The Melody Mention: Artists To Watch in 2015

As 2014 comes to a close and we look back on the year’s best music, the industry continued to evolve from Outkast reuniting on tour, to U2 giving every iTunes user a free album, to J. Cole earning his third number one album without any singles or promotion. There is no doubt this year has been an awesome time for music veterans, but also for breakout artists. As MyaMelody.com celebrates its one-year anniversary, here are a few upcoming artists that music lovers should keep their eyes on.

One of my favorite artists has been R&B crooner Adrian Marcel. The featured BET Music Matters singer made huge waves this year while touring with soulful singers such as Keyshia Cole and Elle Varner, as well as releasing his club banger “2AM” featuring Sage The Gemini. Earlier this year, Marcel released his second mixtape, Weak After Next, that featured collaborations with artists such as Kelly Rowland, E-40, Casey Veggies, and Snoop Dogg. The Oakland native’s fan base is constantly growing and his mark as Raphael Saadiq’s protégé speaks volumes that he is a force to be reckoned with. He’s gearing up to release his debut album, GMFU, in 2015 and is sure to spice up the R&B industry.

Another artist filled with a soulful pop/R&B sound is 19-year-old Kehlani, a.k.a. the first lady of the HBK Gang alongside Sage The Gemini and IAMSU! Kehlani first popped onto the scene as the front woman of the band Poplyfe, a group who secured a finalist spot on the sixth season of America’s Got Talent. The teenage singer released her mixtape, Cloud 19, during the summer and has secured the hearts of many fans with her mature sound. In 2015, she will be touring with rapper G-EAZY on the From The Bay To The Universe Tour.

New York-based soulful duo Lion Babe is also gearing up for a promising year. The duo consists of producer and musician Lucas Goodman and singer-songwriter Jillian Hervey, who is also the daughter of Vanessa Williams. With Goodman’s catchy beats and Hervey’s neo-soul vocals, the duo brings a unique flair to their audience. In mid-December, they released their debut EP that includes their hit single, “Jump Hi” featuring Childish Gambino. After touring with artists such as Gambino and The Roots, they are set to release their debut album next summer.

While singers continue to keep the R&B world alive, upcoming rappers are also making a mark. Rel is a rapper hailing from Pittsburgh who recently released his latest mixtape properly titled, Sound. With an extensive catalog spanning from songs produced by Big Jerm, Jahlil Beats, RMB Justize, and Maino Gates, his sound is filled with infectious rap beats and lyricism, but also dabbles with a few hip-hop love songs. He’s made a buzz in the Pittsburgh area after being featured in major media publications and opening up for fellow Pittsburgh native, Wiz Khalifa. His Sound mixtape is available on SoundCloud and I suggest taking a listen to my favorite track, “Cool Off.”

Chezale a.k.a. Lady Maverick is a rapper and singer based out of Arizona. With her influences such as Lauryn Hill and MC Lyte, she infuses a distinct sound of hip-hop and R&B. Chezale is no stranger to the industry as she has opened up for hip-hop veterans such as Slick Rick and Hieroglyphics. This year she released her sophomore album MAVMUZIK available on iTunes, Amazon Music, and Google Play. My favorite track “Vibin” shows more of Chezale’s ‘feel good music’ side as she mixes the sound of old school with a touch of 90’s R&B. She will continue to promote her album and work on other artistic projects throughout the year.

Although these artists may not be household names just yet, they are continuing to build their presence and are set to accomplish big things in 2015. I’m looking forward to see how these artists as well as other upcoming artists make a name for themselves and change the game.