Fraught is a sibling dream-pop duo blending jangle-pop, synthy atmospheres, and early ’90s college-radio energy. Discover their music, story, and sound on GRRRL Music. Fraught GENRE: Dream Pop RIYL: Alvvays, Beach House, Throwing Muses Upcoming Releases: 'Trace Of You' Out On 3/11 Fraught, the sibling dream-pop duo Kate and Brian McLaughlin, have been making music since their earliest days, harmonizing to the radio in the back seat of their parents’ CR-V on long family trips. Brian went on to found the platinum-selling indie rock band The Rare Occasions, best known for the viral hit song “Notion.” All this time, the brother and sister duo never stopped singing and playing instruments together whenever they visited home. Their weekend musical experimentations led to “Everyone’s a Fake,” the first demo they released together as Fraught. Now, Kate and Brian have reconvened, extending the sonic universe of their initial demo to a full EP. From jangle-pop belters to synthy dreamscapes, Fraught exudes the early 90’s college alternative sound of Throwing Muses and The La’s, while also building on contemporary influences like Alvvays, Winter, and Beach House. Fraught is here in 2026 whether or not the world is ready.

Tonii is a Los Angeles–based singer-songwriter creating ethereal indie R&B and alt-pop rooted in Black queer love, softness, and emotional honesty. Tonii GENRE: R&B RIYL: Jamila Woods, UMI, Ravyn Lenae Recent Releases: 'talk me thru it' '“talk me thru it” captures Tonii in full command of her artistry, delivering bold energy, sensual confidence, and undeniable presence.' - Cage Riot 'The song's lyrics embrace longing with honesty and accessibility, especially for anyone starved for more unapologetic, sweet, fun representation.' - Ear Milk Playlisted on Hidden Gems , Indie Measure , BREAKOUT INDIE Tonii is a Los Angeles–based singer-songwriter by way of Atlanta, Georgia, crafting music that lives in softness, sensuality, and emotional depth. Guided by her sultry voice, she moves through ethereal soundscapes and sweet melodies that mirror the complexity and rawness of her lyricism. Her work centers Black queer love, vulnerability, and radical self-expression, creating space for tenderness and honesty to exist without apology. Tonii’s songwriting feels intimate and expansive at once, blending dreamlike production with deeply personal storytelling. Over the last few years, she has steadily grown her audience through the dreamy ballads “Hesitation” and “Indulge,” songs that highlight her ability to make softness feel powerful. Her latest single, “soft,” continues that exploration, leaning into gentleness as both sound and statement. Through each release, Tonii invites listeners into a world where emotion is not hidden, love is celebrated in its fullness, and vulnerability becomes a form of strength.

Step inside Sam Fender’s sold-out night at Terminal 5 in New York City through the lens of photographer Stephanie Axelrod. Explore the full gallery capturing his powerful performance, raw emotion, and the energy of the crowd. Sam Fender Terminal 5 in NYC Photos By: Stephanie Axelrod

Prithvi Prakash is a Los Angeles–based artist blending indie pop, electronic music, and Indian classical influence. Over 400K streams and growing. Prithvi Prakash GENRE: Indie Pop/Electronic RIYL: Angie McMahon, Bear's Den, ASHWYN Upcoming Releases: 'Skeptical' Out On 2/27 Recent Releases: 'Ghost' Prithvi Prakash is an artist, songwriter, and producer shaped by a global musical upbringing. Born in Texas, raised in Bangalore, and now based in Los Angeles, her work reflects a fluid blend of cultures, traditions, and modern production. With over 15 years of training in Carnatic music, Prakash weaves Indian classical influence into indie pop and electronic soundscapes. A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in Electronic Production and Design, Prakash approaches music with both technical precision and emotional intention. Drawing inspiration from artists like A. R. Rahman, Coldplay, and Lauv, her sound bridges cinematic melody, electronic texture, and classical depth. Over the past four years, Prakash has released ten singles, amassing over 400,000 streams across platforms while building a dedicated and growing fan base. Her work has been featured on Spotify editorial playlists including Women of Indie India, Fresh Finds India, and EDM India, and highlighted by outlets such as Rolling Stone India. At the core of Prithvi Prakash’s artistry is a commitment to immersive storytelling. Each release is crafted as a sonic narrative, inviting listeners into richly layered worlds designed to resonate emotionally and linger long after the music ends.

