Hailing from Southend-on-Sea, Adam Falkingham combines the wonders of the great outdoors with personal experiences to create wonderfully crafted, upbeat indie-folk songs. A musician and producer since a young age, Falkingham takes inspiration from artists such as Ben Howard, Passenger and Hollow Coves as well as legendary names Paul Simon and Tracy Chapman. His recordings are a rhythmic ride of warm tones, driving guitars and atmospheric textures that blend together the emotions of real life. Falkingham released his debut single ‘You Are Gold’ in March, which received praise from BBC Introducing, Future Hits Radio and Indie Music Center. In addition to this, he has worked with various artists that include producing music for singer/songwriter Roisin O’Hagan and supporting artists such as Alex Cornish and Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters). Having spent autumn and winter of 2022 recording new material, 2023 is set to be a busy year ahead for Falkingham. The second single ‘Breathe From It’ will be released in April with more to follow via his own independent label, Art Will Fall Recordings.

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IMC Features:

March 24, 2023: You Are Gold

April 28, 2023: Breathe From It

August 28, 2023: I Will Run

August 13, 2024: Campfire Light

March 04, 2025: Starlight

“I feel like we live two lives at once,” says Aisha Badru, the singer-songwriter whose whispery observations have evolved, in just three short years, into evocative assurance. “For me, it’s that image of what I thought I was, and then watching that person die by the hand of truth. Being reborn.”

Her The Way Back Home (out December 3, 2021 via Nettwerk Records), her third EP, is the sonic equivalent of a comforting hug. It feels like an antidote to her sweetly melancholic debut, Pendulum, which negotiated her underprivileged upbringing. Along the way, Aisha’s humanistic confessionals have won more than 100M+ streams, a fanbase in Europe, and the praise of publications (such as NPR, who celebrated her “warm and inviting” approach). While writing The Way Back Home, she says, “I knew exactly what to say without thinking about it. It was as if I was writing exactly from my heart.”

Still, she gently reminds us that this courage has been hard-earned. The Way Back Home’s most stirring track, “Rebirth,” is a spoken-word piece that builds into a joyous melody, capturing her personal transformation (“Buried beneath the earth / Covered / Forgotten / Destined to rise again”). “I used to have very low self-esteem. I thought I needed other people to validate me.” Aisha truly believed life was finite, that it opportunities would never present themselves to her. She was wrong.

“Rooted,” a spacious sound bath of atmospheric synths and meditative vocals, honors the transformation she had to instigate herself. “Plant your feet upon the earth,” she sings. “Know your value, know your worth.” In adulthood, Aisha was a restless world-traveler, looking for the next place to be. These days she lives contently in her house outside of Orlando, Florida, with her partner and twin toddlers (one boy, one girl). “I never really had roots,” she explains. “We’re planting seeds and starting a garden. This is home. I’ve never felt this sense of home.”

This has also impacted her songwriting process. In the past, she would tinker for days on her guitar until she found a song, then send it to UK producer Chris Hutchinson to add flourishes. These days she’s focused on the storytelling itself, reversing the process. “I’ll just drive around until the kids are asleep. I’ll park by this lake, listen to an instrumental that Chris sent me, and write to it very easily. It just comes to me like a jolt of energy.”

If “Rebirth” is the EP’s soul and “Rooted” its hearth — the title track, the earthy, folky “The Way Back Home,” is its heart. “When I was younger, I really needed to leave home. I moved away. I was always trying to find something better. All the things I needed to learn, I ran away from,” she says. This narrative continues through “Home,” a remembrance that’s as melancholic as you’d expect, written from the perspective of the person who once ran away, returning home. And “Graves” is Aisha confronting her past — a push-pull between ethereal vocals and sweeping strings — looking back at how far she’s come: “Still back there is a box with our name / Where we buried the pain, the blame, the shame.”

“My music career has healed a huge part of me,” she says. “I have had to face every single insecurity about myself pursuing this life path. I’ve had to face my fear of public speaking and performing, talking in front of a camera, of my own insecurities being exposed, doing photo shoots. That has been incredibly healing.”

It all coalesces, ever-so-optimistically in “Worthwhile,” a lullaby to life. “Trust that the dark days are gonna end,” she sings. “I know things out there are a little wild / It is all worthwhile.” It’s a capsule of our turbulent recent history — riots, COVID, climate change, the border crisis — that comes together, remarkably, as a sun-salutation to motherhood and resilience. “My perspective has changed,” she admits. “There may be moments in time where things hit the fan or seem impossible. But these things can bring us together. I appreciate life itself.”

Perhaps the most resonant theme threaded throughout The Way Back Home is the overwhelming sense that this second life of Aisha’s has only just begun. “I feel like that’s what my whole life has been, leaning into those uncomfortable feelings,” she says. “But that’s where the medicine is. I’m constantly leaning into this discomfort, and it always turns out well.”

