We meet again for another music article. Thanks for joining me! In an effort to be transparent, I thought I’d share my tips, tricks, and secrets into my article writing process. I like to write whenever I need a cop-out on plans: “Sorry! I have a deadline.”
I don’t always do that, but it is a great excuse. Sometimes in my process, I will sit at my desk for hours, and the best I can get out is a song lyric and a deep dive on TikTok that puts me three hours behind schedule. When I have good inspiration, the words write themselves, and I can tell I am producing some of my best work.
And sometimes it helps to wait until the last minute for my deadline to start writing; you know, when the procrastination panic begins to set in. The words flow faster than ever before, and I consider dropping out to become a courtroom stenographer.
So, I am mere hours from my deadline and wrapping this article up. It’s still on time, and that is what counts.
Feeling stuck on what to write about as we’re crawling towards the end of the spring semester, I decided to revisit an article I posted at the beginning of January. “Artists to Watch 2021” is one of my proudest achievements, and originally began as a list of 20 emerging artists. In my writing process, I always consider cutting down a list to keep the article concise, yet I felt that I skipped over so many hardworking individuals who deserve recognition for the amazing work they have released over this past year. Some of these artists are even producing, mixing, and mastering their own tracks, coming to the forefront of bedroom pop and gaining traction on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Each artist has a signature sound that will guarantee a “Where did you find this?” from whoever you choose to share with. Thank me later.
And if you’re reading this and you’re also trying to meet an important deadline, relax, listen to the five artists I’ve listed for you below, and get it done!
- Remi Wolf
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Drawing on inspiration from Darryl Hall and David Bryne, Remi Wolf is blazing a trail and leaving a ladder down for the rest of us. The California native released “I’m Allergic To Dogs!” in 2020, an EP to give listeners a taste of what is in store next. “Photo ID” blew up on TikTok earlier this year, but have you heard the Dominic Fike remix? A sick bassline complimenting Wolf’s groovy voice makes “Photo ID” a stunner worthy of your streams.
Listen to I’m Allergic To Dogs! here!
- Maude Latour
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“Sounds like if Lorde and Billie Eilish had a baby singer who fronts a new wave band” is a text I received from my dad and the most spot-on description of Latour. If you gave Jules Vaughn from Euphoria a recording session, “Block Your Number” would be the end result. Dry and punchy in the delivery, teenaged and dance party worthy when the bass drops. The single was released in 2020, I’m hopeful and keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll receive an album soon.
Listen to “Block Your Number” here!
- Chloe Lilac
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Chloe Lilac is not good in moderation. By this, I mean you should be streaming “MODERATION” from her 2020 release DOUCHEBAG all the time. Bringing Joan Jett-esque carefree sentiments to her audience, Lilac is the manic pixie dream girl that will save 2021.
Listen to DOUCHEBAG here! - Eliza McLamb
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After a solo trip down “back roads and potholes,” Eliza McLamb penned a gorgeous song about freedom in the journey and allowing yourself time to reach the destination. Mclamb reminds us there is security in the temporary and that self-love is powerful enough to sustain us. You can find her on TikTok, teasing fans with creative and catchy minute-long songs stemming from prompts created in her comments section.
Listen to Memos here! - Sawyer Nunes
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If you’re keeping up, you’ll recall my January article, highlighting the achievements of New York natives, Laundry Day. If you didn’t immediately follow them on Instagram, allow me to introduce you to the artist on keys and vocals, Sawyer Nunes. Delivering his solo project Throwing Up in late August of 2020, Nunes emerges from the cut as a gifted artist with an eclectic sound.
Listen to Throwing Up here!
So there you have it, some new music and some insight into why I wait until deadlines to write. Thanks for reading, as always.