Their paths crossed thanks to Ivan Halen-Semeria, WheelUP’s manager and a curator on Groover, who discovered Joannie’s music on the platform and recognised the potential for something special. After hearing her distinctive voice, WheelUP reached out with a selection of unreleased productions. Joannie responded with vocal ideas that immediately sparked a creative connection.

The result? New collaborative tracks in development for WheelUP’s upcoming album, demonstrating how a digital platform can lead to genuine artistic relationships and music that might never have existed otherwise.

We spoke to both artists about their musical identities, the power of collaboration, their experience with Groover and what comes next.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Joannie Labelle:
I’m Joannie Labelle, a singer, percussionist, songwriter, producer, explorer of rhythm, and nature lover.

Rhythm and melodies have always felt like home to me. I grew up in Canada in a family where music was highly valued. We danced to it, sang it, played it. It was everywhere and important.

Over the years, my journey has taken me across different countries, musical cultures and collaborations that have shaped the way I create. Every experience leaves a little imprint on my music. In a way, it’s a form of journaling for me.

I’m endlessly curious. What happens if a Cuban rhythm meets electronic textures? What if my voice stays soft on a bold track? That’s usually where my fun begins.

WheelUP:
I’m Danny Wheeler, also known as WheelUP. I’m a Zimbabwean-British producer, DJ and artist based in West London. I’ve been involved in underground music for many years, originally releasing drum & bass as Danny Wheeler before creating WheelUP as a home for my love of broken beat, bruk, jazz, soul, house, UK funky, UKG and Afro-influenced rhythms.

My music has been released through Tru Thoughts, Laurent Garnier’s COD3 QR, Liquid V and other independent labels. I’ve also performed at festivals and venues including Worldwide Festival, Glastonbury, We Out Here, Love Supreme, Tate Modern and Jazz Café.

Can you tell us about your musical project?

Joannie Labelle:
My project, my songs, are rooted in rhythm, but they reach for emotions, feelings and dreams. I blend percussion with intimate songwriting and electronic production.

I love instinctive writing. That’s how I start my lyrics and melodies most of the time. Every release is another little piece of my story, trying to reach out to other individuals like me.

WheelUP:
WheelUP represents the “West London Sound” genre and the musical culture that shaped me. The project connects broken beat with jazz, soul, house, hip-hop, funk and sounds from across the African diaspora.

Collaboration is a major part of the project. I enjoy bringing together different vocalists, musicians and producers and seeing what happens when our musical worlds meet. Connecting through music is a big thing for me.

How would you describe your music, and what are the best conditions for discovering it?

Joannie Labelle:
I’d say my music is rhythmic, dreamy, organic, electronic… human. Sometimes polished, sometimes chaotic.

The best way to discover it is probably to sit down comfortably with something pleasing to drink. Then start listening to my album or EP from beginning to end, because I really take the time to feel and imagine a journey for the listener. I try to create a travelling experience through music. But you should have some space around you to make a few dance moves here and there!

WheelUP:
The music is rhythm, soul and feeling. For me, it’s all about positive vibrations through music and sharing that energy. I’m influenced by UK club music, but I have an international mindset: world music meets UK club culture.

A powerful sound system and an open-minded dancefloor are probably the perfect conditions for me.

How did you discover Groover, and what convinced you to use the platform?

Joannie Labelle:
I remember looking for ways to promote my music as an independent artist. I’m so glad I found Groover. What attracted me was how direct the process is. Instead of wondering if my music disappears into the internet forever, I know I’m actually reaching people who are genuinely listening.

I was really pleased to find curators there who truly supported me and my releases.

WheelUP:
My connection to Groover came through my manager, Ivan Halen-Semeria, who is a curator on the platform. Ivan is a wonderful person and, as well as managing me, he’s the co-owner of Worldwide Festival with Gilles Peterson.

Ivan discovered Joannie’s music through Groover, heard something distinctive in her voice and musical personality, and felt that our worlds could work together.

He then introduced us directly. I listened to Joannie’s music, immediately heard the potential and sent her a selection of my unreleased productions.

What opportunities have you had through Groover?

Joannie Labelle:
Groover has helped me connect with many playlist curators and diverse music professionals.

Among other opportunities, I’ve been added to a playlist that skyrocketed my song “On prend le thé.”

More recently, I got in touch with Ivan Halen-Semeria from Worldwide Festival, who manages DJ WheelUP. Ivan has been really generous in connecting us. I was very pleased when WheelUP asked me to record some vocals for him. I really liked the tracks.

Now the songs will be released on Tru Thoughts Recordings, a truly surprising turn of events. That’s really amazing!

