Originally posted on BuzzFeed
Recently, we asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share who their favorite underrated musical artists are, for your listening pleasure. Here are the results:
1. Banks
Who she is: Singer-songwriter from SoCal.
Why you should listen: Banks’ sexy vocals were featured in a 2013 holiday commercial for Victoria’s Secret; she’s also toured with The Weeknd. “Begging for Thread” and “Waiting Game” are the sort of brooding, sultry tracks that fans of Lana Del Rey have grown to love; if you love the “Summertime Sadness” songstress, you’ll probably be down with Banks.
Submitted by Alex Ellis, Facebook
2. Flume
Who he is: Australian DJ/producer; he’s also kinda cute!
Why you should listen: Flume (real name: Harley Streten) is a frequent collaborator with Chet Faker, a later entry on this list, and a rising Australian star. This is pregame music at its finest: easy to listen to, and effortlessly trendy. It’s trippy, funky electronic that is just dripping with cool, begging to be jammed to with a drink in hand. Flume’s debut self-titled album dropped in 2013, and he won four ARIAs (the Australian equivalent of the Grammys) for the effort; we NEED the follow-up.
Submitted by Alexis Sicuro, Facebook
3. Kimbra
Who she is: Singer from New Zealand; you probably know her from Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” for which she won two Grammys.
Why you should listen: All right, so she’s already won TWO Grammys, but somehow the talented Kiwi still flies under the radar. Girl has got RANGE, whether it’s on “Warrior” (the party anthem with A-Trak and Mark Foster from Foster the People that should have been but never was) or the trippy, funky “90s Music” with her slinky vocals that sound very Prince-esque. Give 2014’s The Golden Echo and 2011’s The Vow both a spin; Kimbra has more than earned it.
Submitted by Megan Elizabeth, Facebook
4. Ryn Weaver
Who she is: California vocalist.
Why you should listen: Weaver’s viral hit “OctaHate” gained attention all over the internet when it was released last year, and with good reason: It’s really, REALLY hard to get out of your head. If you like fun, easy-to-digest pop music (and really, who doesn’t?), you NEED to add Weaver to your Spotify playlist. Also, she’s working on a “top secret” project with Charli XCX…
Submitted by Jen Lambert, Facebook
5. Børns
Who he is: Nope, not from Scandinavia! He’s a singer-songwriter from Michigan; he’s also touring with Charli XCX and Jack Antonoff this summer!
Why you should listen: Børns has already caught Taylor Swift’s attention — she called “Electric Love” an “instant classic” on Instagram — and now he deserves yours. Think MGMT’s sound with Mika’s vocals, and you should have a pretty good idea for what you’re in for — a REALLY good time.
Submitted by Jen Lambert, Facebook
6. Kygo
Who he is: Norwegian DJ/producer.
Why you should listen: We’re big Kygo fans here at BuzzFeed, and with good reason. The Norwegian DJ has mastered both the art of the remix — his takes on Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” and The Weeknd’s “Often” are so, so luscious — and producing his own tracks, with “Firestone” being hailed as a potential “song of the summer.” Unlike most DJs, Kygo slows things down rather than speeding them up, resulting in a easy, breezy tropical house sound.
Submitted by Sara Elizabeth Denton, Facebook
7. Chet Faker
Who he is: Aussie electronica musician.
Why you should listen: He’s a frequent collaborator with Flume, but it’s worth listening to his own stuff too — his voice is so earnest. His cover of “No Diggity” was featured in Beck’s 2013 Super Bowl commercial and “Talk Is Cheap” nailed the top spot in Triple J’s Hottest 100 for 2014 (an Australian radio station’s ranking of popular songs of the year; Faker also had two other tracks on the list). Also, check out that scruff!
Submitted by Sara Elizabeth Denton, Facebook
8. Bad Suns
Who they are: American alt-rock band.
Why you should listen: Here’s the sell: Indie rock band formed in sunny SoCal, withinfluences ranging from Elvis Costello to the Cure. Their debut album, Language & Perspective, dropped last year. “Cardiac Arrest,” the band’s most-streamed song on Spotify, is the perfect riding-in-your-convertible-in-the-summer anthem.
Submitted by Allison Libert, Facebook
9. Stromae
Who he is: Belgian singer-rapper-songwriter. Also, aficionado of cool outfits.
Why you should listen: Now, here is the French-speaking house/hip-hop artist you didn’t know you needed in your life. Stromae is a fairly big name internationally; his smash hit “Alors On Danse” went to the top of the charts across Europe when it was released in 2009, and Kanye West even released his own remix of the song. And Lorde called Stromae’s services into play for the Mockingjay: Part I soundtrack. He has Europe’s attention; now he deserves yours!
