January 16, 2014
For the first time ever, we've pinpointed artists emerging within our Zeitgeist data.
The two qualifiers: this was their first time on the year's most-blogged list, and they've yet to release a full length LP. Tracks are paired here with select words from some of their reviews. Read more about it here.
GEMS.
GEMS is a duo hailing from Washington, D.C. who have a gorgeous dream-pop vibe. They are easily one of my favourites in 2013 and I wouldn't be surprised to see them really make it big in 2014.
— Hearty Vibes
GEMS. - Oh Yoko!
Fuzzy LogicFollow “Pulp gave the world the song "Bad Cover Version." But seeing as I'm a sonic optimist, I'm of the belief…” on May 31st, 2018 →
Sir Sly
The LA pop trio have all the makings of super star status, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens very soon. Hip hop beats and sleek vocals blended through spotless production, providing us with ear candy of the sweetest degree.
— The Wild Honey Pie
Sir Sly - High
surviving the golden ageFollow “30. CFM “Rise and Fall” Charles Moothart may be better known for his work with Ty Segall and Mikal Cronin…” on Dec 28th, 2017 →
Bondax
The dynamic duo, Adam Kaye and George Townsend, have been been taking the Blogosphere by storm with their delicately produced and melodically beautiful garage sound.
— Salacious Sound
Bondax - Journey (Club Mix)
acid stagFollow “Put your headphones on and crank up the volume for this week’s Single Sessions selection 🎧🎶 The post Single Sessions…” on Mar 13th →
BANKS.
Banks makes seductive, sultry electronic soul music that joins the dots between The Weeknd, Jessie Ware and James Blake. It’s all dark synths and nocturnal beats, it’s music to shed clothes to, it’s music of the twinkling sophisticated city, ready to lure you into bed.
— Breaking More Waves
BANKS. - Skinnydipped
acid stagFollow “Following on from her critically acclaimed single 'The Devil' earlier this year, BANKS continues to amaze us with her bold…” on Aug 29th, 2021 →
SOHN
SOHN: dark, disturbing and gaining momentum like a wheel on a hill.
— repeatbutton
SOHN - Caves
Punch MagazineFollow “Presença assídua nas showcases mensais da BBC Radio 1, o produtor e compositor inglês Christopher Taylor aka SOHN para além…” on Dec 20th, 2014 →
Woman's Hour
The four-piece originally started as a jangly guitar-pop band before retreating for a couple of years to concentrate on songwriting and recording. The result is a handful of meticulously crafted songs built upon airy keyboards, a drum machine, and shimmering guitars released throughout last year that seem to prove doing so was a right move. For this year Woman’s Hour has plans to release a debut album on Secretly Canadian – we’re holding our breaths.
— Unrecorded
Woman's Hour - Luke
glamglareFollow ““Conversations” the debut album by U.K. trio Woman’s Hour was one of my favorite albums in 2014. There was silence…” on Feb 6th, 2019 →
Say Lou Lou
Elektra and Miranda Kilbey, the twin sisters known collectively as Say Lou Lou, are some of our favorite Swedes. Their dreamy pop landed the duo a collaboration with Chet Faker, and their cover of Tame Impala‘s “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” cemented their status as songwriters flexible enough to make music that can function as a morning wake-up or a lullaby.
— Pigeons and Planes
Say Lou Lou - Waiting for a Boy
acid stagFollow “Swedish/Australian twin-sister-duo Say Lou Lou return after a 3-year hiatus with the beautifully dreamy sounds of new single 'Waiting for…” on Jan 24th, 2023 →
Little Daylight
Brooklyn-based trio Little Daylight is next on the list of synth-pop hopefuls, right beside my other faves like St. Lucia, CHVRCHES, Haerts, Ellie Goulding, and deservingly so.
— Pop Labyrinth
Little Daylight - Let's Dance
Dots & DashesFollow “David Bowie’s Let’s Dance is, it goes without saying, one of those incessantly (re)interpreted numbers that, no sooner has it…” on Sep 15th, 2014 →
Wolf Alice
Ever since we were sent ‘Fluffy’, a sweet slice of American-infused garage rock at the beginning of the year we’ve had these guys on repeat, as they continue to show more sides to their sound with each new track they upload.
— When The Gramophone Rings
Wolf Alice - No Hard Feelings
Beautiful Song Of The WeekFollow “http://www.beautifulsongoftheweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Wolf-Alice-No-Hard-Feelings-Lyrics-Video.mp3 There is no shortage of breakup songs in the pop universe. Most of these focus on the most intense…” on Sep 18th, 2023 →
F Y F E
What started as a project with mystique has reached full actualisation; with each track shared, Lyre’s venture has gradually seen an unveiling of charming and sophisticated pop music, priming Paul Dixon for grandiose heights.
