The Best New Artists of 2013

From: Los Angeles, CA

Take some of the best producers in underground dance music right now, like Nguzunguzu, Bok Bok, and Kingdom, and put them in the studio with Kelela, a female vocalist who recalls ‘90s stars like Mary J. Blige or Lauryn Hill. You’ve got the recipe for something original and refreshing, and something that sits high on plenty of year-end lists.

Trenchant post-dubstep production seeps into the crevices that Kelela leaves bare, and the combination breeds a sometimes uncanny, always beautiful new product in the form of Cut 4 Me, Kelela’s breakout 2013 (free) mixtape. She straddles time periods with ease and stretches her voice to higher registers like Mariah did before her. “Floor Show” skids above the ocean floor with a submerged funk groove and catchy chorus, while the clear standout is “Bank Head,” blissfully produced by the Fade To Mind bossman Kingdom. Grime, R&B, crunk, house—it’s all thrown into the pot under Kelela’s alluring voice, and it makes for some of the year’s most engrossing music.

From: London, UK

Sampha is certainly not new in the sense that he started releasing music in 2013. Not by a long way. And he isn't even new to critical and (reasonable) commercial success this year—2011 saw him featured heavily on SBTRKT's brilliant debut album, while 2012 saw him touring the record. As a solo artist, however, 2013 was Sampha's banner year.

Many listeners got their first taste of Sampha when Drake released a few cuts on his Soundcloud before Nothing Was The Same, the best of which was “The Motion,” a song fans surely thought would be included on the album. Instead it was left off in favor of another Sampha-helmed beauty, “Too Much,” becoming one of the album’s highlights and forever cementing Sampha’s voice in the minds of rap fans.

A couple months after NWTS dropped, Sampha decided to step up and release his own version of “Too Much” along with a b-side called “Happens”. The latter piano balled is damn near tear wrenching, and it wisely pushes the throaty UK singer’s vocal chops to the forefront. Sampha has been around since 2010, when he released a 3-track EP with SBTRKT, and he had continued to work with him and other artists like Lil’ Silva and Jessie Ware, before getting his big break alongside Drake this year.

Before “Too Much / Happens” Sampha released his Dual EP on Young Turks, with songs like “Can’t Get Close” showcasing his emotive power. Sampha’s ability to pen songs that drive a crucible through your heart is what sticks with the listener, and while “Too Much” was great, he’ll probably do better if he stays away from any and all rappers, letting the focus be on his stunning, angelic voice. 2013 will go down as the year that Sampha blew up, but hopefully 2014 will be the year that he releases a stunning debut album.

From: Glasgow, Scotland

There are a lot of bands pushing the synth-fueled indie pop sound, but few are doing it as well as CHVRCHES. Like Passion Pit a few years ago, CHVRCHES are becoming a group that it's impossible not to compare other bands to. Their sound is bright and energetic, but the songwriting is strong enough to override the knee-jerk temptation of dismissing this music simply as synth-pop. These songs would translate in any style, and that's the thing about CHVRCHES that makes them so much more compelling than the dozens of other groups who fuse synths and pop.

From: Chicago, IL

This year, we got a lot of new hip-hop artists from Chicago, IL, but none sounded like Lucki Eck$. Instead of hopping on board with the trends or slightly tweaking the already popular sounds, Lucki Eck$ made something completely unique. Don't let the "trap" part of the title of his mixtape, Alternative Trap, fool you—Lucki's music is introspective, sparsely produced, and moody. He's got an ear for picking out production, and he's still a teenager—it's going to be very interesting to see his next steps.

Download Alternative Trap here.

From: London, UK

Deptford Goth is shrouded in mystery. From the hushed sound in his music to Daniel Woolhouse himself (who first released his songs with press shots that only showed the back of his head) there's an air of the unknown that surrounds both the man and his music. But instead of confusing us or coming across clichéd, Woolhouse intrigues and quietly lures us in with his gorgeous, melancholy lullabies. In doing so, he puts a pronounced emphasis on his music and has created an album full of emotive electronic compositions, masterful in their simplicity. You may not know exactly what Daniel Woolhouse looks like, but you'll know exactly how his music makes you feel; and in today's world, that's truly a special feat.

From: London, UK

Kwabs comes with a Jessie Ware stamp of approval, and Jessie Ware seems like a trustworthy, tasteful person. In the same vein as James Blake, Kwabs produces haunting, barren electronic music that somehow manages to still have soul. The vocals are the focal point, but the production provides and important context that makes Kwabs feel like a timeless talent but also undeniably fresh. His latest track, produced by SOHN, is further evidence that Kwabs is moving in the right direction and destined for great things.

From: London, UK

Last year,  FKA twigs quietly released a four-track EP with feather-light vocals on songs like “Ache” and “Breathe.” We loved it, and supported it, but it took EP2, released on the well-respected Young Turks imprint, to get everyone talking.

