Tag: Unusual Demont

Spotify Celebrates One Year of the Fresh Finds Program With Our Newest Class of Independent Artists

April 27, 2022

Since its launch in 2016, Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist series has served as a launchpad for developing independent artists, often representing an artist’s first editorial “home” on Spotify. Stars ranging from Clairo to 100 Gecs to Aminé were all featured on Fresh Finds playlists early in their careers and have gone on to attract millions of monthly listeners. 

In order to continue supporting DIY-minded artists, Spotify launched a new program for Fresh Finds in May of 2021. We worked with four promising talents—Wallice, Unusual Demont, Julia Wolf, and EKKSTACY—to provide tools, resources, and support to help with their career development. In October, we added a second Fresh Finds class to our ranks that included the artists Doss, Araya, TOLEDO, and Pom Pom Squad. The end result has been nothing short of successful, with the eight artists featured in the 2021 program reaching 6.5 million new listeners and the most recent class seeing a 50% average increase in followers.

“This program has been a game-changer for the artists involved,” explained Rachel Ring, Senior Music Marketing Manager at Spotify. “Creating space for independent artists to thrive is key to our mission of giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art, and the Fresh Finds program is an important step in that direction.”

Fast-forward to the present and we are hyped to announce our latest wave of artists who will be taking part in the program: Delaney Bailey, Jhariah, Carter Faith, and Alemeda. As part of the program, these four artists will have access to the following to help them develop their careers over the long run:

  • Education & access to resources: Each artist will have access to personalized Masterclasses and mentorship, best practices and credits for Spotify for Artists tools like Marquee, and more. 
  • Marketing support: All four artists will be featured in a major marketing campaign on- and off-platform that includes a social content series, Spotify Clips, and press support.
  • Creative Collaboration: Each artist will be given the opportunity to create a Spotify Singles original song and record it for release at the end of the program. What’s more, Spotify’s Noteable songwriter and publishing team has paired the four artists with collaborators who understand each of their unique visions:
    • Delaney Bailey will be paired with producer Jon Seale (aka Son of Cloud).
    • Jhariah will be paired with producer Henry D’Arthenay.
    • Carter Faith will be paired with producer Jon Green and Tofer Brown.
    • Alemeda will be paired with songwriter-vocalist Henry Was.

Ready to learn more about the latest Fresh Finds class? Keep reading to discover everything you need to know.

Delaney Bailey

cover art for spotify fresh finds pick delaney bailey

Born and raised in Indiana, Delaney Bailey found her voice during the pandemic through social media, where she showcased her songwriting abilities with fans around the world. Since then, the singer-songwriter has started releasing her own music and building her own following along the way. Her debut EP This Is About You was released independently through frtyfve records in 2021. Taking inspiration from the likes of Frank Ocean and Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver), Bailey had a viral moment when her song “j’s lullaby (darlin’ I’d wait for you)” caught the attention of a vast audience, reaching 500K streams upon its debut and reaching the top 10 of the Global Folk Charts. Bailey plans to release her next project in the latter half of 2022.

Jhariah

cover art for spotify fresh finds pick jhariah

Bronx-based artist Jhariah refuses to be confined to any one genre. His larger-than-life songs are often stacked high with strings, horns, keys, and Broadway-esque vocal arrangements that have a chameleon-like quality. Attendees of his live shows may be surprised to see him hit the stage with no band in sight—just his drummer and musical collaborator, Cole Raser, seamlessly transitioning from hard-hitting rock cuts to complex swings fit for a Harlem jazz club. Emerging from a generation of increasingly self-sufficient independent musicians, Jhariah takes that DIY attitude to heart with his music.

