Category: Current and Notable Campaigns

Co-ed South Korean group Kard deliver propulsive, hard-edged pop that incorporates electronic trap, moombahton, and hip-hop textures to their stomping anthems. Formed in the late 2010s, the quartet issued a steady string of well-received mini-albums, including their 2016 Korean and U.S. Top Three hit debut Hola Hola and 2018’s Top Ten Ride on the Wind. In 2022, they released their fifth effort, Re:.

Created by DSP Media in 2016, the Seoul-based outfit is comprised of rappers J.Seph (Kim Tae-hyung) and BM (Los Angeles-born “Big” Matthew Kim) — who originally planned to be a hip-hop duo — and vocalists Jiwoo Jeon and Somin Jeon, a former member of Puretty and APRIL. The quartet issued their debut single, “Oh Na Na” with Heo Youngji, at the end of 2016. They followed with “Don’t Recall” in early 2017, also recording an English version. Third single “Rumor” arrived months later, just before the group released their debut EP, Hola Hola. The effort hit number two on the Korean charts and peaked at number three on the Billboard World Albums ranking. They followed with a promotional tour of the United States and Europe. After delivering the soundtrack for Lovebird: First Year Season 2, they released their second mini-album, You & Me, to close out a whirlwind year.

Kard rang in 2018 with their third EP, Ride on the Wind, another Top Ten showing in both Korea and the U.S. That same year, in addition to a short Asian tour, the quartet performed at SXSW. While only releasing a pair of singles in 2019 — “Bomb Bomb” and “Dumb Litty” — they returned in 2020 with their fourth mini-album, Red Moon. A three-track single album, Way With Words, also arrived that year, featuring the hit song “Gunshot.” Toward the end of the year, J.Seph enlisted in South Korea’s mandatory military service, reducing Kard to a trio. BM also branched out as a solo artist in 2021.

In 2022, J.Seph returned to the fold, and the quartet returned with their fifth set, Re:, in June. ~ Neil Z. Yeung, Rovi

North American Tour Dates 

8/10 – Washington, DC – Warner Theater

8/12 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre

8/14 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy

8/16 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues

8/18 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore

8/22 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre

8/24 – San Jose, CA  – San Jose Civic

8/26 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

8/28 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium

8/30 – Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre

The brothers KONGOS—Johnny, Jesse, Dylan, and Danny—have music in their blood. Their South African/British father, John Kongos, landed multiple chart hits in the seventies, and the boys picked up instruments at a young age. Now, they’re continuing that musical legacy.

Growing up in London and Johannesburg, they ultimately settled in their mother’s hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, where the band was officially formed in 2003. KONGOS began playing shows and recording, eventually releasing their self-titled debut album in 2007. Completely self-contained, they write, produce, engineer and mix their music as well as direct all of their own music videos.

After years of touring, emailing labels, agents, radio stations and management companies, the brothers got their first break in 2011 when “I’m Only Joking” became a radio smash in South Africa, followed by multiple top 40 hits from their second album “Lunatic”, including “Come With Me Now” which would go on to put KONGOS on the map in the United States and worldwide in 2014. The group became unanimously recognized as one of rock’s most infectious and invigorating new voices as the track went RIAA double-platinum for sales in excess of 2 million. It occupied the #1 spot at Alternative Radio for five weeks, marking the quickest ascent to the top by a new band in history. They spent the following 2 years on tour all over the world.

In 2016 they returned with “Egomaniac“, scoring another top ten Alternative hit with “Take It From Me” and have since had their music heard everywhere with placements by HBO, FX, CNN, NBC Sports, ESPN, NFL, The Expendables 3, Universal Studios, Dodge Ram, Samsung Galaxy, American Idol, The Originals, MTV Movie Awards, Playstation 4 and more.  Their videos have been viewed over 100 million times: http://smarturl.it/CWMNvideo. They’ve hit the stage on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, The Today Show and more and received acclaim from Rolling Stone, USA Today, and many others.

2018 has seen an explosion of creativity from the band with an upcoming new album, “1929”, and an 8-part documentary series, “Bus Call”, which follows their story and gives a compelling and realistic window into life on tour. The brothers also host a weekly podcast, “The Front Lounge”, where they discuss music, ideas and more with guests that include other musicians, artists, touring professionals and entrepreneurs.

Courtney Govan is an independent queer pop singer from San Diego, California known for playing the “Auditor” on season 1 of “I Can See Your Voice” on FOX.  Her original song Serotonin went viral on tiktok and landed Courtney on her first Spotify editorial playlist, Fresh Finds Pop: Best of 2021. In just two years, Courtney has amassed over 2 million streams across all streaming platforms.

Her introspective approach to songwriting brings a refreshing twist to today’s pop music. With human empowerment on her mind Courtney uses her own life experiences to connect with her listeners and hopefully help them through the tough stuff that life throws their way.

