Atlanta-based Southern rock band Blackberry Smoke has been making blues-inspired country rock material since forming in 2000. The band's music reflects a wide range of influences by blending an alternative rock approach with metal guitar riffs and country styled vocals. Lead singer Charlie Starr and guitarist Paul Jackson carry harmonies over steady rhythms sections, a combination that has earned the band critical acclaim, particularly on its 2009 album, Little Piece of Dixie. Already having shared multiple stages with ZZ Top and Lynryd Skynyrd, Blackberry Smoke is well on its way to making a lasting name for itself in Southern rock history.

The The, a post-punk band from England, has been on the music scene since 1979. The band's work has earned it critical acclaim as well as commercial success in its home country. Infected - its most successful album - ruled the charts for 30 weeks. Its other albums like Mind Bomb and Dusk were also commercially successful. Singer-songwriter Matt Johnson has been the only permanent member of the band. Their most famous songs include "This Is the Day" and "I Saw Light."

The Dandy Warhols is an alternative rock band that was formed in Portland, OR in 1993. The group draws upon a number of different influences like garage rock and post-punk revival to create a sound that somehow manages to be both rudimentary and refined. Though the band's fame dwindled at the start of the new millennium, The Dandy Warhols still continues to tour and release 1990s style alt rock.

Selah Sue is a Belgian singer/songwriter who combines elements of R&B and reggae to create a unique and extremely listenable pop amalgam. With influences like Erykah Badu, Bob Marley and The Zutons, she isn't afraid to be both soulful and funky. Sue released her self-titled debut album in 2011, just after being featured on Cee-Lo's 2010 album The Lady Killer.

Michael Franti is a San Francisco Bay Area-based musician, poet and spoken word artist who is most known for fronting his main project, Michael Franti & Spearhead. Combining dancehall reggae, hip-hop, folk and jam-friendly rock and roll, Franti's songs are known for their uptempo, feel good vibes that often deal with love for one another, living in the moment and finding the positives in life. His lyrics aren't all carefree however, as Franti will often delve into songs centered around political activism and societal ills.

Very few artists take as drastic of a shift in their musical careers as Joe Jackson has. The English born musician was integral in the new wave scene in the late 1970s and had a good deal of success. However, after a move to New York, Jackson started delving deep into the eclectic worlds of jazz and classical music. His career 180 helped set him apart from the vast amount of aging new wavers and even though his current music is far less lucrative than the stuff he was making in the 1970s and 1980s, it's nonetheless worthy of critical praise.

MEUTE is an eleven-piece techno band hailing from Hamburg, Germany. Founded in 2015 by Thomas Burhorn, the band employs marching band instruments to replicate electronic beats, and create the ambiance of techno and house music. It broke through in 2016 with its rendition of Âme's song "Rej," which amassed hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. The band took to touring clubs all over Austria, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland soon after the release of its debut album Tumult in 2017. The following year proved to be pretty exciting for the band, with a slew of appearances at festivals like ESNS and SXSW throughout the year. Not only did its music earn positive reviews from listeners, but also from the original artists of the songs the band covered. Following the release of multiple singles over the years, the band came out with its second album Puls in 2020. Some of its most popular songs include "You & Me," "Hey Hey," "The Man with the Red Face," "Miss You," "Versatile" and "Acamar."

The psychedelic surf pop band Real Estate was formed in New Jersey, but has since relocated to Brooklyn, New York. Even though the group now lives in a large metropolitan city, the boardwalk aesthetic of the Jersey Shore has a deep roots in the band and is responsible for many of the 60s era surf rock tunes the band cranks out.

Aurora is a Norwegian singer/songwriter who blends together elements of pop and electronica to create a unique and distinctive style of music. Releasing her debut EP, Running with the Wolves, in 2015, Aurora has since grown into a recognizable force on the modern Scandinavian music scene.

Guano Apes is a nu metal band from Gottingen, Germany. The group officially formed in 1994, when Henning Rumenapp (guitar), Dennis Poschwatta (drums) and Stefan Ude (bass) asked Sandra Nasic to join the band and take over on lead vocals. As a singer, Nasic is brash, yet not without an intact melodic sense, offering Guano Apes a balance between its more tame alt-rock tendencies and aggressive metal influences. As the band has progressed over the years, it's been inspired by the American nu metal genre of the late 90s and early 2000s popularized by bands such as Limp Bizkit, Korn and Papa Roach, leading to the subtle incorporation of hip hop, synthesizers and funk rhythms on later albums.

Ken Carson is a rising hip-hop artist known for his unique sound and energetic performances. Hailing from New York City, Carson first gained recognition with his debut mixtape "Project X" in 2019, which showcased his clever wordplay and infectious beats. He quickly followed up with the release of "GAD," further establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the rap scene. Carson's music is characterized by his high-energy delivery and catchy hooks, drawing in listeners from all backgrounds. With his constantly evolving style and authentic lyricism, Ken Carson continues to push the boundaries of traditional hip-hop, blending trap influences with his own signature sound. His electrifying stage presence has earned him a dedicated fanbase and accolades from critics alike. As he continues to rise in the music industry, Ken Carson is poised to make a lasting impact on the world of rap.

