Pigeons & Planes' Best New Artists of the Month

Finding new artists is easier than ever, but this creates a problem: it's harder than ever to filter through it all and keep tabs on what's really good. With so many artists popping up every day, it's impossible not to miss out on some fresh faces and new sounds.

With that in mind, we'll be highlighting our favorite new acts each month. Here are the best new artists of May.

The new wave of artists from South Florida is carving out their own lane with a youthful, rebellious sound, and Smokepurpp moves nicely within that circle—just listen to "Movin" for proof. But the 19-year-old Miami rapper, who recently signed a deal with Alamo Records, has some pop-leaning sensibilities that stretch way beyond overblown bass and yell-rapping often associated with the scene. The TM88-produced "Glock Inside My Benz," for example, is one of the catchiest rap songs of the year so far. Purpp's album DEADSTAR is on the way, and it could be a breakthrough moment for another Florida artist about to blow.

Zack Villere is trying to be nothing but himself. A twenty-something from Louisiana who's now chasing dreams in Los Angeles, the most recent recipient of Twitter fame is far more than his newly released viral song "Cool" (though we love that, too). Long-time fans of Zack will fondly remember (and likely still return to) his work as Froyo Ma. He devised the alter ego to release his debut pants EP, which showcased a microscopic attention to sonic detail and a knack for building intricate melodies with guest vocalists.

His debut album, little world, arrives next month, and finds him embracing his voice. Zack makes music honest to his own reality, and it's his hope that his left-of-center quirks soon develop into the new norms of the pop landscape. Read our interview with the talented artist right here.

Houston-born and now L.A.-based artist De'Wayne Jackson has been making music for a while now, grinding dead-end jobs to give himself the opportunity to create, and even moving from Texas to L.A. to pursue his passion. His new EP, Don't Be Afraid, reflects the experiences he's had, and it's a well-rounded and mature project—his best work to date.

De'Wayne is a talented rapper, but on the EP he incorporates influences from rock, R&B, and soul. Second single "Watching" is intense, with distorted guitars and vocals, and the Erik Rojas-directed video matches that energy. De'Wayne Jackson definitely hasn't come out of nowhere, but now he's ready to take his career to the next level.

Nate Dae's "Mood Swings" is disquieting in the best of ways. Nate Dae is battling demons on this one, and it can be hard to hear—and hard to look away. As the title suggests, Dae is experiencing mood swings that came about when the artist moved from Florida to California. He's making good on the buzz created by last year's Off The Porch release, and 2017 has brought nothing but good things. Dae's slurry, earnest delivery has us ready for more—listen to "Mood Swings" below, and check out "Ain't Worried (Take 3)" from March. 

George "Joji" Miller has built a huge fan base (with nearly five million YouTube subscribers) by playing wild comedic characters Filthy Frank and Pink Guy on his popular web show, but as he told us in January, his "main goal is to be able to make music seriously one day."

Miller has been creating gorgeous, understated piano-based music as Joji for years, but it appears he's finally putting his focus on his serious music side. He recently performed onstage as Joji for the first time and dropped a soothing new single called "I Don't Wanna Waste My Time," which you can hear below.

Toronto rapper Killy grabbed our attention with "Killamonjaro," a melody heavy rap track accompanied by a memorable video. The beat is dark and bass-heavy, and even if you can't make out exactly what Killy is saying his personality shines through in his style and delivery.

"Stolen Identity" and the rest of the music on Killy's SoundCloud proves that "Killamonjaro" was no one-off, and if he makes the right moves, it feels as if this young artist could be the next to blow up out of Toronto. Stay tuned.

BLONDAGE made their debut a year ago with the maddeningly catchy  "Dive." That song, and the resulting self-titled EP, established the Danish duo as an exciting new voice in the exalted Scandinavian synth-pop circuit. They returned in style this month: "Stoned" is some of BLONDAGE's best work yet, featuring hard-edged pop melodies that flit around pulsing synths. But the song's centerpiece is that undeniable hook. 

"It was like the chorus wrote itself," says the band's Esben Andersen. "The song is about experiencing love through a haze, like you’re seeing yourself from the outside. Everyone who matters to you is right there and you never wanna leave."

RAMS makes music that sounds like the dark. No matter his emotion (which ranges from ego-inflating to downright depressing), textures and tones tend to operate between dusk and dawn. His mind naturally operates through a visual lens. The Boston artist has created songs that reflect both short film concepts and the visceral highs of different drugs.  

Whether making the rounds at a night club ("I Know") and dishing out pop star melodies or diving deep into his inner demons ("Devil May Cry"), there's a lot to appreciate with his latest project, Diablo. Taking the time to sharpen his skills could turn this MA native into a serious threat. 

Get to know Rams in his here.

British rapper and singer Kojo Funds is having a great 2017, flexing his versatility and proving that he sounds at home on pop songs (Mabel's "Finders Keepers") as much as the street anthems that he initially became known for ("Dun Talkin," "My N9INE").

Describing his own sound as "Afro swing," Kojo's recent singles "Fear No One" and especially "Warning" have instantly memorable hooks and a bounce that comes from the reggae, dancehall, and afrobeats that he listened to growing up. As the U.K. gets more and more international attention, Kojo Funds and his genre-fusing music is well placed to blow up. Don't sleep.

There hasn't been an artist this tailor made for the internet since Lil Yachty. Georgia artist 6 Dogs doesn't have the larger-than-life persona or colorful charisma of Yachty. He's from another pocket of the internet, where rap clichés get filtered through SoundCloud goggles, and everything comes across like a digital dream.

But like Lil Yachty, 6 Dogs will be polarizing. His music is built on hypnotizing, sedated melodies repeated and whimsical production with hints of trap, a far cry from the hip-hop of pre-SoundCloud days. There are hundreds if not thousands of artists making this kind of music and releasing it on the internet these days, but there's a reason why 6 Dogs is the one with millions of plays. He does it very well.

KWAYE is a London-based, Zimbabwe-born artist who debuted with "Cool Kids" in March. His second single "Little Ones" is another sleek pop song with a slightly retro feel, but once you get past that huge hook and listen to the lyrics, you'll realize that KWAYE has a lot to say. "We are not born with prejudice—it is learned," he told us. "'Little Ones' encapsulates the binding nature of prejudice, and the boundless freedom expressed in the minds of children. It is about persevering and nurturing that innocence, and refusing to be denied of that freedom of expression." 

KWAYE is on the Mind of a Genius label, and with their experience and his unique sound, we're excited to see what he does throughout 2017. Watch KWAYE's gorgeous "Little Ones" music video here.

Bronx rapper WE$TSIDE Parlé doesn't move like a lot of other young artists on the come-up. First of all, he's a rapper's rapper, and even though he works with melodies, there's a deliberate, sharp nature in he way he strings words together. It's a stark contrast to a lot of the more free-flowing, lackadaisical deliveries popular today, and it's part of what makes Parlé stand out. Nobody is going to accuse him of mumble rapping.

Parlé may not have the overnight success of artists with radio-friendly tracks, meme-ready visuals, or flashy gimmicks, but he's an artist worth spending time with. The video for "Late Intro," featuring frequent collaborator 6ix7, is a good starting point. Hear more from WE$TSIDE Parlé on YouTube.