The Best New Artists of the Month (July 2014)

Related: The Best New Artists of June 2014

Related: The Best New Artists of May 2014

This isn't Makonnen’s first month of making music, but this month it became very clear that he's got the potential to be a real star. Any other time, that might seem unlikely, but he's got the perfect blend of talent, individuality, and quirkiness for 2014. His left-field hits combine simple, infectious melodies with oddball energy and booming production from some of Atlanta's best (Sonny Digital, Metro Boomin, Dun Deal, DJ Spinz). In this post-Lil B world we're living in, iLoveMakonnen has next. Oh, and before you dismiss him as a gimmick, read this interview—there's a depth to Makonnen that we hope to see more of in the future.

He's not been producing the music he is now for all that long, but Luka is already a master of texture. His incredibly atmospheric and dreamy debut EP The Nest is proof of that. He produces the type of music that you can lose yourself to, providing an immensely inviting sonic landscape that's vividly realized. He's come a long way in such a short space of time, and that only makes us more excited to see where he takes his pastel beds of sound in the future.

For now, Hopium is happy to keep information about themselves to minimum and let the music speak for itself, and so far so good. With two songs—"Cut" and "Dreamers"—they've introduced their clean, expansive sound. It's modern pop painted on an electronic canvas, and it's already proving to be addictive. All we really know is that they're from Australia, but Hopium assured us, "Just keep watching and listening! Everything people need to know will be known in due time…"

Sometimes is all it takes is a minimal beat and a smooth flow to prove your worth. Pittsburgh rapper Mars Jackson more than proved his worth with "Bravo!," making a name for himself in a city not particularly known as a hotbed of hip-hop with a confident swagger. His sound is distinctly nostalgic, but he somehow makes it all feel fresh again thanks to a nudge and a wink in his cadence. There's no attempting to follow trends or anything like that, it's rap for rap's sake; passionate but fun.

What is up with Australia? This past month has seen a flood of new, incredible material from down under, and Klo are no exception. Between their first release, "Makes Me Wonder," and their newest, "False Calls," the duo have quickly perfected a smooth electro-pop sound. Despite how organic it feels, it didn't come together naturally. The two, who are cousins, came together as a result of their moms. “This track was an icebreaker for us cousins, as we weren’t close before this project and hadn’t seen each other in years,” they explain. “It was our collective mums’ decision for us to collaborate and strengthen family ties.”

Mum really does know best.

Related: Artists From Australia That You Should Know

After some early releases on Zomby's Cult Music label, British producer Prayer is going it alone with his debut EP, Knowing. The four-track effort—which is free to download below—reflects his influences, namely Burial, Clams Casino, and the classical composers he studied at university. Each track feels carefully and precisely constructed, with the samples in “Not Over” tugging immediately at your emotions and the six minute epic “Abyss” taking you on journey swooping over the highest mountains and down into the darkest caverns.

This is not EDM or music for partying, it's music for reflection, relaxation, and late-night train journeys.

Jane Tyrrell spent much of her early career as a collaborator, providing hooks and guest vocals for various songs over the past few years. But it's clear that the Melbourne singer has the kind of voice deserving of a more prominent role. With "Wild Waters," her first solo offering, Tyrrell confidently steps to the forefront. The track masterfully builds from subtle percussion to a dizzying whirlwind of instrumentation. But it's Tyrrell's vocals that unsurprisingly steals the show, commanding your attention with each haunting breath. It's worthy of repeated listens, making you more ravenous for new material with each play.

Saba's been on his grind in Chicago for a while now—you might recognize his name from a guest appearance on Chance The Rapper's 2013 Acid Rap or his debut project GetCOMFORTable—but it's on his ComfortZone mixtape that he has really come into his own. It's a varied release, with summer jams like "For Y'All" or "Burnout," pensive and personal tracks like "Welcome Home," and gritty storytelling like on "401K."

Saba's new mixtape could be your summertime staple, and being still a teenager, he is an exciting prospect for the future too.

We don't know much about Zola Blood. Their Facebook says "Hackney Wick Band," suggesting they're from the London district of Hackney Wick, but beyond that, all we have is the music. And that is how it should be. With "Grace," the band absolutely nail the moody electronic pop sound that so many artists are going for at the moment, with the yearning vocals and soaring, synth-filled production working in perfect harmony.

This is the first track out on their Soundcloud, so we're excited to see where they go next.