Glass Mansions rise to the occasion, Forclaz are sweatin’ to the oldies, Breaking Still put it on autopilot and more in today’s submissions from Groover, a platform that connects artists with critics like me for a small fee. You can (and should) follow me on Spotify HERE, check out my Top 200 playlist HERE, or listen to it via the widget at the lower right of every page on this site. If you want to be in an upcoming playlist, go HERE. But first, get a load of these deadly customers:
Glass Mansions | Standing O
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Led by the charismatic, sultry voice of Jayna Doyle and multi-instrumentation of Blake Arambula, Glass Mansions are an alt-pop duo from Austin, influenced by modern and ’90s pop, heavy synths and tight, dance-friendly rhythms. Live, it’s pure rock ’n’ roll — raw, sweaty, passionate and covered in a cloud of fog and confetti — and chances are you’ve seen them at some point as they crisscross the country opening for Phantogram, Robert Delong and Young The Giant. Standing O, their newest single and video, is their most fiery, empowering single to date. It’s made for fans of Sleigh Bells, Halsey, PVRIS, etc.”
Forclaz | Physical ’87
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Hard Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Everything here is done according to a guideline: What if the hit Physical had been recorded in 1987 in L.A.?”
Breaking Still | Autopilot
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Delivering power and nuance in equal measure, Welland, Ont.’s Breaking Still offer a fresh hard rock sound, with a turn-of-the-century alternative sensibility. A tight live band with as much an emphasis on ear-catching melodies as on energy and drive, the five-piece offer a strong variety of original tunes in their set, a handful of which have been recorded for their debut studio effort. Breaking Still’s music handles subjects like mental health and addiction with surprisingly potent and engaging delicacy. The band strive to exemplify their message outside of music, having participated in multiple charitable efforts throughout their community.”
California Condor | Chandelier
HOME BASE: Estonia.
GENRE: Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “California Condor hail from Estonia. Forged in the light of 2021, their music combines post-grunge, alt-metal and Hip-Hop. Their unique songs balance melody with heavy chorus riffs in a post-apocalyptic setting. California Condor are on a crusade to make music with less nonsense and more point. They are proud to present their own interpretation of Chandelier by Sia. The message of the original track has been transformed into a grim and darker form.”
https://youtu.be/ThqOa9XWiy0
Minimal Orchestra | British Drama
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Minimal Orchestra are only minimal by name. Insatiable explorers of urban, wild and tender poetry, they create a jazz hybrid that flirts with the frontiers of electronica and English jungle. This quintet deliver elaborate compositions, rich in changing rhythms and universes that dance alongside psychedelic, dreamy, bewitching and catchy sounds. Their debut album Laïka’s Take Off is a musical exploration of the space journey of the dog who was, in 1957, the first living being to go into space. In March 2023, they return with the album Lift Off, an earthly echo of the previous project.”
Mike Makana | Lumière Noire
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I create strong and poignant works which aim to help alert people to the urgency of the environmental situation. I am fascinated by the power of humans, by how our species is able to change the world through our ingenuity and also destroy it through our bias. It’s everyone’s role to use what we do best to continue living in a desirable world. For my part, I play the piano. This piece is a contrast between human madness and nature taking over when humans sleep. I used sounds recorded in factories to create a more concrete universe.”
Jadanaë | Margharita
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Offering seduction and looks on a background of unstoppable melodies and R&B, here is the exquisite Margharita by Jadanaë. After a first EP, she released a second single at the end of 2022. We follow her into a bar for this sensual flirtation, guided by her suave voice and a resolutely modern and electronic production while remaining organic and warm.”
https://youtu.be/ICmRl7G2M58
AudioZona | Events Horizon
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This track is taken from my last concept album about deep-space exploration.”
