Here Are The Honey POP’s 23 Artists Who Are Ones To Watch In 2023 To Soundtrack Your Year

Jazmin Williams for THP

thpmag

Jazmin Williams

Mentor of The Honey POP. Disney and pop culture enthusiast.

Madison Murray

Sage Marie Grace

Writer for The Honey Pop. Dr.Pepper Stan. Comedic Relief Friend…

Can you believe another year is here again? We were introduced to so many amazing artists last year that really made 2022 another memorable year for music. Here at The Honey POP, we stan all kinds of artists, but we think it’s super important to show attention and support to the smaller artists. They’re the true hidden gems, and there’s no feeling quite like supporting a future superstar at the beginning of their career. We’ve been keeping an eye on the rising talent as always, and we’re here to bring you 23 incredible on the rise artists who we believe are ones to watch in 2023.

NewJeans

NewJeans burst onto the K-POP scene back when they debuted in August last year, making themselves known as the new “IT” girls on the block and rapidly growing their fandom of Bunnies internationally. In less than six months, NewJeans have made a global impact – their debut, self-titled mini-album gained over 311,000 purchases in the album’s first week, and they won the Next Leader Award at the Fact Music Awards and Rookie of the Year at the Asian Artist Awards. So you can see why these girls are on our Ones To Watch list! There’s been so much hype around this girl group, and we can see them continue to outshine themselves with every comeback.

We recommend listening to: ‘Attention,’ ‘Hype Boy,’ and ‘Ditto’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NEWJEANS:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

BLÜ EYES

“Forever uncovering the beauty in the broken.” Hailing from Fullerton, California, Katie Stump – or otherwise known as Blü Eyes – has been accumulating a massive following on social media, particularly on TikTok. Her emotive songs are raw and openly honest about life experiences such as chronic illness, which really gave the chronic community a medium to best relate to and use as a way to describe their own experiences. Citing the likes of Holly Humberstone, Taylor Swift, and Phoebe Bridgers as her influences, Blü Eyes is a must-listen for singer-songwriter fans as she clutches your heart with her emotions.

We recommend listening to: ‘you’d never know,’ ‘my body hates me,’ and ‘somebody’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BLÜ EYES:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

jxdn

If you keep up with the TikTok music scene, then like us, you’re likely to already have jxdn on your radar. We’ve been seeing the alt artist dominate the app, and now we’re seeing him make his mark on the mainstream music scene. This year, we saw him embark on his first headline tour across the states, perform at When We Were Young Fest, and drop his EP, 28 (Songs For Cooper). He’s already worked with names such as Lauv, blackbear, and Travis Barker, who also really vibe with his music. With his unstoppable growth, we can truly see Jxdn becoming a household name, and are so excited to continue following his journey!

We recommend listening to: ‘Sober,’ ‘Pray,’ and ‘BETTER OFF DEAD’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JXDN:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

FLO

Outside of K-Pop, it’s been pretty quiet on the girl group front. That is, until our girls FLO hit the scene. The British trio made up of Jorja, Stella, and Renée is leading the next generation of western girl groups, and these girls are the pioneers of bringing back feel-good music. Their sound and aesthetic is oozing with the Y2K Renaissance we’re seeing everywhere, and they blew us away with their debut EP, The Lead, last summer. Their music has gone viral through TikTok and Twitter, and the girls performed two songs on VEVO DSCVR in August. Reminiscent of of classic girl groups like TLC, Destiny’s Child, and En Vogue, FLO are full of modern nostalgia that we can’t seem to get enough of. We have our sights set on these girls, they’re definitely ones to watch in 2023!

We recommend listening to ‘Cardboard Box,’ ‘Not My Job,’ and ‘Summertime’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FLO:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

SB19

We’ve been fans of SB19 for a while now, and we’re not too surprised that it seems like the P-Pop group is truly making international waves. The quintet began gaining rapid popularity following their second single, when their dance practice for ‘Go Up’ went viral. Dubbed leaders of P-Pop, SB19 have already gained some iconic achievements such as signing with Sony Music Philippines, becoming the first Filipino act to appear on the Billboard Next Big Sound chart, making the Billboard Social 50, and topping the Billboard Hot Trending Songs with their single ‘Bazinga.’ Citing groups such as BTS, BIGBANG, GOT7, and VIXX as inspirations, it makes perfect sense that they’re one of the hottest emerging boy bands. You definitely need these boys on your radar, as we expect them to lead P-Pop into the mainstream spotlight.

