Do you know when you hear the song and you think it could have universal mass appeal? This is the track that hit me – Next Year by Running Lights. If this band doesn’t make the song a smash, then somebody else needs to have a go. But I think the band is up for the job because I’m not sure another artist can deliver the track like guitarist/singer Mike Squillante. The band is made up 3 brothers. They’ve performed roles as touring musicians with artists like Melanie Martinez and Gnash. In 2018 they signed a deal with LA-based IDAP Music, home to William Wiik Larsen (Nico and Vinz, Kygo , Florida Georgia Line ). Check out the track on our Indie Invaders Playlist.

The talented Em Rossi recently signed with Sony Music Germany. Having been dubbed as an artist you need to know it was only a matter of time before she was snatched up. Of course it wasn’t without hard work and releasing original songs on YouTube that garnered millions of streams. The numbers on the popular social singing app SMULE was the tipping point. She has grown over 500k fans on the app and has become SMULE’s biggest partner artist. See? Why didn’t you think of that. Instead you’re on TikTok relentlessly trying to rack up followers.

Now we have Shawn Mendes breaking out on Vine, Lil Nas X getting signed off of Tik Tok success, Troy Sivan breaking on YouTube, and Em Rossi on SMULE. She had other offers, but she felt Sony was the best fit. Em Rossi offers more than a beat and a topline vocal and since America is a bit ‘beat conscious’, she’s gonna make a presence in Europe before she hits America hard.

Oslo’s indie pop artist CELIIN drops Nasty Human, and I like it. She has attitude and so does the song. Think Billie Eilish goes pop mixed with rock. The new track is a departure from the debut art pop track Leonardo. The track has been playlisted on Spotify’s Brand New Chill, New Music Friday Norway, Alternative Pop and Indie Invaders. Check out the video here.

I was asked, hence I committed to cover more artists with three or less single releases. It’s easier to follow the trajectory of a new artist. Here is Hannah Evans. She’s a 21 year old Brighton electro pop artist. Think Billie Eilish, Bea Miller and Banks. She just dropped the mid-tempo track Crying On Your Own. BBC Music Introducing will play the track as their ‘tip of the week’. Check out the track on the Indie Invaders Playlist.

Check out “Gold Tongue” by Posh Chocolates, a three-piece Manchester act. It’s a cool track that was played on BBC introducing as their recommendation of the week. The track has garnered over 12k Spotify streams and has been playlisted on Sonic Sounds and Fresh Hits. We’ve added them to yours truly Indie Invaders. They’re a new band, with a bit of a fresh sound, hence, keep an eye out for them in 2020.