Melanie Martinez is an American pop singer/songwriter and photographer of Dominican and Puerto Rican decent. After rising to attention on the third season of The Voice, the singer released her debut album, Cry Baby, with her signature electropop sound in 2015.

The Gipsy Kings are a French group consisting of members who hail from Arles and Montpellier. The band's music has a rumba-influenced flamenco style that has been incorporated into modern, pop-oriented songs. During its formative years, the group played at Romani (Gypsy) parties and on street corners before professionally recording under the name Gipsy Kings. Their total album sales worldwide is now over 18 million, helping make the band one of the world's best-selling group from France in history.

Christopher Nissen, who performs and releases music simply as Christopher, is a pop singer/songwriter from Frederiksberg, Denmark who released his debut album, Colours, in 2012. Since then Christopher has racked up a few number 1 singles in Denmark and won a Danish Music Award, helping establish him as one of the more capable acts on the modern Danish pop music scene.

Hailing from Belgium, Loïc Nottet rose to prominence when he participated in the third edition of The Voice Belgique. He represented his country in 2015's Eurovision Song Contest. His debut album was titled Selfocracy in 2017. Nottet released his sophomore album Sillygomania in 2020.

Ontario, Canada-born artist Bryan Adams is a rock singer/songwriter who is renowned for his hits from the 1980s and 1990s. His soft rock has enchanted Canadian audiences ever since the released of his eponymous debut album in 1980, but Adams truly earned international fame with his best 1984 best-selling album, Reckless. The record spawned several hit songs such as "Run to You", a duet with Tina Turner called "It's Only Love" and one of his most well-known tracks, "Summer of '69." Adams maintained his status as a pop/rock icon throughout the 1990s, when he released his 1994 collaboration with Rod Stewart and Sting titled "All For Love," and his acclaimed 1991 album Waking Up the Neighbours. Featuring "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," the album carried him through an extended world tour that lasted on and off for two years. Adams continues to release new music and has become a respected photographer, but he will always be remembered as a rock and roll crooner.

Though the Seattle-based grunge act Mudhoney has received little commercial success since its formation in 1988, the band played a pivotal part in the formation of the modern indie rock scene. When the band first started releasing its blues-influenced garage rock material, it influenced several budding musicians in the Seattle area and inadvertently laid the foundations for the evolution of the grunge genre. While other groups like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Sound Garden would go on to receive widespread commercial recognition, Mudhoney has collected a cult-like following under the radar over its long career as a band.

Eivør was drawn towards music at a very young age. by the time she was thirteen, she had already appeared on television and won a national level singing competition. Two years down the line she had joined the Faroese rock band Clickhaze. She released her debut solo album Eivør Pálsdóttir in 2000. Initially, a jazz musician, Eivør branched out into rock and then into other genres in an attempt to not be defined by a single genre.

French singer Slimane Nebchi first garnered attention during his time on the singing competition Nouvelle Star in 2009. He released his debut EPTourne le monde in 2011. Slimane returned to television in 2016 as a contestant on The Voice: La Plus Belle Vox. His rendition of Vitaa's "À fleur de toi" at the blind auditions received a four-chair turn and he went on to win the series. His first full-length album À bout de rêves, backed by Universal Music Group, was released in 2016. He has since released the albums Solune and VersuS, and the singles "Nous deux," "On My Skin," "A la vie," "Hasta la vista" and "Find Your Way," among others.

Led by the flashy showmanship of front man Freddie Mercury, Queen was undoubtedly one of the biggest rock bands of the 1970s and beyond. The group's combination of bombastic excess, refined songwriting, stylistic shape-shifting, creative production and strong instrumental prowess made it a unique act that expertly toed the line between mainstream pop and art rock. Besides Mercury, Queen's most recognizable lineup consisted of Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums) and John Deacon (bass). The UK-based band formed in London in 1971 and released its eponymous debut album a couple of years later. Quickly moving away from the hard rock sound it began with, Queen's eccentricities and experimental leanings would crop up on subsequent albums, as it utilized aspects of opera, country, jazz, rockabilly and glam rock to varying degrees. Songs such as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Will Rock You," "Killer Queen" and "Radio Ga Ga" are just a few examples of the countless singles the group released in the 1970s, and have since become ingrained in the zeitgeist of popular culture. Queen remained successful in the following decades until Mercury died from complications with AIDS in 1991. In 2004, a new edition of the band formed with May, Taylor and new member Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company) taking over on lead vocals.

Los Angeles-based collective WAR first formed in 1969, its members representing very different backgrounds, as they were all raised in various ghettos around the city. This fusion of backgrounds is reflected in the fusion of musical styles that came together in WAR's music--a blend of funk, rock n' roll, Latin and jazz. After being discovered by prominent record producer Jerry Goldstein, the band went on to produce multiple hits, still popular today, including "Low Rider" and "Why Can't We Be Friends." Though the group disbanded during most of the 1980s and 1990s, its music was heavily sampled by hip hop artists and used in national ad campaigns and films, which prompted the group to reunite. While some of the original members have passed away and others opted out of the reunion, WAR's founding members are included in the the reformation of the hit band, which began touring again in the 2008.

