Tag: indie music
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Don McGlashan on Why He Might Not Be the ‘Colorful’ Subject for a Doco
New Zealand musician Don McGlashan opens up about a documentary premise Renowned New Zealand songwriter and composer Don McGlashan has candidly reflected on a documentary project that would explore his life and work. Speaking to RNZ’s On the Air, he acknowledged a paradox at the heart of the project: the more a person is described…
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Djo’s End of Beginning Reach No. 1 on Billboard Global 200: A Global Breakthrough
Overview: A Global Milestone for Djo In a landmark week for indie artist Djo, the project led by Joe Keery of Stranger Things fame, End of Beginning surged to No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200. The track, which had been climbing the charts and gaining international attention, secured the top spot after a five-position…
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Bill Callahan on Craft, Coincidence, and Living Songs: The Drunk Professor of Music
Bill Callahan’s Identity: Craftsperson, Coincidence Seeker, and the Drunk Professor Bill Callahan, the man behind Smog and a steady stream of stark, intimate records, once described himself with a phrase that sounds equal parts self-deprecating and revealing: a “drunk professor who likes coincidence and mistakes.” It’s a line that captures much of what fans and…
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The Quiet Struggle Behind the Sound: Namibian Indie Artists Pushing Beyond the Main Industry Zones
The Quiet Struggle Behind the Sound In Namibia, the music industry often centers around its capital and major urban hubs. Yet, some of the most compelling voices emerge from outside these zones. DJ Vuyo, born in Katima Mulilo, and UGEE (Eugene Kamana) from the Kavango East region, are two artists who have chosen to grow…
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The Quiet Struggle Behind the Sound: Namibian Artists Outside the Main Scene
Introduction: A Hidden Side of Namibia’s Music Scene When people talk about Namibia’s music, headlines often spotlight studios in Windhoek or popular acts that thrive in the capital’s cultural hubs. Yet a quieter, equally vital current runs through the country’s regional towns. Mushe Musomi, known as DJ Vuyo from Katima Mulilo, and Eugene Kamana, aka…
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Campus SuperStar Alum Marcus Lee Reflects on Touring with Jacky Cheung: A Humble Honour
From a 15-Year-Old Campus SuperStar Contender to a Touring Artist When Marcus Lee Jun Wei stepped onto the Campus SuperStar stage in 2007, few could predict the path he would carve in Singapore’s vibrant music scene. As the second runner-up of season 2, the teenager captured hearts with a blend of raw talent, youthful energy,…
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Spotify royalties questioned: musical artists expose unfair payout model
Music industry under pressure: the real cost of streaming for artists The dispute over how much Spotify pays per stream has reignited debates about the economics of music streaming. A singer, who helped launch Los Campesinos! with six friends at Cardiff University in 2006, has publicly questioned the fairness of the platform’s model. In an…
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Spotify Pay Rates Under Fire: A Singer’s Call to Reexamine Streaming Royalties
Introduction: A Spotlight on the Numbers When the numbers come out, they don’t just tally dollars and pence; they illuminate the daily realities of artists who rely on streaming for their livelihood. A prominent singer from the London indie scene, who helped launch Los Campesinos! with six friends at Cardiff University in 2006, recently spoke…
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Soul-Baring Ballads, Alt-Rock Fury, and Neon Tech: Five-Star Albums You Might Have Missed This Year
Hidden Gems: Why Some Brilliant Albums Slip Under the Radar In a year crowded with releases, some of the most captivating records don’t make the loudest splash. They arrive with quiet confidence: a songwriter’s night-blooming lyrics, a production choice that reshapes a genre, or a voice that turns intimate confession into anthemic clarity. This piece…
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Grief-Driven Masterpieces: How 2025’s Best Albums Reframed Loss Into Longevity
Intro: Grief as a Creative Engine in 2025 The year’s most acclaimed albums chart a surprising and deeply human map of emotion. Far from following a single trend, 2025’s standout records experiment with genre, form, and texture, using grief as a transformative force rather than a simple mood. From intimate piano meditations to expansive sonic…