ONE YEAR OF ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: CELEBRATING THE FIRST SPIN

October marks a year since we launched our very first Artist Spotlight playlist on Spotify. Back then, we posted a simple callout on our social media asking artists to suggest tracks. The response was brilliant. Suggestions came in, links landed in our inbox and before long, we had a shortlist that showed just how much talent is bubbling away in the South West and beyond.

That debut playlist ended up with ten songs, 39 minutes of music that bounced between genres and voices. It introduced listeners to names like Darren Addicott, Kitty Crocker, SCALLION, Grice, Pushbike, Low Wave, Hole Tripper, No Ordinary Fish, 3 Days of Wonder, and Penny Arcade. Ten artists with different stories, but one shared cord: a love for making music that connects.

The best part was what happened next. People listened, they saved tracks. Music lovers started talking about the artists they’d just discovered. Friends sent messages about favourites. A few told us they’d gone to check out gigs after hearing a song on the playlist. That was precisely the point – a simple way to shine a light and make introductions.

It started as a simple idea. Bring the South West’s independent scene together in one place, so anyone could press play and instantly hear the sound of our region.

Since then, our Spotify playlists have evolved into a platform where:

Local legends sit alongside first releases.
New tracks land next to familiar favourites.
Fans, venues and artists discover each other through shared sound.

In a landscape where it’s getting harder for new music to be heard, curating these playlists supports music discovery, yes, but also helps to build visibility and momentum for a scene that deserves to be blaring!

Thank you to every artist who has submitted, every fan who has followed and every venue who has supported the movement.

Involving Music is not just a platform — it’s a movement to connect the dots between artists, venues, and audiences hungry for something real.

– Darren Branch

Looking back over the past year, it’s clear the playlists have become more than just collections of tracks. They’re part of how we can support independent talent. They provide a platform for listeners wanting to try something new. And they also build connections between artists, fans and venues.

We’ll keep going. Each month, new tracks will arrive, new names will join the fold and the mix will keep changing. If you were there from the start, thank you. If this is your first time tuning in, welcome. Have a listen to that original October 2024 playlist, it’s where it all began, and it still sounds fresh!

Here’s to the next year of discovery.

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– Darren Branch

Darren Branch’s first love was Heavy Metal, sparked by seeing Iron Maiden live at the Cornwall Coliseum in 1984 at the age of 13. His passion for grassroots music grew after discovering the vibrant local scene around Daylight Recording Studios in Honiton during the late 1980s. Having lived in Honiton and Exeter, Darren now lives in South Somerset and enjoys spending time in South Carolina. He stays deeply connected to the Southwest’s emerging bands—often through families that keep the scene alive. Outside music, he builds websites, reads business books, and participates in English Premier League Fantasy Football.

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