Rising Toronto-based R&B singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist LOKRE has a lot going for her. Her sterling debut album, ELIZABETH, was released last month, produced by Adrian X (Drake, The Weeknd, Doc McKinney). The album shows that LOKRE is the latest talent to emerge from one of music’s hottest cities for exceptional new music. The 11-song record showcases her abilities as a songwriter whose influences come from many right places, in particular Sade, Alicia Keys and Nelly Furtado.

For the past decade, LOKRE has been writing songs for other artists, including K-pop group TWICE. This album, though, strikes a more personal chord. As a woman of Indo-Trinidadian and Irish roots, LOKRE brings a personal tone rooted in family history.

“It pays homage to the name my mother gave me while representing a new incarnation of my artistry as LOKRE,” she says. “It is all-encompassing; musing on the past, demanding present, and serving as an offering of hope for what’s ahead.”

Prepare to be dazzled by LOKRE in her 15 Minute Live Performance! Here is the setlist followed by the set itself.

1. Sun Don’t Set
2. Finish Line
3. Say It Right (Nelly Furtado cover)
4. Something From Nothing

LOKRE is the latest artist to perform as part of our ongoing 15 Minute Live Performance series. The Grammy-nominated Marcus King performed in the last episode. Other artists who have sparkled during our 15-minute sets include Robert Finley, Neal Francis, UPSAHL, John R. Miller, Cedric Burnside, and the Grammy-nominated ensemble Cha Wa. You can watch all of the previous episodes here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

One of the more exciting new artists to emerge in the past few years is Marcus King. The axe-slinging 26-year-old has firmly established himself as one of the best voices in blues. In 2020, King released his debut album, El Dorado, produced by the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. It hit 142 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Americana Album.

Earlier this year, King released his latest album, Young Blood, again produced by Auerbach. The subject matter was far different. On the deeply personal LP, King sang about his ongoing battle with mental health and suicidal thoughts. He wasn’t sure if he was going to make it past the recording of the album.

More from Spin:

• Marcus King Talks New Album On ‘Lipps Service’
• Marcus King on Exploring Mental Health With New Album Mood Swings
• ‘Family, Y’all’: Gary Clark Jr., Marcus King Rock SPIN Show at Emo’s

“I wanted the music to be as intense as the shit I was going through mentally,” King told us earlier this year. He was right, and the result is another quantum leap forward.

King fought off his demons, is getting married, and is playing to the largest crowds of his career. And now, instead of watching him dazzle crowds on the big stages, you can watch this intimate stripped-down performance.

King is the latest artist to perform as part of our ongoing 15 Minute Live Performance series. In the last episode, we had rising singer-songwriter Erin Rae perform. Other artists who have sparkled during our 15-minute sets include Robert Finley, Neal Francis, UPSAHL, John R. Miller, Cedric Burnside, and the Grammy-nominated ensemble Cha Wa. You can watch all of the previous episodes here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

In June, rising R&B singer-songwriter Jordan Hawkins gave us a glimpse into what a typical day in his life is like. The North Carolina native’s experience isn’t like your usual artist. Before diving into the deep end of pursuing music, Hawkins worked in finance with the goal of becoming an investment banker.

But, like all good plans, life sometimes gets in the way. Hawkins, who first started singing as a kid in his church choir, is inspired by a number of multi-faceted guitar-slaying artists, including Prince, Jimi Hendrix, and John Mayer. Having left North Carolina behind, Hawkins now resides in Los Angeles and recently released his debut EP, Heart Won’t Stop, which is a strong sign of things to come from this rising artist.

More from Spin:

• A Day in the Life of… Jordan Hawkins

Accompanied by Stari on bass, Charles Nutrivore on keys, and Hawkins handling guitar and vocals, the trio, collectively known as NAIVE, performed an intimate three-song set. In it, they showed off the chemistry that will have people talking about them in the not-too-distant future.

Here’s the setlist:

Risky
We Have
Untitled (D’Angelo cover)

Jordan Hawkins and company are the latest artists to perform as part of our ongoing 15 Minute Live Performance series. In the last episode, we had rising singer-songwriter Erin Rae perform. Other artists who have dazzled during our 15-minute sets include Robert Finley, Neal Francis, UPSAHL, John R. Miller, Cedric Burnside and the Grammy-nominated ensemble Cha Wa. You can watch all of the previous episodes here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Erin Rae is one of our favorite artists to emerge in the past year. The singer-songwriter is one of Nashville’s finest rising talents. Her breakthrough album, Lighten Up, produced by Jonathan Wilson, is shaping the latest generation of cosmic country.

