A Space That Doesn’t Need to Explain Itself SO36 is not full on this night. But it doesn’t need to be. What matters is not density, but alignment. As part of his first European headliner tour, Ryan Cassata arrives in Berlin with a body of work shaped as much by activism as by music. For over a decade, his career has moved between performance and public visibility, grounded in queer and trans representation that extends beyond the stage. In a space like SO36 - defined by its h

Interview Feature With "Above Chaos" set for release on May 8, 2026 and the start of their first extended headliner tour, Bird's View enter a phase that moves beyond early momentum into structural reality. What might appear as a milestone moment; a new album, a tour across Germany and Austria; also reflects broader tensions within independent music: between expression and economics, visibility and substance, energy and sustainability. Photo by Bird's View Rather than treating

Interview Feature Independent music has long functioned as a space where personal experience becomes part of collective expression. In recent years, conversations around mental health, body image and recovery have increasingly entered songwriting, expanding the emotional vocabulary of genres traditionally associated with protest or confrontation. Photo by The Eradicats Kansas City bubble-grunge band The Eradicats approach these themes through a lens that combines humor, vulne

Choosing intensity over certainty There is a particular kind of clarity that comes with knowing something might not last and wanting it anyway. Ava Franks ’ " Good Scar" builds precisely within that space: not around the illusion of permanence, but around the conscious decision to embrace emotional risk. Photo by Ava Franks Rather than framing love as either idealized or destructive, the track situates it as an active choice. The awareness of a possible ending does not weake

A narrative-driven rock track built on contrast and character. Independent rock has long relied on storytelling as a way of constructing identity beyond pure sound. Rather than focusing solely on personal confession, many artists draw on fictional characters and cinematic fragments to create meaning. With “ Undercover Bitch ” , Minneapolis-based collective Hallaballoo position themselves within this narrative-driven tradition, delivering a track that blends everyday imagery

Interview Feature Artificial intelligence has increasingly entered the cultural conversation around music production, creativity and authorship. While AI tools promise efficiency and experimentation, they also raise broader questions about artistic identity, creative labor and the future of human expression in music. The Lovekiller Photo by Patrick Jelen With their release “ Stop Prompt Music ”, Düsseldorf-based alternative dark rock duo The Lovekiller position themselves

Interview Feature Following their Berlin performance at FluxBau , previously documented in our live review , we spoke with Bombargo after the conclusion of their Disco Surf Rodeo Eurotour about touring realities, audience cultures and the enduring role of live music in a platform-driven era. What emerged from the conversation was not a recap of shows, but a reflection on how live performance functions as a social practice: a space where communities form, identities are neg

A Garage Rock Lifeline Across Decades The Woggles From The Bongo Room at Camp Tamarack! For more than three decades, The Woggles have operated within the international garage rock circuit as a working band rather than a heritage act. Their music draws on the raw vocabulary of early rock ’n’ roll, rhythm & blues, and ’60s garage, yet the group’s longevity reveals something broader: how underground genres persist through scenes, touring networks, and shared musical traditions

At LARK, Noah Derksen’s Berlin performance unfolds as a study in shared listening, communal warmth and the quiet poetics of everyday life. Canadian singer-songwriter Noah Derksen brought his genre-blurring blend of folk, country and indie to Berlin at a moment of quiet momentum. Emerging from Winnipeg’s tightly knit indie scene, he has built a reputation for attentive songwriting that finds resonance in the ordinary - small mercies, fleeting encounters and the fragile archit

A support set at LARK that explores intimacy, audience attentiveness and the quiet negotiation between vulnerability and self-definition. Portland-based singer-songwriter Kendall Lujan arrived in Berlin at a pivotal moment in her artistic development. Following her 2025 debut Lucky Penny and ahead of her forthcoming full-length My Heart Needs Love (2026), her work reflects a growing emotional and stylistic maturity, navigating heartbreak, renewal and the complexities of

Love That Never Fully Arrives Can Leave A Deep Ache Cover by Kaia Drell In this Kaia Drell review , we take a closer look at her latest single, YOU Were ALMOST Mine - a cinematic indie pop anthem about almost-love, emotional clarity, and the quiet devastation of unfinished relationships. With this release, the self-produced pop artist once again proves her ability to turn vulnerability into strength. Kaia Drell YOU Were ALMOST Mine Review – Song Analysis A cinematic indie