Carter Faith

cover art for spotify fresh finds pick carter faith

Originally from Davidson, North Carolina, Carter Faith taught herself guitar and piano and soon after began crafting lyrics as a way to make sense of the world around her. Combining the emotive lyricism and pointed perspective of Taylor Swift with the chill aesthetic and refreshing candor of Kacey Musgraves, Carter has been named the “future of the next 10 years of Nashville” by Whiskey Jam founder Ward Guenther. Faith has found early success with her recent releases “Leaving Tennessee,” “Sinners in a Small Town,” and “Easy Pill” while sharing the stage with the likes of country stars Cole Swindell, Carly Pearce, Old Dominion, and Chris Young.

Alemeda

cover art for spotify fresh finds pick alemeda

Growing up as a first-generation American in a strongly religious household, Alemeda studied music by sneaking Top 40 hits on her clock radio and drawing inspiration from TV show theme songs. While spending her childhood between Ethiopia and Arizona, Alemeda continued to hone her craft by performing in talent shows and recording covers of her favorite songs on her phone. Pulling inspiration for her songs directly from her own life, Alemeda’s perspective revolves around independence and self-reflection. She is inspired by artists like Amy Winehouse and Bruno Mars, who never deviated from their true selves at the peak of fame. This uncompromising nature can be clearly heard on her debut single, “Wish You The Worst.”

Ready to discover the next big thing in music? Stream Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist now.

Meet the Latest Class of Independent Artists Taking Part in Spotify’s Fresh Finds Program

October 12, 2021

Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist brand is often the very first level of Spotify playlisting for independent artists. With a main flagship playlist, nine genre lists, and 14 playlists from regions around the world, it has served as a launchpad for countless artists who have gone on to reach widespread success. Back in May, we took it to the next level, launching a brand-new marketing program for independent artists centered around Fresh Finds. Our focus was to help developing artists learn, collaborate, and grow, giving them tools for long-term, sustained career success. 

Since joining the inaugural Fresh Finds class in May 2021, the first four artist partners—Wallice, Unusual Demont, Julia Wolf, and EKKSTACY—have seen a 50% average increase in Spotify followers, a 65% average increase in monthly listeners, and over 6 million discoveries, or first-time listeners. Now, following in the footsteps of the inaugural group of Fresh Finds artists, we’re welcoming four new up-and-comers to the program: Doss, Araya, TOLEDO, and Pom Pom Squad.  

“We are thrilled to welcome this new group of independent artists and producers into the Fresh Finds family,” says Jeff Stempeck, Head of Indies, Artist, and Label Partnerships at Spotify. “The sustained growth we’ve seen from our first Fresh Finds class earlier this year is exactly what we hope to bolster in this program—giving artists the tools to build long-term careers both on and off Spotify.”

Doss, Araya, TOLEDO, and Pom Pom Squad will receive access to opportunities and resources that will allow them to grow their careers, fan bases, and reach. Some of these include: 

  • Education & access to resources: Each artist will have access to personalized Masterclasses and mentorship, best practices and credits for Spotify for Artists tools like Marquee, and more. 
  • Marketing support: All four artists will be featured in a major marketing campaign on- and off-platform that includes a social content series, Spotify Clips, out-of-home advertising, and more.
  • Creative Collaboration: Each artist will be given the opportunity to create a Spotify Singles original song and record it at Electric Lady Studios in New York City for release in November. What’s more, Spotify’s songwriter and publishing Noteable team has paired the four artists with collaborators who understand each of their unique visions:
    • TOLEDO will be paired with producer Gabe Wax. 
    • Pom Pom Squad will be paired with producer Sarah Tudzin (aka illuminati hotties).
    • Araya will be paired with producer Mindchatter.
    • Doss will be paired with songwriter/vocalist Cecilia Gault.

And while these artists are “fresh,” they’ve already been honing their skills for years. Get to know them below.