Victoria Bizzoco | Back To The Start
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Victoria (Tori) Bizzoco is a 12-year-old singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress from N.Y.C. who has been entertaining audiences since she was two. Her debut single Back to the Start hopes to inspire people to let go of resentment from the past in an effort to move forward toward healing and inner peace. It is the first in a series of songs that will appear on her upcoming EP. Tori wrote this heartfelt melody while grieving the loss of a close relationship. Although this was written about the ending of a friendship, the lyrics can apply to anyone experiencing a platonic or romantic breakup.”
https://youtu.be/g-TuLG2u-8U
Lil América | Express Entry
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Jazz-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bridging the gap between Latino rhythms and contemporary jazz-pop, Salvadoran/Canadian singer-songwriter Lil América is releasing Express Entry, a catchy number about family, the immigrant experience, resilience, and motherhood. Backed by uplifting reggae-jazz instrumentation and a Latin drum groove, Lil América sings the story of her arrival in Canada from El Salvador. Express Entry is an empowering immigrant story, highlighting how far you can go if you persevere and follow your dreams. Lil América will drop her debut album Courage Music Healing soon. It is a personal mix that reflects on the past while looking forward to the future. “The album was made during a time that I was off due to stress and the pandemic,” she says. “I passed through a very bad depression and the songs helped me heal.”
Stéphane Collin | Le Serment Des Oracles
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Les Serment Des Oracles is the musical meeting between veteran jazz saxophonist Steve Houben and classical-oriented composer Stéphane Collin. They spent nearly six months selecting and recording the best tracks, some with full orchestra.”
Alexandra John | Healing
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The brother-and-sister duo aren’t just real-life, born-on-the-same-day twins — they’re also musical twins, developing an early bond that has carried them through life. In 2020, they combined their middle names to form Alexandra John, and worked to hone their infectious brand of indie electro-pop that embodies both feminine and masculine energies. This is the title track from their just-released debut EP Healing. Synths, guitars, 808s and horns give a human aspect to an electronic sound that mixes lounge, soul, R&B and jazz.”
Drey Karper | Cher Futur Moi
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Born in Brazil, raised in French Guiana and based in Paris, Drey Karper is a singer and songwriter driven by his love for music, he celebrates life through his songs by highlighting emotions, memories, desires, lessons and perceptions. Motivated and inspired by artists such as IAMDBB, Kali Uchis, SZA, Tyler The Creator and Doja Cat, he released his songs online and mae his own video with what he had. Cher Futur Moi is an intimate track about self-love. Everything is of an infinite softness, perfect to warm us in this cold period.”
West Wickhams | This Is A Hang Up
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Psych-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “West Wickhams are a psyschedelique garage-noir duo from Tresco on the Isles of Scilly. Tresco is famously the island of lost souls and is home to subtropical plants and shipwrecked figureheads. They recently relocated to Richmond, where the creatures rule. West Wickhams are an imagined rival gang to punk style icons The Bromley Contingent. They are influenced by Mary Shelley, Whitby Abbey, pipe organs, flowers, polka dot cats, dark punk, gothic novels, rock autobiographies, castles, abstract painting, euphoria, mist, autumn, Halloween, film noir, optical illusions, Edgar Allan Poe and Andy Warhol. They debut EP Consider Her Way is out now on Bandcamp. This Is A Hang Up is the second single from their upcoming Magenta EP. Welcome to the planet of the vampires!”
Saneit | Nothing Like Them
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hailing from the west side of Chicago, singer and songwriter Saneit is the new R&B sensation. Her debut album Fantasy is a culmination of heart and soul. She has graced the stage as a support act for Megan Thee Stallion and Jennifer Hudson. Her alluring video Nothing Like Them (produced by Hitman Audio) was shot in both Chicago and Los Angeles. It spotlights the seductive and sophisticated aura of the songstress. She begins singing in a soft tone that smoothly intenses after each verse, just as Saneit progressively evolves in her vocal ability and lyrical approach as a recording artist.”
Wai Lana | River Of Forgiveness
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Reggae-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Creator, director, and host of Wai Lana Yoga, Wai Lana played a key role in helping ignite yoga’s mainstream popularity in the United States and around the world. Inspired by and infused with timeless yoga wisdom, Wai Lana’s beautiful songs and music videos radiate with her warm heart and positivity. Entertaining and meditational, her fusion of mesmerizing music and captivating lyrics puts Wai Lana’s songs in a genre all their own. They are truly songs of the heart.”
Thegraceisback | Free Heart
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Free Heart is a very melodic piano piece, quite uplifting and elegant. Free Heart has also been played on the BBC and received a decent amount of attention from playlists and online radio.”
Maria Karakusheva | Nine
HOME BASE: Bulgaria.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A modern classical piano composer and instrumentalist, I have composed four albums of original music, produced six live shows for them and put on over 100 concerts, including solo performances in Bulgaria and Paris. Nine is my latest single and video that poetically celebrates my first step in motherhood. The music was composed in the ninth month of my pregnancy, and symbolizes the birth of new life.”
