It’s the start of a new year and a new decade and that means new music is coming. Start out 2020 on the right note with some new artists that you may or may not have heard. Some of these artists helped to define my 2019, and I’m all about sharing the good vibes. As someone who listens to music 24/7, I love to discover new people and new sounds, so here are 10 artists that I think you should look out for in 2020.
UPSAHL
Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, Taylor Upsahl, better known as UPSAHL is one of the people you need to keep on your radar for 2020. Her latest single 'Smile for the Camera' is the perfect mix of pop-rock. She is a multi-talented musician who I got the chance to see last year. She has an amazing stage presence and was able to keep the crowd rocking the entire time. She also has a vibrant fashion sense and her music parallels this. I honestly love all of her music, but if you’ve never heard her, I’d suggest listening to 'All My Friends Are Rich,' 'Drugs,' and 'Kiss Me Now' to start off. I guarantee you’ll fall in love with her music.
Valley
Valley truly made my 2019, and I don’t say this lightly. They have the kind of music that can bring people together and make them smile and dance. Hailing from Ontario, Canada, this group gained traction after being the opener for Lennon Stella and then the Band CAMINO. They have a similar vibe to flor and COIN and they have an amazing sound. Each member of the group is so talented and the way they sound is truly mesmerizing. Their album MAYBE came out in September 2019 and you should definitely add it to your playlist. If you’re not familiar, I suggest listening to 'There’s Still a Light in the House,' 'Park Bench,' 'Sports Car,' 'A Phone Call in Amsterdam,' and then listen to the entire album. You won’t regret it.
Christian French
Christian French is one of the artists that defined my 2020. Christian is originally from Indiana, and I discovered him when he played as an opener for Quinn XCII back in March 2019. He quite easily became one of my favorite artists. Christian has a vibe that reminds me of Lauv and Jeremy Zucker. He also has a very happy sound that is fun to listen to. Christian puts so much passion into his songs and he is truly one of the kindest artists. His newest EP, bright side of the moon is all about looking on the bright side of life and embracing the moments that come along with it. His song 'hungover sunday' reminds me of those lazy summer mornings spent relaxing and enjoying the good vibes. If you’ve never listened to Christian’s music, I’d start with 'breaking all the rules,' 'bright side of the moon,' 'head first,' and 'By Myself.' You’ll feel the passion he puts into his music and it’ll stick to you. His new song 'time of our lives' is set to drop on 1/17 and I’m definitely looking forward to it.
Stephen Puth
You may recognize the last name of #4, Stephen Puth is the brother of popular singer Charlie Puth. Originally from New Jersey, Stephen is a songwriter and now an artist. Musical talent definitely runs in this family. Stephen definitely has his own vibes when it comes to music and he actually has written music for a variety of popular artists such as The Vamps, Pretty Much and even Jack & Jack. Stephen released his first single 'Sexual Vibe' in early 2019 and has gone on to release a few different songs including his most recent song, 'Crying My Eyes Out,' which he released in November 2019. Stephen has catchy energy that differs from his brother and gives him a unique sound. My favorite song he has released is definitely 'Half Gone.' Listen to all 3 of those and then get back to me later, you won’t regret it.
Jake Miller
You may or may not know him, but Jake Miller is someone to keep on your radar for 2020. I saw him open up for Hoodie Allen’s 2019 Whatever USA Tour and he has such energy. I remember him blowing up on YouTube back in early 2013 when he released his album Us Against Them. Jake has gone on to create so much more music since then and his recent EP SUMMER 19 has a great vibe to it. My favorite tracks from it are 'COULD’VE BEEN YOU,' '15 MINUTES,' and 'LAST TEXT' (all specifically written with capital letters). Jake is a great performer and creates such special energy with the crowds. At one point in the show, he got down to the middle of the crowd and opened up a massive dance party to his song 'Lion Heart.' My favorite songs from him are from his 2017 album 2:00am in LA. They include 'Parties,' 'Can’t Help Myself,' and 'Halfway' and they are definitely songs that can get you hyped up. I can’t wait to see what else Jake creates this year, he is a truly talented artist and I believe he’ll continue to go far.
half•alive
If you’re looking for a good alternative group, look no further than half•alive. The band is originally from Long Beach, California and their music is considered indie pop. They have a unique sound and a creative vision when it comes to sharing their vibes. I originally found them through their song 'The Fall' and slowly fell in love with their music after the release of their song ‘arrow’ in early 2019. They have an alternative catchy vibe that really exemplifies in their sound. The band has been around since 2017 and their debut album Not Now, released in mid-2019. Their music makes you want to get up and dance. If you’re looking where to start, I’d say listen to 'arrow' first, and then 'The Fall.' They have a different pace, but I enjoy both.
Ria Mae
The next artist on this list is one of my fave Canadian artists. She has such a unique voice and really shows her talent in her songs. Ria Mae’s most recent album Stars, which released in mid-2019, gave me a reason to rediscover her music. I’m a huge fan of the songs 'Not Your Type,' and 'Trixi' both from the album. Ria’s most recent song 'Too Close' with Dan Taleveski that released in October 2019 is for sure a song you need to listen to right away. While you’re at it, go and listen to 'Bend,' her unique mix of pop and alternative is definitely what you need this year.
Destiny Rogers
If you’re looking for some powerful woman energy, turn your speakers on and listen to Destiny Rogers. Originally from Lodi, California, Destiny is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Destiny made her mark by posting videos on her YouTube channel, she gained quite a bit of traction and then went on to release her single 'Tomboy' in mid-2019. She takes inspiration from Justin Bieber and gained attention from the record labels after posting covers of his songs. She has a powerful vibe to her music that showcases a sense of energy that more women should have. Just listen to 'Tomboy.' I had the chance to meet Destiny in 2019 and she has a badass vibe similar to Billie Eilish. She grew up as a skateboarder and keeps the energy in her music and her videos. Her newest song 'Euphoria' has electric pop energy that will definitely be a good addition to your playlists. Check out her Tomboy EP to discover some of her music, I recommend checking out 'TomBoy,' 'North$ide,' and 'Strong Ones' to start you out. I’m sure you’ll be hooked.
TWIN XL
While I was browsing Spotify one day, I came across the song 'Friends' by TWIN XL. Needless to say, I loved it. This trio from Los Angeles, California is the perfect mix of moody alternative pop. Sometimes you need some good alternative to brighten your day, and that’s definitely what their music does. 'Friends' is definitely my favorite, their new EP How To Talk to Strangers released in 2019 and I definitely think we will be hearing some new music from them soon.
Scott Helman
Scott Helman, originally from Toronto, Canada, is the final artist in this list. However, he is definitely someone you don’t want to miss. I was introduced to Scott in 2014 when he released his first song 'Bungalow.' Since then, he has gone on to release an EP, and 2 full-length albums called Augusta and Hotel DeVille. He is an incredible performer and puts so much of himself in his music. I had the chance to attend one of his shows, after being a fan for a few years, Scott was so energetic and had such a warm welcoming presence. He makes you feel like you’re front row even if you’re in the back, His most recent songs 'Everything
Sucks' and 'EVERGREEN' (which released at the end of 2019) showcase a new side of his music and I’m excited to see where it all goes in 2020. If you’re unfamiliar with his music, listen to 'Hang Ups,' 'Tikka,' 'Gaslight,' and 'Ripple Effect' first, I promise you it’s worth it.
I hope this article gave you some new artists to listen to that you may or may not have heard before. If you’ve listened to any of these artists, feel free to share some of your favorite songs with us!
Written by Mallory!
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