Keep An Eye Out For These Up And Coming New Artists
With all of the music that is released daily, it's nearly impossible to keep up with all of the artists. There are new pop sensations such as Conan Gray and up-and-coming neo-soul groups such as Half•Alive. But who else is there to look out for int he coming year?
You may have heard of some of these artists late in 2019, but as the new year rolls out, it looks like a lot of them are here to stay. With the festival season swiftly approaching, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for some of these names on the line-up!
The Indie-Pop Group Beach Bunny
If you're a fan of indie-pop, then you're going to want to keep an eye out for a new band coming out of Chicago, Illinois. Beach Bunny formed in 2015 and includes four members, Lili Trifilio, Anthony Vaccaro, Matt Henkels, and Jon Alvarado.
The band has a few music videos out on their personal website, including one for their 2018 EP, Prom Queen. In 2019, Beach Bunny signed with Mom + Pop Music. They plan to have their first full-length album, Honeymoon, out by February 2020. You're not going to want to miss listening to this up and coming group. Be sure to check their tour dates!
The Neo-Soul Group Emotional Oranges
'Emo' and 'V' formed the neo-soul, pop, R&B group Emotional Oranges after meeting at a bat mitzvah in 2017. Originally from the Los Angeles area, the duo has normal lives when they're not performing on stage. V is a vocal coach while Emo is an audio engineer, even their producer, and guitarist have day jobs.
In 2018 their first single "Motion" was picked up by the popular reality television show RuPaul's Drage Race, using it for the opening theme song. Currently, the duo has released two studio albums, so you're going to want to be sure to check out The Juice, Vol 1, and The Juice, Vol. 2 ASAP!
Half•Alive Has An Electronic Rock Sound
From Long Beach, California, Half•Alive is an indie-rock band that has been described as having an electronic rock style. The band consists of three members, lead singer Josh Taylor, bassist J Tyler Johnson, and drummer Brett Kramer. The three members got together in 2013, releasing their first EP in 2017.
Half•Alive wasn't signed to a major label until 2018 when their song "Still Feel" received praise from media sources such as Alternative Press and NPR. They were even able to gain the attention of the late-night host, Jimmy Kimmel, appearing on his show in 2019!
Jessie Reyez Already Went 2x Platinum
Jessie Reyez is one R&B singer that you're going to want to keep your eye on in 2020. In 2018, her single "Figures" was certified double Platinum by Music Canada and Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. From there, Reyez was named one of the ten hip-hop artists to watch in 2018, and she didn't disappoint.
In 2020, Reyez received her first Grammy nomination for her EP album Being Human in Public. This year, you're going to want to look out for her very first studio album. Before love Came to Kill Us is set to drop on March 27, 2020.
Rosalía Is Finally Getting International Recognition
Spain native Rosalía is known for her modern interpretation of flamenco music. She recently has been getting international recognition because of her collaboration with American artists Travis Scott and Pharrell Williams, as well as other international sensations, such as J Balvin and James Blake.
Her unique style has gained much attention in the music world. Recently she performed at the 2020 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, becoming the first Spanish female to ever perform at the ceremony. On top of that honor, Rosalía also won the award for Best Latin Rock, Urban, or Alternative Album. Be sure to look for her third studio album, as it comes out in 2020.
FINNEAS Has Music In His Blood
FINNEAS is best known for being the brother to the pop sensation Billie Eilish, producing and writing some of her best music. But that isn't his only talent, FINNEAS is a beautiful singer and actor, having showcased his talents on the hit TV series Glee.
In 2019, he sold out his first headlining shows in both Los Angeles and New York. Recently, FINNEAS was named iHeart Radio's newest Alternative on the Verge Artist. If he was able to help his sister win five Grammy Awards and win a few himself, there's no telling what he'll be able to write and produce for his own vocals in the future.
Texas Pop Singer Conan Gray
Conan Gray is a media personality and singer from a small town in Texas. He began his career at the age of nine, starting his own Youtube channel and gaining a huge following. From there, Gray released music onto his vlog and ended up getting more than 14 million streams for his self-released song "Idle Town."
Gray has been lucky enough to open for huge bands such as Panic! at the Disco, and play at festivals. Speaking of, if you like festivals and are interested in becoming obsessed with a new male pop artist, you're not going to want to miss Coachella! Gray will be performing at the 2020 festival.
Girl In Red Is THE Bedroom Pop Star Everyone Is Raving About
Norwegian bedroom-pop star girl in red taught herself how to play the guitar and piano at the age of 14. Since then, she has released one hit after the other. Her first single "I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend" was listed as one of the 68 songs of 2018, having been streamed over 40 million times on Spotify.
In 2019, Dork named girl in red number one on their hype list for 2020, and it's no surprise why. In 2020, girl in red graced the cover of NME magazine and she'll be performing at Coachella while also scheduling the release of her debut album World in Red.
CAAMP Started As Two Friends At Summer Camp
The band CAAMP plays a very niche genre - folk. The band is made up of three members, founders Even Westfall and Taylor Meier, as well as Matt Vinson. They released their first album in 2016 with Square Roots Records but didn't get Billboard recognition until a few years later.
In 2019, CAAMP released their second album with Mom + Pop Music, headlined at Mo Pop Festival, and played at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Finally, they made their Billboard debut in the summer of 2019, even hitting number one of the Heatseekers Albums chart. You heard it here first, these guys are going to be huge!
Ashley McBryde Went From Independent Releases To Grammy Winner
Ashley McBryde is no stranger to the music industry, distributing her country songs since 2006 when she independently released her self-titled debut album. McBryde released a few other EPs before she was finally signed to Warner Music Nashville in 2017. From there, she released her debut studio album Girl Going Nowhere.
