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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at American chapter.

This year has been an interesting year for music. Throughout quarantine I found myself diving into new music and searching for new artists for some inspiration. From a surprise Taylor Swift album, The Weeknd, and the success of Megan Thee Stallion it has certainly been an interesting year for music.

This has been an amazing year for the music industry and it will be interesting to see what is still in store. Here’s a list of artists that you should keep your eye on. 

 

Phoebe Bridgers

With the release of her most recent album, Punisher. Bridgers has started to gain popularity in the indie-pop genre. Brigders’ music is raw and dreamy, perfect for a rainy fall day. Her music is full of emotion, while taking on a more psychedelic tone. 


My personal favorite off this album is I Know The End. This song takes on an apocalyptic tone, discussing the end of a relationship in relation to the universe at large and the seemingly dystopian state our world has fallen into. Bridgers is definitely an artist to keep on your radar.

Fiona Apple

Apple has been releasing music for almost a decade now, but has remained elusive to the mainstream. Her newest album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters has a completely unique sound. The album combines elements of jazz and masterful, sometimes even comedic, lyricism. Her music challenges the status quo of society and the music industry. 

This album represents what I wish I could have said to my naive middle school self and is the perfect reflective album for the end of such an unpredictable year. 

Samia

Samia’s first full album The Baby perfectly encapsulates the romantic idolization of Gen Z. Samia has a sunny-indie-pop sound that evokes a feeling of nostalgia and appreciation for how far you’ve come. Her voice is truly what makes this album stand out as she has an ability to break the listener down with her emotional lyrics, while picking them up with a deep and upbeat voice. 

Dijon

Dijon released his first EP, How Do You Feel About Getting Married? earlier this year. This twenty-six year old pays homage to musical legends in the song rock n roll, which has become one of my favorites. Dijon is able to combine modern mixing and RnB, with elements of rock and lyrics that make you want to lay in a dark room and just soak them in. If you like Frank Ocean, this artist is a must.

Cavetown

Cavetwon released his album Sleepyhead earlier this year. It’s hard for me to describe this album, it combines every aspect of indie music from techno-beats, folk, ballads and guitar riffs. This jumbled nature of this album is what makes it the perfect coming of age album for me. Cavetown dives into those feelings of teen angst that we all try not to give into. 

My favorite song off the album is Feb 14, a song about silly middle school crushes and passing notes back and forth. If you’re looking for a strong feeling of nostalgia check out this artist. 

Being locked up in quaratine is the perfect time to update your playlists and discover new artists. 

Mackenzie Riley

American '23

Mackenzie is a sophomore at American University studying SIS with a minor in Spanish. She loves writing poetry and exploring Washington DC in her free time, discovering new hidden gems. She enjoys writing about environmental sustainability, campus safety, and self care!