Now Hear This is a monthly A&R column that provides you with exciting new sounds we discovered through the innovative new music platform Groover.
Each month, you can expect a varied bouillabaisse of songs from a vast spectrum of artists from all over the globe, regardless of genre or geography.
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Dan Lynch
Sounds like: Heartfelt, salt-of-the-earth Midwestern rock in the spirit of Jeff Tweedy and Slim Dunlap from a cabin in the Australian Outback.
Describe your approach to music and how you would explain your sound to others.
My approach to music and songwriting is a combination of trying to create a musical vibe and exploring deeper meanings, reflections and stories about everyday life. For example, in my new song “The Borderline” I write about the struggles, challenges and dilemmas of modern life and the spectrum of emotions experienced, from light to dark and in between, in any one moment. I will be releasing different versions in February and March to portray the song’s meaning in different musical styles and different vibes. I’d describe my sound as a soul-searching singer-songwriter with an earthy, edgy, raw, pop-rock sound in the style of artists like Tom Petty, Slim Dunlap, Jeff Tweedy and Paul Kelly.
How did you come up with the name of your act?
As a singer-songwriter I simply use my name: Dan Lynch.
What are some artists and albums that have informed your creative direction?
The main influences on my creative direction were predominantly Bruce Springsteen, Noel Gallagher, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Paul Kelly. I’ve always been attracted to singer-songwriters who can blend storytelling or deeper messages with a cool sound, creating a musical vibe and a deeper connection. Examples of songs from each of these artists that I feel combine these elements and influenced my own direction would include “Dancing In the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen, “Champagne Supernova” by Noel Gallagher, “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty, “The Times They Are A Changin’” by Bob Dylan and “How to Make Gravy” by Paul Kelly.
What’s the most exciting thing happening in music right now?
What’s really exciting is that artists without labels still have great opportunities to have their music heard worldwide and create connections.
Where do you see the music world heading in the next five years?
We are currently in weird and challenging times with AI, and it seems like society is being impacted by the rapid technological advancements. We are crossing lines we shouldn’t cross and we need to take a stand to prioritize and protect core human values ahead of anything artificial or intellectually clever. Music is to do with our soul and needs to remain real. I hope that within the next five years responsible decisions are made with much stricter regulations for AI’s use in the music industry and in other industries also.
Niall Tackney
Sounds like: The spirit of Elliott Smith taken by the urge to stomp on the overdrive pedal of his electric guitar and conjure the soul of Mark Lanegan at his fuzziest.
Describe your approach to music and how you would explain your sound to others.
When writing a song I usually start off with a chord progression idea first and add melodies, hooks , chorus etc later. Lyrics are usually the last part, but sometimes a specific idea or thought would spark me to write a structure around that. I would say my sound is melodic, thoughtful and introspective. Angst, self-doubt and social alienation are present in lyrics. I try to share/convey a feeling through my songs.
How did you come up with the name of your act?
It’s my name. Niall Tackney, just keeping it simple.
What are some artists and albums that have informed your creative direction?
I grew up on the [music of the] ‘90s. What an era for guitar rock! The Seattle scene resonates deeply with me. So, so many bands to name but most prominent would be Nirvana, Mark Lanegan, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, NIN. All that good stuff! Albums like Siamese Dream and In Utero would be in routine rotation on my playlists.
What’s the most exciting thing happening in music right now?
I really feel like guitar rock is making a comeback. (not that it ever really went away) but it seems more available recently. Indie, alternative, rock, metal bands are touring much more than in recent years, which is amazing. Currently listening to a great band called The Scratch out of Ireland. And the Deftones, I don’t miss anything they put out. Each new record is a trip. Looking forward to the next one.
Where do you see the music world heading in the next five years?
Social media seems to be a main driver in how music gets discovered and will be for the foreseeable future. I feel like this generation are discovering bands like AC/DC, Metallica and Nirvana on platforms like TikTok and IG. And that’s cool. My daughters listen to Olivia Rodrigo and i hear some great guitar licks in her music so that’s pretty cool! More guitars please!!!
MC Paul Barman
Sounds like: The return of a famed MC from the height of New York City’s underground rap movement, Paul Barman is back older, wiser and more introspective in this touching message to his son atop a soulful, B3-blessed Glen Brady beat.
Describe your approach to music and how you would explain your sound to others.
I would first read the room like a DJ and ask a few questions. I believe I have a topic and vibe for each listener even and especially if it takes a leap of intuition to hook them. I have songs from fantasy, storytelling, science, politics, love, parenthood. A couple of language innovations. I love dialogue and filling voids.
