The International Tastemaker Fest Thesis July 2025

IQCF nonprofit corporation Founder and Treasurer

https://youtu.be/cIvOMwUHDPg?si=BH4iI9DHC_BdxXnL

http://www.tsushimamire.com
https://www.voxmagazine.com/music/japanese-girl-rock-sensation-tsushimamire-arrives-at-cafe-berlin/article_5494d136-d3fb-11e8-a41d-1b973d28480a.html
http://www.kateclover.com
https://www.flaunt.com/blog/kate-clover

IQCF Live Music Element

The Raccoon Motel https://www.theraccoonmotel.com

The Rust Belt https://www.therustbeltqc.com

Codfish Hollow https://www.codfishhollowbarnstormers.com

Rozztox https://www.rozztox.com

The Speakeasy https://www.circa21.com

Vibrant Arena https://www.vibrantarena.com

Barcelona, Spain

Sala Apolo https://www.sala-apolo.com

Soccer Mommy

Dublin, Ireland

Whelans https://www.whelanslive.com

Hamburg, Germany

Knust https://www.knusthamburg.de

LOGO https://www.logohamburg.de

Mojo https://www.mojohamburg.de

London, England

Glixen

Reykjavik, Iceland

Dillon https://www.dillon.is

Glasgow, Scotland

The Garage https://www.garageglasgow.co.uk

Brussels, Belgium

Botanique https://www.botanique.be

Glixen @ the IQCF

https://youtu.be/ndrQ4JITCWI?si=jtPJJBZrFYj8wfYl

Glixen¹ is a young band with brilliant stage presence. Aislinn Ritchie is one of the best lead singers of the genre. The alternative sound is a mix of grunge with hints of My Bloody Valentine, however, Glixen is developing a sound that is certainly Glixen. “Ritchie founded Glixen in 2020 and later added the talents of lead guitarist Esteban Santana, drummer Keire Johnson, and bassist Sonia Garcia. Glixen released their debut EP She Only Said via Julias War Records on August 11th, 2023.”² Future bands of the genre might describe themselves as Glixen-esque. The future is certainly bright with Glixen on the new music scene.

“Starling is an…alternative band…from…Los Angeles, CA…blending elements of new grunge…. (T)he band’s…genre is…elusive…. Combining bedroom warped production with angular leads and rich vocal melodies, Starling offers a uniquely vulnerable and enthralling style of rock.

Lead singer and guitarist Kasha Souter Willett started the project in 2023. In May 2024, Starling officially formed with three more integral members – Erik Sathrum Johnson, Grace Rolek and Gitai Vinshtok. Their first EP 2324 was released in September 2024.”³

Wheatus & Elizabeth Moen @ the IQCF 2025

https://youtu.be/VvyQOqM8auU?si=PHj4G-7Nxj1kixdu

Wheatus is an American rock band from Northport, New York, formed in 1995. They are known principally for their 2000 single, “Teenage Dirtbag“. They also experienced success with their 2001 cover version of Erasure‘s “A Little Respect“, and their self-titled album was certified platinum in the United Kingdom. (www.wikipedia.com). “I’d had the riff in my head since college. I wrote Teenage Dirtbag lying on a futon staring at the ceiling in a rented apartment on Long Island, New York. The song is fictional, but has…a little… scenery from my childhood.”⁴ Wheatus was the top billing and the performance was stellar. His backup singers were superb and the set was professional.

Elizabeth Moen’s voice is big, beautiful, and…can’t be ignored – it’s an instrument of raw power that can just as easily pull you in with a whisper. But it’s not just the voice that…draws you in, it’s the way she wields…her vocal prowess. Her songwriting is equal parts confessional and self-aware, like catching up with a friend who makes you laugh while laying bare her unfiltered narrative.”⁵ Elizabeth Moen is one of the best band leaders in the world. She can put the best backing band on stage and commands with brilliant aplomb.

