There is an abundance of rising singers and bands who have just broken out or are on the verge of making a breakthrough from across all genres of music. No matter what your music taste is, here is a list of artists to look out for this school year, from beyond the mainstream of popular music.
In the hip hop scene, television star and social media personality Cardi B recently broke through with her debut single, “Bodak Yellow.” The song reached number one in the United States this past summer, making her the first solo female rapper to achieve this feat since Lauryn Hill. Growing up in the Bronx, New York, she turned to stripping at the age of 19 to escape her abusive relationship with her boyfriend and financial difficulties. However in 2013, her videos on Vine and Instagram began to go viral. Cardi B began her music career in late 2015 on a collaboration record with Jamaican artists, Popcaan and Shaggy. Her powerful vocal tones in her rapping reflects her confidence as a performer, creating an enjoyable listen for anyone who enjoys hip hop music. After her breakout single accomplishment within the past months, it is difficult to imagine Cardi B as a one hit wonder. She will go far this year as an artist at the rate of success she is achieving.
Magic Giant, an indie rock band from Los Angeles, is slowly beginning to break into the alternative music scene. The band is fairly new, having formed in 2014, and performed at various music festivals and went on summer tours opening for several indie solo artists. Their debut album, “In The Wind,” was released back in May. The band cites Bruce Springsteen and Queen as two of their influences. Their single, “Set On Fire,” became a top 30 hit on the alternative airplay charts. Critics have compared the sound of the band to many of today’s popular alternative rock bands, including Imagine Dragons, Walk The Moon, Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers. Over the summer, Rolling Stone magazine named the band as one of the 10 Artists You Need To Know. For any fan of alternative or pop rock, this music group is a guaranteed emerging band to watch that could potentially have more alternative hits in the next year.
Switching gears towards country, there is one particular artist who is highly recommended to check out, Walker Hayes. Hayes is a 37 year old country singer from Mobile, Alabama. He began releasing songs in 2010 through Capitol Records, but lost his record deal in 2011 after his album was shelved. After six years of financial struggles, working at Costco and feeling heartbroken, he lost his chance to achieve his dreams, Hayes was finally able to sign on to another label, Monument, at the beginning of 2017. His first single with Monument, “You Broke Up With Me,” is rising on the country charts as a surefire hit. The song itself has a catchy beat, with whistling in the background and a comical chorus that makes the listener want to sing along. At first, it might seem like the song is about a romantic relationship, but Hayes explains the song is actually aimed towards Capitol Records, and how he no longer needs them since they “broke up” with him.
CNCO is a Latin American boy band who got started in their career after winning the first season of La Banda, a Latin American singing competition show, in 2015. Their song, “Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)” has become a global hit, reaching the top spots in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. The remixed version of the song with British pop group, Little Mix, another singing reality show competition winner, has allowed the song to reach the top 10 across countries in Europe, including the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. This song is on the verge of crossing over in the United States, following trend of the remixed latin songs featuring artists that currently exists in the mainstream.
Charlotte Cardin, another reality show contestant, is a 22 year old artist from Montreal who was a final four contestant in 2013 on “La Voix,” the francophone Canadian version of “The Voice.” Her music is a fusion of pop, soul, electronic and jazz. Her most recent single, “Main Girl,” is on its way to becoming a hit song in Canada. The song is a soulful cry about being taking advantage by a guy using her to cheat on his girlfriend. Critics have compared her voice to powerful pop vocalist, Amy Winehouse. For those who enjoy singer-songwriter pop artists such as Sara Bareilles and Ed Sheeran, Cardin is an exemplary artist to look into this upcoming school year.
For fans of electronic dance music, pop and world music, Axwell & Ingrosso is the artist to look into. The duo consists of two of the former members of Swedish House Mafia, Axel Hedfors and Sebastian Ingrosso. They formed in 2014 and performed for the first time as a duo at the Governor’s Ball Music Festival that year. Though they have produced huge hit songs throughout Europe and Australia, including “Sun Is Shining,” “I Love You” and more recently, “More Than You Know,” they have yet to chart in the United States. Their sound is more progressive house, driven by a synthesized base, crescending hi-hats and solid drops during their choruses.
Out of all the rising artists out there, these six artists are standouts. These musicians will establish their personalities as artists in the world of their specific genres in the upcoming year.
