12 up-and-coming artists you need to know for the new year, and the best tracks to introduce you to their catalogs.

By Ben Leshan

Aries

Where to start: Fool’s Gold, Santa Monica

Aries got his start producing and singing on YouTube. His low-key vibe and dry sense of humor are immediately engaging, but it was his musical genius that quickly gained him a following. His debut effort, Welcome Home, is wildly consistent and well-put-together. Aries has smart metaphors and creative melodies that beg another listen in every record. As a producer, he has a great command over the buildup of each track, allowing each one to exist independently as a hit. He is not bound by genre, only emotion and energy. He creates everything from anthems, to ballads and does so masterfully. There are elements of rock, hip hop, indie, electronica, and emo music in his songs, but he never settles to stay in one place. Aries does not just rely on vocal talent, instead creating an exciting sound and can’t-miss vibe through production, tone, and emotion. Each song is its own masterpiece. He has released two singles in recent months, one of which being the high-energy, rock-leaning “Fool’s Gold”. His recent releases suggest more music is to come, and it is clear that he is gearing up for huge things in 2021.

Jean Dawson

Where to start: Triple Double, Bruiseboy

Jean Dawson has an incredibly unique and ear catching sound that is ready to take the world by storm. The alt-pop rockstar has quite a unique background (his vibe matches with the adolescence he spent in So Cal, but he spent his earlier years in Tijuana), and a lot to bring to the music world. Dawson has the aesthetic of a Soundcloud rapper, with grills and colorful dreads, but his music is so far from the style often associated with his look. His songs blend punk, electronic music, hip hop, and experimental sounds. He is yet to have a mainstream hit, but his body of work shows huge potential. His 2020 album Pixel Bath is a very strong record that moves all over the musical map. Throughout the record Dawson is socially conscious, energetic, and cuts straight to the point. He makes music to riot to, music to dance to, and music to live and die to, and he does it all unapologetically. He explores the complexity of identity, the angst of youth, the wonderment of freedom, and the frustration of confusion we all feel, and captures it all so well in purely emotional music. He is often dark and moody in his lyrics, yet his voice and production are full of life. He is the genre-less melodic artist that has can’t-miss appeal for Gen Z and 2020s culture. Jean Dawson might just be music’s next star before you know it.

Rina Sawayama

Where to Start: Lucid, XS

Rina Sawayama has a soaring breathy voice and a knack for creating pop hits. Her background inspires intrigue, as she earned a Political Science degree from Cambridge before pursuing her music career. Her clever, energetic, and rebellious spirit is evident in her music, and it makes every track an exciting listen. Sawayama embraces a wide spectrum of sounds and vibes on her eponymous 2020 effort Sawayama. She never stays in one box, making electro pop full of the energy of youth and angry nu-metal records on the same album.You can hear pop stars like Ariana Grande and Charli XCX in her sound, the latter of whom Sawayama shared a tour with. The London artist may be willing to experiment with everything, but she remains consistent with her depth and artistry throughout her catalog. She is not the pop singer who makes records to sell them (even though her music certainly does sell well), but rather one who you can truly believe is in it for the integrity of the art. 

Contradash

Where to start: White Lie, Blocked

Contradash is writing the alt-pop hits of tomorrow. The 22 year old from Southern California has caught many ears as he looks to be a genre-bending sensation. He explores love and relationships gracefully on bouncy yet minimal pop production. Bringing in elements of hip hop and rock, Dash blends the chill vibes of the West Coast and the energy of youth. The tone of his voice is unmistakable, and when he hops on a track you are bound to start singing along. His debut project All Star shows remarkable consistency and song-writing ability for a debut. His songs are short, and the production is catchy yet far from grand, but his voice and style have undeniable hit potential. His breakout track, “Blocked”, is a great example of this: a modern breakup song that is bouncy enough to dance to, relatable enough to really listen to, and sonically pleasing enough to get stuck in your head. Contradash is only going up from here, as he only signed to Interscope after independently releasing two singles in 2020, and he is poised for big things in 2021.

KennyHoopla

Where to start: How Will I Rest In Peace If I’m Buried By a Highway?//, Estella//

KennyHoopla makes dark rock music that you have no choice but to listen to. The Cleveland-born artist started in his late teens on Soundcloud, but he is finally making waves in the mainstream. His sound is emotional, raw and transformative. The pain in his voice always hits home. Hoopla is never afraid to let his voice break so his listener can truly hear the emotion behind his lyrics. He is almost excited to take his listener to an uncomfortable place, but he allows them to learn and grow, lean into their emotions, and ultimately finish the song feeling better than before they started. KennyHoopla is a rockstar for the next generation. His debut EP How Will I Rest In Peace If I’m Buried By a Highway?// is often dark and brooding, but allows you to jump around to the anger and pain of life on the single that shares its name. Meanwhile, his new single with Travis Barker, Estella//, is more of an upbeat and traditional take on the same style. These efforts prove him to be an exciting new voice, showing major versatility and talent. He can make dark and moody rock songs great for a late night drive, but he can also make upbeat anthems that you want to dance to with abandon. KennyHoopla is certainly an artist to watch going into 2021.

Arlo Parks

Where to Start: Caroline, Eugene

Arlo Parks pieces together poetic stories over lo-fi production, all using her wonderfully recognizable floating tone. Growing up in London, Parks felt like an outsider as an awkward, queer, Black woman. You can hear her quiet bravery in the music and her voice, which is soft and breathy, but refuses to fade into the background. Many of her songs feel like a pleasant rainy day with an ominous side, her vocals being the only thing that can cut through the muddled darkness. You can hear the influence of Earl Sweatshirt in her tracks, as her raw and open lyrics drift over experimental lo-fi production. She weaves stories of relationship and identity that are bound to hit home for many-a-listener. Parks is a singer-songwriter with a story to tell, and her haunting melodies and relatable stories should bring her even more success in 2021.

