These are the brightest new stars to watch in 2024
There’s no shortage of big albums to look forward to this year, but there are even more rising stars ready to become your next obsession. Right now, there’s an abundance of young artists across the landscape bringing fresh, innovative approaches to pop. Whether they’re hitting a whistle note, slinging a guitar, or oozing with Southern charm, pop’s next big things are starting to cut their teeth and ready to take 2024 by storm. Here are some of our favorites.
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Elle Darlington
Image Credit: Reuben Bastienne-Lewis* After building a following on TikTok, 20-year-old singer-songwriter Elle Darlington signed to Columbia. Her first single, “Wish You Would” recalls early Ariana Grande, a bit of intoxicating R&B-pop delivered with charming sweetness, complete with a whistle note she hits toward the end. Since dropping her holiday single, “Christmas Is You,” Darlington has been teasing new music on social media, like the song “Hiatus.” Based off the previews, the rising star is bringing her much-needed fun and girly energy into the new year as well.
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Blusher
Image Credit: Tom Lewis* Melbourne, Australia-based pop trio Blusher hit the ground running last year with their debut EP, Should We Go Dance? The collection answers the title’s question with a firm “yes,” infusing every song with the warm, frenetic energy of a great night out with your best friends. Their year unfolded massively, with opening slots on Tove Lo and Aurora’s Australian tour dates, and other international showcases. Blusher kicked off this year with the song “Rave Angel,” a perfect slice of hyper-pop bliss about redeeming a night out that’s at risk of souring. They could — and should — be the soundtrack to all your party pregames for the foreseeable future.
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Britti
Image Credit: Jim Herrington* Louisiana native Britti has a sound steeped in her Southern roots, making her a folk-pop hero worth keeping an eye on. Singles like “Nothing Compares to You” and “Lullaby” are hypnotic and dreamy, while “Keep Running” is a charming country ditty reminiscent of Kacey Musgraves’ early releases. Her melange of influences and malleable twang suggest that her debut album, Hello, I’m Britti, will be a showstopper when it drops in February.
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Baby Queen
Image Credit: Nicole Ngai* Baby Queen’s been on the rise for a few years now, having gotten a big break when her song “Colours of You” appeared in a promo for the Netflix hit Heartstopper in 2022. That same year, she also hit the road with Olivia Rodrigo in the U.K. and Europe, a dream gig for any artist. All of that was only the beginning for the South Africa-born, London-based star. She dropped more singles over the next year, leading up to her debut album, Quarter Life Crisis. Released in November, the album captures the budding star’s dreamy, euphoric synth-pop. It sounds like a collection of deep cuts from the soundtrack to your favorite early-aughts teen rom-com, perfect for screaming everywhere from the car to the dance floor.
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Towa Bird
Image Credit: Hunter Moreno* Glam rocker Towa Bird is off to an unrivaled start to her career. She released her debut single, “Wild Heart,” last year, and each song since suggests a buzzworthy guitar hero in the making. Raised between Thailand and London, the Filipino-British singer-songwriter hit the road last year with label mate Renée Rapp, a major coup considering Rapp has been on her own superstar ascension. Bird has since released a live EP recorded at her gigs from Terminal 5 in New York, which features a raucous cover of Blur’s “Song 2.” The collection is the perfect way to introduce her as the rock star she is, one whose best experienced from your favorite club’s sweaty pit.
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Lola Young
Image Credit: Capitol Music Group Fresh off her debut EP, Lola Young is a bratty, intriguing alt-pop heroine primed to make it even bigger this year. The South Londoner’s vibe is reminiscent of the brash heroes of Nineties Brit-pop, with a dose of indie sleaze. “Don’t Hate Me” took off on TikTok, getting the attention of stars like Kylie Jenner and Bella Hadid. Last year’s My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely is a great introduction to her sound, which seamlessly balances a unique fusion of post-punk, soul, and low-fi pop. She’ll be on the road this spring, headlining a string of shows across the U.S. and Canada.
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Aidan Bissett
Image Credit: Juston Case* The Florida-born singer-songwriter started building his fanbase on TikTok, then easily translated viral success into a career worth paying attention to. His nostalgic brand of indie-pop is as catchy as it is swoon-worthy, a combo you can hear on last year’s EP Supernova. Before setting out on his first headlining tour in the fall, Bissett nabbed opening slots on the road with Lauv, Role Model, and other acts. On social media, he’s been teasing more new music and more tour dates, meaning this could be a breakthrough year for the star.
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Meg Smith
Image Credit: Margaret Leyva* Meg Smith has been self-releasing music over the past four years, and has seen her labor pay off in spades. Her song “Cross My Heart I Hope You Die” was featured on shows like Netflix’s Ginny and Georgia, and Smith has been dropping a steady stream of new singles ever since. Her earliest songs, like “Fuck Friday,” sound like twisted takes on Disney-esque tween pop in the best way, and she’s only gotten bolder in the time since. Her latest track, “Jesus Christ in a Mini Skirt,” is a pitch-perfect “Fuck you” to an ex with unrealistic expectations.