Courtney, on top of writing and releasing her music with various producers such as Pascal Pahl and the MoonTonez, has created quite the following on tiktok where she shares her music career journey, participates in fun trends and most importantly speaks out about social issues pertaining to the LGBTQ+ & plus size community. 

Hard-hitting electro-pop band SM6 is a rising group with a powerful presence that can’t be ignored. A new chapter lies ahead, full of driving synths, head-pop instrumentation, and a vocally punk edge you wouldn’t normally hear in pop music today. The dark atmosphere they begin to create teases what’s to come for the future of SM6.

Jenny Stenger has recently made her mark on the “sad girl pop” scene. Starting with her first single, “Better,” released in January of 2022- Jenny makes songs that speak to complex human emotions and experiences, hoping that sharing her own story can help others feel less alone in theirs. The roots of Stenger’s music run deep through the small town that she grew up in, with many stories and relationships that inspire her music originating there. Stenger’s debut album Trying My Best, released in November of 2022, sheds light on topics like unrequited love, jealousy, and mental illness, bringing her songwriting vision to life and making her mark on the industry.

The journey for Karmin’s Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan has been a wild one to say the least after the duo signed to Epic Records and scored the double-platinum hit “Brokenhearted” off their 2012 EP Hello, and appeared on Saturday Night Live. Not to mention, Amy’s stunning appearance gracing the cover of Rolling Stone. Along the way they have earned esteemed accolades from hip-hop heavy hitters ranging from The Roots’ Questlove, Diplo, Jermaine Dupri, and The Game. The duo has performed more than 600 live shows and has racked up over a billion collective views of their eye-popping videos (fueled by the devotion of millions of loyal fans around the world, who call themselves “Karminites”).

With triumphs too long to list, the duo have not forgotten their roots as two Berklee College of Music graduates that have been on a crazy journey since being pulled from their basement apartment in Boston and set on the tumultuous path to music stardom. They are recipients of the American Music Award and have appeared on SNL, Dancing With the Stars, Good Morning America, and The Ellen Show, just to name a few. “We were kind of in a honeymoon phase for a while, like, ‘Holy shit, that actually happened?’” Amy says of the events of the last few years.

After surviving the hype of a major label deal, the band parted ways with Epic Records in order to pursue a distinct creative vision that is represented on their upcoming album, Leo Rising, due out later this year. Despite the struggles they’ve endured, Karmin have emerged with a stylistically wide-ranging and truly artistic statement-making album that finds them presenting the most authentic version of who they are to date. All this thanks to clear-eyed, honest storytelling, sonic boundary-pushing, and expanded creative control with Amy and Nick serving as executive producers and Nick stepping up as both a lead vocalist and producer.

“We were ready to make a new sound where you’re like, ‘Nothing else sounds like this,’” Amy says. “I think Lorde, Macklemore, and Gotye have proven that artsy, original music can be accepted by the mainstream and millions of people can love you for being unique. We wanted to find out what made us unique without too many people talking in our ear.”

Their first major single, “Along the Road”, from their upcoming release, depicts feelings of birth, renewal and new transitions exquisitely, describing the bittersweet feeling of friends and loved ones traveling in and out of life. It serves as a departure piece for the cutting edge duo. The real-life couple also released a music video filmed at YouTube Space in Los Angeles, CA and can be seen on Karmin’s YouTube channel. Earlier this year, Karmin released a taste of their new sound with songs, “Sugar” and “Yesterday.” Leo Rising will be released later this year, alongside a short film and a traveling art exhibit.

“Our live show is of the utmost importance to us because we feel so confident going out and performing the music,” Amy says. “Live, we’re more of a rock band,” Nick says. “It’s great to have a pop hit, but it immediately puts you in a super pop box and we’re not that at all. It’s much deeper than that.” With their newfound freedom and creative control back in their hands, Karminites will be thrilled to know the band will be hitting the road again later this year. “We are so proud of the show,” Amy adds. “It’s an emotional and energetic roller coaster, like the album is. It’s not choreography and confetti, but raw energy and musicianship.”

Born and raised in Southern California, Sofie Dossi is an international live-performing artist.

Sofie is no stranger to success. From the age of 12, when she discovered her talent as a contortionist, Sofie has worked continuously to pursue her passion for artistry.  She got her start on Season 11 of America’s Got Talent as a finalist and Golden Buzzer recipient. Because of her breathtaking performances and contortion skills, she has been showcased on Nightline, The Ellen Show, ESPN, Fox Sports, People Magazine, Refinery 29, Allure, and more. Shortly after her television success, Sofie launched her YouTube channel, where she showcases her contortionist talent and shares quirky content with her friends and family. Her channel has amassed over 1.6 billion views and 7 million subscribers.  Alongside her TikTok following, which has grown to over 11 million, she’s generated over 500 videos clearing millions of views. Sofie has collaborated with major content creators such as Mr. Beast, Miranda Sings, Zach King, Lilly Singh, Logan Paul, and Sean Johnson.