We recommend listening to: ‘Bazinga,’ ‘WYAT,’ and ‘MAPA’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SB19:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Ice Spice

Hailing from the Bronx, drill rapper Isis Gaston takes on the persona of Ice Spice, and found fame and popularity with her 2022 single ‘Much (Feelin’ U),’ which began to soar on TikTok. The single then charted on Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and even got support from the likes of Drake, who played the song on his Sound 42 radio station. She later signed a record deal with 10K Projects. Oh, and did we mention Lil Nas X dressed as her for Halloween? She was inspired by Sheff G and Pop Smoke to begin rapping, with Cardi B and Nicki Minaj also being her influences. The only way is up and we can’t wait for her to prove us right as one of our ones to watch!

We recommend listening to: ‘Munch (Feelin’ U),’ ‘Bikini Bottom,’ and ‘No Clarity’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ICE SPICE:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Baby Queen

Arabella Latham AKA Baby Queen got a lot of attention this year, especially after her single ‘Colours Of You’ appeared on the Heartstopper soundtrack, and also featured the cast in the music video. The South African “anti-pop” singer who is now based in London also joined Olivia Rodrigo on her European tour dates as her support act for the Sour Tour, and performed at a collection of festivals, including Tramlines and Neighborhood Festival. Her song ‘You Shaped Hole’ from her debut EP, Yearbook, was also featured on the FIFA 22 soundtrack. We’ve loved everything that Baby Queen has released so far, and think 2023 is really going to play in her favor!

We recommend listening to: ‘Colours Of You,’ ‘Wannabe,’ and ‘LAZY’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BABY QUEEN:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | TWITTER | WEBSITE

Younite

Debuting back in April 2022, Younite are a nine-piece boy group who stole our hearts even before day one with their pre-release song ‘Everybody,’ on which they showcase their stellar rap skills. Since then, they’ve shown how talented and versatile they are by blessing us with three mini-albums! Those projects gave us a great introduction to them as artists and have us super stoked for what we can expect from them in the foreseeable future.

We recommend listening to: ‘Bad Cupid,’ ‘1 of 9,’ and ‘Everybody’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUNITE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Lauren Spencer-Smith

2022 was jam-packed for Lauren Spencer-Smith! In the last year alone, Lauren released 4 singles, and she doesn’t seem to be stopping! She showed off her talents at the Video Music Awards – and can we just say, ‘Flowers’ live is completely unreal. She even gave us a little Christmas jingle, ‘Single on the 25th,’ which, of course, we spent the entire holiday blasting! Don’t get us started on the insanity of this woman’s vocals, or else we’ll be here forever.

We recommend listening to: ‘Flowers,’ ‘Narcissist,’ and ‘Back to Friends’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LAUREN SPENCER-SMITH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

Ethel Cain

We have a new reigning queen of the Sad Girl Alt-Rock scene in Ethel Cain! We mean, come on – lyrics like “it hurts to miss you, but it’s worse to know that I’m the reason you won’t come home” from ‘A House In Nebraska’ are so hauntingly alluring. Ethel is bringing cryptic, Southern Gothic vibes to the mainstream and making us reach for the nearest tissue box in the process. There’s something so refreshing about the way she captures a universal feeling with carefully chosen, specifically evocative words, and she’s already received cosigns from artists like Florence + The Machine and Lil Aaron. Ethel’s music will always be there for you during ‘Hard Times’ when you can’t decide if you wanna punch a wall or just write a tear-stained diary entry.

We recommend listening to: ‘Crush,’ ‘American Teenager,’ and ‘August Underground’

NMIXX

Our expectations were pretty high for JYP Entertainment’s latest girl group, but even then, NMIXX have shattered every notion of not only what we expected for them, but how we think of K-POP as a whole. They’ve coined their own genre called mixxpop, combining different sounds and energies we love into unique new songs that give us an experience unlike anything we’ve ever heard before. Lily, Haewon, Sullyoon, Bae, Jiwoo, Kyujin, and the recently-departed Jinni (who’s appeared on all their releases so far) welcomed us to Mixxtopia last February and we’ve never looked back.