The Buttertones & New Misphoria @ the IQCF 2025

https://youtu.be/k3WafclzDLg?si=w7tpxKtphNa2-w40

“The Buttertones are a rock band formed in Los Angeles. Bassist Sean Redman met lead vocalist Richard Araiza and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Modeste “Cobi” Cobián at music school in 2011. The three officially formed the band in 2012. …(L)ead guitarist Dakota Böttcher…joined the band in 2014, then saxophonist/keyboardist London Guzmån in 2015. The band also note that their sound is influenced by movies, …and…describe their albums with genres…like…horror, thriller, and drama, …rather than…traditional music genres.”.⁶ The Buttertones were pure entertainment with endless energy. Lead vocalist Richard Araiza even entered the crowd from the stage and danced with the audience. If you ever see the Buttertones in a town near you, then certainly see the band. New Misphoria is a female duo from Tucson, Arizona. The band is tight and the sound is one of a kind alternative rock.

Hello Mary & Bleary Eyed @ the IQCF 2025

https://youtu.be/-2uoOt488kg?si=4Bhy0XM8EtWfOi1D

“Hello Mary is a three-piece rock band from Brooklyn, NY comprised of guitarist/vocalist Helena Straight, drummer/vocalist Stella Wave and bassist Mikaela Oppenheimer.”⁷ The band is one of the best indie bands on the club circuit. You might see Hello Mary on large festival stages like Lollapalooza soon. “Bleary Eyed was formed in 2015 by Nathaniel Salfi (guitar & vocals), now joined by Margot Whipps (bass & vocals), Pax Martyn (guitar), & Charlie Libby Watt (drums). The songs teeter from more pleasant pop songs to heavier fuzz tracks sometimes blending elements from both styles.”⁸

Mei Semones & Pokey Lafarge @ the IQCF 2025

https://youtu.be/VyrxgRWW59o?si=dhYvj4QKURJJKBI7

Mei Semones⁹ is an American jazz musician and Berklee School of Music alumni. Berklee School of Music¹⁰ produces some of the best talent in the world. Her performance at the Raccoon Motel¹¹ was one of the best this year. She is a musical genius and will soon be on stages like Carnegie Hall. Pokey LaFarge¹² is a prolific country star with a classic sound. The concert at a the Redstone Room¹³ featured top talent. He released several albums on some of the best record labels in the country including Rounder Records¹⁴ and Third Man Records¹⁵.

Color Green & Glyders @ the IQCF 2025

https://youtu.be/XoW8Dmba28M?si=8HWGEBvmCXEPaOqP

“Color Green has shared stages with a range of groups that reflect both the sophistication and the wild malleability of their sound, including Fuzz, Kikagaku Moyo, Circles Around the Sun, Hiss Golden Messenger, and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. Yet, because they see boundless possibilities from one note to the next, they anchor their music in the urgent present rather than the distant past.”¹⁶ The sound is somewhat retro ’60s and ’70s and meanders from rock, surf and alt rock. Founded in Chicago in 2014 by partners Joshua Condon and Eliza Weber, Glyders have been playing their mystery sound at shows around town and country ever since. Color Green & Glyders put on a stunning performance that was preserved at the IQCF.

Bad Bad Hats & Party Nails @ the IQCF 2025

https://www.youtube.com/embed/P2R7VR3utLY?feature=oembed

“Bad Bad Hats is an indie rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Kerry Alexander and Chris Hoge met in college and formed the band in 2012. They have toured the country many times in their trusty minivan, sampling the best local cuisine along the way. BBH has toured with The Beths, Margaret Glaspy, The Front Bottoms, Hippo Campus, and Michelle Branch, among many others.”¹⁷ …Party Nails is Elana Carroll…from Chatham, NY. …She…was the tween-dream-open-mic-queen of Chatham. She operates Top Coat recording studio in Los Angeles, where she records, produces and mixes for Party Nails and others.”¹⁸ Bad Bad Hats and Party Nails was one of the best of the year. The stage presence of both was full of energy and featured top talent.

