Audio Inception: 24 Artists Who Could Define 2024

Amid the increasingly fragmented cultural climate the notion of music operating in cycles has largely fallen by the wayside. That said, there’s an appetite for taking stock every so often, and taking a look at the broader sweep of the landscape around us. With a New Year comes a new set of expectations, and a new wave of possibility.

As Clash noted in its summarising remarks on 2023’s best albums, the cultural climate has never felt so disparate. For new musicians, ‘genre’ is a tag they click when uploading to Spotify or Apple Music – it’s not something they take seriously, at any rate.

Constructing our list of artists to watch in 2024, we quickly noticed that the prevailing trend was eclecticism. Artists don’t sit in pigeonholes, preferring instead to draw on a vast expanse of creative input.

We wanted this list to become a space for discovery, a platform for voices who are only just emerging into the light of day. Each one deserves their place – we hope you locate your new favourite artist.

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Slew

There’s a sense of the outsider to Slew’s work. A relative late-starter to the music game, he spent time as a model and a florist before sharing debut album ‘Face Value’ last year. Speaking his truth, his ragged flows punched hard, masking dextrous musicality that pointed to teenage years shuttling in and out of London to illicit raves. A fashion-forward talent – he’s the current face of Burberry – Slew’s lengthy come-up is beginning to reach fruition – he’s finally ready to take his place at the table. (Robin Murray)

Anycia

Bursting through the doors with viral teaser ‘So What’, Anycia has been snatching the attention of rap aficionados all-round. A rampant force to rise from Atlanta’s underground, the velvet rhymer glides across her spaced-out production with a leisurely swagger, gaining recognition for her rasp, drawled-out delivery.

Last year marked the release of debut EP ‘EXTRA’, flitting between notes of R&B, trap and jersey club via a number of sought-after production credits. Now, Anycia gears up to a milestone performance at Rolling Loud California, catapulting her bars to the next level. (Ana Lamond) 

Ruthven 

Ruthven’s expressive voice supported by the Paul Institute’s distinctive production style has meant that with only a few releases, the South-London based musician has already built a loyal following. Ruthven’s ability to marry multidimensional lyrics to future funk melodies has made every one of his singles a standout release. In my ears Ruthven’s already broken through, and in 2024 I hope to see him take on an EP that’s equally as collaborative as his work so far has been. (Sasha Mills)

Picture Parlour

They ran into the old industry-plant discourse following their success in 2023 – but Picture Parlour are going to prove the naysayers wrong and leave tired critiques in the dust as they head into a shining New Year. They have just two songs out, but the swooning glamour of ‘Judgement Day’ and their glitterball debut single ‘Norwegian Wood’, they’ve already established a remarkably polished sound for a young band. This is thanks to putting a solid shift in on the live and local circuit before starting to release music, and it’s paid off – vocalist Katherine Parlour is already a strutting Alex Turner in the making, and we can’t wait to see Picture Parlour come into their own on bigger stages this year. (Ims Taylor)

00ab 

23-year old Upper Clapton singer-rapper 00ab debuted in 2020 with two-parter ‘Right Time/Probably’, a tribute to his E5 area code and the community that has affirmed his lithe creativity. A spokesperson for escape and sonic abandon, 00ab has channelled his sunlit optimism on disparate releases: pitch-shifted UKG bop ‘Senses!’, vaporous mid-tempo ‘Down’, loungey house number ‘Menace’, and indie-folk dirge ‘Took My Heart’. Part of a next-gen straddling multiple artistic endeavours, 00ab is also an in-demand fashion maven, walking the runway for Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton and Marni. This year, 00ab broadens his horizons further, invoking worldly influences on songs that coast with fluid efficiency along the dance continuum. Amapiano, maybe? 00ab has you covered. (Shahzaib Hussain)

Brazy 

If British-Nigerian riser Brazy exudes confidence, then she’s every right to do so. Blending aspects of R&B, pop, and alte into one sphere, her sound is intoxicating, and hyper-sensual. Little wonder, then, she dubs it “afro-sexy”.

With her debut EP making waves, Brazy caused a ruckus at Parish Fashion Week, before returning to London as 2023 closed to support Nigerian queen Arya Starr. With her on-point bars and killer melodies sweeping across the net, it won’t be soon until she claims the throne for herself. (Robin Murray)

1300 

1300 are the Korean-Australian crew whose work is animated by a chaotic bricolage of dystopic punk-rap peaks and hyperkinetic gabber. There’s a natural synergy between core members, rappers rako, goyo, rapper-singer-dancer DALI HART, producer-singer Nerdie and producer pokari.sweat. Together they confront the pervasive effects of colonized cultural ephemera and digital overload. Some critics will idly associate 1300 with South Korean collective Balming Tiger, and sure they share a cross-cultural nucleus, but 100 gecs’ deranged noise pop meshed with the spacey synth work of The Neptunes is a more apt comparison. We’ve given you the overture, and can even reveal a new mixtape is on the way soon. Buckle up and enjoy the intergalactic ride. (Shahzaib Hussain)

