WHAT. A. YEAR. While 2018 wasn’t exactly the proudest year in American history, there were quite a number of impressive strides in the musical realm. Ones To Watch had our best year yet, and we want to send a special thank you to all the devoted music fans who have utilized our platform to dig up the most promising up & coming artists this year.
To recap, we created a fun sizzle reel set to Masego’s “Send Yo Rita” which includes many of the talented artists we’ve had the privilege of highlighting: Buddy, The Marías, The Aces, Jade Bird, Sylvan LaCue, Transviolet, Greta Van Fleet, Night Riots, Charlotte Lawrence, Masego, Allie X, LÉON, Jorge Blanco, DaniLeigh, Harry Hudson, grandson, Jesse Jo Stark, Cautious Clay, CLOVES, Sinead Harnett, NoMBe, and Kweku Collins.
As we approach the new year, we surveyed the entire staff to assemble our 2018 favorites and 2019 predictions. What’d we miss?
2018 FAVORITES:
Best Albums
H.E.R. - I Used To Know Her - The Prelude
Tierra Whack - Whack World
Rainbow Kitten Surprise - How to: Friend, Love, Freefall
Lauv - I met you when I was 18. (the playlist)
Tom Misch - Geography
Best Female Breakout Artists
Best Male Breakout Artists
Best Breakout Bands
Parcels
Most Underrated Songs
Joseph Angel - “Shame”
ROLE MODEL - “not a fan”
Arin Ray - “Communication” (feat. DRAM)
skinnydip - “Call It Off”
ELIZA - “Loveable”
Rhys Lewis - “Could’ve Been”
Masego - “Black Love”
MorMor - “Heaven’s Only Wishful”
Favorite Songs To Cry To
Sinead Harnett - “Lessons”
Lewis Capaldi - “Someone You Loved”
Mitski - “Nobody”
Charlotte Lawrence - “Everybody Loves You”
Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus - Me & My Dog
LANY - “Thru These Tears”
CLOVES - “Up & Down”
Favorite Songs To Make Out To
Pink Sweat$ - “Honesty”
Phlake, Mercedes - “Waited All Summer”
Omar Apollo - “Ugotme”
Hablot Brown, Maths Time Joy - “Reason”
Daniel Caesar - “Who Hurt You?”
King Princess - “Pussy Is God”
Kyle Dion - “Brown”
Best Concerts We Attended
James Bay @ The Fillmore, San Francisco
Porches @ Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles
Lolo Zouaï @ The Echo, Los Angeles
Francis and the Lights @ Zebulon, Los Angeles
Jorja Smith @ The Wiltern, Los Angeles
JPEGMAFIA @ The Echo, Los Angeles
Billie Eilish @ Fonda Theater, Los Angeles
Yellow Days @ Moroccan Lounge, Los Angeles
Best Music Videos
Still Woozy - “Goodie Bag”
half•alive - “still feel”
The Blaze - “Heaven”
Col3trane - “Britney”
Phum Viphurit & Higher Brothers - “Lover Boy 88″
grandson - “blood // water”
Conan Gray - “Generation Why”
Smino - “L.M.F”
Favorite Ones To Watch Pieces (shameless self-promo)
Where Are They Now? From Medical School To Pineapple Epidemics: A Timeline of Glass Animals’ Success
All Eyes On Cautious Clay [”Stolen Moments” Live + Interview]
Q&A: Grace Carter Discusses Her Songwriting Journey, Absent Father, & Friendship with Dua Lipa
K/DA Is the Most Innovative Pop Supergroup, and They’re Not Even Real
Ambar Lucid – “Listen” Live at Black Rabbit Rose
TOUR DIARY: YUNGBLUD Is an Artist You Need to Know On & Off the Stage
30 Ones To Watch On Tour This Fall 2018
10 Tips for Aspiring Songwriters [INDUSTRY INFILTRATION]
Best TV/Film Soundtracks
The Greatest Showman: Reimagined
Black Panther
Insecure - Season 3
Atlanta - Season 2
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
A Star Is Born
Can Cowboys Cry (Harry Hudson)
2019 Predictions
Top Female Artists To Watch
Top Male Artists To Watch
Pink Sweat$
Top Bands To Watch
LOONA
Let’s Eat Grandma
Calpurnia
The Aces
Most Anticipated Tours
Jungle
Taking Back Sunday - 20th Anniversary Tour
Joji - BALLADS 1 Tour
Wet x Kilo Kish
Ones To Watch Presents a Certain Swedish Songstress
The Aces - Waiting For You Tour
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE WHOLE TEAM
AT ONES TO WATCH!
Staff Who Contributed To This Article Includes:
Yasmin Damoui (Editor In Chief)
Maxamillion Polo (Lead Writer)
Green Lee (Social Media Coordinator)
Jenna Singer (Artist Coordinator)
David O’Connor (Artist Development VP)
Alexa Schoenfeld (Los Angeles Booker)
Malcolm J. Gray (Social Media Manager)
Kathryn O’Leary (Writer)
Jessica Thomas (Writer)
Tatiana Goldman (Writer)
Sean Kayden (Writer)
Chuck Ramos (Writer)
Anna Scholfield (Writer)
Skyler Barberio (Photographer)
