Although he's been releasing music since 2015, this is the first time we've seen Joe Holt on IMC. And when you listen to his repertoire, you wonder why it didn't happen before. To be honest, we know why. There's so many great musicians to discover!

You might be wondering what a music blogger does when he discovers a musician he didn't know before. He goes to Spotify and listens to his previous releases. And in Joe's case, it was a great adventure.

From the elegant and moving "It's You I'd Save" on the EP "It's what We Give" released in 2020, to the incredibly catchy "Love Will Always Win" on the EP "Something Louder" in 2018, There is something for every taste. Joe Holt is a musician who thrives in all musical genres. Graduated from the Berklee College of Music (which does not surprise us, given the quality of his productions), the musician now based in NYC is at a turning point in his musical career.

The song that caught our attention this week is his new single "Not Satisfying", released today. Above all, do not trust the title of the song because the impression you will have will be the exact opposite. This is the first single taken from his fourth full-length album set to be released in June.

We are not going to reveal everything about this album but we can already simply mention the name of Kat Kennedy. The most seasoned IMC fans will understand. We made you discover this wonderful singer at the beginning of last summer with "Can't Wait", whose catchy chorus is still running in our mind. Kat Kennedy, who is a friend of Joe's (yes, the world of indie music is infinitely small) put down some vocals on a track called "Kingston". And we're looking forward to hearing it!

"Not Satisfying" is exactly the kind of song that can give you goosebumps in a pretty intense way. With warm vocals, like those of a friend who would try to confide, and a slow but magnificent evolution, the song surprises with its unusual structure: after the 2 minute mark, the song marks a pause. And puts the violin in the foreground, with just the voice, then joined by a discreet but elegant piano. The choice of the different instruments which compose "Not Satisfying" is absolutely prodigious.

Vocally, we loved the Joe Holt performance, able to move from the lowest notes to the highest with impressive ease.

As for the writing, it's raw. It comes from the heart, without filter, and it comes out naturally. The artist understood that after all, time flies. And I'm also realizing the same. My favorite line is definitely "I’ve got tax stuff in a folder, the Lego’s gone, guess I moved on, but I’m no smarter". Of course, it's impossible to go back in time. And I feel the same way Joe does. My wife is a live-in nurse, and I felt this strong feeling of nostalgia yesterday, a bit like Joe Holt with his tax folder... when a kid started to read a book with rabbits. A book that I myself read hundreds of times when I was his age, and that I kept, like a lot of "just in case" things.

Yes, sometimes, things are not satisfying, but we have no choice but to keep moving forward. And the last two years have been trying for everyone. The year that has just started is already shaping up to be challenging. If only we could solve all problems with music, I wish I could send this song as a gift to all human beings on earth. Kind of a hopeful message. If you too are tired of trying but know you can, do it.

With a melody capable of ending all conflicts, "Not Satisfying" leaves a very strong emotional imprint. This song will become your next favorite. And now, it's your turn to make someone
relaxed. Feel free to send this song to anyone who needs it.

Reach out to Joe Holt

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Written with love by Niko. "Not Satisfying" has been added to our "Indie Music" playlist on Spotify.

Franklin, TN is where you're most likely to come across Hunter Metts wearing a beanie or cap, depending on the season. But above all, if you recognize him, stop immediately and take the time to take an interest in this extraordinary human being.

The artist who started releasing music last year has already been scouted by our friends Alex and Beth from Alexrainbirdmusic. His community has grown at breakneck speed and here he is already with nearly 40K monthly listeners on Spotify. No wonder, if you pay attention to the quality of his work. I took some time to listen to his previous release, and they're all amazing.

The first time I listened to "Open", tears flowed. The long acoustic guitar intro is absolutely stunning. And the chills came over me after just 37 seconds. When Hunter started singing. A breathtaking voice that whispers in your ear like a good friend who is there to help you would do. Then around 1:14, the chorus is there, with a surprisingly very comfortable voice in the high notes. And it's the absolute thrill. Goosebumps throughout the body. And tears coming.



I was deeply moved by both the depth of the message of despair and the beauty of the vocal performance. Each word of the chorus is like heartbreak and a deep wound. I think it's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. And yet, believe me, I have heard hundreds of thousands of them in my twenty-year career. Rare are the songs that have had this effect on me. Goosebumps are common, but tears are not.

Yes, we have found our new favorite in Hunter Metts. We are going to watch very closely what he is going to offer us this year. But we can already be delighted to play "Open" on repeat. This guy is GOLD.

Reach out to Hunter Metts

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Written with love by Niko. "Open" has been added to our "Indie Music" playlist on Spotify.

