Alex Ritchie has been identified by the Grammys as part of the next generation of industry leaders. Chosen as part of the LA Chapter’s esteemed Grammy NEXT class, this artist, writer, producer and creative entrepreneur is well on her way to success as a multi-hyphenate in entertainment. Last April, she was seen making her Grammy telecast debut at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on CBS, alongside Grammy nominees H.E.R. and Giveon. Less than a year later, she was seen making her official debut on the official red carpet at the 65th AnnualGrammy Awards — with a look that graces the pages of Teen Vogue, E!News, Variety, Washington Post, and other major publications.

Alex has worked with the likes of Ziggy Marley, music supervisor titanTracy McKnight, super producer and Grammys CEO, Harvey Mason Jr.,as well as a number of other Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated talents. The release of her 404 EP was celebrated with the support of celebrity vocal coach Stevie Mackey and Fender guitars.

She teamed up with Rastaclat and the It Gets Better Project for her “Isn’tYou” single release in honor of PRIDE Month, and was also featured in theGrammy’s first ever LGBTQ+ National PRIDE Event, “Stay In, Come Out,Let’s Talk,” alongside LeAnn Rimes, Troye Sivan, and others. She was also featured in a PSA supporting the Biden/Harris campaign for FilipinoAmericans for Biden/ Harris this past presidential election cycle.

She most recently released her single “GO,” after a 3 year hiatus from releasing music, which amassed over 50K streams in the first couple weeks and quadrupled her Instagram following. Her next single, “Placeholder,” is co-written by platinum selling artist ZHAVIA, and is set to drop late Fall.

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Teri Bracken — the singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visionary force behind Brontë Fall's mix of indie-pop and rootsy Americana — was preparing to release 2020's Finishing School when the world shifted. A tornado ripped through her adopted hometown of East Nashville, sending two trees crashing onto her roof. A pandemic brought her world to a standstill. A messy breakup left her heartbroken, and her father's ongoing battle with cancer found her making regular trips to a hospital in Ohio.

Throughout it all, Bracken continued to create music. This was something more than songwriting — it was therapy. A battle cry from a front-woman who had always found empowerment in her own music. A reminder that difficult seasons are only temporary, with weary winters soon giving way to brighter summers.

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Rising musician Diego Molina is hard to pin down— and not just because he’s been a part of Romantic Relevance, a high-power pop act, and S.A.D., which played with form and function using everything from electronica to hip-hop. He’s a voracious music listener, which has impacted his music by turning him into a songwriter completely his own, armed with clear influences from classic rock, pop, and folk, contemporaries from Dashboard Confessional to The Wonder Years. In one recent single from his forthcoming record, “Ego Death,” the song crashes into being, but Molina’s understanding of levels is such that he understands how much harder something hits if listeners have to really wait for it: he slows down and uses a strong whisper to open the song: “Do you want a ride/ in my beautiful balloon?/ We can take off flying/ I lose me, and you’ll lose you.” Then the drums. That crash is what makes Molina stand out— that and his gorgeous high range, which he switches to in the chorus.

There’s a sincerity in everything he does, from the way the guitar is more about tone than showiness to the delivery of the vocals, but better than that, there’s bravery in the songwriting. He’s willing to say something that might not be a common phrase, but because of that, he completely avoids cliché. His wisdom, writing, and musicianship is much more characteristic of someone who has spent a life on the road, perfecting his craft. As it is, he continues to listen, learn, and experiment, and that can only be a good thing.

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New York City geography is defined by musical genres. Deep blues lives uptown, jazz pulses in quiet corners from the West Village to high Broadway, and indie, fusion, pop, and funk push the envelope in Brooklyn and gritty Manhattan haunts. Guitarist, composer, and bandleader Gideon King is a Big Apple musical diplomat, conducting lively artistic conversations across these borders.

As the founder and primary songwriter in Gideon King & City Blog, he takes inspiration from the streets of his native New York City, and with artistic input from the band’s core collaborators, channels it into vibrantly varied fusion-pop. To date, the 8-piece band has released two albums, one EP, and 15 singles. These days, Gideon King & City Blog is releasing a steady stream of genre-defying singles emblematic of the band’s creative wanderlust.

“I call the band a ‘blog’ because it is an open-ended dialogue with different musicians contributing their perspectives. When we create, it is controlled chaos. We sift through competing ideas, chipping away at the song until it has discernible features,” Gideon says. “These songs sit at the nexus of many different musical approaches and hopefully become their own vibe.”

