There’s a special feeling when discovering a new international artist and watching them grow into a global superstar. Over the past few years, several international musicians have become trendsetters and game-changers, like Bad Bunny, Tems, Wizkid and Burna Boy. Now we’re ushering in a new class of artists taking over our timelines and creating the new summer soundtracks we’ll blast for years.
Watching many of these emerging artists start from the ground up to build their brands is a journey fans love being a part of, so we’re here to help you find new artists to add to your stan list.
Ayra Starr
The 20-year-old is adding her own flavor to the genre of Afrobeats, allowing a new audience to embrace the sounds of her culture through social media.
Tyla
The South African pop star is bridging the gap between dance music and amapiano, meshing that international sound together.
Obongjayar
Obongjayar is a Nigerian musical artist based in London who got his start in music through Soundcloud. Sharing his perspective of Afrobeats, soul and electronic music, he fuses the genres together into one sound that makes him unique.
Sara James
Sara James is a Polish and Nigerian artist that focuses on her exotic sounds and popular music, that creates virality through her TikTok and Instagram posts.
Raelle
Raelle’s musical Inspiration stems from the sound of Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse, bringing a raw element to her music and lyricism.
About Kenyatta: Clark Atlanta University and Medill School alumna Kenyatta Victoria is the Girls United writer covering everything from news, pop culture, lifestyle, and investigative stories. When not reporting, she’s diving deep into her curated playlists or binging her favorite comfort shows.