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2. If you like J. Cole, listen to Forest.
Compton rapper Forest is intelligent, introspective, and he's got a knack for melodic beats and flows. He can make fun, lighthearted music, but like J. Cole, some of his best works comes in the form of more reflective songs.
3. If you like Autre Ne Veut, listen to Liss.
Venerable label XL Recordings latest signees are Liss, a four-piece from Denmark. We chose their latest song "Sorry" as The New Wave this week, saying, "It’s a shame that so many of the best-written songs end up in the hands of megastars who simply cater to the masses with basic, overproduced pop hits. 'Sorry' could have been one of those songs. It’s immediately catchy, beautifully melodic, and the hook is huge."
Similarly, Autre Ne Veut's Arthur Ashin is an incredibly talented pop songwriter, but he consistently surprises us in his music, whether in the way he uses his voice, or the sounds surrounding it. Never be afraid to be weird, artists.
4. If you like YG, listen to Kamaiyah.
The last couple of weeks have been splattered with online proclamations hailing Kamaiyah as the coming summer's soundtrack. We don't often beat dead horses, but that claim feels truer every time Kamaiyah's A GOOD NIGHT IN THE GHETTO comes on.
Her Oakland roots factor in heavily—on lead single "How Does It Feel," she's proud of where she's from, and you'll be caught up in her exuberance too. As well as her Big Money Gang, Kamaiyah calls upon YG for the nasty "Fuck It Up," and the West Coast's star burns a little brighter.
5. If you like JUNGLE, listen to T.R.U.C.E.
Full disclosure—if you're looking for the tight instrumentation and choreographed funk JUNGLE provides, prepare for a mutation.
T.R.U.C.E. brings a raw edge to this modern funk, and non-falsetto vocals, too. "Turn of Time" is anchored by a massive bass, with bleating synths popping out around a hiccuping beats. The anonymous English collective has released two songs thus far, and they're taking things a touch further than their predecessors, dabbling in dissonance with great success.
7. If you like The Knife, listen to Smerz.
With their two songs so far, Norwegian duo Smerz have shown they are equally talented as producers, vocalists, and songwriters. On "Because," gentle, hypnotic vocals glide above a bass-heavy loop, the influence of club music creeping into this modern song of love and heartbreak. What we've heard from Smerz doesn't have quite the same glistening, synth-heavy production as The Knife's best known work, but if you want mesmerizing pop music with a dark, dangerous edge, you're in the right place.
8. If you like Cashmere Cat, listen to Mura Masa.
When we first spoke to Mura Masa in 2014, around the time of his Soundtrack to a Death project, he told us, "I think [Cashmere] Cat changed everybody’s world view. So influential." As Mura Masa's own stature has grown and style has developed over the past few years, it's becoming ever more evident that, just like Cashmere Cat, he can inhabit both the electronic and pop music worlds with total ease. Collaborations with Nao, Denai Moore, Shura, and his most recent with Bonzai have yielded quirky but addictive pop songs, and his instrumental offerings are unpredictable and always on point.
Next up, a phone call from Kanye West?!
9. If you like Pharrell, listen to Rodney Tenor.
There's no shame in wearing your influences on your sleeve, especially when the results are such great music. Many of today's young artists are hugely influenced by Pharrell, both in terms of production and songwriting, and that's no bad thing, as long as they are synthesizing his influences with their own inspirations to create something new. From its The Neptunes-inspired production to the vocal delivery, “Prognosis Hypnosis" is fun throughout, the perfect song for the impending summer sun.
10. If you like Hinds, listen to ShitKid.
11. If you like Skepta, listen to AJ Tracey.
If you're just getting familiar with this whole grime ting, and Skepta is one of your main references but you want to explore deeper, we're here to help. AJ Tracey has been killing it for the past six months especially, hitting radio all over London and dropping the Alex Moran EP. As comfortable spitting over bouncy trap-inspired beats as he is over icy grime, and having already mastered the art of crafting a song, AJ Tracey is set to have a big 2016. Don't say we didn't tell you.
Read an interview with AJ Tracey here.
12. If you like abhi//dijon, listen to The Code.
Mysterious British duo The Code have impressed us with their cohesive, woozy production since the 1|11 mixtape, but on new effort Blue Electronica, they bring their vocals into the mix more. Whether it's a reflection of more creative confidence or just a decision to explore a new direction, the results are a blend of moody R&B and pop, always over an edgy electronic backdrop.
“Blue Electronica means everything to us,” The Code explains. “It’s a creative project using a balanced mixture of various genres, which tackle perspective on sound. It’s the next phase in our production and sound as we grow. As much as the first mixtape, it is very important and it’s a major step in the journey. To us, and to many, blue is the colour of the sky at its clearest and the sea at its purest. Blue Electronica is deep in the spectrum of music, having its own field from minimal to trance, the drugs, the lights, the sex and the serenity.”
13. If you like Young Thug, listen to Kyng.
We already know we're gonna get a lot of hate for this one, but face it, this New Orleans rapper is taking a lot of notes from the Young Thug playbook. He's even planning to drop a project called Slime Season 3 before Young Thug does. Ha.
14. If you like Massive Attack, listen to Kudu Blue
Brighton, England five-piece Kudu Blue told us that they were inspired by '90s trip-hop (as well as electronica, 2000s garage, and more), and they evoke a similar mournful feeling to Bristol legends Massive Attack. With twitchy percussion, occasional guitars, and haunting vocals, Kudu Blue create music that is hard to categorize or put a date on, but is moving whenever you happen to listen it.