How did you come up with the name of your act?
I had never seen MC Firstname Lastname before. I wish I had a cool name like my big bro Y*O*U*N*G*M*A*N.
What are some artists and albums that have informed your creative direction?
Organized Konfusion, De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Nas’ Illmatic, Dead Kennedys’ Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death, Ornette Coleman, DOOM, Menken and Ashman’s Little Shop Of Horrors, Original Off-Broadway Cast, Flanders and Swann’s Bestiary, Albert Ayler’s Spirits Rejoice, WFMU, WKCR, and lately Percival Everett, George Saunders.
What’s the most exciting thing happening in music right now?
Great question! Can you tell me how other people answered so I can look?
It excites me when people take control of which platforms they’re on. It’s exciting when musicians create in person together. I always imagined Porch Music making a big comeback. I know it’s happening in LA.
Some dynamic musicians I know of right now: Anna Meredith, Celestaphone, Steel Tipped Dove, Armand Hammer, RAP Ferreira, Oneohtrix Point Never, Dabrye.
Who am I leaving out? Def Nettle.
Where do you see the music world heading in the next five years?
People are going to bail on the subscription model like a dog shaking off leeches. A lot of us are going to lean back into comedy.
Eilatan
Sounds like: If Billie Eilish decided to start recording with a backing band steeped in the modern sounds of post-millennial British indie rock.
Describe your approach to music and how you would explain your sound to others.
My approach to music is first of all through words, it is very important to me to tell a story in my songs and do it in a special way of metaphors, so that the listeners can connect and identify with the meaning and feelings. My sound is based on rock and I really like to combine other styles that you wouldn’t necessarily think of combining with rock, such as the combination of electric guitar and violin. I would describe my musical style as romantic cinematic rock, think Nirvana and Queen meet Lena Del Rey and Billie Eilish.
How did you come up with the name of your act?
My artist name, Eilatan, is the backwards spelling version of my real name, Natalie.
What are some artists and albums that have informed your creative direction?
The artists that have informed my creative direction are rock bands like Arctic Monkeys, Queen and Nirvana, I also really love and am influenced by the music of Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish, her albums Don’t Smile At Me and When We All Fall Sleeping, Where Do We Go? are one of the main reasons I started writing.
What’s the most exciting thing happening in music right now?
What excites me most about music right now is that it has become a very accepting place for artists from all over the world, people can express themselves and their feelings however they want without fear of being judged. There is a place and great appreciation for women in the music world and this is something that makes me very happy.
Where do you see the music world heading in the next five years?
I see that the music world is heading towards innovation in the next five years, new styles, new voices, I hope that rock will become a little more dominant again and that music will continue to make the world a better place.
Villain Villain
Sounds like: A Canadian spin on Pulp-ish Britpop flair that takes a side trip into instrumental territory with the soundtrack to a vector graphic driving game of your own imagination.
Describe your approach to music and how you would explain your sound to others.
We are definitely on the alternative spectrum, I’d describe us as psychedelic indie/post punk, but we really try to cover a lot of ground with where we can go with our soundscapes.
How did you come up with the name of your act?
Our name ultimately means that we are our own worst enemies. A look in the mirror can often point you to what’s wrong. We’re all one bad day from being the villain in someone else’s story! (A villain looking at himself in the mirror is a villain villain if you will).
What are some artists and albums that have informed your creative direction?
Talking Heads, Bowie (both of their work with Eno was very inspiring to me, hearing all these minimalistic percussion sounds come through left, right and center was truly something else . Definitely informed my/our future.) Radiohead played a very big role in a few of our lives as well. Seeing them live opened up my world beyond belief!
Bands like Yes, Can, Genesis and the Mothers of Invention also played a very big part in two of our lives at least. Our rhythm section is very influenced by Nine Inch Nails and “Weird Al” Yankovic.
People also say we remind them of a blend of the Pixies, Modest Mouse and Talking Heads. I don’t mind that!
What’s the most exciting thing happening in music right now?
I think the most exciting thing is the fact that people who have music in their heads can make music without technical expertise on the instruments. I think it’s a little bit of a double-edged sword, along with accessibility and the fact that we can hear anybody’s idea at any time, whether that’s a good or bad thing, I think it can definitely be a little bit of both. More than ever, ownership is in the artist’s hands, as there is less and less need for major record labels. I think this has the potential to also be exciting.
Where do you see the music world heading in the next five years?
Unfortunately it’s not looking too good for music in terms of a sustainable career, with streaming dominating and AI entering the scene. Only time will tell how far we’ll go with it and how much humanity will be lost in the process. We will always need music, it will always heal us and help us through things that wouldn’t make sense otherwise.
