A weekend trip to the Smoky Mountains has resulted in the latest collaboration between UnderDogs.
Nicólas Soul teamed up with fellow hip hop artist and UMC Academy Faculty member Foundation Mecca on “smoky blues,” from the former’s latest full-length project, RISE OF THE LOST. Last weekend, the duo drove to eastern Tennessee to bless us with some visuals to go alongside the contemplative single.
“smoky blues” is dedicated to the memory of Bryce Evans, whose body was found in a remote location within Smoky Mountain National Park after going missing for five days. The verses recall the ways we experience and cope with pain in today’s society — whether through the news, or in our everyday lives. Through it all, the message is clear: every single one of us has scars. The bravest among us face them once they are brought to light.
“smoky blues” was produced by mangiiia, with the chorus performed by vocalists Shelby Conquest and Gianni Cashtro. Watch the video below!
UPDATE: As of press time, Foundation Mecca’s other most recent collaboration with Stefan Heuer on “I’ve Done Wrong” has eclipsed 44,000 streams across platforms, less than two weeks after release. In addition, Foundation’s monthly Spotify listener count has skyrocketed to more than 24,000 since release.
Pictured: The Toronto skyline from the top floor of Hotel X — one of the many places we traveled throughout 2025 as a result of trusting the process.
True depth and meaning cannot be manufactured. It must be developed in the process.
The process of creating. The process of being. The process of experiencing life with no attachment to outcomes. When we try to force the meaning, or control the result of each moment and interaction, we lose something very important: the opportunity for a beautiful, unique story to weave itself out of the ether and into the fabric of our existence.
Think about moments when things have gone well. Did you take those moments in stride, as positive feedback that the journey you’re on is the right one? That the process you’ve put into place is working? Or, did you see those moments as the ultimate triumph; the finish line you’ve been waiting to cross, only to find that life still goes on, with or without us.
Even in moments when our dreams come true, the sun still rises the next day. Don’t get caught dreaming too long, or you’ll miss what’s next.
The same goes for our unfavorable outcomes. Do you dwell on them? Do you resent people, places, or situations for not giving you what you want? Were you so attached to the outcome that you forgot to savor the experience or learn the lesson? Or, did you take *those* moments in stride as evidence that it might be time to try something different?
Did you regret trying those different things, or did they lead to cherished memories, aligned and supportive new relationships, and amazing experiences — all of which you’d never have had, had you gotten what you wanted in the first place?
No matter the outcome, there is beauty we can only see once we’ve learned to trust the process.
There is great humility (and opportunity for personal growth) in the realization that you’ve messed up.
Stefan Heuer investigates his side of the conflict on “I’ve Done Wrong,” a slick, gorgeous piece of modern pop featuring a verse from UMC UnderDogFoundation Mecca.
Produced by Fabian Balz and Porter Hall, “I’ve Done Wrong” is a contrite mid-tempo tune which calls to mind the sleepless nights we’ve all spent, ruminating on things unsaid and the ways we’ve fallen short. Heuer — with an assist from the Heal Hop architect — provides us all with an opportunity to reflect, while acknowledging that accountability, self-reflection, and forgiveness are all necessary stops on the road to reconciliation.
At press time, “I’ve Done Wrong” has already accumulated nearly 10,000 total in just four days after its release. Once you listen, we have a feeling you’ll want to run those numbers up even more!
More instructors. More subjects. More opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with the music industry.
We’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the world, learning from independent artists and industry professionals alike. A common thread in these conversations? While there are countless people with talent across the musical landscape, talent is only part of the equation.
The modern creative landscape makes being an independent artist so much more complex than write-record-release-perform-succeed-repeat. Embarking upon a career in the music industry requires us to challenge ourselves in new and evolving ways. We must learn how to communicate our messages, foster genuine relationships, and create opportunities. Building a career as an independent creative means keeping an open mind to possibility, a willingness to learn new skills, and the ability work in community with others moving in a similar fashion.
We’ve built that community — and it’s full of professionals who are ready to equip you with everything you need, as you scale the mountain toward your creative destiny!
