This year’s Outside Lands lineup was already stacked with the likes of The Weekend, Florence + the Machine, Janet Jackson, Beck, and other notables. But last week four more artists – who are really buzzing right now but might not be totally familiar to everyone yet – were added to the festival. This week on Off Air I’m joined by KFOG managing editor Lauren Riley to discuss the musicians we’re looking forward to in August: Janelle Monae, Billie Eilish, Hobo Johnson, and SABA.
Janelle Monae
Janelle burst onto the music scene with her unique psychedelic soul on her 2007 EP Metropolis: The Chase Suite, which earned a Grammy nomination. As Janelle continued to put out genre-bending music, she also dove into acting, lending her talents to the animated Rio 2, Academy Award-winning Moonlight, and the critically acclaimed Hidden Figures.
Janelle’s newest album Dirty Computer was accompanied by a narrative film project that touches on political and social issues. In it, her android persona attempts to break free from the restraints of a totalitarian government that represses individuality of any kind (in sexuality, gender, expression, etc). Bottom line: Janelle is a true renaissance woman and a total show stopper. Both Lauren and I agree that she is a must-see artist at Outside Lands this year.
Billie Eilish
Billie is a newcomer on the music scene, but at only 16 years old she is already making major waves. Her poppy, soulful sound earned her debut single “Ocean Eyes” over 50 million views on YouTube at the tender age of 14, prompting Vogue to tap her as “pop’s next ‘it’ girl.” 2017 saw the release of her debut EP Don’t Smile at Me as well as a collaboration with Khalid on “Lovely,” featured on the upcoming season of 13 Reasons Why.
Hobo Johnson
Hobo Johnson is the brainchild of Frank Lopes, who uses half sung, half-rapped lyrics to paint vivid pictures and use comedic awkwardness to tackle oftentimes heavy subject matter. His project Hobo Johnson and the LoveMakers was featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk, while their video for “Peach Scone” collected over six million views in its first two months.
SABA
SABA is an artist that I have had my eye on for quite awhile. A frequent collaborator with his fellow Chicagoan Chance the Rapper, most recently on “Angels” off Coloring Book. SABA is poised for a breakout in 2018 with the release of CARE FOR ME and his first headlining tour. Despite all the success, none of it has seemed to have gone to his head as he holds the distinction of crafting one of the most honest lines I have heard from a rapper in years with the proclamation: “I’m from the part of city they don’t be talking about, I live at my grandmama’s house…” Not exactly the type of boast you would expect from most rappers, but one I appreciate.