Morray

Where to Start: Quicksand, Dreamland

Morray’s vocals are the type that immediately catch your ear. Growing up in J Cole’s hometown of Fayetteville, NC, Morray sang his Church choir, and that kind of vocal experience is obvious on his records. He has the kind of power and vocal ability you rarely hear on a Hip Hop track. It is truly impressive, as evidenced by the cosign he received from Cole himself. Morray tells stories of pain and trauma over trap beats, singing them with raw emotion and using ear worm flows. He has much of the appeal of rap newcomers who have come to dominate the genre. You can hear Roddy Ricch or Rod Wave in his music; melodic rappers whose songs often take on trauma through jarring lyrics and beautiful melodies. Morray though, brings his own unique sound and energy to this style of music. His song “Quicksand” is fast becoming the hit that is capapulting his name into the mainstream. He may only have four songs out on Spotify at the moment, but that only leaves him room for growth. It seems that he has the room to carve out a nice space in hip hop in 2021.

X Lovers

Where to Start: Too Fast, Haunt You

X Lovers are bringing indie pop into the 2020s. London (Guitar and vocals) and Jacob (Production) have been making music together for a long time. The LA-based duo have been friends since elementary school, and they work effortlessly together to create a cohesive vision. Their sound can be bouncy and energetic, but also romantic and sentimental. Their 2020 EP Mad World is a great introduction to the group, and the breakout song from the record, “Haunt You”, is a beautiful reflection on love and loss. X Lovers’ songs explore love in a radio-friendly way, but are packaged with a certain artistic integrity that makes them palatable to those who may shun pop radio. You can feel the wide range of influences that pushed two kids from California to make music. This is pop music for the next generation; music that borrows ideas from everything from hip hop to rock and combines them into hit songs. X Lovers are developing a strong catalog, and their recent work exhibits all sorts of talent that should put them in a great position to make big moves in 2021.

Zoe Wees

Where to Start: Control

Zoe Wees only has one song and a feature out on Spotify, but anyone can see from a mile away that she has what it takes to be a star in the music industry. At only 18 years old, the German singer already a massive hit on her hands. Her debut single, “Control”, a pop ballad about her struggles growing up with epilepsy and anxiety, charted all over the world, and has earned over 100 million Spotify plays. On the song Wees is open and vulnerable as she thanks her primary school teacher for helping her through the struggles, belting out her feelings for the world to hear. Her powerful and emotional voice is the sort that would win a vocal contest, but her artistry clearly stretches beyond her impressive vocals. At such a young age, and with such a gripping and beautiful voice, it’s clear that Wees has so much further to go. She makes the kind of music you just can’t skip by, and Wees is the kind of artist you can expect a lot from in the future.

Blxst

Where to Start: Chosen, Overrated

Blxst has a smooth and controlled RnB voice, and a vision to mesh the classic sounds of his hometown with a new brand of soul. The South Central LA native started his career as a producer, and he still produces, mixes, masters, and even works on his videos. He has an impressive list of production credits from LA stars, working with artists from YG to Mustard to the great Kendrick Lamar, but with his recent project No Love Lost he truly stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Blxst doesn’t rely on power or the raw emotion of his voice, but rather a unique tone and command of flow. His voice lends itself to club tracks like “Chosen”, a collaboration with party music main-stays Ty Dolla $ign and Tyga, and his west coast sound gives all of his music an exciting vibe. He is not just a club artist though, as his catalog proves him to be an artist capable of tackling the depths of relationships through vulnerability. Blxst is looking like one of the most exciting new voices in the world of Hip Hop and RnB.

Clinton Kane 

Where to start: I Don’t Want to Watch the World End With Someone Else, Hopeless

Clinton Kane is an emotional ballad singer; a young pop voice who gets lost in pain and emotion on beautiful and touching records. The young artist grew up between the UK and Australia and learned many instruments as he grew up. Now, Kane has a mature artistic vision and an amazing ear for hit melodies. He has already collaborated with Martin Garrix, and his songs show off impressive vocals, strorytelling, and songwriting. He is clearly exceptionally talented, and quite skilled at turning pain into unforgettable art. Kane puts his personal pain, stories of breakups and arguments, into hismusic, and his vulnerability makes each song easy to connect with. Much like Lewis Capaldi, Kane uses his big voice to create grand expressions of loss and love over pop-ballad production. His music is the perfect match for young people working through the joy, the loneliness, and the heartbreak of love, and his voice has undying hit potential.

J.I The Prince of NY

Where to start: Need Me, Love Scars

Amidst the rise of NY drill music in the mainstream, J.I is coming out of the city with the melodic sensibilities of A Boogie wit Da Hoodie or Lil TJay. The 19-year-old Brooklyn Rapper already has many big tracks, and he has even earned a collaboration with A Boogie himself. He got his start as a young boom bap rapper on the reality show The Rap Game, but in the last year or two the rapper has found his voice and ran with it. He has a clean and unique melodic tone that flows effortlessly over minor chords and 808s. J.I can have fun, as he does on his breakout track “Need Me”, but he can also tap into his pain. On other records he explores heartbreak, struggles with vices and betrayals in the streets. He also brings another dimension to his sound as a Puerto Rican rapper, as he has experimented with Spanish language tracks. As New York Hip Hop evolves, J.I is one of the most promising leaders of the melodic sound coming from the City. He has shown himself to be much more than one of many A Boogie disciples, and he has a great opportunity to further prove himself in 2020.

Thank you for reading! Make sure to check out our instagram content @moonlxtemelodies, and please give these artists a listen before they’re the next big thing!