5 Upcoming Artists to Listen to This Summer

When the smoke from the Covid-19 outbreak settles this summer, we might have a bad case of “Summer Fever” where we won’t have much to do with what’s left of Summer 2020. To help you with that boredom, here’s a list of artists you can discover while you enjoy your summer this year.

 

Dayglow

 

Dayglow is a bedroom pop artist that most people know for his 2019 album Fuzzybrain. He is great at producing. In fact, he creates all of his music on his own. His fusion of the bedroom pop sound and indie rock happens to make an amazing, upbeat combination. Some of his tracks have this psychedelic feel to them that seems to take inspiration from the likes of Tame Impala. The subject matter of his songs is mostly the same, which is to be expected from a genre like bedroom pop. Even though artists who work in this area seem to be easy to find, much of them do not master their vibe and aesthetic before they put out a debut album, as Dayglow did. Overall Dayglow is a great artist to get into if you’re interested in ones like Rex Orange County or Cuco.

 

IDK

 

IDK stands out in an overly saturated industry like hip-hop. He has a solid album in 2019’s Is He Real? It’s also surprising how versatile IDK can be. His recently-released single “Mazel Tov” is very harsh and aggressive while most tracks on Is He Real? are much softer. I doubt IDK would ever make a Top 40 “Summer Hit”, but he is starting to be a more established artist every day. His vocal inflections remind most listeners of artists like Kevin Abstract which makes sense as he is very much in that alternative hip-hop scene. IDK also has a remarkable range of cosigns from Denzel Curry all the way to ASAP Ferg. If you’re ever bored this summer, I can almost guarantee IDK has something in his discography for everyone. His flows and vocals echo projects like JID, Saba, and Vince Staples. However, it’s still worth checking out IDK if you’re not interested in hip-hop because of the huge range of sounds he captures.

​

​

FINNEAS

 

Mostly known for being the older brother of Billie Eilish, FINNEAS is actually behind a large part of her music. He is an impressive producer and singer. He was even nominated for a Grammy for production. The only reason he isn’t as popular as his sister seems to be that he isn’t as edgy or prolific as her. It is a shame that Billie’s fanbase left FINNEAS in her shadow. His somber tone and familiar vocals make him sort of a more original version of Sam Smith. To be honest, his subject matter or the atmosphere he creates might not be extremely unique but they are still executed in a very polished manner which makes FINNEAS’ music worth giving a try if you don’t have much else to do this summer.

 

​

PUP

 

Perhaps the least known project out of all of this list, this band seems to have redesigned their sound with their most recent effort, Morbid Stuff. PUP isn’t for everybody but if you miss emo or punk bands like My Chemical Romance, this band might bring back some hope. PUP is loud, chaotic and reflects a sense of teenage anxiety. With Morbid Stuff, the band has polished their sound and created something out of an early-2010s high school movie, in the best way imaginable. The lyrics mention a lot of serious struggles that can affect anyone on a daily basis and that actually makes their music more relatable than you might have thought. PUP might have an abrasive and obscure tone, but lovers of the punk genre won’t be able to get enough of the angsty vocals and guitar riffs of PUP.

 

​

Fiona Apple

 

Fiona Apple isn’t necessarily an “upcoming” artist. However, she was never that popular to begin with. Now that her recent album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters received a perfect score from Pitchfork, she is starting to get a lot of attention that she hasn’t been getting before. Actually, it has been 8 years since Fiona Apple released a project. This time, Fiona’s lyrics are more empowered than ever with strong feminist undertones. If simple, vocal-heavy acoustic music is something you’re interested in, Fiona Apple’s music will keep you entertained for a long time. Her experimental take on folk music is also notable and has to lead to her music to be some of the most critically acclaimed pieces of their time. Check her out this summer to see if you like her as much as everyone else does.