From small town singer-songwriters to trailblazing rappers, up-and-coming artists are making names for themselves online and blowing up overnight. With the popularity of social platforms like TikTok, we have seen the emergence of many young artists. By showcasing their talent, sharing their hit songs and growing their audience, they watch as their original songs become viral sounds. Here are 10 rising artists who should be on your radar this year.
Artists on the rise
Mimi Webb
Amelia Webb, better known as Mimi Webb, a British singer-songwriter has a way with her words, as well. This 22-year-old singer has connected to her listeners through writing songs that divulge her experiences with relationships and heartbreak. After her debut single, “Before I Go,” gained popularity on TikTok, Webb continued to release heartfelt and powerful singles. Songs like “Good Without” and “Dumb Love” caught the most attention online and topped charts in the United Kingdom. In 2023, she will be touring the UK and Ireland, as well releasing her debut album, “Amelia.” In her Instagram post announcing the news, she told fans that this album is the best version of herself.
Ice Spice
American rapper Isis Gaston, professionally known as Ice Spice, is known for her popular songs “Munch” and “Bikini Bottom.” She rose to fame after posting a TikTok video to the “Buss It” challenge in 2021. As an emerging rapper, she has already performed at festivals like Rolling Loud and has gained attention from famous artists such as Drake. She recently released her first EP, “Like..?”, which shows her musical versatility and dabbles in the genres of hip-hop, drill and pop. Although she is just at the start of her career, fans have drawn comparisons to some of the best female rappers of this generation like Nicki Minaj and Cardi B.
Role Model
American singer-songwriter Tucker Pillsbury, better known as Role Model, has been in the music industry since 2017 when he released his debut EP “Arizona in the Summer.” Since then, the 25-year-old has continued to create music and released popular songs like “blind” and “forever&more.” His debut album “Rx” details his experience with being in love for the first time, and he has captured fans through this personal yet universal experience. His growing success and popularity has led him to two successful performances at Coachella in 2022 as well as his own solo tour. 2023 has a lot in store for Role Model.
Brray
Creating music that is a mixture of reggaeton, trap, hip-hop and Latin pop, Brray is bringing a unique voice to the Latin music scene. Brray is a 30-year-old singer, songwriter and rapper from Puerto Rico. With popular songs like “LOKERA” and “Sigue Bailandome,” Brray is ready to take the world by storm with his recent single “Albaricoque,” which gave fans a song that makes you want to dance and fall in love at the same time to start off 2023.
Kevin Kaarl
This young 21-year-old singer-songwriter and musician from Mexico tells vulnerable and personal stories through his lyrics. His sound is a mix of folk and Latin pop that draws you in from the first listen and allows you to follow along despite the potential language barrier for English-speaking listeners. His most recent 2022 album, “Paris Texas,” features 13 songs including, “on my mood,” and “te quiero tanto.” If you fall for this artist’s beautiful sound like many others have, Kevin Kaarl is headed to Los Angeles soon.
Emilia
Emilia Mernes is an Argentine singer-songwriter, musician, dancer and actress whose songs will have you swaying from the beginning. She got her start with a cumbia-pop group, Rombai, before going solo and releasing her first single, “Recalienta” in 2019. In 2022, Mernes released her song “intoxicao,” an interpolation of Destiny’s Child, “La Chain,” that she sang in Sspanish. In 2022, she released her album, “Tú crees en mí?”
Soon-to-be superstars
Gracie Abrams
Indie-pop artist, Gracie Abrams, has graced fans with her eclectic and personable musicality. With songs like “Feels Like” and “21,” it’s no surprise that her music has been trending on TikTok. With her recent success, Abrams has sold out her solo tour, The Good Riddance Tour, with performances throughout the United States. Most recently, Abrams has also announced a number of shows in the United Kingdom and will soon be touring on Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour as an opening act. She’s still early in her career, having released her debut EP “Minor” less than three years ago. With continued support from fans and her ability to connect with listeners through her touching lyrics, this 23-year-old singer-songwriter is destined for continued success.
Tate McRae
Tate McRae, the Canadian singer, songwriter, dancer and actress gained popularity at a young age as the first Canadian finalist on the American TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.” The 19-year-old got her start in music with her YouTube series “Create With Tate,” which allowed her to share original music. Her song “One Day” gained so much attention that she then released it as a single. Since then, she’s released “you broke me first,” which conveyed a level of vulnerability that captured listeners and over 1 billion streams. McRae has shown her ability to write songs that portray universal experiences that any young person can relate to. She is able to express emotions that are often difficult to put into words through her music. Her success has led her to perform at Capital FM’s Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium in London. Listen to her latest featured single with Tiesto, “10:35.”
JVKE
To end 2022 and kick off 2023, Jacob Lawson, professionally known as JVKE, performed his hit song, “golden hour,” on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. JVKE is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter, producer and social media personality that has hypnotized listeners with his sound. The first few seconds of his song “golden hour” hold an immense amount of emotion by captivating listeners and leaving them wanting more. The piano hook is so addictive that it has pianists everywhere attempting to recreate its mesmerizing melody. Not only does he have the ability to create addictive tunes, JVKE is also an independent artist, which gives him creative freedom. In a TikTok video, he revealed that it’s just him and his brother making his music and he believes this is the reason why his music feels and sounds different. After fan favorites “golden hour” and “this is what falling in love feels like,” fans are excited to hear what he creates this year.
Remi Wolf
USC Thornton School of Music alum Remi Wolf is an American singer-songwriter with popular songs “Photo ID” and “Sexy Villain.” In 2014, Wolf, who appeared as a contestant on American Idol, is now taking her unique sound all the way to Coachella Valley this April. “Photo ID” changed the trajectory of Wolf’s career after the song went viral on TikTok. Through her song’s popularity, listeners were exposed to her funky, pop sound that has everyone wanting to hear more.