After a seven-year hiatus, Frank Ocean returned to the Coachella stage as the final Sunday night headliner. Despite his mysterious and low-key lifestyle following his brother’s passing, fans eagerly anticipated an exceptional performance from the acclaimed artist. However, his performance at Coachella proved controversial, with some attendees outraged that he was an hour late, hid on stage, and cut the performance short due to the city curfew. In addition to his controversial performance, he pulled out of Coachella weekend two.
Coachella might be the last we hear from Frank Ocean for a while. In the meantime, other up-and-coming artists give off a similar vibe and deserve recognition. Here are three artists to watch as they begin to break through the music industry with styles similar to Frank Ocean:
Casper Sage:
Casper Sage is a 21-year-old artist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Oklahoma City. As a verified artist on Spotify, I was shocked to discover Casper Sage only has 5,239 followers on Instagram. He conveys emotions similar to Frank Oceans’ through his songs, raspy voice, and use of an echo effect. Check out his songs “Pseudo’, “is this real life?”, “Rodeo Clown,” “Come Over,” and “Rearrange,” and add them to your newest playlist.
Floyd Fuji:
Kyle Thornton, who goes by Floyd Fuji, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Richmond, Virginia, who has made his way to Los Angeles to pursue his passion for music. According to Spotify, he has performed in the house band for Kanye West’s Sunday service and recently toured North America with Halbot Brown. His songs “END OF DAYS,” “JUNE,” “WHEN U COMING HOME,” and “TONGUE TIED” showcases his unique sound.
Berhana:
​​This singer, songwriter, and producer from near Atlanta, Georgia, has been producing music since 2016 and recently dropped his EP “Frontier Pass” on April 5th. Berhana took to Instagram to say, “Frontier pass, out now I love this song. Even though it’s not on the album, I feel it sets everything up. The end of one journey bleeding into the beginnings of another. Love x100000,” showing genuine love and passion for his work and his fans. His song “Sundays” was featured in the hit HBO show Insecure. Check out “Frontier Pass,” “Weep, No More,” and “Golden” to hear Berhana’s distinct style.
Despite the controversy surrounding Frank Ocean’s performance at Coachella, his long-awaited return to the stage has left fans yearning to see what he will bring in the future. While we wait for new music from Frank, it’s worth exploring the works of up-and-coming artists like Casper Sage, Floyd Fuji, and Berhana, who have a similar vibe to Frank Ocean’s. These artists may not have the same level of recognition yet, but they are definitely worth checking out. You never know; they may become your new favorite artist!