15 Under-The-Radar Artists That'll Make Waves In 2015

A new year always promises the gift of new music, which isn't just my bread and butter -- it's my passion. But who are the names that are potentially going dominate the charts as 2015 passes? I'm taking a crack at predicting which musical acts are destined for stardom some time this year. Be sure to take notes if you're looking to add to your music collection:


15. Elvis Perkins



I'm getting this list started with Elvis Perkins, who might be missing from your iTunes library. His debut LP, Ash Wednesday, was released all the way back in 2007, and now he's celebrating the February release of his latest I Aubade. The track above — "Hogus Pogus" — has the potential to finally put this gem of a singer/songwriter on the radar.


14. Brandy Clark



Nominated for Country Album Of The Year at the 2015 GRAMMYs, newcomer Brandy Clark writes refreshingly honest down-home tunes that deepened our current obsession with country music over here at ML. I can see a hit follow-up record to 12 Stories in 2015, fresh off her CAotY nomination.


13. Alec Benjamin



I got to know Alec Benjamin when he shared his My Musical Mind survey with us back in November. The "Paper Crown" singer may have just one song out under his name, but he shows off some serious songwriting chops in the melancholic single. I'm definitely anticipating his debut LP when it (fingers crossed) drops soon.


12. Skylar Spence (FKA Saint Pepsi)



Skylar Spence first started off as Saint Pepsi, a bedroom producer on Soundcloud, mostly making instrumental tracks that would most likely fall under the Internet-obsessed vaporwave genre. With the release of his single "Fiona Coyne" in the summer of '14, he took a totally different turn music-wise -- as well as a distinct name change -- and I bet he's only going up from here.


11. Empires



We got familiar with Empires when they gave us their handwritten lyrics to "How Good Does It Feel" (on a diner napkin, nonetheless) from their 2014 album Orphan. I'm excited to watch these garage-rockers on their rise to stardom!


10. Seinabo Sey



Why Seinabo Sey didn't totally blow up the music scene this year, I'll never know. I'm a massive fan of her EP For Madeline; which includes the tracks "Hard Time" and "Younger": soul-pop jams that are so infectious you can't help but belt along to them. Please release your full-length album in 2015!


9. Glass Animals



Back when we premiered the lyric video for Glass Animals' Zaba hit "Gooey," I got an inkling we were going hear a lot more from the up-and-comers in the following year. Their unique music style of soul-tinged alt-rock has the potential to lift 'em up in 2k15.


8. Madi Diaz



With a soaring pop chorus that never fails to impress me, I kind of love Madi Diaz's 2014 single "Stay Together." Again, no idea why Madi's name has not reached household status yet: maybe 2015 will be her year?


7. MisterWives



You-hoo-hoo-hoooo-ooh, you-ooh-ooh-ooooh-ooooh-ooooooh! MisterWives' unbelievably hooky single "Reflections" -- off their EP of the same name that they paired with exclusive handwritten lyrics just for us -- had me head-bobbing in my office chair all year long. Their debut LP, Our Own House, is out now and currently blasting our of the ML headquarters' speakers.


6. James Bay



After having the pleasure of getting to know UK singer/songwriter James Bay back in 2013 (he gave us his lovely handwritten lyrics), I thought 2014 would be the year he made it to the mainstream. He's super close to it with the release of recent EPs, but his full-length debut Chaos and the Calm is coming in March 2015: that should be the moment he finally blows up.


5. Sam Hunt



We mentioned we're country music lovers over here at MetroLyrics, so it's only fitting I had major love for country newbie Sam Hunt and his debut release Montevallo. Blending pop and even a little bit of R&B; into his musical style, Sam's already had a big year, so he can only go up in 2015, right?


4. Kat Dahlia



It may be hard to believe, but Kat Dahlia doesn't have a debut album to her name yet. However, that hasn't stopped her from gaining buzz all over the globe with singles like "Gangsta" and "Crazy." My Garden comes out this January, so get on the Kat Dahlia train before it takes off!


3. George Ezra



He's the young UK-based songwriter with a voice of an old soul! That deep baritone that George Ezra possesses helped launched his just-budding career in pop, and all bets are on that by this time next year, he'll be a star.


2. Tinashe



R&B; singer-songwriter Tinashe has been working hard for stardom for pretty much her entire life. With a debut LP finally under her belt — featuring some of the hottest rappers like A$AP Rocky and ScHoolboy Q — it looks like 2015 will be the year she makes a name for herself.


1. Mikky Ekko



After being exposed to his Pull Me Down EP back in 2012, and then seeing his rise to fame thanks to the song he gave Rihanna — "Stay," anyone? — I've been steadily tapping our watches waiting for the moment for Mikky Ekko to become pop's next heavy-hitter. I chatted with him in 2013, and premiered his handwritten lyrics to "Smile" back in October, so I kinda think I know what I'm talking about when we say 2015 will be the year of Ekko. Especially with his debut LP Time out now.

Related News

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Stream our playlist off YouTube featuring the fifteen acts we think will kill it in 2k15:




What musicians are you hoping make it big next year? Tell us in the comments...