There have been many new releases by some pretty well known artists this year: Gorillaz, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, and more. But what about the new crop of artists that came out and blew us away this year? Well, here are some of my favorites that came onto the scene this year.
1. Active Child
With a heavenly voice, Active Child frontman Pat Grossi creates airy, electronic tracks that seem to lift above most of the other electronic solo projects that have come about this year and last year.
Active Child
2. Beach Fossils
Congratulations, Beach Fossils! You are the only band on this list to fall into my “lo-fi rock” category! You beat out all the other lo-fi acts that clogged the internet tubes (bonus for anyone who picked up on that reference) with your lively approach and great output, it’s great! All hail, the winning lo-fi band!
3. Braids
Braids sounds like a comination of pretty much all of my favorite bands of last year: part Animal Collective, part Dirty Projectors, part creative and fun music in general! Their music is pretty warm sounding, like a bubbling hottub, in a way. Very nice indeed.
4. Candy Claws
I heard about Candy Claws when I heard that one of their cars caught fire with most of their merchandise and equipment in it. I decided to check them out more and was pleasantly surprised at the chill, ambient melodies being created by the Fort Collins band. Colorado is a pretty sweet state. Haha.
Candy Claws
5. Computer Magic
A very recent addition to my own library, Computer Magic is a solo project creating very whimsical yet incredibly creative sounding throwback electronic music. Computer Magic, AKA “Danielle” has an great voice to be paired with the assault of fun blips of the keyboard. I think that she will be huge soon, so look out!
6. Cults
If you have been following Combo Breaker Kid since it’s existence you know that one of the first bands I featured was the two-person act Cults. What won me over was probably the Jim Jones sample, then the rest was just icing on the cake. Their music is just like a dream would sound for a pop priestess.
Cults
7. Fang Island
One of my favorite releases of this year, Fang Island creates music that can make the most down in the dumps schmuck you know jump out of his corporate socks and jump around. Fang Island describes their sound as “everyone hi-fiving everyone,” which is probably the best description out there. It’s just pure, unfiltered awesome.
8. Givers
Not gonna lie, when I first heard Givers’ song “Up Up Up,” I didn’t know what to do with myself. I had not heard something that creative that has come out recently in such a long time! Their extremely electric sound really attracted me from the get-go and I am really looking forward to some more material from them. Feels good, man.
Givers
9. Glasser
True Panther Records is the winner of the year for booking so many fantastic acts to their label. Glasser, being one of them, fits the statement 100%. Her song “Home” mixes earthy sounds with the marimba and then icy electronic sounds with synths later which creates a whirlwind of clashing sounds but they all work together in the end. It also helps that her voice is amazing, but you know.
10. Gobble Gobble
Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if you put what you thought pop music sounded like and put it into a blender? Well, that’s what Gobble Gobble sounds like. The electronic beats are sharp and choppy that help the band dig a niche into the music world for a signature sound. With a mix of nintendo bleeps, electronic waves and crashes, plus the singers voice, the sound comes out to be glorious insanity diluted into your ears.
Gobble Gobble
Warm Visions 