23 of the most exciting rising artists to watch in 2023

When you’re a music fan who’s constantly hungry for something new to listen to, there’s no better feeling than discovering and falling head over heels for a new artist. At AltPress, that’s certainly a joy we all love to experience, as we tend to always have our ears open for great music from any and all genres. In 2022, we caught wind of or became even greater fans of several rising artists who we can’t wait to see soar in 2023. Whether they’re promising an upcoming release or on the cusp of blowing up, these are 23 artists worth watching in 2023.

Read more: The 55 best albums of 2022

Blondshell

Blondshell (Sabrina Teitelbaum) is alt-rock’s next blockbuster. This year, she made an entrance with a series of absorbing singles that play out like an emotional rush. Whether she’s crafting odes to 2000s cult detective shows that rip like an MTV classic (“Veronica Mars”) or singing of a smoldering toxic love (“Olympus”), Teitelbaum possesses a charismatic cool and frankness that envelops everything she makes. —Neville Hardman

Bob Vylan

With a sound that incorporates grime and punk, Bob Vylan provide rapid-fire, politically charged anthems that tackle social issues such as racism, police brutality, and capitalism. After releasing their defiant sophomore album, The Price Of Life in April, and given their wide-ranging sound, it seems inevitable that the duo will keep climbing the ranks of the punk, rock, and hip-hop circuits simultaneously and become industry fixtures in no time. —Alessandro DeCaro

CARR

New Jersey-bred, Los Angeles-based singer CARR is one of the most recent signees to Pete Wentz and Spencer Smith’s DCD2 Records. That should be enough to pique any (former) pop-punk kids’ interest; otherwise, her biting songwriting should do the trick. Born Carly McClellan, CARR, is clearly an A+ student of ’00s pop punk, with her more recent releases being flanked by sleek production and anthemic guitars. The tracks only uplift her words that often sound like late-night Notes app confessionals — exactly the kinds of songs you want to sing/scream along to into your hairbrush-microphone in your bedroom. —Sadie Bell

Chappell Roan

Throughout the past year, Chappell Roan has been churning out pop bangers, but lately the one that seems to be sticking with everyone is her viral TikTok hit “Casual,” a country-tinged pop number that details the pitfalls of a situationship. While Roan signed to Atlantic Records at just 17 years old, she’s gone through some transitions and has since redefined her voice as an artist with the help of producer Dan Nigro. Now, she’s making music that’s Taylor Swift-meets-Mazzy Star-meets-Carly Rae Jepsen — and she’s even been able to open for Olivia Rodrigo and FLETCHER on tour. —Ilana Kaplan

Destroy Lonely

Atlanta-based rapper Destroy Lonely channels the golden era of melodic trap in the vein of industry giants such as Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, and Playboi Carti — the latter of whom signed the recording artist to his own label Opium. Destroy Lonely’s flow is centered around fast-paced cadences that balance playful indulgence with direct lyricism. His production also shines, with stuttering hi-hats, booming 808s, and a unique juxtaposition of melodics that fuse ’90s-era West Coast hip-hop synths and hyperpop-like elements. —AD

The Dare

New York City fucks with the Dare — there’s really no better way to put it. The electro-art-pop project comes from Harrison Patrick Smith, who also helms the indie-rock outfit Turtlenecked and has been cutting his teeth in the NYC scene for years. After becoming (a damn good!) resident DJ, the Dare dropped his first-ever and still only single, “Girls,” earlier this year — and essentially, Manhattan and Brooklyn’s cool kid scene was never the same. First conceived as a joke, it’s a cheeky, sleazy banger meant to be blasted in dive bars and warehouse parties alike. He’s already booking festivals and major events outside of the city, so it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world falls for this indie-pop prince. —SB

Dijon

Dijon had his biggest tour to date in 2022, opening for Bon Iver, and it was a match made in indie heaven. Like his tourmates, the alt-R&B project from Los Angeles’ Dijon Duenas spans a variety of genres to capture a vibe that’s totally distinct to him. Some songs are total crooners supported by synths or acoustic guitars, and others are sunnier with the percussion turned up, but all are carried by his sweet rasp. His late 2021 debut album, Absolutely, has been a hit, but it seems like Dijon is just getting cooking and on the cusp of being an alt-R&B star of this generation. —SB

DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ

Imagine a universe where Sabrina Spellman creates rollicking house beats, with her sardonic black cat Salem grooving out by her side. Now, meet DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ, the anonymous duo of DJ Sabrina and Salem, who’ve carved out their own nostalgic corner of the internet with albums that go on for hours. The pair are on a steady rise, equipped with a prolific number of releases, the bewitching power of the ’90s, and a 1975 co-write (“Happiness”). —NH

