Spring 2014 Playlist: 11 Hot Imports You Should Be Listening To, From Allie X To Katy B To Zhala

Robbie Daw | April 10, 2014 5:30 am

Ten years ago, you’d have been hard-pressed to find more than two or three artists from outside of the United States border infiltrating our red, white and blue airwaves in any given month. Thankfully, that archaic, temporary sanction has been lifted, and diverse acts from overseas like Adele, Rihanna, Lorde, Icona Pop, Bastille, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding currently fill playlists across America, whether they be at cross-format radio stations or on the iPods stuffed in our gym shorts during a long run.

Here at Idolator, we’ve always got our eye on new talent, no matter which far-flung territory it hails from. And given the particular quality of new and exciting pop in 2014, we figured it was high time we rounded up the hottest imports of the moment. Head below to hear the tracks from foreign acts that are keeping us grooving as we enter this year’s warm months.

Kiesza, “Hideaway” Calgary native Kiesza is riding the wave of the ’90s deep house revival with her single “Hideaway,” which will be officially released on April 14. But then, you probably already knew that and so much more about her from checking out our Popping Up interview with the budding singer, right?

Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne, “Rather Be” This giddy dance-pop jam from electronic outfit Clean Bandit introduced soulful guest vocalist Jess Glynne to the British masses, and was just the first of her chart-topping singles in the UK this year. (See below.) You can grab this one on US iTunes now.

Route 94 featuring Jess Glynne, “My Love” Like Canada’s Kiesza, East London producer Rowan Jones, better known as Route 94, also dabbles in retro house sounds. His Jess Glynne-featuring “My Love” had the good fortune to follow the release of Clean Bandit’s “Rather Be” (above) in the UK — and, like that one, it shot straight to the top of the singles chart. “My Love” was released on US iTunes this week.