Signed: Laufey Inks Label Deal With Interscope/Verve; CHVRCHES Looks to the Futures

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Other recent artist signings include Vic Mensa, Alfredo Gutiérrez, Ava Liv Mabry and JYT.

Two-time Grammy winner Laufey signed to Interscope/Verve Records. The jazz/classical singer-songwriter recently wrapped her 70-date A Matter of Time global arena tour in Mexico City.

Laufey, who was named Billboard‘s Women in Music Innovator earlier this year, previously had a global recording deal with AWAL, which she signed in 2020 after her music began taking off during the pandemic. She released her debut album, Everything I Know About Love, in 2022, followed by 2023’s Bewitched, which topped Billboard‘s Jazz Albums and Traditional Jazz Albums charts, and 2025’s A Matter of Time, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. — Chris Eggertsen

Scottish synth-pop trio CHVRCHES signed a label deal with Futures Music Group, which released the band’s new single “Roses” — its first new single in three years.

CHVRCHES’ last album, Screen Violence, was released in 2021. The band scored a Billboard Hot 100 entry in 2019 with “Here With Me,” a Marshmello track on which the band was featured, and it has racked up a total of four albums on the Billboard 200, including 2015’s Every Open Eye, which hit No. 8 on the chart.— Chris Eggertsen

Grammy-nominated artist Vic Mensa signed a distribution partnership with UnitedMasters through which he will release his debut project, INNANETAPE, on streaming services for the first time on Sept. 29, along with a new album next year.

Mensa has charted twice on the Billboard 200, with his 2016 EP, There’s Alot Going On, and his 2017 album, The Autobiography. — Chris Eggertsen

Read on for more artist signing news.

Alfredo Gutiérrez (Sony Music Colombia)

Image Credit: Alejando Barrera

Sony Music Entertainment Colombia signed Alfredo Gutiérrez, the legendary Colombian accordionist, three-time Vallenato King and one of the leading figures in cumbia and Latin tropical music. The deal, which was announced (Thursday) Sept. 17, includes the production and release of a new album, his first project with the label.

Born in Paloquemao, Sucre, Gutiérrez learned to play the accordion from his father and made his debut with the children’s group Los Pequeños Vallenatos. In 1962, he founded Los Corraleros de Majagual alongside Calixto Ochoa and César Castro before launching a prolific solo career that earned him the nickname “El Rebelde del Acordeón” (“The Accordion Rebel”). His adventurous style pushed vallenato’s traditional four rhythms toward salsa, ranchera and cumbia, while also introducing pasebol, his own fusion of paseo and bolero.

At 83, Gutiérrez has released more than 100 albums. He was also recently announced as an honoree at the 49th Festival Nacional de Compositores in San Juan del Cesar, La Guajira, taking place Dec. 17-20. — Isabela Raygoza
Ava Liv Mabry (Blue Highway Records)

Image Credit: Mark Mabry
“Dreamboat” singer-songwriter Ava Liv Mabry signed with Blue Highway Records, which released the Franklin, Tenn.-raised artist’s new single, “Audrey,” on Friday (Sept. 18). — Chris Eggertsen
JYT (Wexler Records)

Image Credit: Ashley Osborn

JYT (Just Your Type), a five-member American boy band, has signed to songwriter-producer Freddy Wexler and his wife and business partner Olivia Wexler‘s newly launched label, Wexler Records. Freddy developed JYT in partnership with Republic Records.

According to a press release, Wexler Records will draw on Wexler’s broader entertainment company, which encompasses music, film, TV, animation, brand partnerships and more, “creating opportunities for artists across formats and platforms from the beginning.” — Chris Eggertsen
Olēka (x8 Music)

Image Credit: Ben Lasky
Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Olēka signed to Quadeca’s x8 Music, which will release her debut album, HUMAN ERROR, on Oct. 14. A new single from the album, “Meta Cognition,” is out now. Olēka will support Quadeca on tour in the U.S. this fall. — Chris Eggertsen
Ando San (Sumerian Records)

Rapper, producer and guitarist Ando San signed to Sumerian Records. His first release on the label is the double A-side “Hype Man” and “Triggas.” Ando San will tour the U.K. in support of Don Broco later this month, following by a North American tour with Periphery in late October. — Chris Eggertsen
IFULKI, Disgusting Sisters, Epal and HINA (Source)

[PIAS] relaunched Source — the label associated with artists including Air, Phoenix and Kings of Convenience — and signed IFULKI, a band that “blends the soulful textures of Gnawa music with electronic sounds and live instrumentation,” according to a press release; Disgusting Sisters, a sister duo whose music blends electro, pop and rock; singer-songwriter Epal; and alt-pop artist HINA. [PIAS] represents parts of the original Source catalog. The label will have a joint U.K.-France structure. — Chris Eggertsen
Aemia (Artist House)

Image Credit: Mershool
Persian-Canadian alt-rock band Aemia, led by husband and wife Kimia “Mia” Ravangar and Kourosh Zarandooz, signed a label deal with Artist House. The first release under the the deal is the single “Nowhere to Hide.” Ravangar and Zarandooz met in Tehran, Iran, before relocating to Canada after the band was raided by police and their instruments were confiscated. — Chris Eggertsen
Jay Starr (EF Records)

R&B/hip-hop artist Jay Starr signed with EF Records, which released his debut EP, Vent Music, on Friday (Sept. 18). — Chris Eggertsen
Hellhills (Position Music)

Position Music signed Lithuanian alt-rock artist Hellhills to a global label and publishing deal that was facilitated by Position A&R Alex Ziabko. He has released a total of two albums to date. — Chris Eggertsen