IAMDDB is a rapper based in Manchester, UK. Her birth name is Diana De Brito. She's known for mixtapes like Hoodrich, Vol. 3 and Swervvvvv.5. "Selfless," "Shade," "Drippy" and "Leaned Out" are some of her acclaimed singles.

Pond is an Australian psyc-rock band that's comprised of three members of the indie rock group Tame Impala. Crafting 1960s-inspired surf rock tunes that hark back to the glory days of jangle pop, Pond has received critical praise for itself ever since it released its debut album, Corridors of Blissterday, in 2009. Pond released its eighth studio album - Tasmmania in 2019. Following its release, the band went on to tour through Europe and UK, staging memorable performances in Berlin, Amsterdam and Manchester. Though known by serious music connoisseurs in Australia, the band has yet to truly break through in the United States or elsewhere, something that'll no doubt change as the group continues to release music and tour.

The Drive Era is a rock-alternative band formed in the city of Los Angeles consisting of the brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch. They were previously part of R5, a pop-rock band whose music has entered the billboard charts on multiple occasions. Bringing tried and tested methods, experience and plenty of new ideas to the table helped them to create music for this band. It debuted with the single "Preacher Man," a mix of gospel, rock and dream pop which was entwined around powerful lyrics. The song received positive reviews from fans and critics and also provided a great start to the band’s career.

Wallows is a Los Angeles-based band that makes a engaging and listener-friendly style of music that manages to rise above the thongs of other pedestrian bands that overwhelm the Los Angeles music scene. Founded in 2017, the group built a dedicated local following in Southern California before releasing its debut album, Nothing Happens, in 2019 on Atlantic Records.

Hailing from Sweden, Daniel Norgren is a singer/songwriter and musician who has been making a fusion of blues rock, soul and garage rock since the mid-2000s. After signing with Superpuma records, he released his debut studio album Kerosene Dreams, in 2007, exposing his raw and soulful voice to a widespread audience for the first time. Often appearing as a one-man band, simultaneously playing guitar, drums, harmonica and kazoo, and other times appearing with upright bassist Anders Grahn and a full backing band, he has captured a fan base with each subsequent release and tour. Norgren dropped his fourth studio album, Buck, in 2013.

The Struts is a rock band from Derbyshire, England that blends a number of modern and throwback styles together including blues and psych rock as well as disco and punk. The group released its debut single, "I Just Know," in 2012 and the song helped establish the band as a promising young act emerging out of the multi-tiered UK music scene.

Clément Penhoat is a French rapper hailing from Guyancourt who performs under the name HATIK. He started rapping at 16 and released his first mixtape America 2 - Connaissance et style in 2014. He followed it with the EP Par le pire in 2017. However, it was his 2018 project Chaise pliante that made him a household name. Chaise pliante II, the follow-up to his 2018 album, was released in March 2020. Some of Hatik's other songs include "Angela," "La meilleure," "Prison pour mineurs," "Adieu, mon amour," "Dämon" and "Vroum vroum."

Born Maurice Benguigui, Patrick Bruel is a French singer, actor and professional poker player. He released his debut album Vide, in 1982, while maintaining a successful television acting career, though as he continued to release records he earned the attention needed to cross over to the big screen, most notably in Sydney Pollack's 1995 version of Sabrina. Bruel has released over a dozen live and studio albums, and remains one of France's most recognizable pop stars.

Despite the misleading name, Chinese Man is actually comprised of several Frenchmen--French DJs to be exact. The beat-centric collective also runs an independent label of the same name, geared toward total self-production. The hip-hop outfit spins a torrent of beats, breaks and funk, influenced by a wide variety of genres, including dub, reggae and jazz. Its inspired barrage of jams has made its way into several feature films, a major ad campaign and, of course, the hottest clubs in Europe and beyond.

During the public's infatuation with ska and swing music in the 90s, several bands rose to prominence only to have the staying power and cultural significance of something like the pet rock or Gak. A few of these bands broke up, while others decided to march on into the sun and keep playing their unique style of music until the bitter end. One such group is called The Slackers. The band calls New York home and has been cranking out tunes since 1991.

Jason Charles Beck (aka Chilly Gonzales) is a Canadian artist with a chameleon-like knack for bouncing all over the musical map. Created as an electro-rap, dance-oriented DJ project, Beck has used his Chilly Gonzales moniker to expand the confines of his former niche, moving into classical piano territory and film work--Beck co-wrote and starred in the 2010 film, Ivory Tower. His projects are regularly lauded by critics and his classical work has been rewarded with a Grammy award and comparisons to legendary French composer Erik Satie.

Walk off the Earth is a three-piece indie rock band that has, among its many peers, stood out with its mastery of harmonies as well as its low-budget music videos. Hailing from Ontario, the band skipped the standard prerequisites set out by the music industry and built a fan base without management, agents or a record label. The band instead took to Youtube to expose its covers and original material to a world-wide audience, demonstrating a talent-driven DIY mentality and earning the respect of artists and fans alike. Walk off the Earth's cover of Gotye's hit "Somebody That I Used To Know," featuring five people playing a single guitar, was uploaded to Youtube in 2012 and received over a hundred million views within five months. A month after the video was released, Walk off the Earth signed a contract with Columbia Records and continues to release new music.