WheelUP:
The most important opportunity was an authentic artistic connection rather than simply receiving feedback or promotion.

Joannie responded creatively to 2 unreleased WheelUP productions. She recorded vocal ideas and sent me the individual stems, which allowed me to develop and reshape the tracks from my side.

The chemistry worked straight away. I loved the originality and beauty that her vocals added. I subsequently shared the music with my label, Tru Thoughts, who responded very positively to Joannie’s voice and the overall musical direction. The tracks are now being developed as part of the creative process around my next WheelUP album.

It’s a great example of how a digital platform can lead to a real human connection and new music that would not otherwise have existed.

What upcoming projects and news would you like to share?

Joannie Labelle:
I’m currently working on new songs, and I’m incredibly excited about them. I’m trying to push the limits of percussion, soft vocals and electronics coexisting. I’ve also been working hard on my production, vocals and mixes. They should be out by next winter at the latest.

And, of course, there are the tracks with WheelUP. He’s mixing the songs right now, and I can’t wait to hear them and celebrate the release on Tru Thoughts Recordings.

I’m also releasing a new single, “Mantra (Let it Go)”, on November 27, 2026, across all platforms. It’s an independent release published by Dachshund Music (35 Grad Music & Publishing GmbH).

WheelUP:
I’m currently working on my fourth WheelUP album for Tru Thoughts, with new collaborations and a continued exploration of the relationship between broken beat, jazz, soulful house and African-influenced club music.

I also have my remix of Manu Dibango’s “Sun Explosion” coming through Soul Makossa, new music with Kathy Brown through Laurent Garnier’s COD3 QR, and collaborative music in development with Roni Size. I also have a new collaboration in progress with Gilles Peterson.

Alongside the releases, I’m continuing to develop WheelUP as both a DJ project and a live experience across the UK, Europe and North America.

What advice would you give to artists starting a musical project?

Joannie Labelle:
Protect your own voice. People will tell you what they think works, what you should do, how to sing, how to dress. Forget it. Just do what sounds and feels good to you.

That’s where the joy and the pride are: creating music that’s yours, with your own colours and identity. Be brave, and trust your gut.

WheelUP:
Follow your heart. Don’t play for the algorithm. Develop your own musical identity over time, and don’t be afraid to be different.

Build a team of positive people around you to support each other and believe in yourself, regardless of whether you have 0 fans or a million. Do what you do and enjoy it first for yourself.

Be patient. When the right people connect, as happened with Joannie, the music usually tells you very quickly that there’s something worth developing.

Any final words?

Joannie Labelle:
Thank you so much for supporting independent artists and music. I am very grateful that a platform like Groover exists, and I hope that people with a deep love for music will continue to connect there and make the music scene and industry more sensitive and open.

Thank you!

WheelUP:
Thank you to Groover for creating a great platform that has led to this connection, and to Ivan for recognising that Joannie and I could make something special together.

Most importantly, thank you to Joannie for trusting me and the music, and for bringing such a beautiful voice to it.

This feels like the beginning of a positive collaboration.

L’article From Groover to the studio: how Joannie Labelle and WheelUP found a creative connection est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

Nothing. Not a single stream.

Often the playlist is the problem, more than your track.

A Spotify playlist can show a huge counter and receive almost no traffic. That counter adds up years of accumulated subscriptions and says nothing about what is happening this week. And since the follower count is the only public number, it is the one everybody uses to decide.

At Stulyo we have indexed close to three million Spotify playlists, and we record the followers of more than 100,000 of them every day, the ones with a real audience that show up in the rankings. Here is some of what we see.

The follower count tells you almost nothing

Let’s start with the counterpoint.

Among the playlists in our index above 100,000 followers, four out of five never appear in any search result. Not once in a week. Someone typing a keyword into Spotify will never see them.

The link between size and visibility exists, but it is far weaker than people think:

Followers, and the share that appears in search:

100,000 and up: 19.7 %

10,000 to 99,999: 12.0 %

1,000 to 9,999: 9.6 %

200 to 999: 5.1 %

Under 200: 0.7 %

Stulyo measurements, US market, first week of September 2026.

Look closely. Take a playlist with 1,000 followers and multiply its size by a hundred. Its odds of being found do not even double.

The counter measures a past, visibility is happening now.

Good news if you are starting out: the spot is not bought in followers.

Why a huge playlist can be found by nobody

Three explanations come back constantly.

The counter never goes down. A listener who subscribed three years ago and never opens the playlist again is still counted today. Spotify adds up everything that came in and erases nothing. The number on screen is a historical total. A playlist can have had its moment in 2023 and been deserted ever since.

