Ellise – @ellise
Have you ever wanted more Melanie Martinez? Or perhaps Melanie without the baby core aspects? Then look no further than 22-year-old singer/songwriter Ellise. Growing up in a musical household with rock and roll from her father and traditional Iranian/Arabic music from her mother, she graduated high school early and moved to California to pursue music. Leaning into edgy Y2K fashion, she debuted with her signature hot pink bangs (which she sadly grew out of), and pairs this with a candy-flavored, minor-key electro musical mélange. She’s sure to inspire your inner baddie.
My Recommendation: Listen to Ellise while sipping wine and either a) crying in a bathtub or b) lighting your shitty ex’s clothes on fire.
Fletcher – @findingxfletcher
An artist on the rise, and one to watch. An early debut song, “GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS,” takes Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” hook, irons out the problematic aspects, and makes it shine. Sung huskily by this LGBT artist and activist, the song flipped the fetishization of lesbians and turned it into something beautiful with her angsty and lush lyricism. She’s far more of a power alto than other singers on this list (so I can actually sing her songs comfortably). She also just released a collab with Hayley Kiyoko, which is lighthearted but still just as lyrically sultry as the rest of her discography.
My Recommendation: Listen to Fletcher while driving down the beachside freeway at midnight, holding lit sparklers out of your sunroof.
Aya Nakamura – @lanakamurance
If you’ve never listened to French-language pop before, Aya Nakamura is a great place to start. Hailing from Mali, raised in France, and singing in primarily French, she has a perfect blend of melodic musicality and hard-hitting electronic beats. You can really feel the breeze of the ocean with her music – a lightness contrasting with the fierce love-soaked lyricism.
My Recommendation: Listen to Aya Nakamura while dancing the night away in a beachside club.
Faouzia – @faouzia
If you haven’t heard of Faouzia by now, I’d be surprised. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this Gen Z singing goddess. She’s Moroccan-Canadian, speaks English, French and Arabic fluently. Faouzia has been quickly shooting up in fame, collaborating with big names such as John Legend, David Guetta, and Kelly Clarkson. With a fabulous vocal range (not just high notes, my alto ass loves her) and profound, angsty lyrics, she’s just a powerhouse of a vocalist.
My Recommendation: Listen to Faouzia in a dark room with giant studio headphones.
Merlin – @merlin.imm
Keep an eye on the up-and-coming artist and Texas native, Marlee/Merlin. Their music is very stripped down, with a smoky coffee-house vibe, poetic lyrics and an addictive voice that keeps you coming back for more.
Recommendation: Listen to Merlin while drinking a cup of hot cocoa, while sitting near a wood stove and staring out the snowy chalet window.
P.S. They currently have a GoFundMe open for their top surgery – find that campaign here.
SHY Martin – @shy.martin
The Swedish singer/songwriter SHY Martin writes and collaborates with some of the biggest names in modern pop – clocking in with Kygo, Bebe Rexha, and the Chainsmokers, just as a start! She’s a captivating modern indie-pop artist with dreamy vocals and a soft-yet-powerful electronic musicality.
Recommendation: Listen to SHY Martin while you’re biking down the streets of Los Angeles, against a gorgeous sunset and a dreamy bokeh-filled color grade.
Jaira Burns – @jairaburns
A Pennsylvania native, now based out of Los Angeles, Jaira Burns is this decades’ answer to veteran smoky pop songstresses like Tove Lo and Lana del Ray, but with a unique, icy pop aesthetic that you can almost feel resonating inside your body. She sings with a bright yet soulful voice against a variety of bass-heavy, undulating electronic soundscapes. She always brings the heat, as well as a different flavor to every track. The difference between Numb and OKOKOK is night and day, and she really eats it up. For any League of Legends/Arcane fans, Jaira is also featured on K/DA’s first album, as Kai’Sa.
Recommendation: Listen to Jaira Burns through the bathroom wall while you contemplate your existence at a smoke-filled, neon-lit party.
NIKI – @nikizefanya
It’s probably hyperbolic to say that NIKI’s rise has been meteoric, but I don’t care. She’s really that awesome. First appearing as an opening act for Taylor Swift’s Red Tour in Jakarta, and swiftly gaining popularity through original music on her YouTube channel, she eventually came to Nashville to study music in college. A part of 88rising’s fast-growing roster of emerging Asian/Asian American talent, she’s an almost ubiquitous symbol of Asians breaking through the bamboo ceiling and making a splash in the modern media sphere.
Recommendation: Listen to NIKI while twirling down a city street at night during your euphoric, dreamy dance montage.
Orkid – @itsorkid
Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden, Orkid has a unique blend of indie vocal power and an icy, electro pop sound, almost similar to a MARINA or Lana del Ray aesthetic. She cites her biggest inspirations as Nat King Cole and Sam Cooke. Orkid most recently released the bass-heavy, twinkly sweet single “Sugar Coma.”
Recommendation: Listen to ORKID while painting your nails a sparkling blue color; the room lit by twinkling fairy lights and a cute kitty lamp.
Kira’s Playlist Recommendations
Lullaby – Ellise
GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS – Fletcher
Copines – Aya Nakamura
Tears of Gold – Faouzia
Red Eyes, Pt. 2 – Merlin
Raincoat – Timeflies (ft. SHY Martin)
Numb – Jaira Burns
Spell – NIKI
Hands – ORKID