INDIE ARTIST SPOTLIGHT II: 5 ARTISTS YOU NEED IN YOUR ROTATION
If your playlists are starting to feel a little stale, we have got just the fix. These five up-and-coming artists are delivering fresh sounds and raw emotions — ones that make you hit “add to playlist” without hesitation.
1. VILMA CROW
Vilma Crow is a Copenhagen-born artist whose music lives where fragility meets fury. With the release of her debut EP Good dog for sale on May 23, Crow is direct, shameless and sharply honest. The EP features four tracks with a runtime of just 12 minutes, and Crow gets straight to the point. Good dog for sale explores the emotional aftermath of love and the toll it takes; the longing, the performing, and the quiet desperation of wanting to be chosen. Opening track “Impress U” is a striking introduction to the EP, with sharp desperate lyrics, aching vocals and grainy guitar.
Keep up with Vilma Crow:
Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / YouTube
& Stream Good dog for sale
2. SYDNEY ALTBACKER
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Sydney Altbacker returns with her newest single “Backseat Driving.” The fast-paced track explores the impulsive rush and emotional fallout of a rebound romance. Lyrics of spiteful desperation paired with contrasting bright guitar and lush cymbals fill the track driving its bittersweet narrative. Altbacker has consistently been delivering intricate, emotionally rich tracks since her debut in 2022. “Backseat Driving” marks the start of a new project for Altbacker, and we are itching to hear more.
Keep up with Sydney Altbacker:
Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / YouTube
& Stream Backseat Driving
3. ARDEN LLOYD
From the quiet corners of western Massachusetts comes singer Arden Lloyd. Lloyd blends aspects of folk, indie rock and pop to create emotional, narrative driven tracks. Lloyd’s new EP Playing It Out releases on August 3, with three singles “Dance”, “January” and “Reins” preceding the release. The tracks feature a feathery acoustic guitar and melancholy vocals from Lloyd, who continues to develop her unique sound in the indie folk scene.
Keep up with Arden Lloyd:
Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / TikTok / YouTube
& Stream the singles
4. JEANNA
Hailing from the Netherlands is Jeanna, a pop artist with a unique approach to songwriting and storytelling — creating music inspired by historical stories layered with contemporary themes. “do it Wright” is the first single off Jeanna’s newest project: an EP about inventions that changed the world. Released on June 13, “do it Wright” tells the story of the Wright brothers, the inventors of the airplane, while also exploring themes of perseverance and dreaming big. Soaring synths surge through the track with cinematic grandeur, giving it a bold sense of optimism.
Keep up with Jeanna:
Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / TikTok / YouTube
& Stream do it Wright
5. TABASCO BIRDS
The Tabasco Birds are an eight-piece group from northern Texas who aim to encapsulate the Cosmic American sound — a hybrid of country, rhythm and blues, soul, folk and rock — through a 21st century framework. Titled after the group itself, “Tabasco Birds” marks their first official release. The dusty and dreamy track is full of lush instrument-rich arrangements, guitars, pedal steel, keys and southern twang, showcasing the Tabasco Birds keen sense for thoughtful crafting of a sound that's both timeless and evocative.
Keep up with the Tabasco Birds:
Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / YouTube
& Stream Tabasco Birds
