Best New Artists

Every month, we round up some of our favorite new music discoveries. Look back at all of our Best New Artists here and keep up with them all on the Best New Artists playlists on Spotify and Apple.

Self-proclaimed “Bedroom Rap All-Stars” They Hate Change will always keep you on your toes. Producer-rappers Andrè and Vonne are from Tampa Bay, FL, but their music draws from regional and global sounds and references for a unique and refreshing take on hip-hop.

“As far as music influences, we’re carrying on in the footsteps of the Florida Breaks scene, a genre that blended Southern Bass and Electro sounds with East Coast hip-hop breaks and Midwest dance textures,” the duo tells us. “Our approach takes the Tampa Jook and Krank genres, and marries them with the breakbeat styles of UK Hardcore and Jungle, all while paying homage to the lyric-driven hip-hop we bonded over during our school years. Our music is where the pulse and flavor of Tampa artists Tom G. and Strizzo meets the energy of Shy FX and the vintage swagger and coded language of Camp Lo.”

After the 666 Central Ave. EP on GODMODE in 2020, the duo signed with powerhouse independent label Jagjaguwar and are planning an album for 2022. “Faux Leather” is the first taste of new music, and comes with a two part music video that at first pays homage to Manchester post-punk band A Certain Ratio and then brings us in to the DIY house party scene that they came up in. Whether you catch the references and are familiar with the genres that inspire They Hate Change or not doesn’t matter, their music cuts through the noise. On “Faux Leather,” they take their scalpel to the streaming era, major label contracts, and luxury brands in unapologetic verses. It’s an exciting introduction to the next phase of They Hate Change.

“JAGJAGUWAR made sense to us because of our DIY background,” Andrè and Vonne explain. “We really came up in makeshift venues, DIY tours, selling cassette tapes and zines to build a name for ourselves, and a lot of people in the JAG building come from that same place. Other people we had conversations with just wanted to approach us from their go-to hip-hop blueprint, but JAGJAGUWAR understands the type of grind we come from, and how to execute that on a larger scale without compromising our ‘Bedroom Rap All-Stars’ ethos.”—Alex Gardner

From being all over everyone’s Tik Tok For You Page to being featured on Isaiah Rashad’s album The House Is Burning, Doechii (formerly iamdoechii) has shown her ability to hustle and stand out in the fast-paced world of music. The Tampa based, self-described “out of pocket” rapper showcases both her melodic talents and a heavily articulated bite to her rap. 

With songs like “Spookie Coochie,” “PMS,” and “BRA-LESS,” Doechii has a lot to say and is unafraid to speak her truth. Her breakout single “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake ‘’ begins with the now viral line, “Hi, my name’s Doechii with two i’s,” which serves as a catchy intro for the rapper. The song evolves from boisterous rapping and cowbells to a masterful transition into a slowed second act where Doechii interpolates Paramore’s “The Only Exception.” 

Her most recent EP Oh The Places You’ll Go brought other hits like the airy and soulful “Black Girl Memoir” and a unique title track with a poetic spoken word style of rap. Her accompanying music videos match her outlandish creativity, with poppy outfit changes, strange settings, and intriguing plots. “Girls,” which fittingly has an all-female cast in a girl-powered trip, is her latest video, and you should expect more big moves from Doechii before the year is out.—Sabine Adorney

Georgia-born, Los Angeles-based artist August Royals caught his first big break when a clip of his song “Restless” took off on Instagram in 2019, but things got interesting when he met BROCKHAMPTON’s Kevin Abstract at a show. The two became friends and collaborators, and with Abstract’s co-sign, Royals recently signed with RCA and got to work on his debut project Inhaler. The EP is executive produced by Abstract and set to be released in November.

It’s easy to imagine August Royals getting very big—before signing, he was already getting Shawn Mendes comparisons and flexing the kind of songwriting that could yield commercial hits. But on his new music he’s kept things interesting with thoughtful visuals, intriguing production choices, and depth that makes it clear this is about more than just fishing for hits. Royals is the rare kind of talent who’s positioned to strike the difficult balance between artistry and accessibility, like he does on upcoming single “Crash.”

