These are the up-and-coming bands to keep an eye out for in 2018
We're barely half-way through 2018 and we've already seen a slew of impressive releases, both from new and emerging artists as well as massive comebacks from the oldies. With breakthrough sensations like Cardi B taking over the charts thanks to albums like 'Invasion Of Privacy', talented up-and-coming artists who are likely to make their presence felt this year - both commercially and critically - might get pushed down the streaming playlists.
So just to make sure you don't miss out on the talent from the underground who are primed to make some serious vibes, here's our list of the top emerging artists across the rock and pop bandwidth that you should definitely keep an ear out for:
Dancing on Tables
Scottish pop-rockers Dancing on Tables have been taking the UK (and the rest of the global music scene) by storm. With only two releases off their upcoming EP, they have already proved they are THE band to watch out for this year.
Dubbed by some as the new Coldplay, in just 3 months, the band has garnered over 100,000 followers, one million streams, five Spotify playlist features, and they've just wrapped up their first UK tour.
With the combination of two contrasting yet befitting lead vocalists, their music could be described as the perfect marriage of skillful songwriting inspired by John Lennon and Paul McCartney combined with the exciting energy from The Libertines and Foo Fighters. Their first EP is slated for a June 1 release.
Read our full interview with Dancing on Tables here.
Monowhales
Fuelled by a passionate desire to create a sound as unapologetic and powerful as the personalities within the band, pop-infused indie rock quartet Monowhales have taken the experiences gained fighting their way up the ranks of Toronto’s highly competitive music scene and barreled headlong into the creation of their new EP 'Control Freak'.
It is apparent from the opening notes of the upbeat and feisty lead-off track 'Take It Back' that Monowhales have honed their already considerable ability to write songs which inhabit that rare intersection of pop and rock music where meaningful and deeply lyrical songwriting meet pure, unbridled fun. Marketing themselves as not just a band, but "an experience that resonates with all the senses", Monowhales are building a reputation with their gripping live performances as well.
The Aces
Playing shimmering indie pop with an electronic edge, the Aces are an all-female quartet hailing from Provo, Utah, formed in 2008 under the name The Blue Aces. The members of the group were longtime friends, and it didn't take long for them to click as songwriters and musicians.
As their popularity grew, they made their way into Provo music clubs and their reputation spread across the state as they issued a seven-song EP in 2012. The online magazine Provo Buzz named them one of the city's ten best bands, and Paste Magazine included them in their feature "10 Best Utah Bands You Should Know."
The Aces dropped their debut album 'When My Heart Felt Volcanic' which is essentially 13 back-to-back pop hits. The album got rave reviews from critics and much acclaim from fans and new listeners alike, and it paves the way for a very bright future for the Utah girls.
Snail Mail
One of the breakout stars of SXSW 2017, Snail Mail signed on with Matador Records last September, giving immensely talented singer-songwriter Lindsey Jordan a wide-reaching platform for her 2018 debut album 'Lush' scheduled for a June 1 release.
Jordan possesses a powerful, stop-in-your-tracks sort of voice, the kind that made people remember her from those SXSW shows, but also articulated deep, arresting emotion across 2016’s Habit EP, her only studio release to date. She’s only 18 years old, and actually studied guitar under Mary Timony, who played in beloved indie rock bands like Helium, Wild Flag, and Ex Hex. That's a lot of promise here and a lot of things to eagerly root for as well.
Moviestar
The three members of Moviestar claim to originate from the distant future. Infinity Vik, Anaconda and The Octopus Goddess make music in the genre of Sci-Fi Rock, but you might recognize it as a new incarnation of Art Punk Pop, reminiscent of bands like Television, B-52's, LCD Soundsystem etc. Add a heap of playfulness and anti-extreme pretentiousness, and you have their debut album, 'Stupid People Happy Days,' which dropped this past February and put the Norwegian trio on global charts.
With a persona that's half joking and half non-Earthling, Moviestar claims to make music in the genres of Space Blues with Punk-Poetry, Sci-Fi Rock, and Twin-Peaks ballads. Whether or not you agree with that, they're surely worth a listen.
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
Describing their sonic approach as "tough pop/soft punk", Rolling Blackouts C.F. churn out bright, energetic rock & roll with lively guitar lines and pop hooks, peppered with dry wit. Inspired by classic pop bands like Orange Juice and the Go-Betweens, the Aussie pop-rockers have been making huge waves worldwide, particularly for a band whose first recorded material was released just two years ago.
Their status as one of Australia’s most promising new bands was cemented late last year as the five-piece were taken up by the legendary Seattle-based label Sub Pop, becoming just the third Australian band to be signed. The band is living proof that tight hooks and upbeat songwriting can get a crowd moving just as much as any balls-to-the-wall punk band. Their debut full-length album, Hope Downs, is scheduled to be released on 15 June 2018 on Sub Pop and there's much to be excited about.
Greta Van Fleet
If you haven't heard yet, these three brothers and their drummer friend have taken the responsibility of reviving classic rock onto their young shoulders and are absolutely killing it! Breaking onto the scene from a small town in Michigan with their EP 'Black Smoke Rising', Greta Van Fleet have performed alongside legends like Elton John, hit a string of big festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza and a headlining act at London's Electric Ballroom, gotten a nod of approval from the legendary Robert Plant himself - and they are yet to release their first full-length studio album.
Last year, the band released the double-EP ‘From The Fires’ which combines four new tracks recorded in September at Rust Belt Studios in Detroit — two GVF original songs, 'Talk on the Street' and 'Edge of Darkness,' and two covers, Sam Cooke’s emotional 'A Change Is Gonna Come' and 'Meet On The Ledge' by the late '60s folk rock band Fairport Convention — with the four songs from the band’s debut EP, 'Black Smoke Rising',
Dubbed the new Led Zeppelin, Greta Van Fleet is calling us all once again to zip-up and aboard the mothership. What are you waiting for? Hop on!