By Jaynene Moreno | Staff Writer |
Notable artists are joining the ranks of the music industry yet they are not always given the recognition they deserve.
Such artists include Roy Woods, Troye Sivan, Toro Y Moi, Tory Lanez, and SZA.
“I think there’s a lot of artists people are sleeping on,” said student Aimee Alvarez, “mainly because they don’t fit mainstream culture or the ideology of what music should sound like.”
Media is constantly raving about Drake’s trendsetting skills but not enough about the talents within his own signed artists, such as Roy Woods.
Woods is a passionate Canadian rapper and R&B singer who is currently signed to OVO Sound.
Although the singer did write his top track “Drama” with rapper Drake, Woods has more original, creative songs to offer, some of which you will surely find yourself vibing to.
In his music video “Get You Good,” Woods incorporates the color red to express his lyric, “Who else is gonna be a man to yah?” which embodies a sense of anger and dominance over the woman he is lusting for.
“I wouldn’t be able to compare Roy Woods to someone else,” said student Fernando Buenrostro, “He has a unique voice that I really enjoy listening to.”
Tory Lanez is an upcoming artist from Toronto who has collaborated with talents such as Meek Mill, Kirko Bangz, G-Eazy and Chris Brown.
Lanez’s talents include being a songwriter, singer, producer, and fashion designer.
The multi-talented artist is now getting recognized for his song “Say It,” with lyrics like, “You’re going to have to do more than just (say it)…and you gon’ have to do less when you (do it),” hooking the listener instantaneously.
Many musicians have a different sound than the current radio praised artists. They’re more playful and upbeat, giving them a funky edge that differentiates them from everyday music genres we listen to on air.
Toro Y Moi fits into the chill-wave music genre which includes songs that are concentrated on sampling, looping, and other sound effects with a simple melody behind it.
His songs are stylistic and full of rhythm and once you listen to them you won’t be able to get enough.
“I hadn’t listened to Toro Y Moi before,” said student Erick Pateyro, “but now that I have I can say that I would definitely listen to him again on my own.”
SZA, who’s signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, is a passionate soul singer from New Jersey. Her songs are seductive, emotionally rich, and most importantly, heartfelt.
“I know SZA is in a rap crew with Kendrick Lamar but I haven’t listened to her,” said student Kevin Rivera, “but I do feel like I should because I do enjoy listening to artists she has collaborated with.”
SZA has collaborated with rappers Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. The singer’s most notable work is her EP “Z,” which released April 2014.
SoundCloud, BandCamp, and YouTube play a big role in discovering and keeping up with new artists, which is how Troye Sivan gained a bigger fan base.
YouTuber, actor, and singer/songwriter Sivan performs with a sense of tranquility, with a beautiful tone that makes his music flow smoothly into the ears of his listeners.
Currently Sivan has almost 4 million subscribers on his personal YouTube channel where not only does he create music, but also vlogs (video blogs), sharing bits of his personal day-to-day lifestyle and videos on pop culture.
Before gaining success, most lyrical geniuses and producers broadcast their creations in hopes of getting discovered. If you look hard enough, you may run into an artist who you find to be better than your current music obsession.
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