Formed in Montreal in 1994, Godspeed You! Black Emperor is an experimental outfit known for its large collection of 9 semi-permanent members and lengthy post-rock instrumentals. With a sound that often includes recorded snippets from AM radio, street preachers and gas station intercom announcements, the band released its first album F♯ A♯ ∞, pronounced "F-sharp, A-sharp, Infinity," in 1997 and toured regularly in the years that follows. Though Godspeed You! Black Emperor announced its hiatus in 2003 so its members could concentrate on their various side projects, the band eventually reunited and continued its constant touring schedule in 2010. The band dropped its fifth studio album and first release in a decade, 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!, in 2012.

Glass Animals is an alternative rock band from Oxford, England that released its debut EP, Leafings, in 2012. Comprised of four guys who've all known each other since they were 14 years old, the group manages to create a unique sonic aesthetic that's the direct by product of strong musical interplay. The group released its debut LP, Zaba, in 2014 and the album's intelligent blend of atmospherics, propulsive rhythms and unique instrumental arrangements helped distinguish the band as a group that's willing to take chances with its sound in order to achieve its artistic endgame.

Tindersticks is a British indie rock band that formed in 1991 with an orchestral rock sound. The band released its debut effort Tindersticks First Album, in 1993, exposing a smokey blues sound composed with a classical instrument-tinged repertoire of instruments that includes a glockenspiel, violin, trombone, bassoon and Hammond organ. Tindersticks' blues influence grew as it progressed into the end of the 1990s, particularly on the 1999 album, Simple Pleasure. In addition to its studio albums, Tindersticks has produced multiple soundtracks for films including 2008's 35 Shots of Run and 2010's White Material.

Lindsey Stirling is a violinist from Orange County, California who is probably best known for her appearance as a quarter-finalist on the television program America's Got Talent. Blending a distinctively modern, electronically minded stylistic sensibility into her playing, Stirling has managed to breathe life into an instrument that is typically thought of as reserved for symphonic and classical music. Stirling released her debut EP in 2010 and the album perfectly encapsulates the talented musician's ability to seamlessly blend genres like dubstep and glitchop with various classical styles.

MC Solaar is the stage name of francophone hip hop artist Claude M’Barali (born March 5, 1969). By far the most internationally popular French rapper, he was born in Dakar, Senegal to parents from Chad. One of MC Solaar’s first claims to fame was the rap he did on a level one French language education tape: “Comment t’appelles-tu?”. MC Solaar’s first single, "Bouge de là," was a French hit in 1990 that went platinum, as was his first album, Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo. His second album, Prose Combat, may be his most acclaimed. As a rapper, MC Solaar is known for the complexity and poetry of his songs, which rely on wordplay, lyricism, and philosophical inquiry. MC Solaar remains best-known outside of France for his work on Guru’s "Jazzmatazz" project and as a guest rapper on the Missy Elliott track "All N My Grill." Out of Guru and Solaar’s collaboration, the single "Le Bien, Le Mal" ("The Good, The Bad") was a popular Hip Hop/Dance crossover hit receiving playtime on MTV.Description from last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

Helmed by New Zealand singer/songwriter Neil Finn, the pop-rock outfit Crowded House managed to leave its imprint on the mainstream '80s music scene with cracker hits like "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Something So Strong." Formed in Melbourne in 1985, the group crafted well orchestrated pop tunes that went over well with audiences around the world. The group has experienced ups and downs since its inceptions, even breaking up in 1996, only to return to the stage in 2006, but Crowded House continues to tour and bring its characteristic form of music to audiences around the globe.

Tione Jayden Merrittm, aka Lil Tjay, raps about many things, sometimes about the sad things in life, his past and even about the Bronx, the place where he grew up. The first steps of his journey began at an online music sharing platform where he would post his songs. "Resume" and "Brothers” are some of his earliest creations, they helped him gaining his huge online fan base and are also responsible for getting him signed by a record label. He made his official debut in 2018 with the EP No Comparison. The commercial success of this EP and positive reviews from critics, propelled Tjay into the league of young and promising rappers, many of which eventually collaborated with him. “Pop Out,” “One Take” and “Hold On” are few of his most popular songs.

Alan Stivell is a Breton and Celtic musician from Auvergne, France who is partially responsible for the general public's high interest in world music during the 1970s. A player of the bagpipes as well as a master of the Celtic harp, Stivell is regarded as a progenitor of the modern Celtic rock movement.

Singer-songwriter Jahron Anthony Brathwaite goes by the name of PatryNextDoor and is a Canadian artist signed to Drakes OVO Sound label. PND has soft vocals with a dreamy sound and masters RnB slow songs. Most of his music is about love, relationships, and life lessons. In 2013 he dropped his first album PartyNextDoor and followed his debut with PNDColours in 2014. PND received his first #1 song in 2016 on Billboard Hot 100 by helping write Rihanna's hit single "Work."

