A Year's Worth of Music Recommendations Based on the Artists You Already Like (2014)

There are a lot of young, ambitious artists who probably try to sound like James Blake. Not many can come close to executing at that level. It's more than just a sound, or a melody, or a voice—Blake challenges traditional song structures and still manages to sound timeless. British singer/producer Jack Garratt's new song "The Love You're Given" accomplishes the same.

There's a fine line between conscious, ignorant, all the other shitty adjectives you can use to describe a rap song. It's all about perspective, and Kendrick Lamar is a master at presenting his own in a way that's compelling, intelligent, and entertaining. If you like that about Kendrick, check out Los Angeles rapper Boogie. "Bitter Raps" is a masterpiece.

Deers started as a duo in Madrid. Two friends decided to make music together for fun, and it turned out to be pretty good music. They're unconcerned with perfection—in fact, it's the slightly disheveled sound that gives this music such a special energy. More on Deers here.

Do you wish rap was less fun? Do you like rap music that sounds more like a horror movie than a club? Do you miss Death Grips? Check out NAH.

Related: A Timeline of Death Grips' Strange Existence

One of our favorite indie pop acts, MVSCLES, is now going by WATERBED. Their first song under the new name is "around," and fans of Grimes should appreciate it for its sweet melody, ethereal synths, and whimsical chorus.

If you like Hudson Mohawke for his sonically high quality production and ability to consistently create interesting electronic music, you should be up on Sad Boy producer Yung Gud. Check out his new Beautiful, Wonderful EP below.

Australia's Tkay Maidza is probably tired of Azealia Banks comparisons already, but it would be ridiculous not to make them. She's making party ready rap songs with catchy hooks, and working with interesting electronic producers like Elk, Swick, Lewis Cancut, and Bok Bok. The difficult to get out of your head "U-Huh" is her "212," while "Finish Them" (her best song to date) is a hard-as-nails club track. She's like Azealia Banks without all the beef and drama.

London O'Connor's debut song, "Oatmeal," paints a vivid picture. He's not the lyrical word-slinger that Earl Sweatshirt is, but on his first track he captures a youthful, offbeat spirit that fans of Earl should appreciate.

Four Tet's discography is so vast and varied that it would be unfair to say that he has just one sound. Something like "Kool FM," from Four Tet's most recent album bears no resemblance to Gidge's music, but tracks like "Unicorn" (from the same album) or older tracks like "Love Cry" or "Unspoken" have more actual similarities. Regardless, if you like the meticulous way Four Tet's music is put together—the subtle changes and use of lots of different sounds to create a palpable sense of emotion—you should definitely listen to Gidge.

Get to know the Swedish duo a little better here.

“It’s a kind of saturated pop with hip-hop beats laid over,” is how London-based producer Poter Elvinger described his sound to us, before explaining:

I was incarcerated in a juvenile prison for months when I was 16, and there’s nothing to do in that kind of place. One of my friends offered me an MP3 player loaded with only 15 tracks, but I listened only one; “BTSTU” by Jai Paul. I listened to it on repeat everyday. That track literally blew my life up. The only thing I wanted to do was go out and try to make music.

Elvinger has an interesting backstory, and a multi-layered, all-engulfing sound that will carry him far. He's already starting to get wider recognition, having made three songs for a luxury brand's campaign and remixed Illangelo and Phlo Finisiter's "Clockwork," so get to know him now, before everyone else catches on.

One of the most exciting things about the mysterious Jai Paul was the masterful way he brought together seemingly disparate elements in his songs. Delicate falsetto would suddenly be joined by much rawer elements, and L.A./NY duo Dessert manage similar feats of genre and style mixing on their brilliant first two tracks "Lovelink" and "You're Welcome."

Do you like noisy music but also have a thing for cheerleaders? Check out Lowell. Like Sleigh Bells, her music has a cheerleader pop playfulness to it, but it's also rooted in punk ethos—dirty, and rude. Her latest single, "Cloud 69" is about “sex addiction and post-intercourse guilt,” and her debut EP comes out February 25.