These New Acts Are Barely Legal But They Sure Do Make Amazing Music

By Karissa Lund  •  25 Oct 2017 in Tracklisticle

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Khalid, Rich Chigga, and Jaden Smith exploded in the scene this year, but there are still other artistes under 21 who you should pay attention to. The power of the internet is helping these youngins from across the globe to showcase their music abilities and we are all the more grateful for it.

Yeah, sure, there are some pretty young “artistes” – *cough* Bhad Bhabie aka Cash Me Ousside girl *cough* – who purely depend on the magic of virality, but let us not give them more exposure. Instead, appreciate the ones who actually put their artistry on the web. Here are a few acts under 21 you should look out for:

Rex Orange County

With super awkward, honest lyrics, quirky music, and charming vocals delivered throughout his tracks smoothly, this vulnerable 19-year-old – real name Alex O’Connor – has a penchant of crafting the perfect songs to wallow in your passive-aggressive sadness. If the name is familiar, it’s because he’s also appeared in Tyler, the Creator’s Flower Boy.

Billie Eilish

Only at the age of 15, Billie Eilish is making waves. The Californian-raised teen is set on bigger things. With the help of her brother, she jumpstarted her music career and it’s already receiving global attention. Her brand of leery, insidious pop is what making millennials fall for her, and if you are already a fan of hers, good news! She is performing at Laneway Festival Singapore next year.

Yellow Days

This is the one to look out for. Just 18 years old, the singer-songwriter-producer is weird yet captivating. What’s rare is that his distinct commanding voice goes perfectly well with his ear-catching lyrics. Imagine if Mac DeMarco (who is also coming to Laneway Festival Singapore ’18) had a proclivity towards jazz music, it will definitely be Yellow Days.

Jelani Aryah

African-American, Filipino, and Chinese-mixed teen Jelani is making impressive music. Like the musical zeitgeist of today, he mixes up r’n’b, rap, and pop to represent his best self-expression. While he is mainly influenced by others like Frank Ocean and Kevin Abstract, Jelani jumps between genres with ease, creating amorphous relatable music for other young creatives out there.

Ravyn Lenae

Eighteen and already having opened for SZA at her CTRL Summer Tour, Ravyn Lenae is snatching everyone’s wigs with her breathy yet technical singing abilities. On her EP Midnight Moonlight, the r’n’b singer offers a beautiful display of her vocal range and songwriting skills. Not to mention, she just recently graduated in studying classical music.

To discover more music, here’s a list of r’n’b goddesses from Southeast Asia