TOLEDO

The New York City-based duo and BFFs Jordan Dunn–Pilz and Daniel Álvarez de Toledo released their most recent EP, Jockeys of Love, earlier this year. It’s a lush dream-pop soundtrack for those long drives when the entire world seems to be in harmony with you, and your thoughts seem monumental because of it. The pair’s emotional clarity, boldness, and lyrical maturity span across all of their music, including a handful of singles and their 2019 EP, Hotstuff. “A lot of the advice we’ve gotten has come from watching videos and interviews from other producers and artists,” the duo shared. “One of our favorite videos to revisit is the ‘making of’ video for Feist’s album The Reminder. In that video, she records with Chilly Gonzales at La Frette in France, and there are shots of her tracking vocals through guitar amps, recording noise from the outdoors, and to this day we use almost all of the methods we saw in that video. The way they recorded and worked on the songs felt so impulsive, and we often find ourselves trying to capture that impulse. So, although Feist and Chilly Gonzales have no idea who we are, we thank them for giving us the best advice of our career.”

Araya

Araya strikes with precision and heart on his latest Y2K-produced single, “Archon,” and his forthcoming album, Ethos, which will come out in early 2022, less than a year after the Thai-Chilean songwriter’s breakout debut and critically acclaimed Atlas. “The best piece of music advice I’ve gotten was from Thaddeus, my producer,” said Araya. “He told me that as an artist, it’s important to remember to live life, to step outside of my work space and continue to seek inspiration.” As such, Araya grapples with purpose, identity, and spirituality through his music as he mixes vintage and futuristic sounds into a transfixing blend of R&B, soul, hip-hop, and electronic. 

Doss

Raised in Texas and based in New York, Doss first appeared in 2014 with her EP Doss, which evokes the playful maximalism of the early 2000s with equal parts sincerity and humor. Fast-forward to this year. It’s been a full seven years since she released her cult favorite self-titled debut. Following her tours with Porter Robinson and the late SOPHIE, she has returned with an impressionistic dance EP, 4 New Hit Songs, that mirrors a daydream of nights past—equal parts ennui and euphoria. “I come from a collaborative background,” she shared. “I am excited to reconnect with that structure and practice—explore new ideas and ways of working alongside someone I might otherwise not have had the opportunity to meet.”

Pom Pom Squad

Mia Berrin first played under the name Pom Pom Squad in 2015 after moving to New York, where she eventually linked up with Shelby Keller (drums), Mari Alé Figeman (bass), and Alex Mercuri (guitar). “My mom once told me, ‘Any space you want to take up, you’ll have to make yourself,’” Mia told For the Record. “When I first moved to New York, I tried to assimilate into certain social scenes or cliques and always ended up feeling like I was compromising my own wants, needs, or interests to fit in. I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned in my career so far is that I have to forge my own path. It sounds cliché, but it’s a cliché for a reason!” So with their 2021 album, Death of a Cheerleader, Pom Pom Squad offers a cathartic, punk, and decidedly queer take on picking up the pieces—from heartbreak, from injustice—and creating oneself anew.

 

Catch all four Fresh Finds artists on the titular Spotify playlist below.

Spotify’s New Fresh Finds Program Helps Independent Artists Build Their Careers

May 26, 2021

For independent artists, sometimes all it takes is having a song in the right place at the right time for a legion of new fans to discover your music. Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist serves as this type of launch pad for up-and-coming artists who are beginning their careers. 

The playlist, which started in 2016, now has 10 accompanying playlists that have specific focuses, like Fresh Finds: Experimental and Fresh Finds: Latin. These playlists are the place for fan and industry tastemakers alike to find the next big thing in music. Since its launch, Fresh Finds has featured more than 25,000 artists, like Clairo, Omar Apollo, and 100 gecs, who have seen their music take off after their songs were included on the list. Spotify data even shows that artists featured on Fresh Finds see their average monthly listeners increase by 108% in the 28 days following their addition to the playlist. 

Now, Spotify is taking its support of these independent artists to the next level with the Fresh Finds program. Building off the success of the playlist, this new program focuses on giving developing artists the tools and educational resources needed for long-term career success. 

“Independent artists are at the forefront of what’s next in music,” says Rachel Ring, Music Marketing Manager at Spotify. “It’s vital that we continue to create space and opportunities for this wide-ranging group of artists, meet them where they are, provide tools for them to have agency over their careers, and give them a voice in our marketing campaigns.” 

