by Sarah Rosin
A lot of new artists have been breaking onto the music scene in recent years. These young artists show us the direction that music is headed, not only using inspiration from some of their favorite artists, but going places that other artists have never gone before. Introducing this month’s trifecta of up-and-coming artists in pop, rock, and indie music, we will be delving into where dream-pop meets folk in Michael Isaak, the indie pop sounds of AZKAL, and the alt-rock band Billy & The Kidz.
First up is Michael Isaak, an indie artist that creates music with heart and soul. The singer-songwriter is based out of Los Angeles and fuses dreamy indie pop with intimate acoustic folk to create a sound filled with tragedy and beauty. The first generation Egyptian-American artist creates music that is perfect for rainy days at home with a cup of tea or days spent studying in the library. Releasing his debut EP, Forever is a Scary Word, back in January 2024 and his first singles in 2022, Michael has been kicking off his career playing several live performances, including an upcoming performance at The Moroccan Lounge in LA on July 11th, and you won't want to miss his set! Tickets to his upcoming show can be found here.
Next on the lineup is AZKAL, a Filipino-American indie pop artist based out of New York City. The singer identifies with music from the 80s and incorporates influence in his own music from WALK THE MOON, The Band CAMINO, The 1975, Dayglow, joan, and HONNE. AZKAL started releasing music in 2021, including an EP, heartbeat overdrive, with five beautifully upbeat, vibey tunes. But, his most recent release, "March Sadness," is already his most streamed song after only two months. AZKAL is an incredible artist that is bound to blow up soon! If the indie pop bands that started gaining popularity in the mid-2010s is your thing, you're going to want to start listening to AZKAL, so that you can start bragging to your underground music friends that you found a new artist before them.
Closing out the May features is the rock band out of Portland, Billy & The Kidz. The band exudes an attitude reminiscent of the rebellious 1980s rock culture. It's the type of music that makes any alt kid feel like a bad bitch. The band only started putting out music in 2023, but every one of their releases screams experience and expertise in their craft. Keep an eye on this young band because they've already started garnering attention, opening for bands like Vial, Young Rising Sons, and Halocene. Anyone that considers themselves a connoisseur of rock music is going to want to check out this band immediately because they will be in stadiums soon.
Up-and-coming artists are the future of music, and we are excited to see how they innovate within the music industry on their journeys!
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