Breaking out in the mid-aughts, CARTEL artfully threaded the space between the turn-of-the-millennium pop-punk tidal wave and the widespread virality of the social media generation, cutting their blend of hyper-melodic pop-rock with reflective lyricism and ambitious sonic versatility.

The Conyers, GA-based group quickly rose through the underground on the back of their 2005 breakthrough LP, Chroma, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, bore the Gold-certified hit “Honestly” and launched the childhood friends – vocalist/guitarist Will Pugh and guitarists Joseph Pepper and Nic Hudson – onto Warped Tour, TRL, Epic Records and millions of MySpace Top 8s.

Nearly two decades and more than 250,000 copies later, the album still resonates as a genre hallmark, hailed as one of the greatest pop-punk records of all time by Rock Sound and Loudwire and a singalong staple at emo nights around the world. But while the lightning-in-a-bottle energy of their debut took them from regional buzz band to mainstream names to know, it’s their insatiable desire to never settle that’s kept them one of the most respected acts in the genre to this day.

From the moody, angular guitars and experimental song structures that colored 2007’s top-20 debuting Cartel through the heavier impulses of 2009’s Cycles and atmospheric, airy melodicism the group elevated on their 2013 self-released Collider, the ebbs and flows of the band’s career have always shown Cartel’s desire to prioritize their own self-fulfillment over critical and commercial acclaim.

“There’s so many little things we pull from that I think often go unnoticed,” Pugh says. “We love blink-182 and Green Day, but we don’t reference them; we reference Soundgarden. ’90s grunge and alternative was the seminal stuff that spoke to us as young musicians, and it’s given us a completely different toolbox in terms of how we think about making music.”

That evolution was once again on display in 2022 as the band released their first new music in nine years, singles “17” and “The End” to accompany their spot as direct support on the Hello Gone Days alongside Dashboard Confessional and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness.

“Now that we’ve gotten away from some of the pettiness of the way things were in the past, it’s given us more allowance to go back to the well and not have to feel like everything’s a response to what we just did,” Pugh says. “When we were writing ‘17’ and ‘The End,’ all we were concerned about was what Cartel would sound like right now – not what we sounded like earlier.”

This mentality has ultimately allowed Cartel to age with grace, resisting the tangles of nostalgia. Instead, they remain focused on their position as elder statesmen of the scene, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the bands that inspired them – look no further than Pugh’s production work with New Found Glory – while also inspiring the next era of acts to fearlessly chase their own muse.

As the group stares down the 20th anniversary of Chroma in 2025, they do so with both an appreciation for what their past has afforded them and an excitement for what the future holds. More recent live appearances on Warped Rewind at Sea, Emo’s Not Dead Cruise, Slam Dunk Festival, Is For Lovers Festival, and When We Were Young have introduced Cartel to a whole new generation of listeners – some of whom weren’t even alive when they rode the dual guitar intro of “Honestly” to the Billboard Hot 100 all those years ago.

“Thinking about having done this for over half of our lives sort of breaks the space-time continuum,” Pugh says. “It’s so cool, because it constantly feels like being rebirthed every time you hear the records.”

Composed of Brian Dales (Vocals), John Gomez (Guitar, Piano, Back up vocals), Stephen Gomez (Bass), and Jess Bowen (Drums), the Scottsdale, AZ pop rock band have quickly become a phenomenon throughout the independent music scene. New album 'Meet Me At The Record Store' out in August 2025.

On the back of a shimmering blend of new-wave sheen, shoegaze gloom and angular guitar rock that is underwritten with cheeky, California cool sensibilities, the childhood friends that made up HUNNY propelled their careers with their self-released 2015 EP, ‘Pain / Ache / Loving’, and landed a deal with Epitaph Records. After releasing their Carlos De La Garza (Paramore, Best Coast) produced debut album (2019) and Homesick EP (2022), the band tapped into the wide-eyed excitement and energy of those early years for album #2, Hunny’s New Planet Heaven (2023).  Hailed by AltPress as “another top to bottom win that leans more lofi and embraces a thoughtful array of classic Cali sounds,” their Summer 2024 print feature praised the album for “feeding into a spectrum of genres from gritty punk to a softer, electronic soundscape.”  

The Nashville-based punk band, Winona Fighter, is breathing new life into the resurging punk scene. Recently signed to Rise Records, they are on a mission to create punk music that is accessible and accepting to all music lovers willing to listen. This mission statement is perfectly exemplified by latest single “I’m In The Market To Please No One”, a sonic kick in the face with an earworm chorus and empowered lyrical content and delivery.

Coco’s (front-woman of Winona Fighter) introduction to the Boston punk rock scene at an early age was the catalyst influence for her current sound and stage presence. Moving to Nashville gave her a task to expose all music lovers to the power of thrashable tunes. After recruiting lead guitarist Dan Fuson, they set off to do justice to the scene Coco had left behind. Eventually the two of them added Austin Luther (bass/producer) to the family.

The release of “I’m In The Market To Please No One” saw the band deliver their first proper music video. The song also received major support from DSPs including placements with covers on ‘All New Punk’ and ‘New Noise’ playlists plus numerous more on Spotify, who have already supported the band as part of their ‘Fresh Finds’ playlist. Apple included the band on their ‘New In Rock’ playlist, while Tidal has included them in their Tidal Rising initiative as well as playlisting.

The band is recognized as an energized powerhouse during their live performances. Their shows are a space where all bullshit and ego is left at the door - everyone is welcome, equal and needs to get on their fucking feet. 2023 included touring with Incubus, Taking Back Sunday and The Offspring in addition to playing multiple sets at Bonnaroo. They’re not slowing down in 2024 having already put in a 10 show stint at SXSW and currently out touring the US with Bayside, Finch and Armor For Sleep. Later this year, the band will hit festival stages once again for Shaky Knees, Louder Than Life and Aftershock Festival.

Minneapolis musician Landon Conrath found his voice almost by accident. A drummer by trade, Conrath spent his formative years keeping the beat in bands rather than fronting them. It wasn’t until he opened up to a friend at a pool party with a new composition, he was encouraged to hone in his sound.Conrath immersed himself in the recording process with reckless abandon. Since making his debut in 2020, Conrath’s distinctive brand of hook-laden indie-pop has seen him become a viral sensation on Spotify landing on influential playlists virtually overnight. His authentic, off-the-cuff style has resonated with listeners around the world amassing millions of streams. “I never wanted to make anything that was based on a trend. It’s exciting to have the freedom to really choose who I want to be and what I want to say. My goal is to make music that people can connect with.” There’s a palpable energy on singles “Papercuts,” “lowercase,” and “2AM,” as honest lyrics reflect on the perils of youth and “letting your heart do all the thinking.” Conrath’s uptempo groove full of glistening guitar licks and late-night revelations have been praised by the likes of Early Rising, The Current, and more. Landon uses music to grapple with his uncertainty. He graduated college in the midst of the pandemic, found a new relationship, and signed a record deal with Nettwerk. Through it all, he’s found a way to stay true to himself.

Meanwhile, Landon is currently making waves with his sophomore album, Employee of the Year, which has been met with praise for its introspective lyrics and captivating melodies. He’s just finished a full US tour, bringing the album to life for audiences across the country. Collaborating with talented producers like Daywave, Sean Silverman (Beach Weather), Nick Anderson (The Wrecks), and others, Landon has created a project that pushes boundaries and delivers an unforgettable experience for listeners.

Est. 2015. Presented by Nashville Is The Reason. DJ @bangahrang brings all the bangers