gigs/festival and…
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In the spotlight: Skinny Dippers
Skinny Dippers is a Brooklyn, NY (USA) based indie music project fronted by singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Gross. Drawing from his roots growing up on the coast of Maine, his style spans a broad range of genres by blending guitar driven indie rock arrangements with analog synthesizers and choral harmonies. When did you first fall…
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In the spotlight: Oddwall
Odd Wall is a 41 year old music producer from England, who released his debut album ‘Fear’ on 1st October 2021. He has been involved in music for around 20 years, starting out with DJ’ing on pirate radio in someone’s kitchen and ended up with in venues with the likes of Fatboy Slim, Pendulum, Chase…
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In the spotlight: Jonny Phillips Trio
After bringing a pot of indie rock to a simmer on the musical stove, The Jonny Phillips Trio (UK) throw in a pinch of prog, a couple of spoonfuls of blues, and maybe a psychedelic or two to create a tantalising one-pot wonder of explosive auricular fusion. Musically guaranteed to satisfy the soul and body,…
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In the spotlight: Shayan Regan
Shayan Regan is a 22-year old singer/songwriter originally from the United Kingdom, who is currently living in Florence (Italy). From a young age, he found solace in a variety of artists and songwriters particularly focusing on genres such as pop, indie, singer/songwriter, acoustic and folk, which contributed to him shaping his own identity as a…
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In the spotlight: Lunar Plexus
Lunar Plexus are Devon (UK) based Indie duo John Saddler and Reuben Ayres who have previously played in various bands – separately and together – across various genres. They first came together musically around 2000 in a band called Reflux which played various pubs, clubs, parties and weddings in and around Exeter. Reub: “We came…
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In the spotlight: Ali Gilbert
Ali Gilbert is a singer/songwriter from the small town of Tamworth in the West Midlands (UK). He has been performing and writing music since his early 20’s. When he’s not performing at gigs and writing songs, he loves spending time with his family, playing football and hitting the gym. I always like to ask artists…
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In the spotlight: State
State are a new three-piece band from Bristol comprised of Ben Wilson (guitars, keys, programming), Viv Paton (bass, keys, programming) and Sa Andrieu (vocals). They recently released their debut single ‘Fist Bump’. Despite being a new band the members aren’t new to music. “We all met at school in Newbury. Ben and Viv started a…
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In the spotlight: NEEDSHES
Needshes is the brainchild of singer/songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Otabek Salamov (Bek). Bek was born in Tashkent in 1989 in the post-Soviet country of Uzbekistan. He is currently based in Tula, Russia. Let’s ask him some questions. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? What’s distinctive about where you grew up and…
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In the spotlight: Hugo’s Will
Take a tablespoon of Blues, a pinch of Psychedelia, a splash of Soul, a little Punk and a large dose of petrol-scented Garage Rock and you have Hugo’s Will from Umeå (Sweden). Hugo’s Will currently consists of RG (vocals), NB (bass) and KB (guitar) who have previously rocked in other bands such as Crystal Caravan,…
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In the spotlight: Andre Pettipas
Nova Scotia (Canada) based rock band Andre Pettipas and The Giants – the band name is a reference to former French wrestler André The Giant, released their sophomore album ‘No Fools No Fun’ in 2021. Lead singer Andre Pettipas will release a solo album later this year, which will also be keeping in the theme…
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In the spotlight: Subterfuge
Subterfuge were formed in Düsseldorf (Germany) in 1991. They are one of a handful German first generation indiepop groups that are still around. Between 1993 and 2005 the band recorded four studio albums. Their third one ‘I Do Birds’ was also released in Japan. Then priorities of the band members shifted towards solo projects while…
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In the spotlight: Shoun Shoun
Bristol (UK) based four-piece Shoun Shoun play unflinching, atmospheric dream pop and art garage rock wlth the urban ennui of Nico mixed with the noise of Sonic Youth with a certain Velvet Underground elegance. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and guitarist Annette Berlin, who has spent years battling ferocious noise in Bristol bands like…
