New year, new soundtrack.
2020 was… eventful, in many different, as well as unexpected, ways. And, of course, the music industry is no exception to this shift. Though we isolated ourselves from what we now call the outside world due to the Covid-19 pandemic, tunes kept going throughout quarantine to keep us company.
With 2021 currently in session, there are still much more stories – songs – to be told – sung – and heard. Whether it’s a new act or one who has taken it to the next level recently, here are 10 artists to watch out for this year, amid a more-than-ever bubbling scene.
- Giveon
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R&B artist Giveon has shown that, although 2021 is only three months in, this year is already his to conquer – and the appearance of both Heartbreak Anniversary and Like I Want You in the Billboard Hot 100 list in February is only proof of that. His rich, syrupy-smooth voice is best known for feature in Drake’s 2020 single Chicago Freestyle; however, since the release of TAKE TIME in the same year, the American singer has been cementing himself as one of the genre’s very best.
His debut studio album, nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards, displays arrays from intense emotions to sensual moments, conveyed by his soothing yet strong and emotional vocals. It is no doubt that TAKE TIME is only the introduction to Giveon’s talent and path, to be filled with extraordinary singing-songwriting, passion and overflowing talent.
- Kali Uchis
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You’ve certainly heard – either of or on somewhere – Kali Uchis before. This Colombian-American artist is the voice behind Dead To Me, Tyler, The Creator’s After The Storm and the soulful, 2021 viral sensation telepatía, from her latest album Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞. Though her breakthrough came with the 2018 record Isolation, the singer-songwriter is constantly growing within the industry and outgrowing herself in terms of versatility, production and songwriting of her works. Mixing R&B, early soul, pop and even languages (as in, English and Spanish). In her works, Kali risks and innovates when producing her pieces time after time – creativity, indeed, to crave and keep an eye on this year.
- Rico Nasty
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A “sugar trap” aesthetic weaved into punk remarks and unique deliveries. With hits such as Smack a Bitch and OHFR?, Rico Nasty is one to watch in the hip-hop sphere.
The DC-area rapper first rose to prominence in 2018 with Nasty, but has been in the scene as far back as 2014, when she self-released – while still in high school – the icy mixtape Summer’s Eve. Since then, her music has been marked by elements of everything from punk rap to honeyed pop to nu-metal, building up to her trademark “sugar trap”, an upbeat and style of rap that resonates perfectly with her inclination towards a pop-punk princess image. To go with the raspy and aggressive bars is also Rico Nasty’s unique style in punk fashion area, dubbed by NME as “outlandish” and androgynous in nature.
- boy pablo
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Guitar and bass-soaked instrumentals, energetic beats and carefree lyrics and bedroom-pop: All of this defines the sound of Chilean-Norwegian musician Nicolas Muñoz, better known under the music project as Boy Pablo. Although his growth in the industry was sudden and at first YouTube-based, Boy Pablo quickly garnered popularity within the indie/alternative scene and expanded his popularity with EPs Roy Pablo (2017) and Soy Pablo (2018). Alongside his debut album Wachito Rico (2020), the productions are infused with life and charisma, guaranteed to make you Dance, baby! in the spur of upbeat, fun melodies.
- EVERGLOW
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With a discography filled with electropop beats and infectious choruses, EVERGLOW is a South Korean girl group under Yuehua Entertainment management. Formed by members E:U, Sihyeon, Mia, Onda, Aisha and Yiren, the group debuted in 2019 with the song Bon Bon Chocolat, and ever since has only heightened their career through other beloved hits such as Adios, Dun Dun and their latest lead single, La Di Da.
The sextet’s sound, spanning from bold hip-hop moments to lively ethnic instrumentation, demonstrates not only versatility, but also EVERGLOW’s stunning ability to craft an unique sound while staying true to their essence of producing very catchy pieces. Bringing something new to the table every comeback (the last one being inspo straight out of the 80s), EVERGLOW sure is a group to watch this year.
- Evann McIntosh
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At 17 years old, Evann McIntosh is said to be ready to take over the world. The American singer self-released her debut record entitled MOJO in 2019, a project with over 15 million streams across platforms. Drawing inspiration from 90’s R&B, 70’s rock and artists like Prince, McIntosh brings a fresh style to R&B and modern pop by experimenting with the boundaries of genre and DIY sounds from GarageBand. Her lyrical youthfulness, from the placement of feminine pronouns in the place of a love interest to the layered emotions within, also distinguishes Evann as part of the wave of Gen Z musicians that are taking over the industry by storm.
- Thomas Headon
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London-born and Melbourne-raised, Thomas Headon is a 19-year-old singer and songwriter. He started posting covers on YouTube as a young teenager and, in September 2019, released his first single Grace, which, self-written and self-produced, now amasses over 5 million streams on Spotify. Influenced by artists such as Rex Orange County, The 1975 and Harry Styles, Thomas’ latest record The Goodbye EP explores indie-slash-bedroom pop with lazy guitars, bouncing beats and relatable, romantic lyrics besides a dreamy voice to go with. After chill tracks like Butterflies and Car Window or the upbeat, fan-favorite Clean Me Up, we are excited to see what the British artist comes up with next.
- Steve Lacy
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With impressive productions like Kendrick Lamar’s PRIDE. and Tyler, The Creator’s 911/Mr. Lonely to his repertoire, all eyes are on Steve Lacy as he hits the studio to work on his projects. Better known by his work as a part of the Grammy-nominated band The Internet, Steve Lacy kicked off his solo career only in 2019, with debut album Apollo XXI.
The artist’s path on his own clearly displays the talents we’ve seen before in collaborations and co-productions. However, those are only a scoop of his talents: with Apollo XXI and other solo materials, we get to see a refinement of the abilities seen before, only now along with funky, easygoing tracks that are written, produced and instrumentalized by him. Through songs like Dark Red and C U Girl – and the strings of his guitar -, we get to see another side of Lacy, which is as interesting as everything else to his name so far.
- Role Model
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American singer-songwriter Tucker Pillsbury, best known under the moniker Role Model, is the fresh face – or rather, voice – you’ve been looking for in the Pop music scene. Using sunkissed, feel-good sounds as the backdrop, the artist vocalizes darker themes, like self-doubt, loneliness and depression in his sometimes painfully relatable lyrics. This juxtaposition is something Role Model himself is “obsessed” with, as he revealed to i-D UK: “I like the idea of finding beauty in pain. I love the challenge of putting these things I’m going through, which are extremely dark, into big, beautiful, happy-sounding songs.”
- Mitski
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Though active for almost ten years, Mitski has proved in the past few months that she is a star only ascending. Her first two records, self-released in 2012 and 2013, established her as a talented songwriter; the following two, Bury Me at Makeout Creek and Puberty 2, further developed the toughness and tenderness and intimacy that encompass Mitski’s music. The Japanese-American singer’s latest piece Be the Cowboy, thus, expands such a creative and complex musical universe.
Using indie rock as means to deliver, this time round, experiments with fiction and narrative, the 2018 album recalls her minimalist style and lyrical vulnerability. Hits like Nobody and Me And My Husband (which went viral earlier this year on TikTok), however, show that her sound is not only melancholy: the bouncy beats and elements of pop, rock, funk and disco, show that Mitski is able to deliver pungent verses and still with a little bit of… fun.
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This article was edited by Nicoly Bastos.
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