The Ghost Inside is a Southern Californian metalcore/melodic hardcore band that formed in 2006. The group spent most of its early career sharing the stage with a number of hardcore's top acts in the United States. Since then, however, The Ghost Inside has released two LPs and has seen considerable success touring on its own.

This Canadian punk quartet blew up in 2001 with the runaway hit single "Fat Lip." The band is known for their punk rock attitude, antics and alternative sound. Their parade of studio albums has shown an evolution over the years, into some more heavy and metallic territory, while still keeping their hyper pop punk roots. In 2004, the band traveled to the Congo to work on a documentary about the civil war - a life-altering experience which proved the bands expansion into more serious artistic ground. They continue to tour and perform regularly, as mainstays on the punk rock circuit.

"Hobos are people who move around looking for work, tramps are people who move around but don't look for work, and bums are people who don't move and don't work. I've been all three." Though this quote sounds like it comes from some grizzled travelin' man who lives on the street and has never planted roots in any one place for an extended period of time, the blues musician Seasick Steve said it. Steve, whose real name is Steven Wold, was born in Oakland, California in 1941 and left home for a life on the road when he was only 13. He traveled around for a long while until he found his true calling: the blues. His rag-tag sound is extremely unique and a chance to see the bearded, overall-sporting traveling minstrel is an opportunity not to be missed.

Gavin DeGraw is a pop rock singer/songwriter who rose to attention after graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of music. As he payed his dues in the Manhattan music circuit, he first gained widespread attention after releasing his extremely well-received debut album, Chariot, in 2003. His fame has only grown since then as DeGraw continues to release powerful pop-rock anthems.

Nino d'Angelo is a singer/songwriter from Naples, Italy who blends together elements of traditional Italian folk with modern pop flourishes to create an original and uncompromising style of music. Born to a poor family, d'Angelo would drop out of school and take a job as an ice cream vendor before finding his love of music and becoming a wedding singer. D'Angelo released its debut album, Celebrita, in 1981 and has since maintained a prolific LP output schedule in addition to keeping a healthy touring regime.

Nas is a rapper with a turbulent past. Born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, he grew up in the projects of New York City, dropped out of school in the eighth grade and soon began making a name for himself as a rapper. He quickly gained clout as a prodigious lyricist, and in 1991 he performed at Main Source's "Live at the Barbeque," under his then alias, Nasty Nas. Soon, he was making a name for himself as one of America's premier rappers with monumental albums like 1994's Illmatic--an LP that has prompted many to say that Nas basically invented "good rap music." Famous for his feud with Jay-Z in 2001, Nas has gone on to collaborate with rap artists like P. Diddy, Kanye West and Dr. Dre.

Beartooth emerged out of Columbus, OH in 2012 with a metalcore sound. Formed by former Attack Attack! member Caleb Chomo, the band quickly signed with Red Bull Records to release its first offering, a 2013 EP titled Sick. Blending hardcore punk with nu metal, the band owns an intelligent, heavy-hitting style that is best captured on its 2014 full-length album, Disgusting.

In conversations about innovative hard rock bands active in the 1960s and 1970s, Deep Purple often gets overshadowed by acts like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Though the band might not have had the swagger of Zep or the evilness of Sabbath, Deep Purple knows how to craft memorable hard, blues-inspired songs that stand the test of time. Singles such as "Hush," Woman from Tokyo" and "Knocking at Your Back Door" have become rock classics. Over the decades and despite a nearly decade long breakup from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, Deep Purple still puts on rocking live shows for its multi-generational fan base.

Hatsune Miku is the world's first virtual pop idol. Invented by Japan's Yamaha Corporation, Hatsune Miku is comprised of state-of-the-art holographic and vocal synthesizing technology that allows the virtual idol to dance and sing pitch perfect. Obviously, like any move on the part of technology to replace or surpass the quality of human skill, Hatsune Miku is a controversial addition to the pop music world, particularly in Japan's ultra-competitive pop market. However, audiences have been thrilled by the 3D hologram with a voice and appearance that puts much of her human competition to shame, and her growing number of fans look forward to experience what Hatsune Miku has in store for them next.

Cigarettes After Sex is an alternative pop band from El Paso, Texas that's led by chief songwriter Greg Gonzalez. The group released its debut EP, I, in 2012 and the group has been praised for its intelligent blend of ambient, dream pop and slowcore.

London Grammar is a trip-hop influenced, avant-pop trio from the UK that's composed of Hanna Reid, Dot Major and Dan Rothman. With roots dating back to 2009, when Reid and Rothman met at University, the band released its first single, "Hey Now,"in 2012, followed shortly by its debut EP Metal & Dust. Combining ethereal vocals, melancholy guitar and a sharp indie rock sensibility, London Grammar earned a solid fan base by the time it released its debut LP, If You Wait, in 2013.

Conan Gray is a singer/songwriter from Georgetown, Texas whose unsuspecting lyrical adeptness has helped set him apart from the throngs of other songwriters on the modern music scene. With coy solipsistic determinism, Gray has managed to carve out a unique sonic identity for himself that's perfectly on display on his pop-leaning 2018 debut EP, Sunset Season.

