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2011 in Music: 20 New Artists to Watch

As a forward-thinking music fan, you're likely anticipating the new artists who will be releasing music in 2011. In our guide to 20 musicians to watch out for in the new year, we present the worthiest up-and-coming acts, which we guarantee you'll be hearing a lot about not only on our pages but also through your favorite music delivery system.
Tennis
Denver husband-and-wife duo Tennis' buzz should reach fever pitch once their Fat Possum debut arrives in January. Chronicling a seven-month Atlantic coast sailing trip – and actually named after their boat – 'Cape Dory' rides the current surf-inspired lo-fi wave but still manages to find its own specific swell thanks to Alaina Moore's sunshiny girl-group vocals. Like Beach House last year, this looks to be a marathon record that lasts all year long.

Essential Listening: 'Marathon'
Tennis
Force Field PR
Vaccines
This London quartet, whose guitarist Freddie is younger brother to the Horrors' Tom Cowan, are aces at blending bright melodies with thick layers of fuzz. While their formula is nothing new (Jesus and Mary Chain, the Raveonettes), their sound comes off freakishly fresh with dashes of surf rock and deceivingly dark guitars.

Essential Listening: 'Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)'
Vaccines
Redferns / Getty Images
Diamond Rings
This flamboyant Torontonian sashayed onto the scene, and suddenly girls were gushing about Diamond Rings for a whole other reason. D.R.'s infectious laptop pop (helped along with a guitar) hits the spot like nothing else. Just ask chart-topper Robyn, who's invited the mascara-clad maverick to tag along on her upcoming North American tour. And if our fave Swedish sweetheart is on board, then, clearly, so are we are.

Essential Listening: 'All Yr Songs'
Diamond Rings
Norman Wong
Warpaint
This all-female Los Angeles quartet spent its early days palling around with ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante, and an early incarnation of the band even included current Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. But that's not what made critics jump at 'The Fool,' their recently released debut. Warpaint have a strong knack for making hazy, atmospheric guitars pair well with sugary-sweet vocals, sounding like an experimental Mazzy Star.

Essential Listening: 'Elephants'
Warpaint
Redferns / Getty Images
Zola Jesus
A former opera singer, 21-year-old Zola Jesus, aka University of Wisconsin student Nika Roza Danilova, possesses a soaring, powerful voice, and a flair for the dark and gothic. Her critically acclaimed 'Stridulum' EP was one of the year's more memorable releases; a unique, wintry blend of lo-fi beats and aching vocals, which earned Danilova an opening slot with similarly gloomy bands Fever Ray and the xx.

Essential Listening: 'Sea Talk'
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Zola Jesus
Redferns / Getty Images
Charles Bradley
Brooklyn's Daptone Records discovers all-star talent in the most unlikely niches of New York City and beyond. Their latest find is Charles Bradley, a 62-year-old soul crooner who has a seasoned voice that peaks at James Brown and soothes down near Ray Charles. Coming out of the projects in Brooklyn' Bushwick neighborhood, and backed by the Menahan Street Band, Bradley has his first solo album hitting stores Jan. 25.

Essential Listening: 'The World is Going up in Flames'
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Charles Bradley
Retna
Pablo
There is no mistaking Pablo's distinctive sound from the other countless indie and folk acts that swarm around Brooklyn and Manhattan's Bleecker Street these days. The deceptively fragile vocals of Paul Schalda and a revolving cast of backing singers, hard-charging drummers and brother Will on keys are a palpable mix of delicate harmonies and explosive choruses. It'll be exciting to see what these guys can do in 2011.

Essential Listening: 'Loser Crew'
Pablo
Pablo
Lord Huron
Lord Huron released two EPs of lush harmonies and Eastern-influenced rhythms in 2010, but the act still remains somewhat of a mystery. It turns out the songs are solely the work of L.A.-based visual artist Ben Schneider. He eventually put together a band of guitars, maracas and laptops and hit the live circuit. Lucky for us, Schneider enjoyed the ride and plans on doing more recording and touring in the coming year.