“Music is more than just a passion or career for me,” Royals explains. “For my own mental health, it’s lifesaving and that’s one of many reasons why my debut project is titled Inhaler. Working on this project, I finally gambled on me and was unapologetically myself. I dove deep into alternative, hip-hop, indie, and pop. I was inspired by so many artists I look up to from Mac Miller to Alicia Keys, Harry Styles, The 1975, and more. Like every artist I look up to and am inspired by, I want to share music that’s meaningful and makes a difference, even if it’s for just one person.”—Jacob Moore

“[It’s] a coming-of-age tale but there are multiple in life and this is only a chapter of mine,” London artist Rasharn Powell says of his debut mixtape Dusk & Dawn. “For me, [the title] means journeying from one side of life to the other and understanding that it’s not always linear. From early on, that’s how I’d describe my music because it feels like those points of the day.”

The music Rasharn has released so far is rooted in R&B with influences from soul and hip-hop. Dusk & Dawn collects songs from as far back as 2019 (including his first official single, the expansive “Warm In These Blue Jeans”), painting a complete picture of an artist growing into their talent. 

“With this mixtape, I wanted to be honest about the ebbs and flows that a recent phase of my life presented,” Rasharn says. “[Producer and songwriter] Gianluca Buccellati and I had busy schedules, especially with my retail work rota. So over the past two years we put it together in the brief spurts of time we’d get, between London and LA. I think that helped capture me evolving on each song. From the inception of love, the moment it falls apart, my perception of the world and the man I’ve become, it’s all very real to me.”

With Crowns & Owls helping shape the visuals, new music already in the works, and his community spirit in full effect, Rasharn Powell is setting the foundations for an exciting future.—Alex Gardner

Originally conceived by founding member Jonathan Lopez as a project to compose horror-inspired scores, the genesis of Los Angeles-based band Provoker is very much alive on their debut album, Body Jumper. After expanding to a four-piece a few years back, Lopez and vocalist Christian Petty morphed that idea into a full-blown band. As much as the record takes from seminal post-punk and new pop of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, it’s perhaps even more indebted to the body-melting phantasmagoria of David Cronenberg.

What makes Body Jumper so captivating, though, isn’t its influences or what it takes from, but the strength of the songwriting. Too often, a band will generously “borrow” from acts of the past without engaging with them beyond surface level aesthetics. Yet Provoker don’t appear all that interested in writing toothless songs about love in a shoddy Ian Curtis impression. Instead, they’ve released a record that echoes the pervading anxiety and paranoia of existence in a world that’s increasingly bewildering, without entirely sticking to the confines of realism.

“The themes presented are split between fantasy and reality,” the band told us of Body Jumper. “There are many instances where they coalesce into recognizable patterns.” Exploring escapism, love and loss, isolation, romanticism, and a healthy dose of self-reflection, each track plays out as its own mini-feature with a distinct lead character. 

“Vehicle Dissolve” opens the record with that fleeting sense of safety only a Resident Evil save room can provide, while “Bugs and Humans” concludes with a stark reflection on how locations can forever be changed by personal trauma. It dances through the dark, not around it. In fact, Body Jumper is frequently joyful through gritted teeth; it’s the perfect soundtrack for this summer of uncertainty.—Joe Price

From the creative hotbed of Atlanta (by way of Memphis) comes Mercury, a rising rapper whose debut project MERCTAPE is on repeat. The tape is out now via NY label Honeymoon, who have been behind releases from Rejjie Snow, Anna of the North, and Raveena, and recently released 454’s Frank Ocean-supported debut project 4 REAL. “CACTI,” produced by 454, is a highlight from MERCTAPE, along with “ALL BLACK” and the dreamy “PAID.”

