3 Artists You Should Know

Hey y’all, how y’all doing 😁

I know it’s been a while - been navigating a bit of stressful & unmotivated times BUT with that I wanted to share some artists and songs that have been lifting my spirits and just new music I found that I think you’d enjoy!

Introducing - Y.A.P.S. — “Your Artists Perfectly Selected”

1. Dirty Art Club

North Carolina duo Matt Cagle & Madwreck started in 2011 as a one-off project to celebrate a friend’s book release, Heavy Starch. What began as a beat tape has since evolved into the solo project of Matt Cagle, crafting intricate, genre-bending soundscapes that blend instrumental hip-hop, trip-hop, and experimental electronic music.

3 songs to start with:

• Soul Eater

• Queen Persephone

• Undertow

Dirty Art Club is perfect for reading a good book and just hanging out. The vocal chops and layered samples nod to old-school instrumental hip-hop without ever feeling forced.

Their Bandcamp

1. Jai Paul

Jai Paul is an influential British-Indian singer, songwriter, and record producer from London, known for his pioneering, lo-fi “electro R&B” sound. He gained significant recognition for his 2011 debut, “BTSTU,” a demo posted to his MySpace page, and for 2012’s “Jasmine,” both of which influenced modern pop. Despite a 2013 leak of his music causing a long hiatus, he returned in 2019 and performed his first live show at Coachella in 2023.

3 songs to start with:

• Crush (Unfinished)

• Zion Wolf theme (Unfinished)

• All Night (Unfinished)

I actually started listening to Jai Paul’s music in GTA V, but I got back into it recently. Definitely recommend playing his music while you’re driving around on a nice day or at the beach with friends. His origin is actually wild because before his EP had even been officially released, in 2011, a new version of the song was released on Halcyon indie label XL Recordings, adding the weight of a heavy-hitting label, which had previously made savvy bets on Adele, MIA, and many more artists, to an internet sensation.

His Website

1. Sault

I’ve also been listening to a bit of SAULT without realizing it. They’re a UK collective that blends old-school soul and R&B with more modern aspects and socially conscious lyrics. The production is lush but never overdone or really overstimulating.

3 songs to start with:

• God, Protect Me from My Enemies

• R.L.

• Son Shine

Sault is perfect for cooking around the apartment and just hanging out with friends (also a nice drive). Shoutout to TikTok & my roommate for putting me on to some of these bangers.

Their Website

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