The lineup for the 30th anniversary of the hottest summer event is here!
Dive into our latest edition of NMR, with new tunes from Zack Bia, DJ Diesel, Ravell, Bleu Clair, SAYMYNITTI, and many more.
Raised in the vibrant cultural tapestry of West London, Olympia Vitalis emerges as a captivating figure in the soul music scene, fearlessly claiming her rightful space. With a background rooted in gospel choir, Olympia’s journey into the realm of soul music has been defined by seven years of immersive experience, where she has finely crafted her distinctive improvisational style.
Sony Electronics hosted a private unplugged listening session in collaboration with an emerging artist from it’s For The Music platform. The event, hosted at Grandmaster Recorders in Los Angeles, featured professional choreographer and recording artist Brian Puspos who performed songs off his new album, Cherry Mansion. Guests had the opportunity to interact with the latest products from Sony, including demos of their flagship products.
This International Women’s Day, breakout pop-punk artist Hayes Warner and rapper Billy B are coming together to celebrate the power of women!
LOS ANGELES – The inaugural 88rising Moonrise Gala celebrated Asian excellence in music and entertainment, honoring industry pioneers like Anderson .Paak, Jackson Wang and NIKI.
The Knockturnal interviewed the Phoenix, Arizona native in advance of releasing his debut EP with Geffen Records, svnteen. From a young age, the singer-songwriter was surrounded by music from a young age. Alongside listening to Sudanese, R&B, and pop music, Obai is dedicated to mastering his craft as a musician and sharing his talents with the world.
Mitch Holson/Atlantic Records
Imagine a scared, young girl posting singing videos to social media, terrified of actually being on stage. Now imagine that same girl embarking on her first national tour.
That is the story of 22 year old singer-songwriter Maryjo. Her music journey started out back in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, where she says she had horrible stage fright and was terrified to sing in front of people. But she liked to sing, so she decided to start posting singing videos on social media.
We got to sit down with Maryjo to talk about her journey and the exciting projects she’s created along the way.
“It didn’t really feel like singing in front of people,” she explained about why she started posting videos. She had no idea those videos would lead her to becoming a fan-favorite contestant on season 19 of American Idol. That same support from viewers of the show is what helped her become the performer she is now. “It gave me confidence.”
As a songwriter, she told us that getting the emotion across is the most important thing for her when she’s writing. “Once you get the emotion across, people start to listen.”
And that they do. Not only does Maryjo have 146K monthly listeners on Spotify, she also has 1.3 million followers on TikTok and 27.6 million likes.
Sarah Rodriguez/Atlantic Records
Her newest single “Drunk Tattoo” tells the story about how sometimes you fall for the wrong people and you hit a realization point and start to question why you ever liked them. Many of her songs come from her own personal life experiences. We asked her what it meant to her that so many fans can listen to and resonate with her songs. “It makes me feel like I’m doing my job right,” she told us. “I want to send a message for them to relate to it or connect to it, and that’s exactly what they’re doing.” With a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eyes, she added “And that makes me happy.”
After signing with Atlantic record in the fall of 2022, she released her single “Love Fools”, alongside a music video filmed through her home security camera – an idea her manager Kelly gave her. The ballad features a backing from GRAMMY® Award-nominated, 2x ACM Award-winning blind piano virtuoso Gordon Mote.
Many great producers and musicians have lent a hand in her song-writing and producing. She absolutely lit up when asked her about her experience with these amazing artists. “It’s so fun,” she boasted excitedly. “It’s nice because now I can feel comfy in the {recording studio} – because once you find your people you’re like, ‘Oh. There ya go’.”
Starting January 30th, Maryjo is headed on tour with musical artist Knox. “This is my first {tour} with a band and the road and the sprinter van… and the early morning wake-up calls,” she exclaimed with a bright smile on her face. From Chicago, Illinois to Atlanta, Georgia spanning a little less than two weeks, it’s hard work but nothing about it seems to beat her down. “I’m so excited,” she told us simply.
This is just the beginning for Maryjo and we are so excited to see what she has in store.
Born and raised in Wales, independent artist and singer-songwriter Ben Ellis is most certainly one to watch.
When intuition calls, Scarlett Taylor listens. The New York artist—who wields a crystal ball or a pack of tarot cards just as deftly as a microphone—has always had a penchant for the spiritual: since February 2023, she has released a new single at each new moon and full moon, reflecting her own cycle of fluctuating creative energy and her attunement with the cosmos. “On the full moon, I try to release something I just made, like the culmination of everything I’m moving towards,” she explains. “On the new moon, I try to release something that I’ve been holding onto for a while. It’s become a very beautiful thing for me.” The songs range from stripped-back demos to skittering hyperpop productions, and while Taylor’s eerie vocal melodies and creeping instrumentals evoke visions of ancient rituals, her lyrics feel simultaneously timeless and deeply rooted in 21st century life, dealing in concepts as contemporary as internet addiction and as lofty as cosmic destiny.
Photos by Hellen Elizondo
Photos by Hellen Elizondo
Photos by Hellen Elizondo
Photos by Hellen Elizondo
Now, Taylor is experimenting with a new sound. In her live performances, the singer reimagines her songs as howling rock jams, dialing the energy up to eleven and harnessing the reciprocal power of a live audience. Backed by a live band, the songs take on a new shape, an energy that Taylor knew had to be captured. “People were really liking the sound,” she says. “So we just decided to go in and record it.” Taylor and the band took to the studio in May to record Hallows, a rock-ified iteration of six previously released songs interspersed with fresh interludes. Infused with new energy and instrumentation, the songs take on a new life: “Veil (perfect timing),” the last of Taylor’s singles to be released on the new moon, transforms from a glitchy, stripped-back electronic meditation to a raucous jam session as Taylor’s voice soars above screaming guitars and crashing drums. The song is a celebration of love and destiny, inspired by a wedding Taylor attended between two witches. She was particularly moved by the story of one of the brides, who had lived as a man before meeting her partner and only recently transitioned. “In two years’ time, in perfect timing, she’s completely changed her life,” Taylor explains. “She has a new name, lives in a new state. It’s just crazy to think that two years ago she had a completely different life.”
For Taylor, transformation is always right around the corner. Through her rediscovery of the songs on Hallows, she unlocks a new form, one born from the electric energy of her live show. Guided by her instinct and intuition, the songwriter follows where the energy leads, shapeshifting between genres and exploring different production styles with each changing moon. “I feel more like I’m finding the song than like I’m thinking of it,” she explains. “It’s sort of like I’ve always known it was there, but I just had to rediscover it.”