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. Don't forget to check out our weekly Spotify playlist here and SoundCloud playlists here.

Reo Cragun has a voice that cuts through any beat. He's got charisma and heartfelt emotion that comes across in every line and, like The-Dream and Jeremih, the confidence to pull it off. But like Post Malone, he's also got a genre-blending style that allows him to pull off soaring, radio-friendly hooks on songs like "On My Way." Reo Cragun's a dynamic artist with a bright future ahead of him, and his debut project Growing Pains is a promising introduction. Check out our interview here, and watch the "On My Way" video below.

Writing a song is a surefire way to exorcize some demons or sing out some stress. Usually that involves a (human) significant other, but Omar Apollo was dealing with anxiety from a different place on "brakelights." 

"I didn't even plan on making a song about my car, I just sort of freestyled it when I was listening to the beat. It came out of me naturally so I guess I subconsciously wanted to talk about it," he told us. Mellow vibes abound—"brakelights" really sounds like an old car sputtering on a highway, but in the most endearing way possible. What's immediately evident is Apollo's skills as a songwriter and musician, and his emotive voice has us running back JMSN's Whatever Makes U Happy. 

Jelani Aryeh is a 17-year-old from a small town in San Diego, and he mixes rap, pop, and R&B on his debut EP Suburban Destinesia. Inspired by artists like Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino, and Kevin Abstract, Jelani moves between genres with ease, and his songwriting on the guitar-driven pop song “Where We Go” is incredibly strong.

“I’m African-American, Filipino, and Chinese. I grew up in the suburbs and that plays a big part in my music,” Jelani told us. Looking to find fellow creatives, he formed a music and art collective called Raised By The Internet on a Brockhampton fan forum, and they now number 20 members across the globe.

Learn more and hear the full EP here.

Billie Eilish sounds like she's been writing songs for decades. Her dont smile at me EP is full of understated pop gems, full of twists and tempo changes that push the music forward. It's all delivered in Billie's gravelly whisper—she has a potent, pent-up delivery perfect for delivering sullen insights on the nature of tight dresses and burning cars. 

Billie's brother Finneas O'Connell co-wrote the EP, and their collective teenage angst has made for a beautiful, bittersweet collection of songs. She's also killing it on the video side of things too—just check out "Bellyache."

Virginia Beach's Rozwell Fitzroy is a singer, rapper, producer, and designer who told us that he is inspired by "the contrast of different elements that work but aren't supposed to." His standout track "Block Game" is all over the place in the best way possible, with hard 808s, twinkling melodies, and a sticky hook.

"I made 'Block Game' after a three-day stretch where I felt like I couldn't make anything. I set out to make the most outlandish song I made up to that point. It just happened in like 30 minutes while the sun was setting," Rozwell told us. Next up is the ZEUS EP, but until that drops, "Block Game" is on repeat.

Jachary does it all—the singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist has a hit on his hands with "Yellow Vision," and an EP out September 12. It's a glitchy, understated track that bursts with creative percussion and a rock star vocal performance from Jachary.

"Pat came over and started drumming on a jar filled halfway with water," Jachary said. "Pip came through and laid down some synths... There's a lot of farty sounds on the project. Embarrassing farts. Relieving Farts. Silent but deadly farts. 'Yellow Vision' has the kind of farts you can laugh at with your friends."

Flatulent bass aside, it's a beautiful track. With his debut EP on the way and collaborations with Deem Spencer already in his pocket, the future's looking bright for Jachary.

Snny's music thrives in open spaces. We first got familiar with the young artist when he released the airy, bittersweet "Young Boy," and he's leaning into that warm, wavy sound with his latest, "Arizona."

The synth-heavy vibes remind us of one of this year's best releases, Toro y Moi's latest album Boo Boo. Both artists know their way around a melody, but their true strength lies in the gaps between verses, whether its the brief, unforgettable guitar bridge halfway through "Arizona" or the slow burn of Toro's "Mirage." 

We talk about the song of the summer a lot, but Knox Fortune is about to release the album of the summer. His three singles thus far—"Torture," "Help Myself," and "Lil Thing"—have contained the kind of buoyant, buttery hooks unseen since the height of Beck's powers. 

The excellent production we expected. Knox has been a part of Chance the Rapper's best work, and his other collaborators include Joey Purp, Vic Mensa, Towkio, theMIND—he's the beating heart of Chicago production. But we didn't expect Knox to be singing his ass off, and he knows how to use his voice like a young Mac DeMarco. His album is out in September, and we'll be ready. 

"Every Time" was made during a trip overseas—Jae Stephens left L.A. for London to work with Bruno Major, and the move was well worth it. It's an airy, soulful track that provides a modern take on classic R&B slow jams. It's the followup to "24K," and marks Stephens as a rising voice in the world of electronic-driven pop music. 

"The creation process in London with British producers is one that’s more relaxed and low pressure," Jae told HungerTV. "I feel encouraged to try a bunch of different things and see what works instead of being pushed to get it right every time. You see a lot of that kind of genius experimentation in Bruno Major’s music." 

First, a disclaimer: George Miller, the man behind Joji (as well as Pink Guy and YouTube channel Filthy Frank TV) is such a versatile artist that it's impossible to anticipate what sounds and styles he'll explore next. His music as Joji, especially this year, has been fragile and beautiful, slow moving songs with hushed vocals over textured production.

It all feels so intimate, and songs like "i don't wanna waste my time" and "rain on me" are perfect for late nights thinking about life and rainy days spent staring out of the window.