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IMC Features:

September 21, 2021: Rebirth

February 10, 2023: Lazy River

Alexander Joseph has been juggling his two passions of music and sport for as long as he can remember. As a musician he cut his teeth performing on the open mic scene around the city of Bath, whilst touring the UK with a university formed covers band. His commitment to the world of sport stems from his time competing on the international tennis circuit and his more recent coaching roles across elite sport.

He's since gone on to release a selection of singles (now found on an EP called Anything Is Possible) in support of various sports development initiatives, which led to his appearance on Channel 4's 'The Superhumans Show' in the lead up to the 2016 Paralympic Games, where he performed his wheelchair basketball inspired anthem 'GB 365'. You may have also heard his wheelchair tennis inspired song 'A Racket In Hand' whilst watching the tennis at Wimbledon!

His uplifting songs about overcoming obstacles have been a consistent theme throughout his work and he remains committed to channelling important & heartfelt messages through his music. BBC Introducing have picked up on this and shown great support in the past, airing songs like 'You're Going To Win' & 'Not Defeated' and selecting 'Invincible' & 'Now or Never' as tracks of the week.
​2022 kicked off with 'Firefly' (Alternate Version) - a reflective pop folk song about holding onto our light during the darker moments in life and features rhythmic acoustic guitar, shimmering electric guitars and a foot stomping beat! His latest release Summertime Compass (Acoustic Version) is one of the first songs he wrote during his university days over 15 years ago, and maintains the relaxed and playful vibe that was originally captured by the band he was part of at the time. The song delivers an optimistic message about the possibilities that lie ahead and arrives just in time for that summer BBQ or trip to the beach!

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IMC Features:

April 02, 2021: Make A Stand (Feat. Tashara Forrest)

July 24, 2021: Now Or Never

June 3rd, 2022: Summertime Compass (Acoustic Version)

Now based in London, Alison Sudol is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actress and video director. Having released 3 critically acclaimed albums under the moniker A Fine Frenzy (EMI) during which she toured with Rufus Wainwright and opened for The Stooges at SXSW.

Making her comeback to music as Alison Sudol in 2018 she released two EPs, the ‘Moon’ and its follow up, ‘Moonlite’, both co-produced with Yard Act and Gruff Rhys’ producer Ali Chant, and featuring Portishead’s Clive Deamer and Adrian Utley and John Parish.

In summer 2020 Alison wrote, co-produced and recorded her upcoming album with London based multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Chris Hyson, who is also half of adventurous collective Snowpoet in Wales at Giant Wafer Studios. Her acting credits include the ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' franchise and critically acclaimed TV series ‘Transparent’ and ‘Dig’.

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IMC Features:

August 12, 2022: Playground

"An indie/art-rock group made up myself, Rob McCall, and Corey Jordan. We write the songs. Nash Robb lays down the bass, our friends Zack Fitzgerald and Rob Zaccaria sprinkle their talent into the sound. The guy who runs our lab and engineers our sound is Mark Bengtson. Mark introduced us to Allen Tate of San Fermin, and Allen came on board to produce this 2 EP project ‘Colorful Lungs,’ In Brooklyn, Allen gave these songs form so we could give them color. 

Thom Yorke once said, “One of the things I find most offensive about what people say about our [Radiohead’s] music is when they say ‘it’s depressing.’” We feel the same. Depression has power when harnessed properly, and has fueled some of the greatest achievements of human history. We all suffer, and to turn away in ignorance is unforgivable in our opinion. 

 Our music embraces the eternal struggle we all have within - whether it’s mental illness, addiction, regret, loneliness, etc. Don’t think we’re calling ourselves ‘poets and heroes,’ we want our music to serve as a reminder that WE ARE ALL poets and heroes - doctors, police, sanitary workers, cooks, single mothers, the incarcerated - all of us can be the poets and heroes of our collective existence. Through our music, we attempt to express this sentiment. Some of you may hate it, some may love it, but at the end of the day we are who we are. Give it a listen if you’d like … or go listen to whoever brings you peace".

Source: The band's website

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IMC Features:

March 25, 2022: 21

New York-born and Nashville-based, Allison Leah has an innate gift for songwriting, coupling honest stories with ethereal melodies and accumulating over a million streams worldwide. 

2022 is expected to be a big year for Leah. Her folk-pop fusion EP is due in summer of 2022 and it has already won over the hearts of press outlets around the globe. 

