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Well, hello lovers of music and culture. We are Under the Stars, a quasi-weekly column that stays on message with strong-ass opinions, presenting new music releases, upcoming shows, and other adjacent items. We keep it moving, hustling with the changes, thinking outside the margins. We\u2019ve been doing this for five years\u2026 Spend some time with us\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Fri\/5 marks the final Bandcamp Friday of 2025. This initiative started in March 2020 during the peak of the COVID pandemic, when the closure of venues significantly impacted artists\u2019 touring income. Since then, Bandcamp Fridays have allowed the platform to forgo its revenue share, directing all funds straight to artists and labels. As a result, millions of fans have contributed more than $120 million directly to the musicians and labels they support. <\/p>\n We\u2019ve got some recommendations, obviously. But first, we decided to turn to an insider for his assessment of the scene right now\u2014Michael Schulman, the founder of Slumberland Records<\/a>. His Bay Area label has been on fire in recent years, signing local bands and helping them thrive first on the West Coast and then globally. Some of the bands that have gained recognition include Lunchbox, The Reds, Pinks and Purples, The Umbrellas, Chime School, Torrey, and Neutrals. <\/p>\n I asked Schulman why the Bay Area has seen such an uptick in shoegaze and jangle-pop bands since the pandemic. \u201cYou know, I don\u2019t think I have a good answer to this,\u201d he replied. \u201cI think indiepop always just kind of keeps chugging along, and it\u2019s the interest in it from outside the immediate scene that is more cyclical. <\/p>\n \u201cThat said, I\u2019ve noticed that a larger portion of our roster is from the Bay Area right now than at any time since the mid-\u201990s, and I\u2019m psyched about it. It\u2019s been feeling like a real pop community here in the bay for the last six or eight years, and I\u2019m definitely here for it. It\u2019s always more fun at the peak of the cycle than in the trough.\u201d<\/p>\n Besides supporting Slumberland\u2019s roster<\/a>, here are some of our own recommendations for Bandcamp Friday support:<\/p>\n