Over the span of six to eight weeks, artists in the program have access to one-on-one mentorship with members of Spotify and a personalized Masterclass to learn how to best use Spotify for Artists tools (like Canvas and Marquee). There will also be collaboration opportunities with songwriters and producers set up in partnership with Noteable, Spotify’s Songwriter and Publishing Relations team. At the end of the program, each of the four groups of artists and producers/songwriters will release an original Spotify Singles track. The collaboration process will be documented through a social content series so fans can follow along as the tracks are created and see the songs come to life.

“It was important for us to build an ecosystem around the artists we’re working with to ensure they have the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed in the short and long term,” continues Rachel. “At the end of this program we want our Fresh Finds artists to leave with a fluency in Spotify’s tools, a connection with other creators, growth across a wide range of new fans, and deeper engagement within their existing fan base.”

Spotify has announced the inaugural four independent artists chosen for the Fresh Finds program. Get to know them below.

Wallice

Wallice, who first started writing songs in middle school, has a sweet and nostalgic sound with a rowdy edge. After completing a year at the New School’s Jazz Vocal Performance program in NYC, the California native moved back to the West Coast to focus on her music. Her first single, 2020’s “Punching Bag,” was influenced by the favorites of her youth (Weezer and Lana Del Rey), as well as her current role models (Vampire Weekend and The Drums). Wallice will be paired with songwriter and producer marinelli and producer Ariel Rechtshaid for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

 

Unusual Demont

Unusual Demont is a Wisconsin native whose music is effortlessly forward-thinking. His grandfather, who was the drummer for R&B and soul legend Curtis Mayfield, has influenced his work, but the artist also finds inspiration from other sources, ranging from K-Pop to Frank Ocean. Unusual Demont originally started honing his skills as a rapper, but has shifted to singing with a more eclectic pop sound, which can be heard in his 2020 single “Amber.” Unusual Demont will be collaborating with producer Kieran Watters, professionally known as “The Idiot,” for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

 

Julia Wolf

Julia Wolf hails from Queens in New York City. She’s a singer-songwriter and visual artist whose confident and left-of-center vision for pop music has built her an already rabid fan base since she released her music on social media in 2019. The classically trained pianist had her breakout moment with the single “Hoops,” defying genre conventions with her stream-of-conscious lyrics and unforgettable hooks. Julia will be working with songwriter and producer Jackson Foote for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

 

EKKSTACY

Canadian singer-songwriter EKKSTACY has found refuge in his music. After a challenging youth that included his parents’ divorce and alcohol abuse, the artist turned to writing and recording music as a way to share his thoughts and feelings. EKKSTACY, who was influenced by the work of Elliott Smith, Bon Iver, and Bedroom, describes his music as fusing elements of indie, post-punk, and synth wave. The artist’s unique sound can be heard in tracks like “i walk this earth all by myself.” EKKSTACY will be paired with Jonny Pierce of The Drums for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

These artists are only the first to benefit from Fresh Finds, and they won’t be the last. But how to choose who’s next? 

“To select these artists, we utilized a combination of data and editorial decision-making, with our Editorial and Artist & Label Partnerships teams choosing artists for the program that are showing momentum both on and off Spotify,” says Rachel. “Ultimately, we don’t have formalized qualification criteria because being a developing artist is undefinable, and career growth can mean different things to different artists. Our gut instincts are based on what we think is the beginning of an amazing career.”  

Alongside the program’s launch, Spotify is releasing 13 new regional Fresh Finds playlists in Brazil, Spain, Australia/NZ, UK/IE, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore/Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Italy, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, South Korea, and Turkey to further our mission of disseminating the music of developing artists on a global scale.

Follow the four Fresh Finds artists to be the first to hear their new Spotify Singles, releasing on June 23. In the meantime, discover new music from independent artists in our Fresh Finds playlist below.