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2. Shabazz Palaces
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Experimental hip-hop
"32 Leaves Dipped in Blackness Making Clouds Forming Altered Carbon" is not a science experiment, it's a song title from experimental hip-hop duo Shabazz Palaces. The Sub Pop-signed group is made up of Seattle legend Ishmael Butler (formerly of Digable Planets) and musician Dumisani Maraire, who have received a ton of underground attention. Their production is characterized by offbeat repetition and quickfire transitions. Their verses are matter-of-fact yet totally unpredictable.
It’s this warped style that makes this duo stand out in a region where rap is currently known mainly by the name Macklemore. It’s different, and although it has roots in various genres, the sound is like nothing that has come before it. Their most recent album, Black Up, was released in 2011 to wide critical acclaim and, after a spell out of the spotlight, they’ve just now announced a summer release for a follow up album called Lese Majesty. The first track to be released off the new project is "They Come in Gold."
3. NAVVI
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Experimental electro-pop
When you listen to NAVVI it’s almost as if life slows down. The soft percussion and synthesized undertones coax you into this sonic environment conducive to deep thinking, or not thinking at all. Kristen Henry’s etheral vocals veer the track from what might have been conventional electro-pop, reassuring us that it’s ok to be relaxed sometimes. Brad Boettger’s production is slightly dark and mysterious; however he holds true to the popular aesthetic just enough to have a foot in the door of “mainstream.”
4. Starfucker
Location: Portland, OR
Genre: Electronic/dance
Combining the forces of indie rock and electro-pop, Portland’s Starfucker has been killing it since they jumped on the scene in 2007. Propelled by their pairing of lo-fi vocals and infectious melodies layed over warped synths and rolling drums, Starfucker has become the Northwest heroes of indie-pop. Rising to early fame with their cover of Cyndi Lauper’s "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and their own "Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second," Starfucker just refuses to slow down.
Though their body of work has grown, the band has stayed true to their signature laid-back, but very danceable, approach to pop. Get familiar with their body of work, and you’ll soon find yourself shamelessly attempting to send your voice into pre-pubescent falsettos whenever one of their songs is played. Just off two big sets at Coachella, you can catch them on the road headlining the Mad Decent Block Party.
5. Nacho Picasso
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Hip-hop
Seattle might not have a singular sound, but the underground hip-hop scene is thriving thanks to rappers with an affinity for dark content. Maybe it's the rain, or maybe Seattle rappers all grew up watching horror movies, but none do it quite as well as Nacho Picasso. He's got a unique voice, an animated delivery, and no shortage of free music.
6. Hibou
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Surf pop
Hibou is the performance name of Peter Michel, the former drummer for Craft Spells, who now impressively takes his turn in front of the mic. Under his new moniker, Michel creates fun, fuzzy surf-pop; the kind of music that perfectly soundtracks a sunny day of adventure. Within the first few notes of "Hide Away," you can almost picture yourself jumping into a VW bug with a girl you like, snapping some Polaroids, falling into the sand, nervously kissing her on the cheek, all while his warbling voice shyly serenades you in the background. With the stellar Dunes EP already released, Hibou is now setting their sights on a short UK tour and a highly anticipated full length album for 2014.
7. Beat Connection
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Indie electronica
Since forming Beat Connection in 2010, college friends Reed Juenger, Jarred Katz, and Tom Eddy have created a new wrinkle in Seattle’s music scene, being one of the first bands to really mesh together two unlikely genres to create a whole new sound. The band takes the conventional guitar and drums of an indie outfit and seamlessly blends these elements with an electric keyboard and drum machine. It’s not the expected clash but rather a peaceful compatibility, all tied nicely together by Eddy's echoing vocals.
8. Allen Stone
Location: Chewelah, WA
Genre: Soul/folk
A “hippie with soul” is how singer/songwriter Allen Stone humbly describes himself. The musician who hails from the tiny town of Chewelah, Washington, (population sub 3000) has seen his career take off following the release of his self-titled debut in 2011. The album reached the number two spot on the Itunes R&B/Soul chart and soon after he was picked up by Dave Matthews’ label ATO Records. Growing up singing in church, and influenced by his favorite singer Stevie Wonder, Stone combines the smoothness of soul with folksy acoustics, doing it all to pitch-perfection.
9. Sol
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Hip-hop
Unlike Nacho Picasso, Seattle rapper Sol is at his best when he keeps it lighthearted and simple. He's got an honest perspective and a more traditional sound, but instead of coming across like a throwback rapper stuck in the boom-bap, Sol keeps things fresh.
10. Fleet Foxes
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Folk/folk rock
Fleet Foxes brought their brand of lush, pastoral, folk rock to the world after being signed to Sub Pop in 2008. Their self-titled debut album was very well received, while the follow-up, which came out in 2011, built on their sound and added in new elements, creating an incredibly rich, detailed record. With hints being made on the group's Facebook that they are working on new music, we will hopefully see a new record soon.
11. Campana
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Hip-hop
At 19, Campana is one of Seattle’s youngest talents, bringing new energy to the dark vibes of Seattle's hip-hop scene. With the 2014 release of his first mixtape, First Month’s Rent, Campana has laid a solid groundwork to build upon. He delivers intricate and quick wordplay with a flow that's occasionally reminiscent of Danny Brown's unique cadence. One of the tape's highlights is "C’mon Girl," a blistering, high-energy track that features another Seattle talent NICKOLVS.
