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 June.
1.Ikey
Sometimes, to really impress people, you need to save the best for last. On "Timbuktu," the latest from Maryland rapper Ikey, he starts off strong with a comfortable flow and plenty of personality, spitting humorous lines about being too fat to wear designer clothes and smoking green while eating lobster. But as the song goes on, Ikey gets progressively more agitated, and at the 2:30 mark, Ikey snaps. Born in New York and raised in Nigeria, Ikey holds on to his roots by bringing NYC and Nigerian flavor to his delivery, and it gives his music a unique character that most gritty rappers lack.
2.Anna Of The North
The internet is unforgiving, and this makes the debut single increasingly important. One bad first impression and a lot of people are going to stop paying attention. Anna Of The North won't be having this problem. In a month's time the Norwegian singer has racked up over 50,000 plays on SoundCloud and just released a gorgeous video to accompany the breezy, laid back synth pop of "Sway." Now, can she follow it up?
3.Poter Elvinger
Poter Elvinger is a 20-year-old producer from London. Describing his own music, Elvinger told us, "It’s a kind of saturated pop with hip-hop beats laid over." Instead of sounding like just beats, Elvinger's instrumentals feel like complete songs, although we could imagine a track like "Ghosts" sounding pretty amazing with the right rapper on board for a remix.
4.Johnny Lloyd
Johnny Lloyd, former frontman of London-based band Tribes, is making music solo now. But even if you're not familiar, his excellent new Pilgrims EP isn't the sound of a new musician. It's the sound of an old soul—music that could have been released any time in the last six decades. The lo-fi recording gives it a warm, intimate feel, and compared to so much new music that incorporates trendy sounds and electronic assistance, Johnny Lloyd's style is a welcomed throwback to a simpler approach.
5.Ibeyi
Shout out to XL Recordings for killing it. The label's latest addition is Ibeyi (pronounced ee-bey-ee), comprised of 19-year-old French Cuban twins Naomi and Lisa-Kainde Diaz. Their debut single isn't an attempt to take advantage of what's hot in music right now. Instead, "Oya" sounds completely unique. It's dramatic, forward-thinking and primitive at the same time, and with a first single this powerful, it's hard to imagine these girls not having great things in front of them.
6.J.K. The Reaper
When you hear an artist for the first time and get goosebumps, it's a good sign. J.K. The Reaper, a rapper out of Greensboro, doesn't achieve this effect with inspirational lyricism or dramatic delivery. He gets there with raw honesty and the right touch of intensity. J.K. told us that he's sick of "wannabe trappers with fake Gucci shoes on. My city is full of that shit." He doesn't even need to explain, though, because we can hear it in his voice when he delivers the line, "Man, I've been broke so long / I'm just trying to live normal / But we ain't normal, n***a." If he can match the intensity of "Fountain of Youth," J.K. The Reaper is going to be a problem.
7.Marz Leon
Los Angeles artist Marz Leon only has one song out: her debut single "L O N E R." But that one song is excellent, and Marz Leon seems to have more than just musical talent—her sense of style and visual aesthetics are stunning. Just check out her Instagram. If she can apply that sensibility to her music and her music videos (can't wait to see what those look like), then Marz Leon should have no problem transitioning from gorgeous looking things to gorgeous sounding things.
8.Deers
For years, the attraction to indie music has partly been because so much of mainstream music is so shamelessly manufactured. If you're looking for pop with a more natural feel, check out out Madrid-based duo Deers. When the two friends started playing music together on the beaches of Spain, they were just doing it for fun. They loved it so much that they decided to become a band, and their first two demos are raw and carefree—exactly what you want from a band who are creating for all the right reasons.
9.Slow Magic
Slow Magic has been releasing music for years, but with "Girls," the masked producer announces a partnership with Downtown Records. The label's history with fostering growth and creativity (Gnarls Barkley, Justice, Miike Snow, Santigold) means (hopefully) great things to come. "Girls," a euphoric blast of sound with a soulful energy, is evidence that this partnership is going to be fruitful one.