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  1. People.com
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  3. Meet the Talented Emerging Artists Making Their Mark on the Musical Landscape in 2021

Meet the Talented Emerging Artists Making Their Mark on the Musical Landscape in 2021

New year, new music! Check out the musicians PEOPLE will be watching this year

By Tomás Mier and Alyssa Johnson
January 19, 2021 06:30 PM
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Dylan Conrique

Credit: Lauren Dunn

Dylan Conrique’s newest single "Bitter" is oh, so sweet.

The actress and singer says her new song is a combination of her "two favorite genres" — country and pop. And she’s hoping her sound yells "new year, new me."

"My favorite lyric is "I’m not bitter, I’m better" — I feel like people can relate to that," Conrique tells PEOPLE. "It's a new sound for me."

Her 2020 EP "Baby Blue" is a mix of pop beats and acoustic guitar ballads as the California native sings about “Wasted Makeup” and being "Homesick."

Watch Conrique in the music video for "Bitter."

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Bailey Bryan

Credit: Nikko LaMere

She’s here to give us a whole new "Perspective."

Bailey Bryan is encouraging listeners to embrace their inner "sensitive bad bitch" with songs like "Steal Your Girl" and "Roster," where she touches on the personal, emotional aspects of relationships while maintaining an IDGAF attitude.

"My biggest hope for my songs is that they empower people to be in touch with their emotions and that being vulnerable doesn’t take away from their value," Bryan tells PEOPLE. "That’s why I call it 'Sensitive Bad Bitch' music, and why you can find me on my Tik Tok talking about how I don’t need a man, but that doesn’t mean you won’t also catch me crying about one."

This singer-songwriter received early buzz in 2016 for her country single "Own It." She's since branched out to genres such as indie-pop and picked up influences of R&B.

Bryan says fans can expect more music this year that makes you "feel confident in your feels" because she has set out to release a new track the first Friday of the first few months of 2021 with her musical project "Fresh Start."

Check out her newest song “play w/ me,” which TikTok can’t get enough of!

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Spencer Sutherland

Credit: Caden Huston

He’s here to break the rules!

As an alternative pop artist, Spencer Sutherland says the genre allows him to go outside the norm and that the "weirder" it is, the cooler the music can be. And his new EP "Indigo," is pretty cool.  

"'Indigo' is about that feeling or person or moment you never want to leave,"  Sutherland tells PEOPLE. “I just like to make songs that make people feel something!”

The former X-Factor contestant has racked up more than 3 million views on his video for "Fine"  and over 1 million for his "Tell Me" video. (On Spotify, "Tell Me" has garnered nearly 4 million plays.)

With his music inspirations ranging from Marvin Gaye to Green Day, Sutherland’s music is not one you can put in a single box.

Listen to his EP's self-titled track "Indigo."

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Ms. Boogie

Credit: Ashley Peña

Bow down to the "Fem Queen."

Ms. Boogie, formerly known as Jay Boogie, is an up and coming Brooklyn-based rap artist. 

With her songs "She Roar" and newest single "Morphin Time" Ms. Boogie creates music that she describes as "raw, liberating and revolutionary”. 

As an Afro-Latina, transgender woman, she uses her craft as more than just emotional expression but also as a form of resistance. 

 “I rap as an act of resilience and activism, essentially what Hip Hop & Rap was born from,”  Ms. Boogie tells PEOPLE. "Music gives us a chance to amplify our voices and archive our stories. The majority of the world still doesn't believe that we all share similar experiences as humans and meet at many of the same intersections. Mediums like music and art allow us to challenge those beliefs."

Boogie has also collaborated with artists such as Princess Nokia and rapper Cupcakke on the remix of  "LMK", a song by R&B artist Kelela.

Listen to her track "Fem Queen."

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Celeste

Credit: Sophie Jones

This artist is on fire and we don’t want to "Stop This Flame."

Celeste is a British-Jamaican soul singer that has garnered recognition from awards like the BBC Sound of 2020 and BRITS Rising Star. Her music is a combination of classic jazz and contemporary R&B as seen in her songs "Strange," and  "A Little Love."

While in quarantine, Celeste shot a music video for the single "I Can See The Change," a song produced by Grammy-winner Finneas.

"The song was originally something quite personal to me in terms of what it was about, but it’s taken on a new life with the reinvigoration of the Black Lives Matter movement," she told Vogue. "It’s taken on a new meaning even for me."