Introducing UMC Academy 2.0
Our revamped UMC Academy gives you the power to build your own curriculum, based on your needs at this point of your creative journey. Our Faculty is skilled, well-versed, and successful in a variety of disciplines across the entertainment landscape — and they’re here to pay their knowledge forward!
Each UMC Academy Faculty member gives you the option to join them on a free discovery call, giving you the opportunity to share what you’re working on, while helping them understand how they can best serve you. From there, you and your Faculty member work together to decide your best path forward, developing a roadmap for greater success and visibility in the greater creative landscape.
Click the image below to meet our new UMC Academy Faculty!
One of Greater Nashville’s most exciting opportunities for emerging hip hop artists is back for another year.
Barz in the Boro — a monthly showcase held at Cedar Glade Brews in Murfreesboro — returns tonight (Jan. 3) with an all-new lineup featuring some of Nashville’s most notable emcees.
The showcase, hosted by Nashville hip hop veterans E.T. and Raw Proof, is “designed to shine a light on performers, build connections within the culture, and bring something fresh and exciting” on the first Saturday of each month. Barz in the Boro features a curated lineup of performers, a freestyle cypher, and DJ Know Name on the 1s and 2s.
A New Year has begun, and with it, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to connect with the music industry (and the creative world at large) throughout 2026.
We have seen first-hand that venturing out into the world and exploring the greater creative landscape can be transformative, leading to new ideas, partnerships, and collaborations that will elevate not only your creative platform, but those of the people around you. Not to mention, traveling gives you an opportunity to see new places, meet new people, and create unforgettable experiences.
With that, we’re here to give you a list of some of our favorite music industry conferences and festivals that will be well worth your time to check out in 2026.
You know about this one, right? Going strong since 1987, SXSW is the crossroads where creatives from all over the world come together to push creativity, technology, and society forward. Music is still very much a core component of the annual conference and festival.
The networking opportunities at SXSW — and all throughout Austin that week — are second to none. In our travels last year, we connected with so many new friends and collaborators whom either led to or enhanced our involvement in some of the other events on this list. If you’re looking for a tone-setter to kick your year into overdrive, this is the one!
A brand-new conference from the folks at Jump Global, Hits Home bills itself as “your space to reconnect — with the music, the mission, and the community that makes it all possible.” While speakers and schedule details are still forthcoming, the conference promises an alternative approach, pledging to“feature people and perspectives instead of topic-specific panels” alongside surprise moments peppered throughout the experience. Color us intrigued!
This also fills an important need in the Nashville landscape. With Music Biz migrating to Atlanta last year (and with other planned locations in the works), Nashville was left without a music conference that isn’t genre-specific. Hits Home has the potential to become Music City’s signature industry event.
Now in its second year as the re-imagined Canadian Music Week, Departure presents an opportunity to learn everything there is to know about the music industry North of the Border. The conference’s programming continues to expand, with seven planned conference tracks spanning music, technology, marketing, and more. Speakers at last year’s conference included Bryan Adams, Shaggy, Lindsay Ell, Chantal Kreviazuk, and many more.
In similar fashion to its U.S.-based cousin, SXSW London provides a global stage for the creators driving society forward. Based in Shoreditch in the heart of East London, this event (and the city in which its based) provides you and your music a gateway to the other side of Planet Earth, as well as an opportunity to discover new artists and iconic venues.
Musikfest (Bethlehem, PA) July 31-August 9 (Conference Aug. 2-4)
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without the nation’s largest free, non-gated music festival (and the pride and joy of our original hometown)!
Now in its 43rd year, Musikfest features close to 500 free performances by independent artists from over the world, as well as a full slate of renowned headliners every year. This year also marks the return of the Musikfest Music Industry Conference, a three-day opportunity to network, learn, and connect within the music industry. (Did we mention that we’re already planning to be involved?)