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IMC Features:

June 9, 2018: in the "Rising Star" column

July 23, 2021: what I'm missing

November 23, 2021: 24 Years Down

April 8, 2022: sorry for myself

October 7, 2022: I gave you my number

November 4, 2022: constellations

March 29, 2024: Sunsets

Alyssa Joseph is here to share her big, loud feelings. Born in South Jersey, and residing in Nashville, Joseph is paving her lane as a woman in indie rock. With inspiration from artists like Sharon van Etten and Angie McMahon, Joseph’s music is starkly honest, painfully relatable, and introspective. Outside of her personal project, Joseph is passionate about veganism, gardening, and building community through her DIY music space. Following the release of her debut album “guts,” Joseph is releasing new music with producer Jared Corder (of *repeat, repeat) out of Polychrome Studios. Her new alternative rock anthem, “another year,” is set to release December 6th, 2024. It explores the crossroads that so many women face: the pressure of “making it” in their career and the awareness of their dwindling fertile years. Never beating around the bush, Joseph’s upcoming work is sure to turn heads.

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IMC Features:

January 05, 2025: another year

More than just a name, "Andy Martin" is the musical brainchild of Brisbane based multi-instrumentalist, Andrew Martin.

From performing trumpet with internationally acclaimed brass bands to playing leads in various musicals, Andy’s musical journey has been anything but orthodox.

The 22-year old left his home town of Cairns at just 17 to study under the Australian jazz great James Morrison at his Mt Gambier Academy after James discovered Andy performing in the remote community of Yarrabah.

Moving back to Cairns after his studies and global experiences under the guiding hand of James, Andy Martin went on to form the band Handles. It went from a 2-piece to a 5-piece and the band had a hugely successful couple of years, supporting the likes of Alex Lahey, playing at the Commonwealth Games and receiving a no. 1 spot on the overall Triple J Unearthed Charts for their song, “Selfish Lover”.

However with Andy moving to Brisbane and to study full-time it spelled the end for the band.

Towards the end of 2019, Andy met with Ian Haug from Powderfinger and since that friendship and encouragement, went to record some music out at Airlock Studios alongside James See.

Drawing inspiration from Brit Rockers Sam Fender & Catfish and the Bottlemen, guitar virtuoso John Mayer and Australian songstress Gretta Ray, his textured instrumentation, along with his introspective lyrical content, forms a sound ready for audiences across the world.

The first taste of his music, “Let This Go Again” was released on the 14th of February of 2020 with some pretty great feedback for his first solo efforts -

“Let This Go Again” has been creating a solid platform for Andy to build on - racking up 20,000+ streams on streaming platforms, various internationally acclaimed reviews/interviews & a lot of radio airtime.

“Mess We Made”, the next taste of his music, will be sure to keep you in his warmth from start to finish.

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IMC Features:

February 25, 2020: Let This Go Again

May 13, 2020: Mess We Made

Anelda is a Namibian-born, South African-raised, Nashville (USA) based singer-songwriter. She values bringing joy, hope, and justice to the world.

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IMC Features:

August 24, 2022: My Home

February 03, 2023: Dreams

November 10, 2023: Steady (with Dominic Romano)

Anna Hudson is a singer, songwriter, and producer born and raised in the perfectly small town of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Hudson draws inspiration from the vast amount of musical influences of the North Carolinian music scene, unafraid to immerse herself in different soundscapes such as indie folk, rock, and soul. Hudson is currently a junior at Berklee College of Music in Boston, studying production, songwriting, and music business.

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IMC Features:

February 08, 2024: The Way It Ends

Arbour Season is an indie folk, husband and wife, duo who draw inspiration from the incredible adventures they experience as they travel across America in their skoolie with their two children. The duo strives to share with the world a passion for restless feet and the delicate cadence of nature through their sweet melodies, storytelling, and thoughtful lyrics. Their songs pull the listener’s minds and hearts on a journey as sweeping and unforgettable as a road trip through the Rocky Mountains.

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IMC Features:

May 19, 2018:  Leaving Delaware

February 21, 2020: Arcadian

August 21, 2022: How Great You Are

Hailing from Adelaide, these four best friends would hang out every weekend even if they didn’t play music together. Their synergies emerged when Rosie Roberts (keys, vocals) and long-time best mate Ben Lovell (guitar, vocals) connected through early musical influences including Third Eye Blind, Paul Kelly, and Paul Simon. They were then joined by Ben’s brother and poet James Lovell on drums and percussion, and the one they call ‘an enigma’ Paul Cooper on banjo and mandolin. With two lead vocalists and additional backing vocals, the quartet's harmonies are enchanting. Add gorgeous piano, driving drums, and intricate guitar/banjo melodies, and we have a band that delivers rich musical layering and a new single ‘That’s a memorable heart-wrenching gem!’…. ‘that will instantly capture your attention with its irresistible charm that lands somewhere between a mix of Alabama Shakes, Taylor Swift, Vera Blue, and The Paper Kites’ (Scenestr).