Celeste is releasing her full-length debut album, Not Your Muse next month. In the meantime, play "Stop This Flame," which is featured on the FIFA 21 video game soundtrack.

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Claudia Valentina

Credit: Jack Bridgland

We are "Obsessed" with this singer-songwriter.

Claudia Valentina says her self-titled EP is just a taste for what’s in store for her future in music.

"I’ve been working for years developing my sound and these songs felt like they captured what I wanted in a first project," Valentina tells PEOPLE.

The tracks on her new EP range from an emotional, vulnerable piano ballad with "Seven" to a techno-pop, anti-love anthem about standing strong with "4:15."

"Both reflect very personal experiences and the message in each is really important to me," Valentina says about the tracks, which she describes as "opposite sides of the spectrum."

Play her track "Seven," which has already garnered more than 4 million plays on Spotify.

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iann dior

Credit: Sam Dameshek

You probably know him for his smash hit collaboration with 24kgoldn, "Mood."

With a rapid ascent to the top of the charts, Puerto Rican rapper iann dior has already collaborated with A-listers such as Lil Baby and Machine Gun Kelly on his 2020 EP "Im Gone."

"I think what sets me apart as an artist is that my music is timeless and an expression of my deepest thoughts," dior tells PEOPLE. "In 2021, you can expect a lot of new music, creative projects, videos, and more insight into who I am as an artist. I’m excited for the future."

His sound mixes the genres of rap, rock and pop as in song "Pretty Girls" and his moody track "Emotions."

Check out "Holding On" — and his collaboration with Justin Bieber and J Balvin for the remix of "Mood."

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Yung Bleu

Credit: Maurice Tyrone Holloway

This artist is proving he’s worthy of your Investments.

 Yung Bleu has been making music since he was 11 and just keeps getting bigger and better. On his 2020 EP "Love Scars: The 5 Stages of Emotions," he collaborated with Drake for the song "Your Mines Still," which gave him his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. 

"Working with Drake took me to a new level in my music career," Yung Bleu tells PEOPLE. "Being able to obtain an accolade such as a feature with him made me feel like I reached a milestone."

The rapper's dark, ominous style and increasingly intricate flows create moody tracks that he says "touches souls." 

"My music is timeless, my music isn’t only for one season," Bleu adds. "I like to make records that can take your mind places while touching the soul. My music sets a tone when you’re playing it."

Listen to his song "2AM in Houston."

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Eddie Benjamin

Credit: Demarquis McDaniels

This artist will leave you "Speechless."

Eddie Benjamin is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Sydney, Australia. He’s collaborated with both Sia and Megahn Trainor and has received props from stars like Justin Bieber, who called Benjamin "the next generation."

"I’ve always been focused on my creative process and including my own musical interests and influences into the songs I work on," Benjamin tells PEOPLE. "I love adding in flavors of pop, R&B and jazzy overtones to my music."

You may recognize his face from Bieber's Next Chapter documentary or from selfies with girlfriend Maddie Zielger on Instagram.

Listeners will be able to hear his angelic vocals on his upcoming debut EP. While we wait for it, listen to his song "Running Away From Home" and "F— My Friends."

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Chloe Moriondo

Credit: Jimmy Fontaine

We want Chloe Moriondo to be the girl on our TV!

While this "rock chick" is doing big things in 2021 as her major-label debut album is expected this year, the Michigan-born singer got her start by posting covers on YouTube at 13. 

“I love making alternative pop and rock music and trying to say as many weird words in a song as I can,” Moriondo tells PEOPLE. “Being a teenager is a f—ed up time and I like to make music about it!”

Moriondo is featured on the cover of Dork Magazine, Spotify’s beloved Lorem playlist, while The New York Times described her single  "I Want To Be With You" an “acutely observed bedroom pop … served with a side of arena-emo triumph.” 

Listen to her song "GIRL ON TV" and her cover of  Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams."

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1 of 10 Dylan Conrique
2 of 10 Bailey Bryan
3 of 10 Spencer Sutherland
4 of 10 Ms. Boogie
5 of 10 Celeste
6 of 10 Claudia Valentina
7 of 10 iann dior
8 of 10 Yung Bleu
9 of 10 Eddie Benjamin
10 of 10 Chloe Moriondo

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Meet the Talented Emerging Artists Making Their Mark on the Musical Landscape in 2021
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