With recent song releases from artists such as Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, a lot of praise and streams were expected due to the nature of their popularity and how widely known they are. If you need a break from all of the overplayed music that everyone is listening to and want to check out less mainstream artists, here’s a list of artists you need to know about before the year is over.

LANY
American alternative rock band LANY consists of lead singer Paul Jason Klein, guitarist Charles Leslie Priest and drummer Jake Clifford Goss. Pronounced as “Lay-nee” the band itself is from Los Angeles but was formed in Nashville in 2014. LANY’s feel-good sound consists of ’80s radio pop, ’90s R&B soul and atmospheric synths. The band has released two top 40 albums, their 2017 album “LANY” and their 2018 album “Malibu Nights.” As they have released a fair share of singles, they are also recognized for collaborating with singer song-writers Julia Michaels and Lauv. This year LANY released their third studio album “Mama’s Boy,” which received more than a million views on YouTube. As their following continues to grow, they are not a band to be overlooked.

Catfish and the Bottlemen
UK based indie-rock band Catfish and the Bottlemen established themselves back in 2014 with their debut album, “The Balcony,” that reached number 10 in the UK Albums Chart and eventually went Platinum in 2016. With hollering vocals, unique song structure and an undeniable instrumental talent, this band is reminiscent of the Arctic Monkeys or The Kooks. Frontman Van McCann offers nothing but confidence and great showmanship onstage with performances so electric there’s no way to not have a good time. Offering three albums each with their own apparent theme of lust or love, there’s something for everyone.

Carly Rose
Carly Rose, previously known as Carly Rose Sonenclar, made a name for herself at the young age of 13, after starring in the second season of The X Factor in 2012. She ultimately won second place, and while most expected her to be thrust into the spotlight, she maintained a relatively normal life. She graduated high school, and now at 21, is ready to make a name for herself. With her debut EP, “WILD,” she does just that. Her previous singles “birds & bees” and “getaway car” establish her signature young adult moody tone, which can only be described as alternative indie meets pop. Think Billie Eilish meets Ariana Grande. All in all, the album is worth a listen, and she is definitely an artist on the rise.

King Princess
King Princess is an outspoken member of the LGBTQ community who strives to make an impact on the pop community as a genderqueer artist. The Brooklyn-born singer and songwriter is fairly new to the pop genre. She quickly grew her following right before her debut EP was released because musicians Harry Styles and Halsey praised her music to their fans and followers. From synth pop to R&B like music, King Princess gives you a deep-dive into how diverse her and her music can be on her highly anticipated debut album, “Cheap Queen.” Her lyrics offer comfort, support and representation to LGBTQ youth.

Gabby Barrett
Gabby Barrett first made a name for herself when she finished third on the 16th season of American Idol. One year later she released her debut single “I Hope” which has stayed number one in the country music charts for 14 weeks and is the most streamed country song of 2020. Her first album, “Goldmine,” shattered records in the first week by getting more than 16.1 million streams, the most ever for a country album. The Pennsylvania native received two CMA nominations in 2020 for ‘New Artist of the Year’ and ‘Single of the Year.’ Barrett’s second single is currently climbing the country radio charts. Even though Barrett has had a lot of success in such a short time, her new artist status stops her from being a mainstream artist for some.

Sabrina Claudio
Sabrina Claudio is a rising R&B songstress who has been garnering plenty of attention since 2016 when she independently debuted her EP “Confidently Lost.” An album that had massive success and over 3 million plays as well as hitting number three on the iTunes R&B charts just behind another incredible R&B artist, Khalid. On her most recent album “Truth Is” the title track is a slow melancholy song depicting the hard road towards moving from a failed love and the scars one is left with. It’s very reminiscent of one of her biggest influences Lauryn Hill as well as Frank Ocean the way she blends the new synth tracks with sultry and raspy harmonies. Sabrina has paved her own road in the territory of new age R&B and she is doing it beautifully, making her an artist to keep an eye on.

Róisín Murphy
When it comes to being a performance artist, Róisín Murphy is at the top of the list. Originally belonging to an Irish-English electronic duo group called Moloko which ranged from electronic, dance and pop, Murphy has since then followed her solo career and has performed with a style all her own. After releasing multiple singles from various side projects, she was able to finally release her fifth most recent album, “Róisín Machine,” which gives a very nostalgic disco-pop feel to it. When it comes to outlandish outfit changes and witty dance moves, Murphy knows no boundaries.

Dev Hynes
Dev Hynes is a London-based artist who has been singing, playing, writing, producing and directing music since 2004. His soulful, experimental and cinematic sound has made him in high demand for collaborations with artists like Carly Rae Jepsen, Tinashe, Haim, A$AP Rocky and Mariah Carey. His style since 2011 under the moniker ‘Blood Orange’ reverberates R&B and electronica. He earned praise for his 2018 album “Negro Swan” for its celebratory, depressing and optimistic depiction of Black culture. His latest album “Angel’s Pulse” triggers ‘90s and ‘00s era nostalgia. His most recent project involved writing the score for the HBO drama “We Are Who We Are.”