Bought traffic stops with the budget. Some large playlists filled up through paid promotion (Meta Ads, TikTok Ads, and so on). It works, as long as the campaigns run. The day the budget stops, the followers already won stay on display, but new arrivals stop dead. The playlist keeps its window and loses its flow. And nothing on screen lets you tell the two apart.

The name matches no search. A playlist called “Vibes” or “my daily” describes nothing anyone would type into a search bar. It can have 400,000 followers inherited from a viral share, it will never be an entry point for a new listener. The playlists people find carry the words people search for in their name.

In all three cases, the result for you is the same: your track lands in a full room with the door closed.

“But the big curators run ads, so it works”

The objection is fair, and the numbers answer it.

Among the large playlists that do show up in search, nearly four out of ten hold the top 3 on their keyword. They buy traffic and they also hold their position.

The two feed each other. Ads bring people in, people produce signals, signals help the ranking, and the ranking brings people in for free. It is a loop, and the best run it both ways.

Except only one of the two wheels keeps turning when you stop paying. And it is the only one you can turn without a budget.

Signal 1: does it show up in search

This is the most direct signal, and the most overlooked.

A playlist that appears nowhere only reaches the followers it already has. It recruits nobody, and your track will be heard by the people who were already there.

And it does not take much to hold the first page. Among the playlists holding the top ten spots, the median sits around 4,500 followers, and a quarter of them have fewer than 700.

A playlist with 800 followers that ranks first on its keyword is worth more to you than one with 200,000 that nobody finds.

How to check: open Spotify, type the keyword that best describes the playlist you are targeting, filter on Playlists. See whether it is there. Do it again on two or three different wordings. If it shows up on none of them, you know its traffic no longer comes from search.

Signal 2: the slope, not the level

A follower count is a photograph, when what you need is the film.

Across the playlists we track with full history, seven out of ten have not moved in a month. Less than 2 % variation. They are still running, without recruiting anyone.

A playlist gaining followers is a playlist people find, share, and the algorithm pushes. That is the one that will bring your track listeners who do not know you yet. That is the whole point of the exercise.

How to check: note the follower count, come back in two weeks. It is manual and, on a list of ten playlists, it takes a few minutes. If the number has not moved, you have your answer.

Signal 3: freshness

This one needs no tool.

Look at the date of the last tracks added. A playlist updated eight months ago has no active curator behind it. Your track may well be added, without appearing in anyone’s feed, and Spotify will not push the playlist.

Look at its length too. In a playlist of 800 tracks, your track ends up at position 640, out of reach. Playlists that work rotate: they remove as much as they add.

Signal 4: the market

A playlist has one ranking per country.

The same search does not return the same playlists in Paris and in Sao Paulo. If your audience is in Brazil and the playlist only shows up on the US market, the exposure will not be the one you imagine.

It is worth thinking about before you pitch, especially if you are targeting a specific market.

The short-list in practice

Before you send anything, for each playlist on your list:

• It appears in search on at least one relevant keyword
• Its follower count has moved in recent weeks
• It has been updated this month
• It is visible on your market, not only elsewhere
• It holds fewer than 200 tracks, so yours stays reachable

One playlist that ticks all five is worth more than ten giant, sleeping ones. And those are run by curators, humans who read their messages.

That is also what makes the pitch worth sending. You are writing to someone whose playlist is alive and who is looking for tracks.

A word on our data

These numbers come from Stulyo, the tool we built to measure the visibility of Spotify playlists. We index close to three million playlists, we record the followers of more than 100,000 of them every day, and we track what search actually shows, market by market. A curator follows their positions there; an artist can look up the positions of the playlists they are targeting before pitching. There is a free trial with no card at app.stulyo.com if you want to check your own playlists.

What to remember

The follower count is the most visible number and the least informative. Four playlists out of five above 100,000 followers show up in no search at all, while a playlist with 800 followers can hold first place on its keyword.

Before you pitch, ask yourself one question: is this playlist still reaching people who do not know it?

Search, slope and freshness answer that in three minutes. The follower count never does.

Romain Desmoulins, founder of Stulyo.

Enjoy -30% off at Stulyo for 3 months, on any plan, with the code GROOVER30 at checkout,
or just go through this link, which applies the discount automatically.

L’article How to tell whether a Spotify playlist is actually visible, before you pitch it est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

Groover+ is a music promotion subscription for artists who want better long-term value from their campaigns.