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In the spotlight: Lee Bailey
Lee Bailey is an indie folk singer-songwriter hailing from South Yorkshire (UK). He made his debut with the single ‘Dry’ and has released five singles in total since. His latest release ‘Closer To You’ is in our Cool Top 20 chart. Time to ask Lee some questions about his influences and creative process. So Lee,…
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In the spotlight: Electron Odyssey
Electron Odyssey is Jeff Spoonhower, an independent musician and producer living in Northern Indiana (USA). Jeff has worked in the video game and animation industries since 2002. His debut album of electronic music ‘Your Future Awaits’ was inspired by 80s synth-driven pop, progressive rock, synthwave, and film/game scores. The album won the award for ‘Best…
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In the spotlight: Dawn Coulshed
Dawn Coulshed is singer-songwriter multi-instrumentalist currently living in Glasgow, where she’s studying jazz voice. She is influenced by the traditional music of her Scottish roots and her classical studies as a pianist. Dawn has toured throughout the United Kingdom and abroad as a soloist and as a member of acoustic duo Evering. “I grew up in…
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In the spotlight: Riley Whittaker
Riley Whittaker is a 17-year-old indie alternative musician/songwriter currently living in Nashville (USA). In addition to playing guitar, she also plays the keyboard, ukulele and violin. Riley grew up in a small town called Sedona, Arizona. She lived in the same town her entire childhood, and didn’t move out of it till about a year…
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In the spotlight: the Vain Travail
The Vain Travail is a five-piece collective from the Netherlands, whose members are top Dutch session musicians. They started in 2018, and only ever rehearsed once: it’s all about writing and arranging beautiful songs, and they do so from their home studios scattered across the country. The project started in 2018 as a new way…
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In the spotlight: Joe Peacock
Joe Peacock is a prolific singer-songwriter from Birmingham (UK). Joe grew up in rural Herefordshire. The family house was a long way from anywhere. It was hard to get to see other children, so Joe spent a lot of time on his own. Boredom was quite a good spur for creativity and he began writing…
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In the spotlight: Daniel Scarsella
Daniel Scarsella was born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario (Canada) and is part of a growing band of modern DIY musicians. He is a husband, father, guitar teacher and lifelong student of all things music. “Peterborough is a mid-sized town North- East of Toronto, Canada and very much cottage country. Growing up near water meant…
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In the spotlight: The Future Us
The Future Us are a two-piece rock band formed in Glasgow (UK), comprised of Gary Hendry and Joe Gorman. Their first EP ‘Fear and Progress’, a collection of five songs inspired by untypical times, was released in January 2021. Since the release of the EP they have also released several singles of varying themes that…
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In the spotlight: Dead Mass
Dead Mass are an alternative/progressive rock band from Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa (Auckland, New Zealand). The band comprises David Donaldson (drums, vocals, percussion), Ivan Segedin (bass and synth) and Corey Walden (vocals, guitar and piano). The band formed in late 2018 and recorded an EP named ‘The Last Judgement’ in 2019. Early this year they released…
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In the spotlight: Abi Nav
Abi Nav is a 24-year old Boston (USA) based singer-songwriter and recording artist. Abi weaves stories with his songs. His influences include John Mayer, Pink Floyd and Radiohead. His raw, self-aware lyrics, coupled with his ability to write unforgettable melodies make him a songwriter to look out for. I always like to ask artists about…
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In the spotlight: Avi Wisnia
As the son of a rabbi and grandson of a cantor, Avi Wisnia learned to be comfortable on stage at a young age, composing melodies on the piano as soon as he was tall enough to reach the keys. After the release of his first album in 2010 he wasn’t sure he was ever going to release music again. “I…
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In the spotlight: Fake shark
