Welcome to AP&R, the place we spotlight rising artists who’re on their approach to changing into your new favourite. Below, we’ve rounded up a handful of names from world wide who both simply dropped music or have new music on the best way very quickly. These are the February up-and-comers, artists picked for his or her standout sound, from riveting post-punk to heavy shoegaze.
Read extra: 24 of probably the most thrilling rising artists to watch in 2024
MX LONELY
On Feb. 6, Brooklyn shoegaze outfit MX LONELY launched their delirious, gritty new EP, SPIT. The EP sees the band open up their sound, and each redefine and reemphasize the cerebral, visceral music that’s gotten them to this point, main to an iteration of shoegaze that’s not dipping its toes in different heavy sounds however reasonably, diving in with abandon. MX LONELY’s tracks lean into heavy-alternative, riffy ’90s grunge, and hardcore rhythms — a well-matched basis for lyrics about escaping overwhelm, anxiousness, and listlessness. And an apt theme, because the EP itself was born in a wild, one-month inventive purge, throughout their very first studio session. —Anna Zanes
Prize Horse
Minneapolis trio Prize Horse create spacey, fuzzed-out alt-rock that’ll intrigue followers of Nothing, Superheaven, and Built to Spill. The band — vocalist/guitarist Jake Beitel, bassist/vocalist Olivia Johnson, and drummer Jon Brenner — possess a sludgy heft, however their songs can get drifty at factors, too, like on the one “Further From My Start.” Underneath lie Beitel’s reflective lyrics, that are concise and moody however all the time lower by way of the noise to reveal a higher depth. Following their EP from final yr, the band’s debut album, Under Sound, is produced by Gleemer’s Corey Coffman and arrives Feb. 16 by way of New Morality Zine. Prize Horse may also play Sound and Fury later this yr. —Neville Hardman
(*6*)
Kevin Holliday
From the second he emerged on the scene, Kevin Holliday has proven up as himself. He’s constructing a world that’s unpredictably textured — slipping from comfortable and funky into arduous, rhythmic guitars and soulful beats. And it’s all a rolling panorama, in opposition to which his introspective lyrics shine. Holliday’s undefinable sound, as a complete, meditates on authenticity, intentionality, and fairly actually being in tune with influences and inspiration. On the artist’s new, principally self-produced LP, LADYBUG, which arrives this Valentine’s Day, he’s getting all of the extra trustworthy, delivering his most weak work but — by means of a breakup album. Though, he provides, “It’s so much more than that.” —Anna Zanes
Glixen
Last yr, Phoenix shoegaze crew Glixen made an entrance by way of a sequence of swirly, intoxicating songs that felt indebted to their love of Beach House. Now, the band are adopting a heaviness in the vein of Deftones and Nothing with their newest single, and first preview of their second EP, “foreversoon.” The result’s spectacular, mixing Aislinn Ritchie’s candy, delicate vocals with a fuzziness that’ll make you soften. Glixen lately launched into tour, together with dates opening for Interpol, Softcult, and Glitterer, in addition to a few of their very own headlining exhibits. Plus, they’ll play the Philly date of Slide Away Festival in March. —Neville Hardman
(*6*)
Gustaf
New York’s self-described no-wave outfit Gustaf have garnered an avid viewers by way of their rowdy exhibits and a behavior of improvising lyrics whereas climbing over amps. Though their sound at first comes off stylish and composed, with its angular guitar components and a cool, regular bassline, as soon as vocalist Lydia Gammill enters the chat, kicking and screaming, all bets are off, and the band drive it dwelling round her. There are snarling, shrieking, clashing drums, whereas backing vocals shout out a wild, Ramones-esque name and response. Currently, they’re gearing up to launch their sophomore album, Package Pt. 2, in April, an angstier, existential twist on their earlier initiatives. On this new album, Gustaf get philosophical, pondering life’s function, venting about love, and growling about egotism — whereas sustaining their enjoyable, breathless power. —Anna Zanes
The Thing
New York psych/storage outfit the Thing are deeply DIY. Formed in 2022, the band — Zane Acord, Jack Bradley, Michael Carter, and Lucas Ebeling — report at their East Williamsburg studio Onion Records and make their very own music movies, together with the black-and-white accompaniment to their single “Midnight,” which performs out like a slick spy thriller. The tune, which comes from their newly launched second album, The Thing Is, is a three-minute romp that captures their madcap spirit, takes inspiration from doomsday conversations, and ends in a freaky explosion that can attraction to followers of Ty Segall. —Neville Hardman
Discussion about this post