Essential Listening: 'Mighty'
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Lord Huron
Peter Mowry
Fan Death
Vancouver-based, Brooklyn-born neo-disco duo Fan Death should have been big in 2010, but after a mesmerizingly dark EP last spring, the ladies' summer full-length was released only in the UK. Dandilion Wind Opaine and Marta Jaciubek-McKeever's Italo-influenced album won critical acclaim and tours with the likes of Vampire Weekend, so when Last Gang finally releases 'Womb of Dreams' on Fan Death's own side of the pond, we should see the birth of a new force in electronic pop.

Essential Listening: 'Veronica's Veil'
Fan Death
Last Gang Entertainment
Apex Manor
From the ashes of California's the Broken West comes Apex Manor, the solo venture from Ross Flourney. He's calling his debut 'The Year of Magical Drinking,' and it's a home-recorded album of classic-sounding indie pop, reminiscent of late-'90s-era Wilco. And judging from Flourney's year of magical drinking, it sounds as if he will come away a winner with this debut.

Essential Listening: 'Under the Gun'
Apex Manor
Chloe Aftel
Ducktails
Don't expect any shout-outs to Huey, Dewey or Louie from this up-and-comer. Thankfully, the blissed-out psychedelic pop concocted by New Jersey's Matthew Mondanile has zilch to do with Saturday morning cartoons. Mondanile (also a member of Real Estate, a kindred spirit sonically to Ducktails) aims for relaxation here. Even the most frazzled nerves will be calmed by Ducktails' breezy, Tropicália-tinged jams.

Essential Listening: 'Art Vandelay'
Ducktails
Myspace.com/Ducktailss
Fresh & Onlys
This San Francisco outfit has been nothing short of a workhorse in 2010, and clearly the grind has paid off because these guys and their jangly garage pop are getting name-checked all over the place. And we're all too happy to give the Fresh & Onlys our endorsement, too -- well, just as long as they promise to keep hammering out undeniable gems like 'Waterfall.'

Essential Listening: 'Waterfall'
Fresh & Onlys
Redferns / Getty Images
Oh Land
Just when you think the market is saturated with sugary sweet, electro-loving songbirds, a lady like Oh Land saunters up the sidelines and right into our hearts. Mastermind Naana Oland Fabricius delights with playful pop ditties that sparkle with the same je ne se quoi of a heavyweight like Florence and the Machine. Soak up the melodic sunshine that is 'Sun of a Gun,' and just try to not to be smitten. We dare you.

Essential Listening: 'Sun of a Gun'
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Oh Land
Gino DePinto, AOL
Glasser
Glasser's Cameron Mesirow's draws a lot of comparison's to the great Björk andSt. Vincent's Annie Clark – and her debut album, 'Ring,' certainly shows hints of both of those in her vocals. But Glasser takes on a more rhythmic quality that sounds rather tribal at times, where she favors beats and vocal melodies instead of guitars. It's not overstated, either, which makes it all the more captivating.

Essential Listening: 'Home'
Glasser
Redferns / Getty Images
Anna Calvi
Does London have its next big export in Anna Calvi? Judging by her eponymous debut (Due March 1), we'd say so: Her voice has a familiar, sultry ring to it like P.J. Harvey or an energized Nina Simone, but she has a trick up her sleeve. Throughout the 10 tracks, she shows fondness for the classic-rock guitar sound at times and a Smiths-era Johnny Marr at others. Her chords are the kind that make grown men contemplate air guitar simulation.

Essential Listening: 'Jezebel'
Anna Calvi
Redferns / Getty Images
Broken Records
Hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland, Broken Records initially sound like your typical guitar rock band. But on 'Let Me Come Home,' the band's second album (due Jan. 11), they work through a heavy dose of moody crescendos and fast drum beats, combined with a bevy of strings. Lead singer Jamie Sutherland sounds a bit like Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock and Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner, but the Broken Records doesn't care about the angular rock, instead favoring the anthemic.

