As fall slowly descends upon Los Angeles, music and streetwear fans alike all begin to countdown the days to Tyler, The Creator's annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival. Just now completing its 6th rendition this last weekend, the event has managed to become LA's premier music festival for both established and up-and-coming talent.
This year hosted one of the festival's biggest & most eclectic line-ups yet, with Kid See Ghost (Kanye West & Kid Cudi) & SZA headlining, EARMILK has decided to highlight some of the more lesser-known acts on the roster that you have missed, but who should not be slept on in 2019!
Bane's World
Bane's World is the pseudonym used by 21-year-old Long Beach native Shane Blanchard, who has been crafting a highly infectious, dreamy blend of lo-fi pop since 2016. After developing a bit of a cult following via Soundcloud and Youtube, Shane has since gotten the attention of Tyler, The Creator (who has shouted Shane out on numerous times on social media and even booked him for a massive showcase at The Observatory last year) and has even gotten the chance to perform at the Tropicalia Festival late last year. He is looking to have a big year in 2019, so be sure to catch him before he takes off.
Ama Lou
Ama Lou is looking to be the next major British artist to break out stateside thanks to her highly inventive take on R&B and her incredible visual identity. Recently finishing a major tour with Jorja Smith, receiving a co-sign from our favorite Canadian tastemaker Drake, and releasing her acclaimed debut EP DDD earlier this year, Ama Lou is absolutely looking to show and prove herself as the future of UK soul.
Men I Trust
Montreal based dream-pop outfit Men I Trust has become a notable act in the past few years thanks to their revered Headroom and Men I Trust LPs and string of captivating one-off singles dating back to 2014. Fronted by songwriter and vocalist Emma Proulx, the angelic melodies and groovy bass-lines were able to attract the likes of Tyler, The Creator (who gave the group a personal invite to perform at this year's carnival via Instagram DM) and a legion of indie fans alike.
Raveena
Raveena is a New York-based songstress whose soulful vocals have garnered plenty of attention with the release of her Shanti EP last year. The 24-year old, Indian-American songwriter is a hyper-aware artist's artist who is never shy to completely bare herself on record, consistently touching on the importance of womanhood, spirituality, minority representation, self-love, and vulnerability in our current political landscape with her music.
With more singers like Raveena, Ama Lou, Snoh Alegra and Ravyn Lanae gaining notoriety, it's safe to say that the future of R&B is in good hands.
Slow Hollows
Best known for his melodic contributions to Frank Ocean's Blonde and Tyler, The Creator's Flower Boy, singer-songwriter and guitarist Austin Feinstein has also been crafting moody indie-punk songs with his band Slow Hollows since around 2013. With most of the band's members either still in High School or just recently graduating, this LA outfit has managed to achieve a whole lot for the group's relative age, including becoming a revered Los Angeles D.I.Y. warehouse staple, releasing two full-length LP's, performing at Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival & Coachella, and even going on a few nationwide tours.
Tierra Whack
Probably the most well-known name on this list, Tierra Whack is already being touted as the breakout artist of 2018 with her highly acclaimed debut LP Whack World. A 15-minute whimsical journey into the colorful mind of Whack that dives well beyond the confines of rap, with every track only lasting a minute long before diverting into a completely new sound/idea. It is a super inventive introduction to the masses as an artist who refuses to be boxed in by genre or gender roles, and a sentiment that is elevated by her highly immersive visual for the entire project, directed by Thibaut Duverneix and Mathieu Leger.
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