Instead of paying full price every time you promote a release, Groover+ helps you save money, unlock premium promotion tools, and access exclusive perks – all designed to support consistent, independent careers.

In this guide, we’ll break down what the Groover+ subscription is, how it works, who it’s for, and why it can be a smart choice for indie artists promoting music regularly.

What is the Groover+ subscription?

It’s a monthly or yearly subscription built for independent artists who want a smarter approach to music promotion.

Rather than treating promotion as isolated campaigns, it rewards artists who promote consistently by bundling:

• Ongoing savings on campaigns
• Premium promotion tools included
• Exclusive member-only opportunities and perks

The goal is simple: help indie artists promote smarter, save money over time, and get more out of every release.

👉 Upgrade to Groover+ to start promoting more efficiently

What does it include?

It gives you practical benefits that directly impact both your promotion results and your budget.

Save money on every campaign

Groover+ annual members automatically receive 15% off every campaign they send.

If you run multiple campaigns per year, these savings quickly add up and can significantly reduce your overall music promotion costs.

Premium music promotion tools included

The Groover+ subscription includes access to premium tools that help indie artists plan, analyze, and optimize their promotion strategy:

• Charts to publicly showcase your tracks in order to increase visibility and get discovered by top curators
• Hype to jump to the top of curator inboxes and build momentum around your releases

These tools are included with Groover+, so you don’t need to pay for them separately.

Exclusive perks for its members

Groover+ members get access to benefits not available to standard users, including:

• Member-only opportunities and perks 
• Exclusive offers and promotions
• Bonus: Access to coaching and additional support 

The more you use Groover+, the more value you unlock from the platform.

Flexible subscription with no long-term commitment

It’s designed to stay flexible.

There’s no long-term commitment, and you can cancel anytime directly from your account settings. This makes it a low-risk way for indie artists to test a subscription-based approach to music promotion.

👉 Try Groover+ with full flexibility

Who is Groover+ for?

This subscription is especially useful for indie artists who:

• Send 3–6+ promotion campaigns per year
• Release music consistently throughout the year
• Want to reduce long-term music promotion costs
• Use (or want to use) tools like Charts and Hype

If you only promote occasionally, the standard pay-per-campaign model may be enough.

But if music promotion is a recurring part of your release strategy, Groover+ is built to support that rhythm.

Is it worth it for indie artists?

Between campaign discounts, included tools, and exclusive perks, this subscription is designed to increase value the more consistently you release music.

Instead of optimizing release by release, Groover+ helps artists take a long-term view of music promotion. So if you promote regularly, this is a great option for you! 

👉 Upgrade to Groover+ and make promotion part of your long-term strategy

How to sign up

Getting started with Groover+ is simple:

1. Log in to your Groover account
2. Upgrade to the Groover+ subscription
3. Start saving on campaigns immediately

If a limited-time offer is available, you can apply the discount code at checkout.

👉 Upgrade to Groover+ today

Frequently Asked Questions about Groover+

Is it a good music promotion subscription for indie artists?

Yes. Groover+ is designed specifically for indie artists who promote music regularly and want better long-term value, predictable savings, and access to professional promotion tools.

Do I need to commit long-term?

No. Groover+ is a flexible monthly subscription. You can cancel anytime from your account settings.

Do I still pay per campaign with Groover+?

Yes, but Groover+ members receive automatic discounts on every campaign, reducing overall music promotion costs over time.

Are Charts and Hype included in Groover+?

Yes. Premium tools like Charts and Hype are included in the Groover+ subscription at no extra cost.

Who should not use Groover+?

If you only promote music very occasionally or don’t plan to run multiple campaigns per year, the standard pay-per-campaign model may be sufficient.

L’article What Is Groover+? A Music Promotion Subscription for Indie Artists est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

“My management team discovered me through Groover, which ended up being a turning point for my career. “ – Pau Mueller

Can you tell us about your background and your music project?
How did you start and what made you take it seriously?

I’m a Cuban-Swiss independent artist currently based in Miami. I started making music in a very organic way, writing and singing because I needed to, without really thinking about where it could lead. Over time, I realized that music wasn’t just a passion or a phase, it was something I wanted to commit to fully. Taking it seriously meant learning, growing, and treating it like a real career, not just a creative outlet.

What inspires you and makes you want to create?

I’m inspired by emotions, movement, and in-between spaces, between cultures, places, and stages of life. A lot of my writing comes from observing and reflecting. Before I start working, I usually need a moment of quiet. Sometimes that’s a walk, sometimes journaling, sometimes just sitting with my thoughts. I try to get into the right headspace before touching the music.

How would you describe your music, and what’s the best way for someone to experience it?