“Atlanta inspires me by creating a sense of community with other people who have similar interests,” Mercury tells us of the city she calls home. “My friends also inspire me by allowing me to be myself.” The 20-year-old’s music feels loose, unburdened by expectations, and the tape breezes by like a breath of fresh air. For Mercury, it’s all about doing what feels good. “I am out here having fun,” she adds. “I rap, skate, and produce sometimes and I still have a job. I’m normal.”—Alex Gardner

New Jersey-born, Austin-based artist Sam Houston made a name for himself as an Americana musician, but he took on a new moniker and a different approach for his work under the name BLK ODYSSY. The first song and video he released, “BIG BAD WOLF/SOBER,” sets the tone. While so many songs are made purely for entertainment or pleasant background noise, this is the kind of music that stops you in your tracks. It demands attention. Through his next releases under the BLK ODYSSY name, Houston channels that intensity in less obvious ways: groggy funk and spaced out soul soften the blow, but his perspective remains loud and clear.

“I grew up within a vibrant culture. Though it was full of trials and tribulations and rooted in trauma, it’s inevitable that those conditions would create something beautiful,” he explains. “The lessons in our school books growing up taught us our history started with shackles and chains. It taught us our heritage began in bondage. For most of the Black youth, it’s up to us to find out that that is not our roots.”

“As a kid, I often jumped between a militant teen and a peace seeker who strayed away from any conflict,” he continues. “Growing up in the church kept me grounded, but I was still living in urban communities and it became clear to me that even some aspects of religion were taught to us as a method of control and submission. My brother was killed by police in 2010 and like millions of other Black people that walked American soil I learned that this land was not made with us in mind, I was forced as an adolescent to endure what some would consider a man’s lesson, which forced me to take it upon myself to search for answers. The BLK ODYSSY allowed me to take listeners on a journey of self-discovery with me, all while celebrating our vibrant culture. The BLK ODYSSY is simply the journey we are living as Black Americans.”

BLK VINTAGE, the debut album from BLK ODYSSY, is set for release on August 27.—Jacob Moore

Bringing a chilled out flavor to UK rap and R&B, Leicester-based artist Sainté, has created an atmospheric infusion of genres that’s his own. Inspired by artists like Sampha, Pharrell, Sade, and Skepta, Sainté’s music features his smooth, polished voice coasting effortlessly over a blend of breezy instrumentals and jazz-inspired hypnotic beats.

Sainté experienced his first million streams during Covid, when his single “Champagne Shots” ignited his entrance into the music world. “Champagne Shots” showcased Sainté’s organic, relaxed production while his follow-up single “Round & Round” flaunted a more honed-in rap approach, demonstrating his fluidity within genres.

Also released during the pandemic, his four song EP Local Mvp encapsulated the melding of genres Sainté prides himself in. “I feel like the choice of genres that I fuse together is rare, making my sound unique,” he shares. “I definitely believe it’s still early days for the UK and I know there’s a place in the game for it so I just want to use it to my advantage.”

Earlier this month Sainté teamed up with Miraa May to drop a new single “No Love.” Emotionally raw in its lyrics and authentically delivered, Sainté is true to his name when it comes to his musical persona. With more time and experience Sainte looks forward to evolving his craft in his own way, or as he likes to say the “Sainté way.”—Sabine Adorney

Not one to sugarcoat, M.A.G.S. creates with vivid strokes of color, detailing intimate moments of his life through the lens of introspection. The Buffalo-born, LA-based artist otherwise known as Elliott Douglas recently released his debut album Say Things That Matter, following on from 2017’s self-titled record and his first solo EP in 2015. A testament to reflection, personal growth, and shared experiences, it finds the multi-instrumentalist and producer come into his own.

Douglas began performing at 12 while attending his local church, starting his first band at 17. After years spent playing between bands and dipping into projects, he created M.A.G.S., ultimately ready to begin his solo endeavours. Say Things That Matter feels like the culmination of this decision—increasingly confident, more refined. It weaves between emotions and genres, sequenced carefully and guiding the listening experience. “Golden” and “Beachlove” introduce the feeling of summer, sea spray, and sticky nights, tangible behind dream pop and soulful stylings, before “Beg,” with its elevated energy and garage rock influence, steers direction and builds tempo. 

“STTM is about how we’re all connected by the experiences we share,” Douglas tells us. “I spent a lot of time looking inward in order to write these songs. I want listeners to look inward as well. I think we are at a pivotal point in human history with so much chaos and bullshit going on in the world at any given time. Take a minute to reflect on your own life and realize some things about yourself.”—Rani Boyer