We have officially reached the finish line of our 100 Rising Artists You Need To Listen To In 2024! With the new year in full swing, we hope that idobi Radio has exposed you to some of the most exciting, rising artists across a multitude of genres through this series. Who knows? Maybe we’ll even expand it further next year *wink wink.* One thing is for sure: we will absolutely continue to bring you the best new music from your next favorite artists.
Thank you for joining idobi Radio in showcasing 100 Rising Artists You Need To Listen To In 2024. Tune in to our radio shows every day and check back into idobi.com for the latest on all of your favorite and rising artists. Without further ado, idobi Radio presents the final installment of 100 Rising Artists You Need To Listen To In 2024!
JaeyBxrd
As with many new artists, I came across JaeyBxrd on TikTok… But the video that caught my attention wasn’t your typical song promo. Instead, the video showed him standing outside of a building before Travis Scott emerged onto the screen. Playing his song “Devil’s Kiss” loud and proud from a speaker held high above his head and garnering a thumbs up from Scott as his black SUV sped off.
And you gotta respect that type of run-and-gun marketing.
The song is so catchy, with a little country twang, Digging more into his discography, it’s clear that the New York-based rapper is testing the waters with a variety of genres being incorporated into his sound. And he’s killing it.
Another can’t-miss track is “Lady Luck,” an acoustic song reminiscent of some of my favorite emo classics. It’s always rad to see genre’s blend and JaeyBxrd is really doing some cool stuff with just that. —Nick Major
Alison Road
Hailing from Meanjin, Australia, the four-piece Alison Road—comprised of vocalist/guitarist Sacha Zarew, bassist Karissa Liu, guitarist Tess Finch, and drummer Emily Exell—effortlessly channels a grungy, alternative sound reminiscent of the ’90s era. With their solo standing, debut single “Peas In A Pod,” released in October 2023, they dive headfirst into the sonic landscape of the past, revitalizing it with their own unique twist and prowess. This track, their introduction to the world, possesses a timeless quality, evoking imagery that could be slotted into an all-female coming-of-age film or find its place seamlessly in the nostalgic atmosphere of That 90s Show. Despite having just one single under their belt, we’re hoping for a whole lot more in 2024 from Alison Road. —Paige Owens
Better Place
You better hop on the Better Place train before it leaves without you. This four-piece Florida emo group is already carving out a space for themselves in the scene with their October 2023 single “Thrill Hill” and January 2024 release “Girl in the Corner.” In their Spotify biography, the quartet jokingly shares that they’re “bringing the sounds of the Midwest to the swamp,” and that’s truly a kind service for the people of Florida.
With gritty guitar melodies, distressed and urgent vocals, and thrash-inducing drum beats, Better Place is positioned to have a quick upward trajectory. Excitingly, the artists are releasing their debut EP, Martial Arts & Forest Animals, on March 6, featuring seven tracks. In true Midwest emo fashion, forthcoming songs include silly word plays, including “Obi-wan Keno Way Jose” and “Fuck Off and Die-nosaur.” The ever-so-energetic Better Place is truly explosive, and we are elated to see what their debut EP has in store for emo fans across the country. —Maria Serra
Candi Carpenter
Beginning their music career in the country realm, even working with Brandi Carlile, Candi Carpenter has fully emerged into the world of pop-rock. In Carpenter’s Demonology – Part 1 EP, the artist explores the dark parts of growing up, religious hypocrisies, and bad relationships with blunt lyrics over soft guitar strums. The relatable “Nervous System” is for every anxious baddie who needs to know they’re not alone. “I imagine a car wreck every time I touch my car keys/I don’t want to go anywhere/I’m a temperamental houseplant,” they sing. Unfortunately (or fortunately), Carpenter absolutely captured my internal dialogue with this track.
If you are a fan of their deep narratives, quick wit, and soft rock melodies, good news is on the way. The artist dropped their new single, “Tooth,” about when Carpenter “lost my best friend of over a decade, and it felt like losing part of myself. It was an ugly breaking off, a falling out.” This track will appear on Carpenter’s debut LP Demonology, available everywhere on March 29. The record “isn’t just an album; it’s an exorcism,” the artist notes. —Maria Serra
Grass Stains
If you go to Spotify and search “Grass Stains,” the very first line of the very first song you hear yells, “I don’t give a fuck!” Pretty sick way to be introduced to a band. The song is “Why Am I Like This,” an explosive pop-punk tune bathed in driving basslines, aggressive lead guitar licks, and lyrics we have all related to before.
You typically end up with grass stains on your knees after you take a fall. Whether it be from an angry scuffle, a drunken attempt at stumbling home, or perhaps just diving into the ground chasing a ball in a pickup game with your friends on a Friday afternoon. Either way, it’s usually pretty funny, and you have the grass stains left as a subtle reminder of your mishap. Grass Stains, the band, is self-aware in this way. Writing the narratives and themes of their music to reflect on their own stumbles in life—both good and bad, light-hearted or devastating.
