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Indie Music


LILA HOLLER: UNDERGROUND RADAR
Lila Holler writes like she’s slowly unfastening something fragile inside herself. Her sound shifts between indie pop glow and alt-folk vulnerability, shaped by a life spanning coasts, climates, and now continents. That constant motion shows up in her music as shifting light and quiet self-redefinition, the kind that comes from picking yourself up and starting again in new places until you learn what feels like home.

LJ Portnoy
2 days ago


Diana Silvers Introduces Her Debut Album From Another Room
Article Contributed by Fernando Flores Photos contributed by UMG 1824 SoundCheck was lucky enough to catch up with the artist known as no other than Diana Silvers. With grace like Anne Hathaway, she clearly shows her excitement to detour away from her filmography and deep dive into her first full-length musical project, “From Another Room.” Known for her work in Booksmart, Ma, and Space Force, Silvers has built a reputation and has shown her strengths in conveying emotions.

Fernando Flores
4 days ago


SINGLE REVIEW: Franklin Jonas and the Byzantines - “Break The Levee”
Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Franklin Jonas and the Byzantines' newest single “Break The Levee” feels like gratitude in motion. In announcing the track he shared that it is a song about loving no matter what the outcome, and that intention pours through every second of it. There is warmth in the message and light in the delivery. It feels like someone finally letting the sun hit their skin after years spent in the shade. The song opens with gentle country leaning g

Rebecca McDevitt
Nov 26


EP REVIEW: Blissed Out - Broadside
Broadside has been teasing us with pieces of Blissed Out for months and now that the full EP is here, it feels like the complete picture finally arrived. It is emotional. It is catchy. It is honest in that way Broadside fans love. They kicked things off back in April with “I Think They Know,” a song that puts every overthinker right in their feelings.

Rebecca McDevitt
Nov 22


Franklin Jonas Is Bringing Back the Magic of Fan Connection - One Pop-Up Set at a Time
Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Franklin Jonas is currently touring with his brothers, playing massive rooms night after night. But before the doors even open, he’s outside the venue with his band hosting intimate pop-up sets that feel like community gatherings. These aren’t secret, random moments either. He posts on Instagram ahead of time so fans know exactly where to find him. It’s intentional. It’s thoughtful. And it’s rare. Franklin Jonas performing outside of Pr

Rebecca McDevitt
Nov 21


First Listen: Leyla Ebrahimi Expands the Edges of Indie Alt-Pop with “i don’t like being left behind”
“i don’t like being left behind” opens in swirls and spirals, an ambient wash of synths that feel almost video game–esque. It is dreamy and atmospheric, yet it carries a pulse that instantly catches your attention. Leyla Ebrahimi’s voice enters with a softness that glows against the production. Even in these early moments, the track makes its intentions clear. This is indie alternative at its core, but it welcomes pop influences with open arms.

LJ Portnoy
Nov 20


ALBUM REVIEW: Give In To Let Go (The Falling) - Milahroy
f you have not listened to Milahroy yet, we suggest adding him to your playlist right now.
His new album, Give In To Let Go (The Falling), is the perfect introduction to an artist who’s stepping into his most honest, intentional, and emotionally charged era yet. What began as a tight and intimate EP has now evolved into a complete story with three new tracks that deepen the world he built back in June when we first featured him.

Rebecca McDevitt
Nov 18


First Listen: “Die on This Hill” Marks Sienna Spiro’s Breakthrough Moment
Sienna Spiro’s “Die on This Hill” begins with a quiet magnetism that feels instantly inviting. A single piano line opens the door and her voice steps in with striking richness. It is warm, resonant, and full of a clarity that draws you in immediately.

LJ Portnoy
Nov 17


SINGLE REVIEW - "Ready Now" - Kelly Reynolds
Kelly Reynolds, the rising New Jersey artist signed to Moto Records, opens 2025 with a single that feels like a deep breath and a gut punch all at once. “Ready Now” is her first release of the year, and if you love indie storytellers like Leith Ross or Madison Cunningham, she needs to be on your radar immediately. She has only been releasing music for a little over a year, but “Ready Now” shows an artist who already knows exactly what she wants to say. The track pulls you in

Rebecca McDevitt
Nov 14


Hunter Metts Captivates at Mercury Lounge with Heartfelt Intimacy and Musical Precision
The Nashville indie-folk singer-songwriter delivers a moving, sold-out debut in New York City — blending raw emotion, crowd connection, and musical grace in his first U.S. headlining tour. Article & Photos Contributed by Miranda Wyman Indie-folk singer, songwriter, and producer Hunter Metts delivered an unforgettable performance at New York City’s Mercury Lounge on Friday, November 7, as part of his first U.S. headlining tour. Playing to a sold-out crowd of 250, Metts transfo
Miranda Wyman
Nov 11


Twenty Years Later and Still Here: Mayday Parade & All Time Low Live in Detroit
Some bands have been here for most of your life. Others have been here longer than you have even been alive. Mayday Parade has been a band for twenty years. All Time Low has been a band for twenty two. The crowd reflected that timeline in full. Some people first heard these songs on burned CDs and shared iPods. Others found them on streaming years later. Different ages, different entry points, but everyone already knew the words.
This wasn’t nostalgia. This was continuity.

