5 standout artists on our ‘For You’ page.
Undoubtedly, TikTok and social media play a huge role in the way music is promoted and the way we find our favourite songs and artists. Being able to keep up with the journey of a song, from writing to release, is a real pleasure of living in the digital age, and one of my favourite things to do online. Here are some of my favourite singer-songwriter snippets of the last while.
Liliana
I found Liliana on Tiktok around late 2023 and was immediately struck by her strong songwriting instincts. She appears to be influenced by the storytelling of Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams, but manages to find a unique perspective to approach these stories from. Liliana does not shy away from humour in her lyrics, offsetting the often sad subject matter, and frames familiar stories in new ways: writing about an old friendship using a car metaphor (‘drive by’), writing about an imaginary murder mystery in a song about jealousy, and opening one of her most devastating songs with a line about Chick-Fil-A.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGenxvcDK/ → ‘crime to lie’ (unreleased)
Kevin Atwater
I have been obsessed with Kevin’s music, released and unreleased, for so long! ‘Star Tripping’ really hooked me, with its big melodic chorus and personal verses. ‘Christopher street’ is one of my favourite indie songs of the last couple years, and I remember hearing it on Tiktok for the first time. Atwater’s brutal honesty and vulnerability is admirable, and his guitar skills are not to be undermined, often emanating a sort of Adrianne Lenker guitar-picking vibe.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGenQ1Sou/ → ‘star tripping’
Jensen McRae
Jensen McRae. She is brilliant in every sense of the word: her lyrics are truly unmatched, and not only is she an objectively skilled vocalist, but she is always able to convey the feeling of the song through her voice. I was pleased when ‘Massachusetts’ was taking off because I truly think it’s time we give Mcrae her flowers. It was difficult to pick just one favourite to show you, but this one from January is such an emotional call-out, and that’s what Jensen does best: gives you the straight-talking and follows up quickly with goosebumps.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGenxW5oF/ → (unreleased)
Isabel Pless
Pless is so excellent at capturing the quiet kinds of sadness, the kind that doesn’t immediately present as sadness. She writes prolifically about ‘rotting’, letting yourself down, and religious guilt. There is a haunting and macabre element to her lyricism, and her melodic instincts are distinctly recognisable. Her consistent straight-out-of-a-journal lyricism is poignant, and her metaphors never disappoint!
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGenQFV47/ → ‘nobody’s funeral’
Alessi Rose
Alessi Rose declares that ‘fun pop is back!’ and delivers on her promise through her Chappell Roan-esque song snippets that she teases online, very soon after the release of her recent EP. ‘Rumination as Ritual’ proved that her songwriting is not limited to ballads and heartfelt lyrics, or fun and anthemic pop songs. She is undoubtedly a rising star of the indie world, and one to watch!
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGenx3f2Q/ → unreleased but a favourite of mine