Artists to Watch for & Listen to in 2019

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

Music makes the world go round. For when you’re stressed and just want to relax, for when you’re sad and just want to simp, or for when you want to work out and get motivated — music helps with it all. It’s universal and inspiring. I have compiled a list of artists for every occasion — from parties to study sessions — and ones you should be on the lookout for 2019.

Still Woozy — alternative pop

If you were at Springfest, you may have seen Still Woozy perform live. I love listening to him when I’m studying or when I’m extremely stressed. His music is extremely calming and mellow. My favorites include “Goodie Bag,” “Habit,” and “Lucy.” His most recent release, which came out today, “Lava” is also a banger.

BROCKHAMPTON — hip hop, alternative hip hop, alt R&B

BROCKHAMPTON is one of those artists that is constantly breaking the barriers that separate disparate genres. They’re always experimenting with different sounds, pushing the boundaries and norms of conventional, alternative, and R&B music. They have some mellow ballad-like songs like “BLEACH” and “FACE,” but they also experiment with more aggressive upbeat tunes like “J’OUVERT” and “NEW ORLEANS.” Two of my personal favorites include “GOLD” and “SWEET.”

Amine — hip hop, alternative hip hop, trap

Amine has definitely been around for a while, most notably reaching popularity for his song “Caroline.” He has the perfect music for kickbacks and just hanging out with friends. His newest album, ONEPOINTFIVE, is completely full of bops and showcases a wide range of styles. From “Dr. Whoever” — a self-reflective and nostalgic R&B ballad — to “Chingy” — a catchy party anthem song — ONEPOINTFIVE is one of my favorite albums of this school year.

Rico Nasty — hip hop, trap, punk rap

I listened to Rico Nasty for the first time recently per my friends’ recommendations, and I have to say — with complete honesty — that it completely changed my life. If you’re looking for music from an empowering woman that makes you want to slap misogynistic men, look no further. “Smack A Bitch” is an iconic anthem filled with rage and attitude. “Tia Tamera,” her collaborative song with Doja Cat, is funny, catchy, and filled with puns. Rico offers a fresh style in an industry that is often exclusively male-dominated and sexist. Her songs are also really great to hype you up for a good work out.

Saweetie — hip hop, rap

Saweetie is an up-and-coming rap artist who just also happens to be USC alumna! She visited BSA last semester and is very connected to the University (even giving it a shoutout in her remixed version of “ICY GRL” feat. Kehlani). She’s also part of the new wave of female rappers who are currently killing it in their field and remaining successful despite the barriers they face in the industry. She recently released a new EP called “ICY” featuring seven songs. Some of my favorites from her include “Pissed,” “Agua,” and the OG “ICY GRL.”

Megan Thee Stallion — rap

A friend of mine has been raving about Megan Thee Stallion for months, so I decided to check her out and honestly, she has bars for days. I am so here for the new generation of female rappers that are beyond talented and are giving basic male rappers a run for their money. Megan effectively flips the male-dominated script and raps about stigmatized subjects like female sexuality and expression. Some of my favorites of hers are “Big Ole Freak,” “Freak Nasty,” and “Sex Talk,” her most recent release.

H.E.R. — contemporary R&B

H.E.R. is, undeniably (and I will fight you on this if you disagree), one of the most brilliant R&B artists of our generation. Just like Sia, she hid her personality from the media for most of her career. Not to be cliche or anything, but her voice is smooth like butter. Her songs move me to my core and the topics she covers — love, betrayal, and heartbreak — really hit hard. She makes great music to simp or make-out to (trust me). My favorite album is her self-titled “H.E.R.” which was released in 2017. My favorite tracks of hers are “Best Part (feat. Daniel Caesar),” “Avenue,” “Could’ve Been (feat. Bryson Tiller),” and “This Way (feat. Khalid).”

