Watch out for Kings favorite Merchant and the new track Lose Somebody.  If you love the 80’s, you’ll like Merchant. If you’re a fan of new wave 80’s legends Duran Duran, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for Merchant. The debut EP is produced with famed bassist of Duran Duran, John Taylor.

The previous track we featured Don’t Feel Like Dancing just landed on Spotifys Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds Pop.

“This song is about a relationship I was in where I had given my all to someone and eventually lost myself in the process. In a broader sense I hope this song resonates with anyone who has lost someone or been through a similar relationship,” says Merchant.

Stream the track on KOAR’s Indie Invaders Playlist.

Look out for Olivia Grace and the new haunting track Space which comes off her debut album.  A song about needing more space in a relationship, it’s a perfectly crafted indie pop tune. The song could find a home on Spotify’s Indie Pop Playlist.

The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter released her debut EP “Army,” which landed on Spotify’s New Music Friday while garnering support from Ladygunn, C-Heads, Galore, and The Wild Honey Pie.

The new album was all done remotely with her producer living in France and the vocals recorded in her Los Angeles apartment.

She’s opened for Devon Baldwin, Coeur de Pirate, CANNONS, and Ninet Tayeb and is set to perform Grant Owens’ We Found New Music showcase at Bar Lubitsch on October 14th.

The Kid LAROI has been quietly switching management teams. The Kid was originally with Juice WRLD‘s label Grade A Productions. He left Grad A for Scooter Bruan when his single Without You was reaching the height of success at top 40 radio.

Reportedly, The Kid LAROI received a DM from Bieber wanting to collaborate. That’s when he started working him. Ironically, The Kid had no idea how Justin heard of him.

“I actually never asked him how he found my s***. He just DM’d me one day on Instagram and was just like, ‘You got the sauce’, and I responded back and was like, ‘Yo, what’s up? I’m a big fan’. He liked my message and that was it from there.

“Two months later he DM’d me again and was like, ‘Hey, what’s your number? I think I have the right song for us. Let me send it to you.’ He sent [‘Unstable’] to me and I was like, ‘This s***’s crazy’, went [and] wrote the verse, sent it back, and that was that.”

After a successful radio run with his single Stay featuring Bieber, The Kid left Scooter Braun to join Adam Leber who reps Lil Nas X.

Did The Kid get a DM from Lil Nas X?

I’m really loving Santiago by Isa Reyes. The fact that artists can still write introspective tracks in a digital distracted world is a win for a humanity. The track could find a home on Spotify’s Pop Folk playlist.

“Santiago’ is an homage to my journey and a reminder to me that despite growing up fast, I still have time to embrace my youth and forge my own path, in darker moments, I must remind myself there is so much to live for” says Reyes.

The 22-year old will release her indie-pop debut EP titled BELS in October. Garnering praise from Complex, Office Magazine and Lyrical Lemonade, the NYC native has generated over a half a million streams on Spotify alone.

Check out the video here.  Stream the track on KOAR’s Indie Invaders Playlist.

Older music makes up 70% of streams. That means new artists need to up the standard. Lift the bar.

I don’t want to poo poo new artists. I can rattle off a slew of new artists that I enjoy. I’m just looking at the incredible low number that “brand new artists” make up 15% of the overall streams.

If the goal is to go Tiktok viral with a two minute banger, and get a $5 million advance from a label, then bravo!

Just note that a legitimate touring artist can generate $5 million in 5 shows.

With only a few exceptions, the Spotify top 50 is bland and boring. And most people who love music, want new music. I don’t want the the best songs of the decade on repeat. Don’t tell me I’m not looking hard enough, I look all day.

The Kid LAROI is great. He came out like a star and is now set for life. The End Of The World Tour sold 35,000 tickets in just 24 hours. But the rest? Meh. Social platforms gave the rise to self worship, but TikTok is social media on steroids that brainwashed musicians who now want overnight fame with a 15 second clip.

Make me believe again. Raise the stakes.