LJ Portnoy
Nov 5


Arcy Drive Brings ‘Attic Rock’ to the Main Stage
On October 28th, anyone driving through the Waterloo Arts District of Cleveland would see a line of people waiting to get into the Beachland Ballroom. The crowd was there for the self-proclaimed “attic rock” band, Arcy Drive. The venue was covered in stickers and flyers, with graffiti all over the bathroom and neon signs at the bar – It was the perfect setting to rock the night away.
Madison Cozzens
Nov 3


Calliope Wren: The Craft is in the Muse
Photo by Fernando Flores (IG: @fernandofloresphotography ) Article & Photos Contributed by Fernando Flores When Calliope Wren walks on stage, the atmosphere changes. There’s an energy that's magnetic, untamed, and beautifully deliberate. Her performances aren’t just performances, they have an otherworldly pull that takes you into orbit. Long Island-based singer Calliope Wren has set herself up to carve out her own lane in a music world that often tries to define women before

Fernando Flores
Oct 28


David Archuleta Just Reimagined His “Earthly Delights” Era - Now En Español
Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Quotes and Photos Courtesy of Ken Phillips Publicity Group If you thought David Archuleta’s latest chapter couldn’t get any more vibrant, think again. The pop favorite just revisited two of his Earthly Delights standouts — “Crème Brulée” and “Can I Call You” — with brand-new Spanish versions plus a bilingual remix of “Crème Brulée” featuring Colombian alt-pop icon, Esteman. Fans might remember that “Crème Brulée” already flirted with a

Rebecca McDevitt
Oct 22


Violent Femmes Unite Generations at Chicago’s Salt Shed
Photo by Ernesto Raul Aguilar (IG: @blacksheepimagery ) Review and Photos by Ernesto Raul Aguilar The Milwaukee legends turn nostalgia into a shared celebration with a timeless, crowd-sung set. Few bands can make a room full of people sing together the way Violent Femmes can. At Chicago’s Salt Shed on October 17, the Milwaukee legends delivered a night of spirited connection and timeless songs that bridged decades of fans. The band made a dramatic entrance through the crowd

Ernesto Raul Aguilar
Oct 19


Alex Ray Gets Real on Messy
Alex Ray’s Messy is a short, sharp burst of pop-alt emotion, five songs, twelve minutes, and zero filler. It’s a snapshot of chaos polished just enough to shine, but not so much that it loses its edge. Every track feels like an intentional contradiction: raw yet refined, vulnerable yet self-possessed.

LJ Portnoy
Oct 18


ALBUM REVIEW: Madison Cunningham – Ace
Photo by °1824 / UMG Review by SoundCheck Mag Photos by °1824 / UMG Madison Cunningham has always felt like a painter who uses chords and vocals instead of brushes. The California-born singer-songwriter has long been celebrated for her blend of technical precision and emotional storytelling, and on Ace, she delivers what feels like her most cinematic and self-reflective work yet. A Grammy winner and master of subtlety, Cunningham has created an album that feels like walking t

SoundCheck Team
Oct 17


Twenty One Pilots: The Legends That Live On
Photo by Fernando Flores (IG: @fernandofloresphotography ) Review & Photos Contributed by Fernando Flores October 4, 2025 Wantagh, NY The Global Reach Twenty One Pilots has thrived on blending narrative, symbolism, and emotional transparency. Through their music, they’ve built a cinematic world that has opened the eyes of fans all around the globe. Fans that still hold their early cult classics close to heart such as one of my close favorites, “Jumpsuit” which was part of the

Fernando Flores
Oct 16


Road Soda Marks Another Honest Chapter for Franklin Jonas
Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Franklin Jonas returns with Road Soda, a track that instantly cements his growing signature sound —...

Rebecca McDevitt
Oct 10


Louis Knight Opens a New Chapter with “Until You Come Home”
Photo credit: Jack Morgan (IG: @jackmorgan07 ) Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Photos by Jack Morgan Independent pop singer-songwriter...

Rebecca McDevitt
Oct 10
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