Meet Stefani M.C. Janelli
Stefani M.C. Janelli
Stefani M.C. Janelli doesn’t sing or play an instrument professionally. Yet she’s been a key cog in the machinery of making indie artists prosper. For the last five years, out of her MIC Music Group office in West Milford (Passaic County), she’s been adept at continuing the maturation of independent New Jersey (and beyond) artists. Starting out writing a blog, successfully carving out a journalistic career, she then opened the company “amplifying the voices of emerging artists and reshaping the indie landscape,” as she says. And she still writes. Check out https://www.themicmg.com/mag. But she’s found her niche behind the scenes.
Whether it’s getting song placements in Netflix movies, the SXSW festival in Texas and on NBC’s The Voice, MIC-supported artists have gone on to do all those things. Janelli also teaches a master-class at Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah on “Song Release Strategy.”
“The last five years have been about community, creativity and believing in the power of independent voices,” she asserts. “I’m beyond proud of what we’ve built and even more excited for what’s come next.” We asked Janelli to introduce us to some of her artists.
Dani Zanoni
This indie pop singer-songwriter from West Milford is inspired by Sara Bareilles and Carole King. A Ramapo student, she’s performed at Newark's Prudential Center and as part of an international showcase in Ghana. She performs with DnA, Dani Zanoni & Co. or solo, delivering an eclectic mix of originals and covers. Her 100,000+ music streams and 32,500+ YouTube views helped her 20 Something debut EP last year strike a chord.
Joe Billy
An introspective singer-songwriter from Clifton, heavy on angst, has an acoustic punk style with intelligent lyricism in its energetic and upbeat mix. His passionate thought-provoking authenticity is juxtaposed with a whimsical, self-aware cynicism and uplifting compassion.
Jeremy Abrams
Hailing from Mercer County, this singer-songwriter-guitarist writes sad-boi tunes containing pop-punk, emo and alt-rock influences. Church was his earliest gig and he cemented his passion for music by earning a Ramapo Bachelor's Degree in Music Production. He went solo in 2022 from metalcore’s The Road North. In 2023, his Everything I Wanted debut came out and he even proved to be a valid audio engineer. His themes of depression, mental health and social anxiety offer solace to those who struggle.