INDIE ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

There is something so incredibly thrilling in discovering new music before it blows up. In this week's indie artist spotlight, we are putting five rising acts on your radar who are reshaping the scene in their own unique ways. Whatever you are into — dreamy soundscapes, punchy riffs or raw storytelling — this list has something for you and your next obsession.

1. HiDAZE

HiDAZE is a three-piece alternative-rock band from Knoxville, Tennessee, bending genres and melting our brains. With three singles released since September, the band — composed of Ava Finkbeiner, Emma Combs and Lila Satterfield — has been building up momentum for the release of their first album. HiDAZE blends influencers from a handful of genres psychedelic rock, indie, and punk. On their latest single “X!!” the punk influences come through loud and clear, driven by gritty basslines, raw vocals and riot grrrl-inspired feminist fire. HiDAZE’s debut album Shattered Silence drops today marking a bold entrance onto the scene.

Keep up with HiDAZE 

Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / Facebook

& Stream “X!!”

2. The Drought

Straight out of Salt Lake City, The Drought is paving their own path. Their newest single “BLB” (Big Little Boy) catches us with bright guitar and silky vocals, but underneath its blithe sound lies a sharp-tongued narrative aimed at a boy who probably still thinks the song is not about him. 

Keep up with The Drought

Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / YouTube

& Stream BLB

3. Saint Germaine

Rooted in the Asbury Park scene, New Jersey-based band Saint Germaine hits hard with their debut single “After Impact.” Released back in November, “After Impact” features dark, boomy guitars and raspy vocals that establish Saint Germaine’s place in Jersey alternative-rock.

Keep up with Saint Germaine

Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram 

& Stream After Impact

4. Rachel Croom

New Jersey’s own Rachel Croom navigates coming-of-age through emotionally rich piano ballads, crashing drums, folky guitar and vulnerable lyricism. Following the release of her debut EP, Croom released a double a-side “Too Awake to Sleep / For the Ones Who Go Away.” These two tracks explore feelings of helplessness in a world of devastation. These tracks were written around the same time as others on her debut album, but ultimately did not fit with the story she was trying to tell. Now, she feels these poignant tracks are even more socially and politically relevant, creating something that will resonate deeply.

Keep up with Rachel Croom

Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / TikTok / YouTube / X 

& Stream Too Awake to Sleep / For the Ones Who Go Away

5. Alex Hoskyns

Boston-based emerging artist Alex Hoskyns crafts a sound that blends folk and cinematic instrumentation. Her debut single “Secondhand Love” is a resonant track that aches with emotional weight, unpacking the heartbreak of being someone’s second choice. Soaring harmonies, delicate vocals and intense strings inject an impassioned intensity to the track, elevating its impact. It is clear through this debut that Hoskyns is a meticulous composer with purposeful arrangement of sound design elements, like the ticking of a clock during a lyric about patience.

Keep up with Alex Hoskyns

Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / YouTube

& Stream Secondhand Love