Best New Artists of the Month

If the new video for Tiggs Da Author's contagious "Georgia" is any indication, this guy is going to be an absolute joy to have around. "Georgia" is a catchy, soulful introduction, but it's only a taste of what Tiggs has to offer.

The singer/rapper/producer says of his music, “I want to be brave and daring in everything I do, while making sure the music, the melodies, the beats are really well executed. I’'m creating a movie with each track, it’'s all a slice of my life, an insight into my thoughts and feelings. It might seem straightforward—moving to London from Tanzania, learning to speak English, learning to make music—but the chapters are still being written. My story is only really just beginning."

Hear “Georgia” and tons of other great new music on the Pigeons & Planes Spotify playlist.

The UK is positively buzzing with talented, fast-rising vocalists making interesting pop and R&B, and Roseau is one name you should be paying attention to. Her debut album Salt came out via Big Dada earlier this month, and it's awesome. The production is intricate and multi-layered, often evolving multiple times in the course of a song, and Roseau's voice is memorable as she tells tales of love, heartbreak, and life in the 21st century.

With shoutouts and collaborations from everyone from Hit-Boy to Kanye's pals Travis Scott and Virgil Abloh, it's almost a sure bet that Ta'East will be reaching more ears in no time. The Kentucky-bred, California-based artist has been mostly behind the scenes in the past, but his latest track "WithTheShit" is strong enough to catapult him into the spotlight. With strings sampled straight from a horror movie (Under The Skin) and plenty of blank space, it's the kind show-stopping release that puts Ta'East's lyrical abilities on full display. He doesn't disappoint.

Aside from the glittering production of the recently-released out Here, what makes shy youth so interesting is that no one seems to know who he is. The artist is from Southern California—that much we know. And for now, that's all we really need.

Because regardless of the artist's identity, the music is excellent and undeniable, practically grabbing you by the eardrums with its unique tastes. shy youth is expanding on sounds first coveted by M83 and Miike Snow, holding tight to an intimate style of songwriting that makes even the most grandiose electronic constructions make you feel at home.

Brooklyn artist Jimi Tents has made it clear that he wants to represent his city and deliver a sound people can embrace. So far in 2015, he's been coming in hot with a bravado that recalls a few other Brooklyn natives. He may not have been releasing music for very long, but Tents makes this rap thing look easy.

Besides boasting the sort of laid-back, rhythmically technical flow that made his city famous, songs like "Problems" featuring Kembe X and Philadelphia hot spitter Tunji Ige, prove that Tents can hold his own amongst some of the best youths beyond the borough. He's also not afraid to share his opinions on larger issues—on "Fuck You Freestyle: Death to Boom Bap," Tents takes jabs at the current climate of hip-hop, a ripple effect of 50 Cent's "How to Rob."

Tents' project 5 O'Clock Shadow is set to release October 23.

Name-dropping a couple of legends like Johnny Cash and June Carter in your chorus is a bold move. But Tor Miller isn't necessarily citing the musical power couple as a sonic influence—at the time of its writing, "Carter & Cash" was more concerned with their romantic accomplisments.

The New York songwriter put the track together during his last relationship. "We had an admiration for their story and relationship," Miller said. "It always seemed like something so pure and a possessed a depth which wasn’t present in most couples. And I guess thats what everyone wants in the end.”

"Carter & Cash" is a certifiable earworm with a big hook, and now that he's a part of Glassnote—the label behind the similarly anthemic CHVRCHES and Phoenix—Tor Miller is on the fast track to making a major impact.

Little Rock, Arkansas is very under the radar when it comes to hip-hop. For a long time, the city was best known for the intense gang wars that began in the mid '80s and lasted into the early 2000s. But things have started to change, especially with a new generation of youths getting involved in music rather than gang violence.

Cuz Lightyear is part of this new wave. Combining the dark memories of his upbringing with the many influences provided by the internet, the rapper released his CUZ project to showcase his keen ability to rap and an excellent ear for beat selection. He's currently in the middle of a tour with Run the Jewels, but we'll be here after Cuz is off the road and free to focus on his own music again.

Having one song isn't often enough to warrant high expectations, but when they're songs like the sprawling and continually surprising "Priestess," we'll make an exception. The groove doesn't really kick until the four-minute mark, but don't you dare skip in—the build is part of the dance, and for PUMAROSA, the dance is essential.

Isabel, the London band's lead singer, said “‘Priestess’ is about my sister, Fernanda. She is a dancer and we have gone out into the night dancing since we were 14. I think dancing is a powerful thing for anybody to do. It’s not earning anyone money, you can do it anywhere, it can feel so good. It can be a protest, it can be a celebration, you can lose yourself.”

Although neither Big Boi nor Phantogram are new to the scene, the music that they create together is a certified fresh sound. The two veterans found a way to blend their styles while sounding completely comfortable. Their self-titled EP just came out this September, showcasing a polished chemistry that began back on Big Boi's solo work.

This could have gone very wrong—big-name collaborations don't often work well past a single or two—but these three seem meant to work together.

AJ Tracey is killing it. A couple of months ago the UK MC dropped The Front EP and now his Rain EP is on the way, which "Spirit Bomb" and "Trapsuit" are from. He's also dropping sick freestyles, killing it on radio, and working with some of the best producers out. The thing about Tracey, though, whether he's rapping about the trap house or your girl's house, is that his lyrics are fun to listen to, full of vivid imagery and amusing pop culture references.

Don't sleep on London.

The first two songs we covered by Transviolet—"Girls Your Age" and "Bloodstream"—proved that the group had potential to earn some buzz in the competitive field of youthful new music. Their third song, "New Bohemia," hints at greater things. The song is unapologetically pop. It's a little predictable in sound and content, with the message being a new take on every idealistic, youthful rebellion song ever made, but that doesn't stop it from being extremely enjoyable and equally addictive.

Sometimes, the excitement of hearing a new band stems from their game-changing approach or next-level style. Sometimes, it's simply the thrill of hearing something that you know a lot of people will potentially connect with. If Transviolet continues to make songs like "New Bohemia," there's no doubt they'll have a very bright future.

With the release of the seven-track noneofuscared, altopalo have arrived in a swarm of guitars and off-kilter songwriting. This is a band that will challenge—but never bore—their listeners.

altopalo has a wide range of sound, able to recall alt-J's intricate, tightly locked instrumentation ("hahsnheads") in one breath and Battles' scattering rhythms ("goodnight (boom))" in the next. The Brooklyn band can keep things light, though—their inclusion of two 30-second interludes to break up the heavy listening makes everything much smoother and indicates a helpful capacity to be self-aware.

Justin Rose's Water White doesn't arrive until later this fall, but this first taste of the mixtape is a good sign of things to come. The Queens-based rapper and producer has made a sure-fire anthem with "Keep It Movin'," lazy horns and an unhinged, Young Thug-ish drawl setting the tone from the outset.

Rose has been producing for rappers all over New York, but his clients might have to look elsewhere soon. If the rest of White Water is on this level of wavy, he's going to be a very busy man in the coming months.

The Kaytranada co-sign is an increasingly valuable currency. Portland's Aminé is the latest benefactor—"La Danse" boasts the kind of smooth, buttery flow that made GoldLink a star on the Kaytra-produced "Sober Thoughts."

Aminé's Calling Brio dropped at the beginning of the month, and the 10-track stunner has two more Kaytranada collabs, some Lion King x Outkast influences, and a couple beats ("Zzzz" and "Everlast") produced by Aminé himself. It's an album full of danceable moments and surprising third acts—this won't be the last you hear of Aminé.