PLAYLIST // 17 ARTISTS TO GET TO KNOW IN 2017
No matter how you felt about 2016, the new year is finally here, offering a fresh start to us all, and what better way to welcome 2017 than with some great new tunes? Stay tuned and read on to discover the 17 artists you need to know in 2017. Some of these songs are from artists I have adored for a long time, and others are artists that I too will be looking into more this year. Some are more well known, while some deserve more attention. In no particular order, these are the artists to start your 2017 off right!
Minnesota band Hippo Campus will be releasing their debut LP, Landmark, on February 24th, 2017. As I wrote in my full review of their EP, Bashful Creatures, this young band is musically wise beyond their years, packed with potential for major alternative success, and should surely be on your radar in 2017. Their most recent release is the ninth track on the upcoming album, called "Monsoon". The song is soft and emotional, quite different from the rest of most of the band's fresh and upbeat indie material, but equally as captivating and exciting.
Find "Monsoon" by Hippo Campus on Spotify and Apple Music, and click here for the chillingly beautiful live performance of the song live at the Landmark Centre.
As I noted in my full review of their third album, Absent Sounds, this band has successfully made its way through many divisions of alternative. I started listening to From Indian Lakes in late 2016 when a few of their songs started popping up in my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist, and was amazed by their musical diversity. From Indian Lakes' fourth album, Everything Feels Better Now, was released in October of 2016, launching the band into a new softer, more natural sound. The first single off the LP, "The Monster", is hauntingly intriguing, and should be one of your first favourites of 2017.
Find "The Monster" by From Indian Lakes on Spotify and Apple Music, and check out the music video here.
Formed in Missouri in 2014, The Greeting Committee is another young band full of fresh talent. Their debut EP, It's Not All That Bad, was released in 2015, but I didn't come across it until 2016. Upbeat, dance along, guitar-driven instrumental, with strong female vocals, and inspiring lyrics are constant throughout the EP. Lead single "Hands Down", is probably one of the best love songs there is. The lyrics are absolutely adorable in describing how it feels to be in love, while the sweet melody is almost impossible to not sing and dance along to, making a great way to launch you into the new year.
Find "Hands Down" by The Greeting Committee on Spotify and Apple Music, and check out the music video here.
British indie popper, Oscar, brought us his debut album in 2016, and I probably listened to nothing but it on repeat for a month straight. Cut and Paste is bursting with simply addictive hooks, guitar and synth riffs, and vocal melodies. The most unique thing about Oscar, in my opinion, is his voice. An incredible baritone is something we don't hear enough in contemporary music, and it needs to be appreciated. Single and first track on the album, "Sometimes", is wonderfully upbeat, infectious, and quirky, perfect for motivating you into 2017.
Find "Sometimes" by Oscar on Spotify and Apple Music, and click here to watch this super cool live performance.
I started listening to Colony House around the beginning of 2016, and I was hooked all year. Their debut album, When I Was Younger, is the perfect mix of summery indie, heavy instrumental, and strong emotion. Captivating vocals and lyrics with meaning are at the heart of every Colony House song, making the band an easy favourite. Their next album, Only The Lonely, will be released January 13th, 2017, and if single "You & I" is any indication towards what the rest of the album will sound like, it's going to be good. With addictive guitar riffs, a relevant message, and a steady beat, it's the type of song you blast on repeat with the windows down.
Find "You & I" by Colony House on Spotify and Apple Music, and click here to see this incredible live performance.
This band is one that is definitely more well known, but they've also been one of my favourites for over three years, and I'm just so excited about their new music. In December, they finally released a new single, "Run With the Bulls". The song is only one minute and 29 seconds in length, and hosts a crazy energy of infectious urgency. Smallpools has burst back to life in a huge way, with their always recognizable vocals, insanely catchy instrumentals, and an upgraded sound. If more music like this is to come, Smallpools will easily become one of your favourites, if they aren't already.
Find "Run With the Bulls" by Smallpools on Spotify and Apple Music, and check out the music video here.
This band is gaining attention in the alt world, and fast. COIN's debut self-titled album came out in 2015, and since then, fans were impatiently awaiting something new. Single "Talk Too Much" was released in 2016, with just enough of a style change to please old fans, and to attract many new ones. As I said in my full review of this song, compared to their squeaky clean indie pop debut, COIN has developed a much more mature, confident sound, which hints positively at the future. The band has been playing new, unreleased songs live, and teasing about a album on social media, so if you're not already a COIN fan, 2017 is the time.
Find "Talk Too Much by COIN on Spotify and Apple Music, and click here to watch this intimate live performance in Chicago.
This Philadelphia band is the summer indie you've been looking for. Full of hooks that will get stuck in your head, sunny guitar, and beachy vocals, CRUISR is the perfect summer artist, or artist to listen to when you miss summer. The band has released many singles and EPs, gaining more and more attention in the indie world. "Throw Shade" is their most popular song on Spotify, and one of my personal favourites. The single boasts lyrics about not caring what others think of you, while guitar riffs punch in and out between instrumental rests. If you're looking to start 2017 in the most fun way possible, CRUISR is what you need.
Find "Throw Shade" by CRUISR on Spotify and Apple Music, and check out the YouTube audio video here.