Drain 

In recent years, Santa Cruz, California has become fertile ground for birthing modern hardcore groups, and the scene’s latest export Drain are among the heaviest hitters. Since the release of their thrash-inspired debut LP, California Cursed, Drain have been propelled from hometown heroes to main stage warriors — due in large part to their playful aesthetic, uplifting lyrics, and stage presence that invites crowd participation. Now signed to Epitaph Records, opening for Neck Deep, and headlining the hardcore festival Sound and Fury in August, they’ll hardly be slowing down anytime soon. —AD

Dummy

LA’s Dummy are set to make their Sub Pop debut next year and have already dropped two tracks off the sure-to-be-great record. The five-piece make wonderfully strange guitar music that possesses strains of shoegaze and art rock just the same, and feels nostalgic for the ’90s, but cool and present, nonetheless. In the past year, they’ve played shows with Beach Fossils, Hosegirl and Snail Mail, so if that’s any indication, it seems like Dummy are the next indie band you need on your radar ASAP. —SB

Fleshwater 

Many bands have attempted to revive the spirit of ’90s post-grunge/shoegaze for years. However, few have ever come as close as Fleshwater on their brilliant 2022 debut, We’re Not Here to Be Loved. Comprised of members from Vein.fm, along with bedroom-pop artist MIRSY, Fleshwater have created a compelling, melodically-driven sound of haunting vocals, fuzzed-out guitars, frantic rhythms, and a certain dream-like quality that’s unlike anything else at the moment. On We’re Not Here to Be Loved, Fleshwater channel the energy of classic ‘90s groups such as Failure, Deftones, and Hum in progressively new ways that capture existential dread in vivid detail. It’s sure to be the moody soundtrack to bring us into 2023. —AD

Hemlocke Springs

For 24-year-old medical student Isimeme “Naomi” Udu, making music used to be a hobby. If she got the rare inkling to release a track, she’d put it up on Soundcloud and then immediately take it down. That all changed in 2022 when she put out “girlfriend” as Hemlocke Springs — taking the internet and TikTok (where it currently soundtracks 68K videos) by storm. She makes glorious, ’80s-tinged indie-pop out of her bedroom, and has quickly inspired a devout fanbase who admire her making music for “awkward Black girls.” She may only have two tracks out right now, but you can bet her whirlwind success is sure to continue into 2023. —SB

Ice Spice

Chances are, you’ve at least heard clips of rapper Ice Spice‘s mega-viral single “Munch (Feelin’ U)” or seen photos of the 22-year-old, self-described “baddie” appear on your feed. Few artists blew up like the Bronx drill artist this year — and few artists seem as destined for global stardom right out the gate as she does. The rapper is bringing a bit of spice, if you will, to drill. She spits ultra-fast verses full of stop-in-your-tracks funny, smart lines that put shitty men in their place, and even flips classic EDM tracks. With a debut album in the works, she’s sure to bring some much-needed zest into your life. —SB

Isabella Lovestory

If you’re curious about who one of the next big pop stars might be, look no further than Isabella Lovestory. The Honduran singer, now based in Montreal, is adding a sexy, feminine flair to reggaeton, fusing it with Y2K-resonant pop and hyperpop. On her songs, like off her recent 2022 record Amor Hardcore, she sings empowered, sexually charged songs in a matter-of-fact tone over maximalist tracks that could soundtrack both a high-end runway show or underground rave. Next year, she’ll be touring her latest even more — but it seems likely that in due time she’ll be opening for names like Dua Lipa and Rosalía. It’s about time we fast-track her innate star power straight to global domination. —SB

Kid Bookie

On the heels of a nu-metal revival, Kid Bookie charges to the foreground, all guns blazing with a cheeky smirk. He’s like a love child of Linkin Park and Slipknot, so if you love all the rage and excitement of metal — Bookie is your guy. “Stuck In My Ways” feat. Corey Taylor put Bookie on the radar of heavy music fans, but the 2021 release “Mass Hysteria” solidified his place for naysayers or gatekeepers. After fighting against stereotypes towards Black artists in rock and metal, Bookie has spearheaded a movement and created more room for BIPOC artists to follow in his footsteps. He’s a true trailblazer, and sure to keep fueling the fire in 2023. —Yasmine Summan

JELEEL!