Essential Listening: 'A Darkness Rises Up'
Broken Records
Redferns / Getty Images
Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion
Sarah Lee Guthrie comes from a long line of songwriting masters. She's the daughter of Arlo Guthrie, granddaughter of folk pioneer Woody Guthrie and, over, the years, has joined forces with her husband, Johnny Irion, for their second full-length, 'Bright Examples,' due out February. Produced by Vetiver's Andy Cabic, Guthrie and Irions invoke warmth and sentimentality through a sound reminiscent of everything we've come to enjoy about '60s-inspired California folk pop.

Essential Listening: 'Speed of Light'
Sarah Lee Guthrie
Redferns / Getty Images
U-Tern
Having released stellar remixes for Britney Spears and Mark Ronson, Vancouver-based, Hollywood-bound DJ/producer U-Tern is primed to be the go-to for dance-floor-intended remix treatment. Though U-Tern's roots are deeply embedded in hip-hop, his immaculate future-disco is unabashedly pop, destined to be embraced by the mainstream.

Essential Listening: Holy Ghost!, 'Say My Name (U-Tern Remix)'
U-Tern
U-Tern
Cults
Going for "retro" is a tricky proposition, but New York City's Cults pull off the '60s girl group vibe rather well. Lead singer Madeline Follin certainly could be 2011's Bethany Cosentino, but instead of a scuzzfuzz sound, Cults find themselves going into more Camera Obscura pop territory -- and that's never a bad thing. The band is finishing its full-length now with Shane Stoneback (Sleigh Bells, Vampire Weekend), due out on In the Name Of/Columbia in May, and will be headlining tours this spring, with SXSW in their plans.

Essential Listening: 'Go Outside'
Cults
The Windish Agency
Dale Earnhart Jr. Jr.
Get past the slightly off-putting name, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. reveal themselves as a melodic blend of electronica and folk. They sound like a hybrid of Simon and Garfunkel and some distant '60s French pop and at times, a few triggers of an '80s video game soundtrack. DEJJ transmits a breezy, sunny vibe that would never suggest they're from cold Detroit. Look for their new album 'It's a Corporate World' come April, which will be just the thing for those who fell in love with JJ in the past few years.

Essential Listening: 'Vocal Chords'
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Dale Earnhart Jr. Jr.
Roger Kisby, Getty Images

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9 Comments

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Terry

Were following a new group:
The Switch - never moving forward on youtube
I like their music!

December 17 2011 at 6:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Holiday

Dale Earnhart Jr. Jr. are one of the stupidest, most sappy, shit house sounding bands I've had the dismay of seeing in years. They anger me for sucking in the worst of ways! Lose the dumb ass outfits to boot.

February 09 2011 at 3:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Panache I.

I agree with Seven, I actually saw Kelvin Sinclair last night in Long Beach and you hit the nail on the head SMOOTH. I did not know what to expect when he hit the stage, after he finished all I could think about was how he released the soulful sound we have been missing or overlooking for awhile, authentic and cool, I actually got his cd last night and wow, he is headed straight to the top.

January 29 2011 at 11:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Seven

I like your line up. But I believe you missed one big one, Kelvin Sinclair. His album "Love Lounge 505" is one of those to be around forever. His vocals are smooth, soulful, jazzy and authentic. He's the real thing and he's one of a kind. Kelvin Sinclair is certainly one to watch.

January 28 2011 at 12:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Del

Don't see much prog-rock in there. Oh dear another uneventful year of drab music.

January 15 2011 at 4:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
LENNOX

Sparrow and The Workshop---- best up and coming band in Scotland

January 15 2011 at 3:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lewis

What about 'The Mars Patrol'....their on the way up!!

January 15 2011 at 2:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nik Chatham

What about Lissie, she is better thyan any of these, if you don't believe me , check her out on you tube!

January 14 2011 at 7:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jimyu8

1 in 5 relations hips start on line…ready for a rom antic filled 2011! Someone recommended me a nice community~ Bl ackwh iteC upid / Co m ~where b lack & w hite sin gles are looking for lovers to share inter racial lifestyle with…y

January 12 2011 at 11:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply