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.

Anderson .Paak may not have won all the Grammys this past weekend, but he's already left his mark on the music of the future. Case in point: Leven Kali, the West L.A. singer in possession of a beautiful voice and oodles of musicality. "Joy" treads a line between funk and dance music, with wah pedals and crisp piano bouncing off Kali's powerful lyrics.

He manages to pack a massive political message into the breezy track, a marriage of two motivations that lands Leven Kali square in our sights as one of today's most impressive, complete new artists. If you're feeling "Joy," check out his equally velvety "Cassandra."

Snny has made a big splash with "Young Boy." He's found a seam between rock & roll and R&B, and the breathy result is a head-turner. The New York-based singer is originally from the Ivory Coast, but "Young Boy" is the kind of song that could fit on any playlist. The song has a lasting quality that makes it a comfortable play in nearly any setting, the kind of laid-back groove that you like immediately. We're reminded of The Neighbourhood and last year's excellent Wiped Out! album. It's still rock music in the conventional sense, but there are influences from all over the musical map.

"When we sat down to start working on the project, 'Young Boy' was the first song I made," Snny told us. "Up until that point I was waiting for inspiration but it took on a life of its own." With his debut release, Learning To Swim, out at the end of the month, that life's could get a lot more exciting very soon.  

SahBabii's "Pull Up Wit Ah Stick" is one of those songs that you might dismiss on first listen. Then a day later you'll find yourself with that chorus in your head. Ten days later you'll be listening to it on a daily basis. Like Young Thug, SahBabii uses slight variations on the same simple melody throughout, keeping things interesting while achieving a hypnotic effect through repetition. But unlike Thug, SahBabii has a relaxed tone, giving "Pull Up Wit Ah Stick" a surprisingly mellow feel to it, despite what the title suggests.

Like soaring R&B vocals? Forward-thinking production? The bitter aftermath of a breakup? Then Jeremih is for you, and Villz could be too. The Florida singer has a hit on his hands with "Loyalty"—it's a late night jam of the highest caliber, skyscraping falsetto paired with smooth, sexy production that never imitates its inspirations. 

Villz has been cooking up these ballads for a couple of years now, and "Loyalty" sounds like a new level. Keep your ears open. 

If you're not already familiar with TDE's latest signee, now's the time to start. Like his new label mates, SiR is California-born, and that smooth West Coast is immediately present in his music. But rather than the vitriolic, insightful raps championed by Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q, SiR's music is all about the croon. His most recent Her Too EP has that in common with fellow Californians The Internet, a band whose members are on a bit of a run themselves these days. Slinky R&B is back in a big way, and these two artists are part of the reason why. 

"I never sat down and said I want to be an artist," SiR told Billboard. "I put music out [online] because I had so much and I didn’t know what to do with it, and the response was what made me want to be an artist."

Jalen Santoy's "Foreplay" sounds like the kind of beat J. Cole might choose. It's jazzy with some kick to it, and spacious enough that it keeps the emphasis on the lyrics. On top of that, the Charlotte rapper has a sharp, relatable nature that fans of Cole should appreciate.

A lot of popular hip-hop is fun, upbeat, and carefree. This stuff is great to have in rotation, but sometimes you want something a little more thought-provoking. Earl Sweatshirt's recent music has been introspective, smart, and more fitting for a late night in isolation than a trip to the club. If that's your pace, check out Deem Spencer. He's a 21-year-old from Jamaica, Queens, and "Soap" is a great introduction. Check out the song below, and watch the video here.

Electronic music in the second decade of the 21st century has been all over the place. The EDM crazy has thankfully faded, and a group of young independent producers moved to online platforms like SoundCloud, where creative freedom isn't constantly bound by takedown notices. 

Bloom and Dylan Brady are two such artists, and they combined forces for Bloom's [SIN]SES EP, a collection of wandering, murderous beats that growl underneath the St. Louis singer's dramatic vocals. Bloom is a exciting new talent, and she's more than the music—her self-directed video for "Raindrops" is nothing short of stunning.

"I believe in telling stories through my visuals and music," Bloom told us. "That is what the experience is all about. I like to think of my music as art pieces. Each EP I release will be a completely different art piece telling a different story. It is my way of showcasing my love for change, differences in the world."

Born in L.A. but based in Portland, The Last Artful, Dodgr has a voice like none other. We'd call it a falsetto if it didn't sound like Dodgr's natural register—her raspy, bright notes flip between melody and rap on a dime, and the eclectic, energetic nature of her music reminds us of a young Missy Elliott.

Dodgr's collaborative album with Neill Von Tally, Bone Music, dropped earlier this month. She's been with the Fresh Selects team for over a year now, and the hard work is paying off. Give "Jazz Crimes" a listen below, but the whole album is worth a spin.