Sepultura is a death metal band from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The band name, which means "grave" in English, was derived from the influential Motörhead album Dancing On Your Grave. In 1985, Sepultura released its debut EP, but it wasn't until after the original guitarist Wagner left the band that Sepultura found its true sound. With the addition of Andreas Kisser, the band pulled from more sophisticated thrash metal influences to create its hard-hitting trademark sound, which is perfectly captured on popular tracks like "Troops of Doom," "Refuse/Resist," "Ratamahatta" and "Roots Bloody Roots."

Fish is the stage name for Derek William Dick, a progressive rock singer/songwriter who is perhaps best known for his work as the lead singer for the classic progressive rock band Marillion. Since branching out on his own in the late 1990s, Fish almost immediately released his debut album Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors, which stands as his most critically and commercially successful album to date. With a sound that is reminiscent of some of the great progressive rock acts of the 1970s, Fish never fails to take listeners back to the genre's heyday while managing to add enough spark and originality to bring his sound into the 21st Century.

KOKOROKO is a London-based, 8-piece Afrobeat band comprising trumpeter and leader Sheila Maurice-Grey, saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi, trombonist Richie Seivwright, guitarist Oscar Jerome, keyboardist Yohan Kebede, bassist Mutale Chashi, percussionist Onome Edgeworth and drummer Ayo Salawu. The band came to be after the members - all part of the London jazz scene - realized the lack of people playing Afrobeat. Through its work, KOKOROKO has come to be known for its complex melodies that faultlessly blend Western-African beats with meditative melodies. This quality in its music shines through in songs like "Abusey Junction."

The West London-born singer/songwriter Ben Howard is among the breed of artists that creates pensive, acoustic tunes. Untainted by pop music, he has managed to keep his music pure and unpretentious with an attuned sense of soft rock composition and beautifully enduring lyrics. Having been writing music since he was a young kid, Howard had a mature repertoire of songs to choose from for his 2011 debut album, Every Kingdom. Released by Island Records, the album brought him to Austin, TX where he made his first US festival appearance at the 2012 South by Southwest music and arts festival.

Christophe Willem made his way to mainstream fame when he won the singing television show contest Nouvelle Star (which can be likened to the show American Idol) in 2006. He has been singing since his childhood, during which he was a part of a gospel choir. He pursued career endeavors in college, but soon appeared in films and then eventually on Nouvelle Star. His debut album Inventaire was released in 2007.

Centered around a trio of classically trained cellists, Apocalyptica is a metal band from Finland that incorporates a strong neo-classical style into its music. Though the band has recorded original material, Apocalyptica is possibly best know for covering albums from predominant metal acts such as Metallica, Slayer and Pantera.

Nia Archives is a rising star in the music industry, known for her soulful vocals and thought-provoking lyrics. With her debut EP "Forbidden Feeling", she captivated audiences with her blend of R&B, neo-soul, and electronic influences. Nia's music not only showcases her impressive vocal range but also her ability to tackle complex issues such as mental health, identity, and societal norms. Her unique sound and powerful storytelling have garnered critical acclaim, earning her a loyal fan base and recognition as an artist to watch. Nia Archives' music is a breath of fresh air in the industry, pushing boundaries and challenging listeners to think deeper about the world around them. With a bright future ahead of her, Nia Archives is poised to continue making waves in the music scene with her raw talent and unwavering authenticity.

Dadju Djuna Tsungula, a Bobigny, France born singer-rapper, comes from a family entrenched in music. Better known by his stage name Dadju, he started his career in 2012 as a member of Shin Sekaï. His debut solo album, Gentleman 2.0, peaked at number one on France charts. He has also featured in projects as Prince Dadju.

Bruno Caliciuri, known under the name of Cali, is a French singer and songwriter. Juggling between rock and French commercial music, this tortured singer likes, into his songs, telling stories about the bad aspect of love. "Elle m'a dit", "L'amour est éternel" were a great success in France and allowed him to enter into the rank of confirmed artist. All of his music are accompanied by a wide range of instruments such as bass, guitar, piano and even violin highlighting the depth of his lyrics.

Houston, Texas-based artist Robert Glasper is a pianist and producer who bridges jazz with contemporary R&B, soul and hip-hop. Inspired by his blues singer mother, he began playing piano at a young age and eventually started his professional music career in New York City where he worked with various artists including neo-soul singer Bilal Oliver. Glasper released his first solo album Mood, in 2002, before making his major label debut with his 2005 album Canvas, on Blue Note records. As the leader of the funk-influenced outfit the Robert Glasper Trio, as well as the hip-hop and jazz project the Robert Glasper experiment, he anchors classic jazz elements to modern music.

Based in the city of Dublin, is Fontaines DC, a five-piece rock band headed by Grian Chatten. Striving on originality, it has been giving Rock’n’roll a Dublin twist ever since releasing its debut single, "Liberty Belle," in 2017. It kept churning out one slick track after another and became one of the most talked about bands at music festivals. “Chequeless Reckless” and “Hurricane Laughter” showcases the band’s love for unapologetically-honest lyrics and their electrifying guitar-playing skills.