1tbsp 

A project and moniker of Melbourne producer Maxwell Byrne aka Golden Vessel, 1tbsp recontextualises global dance music lore into invigorating body-talk anthems. A high-volume creator, 1tbsp has released three projects in the space of a year and a half: EP ‘Joan’, home to my playlist favourite ‘Seasons’, impish delight ‘It’s Very Loud’ and ‘Moth Love’, a bouncy tribute to the wayfarers and nomads. 1tbsp’s songs are elastic and unpredictable, fortified by international scenes, subcultures and styles. With house and footwork-inspired production packed full of rhythm, vibrant hues and alacrity, 2024 is the year 1tbsp continues to stake his claim as a purveyor of peak dancefloor euphoria. (Shahzaib Hussain)

Jawnino 

It’s not often an artist creates an air of mythos and mystery around them whilst also delivering on the goods. London’s Jawnino is that rare breed renegade summoning and unpacking the legacy of urban rap folklore through a truly progressive lens. On the 2022 EP ‘4040 – Good Thing Bad Thing Who Knows’, Jawnino filtered restive homespun tales through an inventive cross-hatch of bass and breaks. His new release ‘2trains’, a calcified sequel to transient jam ‘Lady On The Train’, coincided with him signing to True Panther, home to King Krule, bbymutha, and Frost Children. With Jawnino’s artfulness backed by the might of a vanguard imprint and a new project on the horizon this year, brace yourselves for a locus of chaos and catharsis in equal measure. (Shahzaib Hussain)

MILYMA

Co-signed by Actress, German-born, Swiss musician MILYMA conjures arpeggiated fever dreams with her offerings. On debut EP ‘321?’, MILYMA recalled the mutated electro-acoustic compositions of early BANKS and ‘Hallucinogen’-era Kelela. 2024 sees the experimental musician forge her own path through elevated production, art direction and textile design. Self-composed in her home studio in Basel, debut album ‘Only Lovers Left A Lie’ (out January 26^th) is a triumph of electronic melancholia; an edifying and electric blend of interdisciplinary practice, avant-pop fusion, elemental friction and metamorphic cleansing. With her programmed reverie of emotion, MILYMA renders her worlds in 4D. (Shahzaib Hussain) 

Monjola

Dublin is a real hub for innovation right now, as a new generation of artists unpick Irish identity, forging fresh pathways in the process. Monjola is a key part of this – rapidly emerging as one of Irish music’s true MVPs, this multi-hyphenate is imbued with wisdom beyond his years.

Recently supporting Kojaque on a 20-date tour, Monjola speaks directly to his peers in a language they can understand, interlacing his R&B-enhanced songwriting with punchy rap flows and hip-hop production. Hitting that pan-genre sweet spot, Monjola is building his own world, and he dares you to enter. (Robin Murray)

LAMSI 

A fixture within Amsterdam’s experimental club scene, you’ll also find LAMSI as a resident DJ in Paris and London. LAMSI crafts ditties for nocturnal dwellers; his afro-diasporic canvas traversing disoriented breaks, polyrhythmic pacers and globular RnB. In 2023 his omnivorous sensibility and fondness for cross-collaboration came to the fore on Toronto DJ/producer BAMBII’s menacing club cut ‘Slip Side’ (their fruitful partnership continuing on an anticipated follow-up), buzzy London rapper BXKS’s ‘Back It Up’ and NYC luminary Talia Goddess’ torrid fusion jam ‘Forever Young’. The producer released ‘S.I.T’ with £Monzo at the tail end of last year, and a rework featuring to-be-announced international artists is in the works. The LAMSI Midas touch is real. (Shahzaib Hussain)

HighSchool

Formed by singer-songwriter Rory Trobbiani and bassist Luke Scott, HighSchool piece together a sound that revels in retro horror flicks, 80s post-punk and foggy escapism. Since making their debut, the Melbourne outfit have built a strong visual identity that revolves around a retro VHS quality, washed over with gothic hues. Elsewhere, they’ve embarked on their own headline tour, supporting the likes of CHVRCHES, Wet Leg and Robert Smith along the way.

Newly signed to [PIAS], HighSchool are now stepping up to their sophomore EP, leaning into more brooding, gritty acoustics with recent single ‘August 19.’ Arriving alongside visuals directed and produced by Trobbiani himself, HighSchool are igniting a fresh energy for 2024. (Ana Lamond)

Cristale

Last year marked a turning point for Brixton native Cristale, releasing a series of hotly-tipped singles whilst making her acting debut for the final season of Top Boy. Flexing a knack for straight-to-the-point rhymes and flows, the 21-year old fleshes out her production with finesse and integrity, never leaving a bar to waste.

The current day sees the artist expand her sound palette, skipping between the menacing strings of ‘Roadents’, into the snarling bite of ‘Antisocial’ and swinging back around with the heart-felt optimism behind ‘Artiste’. Assured in her stance within UK rap, Cristale is set on picking up the pace. (Ana Lamond)

Zino Vinci

A charismatic voice to rise from the underground, Zino Vinci asserts the power of being unapologetically oneself.  