Leah Marlene is a Nashville-based indie folk and pop artist blending visceral storytelling with magnetic live performances and timeless songwriting. Leah Marlene GENRE: Indie Folk Pop RIYL: Jade Bird, Julia Jacklin, Kacey Musgraves Recent Releases: Leah Marlene has a rare gift for pulling audiences into a spell. At the heart of her music is a devotion to visceral storytelling, melodic invention, and emotional honesty. Blending the intimacy of folk with the dynamism of rock and pop, she creates songs that feel both timeless and unmistakably alive. Born in Ontario and raised in Illinois, Leah grew up surrounded by music before stepping into the national spotlight as a finalist on Season 20 of American Idol, where she placed third. That moment introduced her as a magnetic new voice, but her artistry runs deeper than any single stage. Now based in Nashville, Leah has toured extensively across North America and shared stages with artists including Jade Bird, Peach Pit, and Margo Price. She was also named a Top 50 finalist in NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, further cementing her place as one of the most compelling storytellers in the indie space. Her songs balance raw vulnerability with melodic fearlessness, offering listeners something that feels both grounding and expansive. On stage, Leah Marlene is as refreshing as she is powerful, creating moments that linger long after the final note. Every performance feels like an invitation to feel more deeply, honestly, and freely.

Sofia Camille is a Florida-based indie-pop artist known for emotionally honest songwriting and magnetic live shows. Sofia Camille GENRE: Singer-Songwriter/Indie Pop RIYL: The Japanese House, Maggie Rogers, Faye Webster Recent Releases: 'the boys' Sofia Camille is an indie-pop artist based in Florida, known for emotionally honest songwriting and magnetic live shows. Blending indie-pop with whatever is inspiring her at the time, her music is built on melodies that stick and lyrics that help you see things a little clearer. Songwriting has always come naturally to Sofia; she didn’t intend to write her first song, it just happened. And then it kept happening. That same instinct shows up in songs that explore heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery without losing their sense of fun or momentum. Her sound feels intimate but made for the room—especially live. Over the past two years, Sofia has shared stages with The Brook & The Bluff, The Hails, Hotel Fiction, Mustard Service, and more, with standout singles like “More Than I Should” and “Feel For You.” In 2025, Sofia released 'now i see a little clearer,' a collection of songs written during her time at Florida State University’s College of Music, and toured the project, playing 22 shows throughout the year. As a queer Latina artist proudly creating from Florida, Sofia Camille is stepping into her next project with clarity, ambition, and an upcoming single, “The Boys,” arriving in early 2026.

Star Chamber is a Portland-based cinematic indie-rock band known for punchy riffs, ethereal vocals, and electrifying live shows. New album coming soon. Star Chamber GENRE: Indie Rock RIYL: Wolf Alice, Warpaint, Metric Upcoming Releases: Star Chamber is a cinematic indie-rock powerhouse based in Portland, Oregon, known for punchy riffs, ethereal vocals, and high-octane energy. Their sound feels like a voyage through space—melodic, atmospheric, and electrifying—blending raw rock intensity with immersive, otherworldly textures. The band is currently preparing to release a full-length album produced by Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals, marking a bold next chapter in their sonic evolution. Their music has been featured in ESPN’s True South and Amazon Prime’s film Incantation, and they have received media coverage from She Shreds Magazine, Soul Magazine, and artist campaigns by the Shreveport Tourist Bureau. Star Chamber’s performance history includes a featured emerging artist slot at the Recording Academy’s Grammy Board Memphis Chapter Showcase in 2018, as well as extensive live experience across the indie-rock circuit. They were the pilot act for Strange Brew Live, a regional broadcast reaching over 10 million homes, and have shared stages with artists including Drake Bell, Crazytown, Kyle Craft, Seratones, Larkin Poe, and Royal Teeth. Their dynamic live show has earned multiple awards and recognitions, including first place at the LA Music Prize (2017) and The Band Wars (2018), and Best Original Band at Shreveport-Bossier Magazine’s “Best Of” Awards in 2022. Now casting their supersonic waves across the Portland and Seattle music scenes, Star Chamber continues to build momentum through cinematic releases and explosive performances.

