Photo: Molly Shannon in Superstar
Drum roll please…presenting Ones To Watch’s top artists to watch in the coming year. While all of our artists are remarkably talented in their own right, the following 20 were chosen on the basis of musical quality, fan appeal, and mostly importantly, an expectation (and hope) for active recognition and success in 2017, both in the digital and live spaces.
By the same token, we want to hear from you! Email your top Ones To Watch to contact@onestowatch.com, and your favorite artist just might get featured on the site next year.
Cheers & Happy Holidays!
Allan Rayman
Genre: R&B
Sounds Like: No one else, really
Feels Like: Being trapped in the darkest depths of your own psyche
Aminé
Genre: Hip hop, Rap
Sounds Like: GoldLink, D.R.A.M., Vic Mensa
Feels Like: Going on a bumpy, drug-fueled hayride through a banana grove
Anderson East
Genre: Americana, Southern Soul
Sounds Like: Parker Millsap, Sturgill Simpson, St. Paul And The Broken Bones
Feels Like: Drinking age old bourbon at a bar in the Wild West
Bibi Bourelly
Genre: R&B, Soul
Sounds Like: Rihanna, Alessia Cara, Andra Day
Feels Like: Coming into your own as a independent female in a male-dominated environment
Billie Eilish
Genre: Pop, Electronic
Sounds Like: AURORA, Lapsley, Lana Del Rey
Feels Like: The tiny butterflies that tickled your insides the first time you laid eyes on your middle school crush
CLAY
Genre: R&B, Soul
Sounds Like: Lauryn Hill, India.Arie, Corinne Bailey Rae
Feels Like: Discovering your true soul through the re-manifestation of a youthful spirit
Daniel Caesar
Genre: R&B, Soul
Sounds Like: Abhi//Dijon, Majid Jordan, The Weeknd
Feels Like: The mental soundtrack to the best you ever had
Dua Lipa
Genre: Pop
Sounds Like: Jessie Ware, Sia, Alessia Cara
Feels Like: Crushing on the prettiest girl in school and then finding out she has a great personality too
Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
Genre: Indie-Rock, Folk
Sounds Like: Fitz and the Tantrums, Car Seat Headrest, The Walkmen
Feels Like: A divorced cowboy’s confident road to recovery
Jorja Smith
Genre: R&B, Soul
Sounds Like: Lauryn Hill, NAO, Sinéad Harnett
Feels Like: A lullaby for the gods, with a political undertone
LÉON
Genre: Indie, Pop
Sounds Like: Broods, Phoebe Ryan, MØ
Feels Like: A colossal middle finger to that ex who did you wrong
Lewis Del Mar
Genre: Alternative, Experimental
Sounds Like: Foals, Owen Rabbit, Bishop Briggs
Feels Like: Oceans waves crashing into the city skyline
Maggie Rogers
Genre: Folk, Pop
Sounds Like: Banks, Låpsley, Wet
Feels Like: Falling in love in a sensational daydream
Maségo
Genre: Hip hop, Jazz, Electronic
Sounds Like: Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Goldlink
Feels Like: Grinding with the class clown at prom…and enjoying it
Michl
Genre: Electronic, R&B
Sounds Like: James Blake, Chet Faker, James Vincent McMorrow
Feels Like: Re-evaluating your existential purpose in the cosmos
Noname
Genre: Hip hop, Rap
Sounds Like: Chance the Rapper, Isaiah Rashad, Earl Sweatshirt
Feels Like: The scent of single rose growing in a bush of thorns
Rafferty
Genre: Blues, Rock
Sounds Like: Barns Courtney, Dorothy, Kaleo
Feels Like: The mental soundtrack to a suave gigolo’s morning routine
Skott
Genre: Pop, Indie
Sounds Like: Lorde, Bloodboy, Feist
Feels Like: Getting lost in a magical enchanted forest
Tom Misch
Genre: Jazz, Soul
Sounds Like: Erykah Badu, Moses Sumney, Sampha
Feels Like: Moonwalking through a ‘40s jazz bar
Whilk & Misky
Genre: Electronic, Folk
Sounds Like: HONNE, Raury, Josef Salvat
Feels Like: A gallant alien trekking The Oregon Trail