Released towards the end of 2023, debut EP ‘Filthy & Disgusting’ presents an artist who has mastered versatility, comfortable in his tackle of hard-hitting punchlines, melodies and storytelling amongst a rich palette of sounds. Sprinkled with comic book references and grime-era nostalgia, each and every bar is filled with intention, offering a window into the Newham riser’s journey thus far.

In 2024, Zino Vinco is pulling our focus back to the foundations of rap. (Ana Lamond)

DJ Gigola

Few can pinpoint the relationship between dancefloors and self-reflection quite like Berlin producer and selector, DJ Gigola. Guiding her listener across debut album ‘Fluid Meditation’, the perceptive riser lends her focus to rhythm, navigating between minimalism and ambient through the pulses of techno, trance and dancehall.

Seamless in her ability to weave between contrasting genres and influences, DJ Gigola embraces a challenging yet playful approach to her craft. Tapping into nightlife all across the globe, the artist returns to her home-city to jumpstart 2024, launching a b2b set with Palms Trax at Berghain’s Panorama Bar. (Ana Lamond)

KIRBS

It takes something special to stand out in UK rap right now. Competition is fierce, and having that little bit extra is key to surviving. KIRBS is a new name, but a bold persona – dextrous with the mic, he’s able to spin flows 180, his technical abilities sending him surging past his peers.

It’s the pen-game, though, which has caught our ear. A run of rollercoaster breakout singles have ignited an online following, with the likes of ‘Back To Business’, ‘The Game’, and the ruthlessly entertaining ‘Chop Life’ sending his peers scurrying for cover. Making all the right moves, you’d be a fool to bet against KIRBS in 2024. (Robin Murray)

Astrønne

London collective Touching Bass are one of the best imprints in the land, and we regularly seek out their recommendations. Paris-based, Cameroonian-born Astrønne appeared at the crew’s Barbican takeover, and delivered a spellbinding performance. Jazz-leaning neo-soul with club reference points, her subsequent debut single ‘Reconnect’ was a moment of pure magic – precocious, laced with potential, and blessed with literate flair. With much more to come in the coming 12 months, Astrønne is a soulful enigma who is coming into focus. (Robin Murray)

Chy Cartier

Grasping the attention of Stormzy, Digga D, Potter Payper, Youngs Teflon and Wretch 32, Chy Cartier isn’t letting a second slip by. Landing onto our radar with latest single ‘BOSSED UP’, the 19-year old targets her beats with precision, charging each verse with an explosive ambition that demands credit where it’s due.

Through a series of freestyles, the Tottenham rhymer has established a distinct delivery and flow, dropping personal anecdotes and life lessons at each turn. Now, virality has offered Chy Cartier a springboard for her next steps, and we can’t wait to see where she’s headed. (Ana Lamond)

Deki Alem 

Deki Alem’s heady mixture of post-punk basslines, rap and drum ‘n’ bass is equal parts grit and groove – picking up where slowthai’s ‘Doorman’ left off. From Gothenburg, Sweden, the sibling duo previously made Swedish rap as BENNETT, but were reborn under the new name in 2022 with the brash single “Razor”. Since then they have released two EPs and made a name for themselves as a must-see live act, inciting sweaty mosh pits from Bristol to Berlin. Hopefully there’s an album on the horizon in 2024. (Harry Thorfinn-George)

KhakiKid

Dublin alt-rapper KhakiKid has been steadily establishing himself over the past few years thanks to his unique brand of humorous hip-hop and consistent collaborations with a plethora of other rising artists. Get hooked with his early single ‘Shlumped Up’, then dive into recent offering, ’sand bebé’, his latest EP that boasts shimmering, jazz-infused beats and a dancefloor groove. Following packed-out shows at The Great Escape, Sea Sessions and Pitchfork Festival in Paris and London last year, new music and a slew of live shows beckon for 2024. (Aimee Phillips)

Fat Dog

Rattling with energy – far more than their sedentary name may suggest – Fat Dog are here to carve out their own spot in the scene. Blending electropunk fire, distorted synth melodies, rattling, commanding vocals, and… slugs, Fat Dog have created a sound with tremendous highs and lows, and huge sonic variety. This is pretty easy to do in seven minutes, which is how long their debut single ‘King of the Slugs’ runs for, but there’s a serious statement in introducing yourself with that. Fat Dog are self-assured, slick, and ready to explode. (Ims Taylor)

Elmiene

The art of the vocalist isn’t something you can ignore. Sure, songcraft, production have their place – but ultimately one person, and one voice, has to go out there and sell it to an audience. Elmiene can truly make you believe in a song. Sonorous, mellifluous, and emotionally impactful, he’s got everything it takes to win over the most stubborn of hearts. With only two EPs to his name, Elmiene’s delicate precision has made him one of the most potent talents in the UK – watch him rise in 2024. (Robin Murray)

Amaliah 

The handful of hypnotic tracks that make up Amaliah’s back catalogue so far promise a lot. She released her first record right at the back end of 2023, stacked with carefully curated beats and sharply combined sounds, from house to sirens to more mellow grooves to sparse, transformative vocal samples. She’s got scores of live sets under her belt, but the momentum she’s gathered in the London scene and well beyond has set for a stunning breakout year. (Ims Taylor)