The Blossom, 454, 2hollis and Other Artists You Should Be Listening to in 2021

March 2, 2021 - With contributions from Jack Wensky

If 2021 went perfectly my way, right now, I would be general admission at a Travis Scott concert letting some random, sweaty preteen push me around during NO BYSTANDERS and it would be awesome.

Unfortunately it doesn’t seem that 2021 is going to go perfectly my way, or perfectly anyone's way for that matter. If we still can't go to concerts, dirty basement shows and house parties, the least we can do is listen to new music and work to curate our post-covid live music bucket lists. As we enter the third month of the year, we begin to see new artists emerging into the spotlight and rapid, sudden growth of those who began the year relatively unknown. I’ve compiled a list of artists that I'm most excited to follow this year, and that I think you would be foolish not to follow as well. With streaming numbers rising and the return back to normal life in sight, 2021 is going to be an incredibly important year for breakthrough artists, and this is who I think you should be listening to.

The Blossom

LA-based The Blossom had a compelling 2020, with 4 Spotify singles and a mysterious “Dear Diary” video that appeared on the Video Store Youtube, a developing record label project run by Kevin Abstract and Romil Hemnami of Brockhampton. The Blossom closed out 2020 with an infectious cover of “MY EX” by Baby Keem, and entered the new year with her first single under the Video Store label, “Hardcore Happy.” There's something about The Blossom’s music that makes you feel like you’ve already heard it before. It's genreless and upbeat and mysteriously nostalgic, it’s Alanis Morissette in a poppy Charli XCX dream world, and I can't wait to see what this year has in store for them.

454

454, also known as sqvxlls, only had one song released under his project 454 on Spotify at the close of 2020, but with that one single being the energetic, gradually down pitched “LATE NIGHT,” one was more than enough. With a high pitched voice reminiscent of Playboi Carti, melodic trap beats and a signature song structure where the vocals gradually shift down octaves throughout the tracks, 454’s unique style is already beginning to cement itself, apparent in his two newest singles of 2021, “FACE TIME” and “ANDRETTI.”

2hollis

Infectious and jarring, 17 year old 2hollis’ high octave, grainy vocals and heavily synthesized tracks punch with the same electric, high wave charm of big names in this genreless trap, edm, hyperpop fusion movement like Bladee and Dylan Brady. 2hollis is yet to release a Spotify single in 2021 thus far, but he has made up for it with multiple new tracks on SoundCloud and a vast and impressive back catalogue. Stand alones like “See Me” and “I’m Doing Alright” are both abrasive and infectious, uncomfortable and humorous. With his age and his unique style on his side, he has immense room to grow. It will be interesting to see if he will release any longer form projects this year, or continue to stick with high energy, experimental one-offs.

Geskle

With his first 3 song EP, Rose Colored Glasses, dropping in July of last year and quickly climbing towards a million combined streams, Geskle, based out of MA, is the dreamy, indie, “late night drive with your friends” music of your dreams. With the airy catchiness of Tame Impala and the DIY spirit of your favorite local indie band, Geskle is gearing up for another year to remember, with a single hopefully dropping early this year.

Ajhani Azure

20 year old Ajhani from Brampton, Ontario, is working to push the boundaries of pop music and secure himself in the first tide of a new wave of genre-defying artists from Toronto. After the 2020 release of his soulful, RnB-pop fusion self produced single “Alone,” there has been a clear shift in the way his music is blossoming. As the year progressed he took the reins of his own production, and has continued to produce every following song himself. Growing not only as a producer but also vocally, his goals for 2021 are ambitious and determined, with his first EP Bleach in the works.

Body Meat

Body Meat, the genre defying project by Christopher Taylor is like 100 gecs for people that go to bed at a reasonable hour. With the sporadic bluntness of JPEGMAFIA paired with smooth, neutral vocals and a charming offbeat rhythm, Body Meat is erratically experimental in all the best ways. Body Meat began the year with the single, “ULTIMA,” and is beginning to tease YEAR OF THE ORC, Body Meat’s next EP which is set to release on April 6th, kicking off another impressive year for the unique project

Maude Latour

College student by day, pop star by night-- 21 year old Maude Latour is studying at Columbia University while simultaneously making jumpy pop music reminiscent of icons like Lorde with all the relatable qualities and energetic zest needed to strike gold. Maude started the year off with “Walk Backwards,” a perfect love ballad about none other than her best friend (why haven’t any of my friends written songs about me yet?). Pop anthems such as “One More Weekend” and the support of her loyal Instagram and TikTok following have worked to propel her into her rapidly growing stardome, and landed her spots on coveted Spotify curated playlists like “Indie Pop” and “Lorem.” 

Honorable mentions

Yawning Portal

• Make You Happy Housefire - euphoric experimental electronic

Sean Leon

• South of France Freestyle - experimental hip-hop

Dean Blunt

• Chancer - experimental electronic / hip hop

Jim-E Stack

• Sweat Summer Sweat (feat. Dijon) - alternative r&b / vapor house / indie

Aubrey Omari

• Aston Martin - underground hip hop

Slayyyter

• Touch my body - electropop

Can’t wait to start listening? Jump right in HERE !