Heading a bit further into Ontario, this three-day, all-indie festival has become a staple of our year. A community-grown effort started by Russ and Valerie Robson, Gussapolooza features three stages, a vendor and artisan village, educational opportunities, on-site camping, and plenty of opportunities to connect before, during, and after festival hours. Not to mention, the lineup always provides a healthy sampling of North America’s hungriest, most talented independent artists. Our summer simply wouldn’t be complete without this one!
The Queen City is alive with arts and culture, and Confluence does an excellent job bringing the region’s top creative minds together to explore the many gems Charlotte has to offer. Of course, this occurs within the greater context of music industry education, with Charlotte’s reputation as a financial powerhouse playing a key role in helping independent artists and other changemakers move toward building sustainable careers.
NOLA MusiCon (New Orleans, LA) Dates TBD (Late October)
For the past two years, NOLA MusiCon has served as our grand tour finale. You can bet that we’ll be back again for the third consecutive year!
NOLA MusiCon brings professionals from across the musical world to the Big Easy. Attendees have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the city’s unique culture while learning from some of the best and brightest the industry has to offer. Overall, NOLA MusiCon combines New Orleans’ rich cultural heritage with the latest industry knowledge, all while advocating for a richer and more diverse music ecosystem.
Previous speakers include Nardwuar the Human Serviette, Dawn Richard, Samantha Fish, Todd Rundgren, and many more.
As the world has been turning, we’ve been celebrating this incredible year, and getting ready for what’s next, the UnderDogs have been hard at work churning out new material here in Q4.
Let’s check out what some of the members of our community have been up to lately…
Artist: Amelia Ray Video: Pretending to Read Released: December 4, 2025 What you should know: The visual companion to Amelia’s July single, ‘Pretending to Read’ was filmed and recorded at San Francisco’s Women’s Audio Mission. Ever-attentive to detail — this song recalls all of her observations from behind a book during a train ride — Amelia has us attempting to decode the symbolism behind the stack of books In addition, her expressive performance behind the microphone has us hanging on every lyric — making us believers that, aside from what’s taking place in front of her eyes, our protagonist has a lot to process.
Artist: Kelsey Muse Song: Whispers Released: November 14, 2025 What you should know: As promoted on The Quinn Spinn (and released as a direct purchase-only single last month prior to hitting streaming platforms), “Whispers” is about letting the people keep talking as you carry about your business. Society might make a lot of noise, but moving with purpose holds the key to drowning it out.
Artist: Yonna Jones Song: ABUNDANCE Released: October 17, 2025 What you should know: As ‘SUNRISE’ greeted us with the promise of a new day earlier this year, ‘ABUNDANCE’ represents high noon in the realm of new opportunities. Jones’ delivery is lightning-quick on the track, and her confidence shines as she makes it clear that her success is not just possible; it’s inevitable.
We exist in a music industry that seeks to convince artists and consumers alike that efficiency and optimization matter more than truth; that creating as a means to an end is more important than the sanctity of the creative process itself.
For years, the industry-prescribed blueprint for artist success has been as follows: Chase trends. Go viral. Write and record the music that we know will sell, regardless of what *you* want to pursue creatively. Oh, and get those social and streaming numbers up. Otherwise, we won’t take you seriously, and we won’t even have a productive conversation with you in the first place.
Oh, and that’s not even getting into all of this AI stuff. Personally, I’m not against AI as a companion tool to enhance your business processes. For example, if you need something to help optimize your email marketing process, so you can get back to what you’re *actually* here to create – and you can’t afford to hire a human – it’s reasonable to delegate that work to your hypervirtual assistant. In that case, you’ll free up time to focus on your piece of this – the creation itself.
However, this notion that AI could somehow *replace* the artist – that, for the sake of optimization, it can and should be used to generate music, images, video, and tell the stories that human artists have been telling for centuries – is a slap to the collective face of creators everywhere. The art that inspires us (and whose data exists within these servers to be replicated, not duplicated, and certainly never improved upon) was created from genuine human experiences by living creative beings. Each song, image, novel, or film tells the story of the individual moment and its own unique conditions – events that can only truly be experienced alongside other living things, and the world in which we live.
