EXRON MUSIC’S ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2021 – [READ]

December 31, 2020

Despite the lack of live events this year, 2020 has been a remarkable year in the electronic music sphere. With artists using the extra time to dedicate to their craft, we saw the release of some pretty incredible albums, EP’s, and singles over the course of the past 12 months. Each year we recognize ten artists for their exceptional contributions to the scene and unparalleled discographies. Although there are quite literally thousands of incredible rising artists to choose from, we’ve curated our top ten artists to watch in 2021 for their promising studio talent and extraordinary releases. Check out Exron’s most promising artists of 2021 below!

1. FRANKY WAH

Hailing from the UK, Franky Wah should really be considered our breakout artist of 2020. Time and time again, he proved his undeniable studio talent with each subsequent release this year. Not only did he release his first long-form release with “The Revival Vol. 1” mixtape, but he continuously earned massive recognition from global industry tastemakers. His track “You Don’t Know” was voted Hottest Record In The World by Annie Mac upon the release and “Come Together” was voted #6 Hottest Record of The Year. To close the year on a high note, he released the collaborative “Haunted” EP alongside dance titan Sasha. With a massive under his belt in 2020, Franky Wah shows no signs of slowing down in 2021.

2. NOSTALGIX

Nostalgix is dominating the house music scene and paving the way for blossoming female producers. The producer, writer, and singer revealed stellar releases this year on Night Bass, In/Rotation, Confession, and Dim Mak. Her infectious house sound has garnered massive attention from fans and industry professionals alike this year on tracks such as “By Myself”, “Act Out” EP, & more. Gracing the virtual stage for various livestreams and staying consistent with her release schedule this year, 2021 is shaping up to be her best year yet.

3. LASTLINGS

Brother-sister duo Lastlings have been quickly rising to fame over the past few years. Signed to RÜFÜS DU SOL‘s imprint Rose Ave Records, they had their most notable year-to-date in 2020. Trading remixes duties with RÜFÜS DU SOL for “Solace” and their track “No Time”, the Japanese-Australian pair has gained massive attention over the past year. Following a handful of EP’s, remixes, and singles, Lastlings finally unveiled their debut album First Contact on Rose Ave Records in late November. Straddling the line between dark pop and melodic techno, Lastlings solidified their place in the electronic music space and leave much to be desired in the new year.

4. JESSICA AUDIFFRED

Rising talent Jessica Audiffred has continued to dominate the bass music scene over the duration of 2020. With releases on Circus Records, Excision’s Subsidia, and more, her heavy-hitting tracks have generated well-earned recognition from the blossoming producer. Most notably, she collaborated with Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire on the tantalizing track “Stupid Love” via Circus and was apart of the debut compilation from Subsidia with “Nindo”. She also has been growing her own imprint A Records since 2017, serving as a platform for rising bass and electronic artists. After a powerhouse year, it’s safe to say 2021 will only continue the trend for Audiffred.

5. JERRO

Rising melodic house producer Jerro has been making big waves in the electronic music scene throughout 2020. The Belgian producer made his Anjunadeep debut with the breathtaking single “Tunnel Vision” featuring Kauf. Jerro has become a label-favorite at Lane 8′s This Never Happened imprint with a handful of successful EP and single releases over the past few years. 2020 saw the release of his “Closer” EP and the collaborative single “Holywell” with OCULA. Jerro wrapped up the year nicely with his remix of Petit Biscuit‘s “Drivin Thru The Night” and Massane’s remix of his track “Demons” feat. Sophia Bel. His unparalleled melodic signature sound has earned him almost 400,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and promises to continue his sharp trajectory in 2021.

6. LUCII

Burgeoning producer Lucii might be known for being REZZ‘s current girlfriend, but make no mistake, her own budding discography shows incredible potential from the up-and-coming bass producer. She dominated the WAKAAN label this year with multiple collaborations and her “Wicked” EP. Her collaborative single with Champagne Drip, “Me and You” has amassed nearly 2 million streams on Spotify alone since the release in early 2020. Just in time for Halloween, Lucii revealed her haunting four-track “Wicked” EP featuring a fusion of downtempo dubstep with her “alien bass” signature sound. After such a successful year in 2020, we can only predict that 2021 will continue the trend for Lucii.

7. LOCAL DIALECT

NYC-based duo Local Dialect had an extremely productive year in 2020. The progressive house and melodic techno producer pair delivered multiple EPs and singles on labels such as Zero Three, Nora En Pure’s Purified, and Gorgon City’s Realm. As they continue to hone their unique blend of dance music, fans and industry tastemakers alike have recognized their skillful studio precision over the past year. Closing the year on a high note, their recent release “Indigo” on Realm takes you on an epic sonic journey over the 7-minute duration of the track. The future looks extremely promising for this up-and-coming act in 2021!

8. KUMARION

Delivering a remarkable blend of bass music, up-and-coming act Kumarion continuously proved himself throughout 2020. Kicking the year off with the unmatched single “Want It” on Jadu Dala, it was evident that Kumarion was going to dominate the bass music space throughout the year. He followed up with a handful of impressive releases such as “Can’t Escape” with Levitate and “The Incantation” EP. In August, he made his Sable Valley debut as part of the first compilation from the imprint. His contribution “Enemy” features a hard-hitting soundscape that aligns perfectly with RL Grime‘s direction for the label. The label boss also featured Kumarion’s track “Want It” in his 2020 edition of the highly-anticipated Halloween mix. After an impressive year from the budding bass producer, we can’t wait to hear what’s to come in 2021.

9.VNSSA

In just two years since the release of her debut single, LA-based house producer VNSSA has been met with much critical acclaim. With 2020 releases on Insomniac Records, Higher Ground, Box of Cats, and more, VNSSA stayed consistent as she generated waves in the house music space. Her groovy signature style has soared in collaborations with Walker & Royce, OMNOM, and more. Her collaborative single “Word” received the remix treatment from the likes of Chris Lorenzo, Black V Neck, and others. The blossoming female producer has taken the electronic music scene by storm and we predict 2021 will be another impressive year for VNSSA.

10. EFFIN

Never Say Die mainstay Effin has earned massive support on his recent releases for his haunting signature style. He started the year off with a bang with his Deadbeats debut with his bass-weapon single “Uncomfortable”. Continuing the trend for the rest of the year, Effin released three singles and his “Flashback” EP on Never Say Die which all received impressive streaming numbers across platforms. The LA transplant has a bright future in 2021 as he continues to build on his hard-hitting discography.