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Gina Royale is an alternative-pop artist from New Jersey with a next-level passion for songwriting. Her edgy, direct lyrics, combined with her “bluesy, honest, arrestingly emotive” voice create a sound unique in its captivating rawness (The Aquarian). Gina’s music has been shared and enjoyed globally; spanning over 60 countries. Her live shows are a mix of tender, intimate moments and high energy calls to action, with sarcasm and personal anecdotes in between. Gina Royale has played shows across the country, through festivals, tours, radio/TV interviews, and more. At each stop of her career, spanning 2 EPs, several singles, dozens of press publications, and 1 full length LP, Royale finds a way to captivate and connect with her growing fan base along the way. At 25 years old, she has so much to say.

Gina’s new song, “Lemon Drop,” drops on Friday, January 29th. Co-written with, and produced by Rob Freeman of Hidden In Plain View, “Lemon Drop” video was directed by David Zeck, who has worked with Post Malone, Taylor Swift, and many other well-known artists, and Shaun Mason of Vault X Visuals. The song delves into the sweet and sour aspects of relationships. Give it a listen 5 or 6 times and you’ll find that Gina Royale is an artist to watch for 2021.

On May 7, Gina Royale’s “Here’s To You” was released during Mental Health Awareness Month. The track takes a deep dive into the condition of mental illness. Continuing a conversation that Gina began with “low,” “Here’s To You” and its accompanying music video reflect Gina’s own battles with eating disorders and anxiety. The meaning and message of the song will hopefully provide comfort for many who are looking to improve their mental health.

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The Glass Hours are American songwriters Brad Armstrong and Megan Barbera. Their music blurs between Sunday afternoon country folk and the Golden Age of the 1970s. Their self titled nine song debut album will be released by Cornelius Chapel Records in early 2024. The album was written, performed, recorded and produced by Brad and Megan in Brad’s home studio in Red Hook, New York. Like much of the work they’ve done in their respective solo careers, the new album dances between this and that, drinking from the same wells as Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, Tom Waits and Lucinda Williams.

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Fronted by singer/songwriter Matthew Smith, New Jersey's Hodera deliver dynamic, introspective indie rock with occasional shades of Americana. Formerly known as Epilogues, Smith and the band retooled their approach in 2014 with their debut EP, Reset to Default. Arriving a year later, the debut full-length United by Birdcalls saw Smith's intimate lyrics paired with soaring, often cathartic arrangements. A tireless touring regimen followed over the next couple years as Hodera expanded their fan base across the U.S. and Europe, eventually signing with Take This to Heart Records, which released their 2017 follow-up, First Things First.

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A rock & roll lifer, James Maddock has been carving his unique path since the 1980s, when the New York City based, British-born singer/songwriter kicked off his career with a raw, soulful voice; a storyteller's sense of narrative; and the ability to blur the lines between folk, classic pop, and rock.

Since his early days in London, he's ridden the wave of a music industry that's ebbed, flowed, peaked, and crashed. Maddock has stayed afloat throughout the entire ride, enjoying a brush with commercial success during the late 1990s - including a major-label record deal, a Top 5 AAA radio hit, and a song placements on major TV Series - before transforming himself into an independent solo artist during the decades that followed.

His latest release in 2023 ‘Night Work’ is a beautiful collection of songs reminiscent of The Eagles and Credence Clearwater Revival - no imitation, simply landing effortlessly in the space between. Recorded with close musical friends including Steve Jackson (drums) and James O’Malley (bass) from his days in the band Wood. As well as Aaron Comess, Drew Mortali, Ben Stivers, Brian Mitchell, James Hallawell, Jack Daley, Heather Hardy and Olivier Durand. Mixed by the great Dave O’Donnell (Keith Richards, James Taylor, John Mayer). Amongst the first reviews, Dan French from ‘Point Blank’ wrote - ‘James’s remarkable talent for capturing the kaleidoscope of life in superbly crafted, heartfelt songs - ranging in mood from poignant heartbreak to upbeat joy, with the promise to nourish your spirit’. James Maddock continues to demonstrate why many consider him to be one of the best singer/songwriters working today.

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90’s alternative rockers Marcy Playground celebrated their 20 year veterancy in the music industry in 2017. That year marked the anniversary of their 1997 self-titled debut album, which included the hit single “Sex and Candy”. In celebration of the anniversary, Slow Down Sounds released the album on vinyl for the first time ever. The album went platinum back in 1997, selling 1.4 million copies, while the radio classic “Sex and Candy” spent a then record 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.

In the interim years Marcy Playground released four posterior albums “Shapeshifter” (1999), “Marcy Playground 3” (MP3) (2004), “Leaving Wonderland… In A Fit of Rage” (2009), and “Lunch, Recess, and Detention” (2012). The albums demonstrated tremendous periods of creative growth for the group and are recognized as “cult classics” among the band’s dedicated fans. The band has also enjoyed notice by the big screen. Their songs are featured on soundtracks such as Cruel Intentions, Antitrust, Simply Irresistible, Hurricane Streets, as well as many films by writer/director Kevin Smith (Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back, Zack and Miri Make a Porno).