She teamed up with Arca, the Venezuelan producer who helped Yeezus sound as demented as it does, to make R&B music that defies rhythm, blues, or any another common genre description. The result is songs like “Papi Pacify,” which seems to both resist traditional readings of patriarchy and comply with them at the same time, and “Water Me”, which employs metaphorical imagery in allusion to growth and dependence. FKA twigs is an artist who avoids categorization in order to let the unnerving obscurity of her music speak for itself, and that focus has helped her make waves across the indie landscape.

From: Brooklyn, NY

With a no-frills, throwback style, 20-year-old Dillon Cooper is already getting Joey Bada$$comparisons, but instead of feeling like a rip-off, Dillion sounds comfortable, confident, and compelling. It takes some artists years before they stumble on a song as immediately gripping as "State of Elevation." The fact that it's the first song we heard from him is a promising sign, and the video only cements his spot as a rapper to watch—he's got the skills, but he's also got the kind of charisma that should bode well in an environment filled with so many voices fighting to be heard.

Download/listen to Dillon's mixtape here.

From: London, UK / Paris, France

Benjamin Clementine’s voice, with all its little cracks and imperfections and uncontainable emotion, hits with a physical force the first time you hear it. Clementine's powerful, soulful music comes with an interesting backstory: Not that long ago, he was living homeless and busking in the metro in Paris, having moved there from his native London, though he eventually got together enough money to move in to a room of his own.

The story may be moving, and add extra emotional weight to his music, but really, no context is necessary in listening to Clementine's debut Cornerstone EP, one of the year's best debuts.

From: Stockholm, Sweden

Rhode Island-born, Stockholm-based Mapei only released one song in 2013, and she's not even technically "new," but her latest song "Don't Wait" is a departure from her earlier music, which was mostly rapping. The song is produced by Magnus Lidell, who also produced this gem, and when we interviewed Mapei, she told us that he's the only producer who she's working with on her upcoming album. When the first single is this good, it's enough to put Mapei way up there on our list of artists to look out for.

From: Los Angeles, CA

It’s rare that an pop or R&B artist has the right balance of songwriting ability and vocal talent. With many mainstream acts, it’s usually a trade-off for one or the other, but not with Banks. She appeared at the beginning of the year with vocals on Lil Silva's club track "Work," but quickly proved that she was destined to be more than just a vocalist on other people's tracks with the release of "Before I Ever Met You," which was followed by the impressive London EP.

“I wish I was in love but I don’t wanna cause any pain”, she sings on “Waiting Game,” the first track of the stunning EP. You can feel Banks beckoning a partner to bed with a single tantalizing finger on the lusty “Bedroom Wall”, while “This Is What It Feels Like” is pop music updated for a rocky space age. The EP ends with “Change”, a longing song that could soundtrack the trees rolling slowly by the car window on a lengthy roadtrip. With production from SOHN, Lil Silva, Jamie Woon and Tim Anderson, London is one of the standout EPs of the year, and sets the stage for Banks' 2014 debut album.

From: Chicago, IL

Though Chicago's Chance the Rapper first bubbled up with last year's solid 10 Day mixtape, it wasn't until April's Acid Rap that he fully announced himself as perhaps rap's next ascendant talent. With a nimble, uncommonly animated flow, a gift and constant urge for melody, and a voice like few others in the genre, Chance seems equipped with the proper starter kit for a long and adventurous career in rap.

Before we fast forward, Chance has already proven he can assemble a cohesive, satisfying body of work, as Acid Rap represents the sort of project that blurs the line between "mixtape" and "album" to the point of irrelevance. His rapping ability makes him immediately intriguing, but it is Chance's knack for mixing social observation, self-deprecation, and emotional depth—all qualities of the titan that so inspired him, Kanye West—that will turn him into a lasting artist if properly wielded.

From: London, UK

Paul Dixon used to release music as David's Lyre, but he left that alias behind, took on a new name, and started sending out emails with little more than the name Fyfe, his place of residence (London), and a link to his stunning debut track "Solace." Fyfe's music was so fully formed and expertly produced that the lack of context or information was unimportant, all that was needed was to press play and you were immediately transported into his world of gentle melancholy. As we learned more about Fyfe, his music continued to impress, with the three tracks on his debut EP showing off different elements of his repertoire, but all brought together by Dixon's clear, crisp vocals.

With a great debut EP out, fyfe is most certainly not resting on his laurels, returning with "Conversations," following that with "Lies Pt. II," and currently recording his debut album.

From: Los Angeles, CA

Skin Town seemed to come out of nowhere with “2Nite,” a smooth and seductive slice of post-Weeknd R&B that hit harder, and with more emotional impact, than anything Abel Tesfaye has released since his brilliant first mixtape, House of Balloons. Skin Town’s entire debut album, The Room, lives up to the heights promised by “2Nite,” with the duo managing to squeeze a huge amount of variety and experimentation out of their synth-based R&B sound.

