By Nate Mills – The music industry is worlds away from where it was before the digital era. 20 years ago, the notion of kickstarting a music career with limited resources and no record label wouldn’t have been practical for most, but nowadays it’s common practice. More and more artists are being self-sufficient or signing to small indie labels rather than the majors (Sony, Warner and Universal), with the rise of the internet and digital platforms such as iTunes, YouTube and Spotify now making this a more feasible option, and some of the best music out there today comes from these artists. In this recurring column, we’ll be uncovering and highlighting 10 hidden gems to listen to from talented independent musicians.
Shelana Azora – “No Luv”
UK R&B artist Shelana Azora is ready to shake up the R&B scene with her new single, “No Luv”. The track is the latest addition to the growing R&Drill genre, a fusion of R&B and drill merging the jumpy BPM of drill with the harmonious melodies of R&B. The track is accompanied by a stellar music video that complements the track’s 2000s R&B soundscape. Shelana’s poignant lyricism shines through as she discusses her journey in the music industry so far and showcases her effortless sing-rap flow over a melodic drill beat produced by Jay Jay Musika. It’s clear Shelana is a force to be reckoned with, and the R&B scene has a star with a huge future ahead if this latest release is anything to go by.
Charli Fletcher – “Pow Wow”
Charli Fletcher is a singer and songwriter from London, UK, who explores different topics in her music. This ranges from body empowerment, protecting the planet, staying strong during trials and tribulations, love, sensuality and bossing up. Her stance on body empowerment can be heard on her brand-new single, “Pow Wow”. A song that represents feeling comfortable and confident in your own body, it stands out on first listen. Infused with a hypnotic hook, mesmerising vocals and feelgood lyrics, it’s hard not to be completely captivated and drawn in when listening. The track is taken from Charli’s newly released debut EP, Dreaming Reality, and arrives alongside an equally impressive body-empowering music video.
Zenya Ray – “Even the Angels”
Zenya Ray is a composer based in Sacramento, California, and originally from Japan. Despite only making his music debut in 2022, he’s managed to get off to a flying start, with his poignant, folk-influenced sound already accumulating hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify alone, and he doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. Keen to build on his momentum, the rising artist has revealed his new single, “Even the Angels”. Written by Zenya and produced by his creative partner Haris Pranowo, “Even the Angels” features a stunning piano-led instrumental, which is the perfect backdrop for the track’s emotive vocals as Zenya’s moving lyrics are brought to life.
Ghostluvme – Mixtape
With a unique style and a mesmerising lyrical aptitude, rapper/singer Ghostluvme from Broward County, Florida, is poised to take the hip-hop world by storm. Having already dropped several successful releases with super producers such as Scott Storch (Jack Harlow, Megan Thee Stallion, Trippie Redd), Zaytoven (Future, Travis Scott, Lil Wayne) and TRGC (Yeat’s “Monëy so big”), Ghostluvme has built a loyal following and accumulated well over 15 million streams on Spotify as an independent artist in just two years since bursting on the scene in 2020. And the streams and acclaim will surely keep on coming with the release of his new project, which is amusingly titled Mixtape. The project features standout track “Bowser”, which is on course to be another hit thanks to its hypnotic production and Ghostluvme’s melodic flow. It’s becoming clearer with each release that Ghostluvme is destined for greatness.
AMIRAH – “Silently”
Rising artist AMIRAH is inspired by megastars such as Rihanna, Alicia Keys and Halsey. Based in LA and originally from Malaysia, she is greatly influenced by real-life experiences and hardships, where the majority of her inspiration derives from, allowing her to evoke strong emotions within her listeners, as can be heard on her latest release, “Silently”. The track commands attention with its dark and gritty R&B production, which provides the perfect backdrop for AMIRAH’s versatile vocals – at times sugary sweet and at other times delivered with rap-like bravado, making for a fascinating listen. The rising artist also flexes her impressive penmanship, with the track jam-packed with engaging lyrics, catchy melodies and a memorable hook that will have everyone singing along.
Nikki Taylor – “Fake Luv”
Nikki Taylor (aka Nikki Taylor Vibe) is a US recording artist based in Manhattan, NYC. She’s a cross-genre artist with a soulful voice and an ability to connect deeply with her audience through lush vocals and lyrics that tell stories. She recently unveiled new track “Fake Luv”, which is notable for its empowering lyrical themes about discovering self-worth. Infused with infectious toplines, entrancing vocals and a huge chorus, the track will surely be another success for the rising star as she continues to build her fanbase and position herself as one to watch.
MANGM – “Trust Again”
UK rapper MANGM has returned with “Trust Again”. The independent artist has been going from strength to strength since bursting on the scene in 2019 and recently scored his first two 100k streams on Spotify with previous singles “Bonnie & Clyde” and “Who Needs Love”. And he looks set to keep his momentum going and reach new heights with latest release “Trust Again”, which arrives with a compelling music video. “Trust Again” picks up where previous release “Bonnie & Clyde” left off. On “Bonnie & Clyde”, the rising rapper discusses the breakdown of a relationship and on “Trust Again” we hear him rapping from a more positive headspace about moving on and finding new love.
Shoffy – …Onward
With a rapidly growing fanbase and millions of streams to his name already, LA-based artist Shoffy has just unveiled his new album, …Onward. A body of work showcasing Shoffy’s dreamy combination of honeyed vocals and fluttering beats, the project serves as further evidence of Shoffy’s talent and versatility. …Onward represents the next step in his evolution and lays down a marker for even bigger things to come in the future.
Kaelin Ellis & The Kount – “END OF AN ERA”
Florida-based artist Kaelin Ellis and Toronto-based producer The Kount are gearing up to release their collaborative album, VIGNETTE, on October 7th. Following the well-received lead single, CAFFEINE, they are back with new single “END OF AN ERA”, which gives a taste of what to expect from the upcoming project. Another funky instrumental that originally started off as a beat video on their social platforms, it builds anticipation for the rest of the album.
Feloneye – “Zoom”
Rising rapper Feloneye has uncovered his new single, “Zoom”. The Berlin-based rapper has been making his mark on the hip-hop scene since his debut last year. And with “Zoom”, he looks set to continue his rise and break new ground. One of his best and most assured releases to date, it features a hard-hitting, club-ready hip-hop beat produced by Or1gin, which is complemented by Feloneye’s unmistakable rap flow and infectious energy.
