Caster Emerge February Finalists Announced
Play MPE’s indie artist incubator Caster Emerge is still going strong and open for submissions until February 28th (midnight PST). Our industry relations team is having a blast listening to all of the song submissions – so keep ’em coming!
Each month three finalists are selected, with one additional wild card being hand picked by the incredible Katy Krassner of Sirius XM’s WHOOOSH!.
Ten finalists will get to promote one single to radio, media and more using the leading music promotion tool Caster. Releases will be distributed to Play MPE’s NonComm and College distribution lists and each promotion includes two additional resends.
Finalists will also track their radio spins with MTR. After the finalists have each promoted and tracked their single – engagement reporting and radio airplay will be reviewed and two artists will emerge to win a year’s worth of FREE music promotion for three more singles. For more information about Caster Emerge head here.
Now let’s meet our second batch of finalists…
Desirée Dawson (Folk Pop Soul)
Photo credit: Kaela Leone
As a recording artist, songwriter, producer, facilitator, and yoga teacher, Desirée is driven by a passion for collective liberation. She is a two time SXSW music video winner and was nominated for a Juno- Award for best adult contemporary album of the year in 2022. With her powerful voice as her main instrument, Desirée often accompanies it with her baritone ukulele or body percussion and has a passion for harmonizing and singing with others. A talented singer-songwriter and genre bender who seamlessly blending folk, soul, pop, Americana, and old-time country.
ORRA (Disco Pop)
Photo credit: Reid West
The Vancouver-based indie-pop band started in 2022 and has been a on a steady trajectory ever since. ORRA, weaves narratives of youth and early adulthood with soaring vocals, swelling synthesizers and punchy drums. ORRA blends the danceable grooves of Fleetwood Mac and ABBA with a modern electro-pop feel. The band’s goal is to create music for their audience that is personal and shares a sliver of their own human experience.
Eloise Alterman (Indie Pop)
Photo credit: Casey Fuller
A self-taught pianist/guitarist who began penning soul-baring songs in her early teens, Eloise Alterman moved to Nashville alone at age 17. Her EP Sad Bird was made with multi-GRAMMY Award winning producer Dave Cobb. A newly independent artist, Eloise has been gearing up to release her new single “There She Was”, which documents the time in her life and devastation she felt after being dropped by her record label and management. The song reveals the emotional intensity Eloise experienced from her experience of the music business and later feeling abandoned.
Submissions are open until February 28, 2025.
Play MPE is all about empowering indie artists to take control of their career by providing access to the same tools music industry professionals use to get music promoted and discovered.
Visit plaympe.com/promotion/caster-emerge/ for more information. Sign up for Caster from the link in the landing page to qualify. You will then receive a link to submit YOUR song. Open to residents of North America (excluding Quebec). Read the Terms & Conditions for more details).