Bethany Becker is a 16 year old singer-songwriter and a country pop artist from Austin, Texas. She has already gained considerable amount of attention with her three song EP. She has written with some of the top songwriters and producers and was recently nominated for an HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media) Award. Check out the video for Maybe More which already has garnered 30k views. Becker is an artist to watch.
Contact: bethanybeckermusic@gmail.com
Buzz Track: Let Go
We are addicted to the brand new song Let Go by alt act Coasts. Conceived in 2011 in the crypt of a church, the Bristol-born 5 piece have resolutely resisted the overtures of the major record companies and embarked on a unique and independent path. Non stop touring has built a quickly growing group of fans across the country with Heaven in London already booked for their next London show in November – before they have received any mainstream media support. The band has upcoming performances in Leeds (Brudenell Social Club), Liverpool (East Village Arts Club), London (Heaven w/ Racing Glaciers), Birmingham (The Institute w/ Racing Glaciers), and Glasgow (Broadcast). Definitely an artist to watch.
Contact: carl@tidalhq.com
Buzz Track: King Of Love
The Yells is a NYC rock group founded in 2014 by four delinquent friends, so jaded from what the ‘in’ thing might be, that this gang of four have come up with something undeniably cool; toasting to Queens of The Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and Portishead on their quick rise through NYC’s toughest rooms. Recorded by Ted Comerford and mixed by Mitch Easter, this gang of four, featuring Johnny on guitars, Matteo on bass, Jamie on the drums and AV on vocals, has a sound that has been compared to that of a large aircraft speeding far too close to the ground. The Yells is an artist to watch.
Contact: ted@lowwattlicensing.com
Wind-up Records has long been known as the house that Creed built. Although they are an independent label, they’ve been home to many chart toppers in the Active Rock and Alternative genres. Over the last few years, Wind-up has been branching out, picking up artists that seem out of place on a roster that once included Drowning Pool and Evanescence. Kings of A&R caught up with Wind-Up A&R director, Shawn Cohen, to find out more about their new eclectic roster that includes bands such as The Griswolds and SPEAK and how they are transitioning into new genres.
Wind-up has been picking up some surprising new bands. Where is all that coming from?
We have been known as the house of active rock for a very long time and we’re trying to be creative and showing the world that we can do mainstream, alternative, pop…we’re not just rock. We want to work with music that we love, no matter the genre.
What’s your favorite artist that you’re working right now?
Hands down, The Griswolds. Not just because I signed them, but they are just from fans to music the most intriguing, fun, exciting people and it shows all around. Their social media, their recorded music, their live shows, they are a very dynamic band.
How’d you find them?
I found The Griswolds in the blog scene. They had posted their first song , Heart of the Lion. It was under the radar when I heard the song and I was really into them. I did some homework and saw they were doing well on Triple J (Australian Radio). I listened to their other songs and I thought it was very creative and refreshing so I reached out to them. CONTINUE READING
Buzz Track: American Girls & French Kisses
Beach Slang formed in the summer of 2013, in that short time they have received rave reviews from Pitchfork, NPR, Brooklyn Vegan, Noisey, The A.V. Club and have been praised by a wide range of writers from Dan Ozzi to Kurt Loder. They have been described as a cross between The Replacements, Goo Goo Dolls and Jawbreaker. The live show, which brings the intensity of the Ramones has been winning fans over at rapid pace. They’ve performed at Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn Night Bazzar, St Vitus, among others. Beach Slang is an artist to watch.
Contact: randy@forcemm.com