Music Recommendations Based on the Artists You Already Like (February 2015)

With Kid Cudi, you never know exactly what you're going to get, and that's part of the appeal. The same applies to newcomer Tunji Ige, who made a strong first impression with the dynamic The Love Project late last year. Tunji raps, produces, and sings, and he's got a great ear for simple but effective melodies. This young artist's career is going to be a lot of fun to watch unfold.

Read our interview with Tunji Ige here.

When we first got familiar with Kwabs, the standout quality was his guttural, powerful voice, which he put to great use singing over bass-heavy electronics to create emotionally charged modern soul songs. As he's worked with new producers and added more of a studio polish to his music, Kwabs has also started making more out-and-out pop songs, but these are kept grounded by his soulful vocals.

Leks Rivers has the big pop choruses perfected already, and the powerful voice to match, but his songs also burst with creativity and the rough edge that comes from doing things totally DIY, at least so far. The talent is clearly there, and we can't wait to see what Leks will do given a bit of time and the chance to work with the right people.

Read more about Leks here.

If you're into Vampire Weekend for their energetic brand of pop-tinged rock music, check out London band Life in Film's lively "Get Closer."

ALA.NI's two songs so far, "Suddenly" and "Cherry Blossom," have both been delicate songs that feel as intimate and personal as reading a page of someone's diary. From the lo-fi videos to the timeless lullaby like feel of her music so far, it's clear that ALA.NI has an old soul, and she's got us enchanted.

She explained, "I love old things. I collect vintage tins. I just bought an antique tobacco tin dated from 1901. I hunt for first edition books, so preserving the past is something I do naturally."

Get to know her better with our interview here.

Glasgow's KLOË only has one song out, but she's already gaining traction. "Grip" is getting spins on BBC Radio 1, and for good reason. The song has powerful production and a dramatically compelling chorus. KLOË's sound isn't quite as bright and synth-heavy as CHVRCHES', but they share an ear for vocal performances that tug at your emotions and a talent for making pop music that is catchy but not obvious.

Musically, 17-year-old Clairmont The Second doesn't have too much in common with Raury, but in a lot of ways, he captures that same youthful, ambitious spirit. The up-and-coming Toronto artist produces and records his own music, and he already has some really well done visuals that capture his vibe. Check out "Flame Princess" below.

Lykke Li's debut album Youth Novels was much more pop-oriented than her recent material. Lykke has moved more into ballad and singer/songwriter territory, but fellow Swedish artist Tove Styrke is continuing Sweden's wave of pop dominance with upbeat, catchy tunes and quality production.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what makes a song feel "retro," but a lot of it has to do with the melody. While a lot of newer pop music relies on tricks like pitched vocals, production magic, and dumbed down repetition, Haim thrives because of the fundamentals. What makes a Haim song so good comes down to the melodic songwriting and the execution. Los Angeles duo Monogem nailed both with "The Glow."

There was a time when a LOT of producers were biting Shlohmo's moody but seriously club-shaking sounds. POLO isn't a biter—his output has its own distinct style and use of samples, but tracks like "jumanji" (which uses a Future sample) recall the raw power of Shlohmo's remix of Young Scooter's "Columbia." If you want atmospheric electronic music that you can still dance to, POLO is a good place to start.

Read our Daily Discovery feature on POLO here.

Nobody is quite like Frank Ocean, but if you're looking for that soulful sound with thoughtful lyrics and gorgeous vocals, check out Toronto artist Daniel Caesar.

Nick Klein are a duo from The Netherlands, and "Paralyzed" sits in a sweet spot that blends interesting production with catchy vocals. Like SOHN, there's a mournful edge to the vocal content and delivery that creates an interesting contrast with the bouncy percussion and bright keyboard runs. We can't wait to hear more from Nick Klein.