So here we are in the new year. A time for resolutions. For fresh starts and clean slates. All that auld lang syne jazz in the rearview. Nothing has been shaped. No trends have taken hold. Any narratives we were pursuing just a few weeks ago have suddenly been suspended, stuck in that magic vortex between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 where so much of our memory goes idle and eventually fades. Anything is possible (or at least that’s what we tell ourselves, which is much the same thing). And what better way to kick off another year of local music then by highlighting those artists whose prospects excite us the most?
Make no mistake, these are turbulent times in our city. Between rising income inequality, surging rents, and a lack of focus on affordable housing, minority communities are being rapidly displaced and the ability for artist’s to make a tenable living is becoming increasingly strained. Without a reverse in these trends, Atlanta will undoubtedly become a less diverse, less vibrant and interesting place to live on a multitude of levels. And yet, rather than succumbing to the darkness, the local songwriters and musicians on this year’s list are finding their own way forward by creating music that pushes boundaries, subverts preconceptions, and inspires others to do better. The present may be dark, chaotic, and grim, but for those of us seeking a brighter future, there’s plenty of illuminating voices here to help light the way. – Guillermo Castro
Alex Bond
At just 20-years-old, rapper Alex Bond already sounds wiser than his years. Contemplative cuts like “Cries” and “Carpe Diem 2” prove that the Atlanta native can cull haunting backdrops beyond his peers’ cut-and-paste beats; and even with the smoother assist of Didi Crazzz on “Fade Into,” Bond still grounds himself with humble musings on mortality and time’s elusive wealth. Now armed with a low-key and stylish video for “Woke” (shot in and around the Krog Street Tunnel), this promising producer and songwriter stands poised to make waves with his debut EP later this year. – Lee Adcock
More Info
Web: ialexbond.com
Bandcamp: alexbond.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @alextbond
Instagram: @alextbond
SoundCloud: @alextbond
Twitter: @alextbond
BKGD
It seems inconceivable that BKGD, a band who yielded not only one of 2017’s most distinctive debuts, but one of the best local albums period, would initially be left off this list, and yet… it happened. To put it bluntly, we fucked up, but fortunately the Internet is fairly adaptable not unlike the crazy carnival of crooked rhythms and jagged mutations the group constructs with gleeful abandon. In truth, we’re not sure what to expect from BKGD in 2018, but odds are there are plenty more labyrinthine structures and brazen absurdities to come, so stay tuned. – GC
More Info
Bandcamp: bkgd.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @backgroundatl
Instagram: @b_k_g_d
Credit: Casey Doran
Chick Wallace
There’s a new band in town, and this one sure knows how to make an entrance. In November, Chick Wallace unveiled their first EP, a debut characterized by both its effortless cool and its dramatic defiance. Each song arrives with its own unique voice, tone, and fluctuating vibe that embodies the numerous possibilities within their self-declared “salty girl pop” genre. There’s a definite ease to their boldness as well as a boldness to their ease, and the duality of this adds a touch of humor to an already effervescent presence. – Sophia Rubin
More Info
Bandcamp: chickwallace.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @chickwallaceatl
Dead Selves
Zach Fowler tells stories. With his last outfit Blackshear, he was branded a “smart-ass Southern boy” for his eloquent, rambling narratives. That’s somewhat true still, and yet far off the mark. With Dead Selves’ debut EP, Western Body, the trio explored miles of dusty roads to forge empathy with social outcasts, examine the workings of smitten psyches, and peel back dried scabs—hardly the work, in short, of good ol’ boys throwing back beers on the front porch. We’ve been told to expect their first full-length, Enjoy the Eclipse, some time this autumn, which seems like a day and an age now. But surely Fowler can hold us captive with other yarns until then. – LA
More Info
Bandcamp: deadselves.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @deadselvesband
Credit: Mark Creasy
Flamingo Shadow
Tropical punk is a simplistic reduction of everything Flamingo Shadow brings to the table, but there’s no douby the Atlanta five-piece throw out plenty of sunny energy and catharsis in their songwriting. Last year’s four-song debut, V I B E C O N T R O L, was an amply satisfying appetizer, full of penetrating hooks and surprising twists and turns, but it was the ecstatic rush of “Riding on the Wind” that cemented the group’s status as a band to watch. Look for a new LP to drop sometime this spring. – GC
More Info
Web: flamingoshadow.com
Bandcamp: flamingoshadow.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @flamingoshadow
Instagram: @flamingoshadow
Harmacy
Harmacy plunged into the depths of noisy punk in 2017, but the release of their new single “Limitations” off the upcoming EP, For the Mentally Ill, cements the band’s ability to amplify simple, socially-conscious lyrics with shrieking guitars. Dissonant, weirdo punk isn’t especially new, but Harmacy seem poised to make a mark on the genre. Though there’s no official release date yet, the EP will drop sometime soon and the band is considering releasing an LP before the end of the year. – RR
More Info
Bandcamp: harmacy.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @harmacyatl
Hommeboy
Like many restless creative types, Kawan Moore contains multitudes. Back in high school, he helped write and direct a video for the game day diss anthem “Brookwood Where Ya At?,” with the implied aim of unifying his class. Now, under his extraterrestrial alterego Hommeboy, Moore grooves to house, funk, and even shades of EBM as he preaches acceptance, existential awareness, and forward motion. And while this multifaceted rapper certainly jumped on the scene with a bang last year—in the span of five months, he dropped his debut EP FUNKWITME, shot two videos, and opened gloriously for EMA and the Blow—2018 should hold even bigger surprises for the unsuspecting public. Moore told me over email to expect a slew of videos, his debut LP in the spring, several cameos on other folks’ albums, and maybe even some festival slots. – LA
More Info
Bandcamp: hommeboy.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @homme.boy
SoundCloud: @heyhommeboy
Twitter: @heyhommeboy
Credit: Casey Doran
Jay Americana
While abundance can be a worthy aspiration for any artist, it’s really only useful and effective if said artist challenges themselves to find new innovations and unexplored territories within their music. Over the past couple of years, rapper and promoter Jay Douglas has emerged as a prolific new voice on the DIY scene, first as trap-pop eccentric NEWMONEY and now as the more clever and forward-leaping Jay Americana. On Dec. 31, Douglas closed out 2017 by unveiling Pageant, a heady six-song effort that delved into everything from trap and emo rap to weirdo pop and house. While the young phenom is choosing to keep some future plans under wraps, look for the Sissy mixtape to drop this summer followed by a round of tour dates. – GC
More Info:
Bandcamp: jay-americana.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @jayamericana1
Instagram: @jay_americana
SoundCloud: @jay_americana
Twitter: @jay_americana
Karaoke
Quite possibly the least surprising name on this list, the freakish pop geniuses Karaoke are poised for a busy 2018 in which Atlanta reaps the benefits of all the time they spent recording over the past few months. Their upcoming EP How to Make You Boil was recorded with Anthony Aparo and Zach Pyles at Fat Tony’s Pizza and the band is currently working with Dan Wakefield (Ominous Castle, Lotus Plaza) on the finishing touches. The album should see the light of day before the summer, at which point the band will take their show on the road. They may even drop a few music videos in the meantime. – RR
More Info:
Instagram: @karaokeisaband