I’d describe my music as emotional, intimate, and honest, with a pop sensibility. It’s not loud for the sake of being loud, it’s more about connection. The best way to experience it is with headphones on, really listening, and letting the songs unfold at their own pace.

How did you find out about Groover and what made you decide to use the platform?

I found Groover while looking for ways to share my music as an independent artist and actually get meaningful feedback. What drew me in was the idea of real people listening and responding, not just sending music into a void.

How has it helped you? What opportunities have you gotten through Groover?

Groover helped me connect with many people across the music industry in a very genuine way. It opened doors to conversations, feedback, and relationships that felt real and constructive. Most importantly, my management team at WAD discovered me through Groover, which ended up being a turning point for my career. That connection came directly from the platform, and I’m really grateful for that.

What are your upcoming projects and any other cool news you’d like to share with us?

I’m currently working on new releases and continuing to build my project step by step. In just a few days, I’m releasing a new song called “10 Mil Horas”. It’s a fun, fresh track and an easy, feel-good listen. There’s more music coming soon, along with live moments and collaborations, and I’m really excited about what’s ahead.

What advice would you give to artists just starting out with their music projects?

Believe in your project early, even when no one’s watching yet. Be consistent, stay curious, and don’t rush things just to keep up. The biggest lesson for me has been that honesty and patience go a long way. If you stay true to what you’re building, the right people will eventually find it.

Any final words?

Being an independent artist can feel overwhelming at times, but having platforms like Groover that focus on real listening and real connections makes a huge difference. I’m very thankful to have been part of that journey.

👉 Follow her on Instagram

L’article Pau Mueller finds her management team thanks to Groover est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

What is Groover again? What about Grooviz?

Groover is the #1 platform connecting artists who want to promote their music with the best media, radio stations and labels looking for emerging talent.

Musicians can send tracks to a selection of more than 3,000 media outlets, labels and professionals – a simple YouTube or SoundCloud link is all that’s required – to get their attention, get guaranteed feedback, and gain visibility! Each media outlet, label or pro contacted costs 2 Grooviz (approx. $2). In just a few years, Groover has become the platform-to-watch for independent artists promoting their music to media outlets and professionals. If you want to pair the card with something more tangible, here are more gift ideas for musicians, from instrument accessories to studio sessions.

With the Groover gift card,  you can offer to the person of your choice 30, 60, 110 or 200 Grooviz [for respectively $30, $55, $95 or $165], which corresponds to 15, 30, 55 or 100 messages to media outlets, labels and professionals on Groover (approx. $32, $59, $102, $177). Listening and responses are guaranteed within 7 days 🙂

L’article Groover Gift Card 🎁 Give visibility to your musician friends est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

20% OFF your next Groover campaign!

With the code : GROOVERBF

THIS WEEK ONLY ⏰

Get in touch with playlists, radio stations, labels! It’s time to promote your music 🌟

👉 How do I use a gift code on Groover?

SUBMIT YOUR TRACK ON GROOVER 👇

L’article BLACK FRIDAY OFFER | 20% OFF YOUR NEXT GROOVER CAMPAIGN est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and projects?

Since 2012, we’ve produced events locally, then regionally, and soon after, nationally. Today, our expertise is focused on developing artist tours across Brazil, and we’ve also started hosting international artists in the country.

How did you find out about Groover and what made you decide to use the platform?

Groover came onto our radar as a safe and curated space to connect artists, producers, bookers, and music content creators in general. We had already heard about the platform, but we didn’t really know how strong it was in Brazil.

Once we signed up on Groover, we began receiving a lot of material from bands and artists from Brazil. But surprisingly, the demand from international artists was even greater.

We try to give attention to every track we receive, offering honest feedback and being open to conversation with the artists.

What artists have you discovered through Groover?

We came across the French band QAMELTO on Groover. After they sent their first song and our conversations kept going, we started shaping the idea of a Brazilian tour for them. It’s already set and will take place this December in several cities here. They’re really excited about it — and so are we.

We found this case symbolic, since it’s a French band — the same country where Groover was created.

And it wasn’t the first time something like this happened. Earlier this year, we also connected with the New York band Y33BA, who reached out to us through Groover as well.

What are your upcoming projects or any other cool news you’d like to share with us?

We have many tours coming up and almost daily new events being launched. Our specialty is mapping out opportunities for live music and making sure they actually happen.

Groover is a key partner for that: it’s truly a space for exchange.

👉 Follow them on Instagram

L’article Bicicleta Produtora came across exciting artists through Groover est apparu en premier sur Groover Blog.