Jentri Colello

Instantly loved this new band, which was recommended by one of my friends from last.fm.

Jentri Colello fronts a four-piece Indie-rock group raised in the basements and bars of Madison, Wisconsin’s radical music scene. She’s the kind of accidental muse who fuses genres, transforming folk songs with the band’s spectrum of influences. The unique style pairs older artists such as Neil Young with more recent pop-rock flavors evocative of Cat Power, Spoon, and The National. This harmony of earthy and modern rock, infused on a folk template guides front-woman Jentri Colello’s songwriting. Jentri’s debut EP, Bird of Prey will be released later this year.

@ Madison, USA
♫ Indie, Folk, Rock
♥ Bird of Prey (mp3)
▸ Myspace

Nat Johnson

As being a fan of Monkey Swallows the Universe who sadly split a few months ago. I was happy to see Nat Johnson, going solo!

Former singer, songwriter and guitarist of Monkey Swallows the Universe, Nat Johnson has embarked on a solo adventure. She has already made two critically acclaimed MSTU albums, a host of festival and radio appearances and has toured with Richard Hawley and the Long Blondes. Live, Nat uses a loop pedal to create backing vocals and other instrumentation. She will be touring with a full backing band from late September 2008, which will coincide with the release with her debut solo single, "Dirty Rotten Soul"

@ Sheffield, UK
♫ Indie, Acoustic, Pop
♥ Heart of Clay (mp3)
♥ Judy's First Beat (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Tu Fawning

Tu Fawning is the new project of Joe Haege and Corrina Repp. Both Haege and Repp have been playing in Portland and abroad for many years now. However, a mutual desire to achieve something outside the bounds of their other projects, 31knots (Haege) and Corrina Repp (Repp), lead both of them to begin collaboration on each other's albums last year.

Now with Haege and Repp fully realzing their pallette of piano, drums, percussion, guitar, vocals and samples, mutually and individually, they are finally able to tell the types of stories they have always wanted to, both lyrically and musically. Toussaint Perrault and Liza Reitz to join, adding horns/guitar and piano/ violin, respectively. They recorded their first EP, entitled Secession. that got it's release; July 8th. This summer they will begin the process of recording their first full length.

@ Portland, USA
♫ Alternative, Indie, Pop
♥ Out Like Bats (mp3)
▸ Myspace

Marte Heggelund

Marte is one of the many artistst I found through "similar artists" on last.fm. Two and a half years after the release of her debut record ”I Abide", that was released back in 2006 on Warner Music, singer/songwriter Marte Heggelund from Hammerfest is ready with her second album ”Treason” In the time between the releases she has kept herself busy touring Norway with her music, finishing her Master’s Degree in Literature. Treason was recorded at Sunflower Recordings during the winter of 2007/2008, mostly with the full band in the studio. Afterwards, several other artists and musicians contributed to the completion of the album. The album will be out this August on her own record label; Mate Music.

@ Hammerfest, Norway

♫ Indie, Acoustic, Pop

♥ Stuntman (mp3)

♥ Innocence Lost (mp3)

▸ Myspace

▸ Official Website