Artist Discovery: Hozier

by: Daly Tongren

Andrew Hozier Byrne is tall, Irish, and about to blow up.

Known simply as his middle name, Hozier, in the music world, this 24-year-old singer-songwriter currently has two EPs on the market. His music is a mix of soulful blues and a rock-folk sound. Hozier grew up heavily immersed in American delta blues, and credits among his influences Otis Redding and Nina Simone.

Artist Discovery: Screaming Females

by: Taylor Weese

Screaming Females, a hard hitting trio formed in New Brunswick, NJ in 2005, are a band we at Rock to the Masses have been buzzing about for a while. They have everything you need in a good modern band: heavy basslines, crashing drums, insane guitar playing, and the rabid vocals of frontwoman Marissa Paternoster.

Artist Discovery: Noah Gundersen

by: Kitty White

Noah Gundersen is a young, folksy singer-songwriter from Centralia, Washington. Just recently was I recommended to listen to his work, and I’m glad I did. Modern folk and folk-rock can be so hit or miss these days. As much as I enjoy some Mumford & Sons, I can only hear I Will Wait on the radio so many times per day and not go a little crazy. Gundersen’s work is more pure indie-folk though.

Artist Discovery: Umphrey's McGee

by: Kitty White

I grew up and live in a small town south of Chicago, where thanks to how small it is, Umphrey’s McGee is fairly well known here. It also helps that they are from The Windy City and play an annual festival in central Illinois. They have a very loyal following yet not many people I’ve talked to from out of state have ever heard of them. Umphrey’s are a jam band from Chicago who formed back in 1997 in South Bend, Indiana.