SZNL TO WATCH
WINTER EDITION
DISCLAIMER: Let's be clear, blackness and the expression of it isn't a trend, it's a lifestyle that I, and those below, were born into. However, the new expression of it is inspiring current trends and ones to come, hence the section name ^^^. What I love about the artists below is that they're confident in every aspect of who they are creatively, and don't feel the need to explain their blackness and their expression of it to their audiences. Instead, they let their work do the talking.
BLACKSTARKIDS
Band from Kansas City, MO, USA
Hailing from my home city, this group of teens is breaking stereotype on stereotype by mixing their influence of childhood heroes like various pop punk bands, and icons like Britney to create a sound that is truly one of a kind.
Clearly, the music industry feels the same due to their recent signing to Dirty Hit (home of The 1975), and addition to the Billboard's Top 20 Pop of 2020.
As a child of indie pop myself, it has been so refreshing to hear music from people whose background doesn't fall from a tree too far from mine, creating music that people were often shocked we were into growing up. To me, they sound like HOME!
JEAN DAWSON
Alt-Pop artist and singer from LA
On a similar vein as BLACKSTARKIDS, but make it solo and sprinkle in a little more alt, and you have Jean Dawson.
The best way to describe his sound is a sick track you would search the internet for after hearing on Tony Hawk Pro Skater or Jet Set Radio, but in a 2020 kinda way.
My favorite songs from his sophomore album Pixel Bath are the two opening tracks -- "Devilish" and "Triple Double" (the latter having that A$AP Rocky feature and co-sign). Give him a listen, you won't regret it.
NIJA CHARLES
Grammy nominated song writer based in LA
It's no secret to anyone here that I am one of the biggest pop junkies alive, and Nija Charles is already on track to becoming one of the biggest behind the scenes gurus in the years to come.
This year alone, she's already taken the industry by storm, by co-writing Ari's lead single from her album Positions, and one of the biggest collaborative efforts of the year (second only to WAP in my eyes) with Rain on Me performed by Gaga and Grande.
That being said, it should come as no surprise that she is nominated for 12 Grammy's in 2021, for songs performed by Queen B, and the other two queens above.
I am so scared, in the best way, to see how this woman takes over in the years to come. And to think she's my age. Lord have mercy.
TRAVEL GALLERY
Shots I've taken of myself, my friends and family, and other things I like to look at around the world <3
