Another spotlight to end the work week! If you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, writer, etc., and would like a feature on The Spotlight, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more info!

Today, we have UK pop punk/alternative rock band White Eskimo! Comprised of members Will Sweeny (vocals), Alex Lewis (drums), Ryan Smith (guitar) and Marcus Crestwood (bass), the band all went to college together, each studying music. They eventually formed a group, and were glad to just jam together and create music. “It was just a love that we took very seriously,” the band said in a statement. “We just love being together, rehearsing every day. It’s a dream come true that we can play music for a living.” Interesting side note: One Direction’s Harry Styles was actually a part of the band back in the day!

Though hailing from Manchester, England, White Eskimo was more moved by American bands that made an imprint on their sound. Artists that have inspired them include Foo Fighters, Blink 182, ACDC, Elvis, Ray Charles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many more legendary artists.

The group has been hard at work, performing and making music. In fact, they released their debut EP, 100X last year, with production by James Lewis (Rudimental, Rae Morris, Sunset Sons). The band also recently released a new single as well entitled “Game Time,” which they say was “born out of the hilarity of trying to pick girls up in a bar!” Mark Winterburn engineered the track at John Delfs’ The Edge Studios,” and it received a “nod of approval” from Ivor Novello award-winning and Brit award-nominated producer Pete Kirtley. White Eskimo has recently wrapped a music video for the track, directed by Karl Beattie, who has worked with Madonna, Elton John, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson. “We are so proud of the end result,” the group said of the video, which should be released soon. Check out the track below!


Currently, White Eskimo is preparing for showcases in L.A. with A&R Worldwide, which is definitely really exciting! In terms of what separates the group from other bands out now, they believe it’s their energetic and catchy music as well as their performance style. “Our live performances are a breath of fresh air as there is nothing like us out there at the moment. We are not Heavy metal and we are not an indie band but we engulf the energy and popularity of both,” the members stated. “With such a huge range of musical influences, our sound is so different and our live sets must be seen! We are unique because we have never set out to be like anyone else…[we] just [want to] be the people we are and play the music we like.”

When it comes to the future, White Eskimo simply wants to play their music and reach as many people as possible. “We will always play music. It’s in our blood, whether it’s to 20 people down a pub or 50,000 in a stadium,” the band said. “Our longevity will last as long as we are physically able to pick up our instruments."

You can check out more from White Eskimo on their official website, SoundCloud, and YouTube. You can also follow the group on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! 

11:49:00 AM

A new feature for the week (probably our last for 2015)! As always, if you or your client is interested in a feature on The Spotlight, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information!

Today, we have alternative rock group, Reverse Order! The group was formed in 2008 by brothers John and Cruise Russo, who credit their parents for consistently surrounding them with music since they were little. After the film, School of Rock, was released, the two signed up for the Paul Green School of Rock, which began their journey as musicians. “We learned the music of all the great rock legends and got to perform at some major venues,” John said of the experience. “After performing a few shows, we knew this was something we wanted to do the rest of our lives and started to write our own music and Reverse Order was born!” Guitarist Drew Katsock was added to the group in 2010, after John and Cruise put out an ad looking for a new member. With John on guitar as well and providing lead vocals, and Cruise on drums with backing vocals, the group was finally complete.

Honing their skills and finding a great rhythm together, John, Cruise and Drew were able to bring their abilities as a group to the forefront on the seventh season of America’s Got Talent in 2012! They were able to work with a variety of top producers, vocal coaches, directors, stylists, and set designers who gave them great feedback and encouragement. “The feeling of going from a band who does everything themselves to having a team working with us was indescribable,” John admitted. “No matter what the outcome would be, we were having fun and the audience was too. That’s what it’s all about.” Though Reverse Order was eliminated in the quarterfinals, being on the show was an experience that they will never forget.

Inspired by bands like One Republic, Fall Out Boy, and The Killers, the band also believes that their travel experiences on tour has influenced their sound and lyrics as well. “Being on the road we’ve met so many incredible people, experienced so many incredible things, and have immersed ourselves in so many different cultures,” John stated. “It’s through those experiences we’ve grown and developed both individually, and as a band.” In their career thus far, they have performed internationally as a group in multiple countries, supported Third Eye Blind and Avril Lavigne, as well as performed on The Van’s Warped Tour and The Bamboozle Festival. They have also released a bunch of great music, including their Right Now and Made In America EPs!