Submitted by Jazmin Gray, Facebook
10. Hozier
Who he is: Irish musician-singer-songwriter; you’ve definitely heard his smash hit “Take Me to Church” on the radio.
Why you should listen: Let’s get this out of the way: It’s hard to be considered under-the-radar when you’ve already been nominated for a Grammy and Spotify names your smash hit the most-viral track of the year. But can you name another song by Hozier? Because you should. That soulful, haunting voice that pushed “Take Me to Church” to the stratosphere is really, really worth your time. Like, an album’s worth of your time…as in his self-titled debut album.
Submitted by Hannah Lindgren, Facebook
11. SBTRKT
What it is: A musical project by Brit Aaron Jerome. Jerome performs in tribal masks to support the anonymous nature of the project.
Why you should listen: We’ve all seen the masked DJ performance before (Daft Punk, anyone?), but SBTRKT still feels like a breath of fresh air. All the right collaborations are there — Jessie Ware, Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend, even Drake — and SBTRKT has a present sound that builds on you. It’s not in-your-face like a lot of electronic music out there, but that’s a good thing!
Submitted by Whit N. Adams, Facebook
12. Bebe Rexha
Who she is: American singer-songwriter; you might know her from her vocals on Cash Cash’s “Take Me Home” and her uncredited vocals on David Guetta and Nicki Minaj’s “Hey Mama.”
Why you should listen: Rexha’s biggest impact on the music world might be Eminem and Rihanna’s smash hit “The Monster,” which she co-wrote, but that very well could (and should) change soon. She worked with Pete Wentz on his side band Black Cards and her first EP, I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, was JUST released. The title track is gut-wrenching and will have you feeling all the feels. Keep an eye on Bebe!
Submitted by Mark Melby, Facebook
13. London Grammar
Who they are: British indie pop trio.
Why you should listen: If your dreams had a soundtrack, it would probably sound something like London Grammar — mellow, ethereal, and pleasant. Lead singer Hannah Reid’s sweeping vocals have been compared to Florence Welch’s and Lana Del Rey’s; she says she takes inspiration from Michael Jackson. Their hit “Hey Now” was even featured in a Dior commercial starring A-lister Charlize Theron.
Submitted by Emily Blalock, Facebook
14. MisterWives
Who they are: New York–based indie pop band. Also, the above photo was taken in BuzzFeed’s offices!!!
Why you should listen: MTV granted them the title of “golden children of pop”; that’s a pretty bold statement to be making, but you better believe the hype. If you love Walk the Moon’s recent smash “Shut Up and Dance,” you’ll LOVE MisterWives. They’ve got an infectious, earwormy sound that will have you shaking your booty in your seat. They 100% deserve your attention.
Submitted by Matias Ricketts Käemena, Facebook
15. FKA twigs
Who she is: British singer-songwriter-dancer; she’s also Robert Pattinson’s better half; fashion icon (check out her penis dress from this year’s Met Gala).
Why you should listen: Unfortunately, FKA twigs is probably best known for herengagement to the Twilight star Pattinson, which is a damn shame since she is so talented. Start listening with her most popular track, “Two Weeks”; it highlights her caressing, sultry vocals. Also, her music videos are pretty damn cool and not to be missed.
Submitted by Séamus MacÍomhair, Facebook
16. Grimes
Who she is: Canadian singer-songwriter-musician; she’s on tour with Lana Del Reythis summer.
Why you should listen: Grimes — Claire Boucher, in real life — once described her music as “post-internet” and says she “goes through phases a lot.” And it makes sense! Her sound is sort of all over the place, in an eclectic way that commands your attention. Her jam “Go” — a total bop — was originally written for Rihanna, but the pop star rejected it. Definitely catch her on tour with Lana this summer.
Submitted by Luna Kaela, Facebook
17. Hoodie Allen
Who he is: Indie hip-hop artist from Long Island, New York.
Why you should listen: Hoodie (real name: Steven Adam Markowitz) comes from a strong pedigree of Ivy League rappers (he’s a UPenn graduate). All kidding aside, Allen has an infectious hipster-hop sound (think Sammy Adams or Shwayze) and has even worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran. He’s also opening for Wiz Khalifa and Fall Out Boy this summer (now THERE’S a motley trio). He’s fun. You should listen.
Submitted by Jami Grismore, Facebook
18. twenty one pilots
Who they are: Performing duo from Columbus, Ohio.
Why you should listen: Want to get a good idea for twenty one pilots’ vibes? They’re signed by pop rock record label Fueled by Ramen (they can count Paramore, Young the Giant, and Nate Ruess as labelmates). But they’re not just talented by association; twenty one pilots can seriously rock. They make the angsty music your middle school self would have totally rocked out to, except with a little more indie cred. Their latest effort Blurryface is due to be released later this month.