Nonvector
Sounds like: A bold and innovative continuation of the progressive heaviness of such bands as Tool and Torche into the second decade of the 21st century, albeit with a style that is completely of their own accord.
Describe your approach to music and how you would explain your sound to others.
I prefer not to over-explain our approach to music — I think it’s more interesting to let listeners form their own interpretations. What I can say is we focus on being inventive, experimental, and creating something that connects. While we’re interested in classical and jazz structures, they’re just part of the toolkit. If you’re into prog rock, metal or 70s prog, you might find our music offers a novel approach to that framework.
How did you come up with the name of your act?
The name Nonvector was developed while we tried to figure out what we wanted to do with our music. Consider the broader sense of the name’s definition — about quantities existing without directional constraints. It emerged as both a name and a guiding principle for our approach to writing. At the same time, there’s a direction and hidden logic to the music that I’ll leave for the listener to discern.
What are some artists and albums that have informed your creative direction?
We listen to tons of music across all sorts of genres, but with our album Ashen Time, we weren’t drawing from specific influences. It was more about letting the compositions take their own shape in our own creative vacuum. I know that’s easier said than done, however — we’ll see if the audience agrees or sees some more obvious influences.
What’s the most exciting thing happening in music right now?
The most interesting thing in music is watching how artists respond to this flood of new releases. When there’s so much music coming out daily, it pushes you to question what makes your work essential and what makes it truly contribute something new. You’ll stumble across these incredible, innovative albums that might have been groundbreaking releases 20 years ago, but now they’re almost hidden in plain sight. It’s like we’re in this fascinating pressure cooker where the challenge isn’t just making good music — it’s making music that matters.
Where do you see the music world heading in the next five years?
Looking ahead five years, we’re going to see a real split. As the volume of new music keeps growing exponentially, you’ll have artists who chase trends to try to stand out. Still, you’ll also see a counter-movement of musicians who double down on crafting more ambitious, carefully considered works. The future isn’t just about more music – it’s about how artists adapt to an environment where every possible sound already exists, and how they can craft something a bit deeper than certain novel attributes in whatever genre they’re exploring. For us, that means pushing harder to find those unexplored spaces, those novel approaches to established frameworks.
Glassio
Sounds like: The concept of Bruce Springsteen’s lost Blindspot-era excursions into electronic music from the mid-90s fully realized for the 21st century by way of this complete reimagining of a beloved song from the Boss’s starkest recording, 1982’s Nebraska.
Describe your approach to music and how you would explain your sound to others.
I think the best melodies and ideas come to you when your brain is on autopilot. So for me, getting to that place means being comfortable with myself and my surroundings, and often doing something repetitive, like cleaning or shopping. That’s when I’ll find myself humming an idea or hearing something that I think is exciting and worthy enough of taking to my studio. In terms of how I would describe my music: I’ve used phrases like lullaby-club music, melancholy-disco, Magnetic Fields-meets-LCD-meets-Beach Boys.
How did you come up with the name of your act?
I was looking for a name, and had this image of Casio keyboards made out of glass, and I thought “that’s what I want the sound of this music to evoke…shiny casio keyboards.”
What are some artists and albums that have informed your creative direction?
Early on in my life, definitely Paul Simon and Brian Wilson. I think Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem and The Warning by Hot Chip were two huge turning points for me. As was 69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields. I got pretty obsessed with those three albums. I always loved this idea of mixing electronica with folk instrumentation and harmonies. That was what inspired one of my bigger songs “A Million Doubts.”
What’s the most exciting thing happening in music right now?
I’m always gravitating towards melody first and I think Fontaines DC really tapped into that with their latest album. As did Chappell Roan with her 2023 record. Sonically though (and more from a production standpoint), I think there is some incredible stuff coming from Nilufer Yanya. I love genre-bending albums, and that My Method Actor record fuses grunge, folk and soul in such a cool and unique way. Grunge and distortion has never sounded so pastelle-like to me. Also, Nala Sinephro’s new album Endlessness is absolute class — I close my eyes listening to that record and just can’t help but picture a very distinct image of a washing machine on the moon. Music that evokes an image that is specific and seamless will always go to the top of my list.
Where do you see the music world heading in the next five years?
