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2. If you like FKA Twigs, listen to BUOY
BUOY is one of those songwriters who understands the power of simplicity. A phrase repeated can have a thousand different pronunciations, and a voice as beautiful as the one on "Took Me Up" can win you thousands of new fans. BUOY hasn't blown up quite yet, but she's following in the footsteps of one of 2014's hottest artists. FKA Twigs brought fractured female electronica to the mainstream, and BUOY seems intent on taking up the torch.
3. If you like Jai Paul, listen to Demo Taped
Most of the time when we talk about Atlanta, we're talking about rap. But then along came Demo Taped. The teenage producer is the closest thing to a second coming of Jai Paul out right now, with his off-kilter, sexy electronic funk that is both danceable and sensual. So yes, Atlanta is capable of making more than hip-hop. And yes, it's just as good.
4. If you like Broods, listen to Milk & Bone
Thick, buttery harmonies. Rolling, rumbling waves of bass. Welcome to the land of Milk & Bone. The Montreal-based duo is simply a smooth, relaxing good time. Sit back and let it sink in.
6. If you like James Blake, listen to Vegyn
Specifically, if you like James Blake's more abstract, purely instrumental side, and thoughtful, refined electronic music in general, get into the new EP by Vegyn (pronounced "vegan"). There's an intense focus on rhythm, rather than texture: all of Vegyn's work is centered around (or eventually grows into) poly-percussive danceables. But these beats never fly down the gloomy rabbit holes of, say, an Arca. Vegyn keeps things funky and sassy, and it sounds like he'll be igniting dance floors for years to come.
8. If you like Mos Def, listen to Salomon Faye
Salomon Faye's rhymes seem to flow forth as naturally as his next breath. Part of the reason might be the content—Salomon Faye is on one, fed up and disgusted with the current state of affairs and determined to let the world know as much from his SoundCloud soapbox.
His latest songs ("Black Power" and "W.T.F.") are reminiscent of the socially conscious rap once championed by Mos Def, and just like the Black Star legend, Salomon Faye is also capable of writing on a variety of topics, love songs included. Go digging through his SoundCloud and you will be rewarded.
11. If you like Chief Keef, listen to SD
Tired of playing the same hard as nails but incredibly catchy tracks from Chief Keef's Finally Rich album? Then get into fellow GBE member SD's album Truly Blessed. Yes, it came out last year, and no, we haven't stopped playing "Circles" since then. It's a massive track.
12. If you like Doja Cat, listen to Kaya
The lazy, cooing voice of Doja Cat has the ability to seep into one's pores with an instantaneous soothing affect. I don't think she's been able to bottle it yet, which is a missed opportunity in my humble, brilliant opinion.
Maybe kaya can take advantage of this marketing opportunity of a lifetime—she possesses that same luxurious vibe, fading in and out of her songs like a wisp of smoke. Her "untitled" piece with Blank Body is nothing short of mesmerizing, and as she continues to infuse her piano-driven melodies with increasingly electronic soundscapes, we'll be right alongside to vibe out.
14. If you like Meg Myers, listen to Zella Day
The smooth, sultry sounds of Zella Day are timeless. She's the sort of songwriter that is technically, in a verse/chorus kind of way, a pop artist, but the music hits in a way that is far removed from plasticity. Zella, like Meg Myers, has a swing in her step—it sounds like she'd rather be singing than doing anything else, and that energy translates beautifully into her music.
16. If you like Earl Sweatshirt, listen to Frank Leone
Moody, growling beats? Check. Morbid self-confidence? Check. Spooky hooded figures with only the eyes lit up? Check. Three surface-level, sprawling similarities? Check, but Frank Leone and Earl Sweatshirt are cut from some similar cloth.
Leone's latest release, enterWILD is a sprawling, experimental encyclopedia of new age hip-hop. He's taking the kind of chances that Earl and Odd Future championed in their early days, though I wouldn't hold your breath waiting to see Leone's version of "Loiter Squad."
18. If you like Banks, listen to Reece
Reece has one of those raw, powerful voices that draws you in with its scratchy intimacy. It sounds like he could just sit down at the computer, record the vocals in one take, and upload.
The production, meanwhile, is sparse in the best of ways, giving that voice plenty of room to breathe. Reece's music is sultry without being mopey, strong without becoming overbearing. It's ghostly and gorgeous.
20. If you like Shlohmo, listen to Jagā
Ever find yourself on deadline/studying in the wee hours, struggling to stay awake despite the copious amounts of caffeine and study drugs coursing through your bloodstream? Your eyelids are taped open with duct tape, there's a strange buzzing in your ears, there's a feral cat mewing outside your window—we've all been there.
Anyway, you're in need of aural stimulation to keep going, so you turn to the usual purveyor of late night companionship and inspiration, Shlohmo. But you've listened to Shlohmo a lot, maybe even too much, and the familiarity of the tracks is inducing sleep.
Enter Jagā and his "ghost peppers," a funky, sly nighttime track sure to pique your interest and get your synapses firing, all but guaranteeing a pre-sunrise bedtime.
21. If you like Raury, listen to WebsterX
Determined not to fall into rap's popular conventions, this young Milwaukee rapper is quickly gaining a following for his wild style and straightforward, honest rhymes. He doesn't exactly sound like Raury, but in terms of youthful, creative, energy across his songs and visuals, and his ability to spit and sing, he inhabits a similar territory.
WebsterX pours himself into his songs, boasting a sharp tongue and a self-described "flamboyant flow" that swings from raspy sing-song lines to galloping, unrestrained raps in the space between heartbeats. "doomsday" is an easy standout, but for those inclined his entire Desperate Youth album is a deep trip into the mind of youth discovering the possibility of independence.
23. If you like Foster The People, listen to COMPNY
Remember Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” and its slow rise to the top? It was a song for the summer, and it felt like it never really peaked until the weather started getting warmer and the days started getting longer. South London band COMPNY’s new song “Lovers” feels like it has the same potential. In New York City, winter is slowly beginning to fade, and songs like “Lovers” help remind us what’s coming next. When it finally arrives, we’ll have the soundtrack.