The distinctive songwriting talent of the critically acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, Mark Stoney, has been held in high regard among many in the know on both sides of the Atlantic for some time now. And, his new album More Than Animals demonstrates his natural Brit-pop sensibilities refined with profoundly intimate lyrics and melodic arrangements that burst with passion, personality, and depth.

Stoney’s keen ear for classic pop melody combined with a sharp lyrical potency and rare ability to effectively blend genres from folk to rock to trip-hoppy-electronica earned him a loyal following in the city that spawned such acts as Arctic Monkeys.

Despite his growing success, Stoney decided to cross the pond to Texas, following a performance at the world renowned SXSW festival. Shortly after, he unexpectedly re-emerged with a new musical act called “Bobby Jealousy”. Co- founded with neighbor and friend Seth Gibbs and local punk firecracker Sabrina Ellis, the trio of songwriters combined classic pop songwriting with a punk energy and soulful melodies to great effect. Defining the term “Dirt-Pop”, Bobby Jealousy quickly became one of Austin’s most lauded bands for their originality and rigorous live shows. In 2012, the band released an album and toured both U.S. coasts before Stoney parted ways to resume his solo work.

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“We Belonged” by Stoney

Electrified bluegrass/folk rock group The Boston Boys, who formed as a quartet while attending the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts in 2009, released their second EP, Keep You Satisfied on October 8, 2013. The EP can be streamed from Bandcamp.

Plus, a visual teaser for their song “Hypnotized” is on Youtube. In addition, their new live video for “Amelia” can be viewed here.

The Boston Boys harness bone-shaking grooves, sing soulful melodies, and melt the genres of soul, rock, jazz, americana, blues, and pop into a fine example of captivating, modern American music. This music is called Future Roots because it is fresh and original, while expressly building upon great musical tradition. Eric Robertson/mandolin, guitar, vocals; Duncan Wickel/fiddle, vocals; Josh Hari/bass, vocals; Nicholas Falk/drums, percussion, vocals.

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“Amelia” by The Boston Boys

Toronto-based experimental electronic/alternative project, Aurganic, began with two long-time friends Mike Kossov and Leo Pisaq. They released a self-produced full-length album entitled Life as a Canvas in March of 2012. Riding the creative wave, Aurganic got back into the studio to record a full length follow up, Deviations, which was released on September 24, 2013.

The album material puts a strong emphasis on songwriting and vocal oriented ideas but does not lose the signature layered production and rich instrumentation.

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“Choices (ft. Joel Goguen)” by Aurganic

New Jersey aggressive folk rock-indie group, EdTang & The Chops, have released a full-length titled Goodbye, Zen5, Sushi Dinner.

Fueled by the honest lyrics and rustic melodies of singer-songwriter EdTang, The Chops bring a gritty indie-rock edge. The band is known for the wild party atmosphere of their energetic live shows.

According to Tang, the album is “An introspective look into the line that separates the dates of a headstone… this is an album about hope, longing, and the waning twilight of youth.”

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“Vaya” by EdTang & The Chops

Solo artist and producer based in Atlanta, GA, Joshua Worden, creates an original blend of R&B, jazz and indie pop with electronic production. His down-tempo fusion is fresh and atypical. Worden is inspired by artists such as Frank Ocean, Raphael Saadiq and James Blake. His music and lyrics, though accessible, veer heavily towards introspective territory. Worden is a trained jazz guitarist and, as a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter, he writes, arranges and produces all of his own material.

Worden released his debut EP, The Withered Tree in July of 2012. Earlier this month, his first full-length album, Always This, was released and can be streamed from his Bandcamp profile.

Worden’s live band consists of himself (vocals, keys, guitar, synth, samples) and Will Montgomery (drums, vocals, samples).

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“Midnight” by Joshua Worden

Slim Loris, from Stockholm, Sweden, blends Indie Pop/Rock with Americana and a pinch of Swedish melancholy. The band formed in 2009 from the remnants of two indie acts, and released a collection of demos entitled Amateur Night at the Asylum the year after.

In 2011, Slim Loris’s debut album Down To Earth was released, led by the 1st single “Low”, showing the band’s fine-tuned song writing skills and classic rock sense of melody. The follow up release entitled Future Echoes and Past Replays, a mature, emotionally charged album showing progression in the band’s song-writing and production, is due out on May 19th.

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“Visions of Tomorrow” by Slim Loris

The full album can be streamed here.

James from Independent Music Promotions (I.M.P) has shared a new advance release EP from Sydney-based four-piece alt-indie rock band, Monks of Mellonwah. In the form of one composition, this release is a departure point for the band; darker and more experimental than previous EP efforts, Stars Are Out and Neurogenesis.

The Monk’s latest release, the Sky And Dark Night Trilogy can be heard and purchased here.

This latest offering is emotionally charged and showcases the band’s new direction. To Joe de la Hoyde (lead guitar), Sky And Dark Night “…is the journey from the beginning of our battles to their fruitless ends; the ups and downs, the triumphs and the failures. It is the undying hope that maybe somewhere along the way, we might find ourselves.”

Monks of Mellonwah have been featured before on MusicArtiste.

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“Sky And Dark Night” by Monks of Mellonwah

The indie/rock group, Grown Up Avenger Stuff, has been compared to Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Grace Potter. Quirky with a keen pop sensibility and at the same time noisy, hard hitting and convincing. Their ace in the hole is their dynamic vocalist, Deirdre Kroener. The band’s recordings are focused nuggets of musicality and story. The live shows are pure high energy rock and roll generally ending with the crowd jumping, dancing, sweating, screaming, and shouting.

From the album Sparkleton, released on March 11, 2013, have a listen to “The Beat.”

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“The Beat” by Grown Up Avenger Stuff

Arc & Stones are a New York rock/blues group with sleekness and soul. They are currently gigging heavily in the NYC circuit and promoting their new music video for “Silence.” Their self-titled EP is due for release on February 12, 2013. The EP was produced and mixed by established producer Jeremy Griffith at Singing Serpent Studios in the heart of NYC. Each of the five songs display distinctive attributes of the band. From loud anthems to intimate ballads, the EP showcases a recognizable yet progressive sound. Already, the young twenty-something band members have graced the stage at major venues such as the Bowery Electric, Arlene’s Grocery, the Red Lion and the Bitter End. Stream tracks from the album on SoundCloud.

Band members include Dan Pellarin on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keys; Ben Cramer on lead guitar, vocals; Eddy Bayes on bass, vocals; Joe Doino on Drums.

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“Say Goodbye” by Arc & Stones

From sunny San Diego, Willie Ames is a guitarist/banjoist/singer/songwriter performing acoustic folk/rock music. At the age of 18, Willie became deeply inspired by the music of Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. Willie has written, and continues to write, his own original material that has listeners comparing his sound to his influences and other well known musicians.

Willie’s track titled “Desert Run” is a good example that proves his ability to finger pick his instrument while singing. As many other banjo players play bluegrass style of banjo, Willie digs deep to find a harder/darker rock type of sound. For years now, Willie has been performing showcases at music venues, festivals, party functions, corporate gigs, and weddings with his original music all across the United States (all 50 States covered to date).

His current album Night Owl features 10 original tracks (with both his solo work and collaborations with other musicians) and a cover of Lindsey Buckingham’s “Never Going Back Again”.

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“Desert Run” by Willie Ames