Here are my predictions: song lyrics will become more direct and angry — probably a response to the noise of social media and cutting through the clutter. I think we’re gonna hear dryer music for a while (reverb-wise). Dry, intimate and in-your-face vocals sound better on iPhones and laptops, and I think this is already happening — producers are mixing with laptop speakers and iPhone speakers in mind and decisions are being made for those mediums. I imagine genres will mesh even more than they have. AI will have a massive impact on how things are produced. People will release music (and this is already happening) more often for algorithmic favourability. I won’t lie, a lot of the aforementioned scares the hell out of me and depresses me. I think there will of course be the outliers, who spend weeks just recording their own drum sounds and samples, versus using splice of AI. I want to try my best to remain in that camp.
deb.
Sounds like: Chill, SAULT-like jazz-hop vibes from Switzerland punctuated by lyrics that illustrate the pain of indecisiveness when it comes to matters of the heart, inspired by Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. New EP — Peel, Pit, Pulp — out on Valentine’s Day.
Describe your approach to music and how you would explain your sound to others.
Describing my music to others has always been a challenge for me. Labeling something so personal feels almost unnatural. My background is in jazz — I studied in Basel and Zurich — but my teenage years were heavily influenced by the pop universe. I grew up watching MTV and VIVA, completely drawn by the world of pop music. My approach is a mix of techniques I’ve learned over the years: journaling, analyzing songs I admire, using compositional tools and writing as a therapeutic process. For this EP, I had the pleasure of working with a producer for the first time, my dear friend Daniel Somaroo. He helped me shape the songs, adding beautiful layers and elements that brought the stories more to life.
How did you come up with the name of your act?
I wanted to include my name in some way — there’s no deeper meaning to it. My name is Debora, but I liked the look of deb. in lowercase, with the d and b mirroring each other. It also felt like a way to push myself, to put myself out there and not to hide behind the music.
What are some artists and albums that have informed your creative direction?
There are two main sources of inspiration for me. On one side, I have a deep love for alto sax players like Immanuel Wilkins, Soweto Kinch and Miguel Zenón. I’m drawn to the sound of alto saxophones — they’re incredibly singable for vocalists and have such a warm, expressive tone. Check out my alto player in the band — Charlotte Lang, she’s absolutely wonderful and just released her debut album The Journey.
On the other side, and most importantly, I’m influenced by strong female singers, composers and songwriters whose work resonates with me lyrically and melodically. Artists like Genevieve Artadi, Martina Topley-Bird and St. Vincent are my heroines.
What’s the most exciting thing happening in music right now?
Hard to say, but nothing excites me more than seeing beloved friends and musicians in my surroundings create incredible music. When you take the time to look around, you’ll discover so many talented local artists worth supporting — it’s truly inspiring and I think important for a stable music scene.
Where do you see the music world heading in the next five years?
I’m not sure — sometimes it feels like Switzerland is often a few steps behind. I really hope to see more diversity and more FLINTA persons stepping up and taking the spotlight in the future. It’s already kind of happening, but it’s also important to make it more visible — not only the women on stage, but also in the background of the music industry.
Bologna Savage
Sounds like: Classic Virginia hip-hop grime performed with rugged lyrical imagery atop this piano-driven, pulsating beat that ambles along with a Timbaland-like sense of minimalism.
Describe your approach to music and how you would explain your sound to others.
U can’t really put me in 1 category or genre …bcuz it just comes out of me however it comes out of me…I’m a singer/songwriter and also a rapper, call it what u want. Id just hope u like it.
How did you come up with the name of your act?
Bologna Savage came from a friend of mine around 2017 who started to call me Bologna Savage, ‘cause I smoke tons of weed and every time I pull up I be like “I’ve got that Bologna” and roll up. And she said Savage becuz I manage to be in the midst of the most outrageous situations and still ninja my way up out of it somehow.
What are some artists and albums that have informed your creative direction?
My first few songs that I wrote I just stole instrumentals from other people’s songs like Kendrick Lamar and 2 Chainz and some people like that and I just basically re-word the song into my own song and that’s how I started doing it. I guess I was more influenced by Lil Wayne, maybe, because No Ceilings was like one of the best albums that I think did that he did honestly, from “Surf Swag” to “Kobe Bryant.” He just remix everything and it was fire and I guess that’s what gave me the idea to kind of just start doing that with other songs until eventually I start writing my own original music myself.
What’s the most exciting thing happening in music right now?
I’m not sure about whats happening mainstream. Im out in the world everyday living life and meeting new people everyday. I did a song with one of my best friends Kook Gramz, he’s from Lincolnville, SC. Amazing artist A1 forreal. Tons of hits. And has been there for me more than most. I run into lots of artists and I love seeing them progress. That’s what its all about, you know?
Where do you see the music world heading in the next five years?
Five years from now, it will be 2030. The possibilities are endless.
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