When Fat Freddy's Drop formed in Wellington, New Zealand in the late 1990s, all the members of the band had their own respective main musical endeavors. However, as the Fat Freddy crew began playing more, honing its jam rock and roots reggae sound, it became quickly apparent that the band had a lot of potential. So all the members focused their musical strength on Freddy and managed to create some truly original recordings that went over well with Kiwi audiences. The group's stage show is another beast and highlights the band's ability to improvise and carry out songs into extended instrumental jams.

Amyl and the Sniffers is a Melbourne, Australia-based punk band. During its formative years, Amyl and the Sniffers would land spots opening up for the Australian psych rock band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, helping introduce the group to a wide audience. Releasing its debut album in 2019, Amyl and the Sniffers has proven to be one of the more capable bands on the Melbourne punk scene.

Marwan Abdelhamid, known as Saint Levant, is a Palestinian-Jordanian rapper born on October 6, 2000, in Jerusalem. Raised in the Gaza Strip before relocating to Amman during the 2007 Battle of Gaza, Abdelhamid grew up speaking English, French, and Arabic. He earned a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2022. As Saint Levant, he first gained attention with the trilingual track "Very Few Friends" in late 2022, which quickly went viral. His music often addresses political issues, reflecting his activism and support for the Palestinian cause. In 2023, he released the EP From Gaza with Love and in 2024, he signed with Universal Arabic Music, releasing the album DEIRA with MC Abdul. Saint Levant is also known for his performances, including at Coachella in 2024, where he highlighted the conflict in Gaza.

Grandson of Italian president Luigi Einaudi, Ludovio Einaudi chose a route other than politics. Instead he began learning the piano at an early age. Studying at the Milan Conservatory, Einaudi began composing in the traditional style, but soon after began experimenting with modern composition. Known for his lovely minimalist piano compositions ideal for cinematic scores, Einaudi has been releasing recordings since 1988 and in the 1990s was signed to Sony's International Classical label.

Brutus is a Belgian alternative rock band that blends elements of progressive and hardcore rock with pop sensibilities to create a unique sonic amalgam. Founded in 2013, Brutus would spend its formative years honing its sound and refining its songwriting approach on the Belgian live music circuit before releasing its debut album, Burst, in 2017.

Roughly translated to "large sick body," French musician and rapper Fabien Marsaud took on his Grand Corps Malade moniker after a diving accident left him physically disabled at just 20 years of age. Before he turned to music, Marsaud was a slam poet in the Parisian suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis and this passionate, free-flowing style had an obvious effect on his future endeavors--his rapping style in particular. He debuted his music in 2003 and has been steadily touring and recording since then. Jazzy noodling and classical piano are common musical elements that serve to frame Marsaud's words in Grand Corps Malade's music, which has found plenty of fans of lyrically-rich rap and pop throughout France.

Jacob Collier can be considered as a jack of all trades. He is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and arranger, among other things. Born and raised North London, Collier got his start by uploading covers of popular tracks and by 2012, he was already going viral. He has an understanding of a wide range of genres such as jazz, folk and classical, allowing him to blend them as he thinks the best. He debuted in 2016 with the album, In My Room, which comprises his original tracks and some covers. The album made it to the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts and became the reason for Collier's two Grammy awards. He has collaborated with some of the established names in the music industry such as Coldplay, Pentatonix, Quincy Jones and many more. "All Night Long" and the cover song "Flintstones" are some of his most popular creations.

Maître Gims is a French hip-hop artist from Kinshasa, Zaire who rose to recognition as a member of the rap group Xesion d'Assaut. After cultivating his own signature flow and style with his long-time group for over a decade, he struck out on his own in 2013 with the release of his debut solo album, Subliminal. In addition to his own music, he runs his imprint Monstre Marin Corporation, also known as MMC, and has championed the music of fellow rappers such as Yanslo and Bedjik.

Childish Gambino is the hip-hop side-project of actor and comedian Donald Glover. As of 2010 Glover had only released mixtapes, most of which feature Glover rapping wittily over indie rock hits like Animal Collective's "My Girls" and Grizzly Bear. Glover raps with a bit more self-seriousness than his stand-up comedy or TV script writing. Glover also DJs as "mcDJ" and produces some of his own material as well. The Childish Gambino mixtapes are titled I Am Just a Rapper, volumes 1 and 2.

Though the band's name might suggest Southern California surf rock--Nada Surf is actually a folksy indie rock trio from New York. The band started making music together in 1992 but because of fiscal problems the group wasn't able to record its first album until 1996. Since releasing its debut LP, Nada Surf has experienced ups and downs with its fame, and is notorious for being a band that drifts in and out of the musical spotlight.

Uruguayan musician Jorge Drexler first won wide recognition in 2004 for winning an Academy Award for his song "Al Otro Lado del Rio" featured in the film The Motorcycle Diaries. Before taking up music full time, Drexler followed in the family career of medicine, becoming an ear, nose and throat specialist. In 1992 he moved to Spain, where Joaquin Sabina introduced him to many important singers and songwriters. His music is influenced by traditional Uruguayan beats, bossa nova, pop, milonga and electronic music. Love, humor, reflections on identity and culture feature strongly in his lyrics, although one of his most popular songs is a Spanish cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean is Not My Girl."