Discover how electropop newcomer Sasha Atlas transforms Pink Floyd's classic 'Time' into a modern anthem for living in the moment. Dive into her journey from Wall Street to the EDM scene in Miami and explore her unique, bold sound in our exclusive interview. Sasha Atlas The essence of feeling alive is deeply rooted in the DNA of electropop newcomer, Sasha Atlas. With a fresh take on Pink Floyd’s ‘Time’, Sasha Atlas offers a more modern interpretation that breathes new life into the concept of living in the moment for today’s era. Coursing through the EDM-laced cover of ‘Time’, is an deep plea to listeners to embrace the euphoric feeling of living in the now, a plea Sasha Atlas knows all too well. Before moving to Miami to learn from the EDM scene, Sasha was a prominent Wall Street financier. After being laid off in 2023, she decided to lean into a more creative journey and started writing music. Sasha’s bold and confident sound becomes addicting, you can hear it throughout her releases. The strength comes from the beats she builds, the ramping up to powerhouse moments, but letting the vocals drive home the story, the words. There’s been only a handful of times when listening to music where I’ve heard such determination to be unapologetically creative. With ‘Time’, albeit a known rock song, it becomes Sasha’s own story, her own mantra. We were delighted to talk to Sasha about everything from her incredible life story to life in Miami these days. You can listen to ‘Time’ on all platforms now! GRRRL Music: You've mentioned sneaking into underground music venues in Bushwick as a teen, can you share any particularly memorable nights that you felt changed your life in a profound way? Photo Credit: Provided By Artist Sasha Atlas: When I was in high school, Bushwick was not what it is today. It was pretty much entirely industrial, and any events that happened there were almost certainly unsanctioned. When I was a junior, my friends were playing a show on a rooftop of one of these newly built condo buildings. Back then there was very little noise enforcement or really anything preventing you from throwing a rager outside until the wee hours of the night. It was BYOB, and obviously we were underage. We threw a bunch of beers into a hard shelled guitar case and brought it on the subway with the rest of the gear. We felt like rockstars. There were hundreds of people on this rooftop, and there was a hot tub. GM: Okay, we HAVE to talk about your transition from your Wolf of Wall Street finance career to singer-songwriter, at what point did you realize you needed to shift gears to a more creative outlet? SA: I think that some context is important here. I'm a first generation American; my parents emigrated from the recently dissolved USSR, a failed and broken state. They had absolutely nothing there, they were literally starving; and when they came to the US, we just had next to nothing. We lived on less than $100 per month for a family of 4. I didn't have any new clothes until we could afford to shop at K-mart, when I was about 7 or 8. The scarcity mentality is generational and runs deep. Still, everyone in my family is a gifted artist or musician. Even when we were poor, my parents made sure to allocate budget to send me and my brother to music lessons. But at the end of the day, it always felt like making a lot of money was more important, because we knew what it was like not to have any. I always maintained a high GPA and busted my ass studying for exams to get into schools that would set me up for a high paying job. Even though I double majored in theater in college, but I always understood I would go into some professional career with high earning potential. Pursuing art was just too risky, and I couldn't square it with my understanding of the world. But the need for art and the dream of a career in the arts never really left. When I started working as a trader, I liked my job, and I was good at it. And the feeling of having real money felt extremely gratifying. But by then, no one in my family was struggling anymore, least of all me. Over time, my work started to feel like making money just for the sake of making money, and it lost its existential urgency, which left me feeling very hollow. I also started to resent my industry in light of the major economic disparity it had opened my eyes to, especially during COVID. During quarantine, I had a lot of time to think and reconsider my priorities. I also started writing music, a lot of it, something I hadn't really done since I started working. It felt like a younger me, the one that was sure she could do and be anything, was re-awakening after a long and solemn hibernation. I started releasing music and building my artist project on the side. When I learned my company was being sold and we were all being laid off in 2023, I decided not to look for another job. Now I'm here. GM: Your music is described as 'opinionated and bold' yet it betrays a 'sensitive soul that longs for resolutions. How do you balance vulnerability and strength in your music AND public persona? SA: This is a really tough one for me, especially in the age of social media. I have a lot of strong beliefs, and music and art have always been my preferred way of expressing them, because they are personal to me. My first release, "WALLS" is very critical, and was written as a response to my frustration with the politics and social climate of the pandemic. I feel empowered expressing myself through art, because I can be nuanced or subtle. But I often feel that subtlety is not appreciated today. So much of being an artist today is hinged on your social media presence, and I just feel very uncomfortable and overexposed expressing the same opinions in plain text on places like Tiktok. It's certainly much more likely to go viral. But I wouldn't write music if all I wanted was to be controversial. Maybe it's because I am a bit introverted, or want to keep certain parts of myself private. I don't like to broadcast my thoughts and feelings to millions online. But in my music, I can be vulnerable, I can allow people access to those private feelings without feeling stripped. The music is my armor, I can express myself in a way I feel is far more nuanced, productive, and ultimately positive. GM: Moving to Miami seems to have been a huge shift for you, not only in location but in musical landscapes as well! How has the immersion into Miami's electronic scene influenced you? SA: Funny enough, I really used to look down on electronic music. I was coming of age during the heyday of EDM festivals, big room house acts like Swedish House Mafia and Avicci, and YOLO. I was underage for most of it, so too young to really enjoy it, and I was definitely a bit of a hipster. I thought there couldn't be anything less cool than this cheesy, happy, scene, which I felt lacked the depth and edginess of the indie genres I preferred. But there was something really optimistic and fun about the early 2010s which totally disappeared by the end of the decade. It was like all the hope was sucked out of the world, and I was feeling it, especially in NYC. I moved to Miami in 2021 to escape, and it was like seeing in color for the first time in years. Miami has its issues, but it's undeniably got a unique vibrance, which I desperately needed. Shortly after my arrival, I went to my first rave, which blew my mind for a few reasons. I didn't hear that cheesy music I hated, instead I was taken on journeys through melodies and rhythms that deeply moved me. I later learned that the term "EDM" describes electronic music about as well as "food" describes all the things you could eat; there are hundreds of genres, some of which I think are terrible, and some which have completely changed the direction of the music I make. That feeling of hope and optimism that comes when dancing to great music all night on the beach was a feeling I didn't want to let go of. GM: You've expressed a desire to contribute your voice to conversations with global impacts. Are there any specific issues or stories that you're passionate about amplifying through your music? SA: Going back to feeling overexposed, I think I want to let my music do most of the talking. I've touched on themes from social justice, economic inequality, and the uncertainty of the future of my generation (I'm a geriatric gen Z). I think we all feel extremely uncertain in our footing and what kind of world we are inheriting, and that comes through in my music in lyrics whether I want it to or not. Most of my music is about that kind of stuff really, and I'm actually working on writing more love songs to try to lighten my lyrical content a bit. But I've really been enjoying specifically writing dance tracks about these topics; I think the juxtaposition of the serious lyrics with grooves that make you want to dance is a unique approach. GM: As someone who has reinvented themselves multiple times, from finance professional to electro-pop artist, what future reinventions or explorations are you most excited about in your career? SA: I think that the way I do my live performances are going to evolve and change as I continue to hone my sound. I learned to DJ, which felt like unlocking a door to a whole new world of possibilities for how I can perform my music, but I think that's only the first step. I want to learn to perform using loopers and synthesizers and drum machines. My dream is to find a way to perform my electronic music completely live, maybe even in a band, like Rufus Du Sol and Bob Moses. In general, the prospect of bringing back live music to the dancefloor is something that really excited me. Instagram Other Links

