The Best New Artists (January 2015)

Leks Rivers is a 20-year-old singer/producer from London, and right now he's keeping things completely DIY. He's a genre-less singer who grew up making grime but eventually learned to sing, play a few instruments, and produce his own music. His songs are still a little bit rough around the edges, but it's only a matter of time before he gets pulled into a top-notch studio and these gems are polished up into legitimate hits.

Unlike so many other new singers who meander around in this alt-R&B zone of cool production and lackluster songwriting, Leks brings a powerful spirit driven by big hooks, strong melodies, and no regard for the trend-following bullshit.

Read more about Leks here.

Sweden yields yet another great pop artist. Tove Styrke's sound is sugary pop with a dose of attitude and a little of the left-field production touches that we've come to expect from Scandinavia. The music already had us hooked, and then we saw Tove's first NYC concert earlier this month, and now we're in love.

When you watch Tove Styrke on stage, it's impossible not to have fun. She's got a magnetic charisma that combines the almost pixie-like energy of Björk or Grimes with the offbeat, youthful confidence of MØ and the gracefulness of Lykke Li. This girl is the real deal, and we can't wait to see her on bigger stages in the near future.

The best kinds of new artists are usually the ones with a strong sense of identity. All artists can evolve, improve, and hone their skills to become better, but when you start off knowing who you are and keeping it 100, you're already way ahead of most.

Illinois artists Kweku Collins seems to have a firm grasp on what he's all about, and when he taps into that, the results are beautifully honest. He's a capable rapper, but it's easy to hear that he grew up listening to more than rap, and his lyrics are more Marley than hip-hop. In today's aggressive soundscape, Kweku has already become a go-to when we're in the mood for something a little more laid back and uplifting.

Related: I Wrote About Rap Because It's Saturday

Nick Klein's latest song "Paralyzed" is a big step up in quality from the two tracks previously uploaded on their Soundcloud page. The duo from The Netherlands pair vibrant electronic percussion with crisp, strident vocals, and the result lies somewhere between James Blake and SOHN. We are now waiting to see if they can follow it up with another song that is as good, but they certainly made a great start to 2015.

"I want people to understand that you cant give up when days get dark, you gotta keep pushing through until the bright days come, because they are inevitable," Marvel Alexander told us about his new album Don't Die Yet. It's personal, honest, relatable, and often totally hilarious, plus the production is top notch. The L.A.-based producer, rapper, and engineer got beats from Kaytranada, BADBADNOTGOOD, Sango, and Gravez on the project, plus guest verses from Wiki from Ratking, D.R.A.M., and Michael Christmas.

Listen to Don't Die Yet below and read our interview with Alexander here.

Is it too soon? Is it crazy to call KLOË one of the best new artists even though the 18-year-old Glasgow singer only has one song out? We don't think so—not when that one song is "Grip."

This is no sloppy amateur work. "Grip" is already getting play on BBC Radio 1 thanks to dramatic, gloomy production, an emotional vocal performance, and an edginess that makes it stand out from your typical pop hit. KLOË came out of nowhere with this one, but we're banking on it being more than a fluke. We can't wait to hear what's next.

There are plenty of rappers making dark and menacing hip-hop, but few do it with as much finesse as Night Lovell. Counting Soundcloud cult-favorites Bine and Fifty Grand among the producers on his formidable debut, Concept Vague, it's an understatement to say that Lovell is in good company. But really, it's his commandeering voice and impeccable knack for riding a beat effortlessly that makes Concept Vauge such a compelling debut. From the ear-worm hooks to the monolithic beats and slick flows; Night Lovell has the entire package down, making the promise of future output all the more exciting.

Fans of Raury: pay attention. Clairmont The Second is a self-produced 17-year-old artist from Toronto. He's making music in his own bedroom, but like Raury, he's already radiating an effortlessly youthful and contagiously cool vibe. His Project II album is an ambitious effort of off-balance beats and passionate, honest lyrics about teen love and the desire to be great, and it feels like it may be the calm before the storm. This young artist still has room for improvement, but he's already got a lot of the qualities that it takes years for some musicians to master.

19-year-old Brooklyn rapper Jay Bel only has one song (and its accompanying video) out, but we're already excited to hear. "Kate" is a meandering, stream-of-consciousness rap loosely based around Jay Bel following his dreams and the struggles he's faced. With a woozy, lush beat, and a great grasp of melody, Jay Bel has the kind of sound that could flourish in today's more open-minded rap climate.

UK producer Claremont is influenced equally by Joy Division and A Tribe Called Quest, and he blends those influences into a uniquely soulful brand of electronic music. His ...As the Sun at the Evening Hour is packed with surprising left turns, and lies somewhere between the Soulection output that has so many people excited and the traditions of UK dance music. Claremont explains:

In terms of production, most of my inspiration is drawn from hip-hop groups such as A Tribe Called Quest and Digable Planets. Their instrumentals are largely what drew me to hip-hop, and it’s been a massive influence on my musical development, taking classic jazz grooves and breaks, to create something so utterly musical and intelligent, in a landscape that’s often so bereft of emotion.

Check out his exclusive mix and interview with P&P here.