Hailing from Sheffield, England, The Human League is an electronic new wave band that formed in 1977. Although The Human League is best known for its synthpop stylings, the band's frontman, Philip Oakley, had originally envisioned the band as an avant-garde group based heavily on the use of synthesizers. The band's transition to pop proved to be a good decision in terms of commercially popularizing The Human League and caused the group to become an influence for many electro/synth-pop bands to come.

In the '60s and '70s most French pop singers released singles, EPs and various compilation pieces that really did nothing to bespeak the artistic ability of the musician. Breaking this mold, French chanteuse Veronique Sanson released full length records that had coherent themes and persistent messages throughout the albums. By doing this Sanson was looked at as somewhat of a thinking person's pop star and the position that she was risen to gave her cultural staying power. Though her work ethic has declined a bit since her glory days in the '70s and '80s, Sanson is still touring and making rousing renditions of her songs on a near nightly basis.

Some bands are incapable of creating an original sound that defines the group and solidifies its role in the progression of recorded music. Other bands arrive at grandeur almost inadvertently; one such group is the New York alternative metal outfit Helmet. The band was formed in 1989 and has experienced a number of ups and downs during its tumultuous existence as a band. Despite breaking up in 1998, the band got back together in 2004 and has since dedicated itself to a respectable touring and recording schedule.

Founded in 2010, The Kolors is an electropop band from Italy. The band released their first studio album, I Want, in 2014 after gaining recognition as the house band at Le Scimmie nightclub in Milan. One of their biggest early hits, "Everytime" is from their second album Out, released in 2015.

Patrick Fiori is a pop singer from Marseille who came to Europe's attention during the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest. He earned fourth place with his song "Mama Corsica," and a fair amount of attention for his debut album Puisque C'est L'heure, released the following year. Fiori landed the role of Phoebus in the original production of Notre Dame de Paris in 1998. His first hit single "Belle," was a song for the musical that he recorded with his co-stars Daniel Lavoie and Garou. The song rested at the number one spot on the French Singles Chart for several months and remains a best-selling single in both France and Belgium. After signing with Sony Records, his subsequent four albums staggered between certified double gold and gold, beginning with his 1998 double gold effort, Prends-Moi. Fiori released his eighth studio album L'instinct Masculin, in 2010.

Even though the origins of post-hardcore music can be traced to the United States, several bands from England were also taking the genre in impressive new directions. One English band in particular, Bury Tomorrow, continues to raise eyebrows and push the genre into exciting places. The band is known primarily for its ardent tour schedule and stage shows that are energetic and border on the theatrical.

Sasha Sloan is a Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter who released her debut EP, Sad Girl, in 2018. With a pop-centric style that pulls from R&B and modern soul, Sloan has also collaborated with a number of high profile DJs including Kaskade, Odesza and Kygo.

Charlotte Cardin is a Canadian singer/songwriter. Her music varies between pop, electro & jazz. She started her career as a model when she was 15 years old, appearing in some advertising campaigns, which opened the doors of music and song. Three years later she participated in "La Voix," a francophone Canadian singing competition where she ended as one of the finalists. She released her first solo EP Big boy in 2016.

Lynda Lemay is a singer/songwriter and musician from Quebec who has succeeded in seducing widespread audiences in Canada and France. With a folk rock sound and catchy yet profound lyrics, her songs tackle a number of subjects found in everyday life such as love and family. Lemay's accessible style and use of both French and English lyrics have made her a critic darling since her 1990 debut album, Nos rêves.

Maxime le Forestier is a singer/songwriter and musician from France who owns a soft rock sound. After floating around in the Paris music scene during the 1960s, he spent the summer of 1971 in San Francisco, an experience that inspired his hit song, "San Francisco," from his debut album, Mon Frère. Released in 1973, the folk-inspired acoustic record spawned several French classics and both national and international tours.

Based in London, The Script is an alternative pop/rock trio made up of Dublin natives. With somewhat of a rags to riches story, the band members all grew up in the slums of Dublin where poverty, crimes and gang warfare were a part of everyday life. After discovering MTV, which was a station only played after midnight in its hometown, the band members all decided that music was their way out of the slums. Initially forming a four-piece in 1996 called MyTown, a project that saw moderate success in Ireland, the band began to move towards a more soulful R&B-influenced type of rock and changed its name to The Script. With the release of its eponymous debut album in 2008, the band developed a following among critics and fans in the UK and eventually the US. The Script released its third album, fittingly titled #3, in 2012.

French shoegaze band Alcest has taken many forms, but always with founder and creative leader Stéphane Paut, also known as Neige, at its center. Alcest was born in 2000 as a solo project, which Neige used as a black metal outlet. The one-man act soon became a trio with the addition of a bassist and guitarist, who both left the band shortly after the release of its first demo in 2001. Looking to change the band's style, Neige began releasing shoegaze music inspired by rock and metal. He continued to release music, including the 2007 debut album Souvenirs d'un autre monde, as the sole member of Alcest until 2009, when Les Discrets drummer Winterhalter joined the lineup. The duo released Alcest's second and third album, Écailles de Lune and Les Voyages de l'Âme, in 2010 and 2012 respectively.