The Best New Artists of the Month (May 2014)

These are the new, rising artists from May that you need to know about.

Finding new artists is easier than ever, but this creates a problem: it's harder than ever to filter through it all and keep tabs on what's really good. With so many artists popping up every day, it's impossible not to miss out on some fresh faces and new sounds. With that in mind, we'll be highlighting our favorite new acts each month. Here are the best new artists of May.

1.

2. DP

"Jabar" is one of the strongest introductions to a new rapper that we've heard this year. Virginia's DP picks up where Clipse left off, spitting venomous over hard-hitting production and abandoning the verse-chorus-verse format in favor of straight bars. His follow-up was impressive too, and his mixtape, Designer Casket, is coming this summer. Leave the pop rap and repetitive one-word choruses to the other guys—we'll take "Jabar."

3. Sales

There's a weird thing happening in music right now that has labels/PR companies trying to manufacture music that appeals to the indie audience. It's awkward because the whole reason people gravitated toward indie music in the first place is because they wanted to avoid the overproduced sounds that mainstream/big money were pushing.

Sales is a duo from Orlando, and they've got the kind of songs that could easily be polished into sharp, catchy indie pop, but instead they opt for a borderline lo-fi sound with all the charm you want from an indie band. The handful of songs they've shared on SoundCloud are all great, and when they finally do release a debut album, hopefully it's as blissfully unconcerned with sounding perfect as songs like "Vow," "Chinese New Year," and "Renee."

4. TALA

It's hard to categorize TALA's music, and that's a good thing.

A product of diverse musical influences—everything from her Iranian father's favorite records to underground UK dance music—TALA's debut EP bursts with ideas and energy. There are bright synths, pounding beats, and, on "Serbia," a sugar-coated hook worthy of any pop song. What we've heard so far is like SOPHIE with a more human edge, and we can't wait to see where TALA goes after dropping her debut EP The Duchess via Aesop on June 2.

5. Daye Jack

Daye Jack is a rapper who deserves to be called more than a rapper, so let's just call him an artist. Yes, he raps, but he also sings, and even when he raps, he does it with a delivery and backdrop that feels more like an experimental soul artist who just happens to be rapping. In today's hip-hop climate, there's a lot going on—so many local styles, new fads, and different approaches that it's almost impossible to find something that sounds entirely different. Daye Jack sounds entirely different.

6. Shamir

With his debut EP Northtown out June 11, the future is looking extremely bright for Shamir, NY indie label GODMODE's latest discovery. We first heard from the Las Vegas-native via two tracks on the Common Interests Were Not Enough To Keep Us Together compilation, where he proved he can turn his hand to disco or gospel, and master either with ease. Most recently, Shamir gave us a taste of his upcoming EP with "I Know It's A Good Thing," a funky, dancefloor-filling beauty, and a reminder of just how unique his vocals are.

Watch our video interview with Shamir here.

7. JUDE.

JUDE. is a duo that comes from West Palm Beach, Florida. It's a place that doesn't have much of a music scene, but being isolated from the big city music hubs isn't a problem these days. "Crystals" is a minimal pop gem in the vein of Lorde, and it's already climbing toward 50,000 plays on SoundCloud. For an unknown duo's first song, that's not bad. They've only been making music together since October of 2013, so if this kind of growth continues, JUDE. should be a name you hear a lot more of by the end of the year.

8. Knox Brown

Knox Brown's first solo track, "Harry's Code" is at once warm and familiar and fresh and exciting. The Jamaican-born producer, singer, and songwriter, who grew up in England, draws from the sounds of the past to make music that is fresh and vibrant.

And although he only recently released his first solo song, Brown is far from a newcomer, having already written and produced for Jay Z, Mary J Blige, and Aloe Blacc. With a bunch more exciting projects on the way, the future is bright for this multi-talented artist.

9. Locke

If FKA twigs' recent success (two big magazine covers, lots of hype, and no album out) is any indicator, listeners are becoming more and more accepting of and interested in weird, experimental music. Locke is a mysterious NY based singer and producer with two tracks on her Soundcloud, the lurching, bubbling "We Are The Prey," and the brilliantly stripped back, skeletal "O Boy."

For all the offbeat production choices and hushed vocals, there are moments in both songs that suggest Locke could write a straightforward pop song, but what she's doing is so much more interesting.

10. Novelist

Grime is still very much an underground genre which generally only reaches a wider audience with the occasional crossover tune. That's not a bad thing—in fact, it's part of the reason its stayed raw and vibrant for so long—but it means that an MC catching the attention of XL Recordings and hitting the studio with Jamie xx, all before he's 18-years-old, is an anomaly.

It's early days yet, but Novelist is catching the attention of all the right people, from those outside grime, to scene elders like Skepta and experienced DJs like Simzee and Logan Sama. There's so much potential there already, and 2014 is set to be an exciting year for the young MC from Lewisham.

11. Pell

With a knack for melody and a deceptively able flow, New Orleans rapper Pell seems capable of a achieving a rare feat in rap: making the tale of the dreaming everyman interesting. Stories of teenage mischief, days spent fantasizing on the job, and nostalgic reflections of fleeting moments, Pell's recent album Floating While Dreaming captures much of the fun of teenage years alongside moments of the melancholic remembrance that accompanies growing older. His is a refreshing take on so-called "regular guy" rap, personal, self-deprecating, and honest–all delivered with ease and emotion.

12. Kidepo

"Reds" is the first song Kidepo has ever released. He's a 23-year-old producer/singer/songwriter from London with Ugandan roots, and he's currently based in New York City. He hasn't shared much else about himself, but "Reds" is such a strong introduction that he's worth getting excited about. To make sure it wasn't a fluke, we asked to hear more music. Confirmed: it's not a fluke. Kidepo may be a mysterious 23-year-old just warming up to the internet, but he knows what he's doing. If you're a fan of Kwabs, Sam Smith, and that beautiful place where classic vocals meet modern production, look out for Kidepo.

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