5 Musicians Who Got Their Big Break This Year

By: Nicole McCray

Music has had a record breakout year in general due to the global pandemic of COVID-19 strapping most people at home, including musicians. In the wake of no live performances and tours canceled, they have had plenty of time to create new songs and launch new albums for streaming online.

While 2020 had some fantastic musicians come forward (Chika, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat), 2021 has brought about some new names in music. Their songs demonstrate their exceptional talent and have helped them become known across the music industry.

Some of these artists got unique beginnings, bringing about the term “bedroom musicians” because of their TikTok and YouTube videos helping them develop waves. Making their stamp has not been an easy feat, but we look forward to what these artists have next for us.

Olivia Rodrigo, “Driver’s License”

It is probably no big surprise, but this previous Disney star from the series Bizaardvark and Nini Salazar-Roberts made a massive impact on teens with her hit single “Driver’s License” this year. It topped multiple charts worldwide, providing Rodrigo with a solid breakthrough to the music scene.

She has had even more success with her follow-up songs “Deja Vu” and “Good 4 U” from her debut studio album Sour in May 2021. “Driver’s License” broke Spotify’s record more than once for the most daily streams ever with over 15 million in January and up to 17 million within 24 hours.

The insanely popular hit song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the number one status in other countries as well. Rodrigo has stated that the catapult of success from this song has changed her life “in an instant.”

Jay Som & Palehound (AKA Bachelor), “Sick of Spiraling”

Two indie artists made a connection and a friendship and decided to combine forces as a band and rename themselves. Melina Duterte, known as Jay Som by her fans, and Ellen Kempner, better known as Palehound, rented a house in California for two weeks in late 2020, where they wrote and recorded their debut album Doomin’ Sun.

Their hit song “Sick of Spiraling” is one of the last songs they wrote for the album, with some help from James Krivchenia on the drums. The song has a country twang feel with the likeness of an upbeat and fun driving song, which varied from the original imagined, slower feel.

This song is so new, with the album just having been released last month. However, it is already making the rounds across streaming devices to become a breakthrough for this incredible duo. Independent artists who work for themselves have much success licensing music for commercial use in various projects, including feature films, commercials, and online advertisements.

Arlo Parks, “Black Dog”

Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho, known to all as her stage name Arlo Parks, has had a record year with her music. Her debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, earned her nominations for both Album of the Year and Best New Artist and Best British Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards in 2021.

She was initially set out to go on a headline tour back in 2020, but she could not do so due to the global pandemic. So instead, she released a hit single, “Eugene,” followed by “Black Dog,” which launched to the BBC Radio 1’s Tune of the week. The songs have attributed to her significant success in the short year. As a result, parks won 2 AIM Independent Music Awards for UK Independent Breakthrough and Best Independent Album.

Celeste, “Strange”

Celeste became popular in 2020, but her latest album, Not Your Muse, was released in January 2021, solidifying her success. Her 2021 single “Strange” has become a breakthrough song for this year off of the album.

This hauntingly beautiful ballad about a breakup speaks volumes about connections and how things change, causing pain. The in-depth lyrics stir emotions and vivid images of the one you lost that you had to accept. It strikes your heartstrings and creates a long-lasting punch.

Not Your Muse debuted as number one on the UK Albums Chart, and Celeste was nominated for Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best Female Solo Artist at the 2021 Brit Awards. She first was heard at the end of the popular Disney movie Soul, where she sang a duet with Jon Batiste in the song “It’s All Right.” This knockout album in 2021 has created a considerable impact across the music scene.

girl in red, “Serotonin”

Marie Ulven, a Norwegian singer and songwriter, has developed a coded way for women over social media, namely TikTok, to ask one another if they are queer, using her stage name, girl in red. It has given her a solid space in Gen-Z and LGBTQ communities.

Her debut album, If I Could Make It Go Quiet, was developed during the pandemic when Ulven herself was not doing well mentally. She created music and spun together incredible lyrics that talk about the hard things regarding mental health, most noticeably in her single “Serotonin,” which came out in March 2021.

The song earned her a performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, as well as a spot as a Rolling Stone “Artist You Need to Know.” In addition, she put her mental health problems out there as a way to speak to others who also might be struggling, creating a significant impact. So many musicians struggle with things like imposter syndrome and other mental ailments, and having the ability to lay it all down in lyrics and melody can be therapeutic.