Scott Vlassis | Never Wanna Let You Go
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “London artist Scott Vlassis characterises his music as ‘new old school’ that takes the listener to a soul-filled soundscape. Drawing from his love for ’80s music, the newcomer exudes a Silk Sonic / Weeknd vibe to create a retro-infused new sound. All his videos stem from his own creative input and reflect his multi-faceted talent, aesthetic and sensitivity as an artist. A cocktail by the water, at sunset, in the middle of December — is it possible? If you listen to Vlassis’ latest single and close your eyes, you’d almost be there! A delicious mix of ’80s electro-pop and funk — with a touch of modernity — makes for a hit perfectly calibrated for the beginning (and end) of parties. The energy and the good mood transmitted by the songwriter are enough to brighten up any moment.”
Imelda Gabs | Reckless
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bold and unexpected, Imelda Gabs manifests her passion and emotions trough her music, both on stage and in the studio. The 24-year-old Belgian and Congolese artist grew up in Switzerland and made her live debut at 14 in Brussels alongside her father, jazz pianist Doctor Gabs. In 2017 she joined the Montreux Jazz Academy and was invited to play at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival, opening for Lianne La Havas and The Roots. The singer likes to mix varied sounds and treats her audience with a sonically rich and blissful electro-acoustic musical journey. Her latest single Reckless is one of those songs that will definitely send chills down your spine. Brilliantly infusing her dark pop and orchestral influences, the song talks about how reckless one can be when in love, the fear of letting go. The song carries a deep and passionate melancholy mixed with futuristic visuals, which its sci-fi-inspired music video fully embodies.”
Oaks | Worst Nightmare
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Meet indie-pop singer-songwriter Oaks. After moving to Canada this year, the artist started her new music project, bringing songs with a lot of sensibility, highly personal, truthful lyrics and a modern sound, exploring the depths of alt-pop, electropop and synth-pop music. Worst Nightmare is a chill, slightly sad song about falling for the wrong person and having a hard time getting over it. It is perfect to listen when driving late at night.”
Glenn Valles | Christmas In My Soul
HOME BASE: India.
GENRE: Country-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Glenn Valles is a songwriter from Mumbai who can make listeners see with their ears and feel with their souls. With several International Songwriting Awards to his credit in multiple genres, Glenn’s music has been shortlisted for a huge Hollywood action film, a long-running popular peality TV show, a new TV series pilot on a major broadcast betwork and a major studio feature film in the U.S. Glenn’s creative ability and songwriting skills have been acknowledged by experienced professionals in the international music industry. There’s something very special, wonderful and magical about this season! It brings so much of joy, happiness, love and togetherness!”
Zilá Lima | Flor D’Água
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Folk.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The song Flor D’Água by singer and songwriter Zilá Lima is from her upcoming album Cantando Memórias. A team of stars contributed to the exquisite work: Music producer Celsinho Silva, arranger Rogério Souza, sound engineer Sergio Lima Netto from Estúdio Araras, Celsinho Silva on tambourine and abacus, Rogério Souza on guitar, Jorge Filho on the cavaquinho, Luís Barcelos on the mandolin and João Camarero, on the seven-string guitar. Flor D’Água is the encounter with our own essence, with our ancestry. It is about the necessary dive so that the best of us can manifest. It refers to the energy present in fresh waters, to the strength that welcomes with sweetness, that protects with zeal.”
DJ Andre Ali | ’N Party
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is a high-energy, high-quality track I want the world to hear.”
Chetna | Take You There
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m an upcoming new artist who loves to sing and write music. My inspirations came from some of my favorite artists like Ariana Grande, Khalid, Rihanna, Doja Cat and many more. I love to be creative and different and do something unique to stand out in the music industry. I founded the non-profit charitable organization Shape A Life in 2019 to help people without homes.”
Bubba Brothers | Umi
HOME BASE: Portugal.
GENRE: EDM.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bubba Brothers are Eliseo Correia and Justino Santos, two friends and DJs from Portugal who have become a regular and popular presence in clubs and festivals. They have produced multiple dance tracks as their career grows at a strong and fast speed.”
Kyle Lacy | When You Get Home (Dance Mix)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Jazz-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: Kyle Lacy lets his music speak for him.
