Krooked Kings began when Oli Martin, in the midst of leaving the Mormon faith, turned to learning folk covers on his guitar for comfort. Over time, he found friends to play and collaborate with, and as Krooked Kings took shape, the bittersweet solace he’d once found alone in his basement became the foundation of the group’s sound. Joined by Paul Colgan, Matt Monosson, Quinn Casper, and Dave Macey, the band developed a distinctive style that blends their varied influences — from the ornate, biting guitar arrangements of The Strokes to the introspective depth of Bon Iver and the easygoing charm of Peach Pit.
The band’s debut LP, The Comedown (2021), introduced their mix of catchy, up-tempo indie rock anthems and moody, meditative slow-burners. Their sophomore release, All Out of Good Days (2023), expanded their sound with airy synths and anthemic guitar lines, while Shiver (2024) turned up both the tempo and the intensity. Their forthcoming album, set for release in spring 2026, captures all the charm and energy of their previous work while pushing their sound in every direction — from rock-and-roll festival bangers to heartfelt acoustic ballads and tight, synth-driven pop tunes.
At the heart of Krooked Kings’ music is a sincere portrayal of the twenty-something experience in America, capturing the restlessness, dreams, and disillusionments of a generation still figuring things out. Their earnest lyrics and honest perspective resonate with listeners navigating the complexities of modern life.
With hundreds of thousands of followers across social media and placements on major Spotify playlists including “Today’s Indie Rock,” “Feel Good Indie Rock,” “Marrow,” and more, Krooked Kings continue to build a devoted global fanbase. With their captivating sound and rock-solid songwriting, the band is poised to leave a lasting mark on the world stage.
Boyscott
Punctuating wistful, daydreamy indie rock with surfy guitar hooks, Boyscott approaches their songs from a hazy, lighthearted perspective as gentle as ocean breezes. The project first took shape in college dorm rooms and grew into a loose collective. Boyscott finished recording their whimsically drawn 2015 debut Goose Bumps before ever playing live, and continued developing their upbeat, nautical sound on 2024’s Spellbound.
Boyscott began in 2015 as an outlet for singer/songwriter Scott Hermo’s recording experiments while he was attending college in Nashville. Hermo recorded in his dorm room and sometimes enlisted friends to help flesh out his soft-edged indie tunes. Fellow schoolmates and musicians Emma Willer, Tiger Adams, John Lewandowski and Noah Miller joined him to bring a live energy to Hermo’s recordings and together, the five musicians completed debut album Goose Bumps and self-released it in late 2015. When Boyscott began playing live, school commitments kept a solid lineup from forming, but Hermo enlisted a rotating cast of friends and musicians to play shows and go on tours. The band’s acclaim grew organically through consistent touring and their album, which caught on in a grassroots fashion. A physical release of Goose Bumps arrived in 2019 as a joint release from Top Shelf Records and Babe City Records. The most popular songs from Goose Bumps accumulated tens of millions of plays on streaming services, which took the group to entirely new audiences both in terms of listenership and attendees at their concerts. Boyscott released a second album, Spellbound, in October of 2024, continuing to explore their beachy indie songwriting style. ~ Fred Thomas