Since the release of that album, McBryde's life changed drastically. In 2019, she won a Grammy for the Best Country Album and was named Artist of the Year at the CMAs. Considering how well her first studio album did, we'll be highly-anticipating the upcoming one, Never Will, which is set to drop on April 3, 2020.
Orville Peck Is Starting To Attract Media Attention
Orville Peck is a country singer known for his fringed "Lone Ranger" face mask. Peck made his professional debut in 2019 with the album Pony, a collaborative effort with the record label Sub Pop, the same label that signed Nirvana!
His album was put on the longlist for Canada's 2019 Polaris Music Prize. Unfortunately, he didn't make the cut. But that didn't stop the media from becoming very curious about the up and coming country musician, especially about his attire, stage name, and music style. If you're a country fan, keep your eyes open for this fringe-mask wearing country soon-to-be star.
Omar Apollo Is On His Way To The Top
With little to no professional experience, Omar Apollo is an R&B artist you're going to want to look out for in 2020. Apollo grew up in Hobart, Indiana, and taught himself how to play guitar and sing. He was first recognized for his talents in 2017 with his release of "Ugotme" on Spotify.
The song became an instant hit overnight, pressing Apollo to create and release more music. In 2018 he released his first full EP, Stereo. It wasn't enough to satiate his fans. Then, in 2019, Apollo released a second EP called Friends. This young singer isn't signed, but we'd guess 2020 is his year for stardom!
Pale Waves Is Ready To Make Waves In 2020
The indie-pop band Pale Waves formed in 2014 and, in 2017, they signed with Dirty Hit. Their first single with the record label "There's a Honey" was met with positive reviews and they sold-out a show a month later at Madison Square Garden. Then, in 2018, they began to record their debut album.
But 2019 was their year to win an award. At the Q Awards, they won the Q Best Breakthrough Act, even though they've been around for about two years. After getting "breakthrough" recognition, it's safe to say that 2020 is going to be their year for international success!
Tank and the Bangas Met At An Open Mic Night
In The Washington, Tank and the Bangas is described as a "lively fusion of funk, soul, hip-hop, rock, and spoken word." The group consists of members who met at an open mic night in Louisiana. They formed the group in 2011 and have been making music ever since.
Tank and the Bangas have won awards dating back to 2014, but their biggest nomination came this past year in 2019. The group was nominated for the Best New Artist category for the 2020 Grammy Awards. And even though they didn't win, we're sure that this band is going to be headlining some very cool concerts in 2020.
Maggie Rogers Went Viral Fast
Maggie Rogers got her big break in 2016 when she performed her original song "Alaska" for Pharrell Williams in her master class at New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. From there, the song went viral, and multiple record labels contacted Roger's. She signed with Capitol Records, and her first studio album, Heard It In a Past Life, debuted in 2019.
Us Billboard 200 ranked the album number one, paving the way for her to appear on multiple television shows and even get nominated for the 2020 Grammy's for Best New Artist. With the quick success Roger's is seeing, she's going to be someone to watch!
Yola Is Here To Stay
Yola grew up with her parents banning music, but that didn't stop her from getting into the industry. In 2016 she released her first EP, Orphan Offspring, then, in 2019, Yola signed to Easy Eye Sound label and dropped her debut album Walk Through Fire. Discussing the album, Brittney McKenna from NPR Music, says, "It's the work of an artist sure to stun audiences for years to come."
In 2019, Yola also found herself at the Newport Folk Festival and on the TV show CBS This Morning. She was also nominated for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammy Awards. Yola is going to be a powerhouse in 2020!
Black Pumas Are Too Much Fun To Watch
The funk and soul bad Black Pumas blew up overnight in Austin, Texas. Members Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada formed the band in 2017, releasing their debut album just last year in 2019. That release brought with it a lot of opportunities.
The year 2019 was huge for the band. They played at the popular festival South by Southwest and won a 2019 Austin Music Award for "Best New Band." Their album hadn't even been out a full year yet! Then, they were nominated for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammy's. Considering the speed of their success, we'll be keeping an eye on the Black Pumas.
Inhaler Is Touring Around The UK In 2020
Aside from the fact that the frontman of the Dublin band Inhaler is U2 legend Bono's son, this foursome is something to look forward to in 2020. Their style is considered to be post-punk, and 2019 was the year for them to fine-tune their sound and instrumentals.
When asked about their music, frontman Elijah Hewson, said, "I'm just trying to write about the joy of being alive," which makes sense considering the band's name. Inhaler will be touring throughout the UK in 2020. Don't miss your chance to see Elijah Hewson, Josh Jenkinson, Rob Keating, and Ryan McMahon, in concert!
Georgia Is Going From Cult-Artist To International Superstar
After about five years of being considered a 'cult artist,' it seems as though Georgia is finally going to turn over into the limelight. Her 2019 single "About Work the Dancefloor" was immensely popular and will be on her second studio album Seeking Thrills.
The album is said to show Georgia's extensive musical knowledge, going from pop to R&B sounds, and even subtle techno and house influences in some of the songs. One journalist said that her second album almost feels like her debut because it is showing all these different sides of her talent. It's going to be exciting watching Georgia grow in 2020.
Ryland James Has A Famous Fan
Ryland James is an Ontario, Canada, native who has already been highly spoken of by artists such as Shawn Mendes. He's even gone on tour with Alessia Cara! That being said, his 2019 singles go to show that the young artist is plenty talented to be given praise by such musicians.
James mashes a few genres together, taking roots, gospel, soul, and pop music to form his beautiful songs. His wish is to write songs that deeply impact people. If he keeps up the pace in which he's writing and marketing his music, we're sure he's going to be someone to look out for come awards season.