Earlier this year, we spoke with the 31-year-old and she explained to us how everything came together, from a creative and mental wellness place. “I think I have realized in the last couple of years, I was born with a certain set of anxious tendencies. Kind of an overactive, maybe hypervigilant mind. But then I also got to learn that I can sing, and that has always provided a soothing antidote to my brain.”

More from Spin:

• Light of Day

In her 15 Minute Live Performance, she showcases her earnest songwriting and her outstanding ability to connect through live performance.

Here’s the setlist:

1. California Belongs To You
2. Cosmic Sigh
3. Modern Woman
4. Four Strong Winds [Ian Tyson cover]

In our last session, we featured singer-songwriter WYATT. Born Wyatt Sanders, the guy does it all, literally. He’s a songwriter, producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist who can dazzle with the best of them. Other artists who have dazzled during our 15-minute sets include Robert Finley, Neal Francis UPSAHL, John R. Miller, Cedric Burnside and the Grammy-nominated ensemble Cha Wa. You can watch all of the previous episodes here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Tulsa has an interesting history musically. It has the Woody Guthrie Museum and soon will have one dedicated to Bob Dylan. In addition to that and being the home of The Outsiders, some great singer-songwriters have emerged from the Oklahoma city. The latest is Wyatt.

Born Wyatt Sanders, the guy does it all, literally. He’s songwriter, producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. His work includes “Wish” by Diplo and Trippie Redd that went platinum, “Needed” by iann dior, “ENDZ” by 88GLAM, which he co-produced with Daytrip. Not too shabby!

As great as those accolades are, WYATT is pretty great on his own. His incorporation of distinct melody is prevalent in his own material as well. That is on full display in his 15 Minute Live Performance, which includes a cover of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy.”

Here’s the setlist:

Hate My Life
Jealous Guy (John Lennon cover)
Everything Has Changed

In our last session, we featured The Wanderers, an Australian band on the rise on the strength of their SXSW performances. Other artists who have dazzled during our 15-minute sets include Robert Finley, Neal Francis UPSAHL, John R. Miller, Cedric Burnside and the Grammy-nominated ensemble Cha Wa. You can watch all of the previous episodes here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Australia has a rich history of blessing the rest of the world with terrific bands. The Wanderers could be the latest band to follow in that tradition. The band dazzled at several SXSW showcase events last week, showing audiences in Austin what they’re fully capable of when armed and operated.

Don’t say we didn’t tell you because we did! A few weeks ago, we caught up with the band’s Dusty Lee Stephensen in our A Day in the Life feature. He filled us in on what you will hopefully know in due time.

“Your favorite albums from Dad’s record collection, that you only listen to while he’s out because you don’t want him to know you think it’s cool,” Stephenson said It’s a bit of everything really. Funk, soul, neo-soul, disco, fuzzy guitars, sax lines, harmonies… it’s all the shit we like to hear on records, put into our own music in whatever way we sit fit.”

Sounds good, right?

Here’s the setlist:

“Nothing in this World”
“Malibu”
“Never Too Much” – Luther Vandross
“Penny”

In our last session, we featured Neal Francis, an artist who has dominated indie and alternative radio for the better part of the past six months. Other artists who have dazzled during our 15-minute sets include Robert Finley, UPSAHL, John R. Miller, Cedric Burnside and the Grammy-nominated ensemble Cha Wa. You can watch all of the previous episodes here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

If there’s a name that you best be aware of in 2022, it’s Neal Francis. Ever since the Chicago-based musician teased out tracks of his new album, In Plain Sight, late last year, he’s been an absolute tear. “Problems,” Francis’ the groovy, laidback earworm has been a fixture across SiriusXM’s rock channels because of the way it seamlessly checks every box on what a good rock song should sound like. And the results speak for themselves. Francis is playing before his biggest audiences yet and is not only an artist on the rise, he’s an artist that’s there.

Rewinding for a second, when we caught up with Francis in our Day in the Life feature, he outlined exactly what his process is. As he said in that feature, “Soul, R&B, funk, rock, disco, psychedelia, classical: All of those in a mix. I usually tell people it’s rock ‘n roll. Glide funk.” What else can you ask for? Seriously.

