5 Eclectic Artists to Follow in 2018

by Zachary Valladon

#05 -- Charly Bliss

Https://www.charlybliss.com/

Barsuk Records’ Charly Bliss, a four-piece grunge-pop act out of Brooklyn, is surfing the tide of their wonderful 2017 debut LP Guppy. The band, fronted by Eva Hendricks and Spencer Fox is currently touring the US and Canada — a marvellous way to start the new year. In April of last year, Guppy was released to much fanfare and critical acclaim. NPR called it “ecstatically empowering” — a sentiment echoed by the many who’ve seen the band live in concert and listened to the record!

#04 -- This Wild Life

https://thiswildlifeband.com/

Long Beach, CA ‘acoustic brethren’, as they’ve called themselves, This Wild Life have always had a special place in the Southern California music scene. This acoustic duo, which started as a heavy handed pop-punk band, rebranded themselves in 2011 as more slow and tender emo-coustic experience. They’ve released two full-length albums on Epitah Records. The last one, Low Tides, was released in September 2016.

If you’re not a scrub, you’ve been paying attention to their social media. You’re not a scrub, right? You’ll know that they’re set to release a yet-to-be-named third LP via Epitah — a collection of songs the band is confident are their best yet.

#03 -- Andrés

https://andresmusica.bandcamp.com/

Fans of Swancore rejoice — your relaxing, sensual and suave hero is here to save you from all the yelling. Andrés, the solo project of former Terra Alive frontman, Andrés Aparacio is equal parts high-octane and soundtrack for sexy-time.

He released his first LP in 2017, Strange Memories on this Nervous Night, and it was done the right way… independently! Dubbed as “The Brown Boy” by his friends and fans, Andrés is poised to be a frontrunner of the music-scene dominated by groups like Dance Gavin Dance and Eidola.

After his five tours across the United States and Europe in 2017, I’d consider it wise to keep and eye on him this year!

#02 -- Portugal. The Man

https://portugaltheman.com/?frontpage=true

How does a group that has spent most of its 11 year lifespan in relative indie-obscurity write the 4th most popular song of 2017? Portugal. the Man, the “Lords of Portland” and creators of the 2017 smash hit, Feel It Still, have found themselves at the top of the indie food chain.

If you’re not familiar with their 9-album discography, I’d highly recommend that you strap yourself into a comfortable chair, pour yourself a bottle of wine or three, and get yourself acquainted with one of the premier musical talents of our young century. Frontman Johnny Gourley is one of the most talented songwriters of our generation — you won’t be disappointed.

P.TM is a band to look out for this year because they could do almost anything — almost overnight, they’ve gone from a group that could sell out the Pantages Theatre, to a group that might be able to sell out the Hollywood Bowl. Here’s hoping we see some new music and amazing live shows in 2018!

#01 -- Field Medic

https://fieldmedic.bandcamp.com/

I first became acquainted with Field Medic, a DIY acoustic ‘Freak-Folk’ project by California-based Kevin Sullivan when I played a show with him at a Comic Book shop in Newbury Park in front of about 25 people. Fast forward just 4 short months, and he was flying across the country to open for The Neighbourhood in New York and Dallas. Needless to say, I was extremely impressed.

In late 2017, Sullivan announced that Field Medic was signed by Run For Cover Records, and that they were issuing a full-length re-release comprised of songs previously shared by the project.

You should listen to Field Medic if you feel feelings, and if you also think about feeling feelings sometimes. This is, of course, not to mention that you’ll be engaging in an artist that had a long and rad career in front of him.