On The Up: Artists to Watch in 2024
This month, Victoria Monet took home the 2024 Grammy for Best New Artist. While this is the R&B singer’s first Grammy win, the singer-songwriter’s star has been rising for over a decade, having collaborated with big acts such as Nas and Ariana Grande.
So how did an artist with such big credits end up in a category with upstarts like Noah Kahan and Ice Spice? This conversation happens every year, as artists of varying tenure have been up for the award.
Victoria Monet Photographed by Amy Sussman // Getty Images
What defines a “New Artist” then? According to the Recording Academy themselves:
“A ‘new artist’ is defined for the GRAMMY process as any performing artist or established performing group who releases, during the eligibility year, the recording that first establishes the public identity of that artist or established group as a performer. A GRAMMY nomination in a performance category in a prior year disqualifies an artist from competing in this category, unless the nomination came from a single or a guest spot on another artist's recording, and the artist hadn't yet released a full album.”
By that standard, 2025 is set to be an exciting year for emerging artists across all genres.
Here are four of our favourite acts who’ve been on the up this year, from pop to punk to R&B - don’t be surprised if you see one (or all) of them on next year’s ballot!
Chappelle Roan
Chappelle Roan photographed by Ryan Clemens
Let’s pick it up now! After being dropped from her first record label, Chappell Roan rises triumphant with her debut full-length album, The Rise & Fall of a Midwest Princess. In the album, Roan perfectly captures the Zillennial Femme Zeitgeist - equal parts joyful, bold, irreverent, sad, horny, and ultimately here to celebrate letting our freak flag FINALLY fly! Rise & Fall balances synthy dance pop anthems (Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl) with perfectly emotional ballads that showcase Roan’s vocal prowess (Picture You) and fun, of-the-moment call and answer bops that don’t shy away from the cheerleader vibes (HOT TO GO!) all tied together with an unapologetically camp aesthetic and uniquely relatable lyricism.
For Fans Of: MUNA, The Aces, Renee Rapp
Catch Them Next: Upsetting local parents opening for teen pop juggernaut Olivia Rodrigo on the ‘Guts’ Tour.
2. Flyana Boss
Flyana Boss photographed by SD Spreng
If you were on Tiktok at all last Summer, you’ve likely seen this colourful hip-hop duo sprinting through various locales while rapping their single ‘You Wish.’ Flyana Boss was formed while Bobbi LaNea Taylor and Folayan Omi Kunerede were attending the Musicians Institute together in Hollywood, and have since hit the ground running (pun absolutely intended) with their unapologetically quirky, feminine sound and quick witty lyricism. Tongue-in-cheek with their feminine rage (Bitch Imma Star) and playful in their confidence (Big One) Flyana Boss proves that Hip-Hop is not only for the girls, but the weird girls! Make no mistake, though, these two have staying power behind their viral moment, releasing a ‘You Wish’ remix with Missy Elliott last Fall and departing on a U.S tour this month.
Be warned, however, adding their high-energy bops to your Hot Girl Walk playlist may result in Hot Girl Cardio.
For Fans Of: Doechii, Rico Nasty, Doja Cat
Catch Them Next: Departing on their “Bosstanical Garden” U.S tour this March.
3. Yard Act
Yard Act photographed by Lucyle Espieussas
To call Yard Act ‘post-punk’ feels insultingly limiting, as the Leeds four-piece throw jazz, funk, punk, and disco together over classic indie rock riffs, topping the entire spectacle with frontman James Smith’s sardonic, spoken word vocals. In what we hope becomes a new flagship sound for alternative rock, dynamic basslines underscore lyrics that are equal parts satire (Fixer Upper) and criticism of capitalism and modern society. While the band’s star continues to rise, (including a collaboration with Elton John) their tunes remain driving and unique, with lyrics still scathingly aware of the farce that is the modern music industry. (We Make Hits, The Overload) Alternative bands with a lot to say are nothing new, but it’s rare to find one this distinctively groovy.
For Fans Of: Fidlar, PUP, Modest Mouse
Catch Them Next: Releasing their new album “Where’s My Utopia?” March 1 before departing on an international tour this Spring.
4. Infinity Song
Infinity Song Photographed by John Adams III
Like Victoria Monet, Infinity Song have been releasing music for nearly a decade, rising from the grassroots following they earned performing in the parks and subway stations of their New York City home. The band, composed of siblings Abraham, Angel, Israel and Momo Boyd, expertly employ their signature lush vocal harmonies and emotive songwriting in their 2023 release, ‘Metamorphosis’, a warm blend of Soft Rock and R&B. Infinity Song captures emotion earnestly and precisely, from bittersweet anticipation (Slow Burn) to exhausted exuberance (Hater’s Anthem) all with a gentle groove that makes it the perfect soundtrack for coffee shop hangs or for turning your commute into a dreamy movie montage.
For Fans Of: Orion Sun, Mazzy Star, Tierra Whack
Catch Them Next: Promoting ‘Slow Burn’ through a series of collaborative pop-ups with fashion designers in NYC and London.