More from Spin:

• Neal Francis Returns to Zero
• Wilco, Neal Francis Release Live Version of ‘Theologians’
• A Day in the Life of…Neal Francis

Here’s the setlist from Neal Francis’ performance:

Problems
Rain
Asleep
Feel Like Makin’ Love – Roberta Flack cover

Francis joins an impressive array of musicians who performed in our ongoing 15 Live Performance series. We recently had rising singer-songwriter AJA and veteran country-rockers The Delevantes on. Other artists who have dazzled during these 15-minute sets include Robert Finley, UPSAHL, John R. Miller, Cedric Burnside and the Grammy-nominated ensemble Cha Wa. You can watch all of the previous episodes here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

In our ongoing 15 Minute Live Performance series, we’ve featured a lot of great talent from north of the border. Today, AJA is the latest Canadian artist who has captured our attention. Whatever is going on up in Canada is pretty strong. Anyway, her musical chops are very impressive. And guess what? AJA is only 17. Yes, your eyes don’t deceive you. This talented artist is barely able to drive.

Yet, when you listen to her, her voice and songwriter has the maturity of someone far beyond her years. Blending her astute pop sensibility with a splash of modern R&B, AJA’s sharp and oftentimes personal lyrics pack a punch and manage to light up your ears in the process as well.

Here’s the setlist from AJA’s performance:

Better Off Without You
Love at First Song (Unreleased)
Big Girls Don’t Cry (Fergie Cover)
Red Button

AJA joins a growing number of musicians who have performed in our burgeoning live series. Foy Vance, Robert Finley, UPSAHL, John R. Miller, Cedric Burnside and the Grammy-nominated ensemble Cha Wa have all featured. You can watch all of the previous episodes here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Nashville-based country-rock outfit The Delevantes are the brainchild of two New Jersey-born brothers, Mike and Bob, raised on strong harmonies, something that’s a key component to their own sound. Releasing a debut album back in 1995, The Delevantes were part of the first wave of what’s now known as Americana. The band’s contemporaries were Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Son Volt, the Jayhawks.

As for 2021? Well, The Delevantes show no sign of slowing down, releasing their new album, A Thousand Turns, at the end of the year. In this 15 Minute Live Performance, the brothers go back to their roots. They’re joined by E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent, who lends his, er, considerable talents to the set. (He also produced the band’s first album Long About That Time in 1995 that was released on Rounder Records.)

More from Spin:

• Alone Again, Naturally

The Delevantes have released several albums since those early days, but A Thousand Turns is their first in two decades.

The Delevantes join Foy Vance to kick off the 2022 edition of 15 Minute Live Performances. Robert Finley, UPSAHL, John R. Miller, Cedric Burnside and the Grammy-nominated ensemble Cha Wa have all featured. You can watch all of the previous episodes here. You’re welcome.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Welcome to 2022 and with another year of 15 Minute Live Performances by our favorite artists. This week, Foy Vance. Over the past few years, the mustached singer-songwriter has dazzled audiences in his home of Northern Ireland and beyond. His brand of accessible folk has made him a staple on indie, college and satellite radio, and he has won over fans on the alternative and coffeehouse circuit too.

Last September, Vance released his latest studio album, Signs of Life, which is another remarkable step forward for the 48-year-old.

More from Spin:

• A Day in the Life of…Foy Vance

He tackles his demons through his songs. Written during the pandemic, Vance honestly addresses his past issues of addiction, in particular alcohol and painkillers. For the first time in 20 years, the songwriter was stuck at home, not able to tour as the lockdown took hold.

Thus, what better way to get his creative angst out than by performing in this stripped-down set, which includes a cover of Lionel Richie’s “Easy Like Sunday Morning.” Because life never is.

Here’s the setlist.

1. Signs Of Life
2. If Christopher Calls
3. Easy Like Sunday Morning

Vance joins a growing number of musicians who have performed in our burgeoning live series. Robert Finley, UPSAHL, John R. Miller, Cedric Burnside and the Grammy-nominated ensemble Cha Wa have all featured. You can watch all of previous episodes here.

Check out Vance’s performance below and he’ll be hitting the road in the U.S. this spring, which you see the dates here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.