As another year winds down and our best-of-the-year lists hit the web, we’d be remiss to not acknowledge some of the great new music that came our way in 2017. There’s still nothing quite as exciting as discovering a new favorite band or watching as an up-and-coming artist comes into their own.

We stumbled across some of these artists in hazy venues, heard their tracks on compilations, or got a timely and welcome suggestion from a friend. Whatever the case, we’re excited to see what comes next from the artists below and hope you’ll join us on their respective bandwagons. Take a listen!

Emily Blue

I stumbled upon Emily Blue this fall while attending the Fountain Square Music Festival in Indianapolis and remained hooked for the rest of 2017. Blue’s knack for melody pairs well with her glitch pop arrangements and unique take on relationships and life. One listen to 2016’s “No Pain”, a song about gendered violence and rape culture, is chillingly on point and her recent dual-single “Blackberries // Rico Acid” expand into new, quirky pop territory. You can hear more from Emily Blue at her website. – Kiel Hauck

Superet

Opening for DREAMCAR earlier this year was a band that I had never heard of before, and gave no thought to before they started playing. Within the span of 20 minutes, Superet had become one of the most interesting bands I have ever seen. After months of waiting, the Superet EP is finally out. Just as impressive as I remembered, Superet are a percussion-heavy rock outfit that is easily the best band you’ve never heard of. Frantic, experimental, and dance-ready, Superet bring the energy and aggression of The Fratellis (“Pay It Later”) and infuse it with the indie contemplation of Copeland (“Stockholm Syndrome”). While the EP swings wildly in sound, the confidence behind their songs shows they are ready to conquer the world. – Kyle Schultz

Wild Pink

I saw Wild Pink play in August with All Get Out and was really impressed with their talent. They’re from Brooklyn, New York, and they’ve got a pleasant, easy sound, utilizing dreamy effects that make me group them in (albeit loosely) with the lo-fi genre. Wild Pink released their first EP, Good Life in 2015, another EP, Four Songs, in October 2016, and their debut self-titled full-length album this past February. If you’re looking for a unique brand of introspective indie rock, check them out: Wild Pink currently record on Tiny Engines. – Nadia Paiva

Eat Your Heart Out

My introduction to Newcastle, Australia’s Eat Your Heart Out came in the form of a cover song. Indeed, I replayed the emo pop act’s version of Ed Sheeran’s “The Shape of You” repeatedly in 2017, but there’s much more to love. Earlier this month, the band released a new EP, Mind Games, which expands on the band’s sound and harkens to a grungier era of pop punk. One listen to “Conscience” and you’ll be eager to fast forward to summer. Eat Your Heart Out currently reside on Fearless Records. – Kiel Hauck

Overcoats

College in Connecticut drew two girls together: one from London and one from New York. They became friends and formed one of the most unique electronic duos to grace our ears in 2017. Their debut full-length album, YOUNG, was released on April 21, 2017. I first heard them perform when I heard their NPR Tiny Desk Concert and was immediately hooked by their harmonies and tactfully placed musical accompaniments. Overcoats currently record on Arts and Crafts. – Nadia Paiva

Wand

What could be easily tossed aside as ‘psychedelic rock,’ Wand are a force of sound that falls somewhere between where grunge and garage rock meet Dark Side of the Moon. Fuzzed out guitars never relent, even as the songs turn and become more experimental. The shrouded vocals add a mystique and dreamlike quality that begs you to follow it through to the end. While Wand lacks the melodic elements that attract me to many bands, the sheer force of their sound more than makes up for it. The wall of guitars is ravaging, unforgiving and hypnotic. Mixed with on-point keyboards, Wand deliver a landscape of sound that is difficult to match. With four album releases since their inception in 2013, Wand have an absolute ambition that drives their sound. If you never considered mixing psychedelia and moshing before, you will now. – Kyle Schultz

Posted by Kiel Hauck