RADAR — Artists You Probably Don’t Know You Need in Your Playlist
There’s a certain satisfaction in discovering artists before their names start circulating everywhere. The pre-hype phase. The “I’ve been listening” advantage. If your rotation needs texture, mood, and a little personality shift, these are the artists worth getting familiar with—starting with these specific tracks.
Spill Tab – “Paranoia”
Spill Tab lives in the art-pop gray area where experimentation meets undeniable catchiness. Her sound feels playful but intentional—glossy indie-pop hooks tangled with slightly warped production choices. Nothing ever lands exactly where you expect it to, and that unpredictability is the charm. She makes music that feels colorful, clever, and just rebellious enough to stay interesting.
Her latest single “Paranoia,” featuring Boylife, captures that tension perfectly. The production feels slightly tilted—in the best way—balancing glossy indie-pop melodies with subtle sonic distortion. Her airy vocals glide over elastic beats, turning anxious overthinking into something strangely addictive. It’s catchy, clever, and just unconventional enough to feel refreshing.
Irma – “You and I Should Marry”
Irma brings a different energy: grounded, soulful, and elegantly restrained. Her music leans into acoustic warmth and thoughtful songwriting, allowing her voice to carry emotional weight without theatrics. There’s a timeless quality to her sound—like songs built to age well. She doesn’t shout for attention; she earns it quietly.
Her single “You and I Should Marry,” obviously leans into acoustic foundations and soulful phrasing, wrapping commitment and longing into a melody that feels both tender and confident. There’s a timeless quality in her delivery—gentle but steady—that makes the sentiment land without feeling overly sentimental.
Lekan – “Come Thru”
Lekan thrives in cozy R&B spaces. His delivery is smooth but never excessive, floating over sleek, late-night production that prioritizes mood over noise. Instead of dramatizing emotion, he dissects it carefully. His tracks feel intimate—built for headphones and moments of reflection rather than crowded rooms.
Minimalist R&B done right. On “Come Thru,” Lekan’s smooth, restrained vocals float over silky, late-night production. The track doesn’t overreach; it simmers. Emotion is handled with composure, and that subtlety makes it magnetic. It’s the kind of song that lives in your headphones long after it ends.
S!MONE – “Circles (Say My Name)”
Simone Joy Jones—artistically known as S!MONE—is carving out a multidimensional presence that bridges music and screen with striking fluency. Emerging from North Carolina with roots in both Amarillo, Texas and Greensboro, she embodies a rare hybrid: disciplined actress, genre-fluid vocalist, and modern R&B architect. Her sound doesn’t simply sit within contemporary R&B—it stretches it, folding in soul, pop, and cinematic nuance with effortless command.
In her single “Circles (Say My Name),” she blends cinematic poise with modern R&B polish. The track highlights her disciplined vocal control and emotional clarity. The production is clean yet atmospheric, allowing her performance to feel embodied rather than embellished. There’s strength in the restraint, like she commands attention without chasing it.
Hero. – “Strings”
Hero’s “STRINGS” thrives on tension—both sonically and thematically. The production feels taut, built on layered electronic textures and pulsing rhythms that create a sense of anticipation. The arrangement gradually tightens, mirroring the emotional theme of feeling pulled in conflicting directions.
Vocally, Hero delivers with controlled urgency. There’s a simmering intensity beneath the surface, as if each lyric carries restrained frustration. The chorus releases just enough energy to feel cathartic without collapsing into chaos. “STRINGS” positions Hero as an artist comfortable exploring emotional complexity through cinematic production. It’s dramatic without being theatrical—precise, moody, and confidently structured.
Cautious Clay – “Shoulders (9PM)”
Cautious Clay operates in the fertile space between alternative R&B, jazz textures, and indie experimentation. A multi-instrumentalist at heart, he layers textured beats, and introspective lyricism into moody, self-aware compositions. His voice is restrained but magnetic, letting the grooves breathe. Clay’s artistry feels meticulous—intellectual without losing emotional weight.
He closes this list with groove and intellect. “Shoulders (9PM)” blends alternative R&B with subtle jazz textures, anchored by warm basslines and layered instrumentation. His understated vocals add introspective depth, making the track feel sophisticated yet effortlessly smooth.
You might not know these names yet—but our playlist definitely do.
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There’s a certain satisfaction in discovering artists before their names start circulating everywhere. The pre-hype phase. The “I’ve been listening” advantage. If your rotation needs texture, mood, and a little personality shift…