Watch out for the Amsterdam-based electronic pop band A.ROSE – fronted by Anna-Rose Clayton. I like the big hooks especially in the song Dancing Alone. Think Tove-Lo meets MØ. The band will support Carly Rae Jepsen in Paradiso Grote Zaal on 2/12. The debut track Hush Hush landed on Spotify’s New Music Friday NL, Spotify’s Rising, and Fresh Finds.

 

Look out for the indie-folk duo Firewoodisland. The UK act just released the catchy Sprinter and have rallied up support from tastemakers like Ear Milk and BBC Radio​. Citing ​Bon Iver​ and Of Monsters and Men​ as influences, they have racked up over 5 million Spotify plays with support from playlists. The indie band market is oversaturated with too many bands trying to do the same thing but something is different with this duo. I don’t know, maybe it’s the songs or visuals, but it’s something.

Definitely check out the Sydney based Nick de la Hoyde. He just dropped the album A Beautiful Mess. One of my favorites is High. I don’t know why, maybe it reminds me of P. Malone. Mashing up genres like Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, the singer-songwriter was added to the TikTok playlist on Spotify as well as Spotify’s New Music Friday and Indie Invaders.

Can Amazon compete with Spotify? Nope. Amazon is the epitome of uncool like Wal-Mart. Amazon isn’t a brand, Spotify is. That’s why Spotify is the top digital streaming platform because it branded itself with artists. Amazon has not. Even though Amazon has created a bully brand running around with slogans like “We are the last company anyone wants to compete with”, it’s tough to compete with Spotify’s monthly active users that reached 248 million with total revenue at $1.7 billion. Plus, Spotify is ahead of the curve. The company started investing in podcast content. Spotify continues to do well and has little to worry about, even though Amazon is raising its fists claiming to be the new market leader.

Fly By Midnight released the track “The Ad Above Your Head”. This is the first track release from the NYC based pop duo since they ventured out into Los Angeles. Although the duo has met with a variety of labels, they are still independent. They wrapped up 2019 with 5M Spotify streams, 100k listeners, and a the single Lovely (feat. Betty Who)” which premiered on Spotify’s Chill Hits and Love Pop. Give it a stream.