12. Shy Girls
Location: Portland, OR
Genre: Electro-R&B
Wavering R&B vocals and chill electronic productions make Shy Girls memorable. Shy Girls is Portland’s Dan Vidmar’s solo project, a fluid mesh of ballad-like lyrics and crisp beats. The music is sexy and full of emotion, it’s the modern version of a '90s ballad partnered with today’s affinity for experimental production. Since dropping his debut Sex in the City in 2011, Shy Girls next followed it up with Timeshare, an EP that deserves some serious play. Drawing comparisons to the styles of The Weeknd and PARTYNEXTDOOR, Shy Girls delivers sensual R&B on all levels. Catch him now on tour with Haim.
13. Raz Simone
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Hip-hop
It’s hard not to lend your ear to Raz Simone’s gravelly voice. The deep rasp he possesses heightens the drama in every bar the Seattle rapper spits. He’s had much of Seattle hooked for the last few years and is slowly starting to gain ground throughout the rest of the region. His music is soulful and observant, touching on relevant topics with clarity. When serious, his flow seems to toe the line of spoken word, and just as you're starting to get lost in his lyrical labyrinth, Simone pulls you out with a hook or melody—one he’ll often be singing.
It’s this dynamic talent that caught the eye of Def Jam alums Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, and Todd Moscowitz; he’s their first rap signee to their new label 300. Simone’s latest project is Cognitive Dissonance, entirely self-produced and very impressive.
14. Odesza
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Electronic
Right alongside Beat Connection, Odesza is another group taking over electronic music in Seattle. Shortly after graduating from college together in 2012, friends Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight came together to create the electronic duo. Quickly they generated a whole lot of buzz after dropping their first project, Summers Gone. The sound embodies the title, capturing the nostalgia and longing of summer’s last days. In 2013, they followed that up with a more up-tempo EP, My Friends Never Die. In contrast to their first release, My Friends Never Die had a much catchier sound, heavy with samples, and extremely danceable.
Odesza has developed into the NW equivalent of Aussie hero Flume, expanding their audience and reach in a similarly rapid pace. Pretty Lights recently sourced them to remix one of his tracks, they played Coachella, and sold out 23 shows on their national tour. And with their newest "Sun Models" already well over a million plays on their Soundclound, it doesn't seem like they'll be slowing down anytime soon.
15. Typhoon
Location: Portland, OR
Genre: Pop/Rock
Since forming in 2005, Typhoon has continued to push the limits with their 11-piece band. Often performing with an even larger group, the indie rock band stays true to its garage roots while adding string and brass sections into the equation. The result is a complex folksy, baroque sound that, against all odds, is spectacularly cohesive. The band—which has been together for nearly 10 years—is still going strong. They’ve created a great body of work but their latest album White Lighter is arguably their best.
16. Natasha Kmeto
Location: Portland, OR
Genre: Singer and electronic producer
Portland singer and producer Natasha Kmeto has carved out a niche of her own in the growing world of electro-pop. Kmeto handles both the vocals and production for her music, a creative control that allows her to switch up her style whenever she wants, while still keeping a cohesive feel. On her latest album, Crisis, she moves from an alluring production like "Morning Sex," to flexing her jazzy vocals on her lead track "Idiot Proof." It's a stylistic range that makes Kmeto's sound both compelling and wonderfully uncommon.
17. Wake Owl
Location: Portland, OR
Genre: Indie-pop
California native Colyn Cameron’s first serious foray into music began after a road trip that led him to Germany, Chile, and China. Upon returning to North America, Cameron—who is now based in Portland/Vancouver—began recording the material he had written while away. His lyrics, though thoughtful, evoke a certain loneliness, perhaps similar to a feeling he might have felt while on his solitary journey across the world. Cameron collaborates with multi-instrumentalist Aiden Briscall who provides a steady pop backing which flows nicely, and contrasts with the heaviness felt in the lyrics.
18. Wolfy Bauer/Wolfgang Fuck
Location: Seattle, WA
Genre: Blues/folk
Little is known about Seattle musician Wolfy Bauer. In fact with only 55 SoundCloud followers very few people even know his music. When I stumbled upon Wolfy Bauer two years ago, it felt like striking gold. Bauer possesses a deep hollow drawl, a voice somewhat comparable to Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. Combining it with the thoughtful pluckings of his guitar, Bauer explores the depths of folk and soul music, while telling tales of love, loss, and broken dreams. With only a two-year old demo-tape out (A Dream Upon Waking), it's hard to tell when Bauer will unveil any new material. But if it sounds anything like prior releases, it'll be well worth the wait.
19. Kid Smpl
Location: Seattle
Genre: Atmospheric beat music
Kid Smpl's deeply atmospheric beat music takes influence from far-reaching destinations. Elements of ambient, noise, club music—it's all there, it's just mangled beyond recognition. His recently released Silo Tear EP makes the best of those influences, repurposing them into a booming dystopian soundscape that wouldn't sound too foreign on Tri-Angle records. Whether you're looking for a darkened take on beat music or an expansion of Evian Christ's early minimalism, Kid Smpl is definitely one to check out.
