Music Recommendations Based on Artists You Already Like

We got tired of getting music recommendations from computers. Maybe one day, computers will be able to understand music and automate music discovery better than human beings. But so far, there hasn't been a music discovery app that has gotten it right. No algorithm, social networking service, or customizable radio station has been able to nail it down. There's still nothing quite as effective as a friend saying, "You like so-and-so? Check this out."

That's why we started our recommendations series. It has all been in an attempt to help, but it's probably one of the more controversial things we do. Every time we say, "If you like [insert artist name], then check out [insert artist name]" we see replies: "STOP COMPARING ARTISTS TO OTHER ARTISTS." It's not about that. If you're looking to discover new music, the fastest way to do it is to dig in based on what you already know you like. We hope you find something you like.

Don't forget to check out our weekly updated Spotify playlist here and monthly SoundCloud playlists here.

Australian artist BLESSED has more music coming up, and some of it's going to be surprising to new fans, but "Sorrows" is so reminiscent of classic Kid Cudi. It's got the fantastic use of melody, the cinematic production, the personal lyrics, even the humming. 

Comparing any rapper to Kendrick Lamar is dangerous because he's arguably the best rapper alive right now, but don't get all worked up. The point of this entire post is not to say that any of these artists are exactly like another. The point is to foster music discovery by simply saying if you like one artist, you might find some common ground with these other artists.

24-year-old John Givez is from outside of San Diego, and he can rap really well, plus he's a thoughtful lyricist, intensely passionate, and slick with the delivery. If these are things you like about Kendrick Lamar, check him out.

Abi Ocia came through with an incredible debut single this month—"Running" possesses the kind of moody cool that launched the careers of fellow Englishwomen like Jessie Ware, but Ocia represents an evolution.

Floating over a ghostly waltz constructed by producers Mkulu and Draper, Ocia unfurls a story of self-reflection: “I wanted to explore an inner dialog with myself, following a journey of seeking out something greater than what you are used to," she told us, "Even if it means purging yourself of things you hold dear.”

The one song we've heard from Lulu Be. is good enough as it is, but add that to the company she keeps, and you've got a star in the making. Lulu is the studio manager at Chicago's Classick Studios (ever heard of it?), and she's using the time wisely. "Rude Tings" is an addictive cut, all pulsing bass and cutting punchlines. Lulu can rap with personality (those cackles at the song's close are perfect), a skill she shares with Tkay Maidza, the Australian rap sensation currently making songs with Killer Mike. 

Yellow Days has just three songs on Soundcloud, but his potential is clear in each and every one of them. There's a rough and raw edge to his voice as he sings over slowly unfurling guitar lines and jazzy percussion, a sense that he feels the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He's still a teenager, but Yellow Days makes music that belies his age. Look out for more from this young talent coming very soon.

Ready for a punch to the feels? SAÍGO's "The Other" packs an emotional wallop from the opening sample, blending futuristic electronic production, opaque vocals, and a lo-fi backbeat to invoke the spirit of the long lost Jai Paul. Instrumentally, at least—lyrically, SAÍGO is rooted firmly in the present, a fact addressed in our interview with the artist: 

 "I wrote 'The Other' after reading about the killing of a blogger in Bangladesh," he said. "He was the same age as me, and he was killed because he wrote about secular, democratic ideas and the dangers of religious hatred... I thought about how much him and I might have had in common, and how there is so much to unite us if we can look past the conventional divisions of nations, politics, race and religion. At the core of this song is a dilemma we're all facing as the globe shrinks—either choose to expand the borders of empathy or choose to draw smaller and smaller circles of trust."

It's not easy to find rappers who keep it real about street life without glorifying the situations they've experienced. Vince Staples is one of the very best at walking this delicate line, both on record and in freestyles, and young British rapper Dave impresses in the same way on his new EP Six Paths.

Just a couple of songs into the EP, you realize Dave's wordplay is razor sharp, but subsequent listens reveal incredible depth and nuance. "Picture Me," especially, paints a vivid picture of the different paths Dave's life could have taken, but the whole EP is definitely worth putting on repeat.

Dutch band Avi On Fire takes us back to a high point in the indie rock timeline, when bands like Grizzly Bear, Phoenix, and Passion Pit were blending rock elements with pop melodies, lush soundscapes, and huge hooks. That approach seems to be rare today, as more indie bands are playing around with stripped back sounds, hip-hop influence, and electronic elements. Avi On Fire's debut single "Pearls" takes us back, and proves that this kind of pop-leaning indie rock still sounds great.

Nobody can fuck with Scandinavia when it comes to pristine pop music with just the right amount of edge. Swedish singer Bishat's new single "Told Me" is defiant, fresh, and that wordless little piece of the hook—you'll know which part I'm talking about after one listen—will be stuck in your head in no time. It reminds us a little of MØ's "Waste of Time," and it's got us excited to hear more.

Alright, Florida rapper Bruno Mali Kidd doesn't have that much in common with Juvenile. But if you enjoyed Juvenile's repetitive "yeah" tacked on to the end of every line on the classic "Back That Azz Up," check out "HA." The production is great, Bruno's verses are sharp, the chorus is memorable, and the "HA" added to each line is a simple trick, but damn it works well.

Before everyone starts yelling, no, we're not saying Jessie Reyez is the next Amy Winehouse—no one is or ever will be. But if you want someone with a voice that can reach out and punch you in the gut, someone who is singing about love and heartbreak and the pain that comes with it, then check out this young Toronto artist. 

"Figures" boasts a brilliant pop hook, but thankfully Jessie decided to keep the production simple, and the song is more impactful because of it. The future is bright for Jessie Reyez. Read more about her here.

If big, energetic pop hooks are your thing, look no further. Saint Clair delivers on that count, but it's her unique voice that really stands out on "Simmer." The Londoner's solo career has been gaining steam after stints singing for Ghostpoet and Kwabs, and with production from Ninja Tune's Raffertie at her back, Saint Clair is starting to sound like the next big indie-pop act to come out of England.

Give her "Heavy On My Heart" a listen if "Simmer" is up your alley, and check out pictures of her performing at No Ceilings London here.