COIN
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Label: Columbia Records
Genre: indie-pop, pop rock, new wave
Meet the artist: Infectious, upbeat, just a few words to describe the music by the Nashville based band COIN. COIN originally formed in 2012 when the members were students at Belmont University. At Summerfest, during their set they played their hit single “Talk too Much” which gained which traction after Keaton Stormberg of Emblem3 covered it. Since forming, the group has amassed an avid following and have worked for opportunities like getting to tour with acts like The 1975 and Walk The Moon. COIN is set to release their third studio album during 2019.
MAX
Location: New York City, New York
Label: RED Music
Genre: pop, funk, soul
Meet the artist: Max has been able to create a nice blend of pop and soul. His career started at a young age, initially taking up acting, it was not until 2015 that he started creating music. At Summerfest, during his performance it easy to see the amount of energy he puts into his sets like doing cartwheels and running around the stage which easily good at keeping a crowd entertained. MAX has gained a strong presence via social media, along with a devoted audience. He has worked alongside artists like Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa. Currently, MAx is celebrating his debut release, Hell’s Kitchen Angel, which contains features with performers Hoodie Allen and Lil Uzi Vert.
Gina Brooklyn
Location: Akron, Ohio
Label: Unsigned
Genre: singer/songwriter, acoustic pop
Meet the artist: Gina Brooklyn got her start at the age of 15 back in 2016, with her song “From The Outside” that she cowrote with writers Mike Shimshack and Stephanie Lewis. Some of her accomplishments as an artist includes, then being nominated for the 2016 Hollywood Songwriting Competition, winning a bronze medal at the 2017 Global Music Awards, placing as a finalist for the 2017 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. At Summerfest Brooklyn played at the Johnson Control Center Stage as apart of 88Nine Milwaukee’s Emerging Artists Series and was granted $3,000 in gear, merchandise, and services from the radio station. During Brooklyn’s set she played an unreleased song, “Little Things,” which touches on how social anxiety affects her personally, she wrote the song in her hotel room while attending a music conference. Recently, she has taken a step forward by making it her mission as a musician to inspire as many people that she can reach.
Halsey Harkins
Location: Las Vegas Nevada
Label: Unsigned
Genre: R&B, indie rock, pop, contemporary.
Meet the artist: Halsey Harkins originally started playing piano back in 2010, but started writing music in 2013. Since then she has been waves on and off the Vegas strip. In 2016 she was voted as the “Best Local Singer/ Songwriter” KNPR. For Harkins it was her first time playing in Milwaukee, alongside her were her bandmates Summer KoDama, on bass, who she has known since middle school, Sean Carbone, guitar, and Renaldo Elliott, drums. During her set she gave her own rendition of “Everybody Wants to Rule The World” by Tears & Fears. Harkins music is reminiscent of other R&B artists like Amy Winehouse, H.E.R, and Kali Uchis.
REYNA
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Label: Unsigned
Genre: indie-pop, electro-pop,
Meet the artist: REYNA has been considered to be one of Milwaukee’s fastest growing independent bands, with catchy lyrics and infectious 80’s style instrumental. The duo is made up of sisters Vic and Gab Banuelos, formerly just known as Vic and Gab. In 2015 the Banuelos sister launched the REYNA project, the name comes from a play on the Spanish word queen, as stated from Erica Russell, from Billboard. Last year the group, was named the Project: Aloft Star winner, beating out over 2,000 bands nationwide, the prize included a national/international tour with Aloft Hotels and a single track deal with Capitol Records. In early June the ladies had their latest track “The Way I Loved You” on Rolling Stones and Billboard, as a part of their Billboard’s Pride month playlist.
Newvices
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Label: Unsigned
Genre: post-pop
Meet the artist: newvices may have only formed in 2015, but due to the rapidly growing scene in Milwaukee they have started being able to reach new heights. As a group their goal is to help listeners find solace in a place of peace. Even over the upbeat and energetic instrumentals, the raw and emotional core are supposed to be representative of the duality of life. So far in 2019, the group has released two new singles and has been direct support for artists like LANY and lovelytheband.