Disco Surf Rodeo Euro-Tour 2026 – A Night Where Ice Met Fire at FluxBau Photo by Christian Bourne Bombargo, a six-member Canadian band, are currently on their Disco Surf Rodeo Euro-Tour 2026 , bringing their signature Goodtime Guarantee across Europe. Their music blends funk, soul, vintage pop, and rock’n’roll into hook-laden, groove-driven songs built for live performance. The band first received international attention when Taylor Swift added their 2018 single “Mr. No

When you love cookies and want to be unique — check this out! Photo by GOHAR Mnom, mnom, mnom - oh, you caught us eating cookies - well, yes. But cookies are adorable, aren’t they? A song about cookies? Or is this a new banger track with a deeper meaning? Let’s take a look. Armenian-born, now Salzburg-based singer and producer GOHAR is back with a banger: her new single “Cookie Cutter.” After graduating from the world-famous Mozarteum in Salzburg , Austria, she seemed poi

The dark empress opens a new powerful chapter! Cover Art by Allo.B The goth artist Allo.B is known for Dark Pop, Sadcore, and ritual soundscapes . The Berlin-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer starts the new year with an intense journey into fragile emotions. Coming from punk rock, metal, and classical music, Allo.B began playing the violin at the age of six, continued performing in symphonic orchestras, and sang and played in bands - learning her

An intimate indie-pop reflection! Cover Art by Ren Genevieve Indie pop is a genre we genuinely enjoy, which makes us especially excited to dive into the new single “Everything I Never Said” by New York–based pop singer Ren Genevieve . Never heard of her before? Then it’s time to change that, because if you’re a fan of narrative-driven pop music, this song deserves your attention. Ren Genevieve’s musical journey began in early childhood, driven by a natural affinity for singi

“Vengeance” freaking rocks and here is why! Photo by King Zabb Love Ghost from Los Angeles are a must-hear - and there are plenty of reasons why. That is for sure! Why we confidently say this? Here’s the reason why! The band from Los Angeles, USA, seamlessly blends Alternative Rock, Grunge, Metal, Pop-Punk, Acoustic, Hardcore, and more. It sounds a bit insane on paper, but it’s absolutely worth diving into. Love Ghost have already performed live on four continents and shared

Vintage Sound Meets Modern Indie: Why Existential Threat is a band to watch Photo by Existential Threat The trio Existential Threat from Pompano Beach, FL, USA, just released their new single “Taking Your Time” , and we had the chance to dive into their roots, their music, and why they proudly call themselves Neptunians ;) The band was formed in 2022, and their sound moves across multiple genres: Indie, Alternative, Folk, Punk, and Powerpop. Never heard of that mix before? W

Bradley Cole’s “On A Summer Night”: A Nostalgic Rock Song Made for Summer Memories The year 2026 has just begun, and already we find a title on our table that makes us crave summer. Good news: summer is on its way. Even better news: winter continues to bring releases you shouldn’t miss. Bradley Cole is a Los Angeles–born singer-songwriter whose music blends classic rock influences with a modern edge. He began playing guitar at the age of eight and spent his teenage years perf

"Like Love" Comes Alive in Berlin Ball Park Music, one of Australia’s most beloved indie bands , released their eighth album "Like Love" on April 4, 2025 - a record defined by warmth, emotional honesty, and a refined folk-rock sensibility. Led by frontman Sam Cromack and produced alongside longtime collaborator Matt Redlich, the album explores love, distance, vulnerability, and change with remarkable clarity. Tracks like “Please Don’t Move To Melbourne” stand out through c

On the Road Between Roots and Reinvention I Interview Massy Ferguson from Seattle, USA are currently on their first European tour , and we had the chance to speak with frontman Ethan Anderson about life on the road, songwriting, and the band’s evolution after nearly two decades together. Before diving into the interview, it’s worth taking a closer look at Massy Ferguson’s sonic identity. Rooted in Americana but shaped by their Pacific Northwest origins, the band’s Twang-ro