2013 was a fruitful year, music-wise: AFI, Alter Bridge, Clutch, Arctic Monkeys…These and many other artists showed us why we love music through their originality and creativity. No matter which genre you belong to, if any - there was something for everyone. Keeping this in mind, we wanted to share with you what we feel are some of the best upcoming music acts in the year 2014.
1. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
For those of you already familiar with the work of the great Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, no introduction is necessary. After successfully beating cancer, Sharon is back and better than ever. Their new single Stranger to my Happiness is a perfect representation of their new album Give the People What They Want, which was released on January 14th, 2014. The tracks included in the album encompass everything this band is known for: unrestrained soul, funk, ballads and Jones’ strong vocals.
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
Whether or not you like what Lady Gaga's got going on, her vocal range is unquestionable. So is Tony Bennett's. These two artists may not seem like an obvious match, but what they’ve created together is brave, new and vintage at the same time. It's a classical jazz album, but a refreshing one, too. Don't miss out on a whole lot of fun with Lady Gaga, Mr. Bennett and their Cheek to Cheek album set to release in late 2014.
Jeremy Messersmith
Jeremy Messersmith is not new to the music business, but he has yet to achieve the recognition he deserves. Heart Murmurs is his fifth album, and the one that will most likely launch his career to the stars. It deals with the very familiar topics of loving and losing, but in a completely different and original way. Its release date is set for February 4th, 2014 when we will all be able to enjoy the work of this young and talented artist.
Broken Bells
This band is a product of collaboration between two artists who have hoped to reenact the old disco ages. Well, that’s exactly what they did – in a modern, almost futuristic fashion. After the Disco will be released on February 4th, 2014, following the release of their single Holding on for Life.
Dengue Fever
Founded in 2001, this rock band is inspired by the Cambodian culture and has released full eight studio albums to this day. One of their top motivations are their fans, which is why they started their own label company (Tuk Tuk) in order to continue making the music everybody loves. On the Pledge Music website you can be a part of the crowd funding and support the release of their new album. By doing so, you will gain access to a lot more than their album so we suggest you check it out. I've seen them live here in HCMC/Vietnam and they are a great live band too, so check them out if you can (they tour the US quite frequently).
Pledge Music: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/denguefever
Pledge Music: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/denguefever
These Wild Plains
If you’re on the search for a new rock band in the year 2014, These Wild Plains are the definite right choice. The focus is set to the guitar solos and strong vocals, which combined remind us of the 70’s rock scene. If you want to hear what they sound like, check out their Waves single released in August 2013. We really hope the album will be announced shortly, as nothing has yet been confirmed (nor denied!).
Johnny Cash
Now here’s a name everyone’s heard of. You must be wondering why we would include Mr. Cash in a 2014 album list, right? As it turns out, Out Among the Stars is his lost album from the 80’s sessions with producer Billy Sherrill. Even though he’s no longer with us, he still managed to surprise us. We are looking forward to the never before heard material by the legend that is Johnny Cash.
Neneh Cherry
If you’re a hard-core hip hop scene fan then you will most likely love Neneh Cherry, a Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper and DJ. Her style is versatile and refreshing yet simple, with a dark but inspiring beat. After almost 16 years of retirement, she is back with the new album Blank Project, set to release on February 14th. We can hardly wait to see what she came up with this time, after such a long absence from the music industry. Welcome back!
Cloud Nothings
This indie-rock band from Cleveland has been active since 2009, but it wasn’t until their Cloud Nothings album was released that they enjoyed critical acclaim. Their fresh, upbeat, friendly and fun musical style made them stand out from the other rock bands, which is always welcome in the music industry. Their latest album will be released sometime in 2014 and we can’t wait to hear it.
Elbow
Elbow is an alternative rock band from England that has been active since 1997. Since then, they’ve released 5 albums with a sixth on the way. The title of the latest album will be All At Once, with the exact release date still unknown. Guy Garvey, the lead singer of the band, described the upcoming album as “old-school with celebratory parts”. He also explained there will be less tempo changes midway through the songs, as they are going for a slightly different sound this time. Considering how successful they’ve been in the past, we have no doubt they will amaze us once again.
So there you have it – our (expected) top 10 music acts of 2014! All of these artists have something that distinguishes them from the rest, which is why we felt everyone should keep a close eye on them. Don’t be surprised when some of them (hopefully all) achieve international success sometime this following year.
What are you guys listening to? Anything we should watch out for? Feel free to share in the comments.
What are you guys listening to? Anything we should watch out for? Feel free to share in the comments.