Vacation Manor are a small band I discovered on Spotify at the beginning of the summer of 2016, and right away, I was obsessed. Their debut EP, Girl, Say, was released in May, and it's a great start for the young band. Similar to CRUISR, Vacation Manor's music is just perfect for a sunny summer day. Their single "Careless" is the kind of catchy indie pop that you can never get enough of, with a chorus that you can't resist singing along to and instrumental that just makes you feel alive. Vacation Manor has immense potential, and I can't wait to see what 2017 holds for them.
Find "Careless" by Vacation Manor on Spotify and Apple Music, or check them out on SoundCloud.
You might have heard of this Arkansas band, maybe from the success of their 2015 EP, How's Your Mind, or possibly from the internet phenomenon their latest music video became, which caught attention from stars like Katy Perry. But that's not the only reason "Washed Up Together" is a hit. A combination of uniquely strong yet soft vocals, bright guitar, and solid drumming make it the perfect song to cheer anyone up on a rainy day. This song about being in love and "[Being] what you want / If it makes you happy" is just the right way to start off your new year.
Find "Washed Up Together" by Knox Hamilton on Spotify and Apple Music, and click here for the brilliantly bizarre music video.
This young Indianapolis band was very active throughout 2016. The Wldlfe released their debut EP, New, last year, as well as their latest release, single "Text Me?". The fun song hosts a jazzy, The 1975-like feel, featuring groovy synth, an insane saxophone solo, and almost crooning vocals. The bright red cover certainly reflects the sound, while the outdated phone attracts attention. The Wldlfe are not slowing down, as they have been posting studio photos and videos, and hinting at their social media followers that more new music is on the way. This is another band with potiential for greatness, so make sure you check them out this year.
Find "Text Me?" by The Wldlfe on Spotify and Apple Music, and click here to watch the music video.
These Australian indie rockers have been around for a little while, but I didn't start listening to them until about a year ago, and they quickly became one of my favourites of the year. Full of memorable guitar lines, big choruses, and a likeable voice, their music is perfect for making any day better. One of my favourite tracks on their latest album, Wellness, is called "Wurl". Guitar and drum driven, it's the type of song that reminds you why you love music. The song's bridge repeats the lyric "Everything is gonna be just fine", and if that's not the perfect way to enter the new year, I don't know what is.
Find "Wurl" by Last Dinosaurs on Spotify and Apple Music, and click here to watch the fast-paced music video.
This up-and-coming indie rock band are definitely one to watch. HUNNY released their debut EP, Pain / Ache / Loving, in 2015, and two singles last year. The latest one is called "Colder Parts", an easy listener at first glance, but after a second listen, the creatively deep lyrics shine through. Belted out with huge vocals, the song depicts a relationship that just won't work, while amazing guitar work flies in between. HUNNY has attracted attention playing tons of shows this past year with some pretty big acts. Whether you're listening on your favourite streaming service, or seeing them in concert, make HUNNY part of your new year.
Find "Colder Parts" by HUNNY on Spotify and Apple Music, or check them out on SoundCloud.
When I first discovered this band from Reading, I found it almost too good to be true. Sundara Karma's guitar-driven indie rock is just impossibly good. Their song "She Said" is a perfect example, with its cleverly youthful lyrics, brought to life by one of the most unique voices, paired with fun instrumental to create instant success, and things are only about to get bigger. The band released their debut album, Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect, yesterday, and it's already gathering buzz from many reviews across the internet. Be sure to check out these British rockers this year on their rise to fame.
Find "She Said" by Sundara Karma on Spotify and Apple Music, and click here to watch the amusing music video.
This San Francisco Bay Area quintet are going to be big this year. In 2015, Finish Ticket released their new EP, When Night Becomes Day, and from it, came the single "Color". Since then, the band has gained popularity, earning over five million plays on Spotify for "Color", and a television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien this past September. It's a song of arena-sized proportions, driven by the belted, leaping vocals and sharp guitar lines, while the creative lyrics peak interest. Recently, Finish Ticket has been posting studio photos on social media, teasing about new releases to come this year, so make sure you stay tuned!
Find "Color" by Finish Ticket on Spotify and Apple Music, and check out this beautiful live radio station performance here.
Vista Kicks, formerly BABE, are a rock band from California. Their debut EP, Chasing Waves, was released in 2016, and was showcased by iTunes on their Featured New Artists page. The EP's title track, "Chasing Waves", is one of my favourite of the band's songs. Coming in at over five minutes in length, Vista Kicks keeps you hooked and wanting more with soft, yet raspy vocals and an ambient, yet upbeat tempo. A large portion of the song is an incredible guitar solo, with talent that you normally wouldn't see on a first release from a young band. I will definitely be listening to this band more this year, and I can't wait to hear new material.
Find "Chasing Waves" by Vista Kicks on Spotify and Apple Music, and check out the YouTube audio video here.
Last, but definitely not least, I discovered Peoplemover's single, "Nueve", on my Spotify Discover Weekly late last year. This song's sound is just so fun and happy, ready for easy listening. Rhythmic guitar jabs through the huge, hooky chorus, making it nothing short of addictive. It's the type of song that you want to jump along to with your hands in the air in the front row of a show. I look forward to listening to the rest of Peoplemover's debut self-titled album this year, which came out in 2015. This band deserves way more attention, so if you like fun indie pop, be sure to check them out.
Find "Nueve" by Peoplemover on Spotify and Apple Music, and check out the YouTube audio video here.
Liked the artists you saw in this post? Check out the Spotify playlist of all 17 artists you need to make your 2017 great.
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