Most recently, Reverse Order has released a new track entitled, “Erase You,” which was produced by multi-platinum producer and writer Matt Squire. As the group worked with Matt, their goal was to pick two songs that were already written to record, and then write a third song from scratch. John himself had been struggling to finish a specific song for over a year. When Matt heard a specific electronic demo, he immediately loved it, and sent John a few vocal clips of Matt’s humming different parts to the song. After Matt challenged John to write lyrics for the track overnight to record the next day, John somehow pulled the song out, and together, the group and Matt developed a great track. Check out "Erase You" below!


Balancing creating music and performing, Reverse Order also developed a non-profit called Reverse the Trend, which is an anti-bullying program that has been brought to over 400 schools and teen centers around the world. “What we do with Reverse the Trend is we perform a concert for the students, some of which have never and will never see a rock show, and then we speak to them about overcoming bullying and following their dreams in a safe and positive way,” John stated about the program. The group began tinkering with the idea shortly after their time on America’s Got Talent. As they were doing some performances at different high schools in the U.S., students would open up to them about their issues at school, and the group was able to relate. “Realizing how big of an issue bullying was we created the program, and started bringing it to as many schools as possible,” John said. In addition to this amazing program, Reverse Order is currently touring the States through May 2016, though they will be taking a break in January to work on new material. They are also looking into tours for the summer and fall of next year as well.


Reverse Order believes that it is their desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives that sets them apart from other artists and groups. We want people to leave our concerts feeling better then when they arrived,” John stated. “We support our fans just as much they support us by keeping in touch with them, and making ourselves available for them when they are going through a hard time and need someone to talk to.” It’s great to see that this group stands beside their fans, and has no problem giving time and energy to be there for them! Reverse Order’s goal as a group is to impact the world, garnering “that U2 level of success,” where they can sell out arenas but use their platform to continue to give back and make a difference!

You can check out more from Reverse Order on their official website, SoundCloud, and YouTube. You can also connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

9:30:00 AM

New music for you all! If you are an artist looking to have your music featured on The Spotlight, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information (subject to approval). 

Check out this alternative rock / R&B track from NY artist Hotel! The track, "Fire," was produced by Oh Genius, and features Hotel's singing and rapping talents. I truly loved the track; the song has really great vibes. Plus, I'm getting into a lot more alternative music, and it's always good to hear creative production blending genres.

Check out the track below!

10:30:00 AM

On The Spotlight, I am dedicated to featuring more up and coming folks in the entertainment industry, including different artists. As an avid music lover, I have respect and appreciation for artists from all genres that have a great sound and powerful message! Today, I'm happy to present Monks of Mellonwah, an alternative/indie rock band hailing from Down Under--Sydney, Australia!

The group, made of Vikram Kaushik (Vocals/Guitar), Joe de la Hoyde (Lead Guitar), John de la Hoyde (Bass), and Joshua Baissari (Drums), has an incredible sound and strong, thought-provoking lyrics that are sure   Drawing inspiration from other rock artists such Led Zeppelin, Muse, Pink Floyd, and the Chili Peppers, Monks of Mellonwah have been going strong, garnering a huge buzz not only at home, but also worldwide! Check out more about the group below!


In the past few years, the group has released two EPs, Stars Are Out, and Neurogenesis, as well as a host of music videos, such as "Swamp Groove," and "Neverending Spirit," which definitely boosted their audience and airplay across the globe! They've also gotten a lot of media coverage from networks and magazines including MTV, Big Takeover Magazine, CMJ, Kings of A&R, Noise 11 and Tonedeaf, scoring them licensing spots from various production companies in the U.S. including Discovery Networks and Bunim Murray.

Even with all of the success, the Monks show no signs of stopping! They are prepping their debut full-length album, and have signed a deal with A&R Worldwide! Their album, Turn The People, is being released in three parts, with Ghost Stories being the first volume. Blending rock, electronic, and pop, Ghost Stories is definitely a great volume of music. Filled with powerful metaphors, the EP might take a second or third listen to really get their message! I LOVE music that makes listeners think beyond just the surface! My favorite track on the EP is probably the final song, "Sailing Stones,"which is a song about sailing away to reach one's goals or desires in life. The journey may be taken without a plan, and people may not understand your blind fall, but it doesn't matter. Vikram sings "I feel alive like none before, don't break my fall / Sailing away blind of what's in store/The sun's down, time to roll the sound and let sanity take its toll." I know that, as I embark on a new journey of my own, this song hits home pretty hard!

The Monks' talent is undeniable, and Ghost Stories is definitely a strong indication of what's to come from them! Listen and check out the video for the title track, "Ghost Stories," below!


Monks of Mellonwah are currently touring throughout Australia, and plan to hit the States this fall! You can learn more about the group on their official website, and connect with the group on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! You can also connect with their press contact, James Moore, and their band management contact, Chris de la Hoyde.

6:00:00 AM