With each backflip and shirt rip, JELEEL! grows more powerful. The Rhode Island rage rapper looks like a formidable WWE opponent — a towering build, muscles that bulge — that belies his optimistic, good-hearted nature. On record, JELEEL! melds pop-punk and hip-hop into a contagious brew. Onstage, he explodes into the kind of theatricality that makes him use fans for a few reps. The intensity of his live show, however, is far from a marketing scheme. Rather, JELEEL! uses his innately glass-half-full outlook on the world to help others find their way out of the darkness. —NH

Loveless

Following a meteoric rise on TikTok, a series of inventive covers of modern pop hits, and two LPs released in just one year, Los Angeles-based duo Loveless are putting the heart and soul back into modern rock on their own terms. With a sound that is reminiscent of later-era Bring Me The Horizon and the Plot In You, as well as subtle throwbacks to mid-2000s post-hardcore (think Saosin and Silverstein), Loveless undoubtedly refined their brand of rock with their latest album End of an era, and are poised to continue topping the charts and securing slots on major festivals in the new year. —AD

One Step Closer

After releasing various EPs and demos over the course of five years, One Step Closer finally delivered their sentimental and nostalgic debut album This Place You Know in late 2021 and have captivated audiences ever since. The band, who share a unifying straight-edge message, have seamlessly revived the golden era of ’90s melodic-hardcore in the vein of bands such as Turning Point and Bane, while also incorporating a more modern approach to the genre. In 2023, One Step Closer join longtime scene veterans Silverstein on their North American tour, and they’re sure to continue to reach new heights in their pursuit of redefining melodic-hardcore. —AD

Rachel Bobbitt

Before diving into the singer-songwriter sphere, Rachel Bobbitt had a bit of an unlikely start — as a teenager on Vine who shared pop covers and gained a substantial following. But she’s since transitioned into a singer-songwriter career that explores the depths of emotion — joy, love, and pain. The coming-of-age tracks have helped the Toronto-based artist share stages with musicians like Men I Trust and Indigo DeSouza, too. —IK

Raffaella

If you grew up on and can’t help but miss ’00s bubblegum pop, Disney Channel’s heyday, and weekends spent at the mall (or playing Mall Madness!), then Raffaella is for you. The singer makes indie-pop that plays on the Y2K music and aesthetics of her childhood, with a dash of snarky-sweet, tongue-in-cheek lyricism about the trials and tribulations of girlhood. From NYC but relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, the recording artist has fit seamlessly into the Midwestern scene and collaborates with members of the local band Hippo Campus on her tracks. Together, they worked on her EP LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (Act I), which arrived on Mom + Pop in 2022, and will be followed up by Act II in 2023. Live, laugh, and love with Raff, and you’re in for a treat. —SB

Samia

It wouldn’t be wrong to call Samia a poet. Her songs include illusive references to memories, heartbreaking confessions others wouldn’t dare say, and find the significance in details that could’ve been overlooked to tell stories about her, her friends and lovers, and what it means to accept the love around you. You could pore over her words for hours and — after drying your tears — still not feel certain that you grasp their full meaning. Regardless, her gentle, at times fierce indie rock makes you experience every emotion amplified. The singer came up in the NYC DIY scene in the late 2010s before relocating to Nashville and already released her incredible debut LP, The Baby, back in 2019. With Honey coming in early 2023, though, she seems poised to become one of indie’s biggest names. —SB

Softcult

Twins Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn initially appeared in the long-standing pop-punk group Courage My Love, but in changing their sound to the grunge and shoegaze-inspired Softcult, they’ve since come even more into their own as songwriters. The Canadian duo have released two exceptional EPs (Year Of The Rat, Year Of The Snake), as well as a series of singles, that echo their feminist ideals and activism against injustice. With poignant lyrics that tackle topics such as abuse, sexual assault, and oppression, Softcult remain fearless in their mission to make the world a better place. —AD

Tanukichan

Classically trained, multi-instrumentalist Hannah van Loon has been making music as Tanukichan in the Bay Area since 2016, but it seems like the singer-songwriter is about to enter a new era — and one you’d be remiss not to be a part of. Her sophomore full-length, GIZMO, is due out in March, and it sees her reunite on many tracks with frequent collaborator Chaz Bear of Toro y Moi and build upon her charming dream-pop sound. She’s released two singles already, “Make Believe,” a fuzzy, delicate tune where her gentle voice nearly blends with the track, and “Don’t Give Up,” which finds her sound meet nü metal. Listen to her hypnoticisms and you’ll feel yourself float away to somewhere brighter. —SB