When your heart is aching, the only question asked at this time is "where do I start fixing this broken heart?".

It is around this question that the song revolves. Sonata Kay, just released "Ghost" today. And you will have a hard time putting this song in a box because it is unlike any other. Sonata Kay has succeeded in building her own musical universe. Mixing magnificent organic instruments like the acoustic guitar and the piano, with a slightly more electronic production, while inserting soulful and bewitching backing vocals, the artist has bet everything on the aesthetic side. And what a great idea! The result is just ... breathtaking.

I don't think we've heard anything like this since Vansa and her song "To Where You Are" last year.

This kind of artist is impossible to classify in a category (indie pop or indie-folk, or singer-songwriter) because they mix genres to create their own musical universe, and they are absolute geniuses of creativity. Sonata Kay is one of them. And that would almost make us want to create a new column called "Emotional UFOs".

Since 2014, Sonata Kay has released several tracks (available on her Spotify), and they all have a great quality. But we sincerely think this one is THE one. The one who will introduce her to a larger audience. Who doesn't like beautiful things?

Added to our Epic Beauties, Spotify playlist.

Written by Niko.

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Lyrics

I keep on running this time

To get you out of my mind

Your words cut deeper than knives

My dignity is so blind

Oooh ooh ooh oh

still haunted by the ghost of you

So why don't we begin

Just where the story ends

And once the gun goes off

Set off a new descent

Oooh ooh ooh oh

oh to escape the ghost of you

So where do I start

Fixing this broken heart

And where do I find

The missing pieces I gave up

I keep on running this time

My head and heart misaligned

Until these lungs start to fail

I press delete not rewind

Oooh ooh ooh oh

Just to escape the ghost of you

So where do I start

Fixing this broken heart

And where do I find

The missing pieces I gave up

Oooh ooh ooh ooh...

So where do I start

Fixing this broken

At Indie Music Center, we love singular voices. You know, the kind of voice that's unique. That cannot be found anywhere else. And we fell in love straight away when we heard Rebecca Hurn from South Wales.

All in delicacy, in "Panic", the singer reveals her doubts, her fears, and her anxiety with disconcerting ease. All with fabulous poetry, which takes you to the sky, to the constellations, for an incredible journey.

Musically, it's excellent: the production is really neat in every detail, and our young singer is very well highlighted. The backing vocals and harmonies are magnificent.

And the live version is incredible. We literally fell in love!

Her fragility, her sincerity, and her authenticity mean that Rebecca Hurn is definitely an artist to watch closely. In any case, we're already sure that we will see her again on IMC. It's obvious.

Added to our Epic Beauties Spotify Playlist.

Have you ever fallen in love with a voice? This is what happened to me recently. You already know Jacqueline Loor, who released a new single last Friday called "Carry Through". I follow Jackie closely on social media because she's a great human being who also has great musical tastes.

And one beautiful morning, Jackie shared on Instagram Story that one of her friends, Marina Bennett, had just released a new single. My curiosity was stronger than anything, and I had to go find out about it on Spotify. And ... I took a slap again.

Marina's voice is so pure and angelic. I think I've never heard such sweetness before. As if we were on a cloud, and we no longer wanted to go back down. We drink her words as we would drink good wine by the fireside. I felt wrapped up like a big, warm duvet, closed my eyes, and spent four minutes completely disconnected from the real world. When the song ended I felt empty. As if there was a lack. And I must have listened to it like ten times in a row.

The lyrics are heartwarming, "It's gonna be alright" and we all need that kind of song, especially right now. I can't find any fault with this song, except for the fact that the four minutes go by very quickly.

It has been a long time since I last found a piece of jewelry for our "Indie Folk" category that was sung by a girl and I can't remember when the last one was because it's so rare. But Marina Bennett's "Alright" is already one of my favorites, and might just be one of my biggest favorites this year. And it could become yours. I will have warned you.

Included in our "Epic Beauties" Spotify playlist.

Follow Marina Bennett

We don't really know exactly where we're going to find VΛNSΛ, as she feels at home in different places of the planet.

She currently moves between Los Angeles, Sweden, London and Ireland, where she splits her time between writing and welcoming guests into her quiet, seaside home.

VΛNSΛ is a brand new artist on the indie music scene, and "To Where You Are" is her debut single.

And we all agree to say that VΛNSΛ is a kind of UFO.

A mysterious musical universe, and above all: an incredible voice.

That kind of music is often sorted in the "Epic tracks" boxes.

As it could perfectly suit TV series or movies.

But you'll get chills, for sure, if you listen to this song with great headphones, as we did.

Carried by a magnificient melody, and a light production, VΛNSΛ totally bewitched us with her beautiful voice.