It's always great discovering new talent and seeing inevitable growth in artists who have been around but really have turned it up several levels seemingly all of a sudden. Here are the artists this year that pleased me the most:
TOP OF THE CLASS:
Genesis Owusu: it must be great to grow up in a musical family and working towards the type of seamless, multiple-genre stunner that is his debut SMILING WITH NO TEETH. Not surprisingly, it won him 4 awards at this year's ARIA show, including Album of the Year. Owusu, who is still only 23, has a bright future ahead of him and I can't wait for future releases.
the best of the rest (in no particular order)...:
Lia Ices: making quiet waves yet those waves are so beautiful in their simplicity.
Remi Wolf: she just looks like fun and her energetic, feminist pop is even better, with its similarity to Santi White and Tune-Yards.
Odette: so many introspective women released heartbreak albums this year and Odette gave up probably the best.
Jon Batiste: long in the industry but when he stepped out solo, a new Batiste was unveiled and all we can say collectively is thank God!
Julien Baker: another artist who took it up another notch during the pandemic isolation.
Japanese Breakfast: rightfully recognized by the Grammys, Michelle Zauner is stepping out serenely and proud.
Clairo: Claire Cottrill, aka Clairo is a quiet storm and now she is raging with blissful pop.
Mick Jenkins: rap has found some new-found steady footing with his emergence.
Snail Mail: Lindsey Jordan is low-key the queen of queer sad truth tales as of this year!
Wolf Alice: fronted by Ellie Rowsell, the band has been gathering momentum for years now and this was the breakout year.
Billie Marten: the precocious Brit made the grade this year and she's still only 22!
