The Best Artists Of 2015

2015 has been an interesting year for music. From Madonna falling down the stairs on stage, to Dave Grohl falling off the stage, to Kanye vowing to run for president in 2020; a lot of people have made fools of themselves. But across every genre, there have been those on their grind more than ever to create unique, beautiful music and have risen up the ranks and seen success because of it. As a result, here’s our rundown of the best artists of 2015.

Tame Impala

Shooting into the mainstream stratosphere in 2012 with ‘Lonerism’ and then falling back down again like some kind of cosmic vertical boomerang, Aussie Jesus impersonators Tame Impala have been catapulted back up into the limelight once again this year with their third psychedelic pop-rock album ‘Currents’, following single releases ‘Let It Happen’, ‘’Cause I’m a Man’, ‘Disciples’, and ‘Eventually’. Since its release, the record has been awarded Q Magazine’s Best Album of 2015, 2 ARIAs, including Best Rock Album and Album of the Year, and reached the top 15 Albums of the Year in Rolling Stone.

Raury

Whilst most kids in their late teens spend their time sprawled on their beds, eating crisps and Facebooking, talented young buck, Raury, at just 19 years old, has been quite the opposite. Releasing two studio albums ‘Indigo Child’ and ‘All We Need’, this year alone, he has been a busy boy, collaborating with British producer SBTRKT as well as contributing a soundtrack to The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. Earning himself a place on the shortlist for the BBC’s Sound of 2015, as well as in XXL Magazine’s Freshman Class of 2015 alongside rappers Fetty Wap and Vince Staples, Raury shows no sign of losing the momentum he’s gained this year.

FKA Twigs

Every stage-2, urban, Tumblr girl’s wet dream and Robert Pattinson’s better half, FKA Twigs is not only an amazing dancer, choreographer and fashion icon but a musician too. She shut down many a gig this year, including Glastonbury Festival’s West Holts Stage and the 2015 MOBOs, where she scooped up the award for Best Video. This summer, she released her third extended play, ‘M3LL155X’, inspired by industrial noise and accompanied with short films by Twigs to match.

Skepta

2015 has seen another revival into popular music, of a genre close to many East Londoners’ hearts: Grime. Every Tom, Dick and Harry of this generation has now been opened up to the stylings of Novelist, Stormzy, Wiley and D Double E, clicking the replay button on their YouTube freestyles to impress their friends in Nandos or at house parties. But no Grime artist has made quite the impact on the masses this year as Skepta. Grime’s new poster boy, he’s been touring this year, making such an impact in the states that Drake got a BBK tattoo on his shoulder. His fourth studio album ‘Konnichiwa’ is set to be released early next year.

Kurt Vile

Like a fine wine or cheese, when it comes to indie-rock guitarists, the more mature the better, and with six studio albums tucked under his frayed, brown leather belt, Kurt Vile is some pretty good cheese. The V-man’s been making music since ‘My Humps’ wasn’t played in clubs semi-ironically, forming The War on Drugs with Adam Granduciel in 2005 and going on to record a plethora of solo albums, including his latest one this year. ‘B’lieve I’m Goin’ Down’ was released on 25th September to stellar reviews, ranking 11th in NME’s Albums of the Year 2015.

By Max Harris