Rock n Roll lost impact on popular culture to pop. Now pop lost its impact, and who has impact anyway? I think culture lost to culture. But rock still exists and its alive and hopefully will make a resurgence when live venues open again because rock thrives off line whereas make up artists thrive online.

Speaking of rock many continue to push the rock boundaries like Los Angeles alt-rock band Rivals that just dropped their sophomore release, Sad Looks Pretty on Me. The band has released new music video for “Change Things” which is really good. You’ll like if you have some roots in rock and maybe it could attract some new ears.

Rivals made waves with the twenty one pilotsʼ track, “Heathens,” which clocked over 1 Million streams. In 2018, the band released their debut album Damned Soul via Smartpunk Records and has garnered over 5 million listens.

Griff won the Brit Awards Rising Star for 2021.

“In my head I’m still screaming from the phone call when I found out,” said the 20-year-old pop songwriter from Hertfordshire. “It’s honestly such a miracle: how on earth did we manage to win a Brit and break through during a pandemic?”

Sarah Griffiths aka Griff signed to Warner Records in 2019 and in 2020, she was nominated for Rising Star at the Ivor Novello songwriting awards.

Other nominees included rapper Pa Salieu and British Japanese pop artist Rina Sawayama.

Up and coming UK artist Holly Humberstone signs with Darkroom/Interscope/Polydor. You’ll like if you love Billie Eilish – dark bedroom pop.

The 21-year-old singer-songwriter released several tracks in 2020 opened for Lewis Capaldi for his European tour just before the COVID hit the shores. In August 2020, Humberstone dropped her “Falling Asleep at the Wheel” EP and garnered more than 50 million streams.

She was also named as the runner-up of the BBC Sound Of2021 list

Look out for Laureli and the new chill pop track Donuts. The song which started as a inside joke comes off “From Seattle With Love,” a joint EP between Laureli and her producer. You’ll like if you’re a fan of Benee, Dojo Cat and those types.  The 18 year old has crafted hundreds of songs since the beginning of 2020. Check out the official video here  and give it a stream on KOAR’s Indie Invaders Playlist.

Hatty Keane drops the funky 70’s flavored track Sing It!.  The soul singer does just that, she sings and can sing. The track was mixed and mastered by Alex Layne (John Legend,Sam Smith,Miguel, Zayn). The single wraps up her debut EP  Nostalgia that garnered support from music blogs including We Plug Good Music, Sounds So Beautiful, and AnR Factory. Give it a listen.