There’s nothing quite like the rush of connecting with a great new artist — especially ahead of the pack — but they’re not always easy to find. Music’s increasing DIY culture has left the market saturated with bands and soloists gunning for the big-time, making it that much more difficult for newcomers to breakout. Nonetheless, there are a host of young musicians who won’t take no for an answer, and whether you prefer R&B or EDM, we’ve found the emerging artists worth your streams and friends’ fandom. Sounds like teen spirit.
Mallrat
It should come as no surprise that this dream-pop idol hailing from down under is quickly on the rise. Mallrat, AKA Grace Shaw, broke out on the Brisbane bar circuit before she was even old enough to drink, booking small shows until she became a festival regular and began opening for international acts on their world tours (hi, Post Malone!). The 20-year-old solidified her presence with her 2018 EP, In The Sky, which, like her previous offering, outlines the highs and lows of the teen experience — disillusionment with romance, trends, and parties — all over catchy, synth-punctuated melodies.
Lennon Stella
Considering she had her path to stardom routed from the womb, you best believe Lennon Stella is up next. Heading out on her own after a successful run with her sister, Maisy (the two girls scored roles on hit show Nashville as pre-adolescents), the 18-year-old is all grown up and ready to claim her own spotlight. Late last year, she segued from a successful single with One Direction-alum Liam Payne to her debut solo offering, Love, Me, a sultry, electro-R&B-pop mix — a far cry from her country roots. Do yourself a favor and pop “Breakaway” on repeat.
Kailee Morgue
It’s the stuff of urban folklore. In early 2017, Kailee Morgue, an 18-year-old from Arizona, posted a small snippet of a song she’d composed to Twitter. “I apologize for my voice cracking and the unflattering angles but here's something I'm working on,” she [captioned](https://www.thefader.com/2017/10/12/kailee-morgue-medusa-tweet] the clip. Within hours, the evocative “Medusa” had gone viral. Morgue is now finding her feet in the pop sphere with a series of singles and features. And this is just the beginning.
Whethan
Given the pair are close collaborators, following Morgue with Whethan feels only appropriate. The producer-DJ, born Ethan Snoreck, is only 19 — famously taking time off his tour with The Chainsmokers to attend his high school graduation. His trademark muted-dubstep-meets-trap-house has since caught the attention of EDM god Skrillex, featured on the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack with Dua Lipa, and garnered significant praise for his first extended output, Life of a Wallflower Vol. 1. You’re going to want to see him live, stat.
Isabelle Brown
It’s not everyday a 15-year-old draws comparisons to the late, great Amy Winehouse, so you can rest assured Isabelle Brown is very special. With a molten gold voice — mature far beyond her years — it won’t be long until the old-heads hang their hopes on this Brighton-native as the future of soul. You’re going to immediately stream, save, and download Brown’s debut EP (which just came out on Feb. 7), or you can satiate your appetite for the teen dream with her new single “What U Waiting 4.”
Sachi
In case you needed more proof that confidence is key, then the fact an 18-year-old EDM duo from New Zealand threw their USB stick into Diplo’s car via an open window (later to be played on BBC Radio 1) should do the trick. The pair, comprised of Nick Chrisp and Will Thomas, have since become regulars on the festival circuit and with their y2K-influenced electro-pop, are unquestionably coming for the crown of fellow Southern Hemisphere sensation, Flume. Their latest track, “Hollywood Angel” is an undeniable bop, likely signaling a follow up to their stellar 2016 project. Check out their newest release, "Worst Behaviour."
Maggie Lindemann
Bursting onto the scene with her smash hit, “Pretty Girl,” 20-year-old Texan Maggie Lindemann is a young musician to watch. With a voice built for bubblegum pop, Lindemann has more recently carved her niche by adding edge to her sound with haunting melodies and lyrics addressing sobriety, insecurity, and lost love. “Would I”, her latest, ponders the meaning of life over a catchy downbeat, indicating we might soon be treated to an album on which Lindemann fully finds herself.