We recommend listening to: ‘O.O,’ ‘COOL (Your rainbow),’ and ‘DICE‘

Owenn

If you’re a Swiftie, you’ve already seen Christian Owen as the love interest for ‘King Of My Heart’ on Taylor’s reputation Stadium Tour and her co-star in the ‘Lover’ music video, but get ready for a re-introduction with this new chapter of his career. This year, Owenn will be taking the stage on his own to open up for Taylor on the Eras Tour, and we can’t wait to see how he captivates the crowds with his set! We’re hoping this is just the beginning of the recognition Owenn will receive, because he’s seriously so talented. Tracks like his latest single, ‘Show Me,’ have been living in our minds rent-free and bringing tears to our eyes, so fingers crossed they make it onto his setlist!

We recommend listening to: ‘Show Me,’ ‘Rest Of My Life,’ and ‘Baby Girl’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OWENN:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

RAYE

RAYE has been on our radar for a while now, but we feel in our bones that 2023 is going to be her year, so obviously we had to add her to our Ones to Watch! Her latest single, ‘Escapism,’ has had a lot of hype, particularly on TikTok, and was even a strong contender in the famous race to Christmas #1 on the UK charts. RAYE is a newly-independent artist who has created some real R&B bangers and has steadily been making a name for herself on the British music scene. And now she’s making her mark over international waters – ‘Escapism’ recently became RAYE’s first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, with a peak at #79 at the time of writing. We see big things for her this year!

We recommend listening to: ‘Escapism,’ ‘Hard Out Here,’ and ‘Call On Me’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RAYE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

LE SSERAFIM

How many groups could start a rap verse with “lovey, lovey, lovey, dovey, dovey, dovey” and make it work? LE SSERAFIM certainly can, and we have a feeling that the viral success of ‘ANTIFRAGILE’ in 2022 is proof that they’re ready to take on the world in 2023. Chaewon, Sakura, Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae have continued to rise from the ashes again and again to become one of the biggest 4th generation K-POP girl groups in just a matter of months. Chaewon may have sang “I’m no freaking goddess” on ‘No Celestial,’ but LE SSERAFIM are certainly establishing themselves as some of the most powerful ladies on the music scene.

We recommend listening to: ‘FEARLESS,’ ‘Impurities,’ and ‘No Celestial’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LE SSERAFIM:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Bloody Civilian

Real name Emoseh Khamofu, singer and producer Bloody Civilian truly has a way with songwriting. A massive milestone for her last year was appearing on the soundtrack to Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. A genre-defying artist, Bloody Civilian is an enthusiastic storyteller. A major inspiration on her music is her African heritage and culture, and she hopes to empower and platform African art. If her lyricism wasn’t enough to impress you (which, let’s be real, it should be), the Nigerian artist also self-directed the music video for her debut single ‘How To Kill A Man.’ A woman with many talents, including capturing our hearts!

We recommend listening to: ‘Wake Up’ and ‘How To Kill A Man’ are currently her only two releases, and we’ll have them on heavy rotation until her next release!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BLOODY CIVILIAN:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Huddy

If you thought you weren’t gonna hear us ramble about how much we love Huddy, you would be wrong. Huddy has had the year one can only dream of. Not only did he go on tour, but he was also part of When We Were Young Fest, every little emo bee’s dream! After releasing his album in 2021, he blessed us with a single ‘All The Things I Hate About You,’ and before you ask, of course we had it on repeat for at least a month!

We recommend listening to: ‘The Eulogy of You and Me,’ ‘Don’t Freak Out,’ and ‘All The Things I Hate About You’

Fall In Love With Weeekly All Over Again With ‘Stranger’

Beach Weather

The guys of Beach Weather had us digging their “lowkey vibe” throughout 2022 as their 2016 track ‘Sex, Drugs, Etc.’ sent a breakthrough wave over TikTok and Spotify. It reminded us of The Neighbourhood’s early hits in the best way possible, delivering a slick, alternative energy that sent us straight back to the golden age of Tumblr in the 2010s. Their sound is equal parts nostalgic and forward-thinking, giving us something we already loved in a fresh new package we can’t get enough of. We think there are a lot of hits, sold-out tours, etc. in their future!