Riki & Magnolia @ the IQCF 2025

https://www.youtube.com/embed/D1O45Jwm12o?feature=oembed

“The evolution of Los Angeles new romantic icon Riki is as dynamic as it is undeniable. Her early formative years playing in Bay Area goth-punk unit Crimson Scarlet…helped her…develop the synth-pop solo alias…Riki in 2017. Riki’s music has steadily flowered with finesse, feeling, and vision. 2020 saw the release of her widely acclaimed self-titled debut for Dais Records. …Reimagining the moody new wave synthetics across a vibrant palette of melancholia prompted…rapturously received tours and festival appearances.”¹⁹ That was clearly evident at the Raccoon Motel stage. Her backing tracks, wardrobe and dance moves are signatures of her stage prowess. Magnolia is a post-hardcore, electronic two-piece band from the Quad-Cities. Riki and Magnolia compliment each other well.

Har Mar Superstar & Liza Anne @ the IQCF 2025

https://www.youtube.com/embed/yM0u9nd02Gc?feature=oembed

Sean Tillmann-Hauser is an American singer-songwriter and actor. He has performed and released studio albums as Sean Na Na and as a member of hardcore band Calvin Krime, but is best known for his performances under the name Har Mar Superstar²⁰. Har Mar is a showman and his performance at the Raccoon Motel was a raucous party. You could call his recent tour a comeback, however, that might not be accurate because he never really left. “Liza Anne melds empowered, self-aware lyrics with a range of sonic dynamics – indie pop… choruses…, atmospheric builds, charging guitars, and explosive drums….”²¹ Liza is a good band leader with the confidence of Steve Nicks. Her band is one of the best in the world and they deliver a performance that is on par with artists like PJ Harvey.

Sophia Corinne, Angela Autumn & Tommy Prine @ the IQCF 2025

https://www.youtube.com/embed/L4y4SFIuH2g?feature=oembed

“Sophia Corinne harvests poetry for the lines of each song from her life, one lived paying attention. Her songs offer the companionship of…beautiful…songwriting, lyrics and vocals…. Since 2021 she has been tending a garden of folk songs and…intimate performances, releasing multiple EPs and touring extensively across North America.”²² “Angela Autumn is a country folk artist from the Appalachia region of Pennsylvania. Blending her sound from roots of her small hometown, she soon brought her childhood stories and upbringing to the city of Nashville.”²³ Tommy Prine is a country singer-songwriter…who delivers emotionally raw…and spellbinding live performances. Prine’s music…carve(s)…a niche…beyond the shadow of legacy.”²⁴ Sophia, Angela and Tommy were all stellar and were a good blend of singer-songwriter, folk, and country.

The Wildmans & the Jenkins Twins @ the IQCF 2025

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kionnydY2G8?feature=oembed

“The Wildmans come from the hills of Floyd, Virginia, in the heart of the Appalachian mountain music tradition. Campsite jamming at festivals and fiddler’s conventions and a college level music education comes the foundation for musical exploration that sets this group apart. The audience…is given a…musical journey that reflects the growth and passion of these talented musicians. The Wildmans have appeared on stages large and small, including an extensive list of festivals along the east coast and Colorado. …The band has appeared…on stages with artists such as, Bela Fleck, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Sam Grisman Project, Oliver Wood, Sierra Ferrell, Aoife O’Donovan, The Steel Wheels, Sammy Shelor, Sierra Hull, Billy Strings, and more.”²⁵ “The Jenkins Twins (aka Trevor and Trenton Jenkins) have…developed a…sound that seats them squarely on the cutting edge of modern country. They pioneer a sort of cosmic Americana that nods to contemporary indie…while giving…golden-age talents like Springsteen and Roy Orbison…their proper respect.”²⁶

IQCF Film Festival Element

Adam