SZA (pronounced “Sizza”) draws on the harmonic leaps of jazz, the ambient flow of chillwave, and the clicking beats of hip-hop to make her own sonic swirl. The 26-year-old St. Louis-born star, whose full name is Solana Imani Rowe, riveted attention early in 2017 with “Drew Barrymore,” a rumination on female body image whose video featured a cameo from guess which actress? She followed that up with the top-40 score “Love Galore,” which contrasted her enveloping vocal with the sinewy raps of Travis Scott. For more star power, SZA’s album also features a snaking cameo from label mate Kendrick Lamar. While the singer owes a clear debt to alterna-soul pioneers Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, she has a style personal enough to provide an alternative of her own. SZA has been nominated for five Grammys next year, more than any other female artist.
Every genre produced promising debuts in 2017. From the vintage country of Jade Jackson and the Americans to the innovative hip-hop of SZA and Sampha, a wealth of new artists shook our assumptions about what modern music should sound like. These 10 artists made the year’s best first impression.