We recommend listening to: ‘Chit Chat,’ ‘Trouble With This Bed,’ and ‘Sex, Drugs, Etc. (Stripped Down)’

Leanna Firestone

2022 was the year for a lot of artists, and that includes one Ms. Leanna Firestone. She released three singles, our favorite being ‘You Just Didn’t Like Me That Much,’ and then went further and released an album! Forward/Slash is one of our favorite albums from this year and you need to listen! Whether it’s a love song like ‘Smitten,’ or a heartbreaker like ‘Phantom Pain / the rapture,’ Leanna Firestone is the girl for you.

We recommend listening to: ‘Do You Wanna Be Friends?,’ ‘Least Favorite Only Child,’ and ‘You Just Didn’t Like Me That Much’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LEANNA FIRESTONE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Tempest

Tempest are the newest boy group from Yuehua Entertainment, and they’ve got quite a future ahead of them. Debuting in the spring of last year, the septet wowed us with ‘Bad News’ before surprising us with their bright concept of ‘Can’t Stop Shining,’ then later proved their versatility with their On and On album that harbored a darker concept. They also scored three awards last year, including New Wave Award at the Asia Artist Awards and the Best Male Rookie Award at the Genie Music Awards. Less than a year into the business and Tempest have proven they’re no one-trick pony. We’ve got a feeling they have more to prove and are definitely ones to watch in 2023!

We recommend listening to: ‘Can’t Stop Shining,’ ‘Taste The Feeling,’ and ‘Bad At Love’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TEMPEST:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Amelia Moore

Amelia Moore has been gaining traction since her debut single ‘Sweet and Sour’ dropped in November 2021. Now nominated as a VEVO DSCVR artist, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has accumulated a major following on TikTok and Instagram! Staying true to her username @icryatwork, Amelia entwines her emotions throughout her songs that captivate the hearts of many, proving to be relatable to her ever-growing audience.

We recommend listening to: ‘crybaby,’ ‘sweet and sour,’ and ‘i feel everything’

Caity Baser

Brighton-based Caity Baser is the life of the party that can always show you a good time. Within just two years, the singer-songwriter has gone from posting to TikTok while working in a supermarket to having two sold-out date at London’s XOYO, a sold-out debut headline tour, and two performances at the iconic Reading & Leeds Festival. She’s never failed to deliver some bops and her honesty and humorous lyricism is something we can’t get enough of – we definitely think she’s a worthy nominee for our Ones to Watch list.

We recommend listening to: ‘X&Y,’ ‘Friendly Sex,’ and ‘Say It Like That’

Oneus

Oneus are a five-piece that keep mesmerizing us with their unique and creative concepts and choreos. Debuting in 2019, they’ve been the underdogs for a little while, but we really think 2023 is the year they’re going to take over – and we are so ready for it! Their latest release, Malus, has really been proving to be popular, especially with their song ‘Same Scent,’ with which they had us in awe of their darker and more mature concept. They’re just about to embark on the US leg of their 1st World Tour Reach For Us, and while speaking to us about what we can expect from them, they shared: “fans can look forward to new performances, special stages, and an authentic Oneus performance.” We can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store for them!

We recommned listening to: ‘Luna,’ ‘Lit,’ and ‘Same Scent’

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONEUS:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

The Backseat Lovers

If you aren’t already, you’re gonna become a lover of The Backseat Lovers in 2023. They just dropped their sophomore album, Waiting to Spill, in October 2022 and we’re waiting for that project to get the recognition it deserves. Every track creates such an immersive atmosphere that brings the story of the lyrics to life so well, making it feel more like an experience than just an album. We haven’t heard rock like this in a while, and we know The Backseat Lovers will be inspiring the next generation of alternative stars. They’re heading to the UK and Europe for the first time with a string of shows this spring, then coming back to the US for even more, so grab your tickets here and experience the magic!

We recommend listening to: ‘Close Your Eyes,’ ‘Know Your Name,’

Are you a fan of anyone from our Ones to Watch list? Who are some rising artists you think we should keep an eye out in 2023? Let us know down in the comments below or by tweeting us @TheHoneyPOP! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram, so come say hi!

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