Best New Artists of the Month (April 2013)

From: Somewhere in England

All it took was two songs. Perhaps kicking things off with the goal of proving his name, Bipolar Sunshine dropped "Fire" and "Rivers," two songs that settle into completely different zones. While "Fire" is some moody blend of King Krule and The Streets (mixed with a few other worlds of sound), "Rivers" is straight pop rock with a touch of nostalgia. The fact that one artist made both of these tracks has us paying very close attention.

From: Austin, Texas

Like Gnarls Barkley, Electric Guest, and Broken Bells? Check out Max Frost. Without any help from Danger Mouse, this Austin-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist has won us over with a little bit of that high energy, genre-bending pop. "White Lies" is the jam.

From: Stockholm, Sweden

It's no surprise that we've got another great pop act from Sweden, right? Right. Tove Lo made a big impact with her latest song, "Habits," combining the perfect amount of pure pop with lyrics like, "I gotta stay high all my life to forget I'm missing you. (OoOooH, OoOooOH)." It's an in-your-face combination of sounds and words, and @Jennsdrunk described it pretty perfectly with one simple statement: "Tove Lo is what I imagine Ke$ha could have been if she wasn’t awful." True.

From: London, England

Is Fe the next Lana Del Rey? That's the question we asked when we first posted her, and it wouldn't be in the least bit surprising if she caught on in a major way, just like Lana did when she dropped her first couple of tracks. With a mysterious introduction that includes little information but spot-on aesthetics and strong songwriting and production, Fe is starting off on the right foot. Plus, that hat. Look out for the London singer.

From: London, England

What the fuck is happening in London right now? Here's another great act that we were introduced to this month. Following in line with other exciting new artists employing the sparse electronic soundscapes, Woman's Hour manages to stand out by making each element feel important and perfectly placed. It starts out simply enough and ends simply enough, but along the way, "Our Love Has No Rhythm" takes you on a gorgeous little journey.

From: Glasgow, Scotland

Come out swinging, right? That's what Prides has done with this new single, which is relentlessly catchy in a way few pop songs can pull off (see MGMT's "Kids" or Little Daylight's "Overdose" for other examples). The group already won over fellow Glaswegians CHVRCHES, and "Out Of The Blue" is only their first song. If their second is half as catchy, expect some snowballing to occur.

From: Brighton, England

The Wytches are like a young Jack White on acid in a garage, fronting a British band that was inspired by punk. It's somewhere between a party and a threat, and unhinged vocals make "Beehive Queen" a captivating piece of rock. To get a feel for their style, the band's bio reads: "Hypnotic, Arabian funeral. Depression in the desert. Sepia rainbows." Their infleunces: "Nirvana, Bright Eyes, The Cramps."

From: New York, New York

There are not many bands who can achieve a sound that both pays homage to those that came before while also showing what's still to come. But that's exactly the idea that comprises NYC band SKATERS, whose material possess a nice culmination of both retro and modern rock. With a youthful, rebellious energy encompassed in every distorted progression, SKATERS are the type of band to pay attention to.

If you like what you hear, download "Armed" for free here.

From: New York, New York

Combining the loose, conscious-but-carefree aesthetic of early 90s east coast hip-hop with a vibe that's a bit more in line with the current Brooklyn warehouse party set, Paris-born Harlem-raised emcee Salomon Faye casually embodies the crossroads of older-leaning sensibilities and new visions. Songs like "Fool's Gold" exhibit a young rapper exploring his potential, finding a comfortable groove while showing plenty of room for growth.

From: England

Tropics' Home & Consonance EP is lush and deftly arranged, with keys, vocals and percussion weaving delicately in and out of one another. Let this float out of your speakers like a warm summer breeze, close your eyes, and submerge yourself in the beautiful music of Tropics.

From: Brighton, England

Our introduction to this British five-piece was a delicate six minute track called "Red," which production-wise has something of the James Blake's about it, but Phoria, as they proved with their Bloodworks EP encompass much more than any simple comparison can do justice. Driving, heartfelt songs with genuinely anthemic choruses ("Scopes," for example) sit comfortably beside spacious, piano-led ballads, and the uniform excellence spanning a variety of styles has us very excited.

From: Born in Boston, raised in London

We just premiered Kenzie May's "Hide & Seek," a catchy piece of pop that shows off a blend of sultry vocals, a big hook, and a self-assured style that keeps things catchy and accessible but still interesting. After getting her career going with features, the 19-year-old singer is just taking off on her path as a solo artist, and she's off to a great start.