Billie Eilish — indie pop, alternative

I know, I know, everyone you know is enamored by this 17-year-old. But do you know why? Because she’s actually really good. Not only is it incredibly impressive that someone who isn’t even legal has reached such success and acclaim, but it’s also so amazing how groundbreaking she is. Her music is extremely mature and explores dark themes that produce goosebumps without fail. She also continuously breaks barriers by experimenting with different musical techniques and synthetic sounds. My top favorites from her newest album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” released this year are “you should see me in a crown” and “xanny.” “Lovely (with Khalid)” also never fails to make me aggressively emo at the sheer beauty of their combined voices.

6lack — hip hop, contemporary/alternative R&B

Pronounced Black, is what 6lack always emphasizes. 6lack is a dark and moody R&B artist who enchants me with his brooding songs. His voice is so perfectly raspy and calming. In a way, he is like the male counterpart to H.E.R. in terms of the themes in his work. His most recent album release “East Atlanta Love Letter” is extremely moving and beautiful. He makes great music for simping and some of my favorites are the title track, “Loaded Gun,” and “Pretty Little Fears (feat. J. Cole).”

Dominic Fike — pop, indie pop

Dominic Fike’s songs just make me want to get up and dance. “3 Nights” is the quintessential summer beach song, if you’re cruising down PCH or watching the sunset with your friends. His feel-good tunes and slow beats are sure to move you to a sense of serenity in “Westcoast Collective.” I definitely feel that he’s one of 2019’s up-and-coming artists.

Syd/The Internet — alternative R&B, hip hop soul

I discovered Syd last semester and have been really into her music since. She’s also part of a group called The Internet, which makes a similar style of music. She makes great songs to chill with your significant other or just anyone really. Her voice is paradoxically raspy and smooth at the same time, which I personally love. Some of my favorites by her are “Over” and “All About Me.” My favorites from The Internet are “Girl,” “Special Affair,” and “Get Away.”

Hayley Kiyoko — synth-pop, dream pop

As someone who identifies as bisexual, Hayley Kiyoko and Syd (mentioned above) are incredibly important LGBTQ+ artists to me. They, and particularly Kiyoko, openly discuss gay themes and the struggles they face. Commonly hailed as “Lesbian Jesus,” Kiyoko has repeatedly been told to “tone down” her sexuality. And I’m so glad she hasn’t. Her songs, which inspired and touched me so much during my formative years, are so heartwarming and beautiful. Some of my favorites are “What I Need (feat. Kehlani),” “Sleepover,” and “Feelings” from her 2018 album, “Expectations.”

Janelle Monae — funk, contemporary R&B, hip hop, psychedelic soul

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Janelle Monae is originality. No one brings more spunk, flavor, and creativity to the music game as much as she does. And if you don’t believe me, just listen to Prince. Her music is full of so many rich stylistic influences, from hip-hop to funk. “Make Me Feel” is the ultimate queer dance anthem and the strong bite of “Django Jane” is intoxicating. Though Monae has been around for a while, her second-to-last release was in 2013. “Dirty Computer,” her latest album, was released last year.

Omar Apollo — alternative, indie

Omar Apollo just makes music that’s perfect to vibe to (sorry, but there’s no other word to describe it). His style is a cross between Sabrina Claudio’s and Daniel Caesar’s. Some of my favorites of his include “Unbothered” and “Heart,” a more sensual and deep ballad. Some of his songs are more upbeat and funky, like “Hijo de Su Madre” and “Ashamed.” His newest release, “Friends,” came out April 3rd.

The Neighbourhood — alternative rock, indie pop, contemporary R&B

The Neighbourhood is my favorite band and will always hold a special place in my heart. Even though they’ve been around for a while, many people aren’t familiar with their work other than their song “Sweater Weather.” To me, they exemplify the perfect fusion of alternative music with hints of R&B and hip-hop influences. My favorite album is “Wiped Out,” which came out in 2015. From their newest album, released in late 2018, I love “24/7,” “Sadderdaze,” “You Get Me So High,” and “Nervous.”

ASTN — alternative hip hop/R&B

ASTN has one of the most soothing voices I’ve ever heard. Even though his earliest release was in 2017, he hasn’t been talked about that much. His most known single is “Flowers,” which is a personal favorite of mine. He combines acoustic guitar with R&B beats for the perfect kickback songs.

Happy listening!

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