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IMC Features:

November 2022, 17: Find It

March 10, 2023: Pinball Machine

December 11, 2023: Strangers

Belle Mt. [Spoken; Belle-Mont] are a 3-piece indie Alt-Pop band from London, UK fronted by Singer and Songwriter Matt Belmont, with Ben Worsley on Lead Guitar and Chris Burgess on Drums. Their cinematic, ethereal but driven sound is rooted in deeply crafted insightful lyrics and infectious melodies. They have amassed a devoted fanbase with over 50 million streams across platforms since their debut EP release, receiving top tier playlisting across platforms including on New Music Friday in multiple countries and two top 40 US alt radio releases (Hollow in 2020 and Famous Son 2021). Their most recent live shows include UK tour supports for KALEO, LARKINS & JUANES (with sell out shows at London’s Hammersmith Apollo and Shepherds Bush Empire), in 2019 they created a buzz on the new music showcase festival circuit playing packed out slots at SxSW, Eurosonic Festival and Reeperbahn festival. Their most recent show was a crowd stopping set at British Summertime Festival in Hyde Park on ‘Eagles' day 2022. Recently independent after a pandemic stunted 2 year stint with a US major label (Feb 2020 - Feb 2022) and returning with a more evolved sound; Belle Mt. have been collecting serious momentum in 2022 and attest that their next body of work constitutes their best yet.

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IMC Features:

October 24, 2017: Let Me

December 13, 2017: Loving You

February 13, 2018: Made To Find You

December 16, 2022: Life Song

Ben Drysdale is an award-winning singer songwriter from Canberra, Australia. He colours his raw and heartfelt lyrics with musical shades of indie folk, pop, soul, and blues. His songs span from vulnerable and visceral ballads exploring the darkness of the human condition to upbeat foot stompers full of energy and hope.

Drysdale has played shows in the US, Ireland and Canada and featured on bills with some of Australia’s greatest including Paul Kelly, The Waifs and Busby Marou as well as international stars such as Chris Isaak.

After playing around Canberra and the East coast of Australia since 2004 both solo, and fronting a number of bands including Smitten, Beth n Ben, and 8-piece funk and soul outfit East Row Rabble, Drysdale is embarking on a new Indie folk project soon to be released under his own name.

Ben recently landed 2nd place in the 2023 Hawaii Songwriting Festival songwriting competition with his unreleased song ‘Listen Now’ which was also a semi-finalist in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition.

His unreleased track ‘I’m Flyin’ Now’ received an honourable mention in the ‘Folk/Singer songwriter’ category of the 2022 Unsigned Only Music Competition and was also a winner of the ‘Win Some Love’ promotion placing it in the top 3 of honourable mentions across all categories.

Ben’s 2021 release ‘Either Way’ (a duet with LA artist Justina Shandler) was featured on Season 3 of the US TV show ‘Good Trouble’ in March 2021 and MTVs ‘Ex On The Beach’ in 2022. His music has also featured on The Young and The Restless. Ben’s catalogue has 38 music licensing deals across 11 agencies around the world.

Drysdale has released five studio EPs and a full length live album including Smitten’s self-titled debut EP (2007), Beth n Ben’s releases Boarding Pass (EP 2010), Economy Class (EP 2011), Scenic Roots (EP 2013), and Baggage Claim (Live Album 2015), and East Row Rabble’s debut self-titled EP (2018). Drysdale has co-written on 6 tracks that other artists have released including ‘Either Way’ by LA artist Justina Shandler and H1Fiv3’s ‘Clock’s Tickin’’ which he featured vocals on. Another 5 track EP under the moniker Back Alley Scholar, and a 8-track solo album are as yet unreleased and will be coming out in the near future. 

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IMC Features:

December 15, 2023: If I Don't Lie Down

Ben Greenberg has been writing and performing music since he took up the guitar at age 13.

He has since developed into a seasoned songwriter and musician, and his lyrical content has matured from impressions of teenage angst and fantasy into sincere observations of relationships and personal growth, with an eye towards the consideration of one's place in a complicated world.

Originally from Santa Rosa, CA, Ben recently moved to Los Angeles, where he works as a freelance musician and singer.

He is thrilled to be sharing his music with new audiences, and he hopes to inspire others as so many musicians and artists have inspired him.

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Songs we featured : 

June 26, 2020 : Northern Pines

July 25, 2020 : Let You Down

August 28, 2020 : River

October 01, 2020 - Son of the Hills

November 21, 2020 - End of the Line

December 18, 2020 - Our Lady

March 05, 2021 - Sparrow

March 19, 2021 - Son of the Hills (Album Review)