We know it can be hard to keep track of upcoming artists but fear not — we’ve got you covered. Here are 17 artists that you should definitely be keeping an eye on.
Alternative
1) Grimes: Claire Boucher was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. Her music is a mixture of styles, and changes dramatically with each album. Her recent album, Art of Angels, was released this past year and adds a unique twist to all the albums she’s done before. Check out the songs Kill vs. Maim and Oblivion here!
2) Melanie Martinez auditioned for The Voice and was placed on Adam Levine’s team. Although she was eliminated from the show, she continued to pursue music and eventually released her debut album, Cry Baby. Her style incorporates childhood symbolism including dolls, toys and dresses. Check out Pity Party and Dollhouse.
3) FKA Twigs is a British artist known for her ethereal music. She began her career as a back up dancer for famous artists such as Ed Sheeran and Jessie J until she began her pursuit of music. Both her music and her videos are unique, and incorporate a sense of artistry that deserve attention. Check out Two Weeks here (warning: explicit language).
4) Mickey Shiloh started her music career as a songwriter, and she wrote for some of the biggest artists in history, including Rihanna, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez. Her music is raw and emotional and brings a sense of realism to it. Check out Drunk on the Mic (warning: explicit language)
5) Lykke Li is a Swedish singer best known for her song, “I follow Rivers”. The song is catchy, rhythmic, and possesses a little something that only Li knows how to do. Check out Little Bit and No Rest for the Wicked here!
6) Sevadliza was born in Iran, however, she grew up in the Netherlands. Before she started music, she played for the Dutch national basketball team. She soon discovered her love for music and would spend hours singing. Her music and videos possess something rare and captivating. They are also incredibly artistic. Check out That Other Girl, and Sirens of the Caspian
Indie Rock/Pop
7) The Wombats are an English Rock band formed in Liverpool. Their music is a combination of indie-rock, indie-pop and new wave. They also have some famous friends– for example, they included actress April Pearson, in their “Greek Tragedy” music video. Check out Greek Tragedy here!
8) King Krule/Archy Marshall is an English musician. His music is a combination of various genres including indie rock, punk jazz, jazz fusion and darkwave. He recently released his new album, “A New Place 2 Drown.” Check out Easy Easy here!
9) Jon Bellion was born in Long Island, New York. He’s released four mixtapes and is inspired by Kanye West and Coldplay. Bellion also writes music, and wrote the chorus to the song “The Monster” by Eminem. Check out Luxury and All time Low here!
10) Manchester Orchestra is a band from Atlanta Georgia. They have five studio albums and their music is a mixture of indie and alternative rock. Check out The Ocean and I Can Feel a Hot One here!
11) Murder by Death is band from Bloomington, Indiana. The band includes a variety of instruments, including a cello, mandolin and banjo. Their newest album, “Big Dark Love”, was released this past year. Check out Lost River and Shiola here!
12) The xx is an English indie pop band. The band has three members, including Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Smith, and Jamie Smith (Jamie xx). They currently have two studio albums. Check out their song Infinity, Together here!
13) Carla Morrison is a Mexican singer. She is certified as Gold in Mexico and uses her vocals and a guitar to create a unique Indie Pop sound. She has also won two Latin Grammys. Check out Disfruto here!
Folk/Americana
14) First Aid Kit is a duo of two sisters. After posting a cover on Youtube, they soon rose to fame. Their music is a mixture of folk and country, and includes guitars, keyboards and a synth. Check out Wolf and Stay Gold here!
Rap/Hiphop
15) Roy Woods is a Canadian musician. His music is a mixture of R&B and rap, and his biggest influences are Michael Jackson and Nelly. His music presents something in tune with himself and brings something raw to the industry. Check out Get You Good and Jelousy here! (warning: explicit language)
Baroque pop
16) Woodkid is a French musician. Not only is he a musician, but he also directs music videos, including Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” and Taylor Swift’s “Back to December.” His music is a combination of baroque pop, experimental, and neofolk. Check out Iron and The Golden Age here!
Electropop
17) Bourelly is probably most famous for writing Rihanna’s single, “B*tch betta have my money.” She is also featured in Lil Wayne’s album. Now, she is bringing her own music into the industry. Check out Ego here! (warning: explicit lyrics)