“Divorced From Reality” and “Tone Of Voice” are two stand-out tracks to dip your toes into this group. This outfit is safe and understanding and lacks judgment on who you’ve been in the past. If you need a fresh start or are entering a new chapter in your life, let Grass Stains be the soundtrack that joins you. —Tate Logan
HOAX
HOAX is the perfect indie pop-rock duo for yearners, daydreamers, and water signs. Comprised of Queens-based duo Michael Raj and Frantz Cesar, the musical project is a remarkable, fresh concoction of nostalgia-inducing ‘60s and ‘70s synths, R&B grooves, relaxed surf rock guitar strums, and raw, soaring vocals. Just take, for example, “into the blackhole,” from their latest EP b? Sides, a divine, soulful love song that may make you shed a few tears. “When gravity starts trynna tear us apart/I know we are two halves of a whole soul,” HOAX sings.
While HOAX has been hard at work since 2016, the self-described “empathy pop” band has really come into their sound on 2022’s LP b?. Without a shadow of a doubt, these musicians have a unique way of pulling at the heartstrings when tackling both the highlights and tragedies of the human experience. Plus, the recent single “clouds” can and should be your 2024 spring playlist addition ASAP. Basically, indie lovers who can’t get enough of Tame Impala, Steve Lacy, Vundabar, and the like need to dive into HOAX discography right now. —Maria Serra
Lemondrop
In the early 2000s, the internet was a place where you’d take a quiz to find out which character from Hannah Montana you were on MySpace, upload photos of you and your friends at the bowling alley from the memory card on your hot pink digital camera, and leave angry Avril Lavigne lyrics in your away message as a diss to your highschool ex-boyfriend. The internet was a place then. You could leave and come back. It wasn’t all-encompassing, more like a hangout spot you could visit when your friends were there. Lemondrop has packaged this nostalgic feeling into her songs, visuals, and aesthetics overall. Listening to Lemondrop is like logging into AIM in 2007.
Last year, she dropped THE INTERNET EP and it feels like being transported into an episode of PEN15. Awkward experiences and cringe-worthy memories wrapped up into a naive version of ourselves we can’t help but have compassion and grace for. Lemondrop sonically can be defined as bubblegum pop rock with a dash of edge and grit. Songs like “Saturday Night,” “Pretty in Pixels,” and “Eye Candy” carry a groovy, angsty passion. Her visuals are campy in the best way, creating a whimsical universe everyone is invited to, just leave your ego and TikTok follower count at the door. Start with her most recent EP, and then work backward through her discography. She’s heading out on the road with Young Rising Sons this spring, and if you want to douse yourself in throwback vibes—be there. —Tate Logan
Kit Major
Number one dirty misfit (her words!) Kit Major is an eclectic artist who blends alt-rock with indie sleaze. But what’s different? Well, for one, you can hear these main genres in most of her singles, but she showcases her ability to tap into vintage surf-punk energy on certain tracks. It’s done so seamlessly that each song, even with a variation of sound, compliments one another without making you prick up your head when one song ends and another starts. With a range of inspirations from The Pretenders to Fountains Of Wayne, Kit Major understands how to replicate popular tunes while reformatting them into her personal style. —Lizzie Baumgartner
Summerbruise
We, as a society, have not surpassed the need for emo-folk-punk. We require more of it. That’s where Summerbruise saunters in to save the day. The Indianapolis, IN-based act put out their first song in 2017, and a first listen to their progression as a band throughout the years showcases how seriously unserious the band is. With track titles “(Plea To A Cat Named) Spaghetti” and “Dead daddog 20/20” highlight their ability to lyrically write about tough topics while tapping into a dark humor aura. Datemarks on their releases on Bandcamp even play into their goofy energy; for example, a cover they did of “Pieces Of Me” by scene-adjacent pop singer Ashlee Simpson shows it was released in 1992.
Suffice to surmise, Summerbruise is a group that is a bit to the left, which isn’t bad at all. If anything, it’s necessary to put their dynamic sound to the forefront to cause a shake-up. —Lizzie Baumgartner
Thehiz
Since unleashing his compelling, self-produced debut single, “Submarine,” and accompanying music video in 2022, Thehiz has steadily seen his star rise, with more and more fans discovering his blend of upbeat melodies and heart-on-your-sleeve songwriting. Taking notes from luminaries such as twenty one pilots and Young The Giant, Thehiz showcases his vocal prowess across a lush soundscape of dreamy guitars and heartfelt lyricism.
His debut single, a serendipitous and lauded creation, arrived in early 2022, and he described it as “an unplanned song.” The track, highlighted by evident ebbs and flows in the production and delivery, is an anthem for the underdog. Thehiz shares that it “deals with feeling marginalized and cast out by those who don’t want you to succeed.”
Fast forward two years and one day from his debut, Thehiz has dropped his latest sonic gem, “Faking.” Retaining the indie charm of his earlier releases, the track exudes spirited energy, immediately transforming it into an anthem that is perfect for rainy spring days or long summer nights. While a full-length album or EP is yet to arrive, anticipation runs high as we await what promises to be a watershed year for Thehiz in 2024. —Paige Owens