GRRRLs Backstage is GRRRL Music’s exclusive series featuring interviews with indie artists before and after their live shows! Join us as we fan GRRRL over our favorite emerging musicians, diving into behind-the-scenes stories, tour life, and creative journeys. Watch video interviews with the next big names in music, as we connect with them in candid conversations and bring you closer to the artists shaping the indie scene. 1 2 3 4 5

Manny Moura is a pop singer-songwriter shaped by life between Brazil and the U.S., known for poetic, emotionally honest songwriting. Her debut album was released fall 2025. manny moura GENRE: Indie Pop RIYL: Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers Recent Releases: a crush is a creative act Manny Moura is a pop singer-songwriter shaped by movement between cultures, languages, and cities. Growing up between Rio de Janeiro and New York City, music became her anchor—a way to feel at home while constantly in between worlds. Her songwriting reflects that duality, blending emotional precision with a global sense of intimacy. A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor’s Degree in Songwriting, Moura approaches pop music with both craft and vulnerability. In the summer of 2022, she released her EP Libra in Love, a six-track project that traces the arc of a relationship in chronological order, moving from hope to heartbreak with clarity and emotional depth. Beyond her own releases, Moura has expanded her creative reach through film and collaboration. She wrote the original song “Espelho do Mundo” for the Cannes Film Festival–nominated short film The Way You Sea Me, and worked closely with Brazilian folk-pop artist Rebeca on the album Espiral, released in April 2024. Inspired by artists such as Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Phoebe Bridgers, Manny Moura makes poetry in pop form—meticulous in translating emotion into tangible, vulnerable songwriting. Now based in Los Angeles, she writes both for herself and for other artists, with her debut album, a crush is a creative act, released this past fall.