Ruel
Dreams don’t come close to Elton John claiming you have the “most amazing voice [he’s] ever heard,” but for British-born Australian singer Ruel it’s just another day. The 17-year-old has toured with Khalid, collaborated with Goldlink and opened the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Not to mention his ascension to full heartthrob status with a Leo-circa-1997 cut. It’s only a matter of time before his atmospheric vocals take him all the way to the top.
Petit Biscuit
It’s so remarkable that French DJ/producer powerhouse, Petit Biscuit AKA Mehdi Benjelloun, is only freshly 19 that'll it make you wonder what you're doing with your life. The electro-house genius hit the big time with his eponymous debut EP in 2016, quickly followed by his smash album, Presence. Currently, he’s embarking on a mini Northern Hemisphere tour, you know, just to kick off the new year. Thankfully, Benjelloun has been alluding to a new full-length project on Instagram, so we’ll definitely be seeing a lot more of him in 2019.
IV Jay
There aren’t many young artists that truly embody the word “prodigy,” but there’s no other way to describe IV Jay. The soon-to-be 17-year-old New Jersey-native started gaining traction on Instagram with her syrupy covers of pop classics, which she quickly followed with her sensual R&B single condemning clout chasers and desperate boys who can’t take a hint, “Thirsty,” and her flawless debut offering IV. Think Kelela-meets-SZA — you’re guaranteed to fall in love.
CB30
Every so often one country star beats the odds and crosses over into mainstream radio, but this year, there’s going to be two. Nashville duo CB30, brothers Christian and Brody Clementi, have all the makings of the next big boy band, what with their achingly sweet take on romance and catchy tracks. The pair were slated to release their debut album last year, so you can bet 2019 is going to be a big year for them.
Gus Dapperton
Genre-bending artist, Gus Dapperton (real name Brendan Rice), should undoubtedly be the soundtrack to your 2019 summer. While he already had us at his iconic bowl-cut and experimental eyeliner, it’s the singer’s output that will keep you coming back. A cross between Spooky Black and the Beach Boys interweaved with '80s influences, Dapperton’s sound is both unique and instantly accessible. The 20-year-old New Jersey native is still in college, but is taking time off to tour his 2018 EP, You Think You’re a Comic! in Europe this year. He's currently working on his upcoming album Where Polly People Go To Read, which drops on April 19. Check out his singles "My Favorite Fish" and "World Class Cinema."
Boy Pablo
You only need one track to go viral to kick off a stratospheric rise, just ask Boy Pablo. The Norwegian indie-rock band, fronted by 19-year-old singer Nicolás Pablo Rivera Muñoz and featuring his former classmates, only had several thousand views on their breakout hit “Everytime” before it exploded overnight. It’s now at 16 million views. With the release of their respective EPs, [Roy Pablo[(https://open.spotify.com/album/1D3JNjKm7QRaHcIBzv0Xdn) in 2017 and Soy Pablo late last year, Boy Pablo just keep proving they’re worth your while.
Oshi
Leading the new generation of dance artists is Oshi, the producer who has worked with everyone from Justin Timberlake to Justin Bieber (how much do you love “All That Matters”?), and Skrillex to Diplo. He also scored a co-sign from Lorde at just 17. It’s been a long three years since the Londoner has released a project, but considering the success of his mid-2018 single, “Red Roses,” it’s only a matter of time before we’re treated to another Oshi-special.
Angela Aguilar
Most artists work decades before receiving a Grammy nod, but Mexican-American Angela Aguilar managed to score one of those bad boys at just 15. Aguilar, who sings primarily in Spanish, is intent on changing the gender imbalance in the music industry and already topping Latin charts. If this wasn’t enough, the breakout hit “La Llorona” from her 2018 album Primero Soy Mexicana has since garnered tens of millions of views — indicating a bright future for the Californian.
Ravyn Lenae
The future has arrived, and it looks a lot like Ravyn Lenae. The 19-year-old Chicago native’s sound has been described as “neo-soul” but it’s more akin to ethereal disco — an amalgam of hip hop, jazz, and electro. “Sticky,” the first track from her recent EP, Crush, is bound to leave you weak at the knees, and is steadily climbing in streams. It’s the type of sound you’d expect of pre-midnight Studio 54, and certainly worth the $300 she forked out as a high school sophomore for her first studio session.
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