— The Schoole of Abuse
f y f e - St Tropez
HillydillyFollow “It’s been about two years since Paul Dixon (Fyfe) started his musical project we now know and love. He was…” on Mar 9th, 2015 →
Du Tonc
Du Tonc exploded onto the scene with their debut single “Darkness,” which has since done over half a million plays on soundcloud. This heady disco-tinged partnership (Van Schie + Mighty Mouse) came about during a chance encounter in the basement of the smoky Parisian ‘Social Club’ where both were playing back in 2010 and as they say, the rest is history.
— Kick Kick Snare
Du Tonc - In My Mind feat. Vania
umstrum||musicFollow “With the final touches being put to their debut album (available in the first half of 2019) Du Tonc treat…” on Feb 11th, 2019 →
Mikky Ekko
Mikky Ekko, the handsome Southern crooner who recently hit the charts with his Rihanna collab “Stay,” has the sort of voice that is exactly two notches above James Blunt-esque. Right where he needs to be.
— J(am) of the Day
Mikky Ekko - Not The One
Indie ObsessiveFollow “The lineup for Outside Lands was announced yesterday and 3-day passes hit the market tomorrow. Music followers know the headliners…” on Apr 4th, 2018 →
Laura Welsh
Sitting alongside the likes of Jessie Ware in the sensual, late-night soundtrackers of the year, Laura Welsh utilises her seductive vocals to pour out above the pristine RnB-inspired production. Welsh deserves to a massive break-through 2014.
— The Line Of Best Fit
Laura Welsh - Atomised
Going SoloFollow “Originally featured in the soundtrack to motion picture Fallen, the latest release by London songstress Laura Welsh is simply breathtaking.…” on Apr 12th, 2018 →
Panama
This time, simplicity is bliss. Love can change us for the better, love can be kind, maybe, I’ll believe it at least when listening to Sydney's Panama. This isn’t new stuff, but this is easy stuff. Another 2013 example of a cathedral-style song that leaves you feeling a little fuller, a little more complete.
— All Things Go
Panama - The Highs
umstrum||musicFollow “Panama is the moniker of Sydney-based electronic pop producer Jarrah McCleary. His most recent EP, Hope For Something, is another…” on Dec 7th, 2017 →
Josef Salvat
This Aussie nevers plays a show without suiting up, a great habit that matches his chique pop sound. It hops from here to there and feels so big yet so simple at the same moment. Gifted with a great voice and down-to-earth approach, Josef Salvat is set to win over that same earth with his sound. We’re particular excited for the song(s) he wrote with Justin Parker (Lana Del Rey, Bat For Lashes, Rihanna, etc).
— disco naïveté
Josef Salvat - Honey on the Tongue
Teases and DaresFollow “Flying into pole position for album of the year is Josef Salvat and his fantastic collection of bops, bangers and…” on Feb 21st, 2022 →
HAERTS
Reminiscent of how Zola Jesus’s singing hypnotizes the listener, Fabi’s voice lifts Haerts’ synth-heavy, Fleetwood Mac-esque pop songs to vertigo-inducing heights.
— Gimme Indie
HAERTS - Days Go By
Digital HighFollow “In the final stretch of their Dream Nation rollout [out 5/21], HAERTS release last preview and Summer anthem “Days Go…” on May 19th, 2021 →
SAM SMITH
"Sam Smith has won the BBC’s Sound of 2014 poll, and after already having the fifth biggest selling single in the UK in 2013 with LA La La, his collaboration with Naughty Boy, 2014 is looking huge for the 21-year-old.
— The Blue Walrus
SAM SMITH - Unholy +1 remix
Silence NogoodFollow “More than music this year, web3 has been what I’ve chosen/had to immerse myself in to pay the bills, including…” on Jan 8th, 2023 →
Movement
Describing their music as “minimal soul”, the Australian trio is influenced by ’90s R&B, as well as a number of more recent acts, including The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and The xx. They have just signed to Modular (Tame Impala, POND, Cut Copy) and have unveiled their debut single “Feel Real”, a seductive late-night jam with Jamie XX-esque production and sultry R&B vocals.
— alltomorrowmusic
Movement - Lace
umstrum||musicFollow “Sydney’s minimal electro outfit Movement has just shared a demo of one of the songs they worked on for their…” on Jan 1st, 2016 →
MØ
For Danish electro-pop act Karen Marie Ørsted, a.k.a. MØ, 2013 was a whirlwind of buzz-worthy success... Now, her debut full-length — recorded and produced by No Wav’s Ronni Vindahl in Copenhagen — is poised not only to put both MØ and her appetite for pulverizing, unconventional anthems on the map, but on a path towards a more permanent stay beyond the fleeting, flavor-of-the-month hype.
— Consequence of Sound
MØ - Live to Survive
She Makes MusicFollow “Track of the Week: ‘Live to Survive’ by MØ Nordic pop auteur MØ returns with new single ‘Live To Survive’.…” on May 30th, 2021 →
Once a week, Stack delivers a mix of the most interesting new music on the web, handpicked by the Hype Machine team. Here's a recent mix.