Skin Town are made up of vocalist Grace Hall and producer Nick Turco (Zola Jesus’ live synth player), and together they crafted a really well-rounded, complete record, one that is strong all the way through and cohesive without relying on repeating the same formula over and over again. This is smooth, seductive, modern R&B at it’s very best, and you can listen to the whole album below.

From: Atlanta, GA

In our interview with rapper Young Thug, he told us, "You have to be different, you know. People won’t recognize you if you have the same style. If you’re not diverse you probably won’t get very far." The second you hear Young Thug on a track, you can recognize him. His wild deliveries and drastic change-ups between rapping and singing have made him one of the most interesting new voices in hip-hop, and he knows how to balance weird with just the right amount of accessibility.

Download his 1017 Thug mixtape here.

From: Bishops Stortford, UK

From the opening strains of "Lay Me Down," it is evident that Sam Smith's voice is an instrument of little parallel in the current landscape. Having played a key roll in brotherly duo Disclosure's breakthrough song, "Latch," and amassed a collection of soaring ballads and his own dance-tinged concoctions, Smith has shown a versatility waiting to be honed into one true hit. A major label deal (through Capitol Records) and a BRIT Critics Choice Award have Smith in prime position for a full-on breakthrough in 2014.

From: Nottingham, UK

Arriving on the Internet with little fanfare or explanation, trio London Grammar's gorgeous debut single "Hey Now"—a cinematic take on The xx's aching production and the pyrotechnics of a Florence and the Machine Song–sparked an impressive 2013 that culminated in their stellar, slow-burning debut album, If You Wait. While there might not be a void in the pop landscape readily awaiting them, London Grammar's painstaking songcraft and capacity for subtle anthems that spring from ballads give them the sort of glass ceiling that they could easily, suddenly crack on the way to greater heights.

From: Sydney, Australia

Flume is a big deal in Australia. In fact, in his home country his new album topped Justin Bieber in sales. It makes sense—Flume is an electronic artist, but he makes music with a pop mentality, sprinkling in vocals over hard-hitting drums and catchy elements that pop from his high-voltage backdrops. His self-titled debut is out now, and we can see just how far his star has risen over the course of 2013 by the fact that he managed to snag Ghostface Killah,Freddie Gibbs, Autre Ne Veut and Killer Mike for the deluxe edition.

INTERVIEW: FLUME

From: Mount Eden, NZ

Lorde makes ultra-accessible pop music, but she does it with a unique, minimal approach. This has rubbed some people the wrong way. If "Royals" didn't catch on the way it did and become the No. 1 song in the country (for many weeks) the teenage New Zealand singer might be indie music's adored new queen. But her quick ascent into the mainstream spotlight has come with plenty of backlash. At its core, though, Lorde's debut album Pure Heroine is easily digestible, instantly appealing, and still unique. Call it "basic" if you want, but balancing mainstream success with an unprecedented sound that people love is not an easy task. In 2013, Lorde got all the praise she deserved while also taking a lot of heat, but keep in mind she's still 17.

MUSIC YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO IF YOU LIKE LORDE

From: London, UK

This young four-piece came out of the gate strongly, with the stylish black and white video that accompanied their debut single, "Carter (Uncut)" directed by Kate Moross, who was behind Jessie Ware’s “It Was Us” and “Wildest Moments” videos. The elegance and subtlety that marked out that first single runs through the band's impressive debut EP, which is a spacious and atmospheric effort that will please fans of The xx or London Grammar.

The band's debut album is now recorded, and is scheduled for release in the U.S. in March 2014.

From: Birmingham, UK

So much of the time, artists experimenting with modern music come across as sounding fresh and of-the-moment but they do this by sacrificing timelessness. Laura Mvula incorporates her African-Caribbean heritage with British style and a spirituality that gives her music (and her powerful live show) that is often missing with music that we associate with the word "new." Laura Mvula's music doesn't sound new, it sounds like music that floats gracefully outside of time, and while that puts her in different territory than the buzz bands and hype acts, it also gives her music a weight that other breaking acts usually missing. Her debut album Sing to the Moon is out now.

TAKING FLIGHT: LAURA MVULA

From: London, UK

At first listen, Marika Hackman's music might seem like fairly typical folk-pop fare, but in her arrangements, and intricate, often surprising lyricism, it becomes evident that she's trying to do something a little different. And she's certainly succeeding. While "Retina Television" may still be her most impressive song, Marika has put out a huge amount of great music this year, from the That Iron Taste mini-album through her Sugar Blind EP to her most recent collaboration with Sivu.

All this music is woven together by her delicate, beautiful voice, and bodes well for the forthcoming debut album, sure to be a patchwork of offbeat percussion and skewed pop loveliness.

From: Philadelphia, PA

Even if you're one of the many people tired of artists coming out and pushing the "mysterious" angle, when the music's good enough, it doesn't matter. So far, Marian Hill's music is good enough. We'll let the lack of information and shadowy press photo slide. The Philadelphia duo makes sultry pop in a minimal electro shell, and with "Lovit" and "Whisky," they're two for two.