Hello, loyal readers! First of all, let me wish you a happy new year. May it be full of musical discoveries, each one more brilliant than the other. I hope you also enjoyed the holiday season with your loved ones and that Santa Claus showered you with gifts!

Here we are already in January, and like every year, we have this feeling of renewal. Like a new chance offered to us. The opportunity for some to correct their faults, or to make good resolutions. I must confess that I haven't thought too much about what will happen at IMC in 2023. I just know that there will be good music. It's inevitable. And the first releases of the year are already arriving this Friday. And they are awesome. This week, you will find artists who have already come to see us in recent years, some with their usual genre, others with a total reorientation. And even a solo artist who embarked on the adventure of creating a band from scratch! But to discover all this, a few more days of patience!

There's something I need to talk to you about, even though I don't like to talk about private aspects because after all, you don't care, and you're right. We already have enough of our own problems to deal with. But it might help artists understand why I'm finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the endless stream of submissions. Finances are not doing very well. I lost my job during Covid, and all my applications are rejected, or simply ignored. The employment agency even refused my application for a radio station because I was overqualified. It's the first time I hear that. I think in life there are just times when the planets just don't seem to want to align. And for me, it's been almost 3 years that fate is relentless and that I chain the bad news.

But there's something you have to know: if I still hold on, it's thanks to your support, your kind words, and your encouragement. So I'm hanging on a bit longer and I'll meet you in two days to discover my new finds. Once again, a happy new year to all indie music lovers, keep supporting indie musicians! Help them gain visibility by sharing their music, and supporting them on Twitch, Patreon, or Bandcamp, which pay artists at their true value. For my part, I am slowly moving away from Spotify, until they adopt a respectful and decent artist payment policy. I know, it's beautiful to dream. But I believe in it.

I wish you all the best in 2023! Thank you for being here!