2014’s Breakthrough Indie Music Odds

We’ve gotten a lot of requests from music bloggers looking for odds on which indie music artist or group will breakout this year. After some serious digging and number crunching, here are our results listed according to most likely to make it big by the end of the year!

SAM SMITH 5/3
Disclosure’s hit “Latch” put Sam Smith on the map and he’s been building on that momentum ever since. The baby-faced UK pop-soul singer took home the Critics’ Choice at this year’s Brit Awards. With his debut album In the Lonely Hour scheduled to be released in May, Sam Smith is the easy favorite to breakthrough this year. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/samsmithworld/money-on-my-mind” comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

BANKS 4/1
The sultry, smoky voiced, alternative R&B / electro-soulstress is sure to have a very, very good year. With two EPs under her belt (2012’s Fall Over and 2013’s London), you can expect to see BANKS take off with the release of her first full album, expected this year. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/banksbanksbanks/banks-brain-prod-by-shlohmo” comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

DAN + SHAY 17/3
This newly formed country music duo (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney met in December of 2012!) released their first album Where It All Began in April. In less than two years, the duo has gotten an Academy of Country Music Award nomination for Best Vocal Duo and are already opening for Hunter Hayes. They’ll tour with Blake Shelton in June. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/danandshay/19-you-me-1″ comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

MIKKY EKKO 17/3
Mikky Ekko exploded on the scene last year when Rihanna heard his track “Stay” and worked with him to release the mega hit duet you know today. He’s still working on his upcoming debut album which will be released this year. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/mikkyekko/stay-original-demo-1″ comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

NONONO 23/2
We’re saying Yes!Yes!Yes! to Swedish pop group NoNoNo. Building on their debut track, pop anthem “Pumpin’ Blood” from their EP of the same title, make sure to watch for this trio headed by lead singer Stina Wäppling. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/nononoofficial/nonono-x-hungry-eyes_1″ comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

MAC MILLER 47/3
“D.A.D.D.” or “Do As Drake Does” is the Pittsburgh MC’s motto for 2014.  With his long-awaited second album 92 Til Infinity nearly complete (he’s been working on it since 2012), a new mixtape Home and Stoned out in May and another season of  MTV2 reality show approved, watch for huge things from Mac this year. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/jaytrackz/mac-miller-happy” comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

CHANCE THE RAPPER 47/3
Chicago based Chance the Rapper’s free self-released mixtapes 10 Day and Acid Rap are must-haves for MCs and hip hop fans in the know. The young MC has toured with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem and recently surprised the audience at Coachella when he called Justin Beiber on the stage for a surprise performance during his set at Coachella. Just saying. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickraymondg/chance-the-rapper-cocoa-butter” comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

SAMPHA 19/1
If you’re in need of music that will, quite simply, CRUSH your heart, look no further than Sampha (see “Happens,”Too Much,” and “Can’t Get Close,” but don’t say you haven’t been warned). The singer-songwriter from London also collaborated with Drake twice on last year’s Nothing Was the Same, which sampled the above mentioned “Too Much.” Watch for big things to come this year. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/soulblime/sampha-happens” comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

SOHN 19/1
Vienna based, electro-soul man SOHN is next on our list. In August 2012, he released “The Wheel” and “Red Lines” which received critical acclaim around the web. Tremors, his debut album is out now. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/sohnmusic/t-h-e-w-h-e-e-l” comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

HAERTS 24/1
The atmospheric synth pop group HAERTS is next on our list. You can expect their debut album to drop sometime this year (though they still won’t say when). Be sure to check out “Wings” and “All the Days” from the foursome who is currently opening for London Grammar. [soundcloud url=”
https://soundcloud.com/haertsmusic/call-my-name” comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

CLOUD NOTHINGS 49/1
Indie punk rockers Cloud Nothings, founded and headed by Dylan Baldi are definitely due to breakout. Their latest album, Here and Nowhere Else was released just after successful SXSW shows. With a jam packed tour schedule and a highly anticipated collaborative album between Baldi and Nathan Williams of Wavves coming soon, 2014 is shaping up to be their year. [soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/cloudnothings/im-not-part-of-me” comments=”false” auto_play=”false” color=”0e93c5″ width=”100%” height=”78″]

Think we missed someone? Let us know in the comments below!