Marcy Playground has recently toured with Everclear, Fuel, Dishwalla, Local H and more. The band finished their most recent tour in the Fall of 2018. Marcy Playground is looking forward to getting back out on the road in 2019.

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Featured on NPR and TEDx; songwriter, vocalist and live looper, Margot MacDonald embodies a one-woman band. Originally a guitarist and pianist, Margot now focuses on unconventional vocal accompaniments, created and looped live into 20-part rhythmic a cappella pieces. Through lush layers and striking melodies, it's easy to forget the technology she hones. Her latest 2022 release is a collaborative record with The North Country under Misra Records, as Margot cooks up new solo works.

Based in Brooklyn NYC, Margot hails from and remains active in the DC music scene. She is a three-time winner of the Washington Area Music Association 'Artist of the Year' award, a recipient of DC’s Power 30 Under 30 and Washington City Paper's "Best Singer" accolades, a SXSW & CMJ Music Festival performer, and an Artist-in-Residence alumna of Iceland's Saga Fest and the Music Center at Strathmore.

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Mary-Elaine Jenkins is a Brooklyn-based songwriter, singer, and guitarist. A native of the South Carolina Lowcountry, her sound combines manifold influences with a distinctly southern sensibility. After graduating from college in Washington, DC, she spent two years in Madrid, a time that would prove creatively transformative. Upon making her home in NYC, she surrounded herself with a creative network that would eventually include Thom Beemer, who produced and engineered "Hold Still,” her full-length debut.

MEJ has been named among “5 Up-And-Coming Women Musicians You Should Know About” (Bust Magazine), described as "standing righteously above other young pretenders" (Glide Magazine), and her voice has been called "a mix of cloves, sage, ash, thorns, and honey” (The Deli NYC). She is a fixture in the New York music scene, has toured Europe, and has supported artists such as Martha Wainwright, Birds of Chicago, and Courtney Marie Andrews. She and Beemer are currently at work on a new record.

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After a pair of Surf Rock singles released in 2019, Austin based singer-songwriter/guitarist, Nick Adamo, has ridden a wave of momentum opening for rising bands such as Nané, Night Cap, Jane Leo, Aubrey Hays, Tyler McCollum, and The Irons. Along the way, Nick’s energetic live show has lit up several historic stages around Texas like Saxon Pub (Austin), The Belmont (Austin), Magnolia Motor Lounge (Ft. Worth), and Dosey Doe - The Big Barn (The Woodlands).

“Nick Adamo broke the silence with his first single in three years. “Lie to Me” teams Nick Adamo up with NPR Tiny Desk veteran vocalist Aubrey Hays, Pelvis Wrestley pedal-steel-guitarist Zack Wiggs, and even a string quartet courtesy of the Austin Symphony composed by Charlie Magnone. The payoff? A sandy folk-orchestral arrangement anchored by Adamo’s dexterous finger-plucking and sanguine singing.”

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Pete Mancini got his start as the frontman and songwriter of Butchers Blind, a critically acclaimed rock band from NYC. In 2017 he released his debut solo album Foothill Freeway, which explored the Americana influences that were a hallmark of his former band. The album garnered rave reviews from NPR, No Depression and Newsday. His second album Flying First Class was released in 2019. Extensive tours of the East Coast, Midwest and South followed, establishing Mancini as a national artist.

In the Summer of 2020, Mancini flew down to Dial Back Sound in Water Valley MS to begin work on his third album, Killing The Old Ways. Produced by Matt Patton (Drive By Truckers) and Bronson Tew, the 10 song collection marked a significant artistic leap forward. The album was finally released in 2022 to critical acclaim and was included on several best of year lists. His new EP The Commonwealth Sessions Vol. 1 is out now.

Over the years, Mancini has opened for acts such as Jimmy Webb, Los Lobos, Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Cracker, Rhett Miller, Amy Helm, Larry Campbell & Theresa Williams, and Iain Matthews. Pete is also a member of The Famous Doctor Scanlon Band, which performs the music of Travis McKeveny.