Submitted by Kato Easterbrook, Facebook
19. Jess Glynne
Who she is: British singer-songwriter; you definitely heard her vocals on Clean Bandits’ sleeper smash from last summer, “Rather Be.”
Why you should listen: Jess has one of those voices that has a British accent even when she sings (think Adele, but with a poppier sensibility); her debut album I Cry When I Laugh drops in August. Her second solo single not only went to the top of the U.K. charts, it ALSO has serious “song of the summer” potential.
Submitted by Caroline Pearce, Facebook
20. Shamir
Who he is: Singer-songwriter from Las Vegas.
Why you should listen: Shamir can’t even legally buy a drink in the States, but he’s a must-add to your Spotify playlist. He’s got a sort of androgynous ’80s preschool style, and his single “On the Regular” is a funky, fresh bop. Check out his debut LPRatchet; it’s due to be released May 19.
Submitted by Joshua Michael Matlock, Facebook
21. Tame Impala
Who they are: Australian psychedelic band.
Why you should listen: Have you noticed a trend on this list of insanely talented Aussies? Tame Impala is frequently compared to ’60s and ’70s psychedelic rock bands (lead singer Kevin Parker’s vocals have even been called “Lennon-esque”), and you might even be familiar with the hit “Elephant,” which was featured on aBlackBerry commercial. Their third album, Currents, comes out later this summer.
Submitted by Cris Salas, Facebook
22. Jhené Aiko
Who she is: Singer-songwriter from sun-soaked Los Angeles.
Why you should listen: Unlike most of the other performers on this list, it’s hard to call Aiko an up-and-comer; she’s been on the music scene for more than a decade but only released her debut solo studio album, Souled Out, last year. Nevertheless, Aiko’s got pop star vocals but lends them to slinky, sultry R&B jams. If you like The Weeknd, you’ll probably be down with Jhené, too.
Submitted by Milagro Ventura, Facebook
23. PVRIS
Who they are: Alt/electronic rock band from Lowell, Massachusetts. It’s pronounced like the city in France, FYI.
Why you should listen: Lead singer Lyndsey Gunnulfsen’s vocals can best be described as kick-ass; they’re like Paramore’s cool indie little sister (they were a supporting act on last year’s Warped Tour, FWIW). Their single “St. Patrick” is the type of song that you shout along the lyrics with your friends at the bar as someone accidentally spills cheap beer on you. Yeah, you need to be listening to PVRIS.
Submitted by Sophie Reynolds, Facebook
24. James Bay
Who he is: British singer-songwriter, and he also plays the guitar!
Why you should listen: He opened for Hozier last year, which is proof enough this boy’s got the skill set to hit it big. His debut album, Chaos and the Calm, was released earlier this spring, and Bay has a radio-friendly sound with the talent to actually back it up (he’s got the sort of voice that could sub in for any lead singer of your fave alt-rock band if they came down with the flu). Bonus points for alreadywinning a Brit Award!
Submitted by Kayla Ritzen, Facebook
25. Years & Years
Who they are: London-based electronic trio.
Why you should listen: They’ve got Disclosure-y vibes (think a throwback electronic sound). It’s electronic music with a heart — “Beatsy. Bassy. Soulful,” according to frontman/keyboardist Olly Alexander — the type of music that instantly adds a spring to your step and turns a bad day into a good one. Listen to them. Now.
Submitted by Sarah Griffin, Facebook
26. Odesza
Who they are: American electronic duo hailing from Seattle.
Why you should listen: As far as indie-electronic goes, these guys are the real deal; they opened for Pretty Lights’ 2013 tour and a remix of theirs appeared on theDivergent soundtrack. If you’re a fan of easy, upbeat vibes (this is more driving-in-your-car-with-the-windows-down electronic than dance-your-ass-off electronic), then Odesza is for you!
Submitted by Mohad Zesterdaz Zahid, Facebook
27. GRiZ
Who he is: American DJ/producer from Michigan. He plays the saxophone, too!
Why you should listen: Aside from being insanely talented (did we mention he incorporates the saxophone into his act?), he brings a funkier, soulful sound to electronic music (he’s from Detroit, after all!). Also, he’s on tour this summer, and if you want his music, you can pay what you want on his website!
Submitted by Hanna Speck, Facebook
28. Marina and The Diamonds
Who she is: Welsh singer-songwriter.
Why you should listen: TBH, I was surprised that Marina and The Diamonds not only was recommended as an under-the-radar artist, but was ALSO the top suggested artist by BuzzFeed Community users. She’s the indie pop artist who can craft the type of song that will be stuck in your head for days, and her latest album, Froot,dropped earlier this year. If you haven’t given her a listen…you need to fix that ASAP.
Submitted by Emily Aubertine, Facebook
Good Music. Good Life. 