Press Room

Below is the 2020 Sonic Spotlight lineup featuring talent selected from a field of more than 50 submissions.

Hotel WiFi, Windsor, Colorado (alternative, lo-fi)
Describing their style as "genre-queer," Hotel WiFi pulls influence from all sides of the musical spectrum to create beautiful and meaningful songs inspired by artists including Nick Drake, Modern Baseball, Xiu Xiu and Owl City.

Julia Kirkwood, Windsor, Colorado (singer-songwriter)
Bubbly and infectious but grounded in soulful understanding and bold self-revelation, 14-year-old singer-songwriter Julia Kirkwood’s music merges pop with hints of folk, rock and electronica.

Lasaylo, Greeley, Colorado (electronic, future bass)
A junior at UNC, Lasaylo, aka Bennett Mueller, started producing about a year ago and continues to explore the realms of mystical music and experimental electronic music.

Macy Warner, Fort Collins, Colorado (singer-songwriter)
Macy Warner’s writing is brutally vulnerable, and when combined with her sultry voice and depth of her Baritone Ukulele, she crafts a mesmerizing song.

Miranda Fling, Fort Collins, Colorado (indie pop, folk)
Inspired by sometimes unwanted feelings, innermost desires and the little moments of her life, Miranda Fling’s introspective indie pop explores the complexities of emotions and love.

Noah Orlowski, Berthoud, Colorado (indie)
Inspired by the music of artists including Elliott Smith and Tom Waits, Orlowski writes songs about loneliness, rejection, death and depression while playing homemade instruments into a second-hand podcast microphone.

People in General, Fort Collins, Colorado (pop, jazz)
This Fort Collins trio fuses elements of math-rock, bedroom pop, jazz and funk to deliver fun and high energy performances weaving complex sonic textures into their compositions.

TX2, Fort Collins, Colorado (punk, hip-hop)
Best known for his fast chopper flow and punk rock style, Evan Thomas, aka TX2, aims to bring true punk rock attitude into the hip-hop scene.

These eight acts will work with industry experts and creative peers to prepare for two rounds of competition. The first showcase will feature all eight participants and will air live at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 on the radio at 105.5 The Colorado Sound, and will be streamed online at coloradosound.org and kcsufm.com. The second round of competition will feature three finalists who will debut music videos as part of an online showcase on Dec. 10 on Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/1055TheColoradoSound.

A panel of experienced industry professionals will weigh in to determine which artists advance and, ultimately, who is crowned winner of Sonic Spotlight 2020. The radio and online showcases are free and open to all music fans. For more information visit sonicspotlight.org.

About Sonic Spotlight

Sonic Spotlight is designed as an annual showcase for the region’s up-and-coming musicians, and is supported by Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 105.5 The Colorado Sound and Bohemian Foundation. The program provides emerging artists ages 22-and-under from Larimer and Weld counties with an opportunity to work with industry experts, connect with creative peers, receive radio airplay, create professional music videos, win prizes and level up their music.

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Muse provides support to organizations that have popular contemporary music as their primary focus, or that have a program that centers on popular contemporary music. Through Muse, Bohemian Foundation makes awards of up to $20,000 to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Larimer and Weld Counties. Applications are accepted twice per year. Funding requests must align primarily with one of Bohemian Foundation’s Music Programs goals: to provide youth with encouragement and opportunities to express themselves through music; to help musicians and music-related businesses grow and develop; and to increase performances of live music.

Muse and Bohemian Foundation’s other responsive grantmaking programs continue to operate along scheduled timelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation will look for grant applications that meet Muse goals and guidelines. In addition, the Muse grant application asks organizations to describe their contingency plans if they request support for in-person gatherings that may not be possible due to COVID-19.

Bohemian Foundation will accept applications until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 28.

For more information or to apply for a grant, visit Bohemian Foundation’s website at bohemianfoundation.org/music-programs/muse.

About Bohemian Foundation

Bohemian Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2001. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Bohemian Foundation works to empower citizens and impact communities through its responsive grantmaking programs and special initiatives.

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Sonic Spotlight invites musicians that play any genre of original music to apply. Selected artists and bands will have opportunities to work with industry experts, connect with creative peers, receive radio airplay, create professional music videos, win prizes and level up their music. The application is free and available along with complete program information at sonicspotlight.org through the Sept. 30 application deadline. Musicians ages 22-and-under from Larimer and Weld counties are eligible to apply. Sonic Spotlight is designed as an annual showcase for the region’s up-and-coming musicians, and is supported by Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 105.5 The Colorado Sound and Bohemian Foundation.

A panel of music industry veterans will determine which artists advance, and ultimately which finalist is named winner of Sonic Spotlight 2020. The program will include sessions with industry experts to prepare participants for two rounds of competition. The first round will culminate in a radio-ready song showcase Nov. 19 on 105.5 The Colorado Sound. The second round will culminate in a music video showcase Dec. 10 on Facebook Live. All Sonic Spotlight showcases, mentorship sessions and artist opportunities during the eight-week program will be held virtually.

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Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) organization or a governmental unit serving a charitable purpose. Private foundations, type III non-functionally-integrated supporting organizations, and programs and projects under fiscal sponsorship are ineligible to apply to Pharos Fund. Applicants may apply for the following types of support: program support, general operating support or project support.

Applicants do not need to be headquartered in Fort Collins to receive funding. However, applicants must serve clients within the Poudre School District boundary or have a direct impact on individuals in the grantmaking area. To apply for a grant, visit bohemianfoundation.org/pharos-apply.

Bohemian Foundation will accept applications until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 10. Pharos Fund grant applications are considered twice per year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Applicants may request any funding amount up to $30,000 per application. For more information about Pharos Fund grants, visit bohemianfoundation.org, call 970-221-2636 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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