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Born and raised across the midwestern United States, Graham Weber has been a proud resident of Austin, Texas since 2004. He has released five solo studio albums, two live albums, and band releases with So, Long Problems and Western Youth. He has toured North America and Europe, and has supported many of his songwriting heroes including Guy Clark, Slaid Cleaves, Todd Snider, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Alejandro Escovado, and many more. In addition to performing as a solo troubadour, he fronts American Rock & Roll band, Restos. Weber is also the Artistic Director for The House of Songs, where he has curated hundreds of cowrites, organizes and facilitates THOS’ Songwriter Summit collaborative writing residency workshops, hosts and produces live events and fundraisers, books multiple concert series, and brings artists from around the world together to collaborate with regional artists in Austin, Northwest Arkansas, and New York City. In 2022, Weber teamed with fellow Austin artist Graham Wilkinson to create the Grahams Give Back concerts to raise money for charitable organizations addressing homelessness and economic inequality in Austin.

In 2023, Weber will be releasing his sixth solo studio album, the debut Restos album, and an album of jazz standards, torch songs, and originals in the same vein.

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“Musicians Chris Phillips and Michael Cerda met in 2008 in New York City, when Phillips played on Cerda’s Yellow House Orchestra’s “Pop” record. They’ve been writing new material together ever since. Everything they write together is under the guise of ‘if we were writing together when we were 16, what might we have written’… As a result, there’s a lot of deliberate hat tip moments to the early 1980s sound. With lots of melody, crafty hooks and plenty of guilty pleasures, the duo have released 3 singles, in the run up to their November 2023 full album release entitled “Get Back Home”. Based in New York City, The Sunday Review band also includes Brian Dunne on drums, Klyde Jones on bass, Aliy Sayles and Juanita Guinyard on backing vocals, Greg Mayo on keyboards. Dunne, Jones and Mayo also play with Hall & Oates, so it’s a fitting rhythm section for the story the songs are trying to tell. Although the music consists of all original compositions, the hope is that it brings to every listener something old-familiar and a good memory or two.”

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Sweetboy is an indie-folk band based out of Brooklyn, New York City. Anna Barnett and Jon Flores started working together by writing a few songs with keys and guitar, and began performing at open mics and showcases in and around New York throughout 2018. Their first songs “North Dakota” and “Build You A House” presented the unique balance between Flores’ classical piano training and Barnett’s background of English literature and story- telling. They released their first single, “Bad News,” as a fully-realized band in 2019 and followed that up with a culminating show at Brooklyn’s iconic Knitting Factory.

They released “Island” at the very end of 2022, and it is the first song from Sweetboy’s post-pandemic era. In 2023, Sweetboy is more focused than ever, with a stronger iden- tity and a more mature and confident sound. They have recently completed a 7-track album and are preparing for its release.

Sweetboy mixes indie rock and pop sounds with earnest vibrato vocals and folk-style lyrics. Their overall musical style is playful, though their songs explore sincere themes of depression, loss, and survival, and they are unafraid to disrupt expectations with quirky dynamics and elevated melodies. The band draws inspiration from theatrical legends like Elton John, The Killers, and Blondie but offers a storytelling buffet like that of Paul Simon and Regina Spektor. Their sound combines infectious indie-pop energy and late 90s angst with an introspective Americana through-line. Sweetboy considers themselves not much more than nerdy music lovers trying to figure out the most interesting, authentic, and exciting ways to turn their feel- ings into songs. While the bandmates live throughout New York and New Jersey, the city is their musical home.

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Singer-songwriter Will Varley has come a long way since his early days haunting the open mics of South London and busking on The Underground. A few days after returning from the 2023 SXSW festival in Austin Texas, he embarked on an eight date tour of the UK to promote his new live album ‘Through The Lowlands’. All eight shows sold out.

Over the years his army of fans has grown to include the likes of Skunk Anansie and the late Phil May, frontman of The Pretty Things. May even covered one of Will’s songs on the band's final album, 'Bare As Bone Bright As Blood'.

Will has toured relentlessly across Europe and America as support act for Billy Bragg, Frank Turner, Valerie June and The Proclaimers and he's sold out his own headline shows in cities as far afield as Berlin, Zurich, Amsterdam and Vienna. Appearances at numerous festivals including Glastonbury and Cambridge Folk Festival have helped fan the flames, as his audience continues to grow both on the road and online. His self-made music videos have clocked up millions of views on YouTube and the song 'Seize The Night' is fast approaching eight million streams on Spotify.

There is a depth to Will’s song writing that sets him apart, and has propelled his music far and wide. His songs seem to transcend themselves, marrying vivid imagery, politics, emotion and surrealism to capture his musings in a way that is quite remarkable. As time goes by more and more people are discovering Will Varley, joining the ranks, and finding a true artist, a poet and a source of truth in a world gone mad.

In February 2023 Will signed a worldwide deal with MNRK music group, making him label mates with the likes of The Lumineers and Shakey Graves.

Will's music has been played extensively on 6Music, Radio X and Radio 1. His albums have reached number two in the iTunes Singer Songwriter charts in the UK, number three in Germany and made the top 30 in the US.

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