But, I digress…
The over-optimization of the creative process – where the focus is not on connection, but consumption – is at odds with the innovative spirit of the independent artist. Straighten up, fly right, and do what we say… or we’ll just find the next person who will, and you’ll be left fighting Spotify for fractions of a cent with all of your other aUtHeNtIc, oRiGiNaL indie buddies.
Feels hopeless, doesn’t it? Especially when you consider that those who put this structure in place are also the ones who hold the cards…
…under this model of the industry.
We need an alternative.
The industry is in dire need of people with fresh ideas. The artists have them. They’re the ones who have observed from the bottom of the totem pole for as long as there has been a music industry. They’re crafty, resourceful, and they know what it takes to persevere and keep going. They’ve also seen everything that’s wrong with this version of the music industry, and therefore, have the best perspective on how to make it better.
Artists understand business. They understand that, to build your passion into a career, it takes more than just talent, good looks, or a viral moment. It takes waking up every morning – sometimes after a long night – and putting in consistent effort over years. Decades, even. It takes balancing the creative process with other jobs, school, business responsibilities, relationships, family obligations, and their own checkbooks. It means a lot of trial and error; each time they get something wrong, big or small, they must learn to trust themselves all over again, and strive to get it just a little more right the next time.
You want dedication? You want commitment? You want someone who has meticulously developed a versatile skillset? Someone who is going to keep working, and who will keep getting back up every time they’re knocked down? Look to your local independent artist. A savvy one is the best business partner you could ever have.
Oh… and did I mention that they’re the reason we even *have* an industry in the first place? There is no art without artists. And there certainly wouldn’t be any AI slop without them, either.
The artists deserve seats at the table, and we all need to hear what they have to say.
As we head into 2026, Underground Music Collective pledges to provide a forum for these artists. Through our multimedia content, live experiences, expanding suite of Artistpreneur services, and travels to music industry events across multiple continents, we will elevate our creative community to have their music and their voices heard around the musical world.
Here in Nashville, 2026 also provides an opportunity to enhance our ability to serve the local community with our own dedicated physical creation spaces. Updates on that project are expected soon.
Thank you for making 2025, without question, our Best Year Ever. We’ve loved every minute.
If you loved that, though? Wait until you see what’s to come.
As 2025 winds into its final days, we’ve caught a glimpse of some of the excitement to come in the New Year — including some taking place around our original stomping grounds.
Our friends at ArtsQuest have announced the return of the Musikfest Music Industry Conference, taking place August 2-4, 2026 inside of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in our original hometown of Bethlehem, PA. The conference — which will take place in the middle of Musikfest, the nation’s largest free, non-gated music festival — promises to offer “interactive sessions, cutting-edge technology demos, inspiring keynotes, and real-world insights designed to bridge the worlds of music education and today’s evolving industry,” according to ArtsQuest’s official website.
Full lineup details are forthcoming, but key presenters and supporting organizations have been announced, including:
Keynote Speaker: Dr. David Cutler, acclaimed author of The Savvy Musician and The Savvy Music Teacher.
The Museum of Music Technology Powered by EMEAPP: Discover how electronic instruments, live production, and classroom integration are transforming the sound of tomorrow.
Underground Music Collective (that’s us!): Learn how to Build Your Authentic Artist Brand and stand out in today’s music landscape.
In addition, ArtsQuest has announced several key program additions, expanding from the inaugural edition of the conference in 2024. These include:
Band Showcase Program: Selected youth and emerging bands (ages 10–adult) will receive coaching, perform on an official Musikfest stage and receive live feedback from talent buyers, agents and producers. Submissions will open in October.
The Green Room Mentorship Lounge: One-on-one and small group mentorship with industry veterans, modeled after NAMM’s “Networking with the Pros”.
Museum Collaboration: A pop-up exhibit in partnership with the Museum of Music Technology highlighting the history of sonic innovation.
Conferences passes are on sale now for the Early Bird rate of $150 until March 1. After that, the price of a regular badge will increase to $175. Students, ArtsQuest members, and 2026 Musikfest performers receive discounted badges for just $100. For more information, visit the conference webpage.
