Every year a handful of artists emerge from the noise and make you feel like you found something real. Here are five who are making that move right now — before everyone else catches on.
1. Mk.gee
New Jersey-born guitarist and producer Mike Gordon (performing as Mk.gee) released Two Star & The Dream Police in early 2024 to near-unanimous critical acclaim. His sound defies easy categories: woozy guitar textures, Auto-Tune vocals processed into something alien, and production that feels like it was beamed in from a parallel decade. If you like D'Angelo, Frank Ocean, or Prince at their most experimental, Mk.gee is your next obsession. His live performances are hypnotic, and his vinyl is already selling out.
2. Ethel Cain
Hayden Silas Anhedönia, performing as Ethel Cain, makes Southern Gothic art pop that lingers long after the last note. Her 2022 debut Preacher's Daughter became a cult classic almost immediately. She's been relatively quiet since, but the anticipation for what's next is enormous. Atmospheric, cinematic, and deeply personal — her music rewards a proper listening session with headphones in a dark room.
3. Doechii
Tampa's Doechii has been building momentum for years, but 2024 was the year she broke through in a major way. Her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album — rare territory for a mixtape. Her flow is elastic, her charisma is relentless, and she has the rare ability to go hard on a rap track and deliver a fully realized pop hook two songs later. Watch this space.
4. Benson Boone
If you haven't heard "Beautiful Things" yet, you're one of the few. Benson Boone's breakout single became a global phenomenon in 2024, racking up billions of streams and cracking the top five in multiple countries. His music sits at the intersection of theatrical pop and arena rock, and his voice — capable of going from a whisper to a full-throated screech — is genuinely one-of-a-kind. He's one of the most exciting live performers of his generation.
5. Amaarae
Ghanaian-American artist Amaarae blends Afrobeats, R&B, and hyperpop into something that sounds like nothing else in music right now. Her 2023 album Fountain Baby turned heads globally, and she's been steadily building an international fanbase that spans continents. Her voice — featherlight and precise — floats over production that constantly surprises. She's a genuine original.
The best way to discover new music is to actually own it. Check out our full vinyl catalog at Media Mall — we carry new releases, colored pressings, and limited editions from artists across every genre.