2020 had seen a lot of artists fade away into oblivion—some disbanded of their own accord and others may have been purged from the scene because of their inexcusable actions. However, there are some rising artists and bands who have made the most of 2020 and that I believe have incredible potential and are sure to do some great things this year. Here are some of those artists to watch in 2021:
julie
Fusing 90s grunge and shoegaze, julie is a band that is destined to capture the hearts of the LA scene. Their first release “flutter” from early 2020 has exploded on Spotify, with over 300,000 streams and counting. They just released a double single “starjump” and “kit,” which was met with a lot of excitement from fans. It’s clear that julie is one of the best young talents from our local scene, and I’m excited to see what’s next for them as they continue to grow.
Joynoise
One of the most energizing and angsty bands you could see live pre-quarantine, Joynoise is destined to do some big things in 2021. They’ve spent the past year writing and recording their debut album–keeping fans updated along the way via social media. They also performed a handful of new album tracks through their Jam In the Van live session and released a haunting music video for their cover of “St. James Infirmary Blues” for Halloween last year. With a year of creative energy and an album on the way, Joynoise is definitely an artist to watch in 2021.
Rain on Fridays
A band that has been destined to explode, indie punk group Rain on Fridays are ready to take on 2021. Their releases of “Hooked” and “Desperate Invasion” last year have continued to remind fans of Rain on Fridays’ immense talent in addition to their Living Room Session with The Last Magna–demonstrating the power and passion behind Rain on Fridays. 2021 will be a great year for Rain on Fridays, especially because these passionate badass women are exactly what the scene needs right now.
MILLY
LA shoegaze band MILLY will definitely be one to keep an eye on in 2021. The lyricism of singer-songwriter Brendan Dyer alone is enough to make MILLY stand out amongst the noise of the Los Angeles scene, not to mention their fuzzy yet melodic take on shoegaze. Their latest release “Star Thistle Blossom” is the first single from their EP Wish Goes On, set to release this year.
Verum
Formerly called Fockstail, Verum is a staple of the local scene–anyone that’s involved in the Orange County DIY community is sure to know them. 2020 saw a complete rebranding of the band, followed by the release of two singles “Todesengel” and “Deceit” in the fall. The group also recorded a cover of the classic “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, which was released through an incredibly aesthetically-pleasing music video filmed by OC film collective Late Bloomer Media. Verum is set to release a new album in 2021 following the singles of this year, and I’m excited to see what’s in store for them.