Besides performing her acrobatic acts, her brother, producer, and long-time collaborator Zak Dossi, follows the blueprint that propelled Sofie into a celebrity – versatility, adaptability, and flexibility (quite literally) – and highlights the creative chemistry shared by the sibling duo. Sofie credits Zak with her passion for music. One of her most cherished memories recalls the young pair, who had just started music lessons, regularly meeting at the piano and competing in duets. As a result, Sofie found herself working harder than she otherwise might have, striving to be great enough to play alongside him. Now, years later, she’s thankful to be collaborating with him.

Lily Lane is a born entertainer, captivating audiences with her powerful voice. From selling out venues like the House of Blues to performing at Madison Square Garden, she has established herself as a force to be reckoned with. Graduating with honors from the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, she is not only a talented singer but also an advocate for body positivity and LGBTQ representation. With a standout voice that combines the grit of Amy Winehouse, the range of Demi Lovato, and the soul of Alicia Keys, Lily Lane is an independent artist in control of her own destiny. Her music has been featured on popular TV shows and gained recognition from influential sources. She has headlined festivals, collaborated with notable artists, and continues to impress with her unmatched vocal prowess.

Her debut independent EP, “Nothin’ But Trouble,” gained recognition when it was featured on Freeform’s Pretty Little Liars and garnered praise from influential outlets like Nylon, Just Jared Jr, and Perez Hilton. Throughout the 2020 lockdown, Lily Lane’s music amassed over 720,000 streams, and she collaborated with Trinidad James on a track. Additionally, one of her songs served as the theme for two seasons of the Netflix original series “Get Organized with The Home Edit.”

Lily Lane’s journey continued with the release of queer anthems like “Thirsty” and “Running Back To You,” and she headlined Unicorn Carnival on Coney Island alongside Wyclef Jean and Justine Skye. Her move from NYC to LA marked a new chapter in her career, leading to performances at renowned venues such as Hollywood’s Peppermint Club, Adults Only, and Breakroom 86. She also shared the stage with artists like Madison Beer and Jessie J at West Hollywood’s Outloud Raising Voices Pride Festival in 2022.

In Fall 2022, Lane released her highly anticipated sophomore EP, “Queen of Hearts,” which garnered over 5,000 new monthly listeners. The music video for the lead single, “Bad,” has achieved 300,000 views and was praised by Earmilk as a “powerful pop anthem” showcasing Lily Lane’s dominating vocals. In the upcoming year, she plans to reach more listeners, expand her audience through live performances and festivals, collaborate with friends like AJ Smith and Abigail Breslin, and release more awe-inspiring music, showcasing her unmatched vocal prowess. She has been championed by Nylon, Just Jared, J-14, The Knockturnal, Curves and more.

Australian born recording artist Katja Glieson first gained recognition for singing and rapping as ‘Elsa’ in the hugely popular viral video ‘Princess Rap Battle’, which has had over 245 million views on YouTube.

Katja’s most successful release is an urban/pop crossover entitled ‘Come Thru’, or as she describes the track: “Aussie girl boss demands attention and respect in throwback urban glam record”, which has had over 5 million streams across services. The single was featured on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B Chart at #3.

Other releases also include the emotional ‘I Would Kill’, ‘The Ones Like Me’, the Halloween themed ‘PICKY’, ‘Midnight’, ‘Me Then U’, which was featured in a Nordstrom campaign & the iconic ‘Ride the Wave’, which was released exclusively via a partnership with Shazam & reached #40 on the iTunes charts.

Katja’s inspiring song “Shooting Star” became the official anthem for The Doctors Hospital of America. Bringing her all around the United States advocating for women’s rights in domestic violence safe houses, health and wellbeing programs for obesity and eating disorders and headlining for The Doctors Hospital Run for Cancer.

Katja’s personal story of perseverance through adversity, abuse and poverty inspires her dedicated fans; on the surface, Katja is what appears to be an ideal stereotype. Yet one moment in her world, Katja relates so effortlessly through her dark humor, deep sadness, passion, compassion, and resilience that she has achieved only by being willing to be open and vulnerable.

Katja’s authenticity and energy at her live shows inspires new & current fans alike to connect with her story and her music. Katja sings live & dances, speaking genuinely to the crowd from her heart. She has toured all over Australia and the USA and speaks out on various topics relevant to the audience, including equal rights, anti-bullying, abuse, self esteem, childhood trauma, wellness & LGBTQ+ rights.

“Dirty, fun and caked in garage grime, the songs are unconcerned with trends.”

-Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune

Celebrating their seven year anniversary in 2018, Denver heavy rock duo, In The Whale have been turning heads and accumulating a mass of die hard fans and followers thanks to a relentless tour schedule and a go-for-the- throat live performance.

Artists and festival promoters have caught notice, with the band playing Riot Fest, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Afro Punk, as well as shows with the likes of Jane’s Addiction, Descendents, The Offspring, Gogol Bordello, and many more.

Catch In The Whale on tour this summer.