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2. If you like James Blake, listen to Chris Kaz.
Chris Kaz chose the right time to release his debut. Coming just before James Blake's The Colour In Anything, "Track 01" is a worthy offshoot of Blake's wobbly electronic legacy. The song's name honestly indicates a minimalism that steadily disintegrates underneath buzzy layers and Kaz's haunting voice.
The track, he told i-d, is about "the moments in time, between lovers and one who thinks much of the nights, or moments, where everything has gone completely wrong and the memory of it, how they never leave your memory... 'Track 01' was a personal story that turned into a nightmare of which I was saved by nothing but my own manifestation of her love."
The vocals are hypnotic and Kaz's production follows suit, slowly building to a gloomy, thunderous peak. BBC Radio 1 has already taken note, and add us to the list of those waiting to hear more from Chris Kaz.
4. If you like THEY., listen to 6lack.
Early on in his career, 6lack said that of all his life experiences thus far, "love has played the biggest part." Some years and a few hard lessons later, 6lack is still using music to excise demons and. His addictive "PRBLMS" is a breakup in fast-motion, furious heartbreak played out through Auto-Tune and crackling snares.
Drugs, sex, and doom make frequent appearances in 6lack's lyrics. The content is sinister, but the harmonies and melodies are nothing short of angelic. It's an alluring paradox that leaves you wanting more, especially on "Bless Me."
He's hit a unique, luxuriously evil tone with this music not unlike Mind of a Genius signees THEY. And while 6lack kills his own compositions, he's also taken over songs on which he's featured.
8. If you like Disclosure, listen to Anna Straker.
London's Anna Straker struck gold with "Late Night Swimming." Ultra-modern production, surprising vocals, and a thick synth all make this a decidedly danceable affair despite the relatively low BPM.
Straker possesses a truly bewitching voice, and as far as debut tracks go it doesn't get much better. She's walking the line between dance music and pop with ease, and would sound great over the equally sleek production of Disclosure.
10. If you like Chance the Rapper, listen to Kweku Collins.
Kweku Collins' music is a mixed bag of genres—the Evanston native drew on everything from hip-hop and reggae to folk music for his Nat Love album, which was released last month. Evanston is just a short drive north of Chance the Rapper's Chicago, and something musts have rubbed off—the album is a similarly scintillating mix of styles, emotions, and instruments.
Collins enlisted oddCouple for album standout "Death of a Salesman," took on jilted love on "Stupid Rose," and made something that sounds right off a Sufjan Stevens album with "The Outsiders." Stream a sample below, and if you're in NYC, check out Kweku at our No Ceilings show on May 18.
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16. If you like Toro y Moi, listen to BOYBOY.
Like Toro y Moi, New Zealand-bred, Los Angeles-based act BOYBOY knows the value of a good bassline and some sneakily addictive melodies. So far, the anonymous artist has only put out three songs on SoundCloud, but we're already anticipating heavy summer rotation. The breezy "BOY" is a great starting point.
18. If you like A$AP Ferg, listen to Tokunbo Collins.
A$AP Ferg is a master of energy dynamics—he knows when to hold back and when to let loose, attacking each song like a boxer in the ring. It started in Harlem with A$AP Mob and has been true through to his rock-solid Always Strive And Prosper album, which was released April 22.
The day before, Tokunbo Collins dropped his video for "Southside / Martyr Music." He's absolutely ferocious from the start—what sounds like a sitar quickly gives way to Collins' raucous, aggressive verses. The Queens rapper recently signed to EYESTAYGOLD Records, and has an energy and range that has "Martyr Music" on repeat.
The two-part video matches its author's delivery—bright colors and blank space are paired with crashing drums and bass you can feel in your chest. Even when the production tones down for the second half, Collins' energy and originality stay up.
20. If you like The Internet, listen to Raveena Aurora.
It's hard to believe after a first listen, but Raveena Aurora wrote "Something's Gotta Give" from a very dark place.
“I turned a lot of that bad energy inward for a while," she told us, "But after a point, it got really old and unproductive and I realized that even if I couldn’t change certain situations that I was trapped in at the time, I could definitely take responsibility for my own happiness, success and intellectual/creative growth, and peaceful well-being.”
The result is an unadulterated slice of sunny soul, buoyed by Aurora's considerable vocal talents. She has some serious range, too—for all the high notes she hits on "Something's Gotta Give," there's a breathy lower register on previous work like "You Give Me That." No matter where she sings, though, the songwriting makes Raveena Aurora a lock for fans of The Internet.
22. If you like Jai Paul, listen to Krrum.
British artist Krrum makes no secret that he is inspired by early Gorillaz, Justin Vernon, and Jai Paul, but he takes those influences and combines them with unique results. On "Hard On You," his vocal delivery is far from Paul's delicate croon, but the bouncy, shape-shifting electronic production should appeal to those of us who listen to "BTSTU" on the regular.
24. If you like ZHU, listen to WEIRDO.
"ARMANIO" is indulgent in the best of ways, a disco ball funk fest that bounces from the start. And it's no fluke—WEIRDO's only other song on SoundCloud, "BUTTER," is equally fun.
The ZHU comparison extends beyond the simple fact that both producers started their careers behind a mask of anonymity. Both artists pen songs that move at a breakneck pace, leaving the listener to either hang on for dear life or get left in the dance dust. Every part is packed with ideas, from the xylophone runs on "BUTTER" to the crunchy bass lines on "ARMANIO."
28. If you like MF DOOM, listen to Dez.
California's Dez just dropped his business as usual tape last month, and it's a whirlwind of a release. The subjects are familiar—women, a lot of weed, and religion all make extended appearances—but Dez's collection of smoldering beats and acrobatic wordplay put his music on another level.
His songs are unpredictable—"greatglass" stops on a dime after just 90 seconds of sharp-tongued delivery, and "vapors" flips a switch midway with a vicious verse from mavo. Dez possesses a special kind of creativity, and while he's not on DOOM's level quite yet, Dez is just getting started.
32. If you like Broods, listen to Tsörf
If you like Broods' spacious, breathy pop, check out Tsörf. Like Broods, this newcomer is also from New Zealand, and she's only got two songs out so far, "Know The Light" (below) and "Can I Be Close 2U?" but she's racking up SoundCloud plays.
34. If you like FKA twigs, listen to Samuel.
Experimental production which makes excellent use of space, undeniable pop songwriting, and a darker edge to the lyrics make an excellent combination in FKA twigs' music, and in the sounds of Samuel too. The Irish-born, South London-based singer has teamed up with Big Dada, and producers Kwes, Lockah, and Okzharp, and the results so far have been mesmerizing.
"I like to sing about love. The goods and bads of it," Samuel told us, and if "Killr" is any indication, his upcoming Luv Cry EP is set to be a winner.
