Welcome to AP&R, where we highlight rising artists who are on their way to becoming your new favorite. Below, we’ve rounded up a handful of up-and-coming names from around the globe who either just dropped music or have new music on the way very soon — from ethereal indie lyricism out of LA and gutsy Chicago hardcore to rebellious London post-punk.
Harmony
Harmony, formerly one-half of the beloved indie-rock group Girlpool, has reemerged with her first musical project as a solo artist. “Good Things Take Time” is the first single to be released from her upcoming project and clings to the soft, eerie, and effeminate sound that was a cherished trademark of the singer-songwriter during Girlpool’s successful arc, and showcases her inherent creative strengths as a solo act with detailed, diaristic lyricism. —Anna Zanes
[Photo by Morgan Maher]
TVOD
TVOD (Television Overdose) are elbowing their way out of Brooklyn’s young and burgeoning post-punk scene and into the spotlight, expressive and raw in both stage presence and sonic output. This month, the unapologetic crew that call Iggy Pop and Viagra Boys key influences released two new unapologetically different tracks, “Poppies” and “Since You Been Away.” Balancing reflective lyrics with rowdy live energy, TVOD embody the true ethos of punk rock, and never fails to open up a good pit — which continues to be proven on the road this month while they tour the U.S. in support of THICK. —Anna Zanes
[Photo by Jessica Gurewitz]
Buggin
Flatspot Records continues to put out heat, and the latest release from Chicago hardcore crew Buggin is another full-throttled collection of rippers. The band’s history of sharing stages with Turnstile, Zulu, and Soul Glo says enough if you run in the right circles, and their new album, Concrete Cowboys, will likely go down as one of the year’s toughest debuts. But Buggin also possess a whole lot of groove. On closing anthem “Youth,” bassist Dewey Hendrik’s melodic vocals soften Bryanna Bennett’s throat-sheering snarl about how the next generation will lead the way, which no doubt includes these playful punks. —Neville Hardman
[Photo by Farrah Skeiky]
bar italia
Until now, the perfectly unpolished post-punk project bar italia have been quite the mystery. Their minimalist sound and elusive social media presence have left us wondering about the London-born trio, but the May release of their debut album, Tracey Denim, kept fans engaged and new audience members wanting more. Though their time evading the spotlight has helped us to understand their stripped-down sound and unraveling the real art behind this band, the narrative will be shifting this summer with a performance at Primavera leading into a nearly sold-out run of New York and Los Angeles tour dates. —Anna Zanes
[Photo by Simon Mercer]
BLK ODYSSY
BLK ODYSSY once said that Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly changed his perspective on music — he wanted to have the same effect on others. With his new concept album, DIAMONDS & FREAKS, he’s treading a similar ground of immersive grandeur as he chronicles a man under a dizzying spell of lust in four chapters. BLK ODYSSY’s hallucinatory, nocturnal neo-soul runs deep here, and narration by legendary P-funk bassist Bootsy Collins only enhances the journey. By the end, it’s clear that BLK ODYSSY hasn’t lost any of his confidence or chops to make big statements — he’s got them in spades. —Neville Hardman
[Photo by Elizabeth Miranda]