Fake Shark is a Canadian electronic indie-pop band from Vancouver (Canada). The band originally formed in 2005 and changed their name after shifting from punk to a more commercial pop sound in 2015. These days the band is located in Vancouver and LA. The band’s current line-up consists of Kevvy, Louis, Tony, Alex and Jake.…
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In the spotlight: Joe Adhémar
We all know British songwriter Joe Adhémar has made some great songs including our current number 1 in the chart ‘Be My Coastguard‘. (And if you didn’t, it’s time to check him out!) “Last time I was number 1 at something was the 25m butterfly at my school swimming gala.” So Joe, what else is…
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In the spotlight: Mark Cokes
Mark Cokes is a singer/songwriter and marathon swimmer. Mark was born in Dublin (Ireland) where he lived till his early twenties before emigrating to Australia, New York and Los Angeles finishing his travels in Bosnia and Italy. “I returned home with a head full of cultured madness and a heart full of exciting opportunity.” “I…
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In the spotlight: Sean Buckley
Sean Buckley was born in Hope, Salford (UK). He writes descriptive melodic electronica and is known for his successful collaborations, but little is known about Sean himself. Time to ask him some questions… Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? “Hello from Little Cottage, which is near Ironbridge in Shropshire, England. I was…
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In the spotlight: Sky Diving Penguins
Sky Diving Penguins are an indie band from Tbilisi (Georgia). The band is the brainchild of Gia Iashvili. He is influenced by acts as The Beatles, Beck, Elliott Smith & Nirvana. “I formed Sky Diving Penguins after leaving the band I played with. I realised that I want to do my own thing. I prefer being…
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In the spotlight: Anger Bang
We first heard of Anger Bang when they submitted their track ‘The Stones’ in September 2020. Anger Bang is currently in our chart with their song ‘Shiit’. We know they like the Beastie Boys sound, but what else is there to learn about the band? Who are Anger Bang? “Anger Bang consists of 4 members,…
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In the spotlight: Ivory Lake
Ivory lake is the brainchild of 25-year old Josh Watts, drummer and singer/songwriter. Josh is originally from Sheffield (UK), but is now based in Alicante, Southern Spain. “I think spending my childhood in Northern England, greatly impacted the lyrical side of my music. Northern England for me is characterized by grey skies, rain, and a…
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In the spotlight: Twelve A.M. Flowers
Twelve A.M Flowers are a band originally hailing from New York led by Kevin McGinnis, who tends to describe his music as “a bright reflection off a black window”. The name Twelve A.M. Flowers is a product of catching a tiny gift from the universe out of the corner of his eye. Two newspapers sat…
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In the spotlight: Matte Martin
Matte Martin is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter obsessed with the dark and complex edges of rock and pop music. Matte channels the disparate influences of classical music, punk rock, the avant-garde, horror films, and the great English poets into deep, dark, dramatic rock-infused pop songs. The dark woods of his rural northern California upbringing cast their…
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In the spotlight: Alvinos Zavlis
Electronic music producer Alvinos Zavlis writes, records, produces, mixes and masters songs for himself and the artists he develop. Alvinos grew up in Cyprus, but is currently living in Bristol (UK). Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? “Hey! So, my real name is Alvinos and I’m born and raised in Cyprus. I’ve been producing…
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In the spotlight: Fendahlene
Fendahlene was formed in Sydney in late 1994 by Paul Whiteley, Ashley Hurst and Ben Felton. After a long run as a live act round Sydney, with two albums and two EPs under their belt, Fendahlene relocated to Europe in 2006 and both Paul and Ashley ended up living in England. After a break they…
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About me
I’m Lean and I’m a music addict from the Netherlands. Although I’m the face of the website, I don’t run it all by myself. I have a team behind me to host the website, organize the playlists, select tracks and albums for our (long) shortlist and publish the charts.
Our mission is to bring musicians and listeners together and share the love for music made by independent artists. All because we love music!
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