ARTISTS TO BREAK IN 2015

It may be hard to believe, but 2014 is almost over and it’s time to stop being “all about that bass” (sorry, I had to slip that in somewhere) and move on from anything that features Ariana Grande or Taylor Swift (1989 was pretty darn good though). But luckily your pals here at BitCandy have your back and put together a list of awesome new artists that are going to be blowing up the blogosphere in 2015. So grab some headphones (or actually, just put this stuff on blast—who cares!) and read on to get a head start on your future playlists.

RAURY

Atlanta’s Raury may only be 18 years old, but it’s already pretty clear that the singer-songwriter-rapper is destined for big things in this coming year. He lists everyone from Andre 3000, Bon Iver, and Frank Ocean as influences, and you can totally hear his indie rock meets hip-hop style in his music. “God’s Whisper” is the first single off of his upcoming debut EP, Indigo Whisper, and it’s a powerful anthem about youth. It’s an acoustic guitar-driven track that’s full of hand claps and gang vocals that will have you singing along in no time with this genre-bending new artist.

ARIEL PINK (the hit songwriter for other artists!)

Ariel Pink may already be an established artist (he definitely made a name for himself in 2014 with his controversial comments and critically acclaimed album, pom pom,) but now he’s becoming a popular song writer for all of pop’s “it” girls. Having written songs for Charlie XCX (“London Queen,”) Sky Ferreira (“My Molly,”) Azealia Banks (“Nude Beach A-Go-Go,”) and even Madonna, I think it’s safe to say that 2015 will totally be his year for co-writing chart toppers.

SOKO

French singer-songwriter Stephanie Sokolinski, aka Soko, first got some attention earlier this year when her song “We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow” appeared in the viral video, “First Kiss.” (You know—it was the black and white short of strangers kissing for the first time that everyone was posting all over FaceBook for what seemed like forever.) But 2015 is definitely going to be her year, as she has a new album coming out (which she performed at her recent -sometimes topless- show at the Bootleg Theater) and it’s full of power pop-punk with a dark over tone that has a Robert Smith/Violent Femmes vibe.

MACHINEHEART

Los Angeles indie-pop band, Machineheart, are bound to blow up next year as they just signed with Columbia Records and are creating buzz with their catchy new single, “Circle.” Lead singer Stevie Scott is wonderfully lanky and Taylor Swift-ish (but cooler) and will have the Tumblr crowd swooning in no time. “Circles” is an undeniable pop hit with a catchy hook that will be stuck in heads everywhere.

SOPHIE/QT

Similar to Ariel Pink, we believe SOPHIE will totally emerge in 2015 as a hit maker, writing infectious chart toppers for other artists. He already made a splash (along with A.G. Cook) in 2014 with QT’s adorably infectious track, “Hey QT” and his own quirky and catchy jam, “Hard (Out Of Numbers).” I think it’s safe to say that we’ll be hearing a lot more from both QT and SOPHIE in very near future.

LAPSLEY

Holly Lapsley Fletcher, aka Låpsley, is an English producer and songwriter who blew everyone away with her debut track, “Station.” The stripped down track oozes emotion, and the 17 year old effortlessly created a duet by pitching down her own voice (it’s seriously impressive!—I was completely fooled at first in thinking it was a male vocalist). Featuring her naturally smoky vocals and subtle electronic elements, it’s clear that Låpsley has a knack for production and songwriting that will totally put her on the map.

FMLYBND

FMLYBND has been creating some serious online-buzz with hits like “Electricity” and “Come Alive” (which has nearly a half million YouTube views), but surprisingly is still unsigned to a label. I know, we’re shocked too. But we’re sure that will change next year as their synth-pop sound is truly infectious and loaded with hooks that are ready to be added to radio rotations everywhere (as well as your playlists.)

BIG FREEDIA

Big Freedia has been the queen of bounce music for over 10 years now and shows no signs of stopping. We think that she’s just one feature or co-write (or “the right look”) away from exploding and bringing New Orleans Bounce music to the charts. Her live shows are definitely something you do not want to miss (we’re still recovering from her insane show at the Echoplex!) Oh and by the way—if you haven’t yet, make sure to check out the Big Freedia Twerk App that lets you actually tweak with Big Freedia and her dancers! Seriously— https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitcandy.twerkapp&hl=en

DOG ORCHESTRA

Stockholm duo, Dog Orchestra, are making some Leonard Cohen meets male Lorde electronic-indie jams with big, sweeping choruses for 2015. Check them out now while they still only have 63 followers because that’s about to change— we just signed them! (Sorry other record labels, we beat ya to it!) Their music is packed with warm electronic elements and brooding vocals that create an awesomely dramatic and enchanting sound.

MADE IN HEIGHTS

Producer Sabzi and vocalist Kelsey Bulkin are making dreamy electronic sounds under the name Made In Heights that are sure fill your 2015 playlists. Their breakout track, “Murakami” features a drum machine beat, mellow tropical electronic elements, and an abrasive break down around the 2:30 to keep things interesting. They are known to put on a great live show that even includes choreography, so I’d be sure to put them on your “must see” list for next year.

AYER

Brooklyn-based duo, Ayer (the project of producer Mickey Valen and singer Danny Schmittler) are definitely the guys to call to help get your NYE parties started. Their track “Circle Down” features some unique breathy vocals, 80’s-inspired synths, and electronic elements that are both soothing and upbeat at the same time.

IBEYI

French-Cuban twin sisters Lisa-Kainde and Naomi Diaz are going to be all the rage with their musical project, Ibeyi (which means “twins” in Yoruba #funfact). They sing in both English and Yoruba over strategically crafted electronic elements that create something truly fresh and original. Their single “River” has been creating some buzz with its sparse instrumentation and their soothing vocals, as well as their cool but unsettling video for the track that features the twins being held underwater.

-

Hopefully that puts you ahead of the curve and allows you to kick off 2015 in style. Happy New Year!

About Erin Crider

Erin Crider eats, breathes, and sleeps pop culture. If you have a question about a one-hit wonder from the ‘90s or need help remembering lines from a SNL skit, she’s your girl. When she isn’t lurking the internet, she's either going to a show or hanging out at Disneyland. Erin lives in Southern California and has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Cal State Long Beach.