5 Young Artists On the Rise

 





    With a vast catalog of music available these days right at our fingertips, discovering an artist or song that immediately resonates you is both challenging and effortless all at once. Everyday there are new songs and unknown artists attempting to break through the fold and skyrocket into stardom. With the notion of fame in mind, it is a personal pleasure of mine to be familiar with artists at the onset of their musical infancy, discovering them long before the masses and being able to experience their discography in the emotional and aesthetic glory that is maintained with its anonymity. This list I have compiled contains five new or emerging artists that I can see being superstars one day. Although some of them will likely never attain that status, their music alone is in an echelon of quality all by itself.






1. Unusual Demont

    Unusual Demont is someone who exudes a unique and humorous confidence just as the person that he is (check out his Twitter). His music is vigorous and intoxicating, able to combine elements of psychedelic indie-pop and his unique R&B style resulting in a gorgeous aesthetic of groovy bangers. Demont is like Frank Ocean, but if his music was laced with more colorful production elements and deliciously catchy melodies. The choruses that Unusual Demont provides are spectacular, especially on his debut single “Amber.” Every element that he utilizes, especially the deeply texturized synths, are ripe with energy and emotion. He hasn’t released much, so now is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with the amazing young Wisconsin native who is Unusual Demont.

Songs to check out: “Amber,” “Pine,” “Purple.”






2. Paris Texas 

    Paris Texas is the result you would get if the Gorillaz and BROCKHAMPTON had a baby, then that baby harnessed that would-be style and creatively made it their own through the L.A. roots that run deep within them. Paris Texas has combined Punk, Alternative and Hip-Hop into something fresh and unlike anything coming out right now. The group is composed of South Central natives Louie Pastel and Felix, with their music not really sounding reminiscent of the area at surface level. Dive under the first layer though and you can see the grunge-like punk elements and the Hip-Hop aesthetic that has characterized L.A. for years. Their debut single “HEAVY METAL” isn’t a metal track, but the musical components that have been stitched together from the genre bending that they boast is ingenious, ripe with grueling guitar riffs, a meaty bassline and some raw, punctuated percussion. Their debut record is coming out soon, so get with these guys before then.

Songs to check out: “HEAVY METAL,” “SITUATIONS,” “FORCE OF HABIT.”



 



3. Baby Keem

    Baby Keem is like a young and rebellious combination of rappers IDK and Vince Staples. His sound is reminiscent of those two contemporaries, but his raucous personality and the fact that he is Kendrick Lamar’s cousin have transformed his style into a bold and beautiful blend of melodic, street inspired Trap/Alternative Hip-Hop. He has already released two mixtapes and has his debut album on the way later this year, as well as a new single with Travis Scott in the works, but he has barely been noticed despite all of that. The confidence he has, earned through his experience no doubt from his writing and production credits on Kendrick’s DAMN. Translate onto tracks such as “Gang Activites,” a cut steeped in its demonic, guttural bass and the self-proclaimed violent past Keem has experienced. The evolved and transformative improvement between his first and second mixtapes is wonderful, so hopefully that will carry into his dearly sought after debut.

Songs to check out: “HONEST,” “ORANGE SODA,” “Gang Activities.”






4. Lilly Aviana 

    Lilly Aviana has probably one of the most complete debut records for a young artist, especially one that falls into the R&B category with some heavy Pop elements laden throughout. Her music is steeped in heartbreak, growth and emotional love. Supported by heart-wrenching percussion and basslines, as well as the vivid synths that are accentuated by her angelic voice, she effortlessly provides the melodies and harmonies necessary that are weaved into her music with near flawless perfection. The Houston native is seemingly unheard of despite the strength of her musical qualities. Her track “Seasons” is likely her most vital cut, oozing beauty through the gripping bassline and the luscious guitar chords that cradle her melodic, euphonious voice. Lilly Aviana is someone to notice now as she could soon break through into the spotlight.

Songs to check out: “Seasons,” “Rainfall,” “Waterlillies.”


 





5. Joy Crookes

    Joy Crookes is a British Singer-Songwriter who incorporates themes of relationships, identity and her South-London origins into her music. Combined with the old-school Blues melodies and the distinct Contemporary R&B/Soul that influences her style, this makes for a divine pairing and creation of her unique sound. She excels at using her voice to hit a wide array of notes, able to sound serious, in pain or joyous at the flip of a switch, with her choruses being indescribably gorgeous. Joy has released three EPs and won the Rising Star award at the 2020 Brit Awards, so she is definitely on the come up, hopefully going unnoticed not for much longer.

Songs to check out: “Two Nights,” “Hurts,” “London Mine.”

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