Artist Recommendations Based on the Music 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, and don't forget to check out our weekly Spotify playlist.

If you like Toro Y Moi's sun-soaked melodies and dreamy synths, check out Yuno. The Florida artist has been making music for years, but his recently released Sub Pop debut "No Going Back" is a beauty. It's a masterfully written song, but instead of being polished to a bore, it feels handmade, with a fuzzy guitar solo, meaty bass, and a euphoric bounce.

There are a lot of new rappers incorporating melodies, dark subject matter, alternative rock/punk references, and emotionally charged lyrics right now. Many of them are cringe-worthy, some are good, but 19-year-old Juice Wrld is one of the best newcomers in this lane. The difference is in the songs. "All Girls Are The Same" and "Lucid Dreams" aren't just rap songs that wish they were rock songs—the songwriting is so solid that these tracks would translate no matter what the genre. After witnessing the "XO TOUR Llif3" takeover, the timing is perfect for an artist like Juice Wrld, who just signed a deal with Interscope, to break through. We're still waiting for Juice to add his music to Spotify and Apple, but once that happens, it's easy to imagine this young artist rising fast.

G Flip's debut single "About You" is one of the catchiest new pop songs we've heard all year. But unlike most catchy pop songs, this one keeps things interesting with a DIY spirit. The Australian artist put it together in a day after teaching herself the basics of production, but she liked that it didn't sound too polished. "I really started digging how rough it was," she told us. "Pop music can be pretty shiny sometimes and this was not shiny, just like me. I’m far from shiny. I’m messy, I don’t know what make-up is, I wear boy’s clothes and I drink too much."

Read our interview with G Flip here.

Los Angeles rapper Drakeo The Ruler sounds very West Coast, but he brings a totally unique charisma to the table, so even when his music has all the classic West Coast rap elements, it sounds like his own. Drakeo has been on a roll ever since getting released from jail in December of last year, and he could be one of the next to blow up out of California.

Get familiar with other up-and-coming California rappers here.

Saccharine sweet pop music can still have edge and bite, as demonstrated by Madge's debut song "Fight or Flight Club." The breathy melodies are bright, but there's an underlying tension that adds an element of chaos. "If it was a kitten it would bite your hand and then lick it," Madge says of her music.

She's in a band and collaborates on other projects, but as Madge, the talented singer/writer/producer is doing it all—she wrote, recorded, produced, and mixed the debut song herself. "Fight Or Flight Club" is an exciting introduction, and things should get interesting from here. "It’s a nice way to introduce Madge," the artist says of her first release. "Sweet and angry at the same time. A little less weird than some of my upcoming material. And oh boy things might get weird."

East Atlanta-raised, L.A.-based rapper and designer Lil Gnar hasn't been making music for very long, but he's already gaining a lot of traction, especially on SoundCloud. "Ride Wit Da Fye" featuring Germ started the momentum, and Germ and Gnar dropped a whole EP together in February. Big Bad Gnar Shit is loose and rough around the edges, but that doesn't detract from the raw energy and charisma on display. 

Lil Gnar does a lot more than rap, too. He's a designer and skateboarder with a successful clothing brand called Gnarcotic, and he understands how to build a brand that people connect with, whether that's in streetwear or music. Gnar is performing at our free SXSW show this Saturday alongside Maxo Kream, Kodie Shane, Molly Brazy, Kemba, and more. All details here.

Watch Lil Gnar talk skateboarding, Lil Skies, and more on Trending Topics here.

Lately, Lil Yachty has been rapping a little harder, but some of his dreamy, pop-leaning songs remain highlights. DWN2EARTH nails that style on "I'm So Cold," a song that feels like the soundtrack to floating on a cloud. DWN2EARTH comes from the Private Club Records camp, which also includes 24hrs and MadeinTYO, and we're looking forward to what comes next for him. For now, "I'm So Cold" is in heavy rotation.

There's a new wave of bedroom pop, garage rock, and hip-hop kids who learned early that there's value in doing everything on your own terms. After seeing Tyler, The Creator pave the way for creative outsiders everywhere, it makes sense that the next wave would have an independent spirit, and we're starting to see it pay off. 19-year-old California artist CUCO already has a loyal following and tens of millions of streams, and he hasn't sacrificed his vision in the slightest.

YBN Nahmir's "Rubbin Off The Paint" caught on because it was so simple and addictive, and Lil Mosey's "Pull Up" has that same effect. Lil Mosey isn't old enough to drive and he's rapping about pulling up in a drop top so if that bothers you, you should probably skip this one. If you're alright with it, check out "Pull Up" and be prepared to have this hook stuck in your head.

Pop, R&B, house, hip-hop, afrobeats, soul. Odie's music is a kaleidoscope of different styles and approaches, and each of the three songs he's released so far from his upcoming project Analogue is very different. They're all tied together by his rich, unhurried vocal delivery and a real feeling of authenticity that is rare to find in such genre-hopping music.

Born in Toronto to Nigerian parents before moving to the West Coast when he was 12, Odie namechecks artists like Fela Kuti, Coldplay, and Kid Cudi as formative, but, along with his production partner Ya'qob, he's building a sound that is all his own. Look out for Analogue on April 6 and read our interview with Odie here.

MorMor is one of many rising artists from Toronto, but he's approaching things from a unique perspective, and with a very different take. His new song "Heaven's Only Wishful" is only four minutes long, but it takes us through a range of this young artist's strengths. It starts with a gentle pop reminiscent of Belle & Sebastian, but the hook could fit right into an '80s power ballad, some of the synth accents wouldn't be out of place on a Talking Heads track, and the ending explodes with the angst of any good '90s act. When we spoke with MorMor earlier this year, he told us that his tastes in music go from AC/DC and The Beatles to Wu-Tang and Motown, so it will be interesting to see where he takes us next. For now, we're good with "Heaven's Only Wishful," an instant classic from an artist with a very promising future.

​Read our interview with MorMor here.