Janine is a passionate and talented singer, songwriter, producer, and multimedia artist from New Zealand. Her music blends indie R&B with soulful melodies, alternative pop and intricate soundscapes designed to make you feel something. With a voice thatfloats effortlessly between airy whistle notes and soulful belts, she has the rare ability to both break your heart and heal it in the same breath. Her ethereal and devastatingly beautiful tone, combined with emotionally raw and honest storytelling, has built a deep connection with fans around the world. Born in New Zealand, Janine dedicated herself to music almost as soon as she could walk. At five years old, she was recording herself on a double cassette player sing her favourite tunes. By the age of fourteen, she began performing her original songs with aguitar at open mics, mostly held at bars she wasn't technically allowed into using her older sisters ID. A self-sufficient artist in every sense, Janine writes, produces, and engineers her own music, often opting to record in her closet rather than in big studios. Her creativity extends beyond music. She meticulously crafts her own visual narratives, designs her own artwork and merch, as well as directs and edits her own videos. Her artistry is as hands-on as it is heartfelt.  She first made waves under the moniker Janine and The Mixtape, after moving to New York and releasing her breakout EP DarkMind. Following placements on VH1's Black Ink Crew and Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta, the project soared to #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and #2 on the iTunes Top R&B/Soul Albums Chart. The single "Hold Me" reached the Top 10 on Spotify's Global Viral Charts and #1 on iTunes New Zealand, earning her a Critics' Choice nomination at the New Zealand Music Awards. Tastemakers including Complex, VIBE, Billboard, and MTV praised her sound.  In 2015, her follow-up XXEP won Best R&B Album at the New Zealand Music Awards.That same year, she toured the US for the first time, opening for the reunion of the world-renowned duo, Floetry.  In 2018, she completed her first headlining US tour Before It's Too Late and released her debut album 99, which reached the top 10 on the US iTunes R&B chart. It alsocharted on the overall US iTunes chart, hit #1 on the NZ Heatseekers chart, andreached #13 overall in New Zealand. The album featured "Unstable," which later appeared on STARZ's hit show Power. Over the years, Janine has built a fiercely loyal following through the vulnerability in her music and her deep admiration for her fans. In 2023, after several years away from performing live, she returned to the stage with a sold-out headline show at LA's iconic Troubadour. Fans lined up to meet her for hours after the show and she stayed to meet them all. That moment led to her signing with global booking agency WME and booking her first world tour, which was nothing short of a triumph. Spanning 14 cities across three continents, the tour saw multiple sold-out shows around the world. From Auckland to Amsterdam and London to Los Angeles, Janine mesmerized audiences with powerful energy, heartfelt performances, and undeniable stage presence. Each night, fans sang along passionately, proving her music has touched hearts across the globe.  Janine's upcoming album Pain and Paradise (releasing August 22, 2025) is her most personal project yet. Written in the wake of her father's unexpected passing, the album explores grief, healing, love, and joy, often within the same breath."I believe that Painand Paradise always coexist," Janine says and her work embraces both in equal measure. From heart-wrenching ballads like "Make You Proud" to vibrant, uptempo, house-influenced bangers like "Fit," the album reflects someone who has walked through fire and returned softer, stronger, and grateful to share it with the world. Whether performing in sold-out venues or recording vocals from her wardrobe, Janine continues to lead with honesty and soul. Creating a world, close to her fans, where everyone and their feelings are welcome.   

Felix Ames holds up a mirror in his music. The Milwaukee-born singer, songwriter, performer, and designer relays raw and relatable experiences back to listeners over a simmering soul soundtrack accented by R&B drip, alternative eloquence, and a hint of jazz fluidity. He candidly sings about life in a comfortable cadence with the familiarity of a close friend. Beyond generating millions of streams and views independently and earning acclaim from Earmilk, OnesToWatch, Lyrical Lemonade, and more, he might just help you see something about yourself on a series of 2023 singles and his debut project for Def Jam Recordings. "For me, the main goal of my music is to look in the mirror, and I'm inviting listeners to do the same," he affirms. "By reflecting on my life, I'm getting the truest art out of myself. I'm on a quest to understand and make sense of the world. Maybe my music will help you make better sense of it too." Growing up in Milwaukee, he developed an acute perspective by "living in between the hood and the suburbs and seeing so many different walks of life." Following his parents' divorce, he bounced back and forth between mom and dad with his brother and sister. He also leaned on the love of his neighbors and friends. "That's when I realized how much I needed a village around me," he says. "It's where I learned loyalty and to keep your family and friends close." Music would be a self-soothing mechanism. He went from spinning his old man's Stevie Wonder records to obsessing over the likes of D'Angelo, Anthony Hamilton, and Bobby Caldwell, to name a few. In college, he learned Garage Band and cultivated his voice by singing over YouTube beats. In addition to vocal lessons, he taught himself music theory and recording in the midst of the Global Pandemic. Simultaneously, he architected an immersive sonic vision. "I'm always creating and trying to express myself to the highest degree," he goes on. "I'm interested in curating people's lives. Personally, I'm doing work to be the best person I can be. Then, I'm translating this work into my artistry and hopefully giving you a bigger world to live in." Opening a doorway into his world during 2022, he initially gained traction with "Shoestring," gathering millions of streams and lighting up TikTok. He maintained his momentum with "SPF" and "7711." Attracting widespread applause, OnesToWatch christened him "one of one" and assured, "His fragrance, his style, his essence cannot be packaged nor duplicated." 2023 saw him sign to Def Jam Recordings and level up once again. Now, his next chapter begins with the single "Bend, Don't Break." The track laces a head-nodding beat with a slick bass line. He pours his heart out into the hook as he ponders, "Maybe this life we built just ain't built for me." The vocals quiver with soul, matching the overflowing energy of the final fret-burning guitar solo. "We usually start with guitar," he says. "'Bend, Don't Break' was born out of jamming. Lyrically, it's about the self-awareness of taking a mile when someone gives you an inch during any kind of relationship. You know the right thing to do, but it's hard. You're coming to terms with a complex feeling." A renaissance man himself, Felix will also be launching his own home goods line Reunion in addition to building an experiential brand. "I especially want to give black people access to elegant and intentional living that's affordable and community-based," he notes. "I want to be with you from 8am until midnight. I believe my art is also lifestyle-based. There's a lot of self-exploration, and the ensuing catharsis brought me some peace." In the end, Felix might give you a similar feeling. "I'm trying to create a community or a family," he leaves off. "Hopefully, you can listen to these songs at a cookout, or at the crib. I'm simply laying the groundwork to bring everyone together around the music."