TOP 50 UNDERGROUND ARTISTS & PRODUCERS OF 2017

Out with the old...{still listening to them though!!}...in with the new!!

Before I get into the TOP 50 Underground --and highly underrated-- Artists of 2017...HAPPY NEW YEAR....

I hope all of you had an awesome holiday & your new year is beyond amazing. I hope all your goals are accomplished and your resolutions are achieved. I hope each of you continue to be great throughout all of 2018! Tell me what some of your goals for the new year are in the comments. What resolutions are you setting and hoping to achieve this year? Let me know below.

Alright, let's kick this off!

These are some of the hottest artists that I've come across in 2017. Some you may know, some you may not. This Top 50 is full of exemplary artists that have made their way onto several of my mixes and some have become playlist permanents: those songs that go on EVERY playlist...different genres & different styles, this list should keep you busy for a while.

The first TOP 40 are actual artists...the last 10 are producers...the magicians behind the music...I wanted to give credit where credit is due & producers are artists too! Click their names to be directed to their #Twitter, #YouTube or #SoundCloud accounts so you can follow & listen to more of these awesome artists & producers.

#ThankMeLater

Artists

1. NF
2. Cyhi the Prynce
3. Big Krit
4. Sarai Juelz
5. Burga
6. Christina Grimmie
7. Rhyon Brown
8. Haley Smalls
9. Joyner Lucas
10. 100 Proof
11. Good Girl
12. Attitude
13. Nikki Flores
14. Tori Kelly
15. Joey Bada$$
16. B.J. the Chicago Kid
17. Childish Gambino
18. Hopsin
19. Jasmine V.
20. NSYT
21. Macy Kate
22. Justine Skye
23. Phora
24. Zara Larsson
    
25. Ella Mai
26. H.E.R.
27. Devvon Terrell
28. Futuristic
29. Kiana Lede
30. Eppic
31. Anilyst
32. Ann Marie
33. Katelyn Tarver
34. Lecrae
35. Major
36. B. Cole
37. Vedo
38. William Singe
39. Sydney Renae
40. Bri Heart

Producers

1. Jervy Hou
2. Legion Beats
3. Paul Cabbin
4. The Orchestrators
5. NicG
6. Clark Make Hits
7. Stealth The Producer
8. Kurt Hugo Schneider
9. Ceasar Beats
10. In House Producers

This list is extensive, so I'm not posting videos for all these artists & producers. But here is one of my favorites of the TOP 10 Producers:

And though it is a hard ...VERY HARD... choice, here are 2 of my favorites chosen from the TOP 40 Artists:

These are NOT in any specific order & not all are pictured in the post. However, they are some of the illest and most underrated of the year. I've come across so many this list could easily be longer. However, to bring in the new year, here's the ones I've been rocking to almost all year long. Out with the old...in with the new. 

I'm looking forward to new artists, new interviews and some new doors being opened. What are you looking forward to in the new year? Drop your comments below to let me know. Let's converse. #TheUndergroundArtistry #NewYear #NewMusic #2017to2018 

In addition, I wanted to add...one of the artists I listed is no longer with us ...the lovely Christina Grimmie. A sad moment when she was shot at a benefit concert. I was a fan the day I listened to her cover of Titanium on YouTube. I added her to the list because she was such an amazing artist. And her memory is one to be remembered. #RIP #ChristinaGrimmie #GoneTooSoon

Well....

I hope each of you enjoyed your holidays and this end of 2017 post...and once again, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

The Underground Artistry

For more on the blogger, you can visit her Facebook or The Underground Artistry page on facebook. (just click the links herein)

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Sarai Juelz: Artist Interview

I came across an amazing singer/songwriter in 2015. I was going through a time in my life where I felt I was losing everything. Her lyrics spoke to me. They helped me through that moment in time where I felt like giving up. 

 

Her name is Sarai Juelz. 

The first songs I heard by this artist were "Damage", "Just Because You Fall in Love", and "You Did That". I fell in love. My ears were crying from the truth in the lyrics. My eyes watered as a lump grew in my throat as I cried it out and let it go. I was done with that pain and her music helped me move forward. 

Today, I introduce her as one of the best R&B vocalists and songwriters I know that is from my neck of the woods: Soperton, GA, but resides in Atlanta. 

She will be that voice you won't forget. 

She is that voice you want to put on replay.

I am honored to have been able to connect with and interview her. 

So, who is Sarai Juelz?

By birth, she's Kimberly Michelle Howard. I had the privilege of connecting with her online through Facebook about 2 years ago. However, we never really spoke much though we were in a couple groups together. One day I started this blog...and in the light of needed artists to interview, she was one of my picks. So, here we are.

I asked about the name change, which she was more than open to explaining, for I did previously know how it came about, yet I didn't know the full story. 

She tells me she 'floated around a lot', which gives way for all the names she accumulated over the course of her career as an artist and writer. Names like Kay Michelle, because her grandmother wanted to name her 'Kay', she tells me. She also went by Mandeeza, Yaa-Theory, SWOAN--which stands for 'Someone Without A Name'. She informed me that she was writing in her journal one day and missing her children, who passed away due to pregnancy complications: her daughter, Sarai Imani and son, Zion Juelz. She gets to the end and signs it, Sarai Juelz. "That's the first time I felt connected", she states. Finally settling upon Sarai Juelz in memory of her children, she's now moved from the Red Clay central of Soperton, Georgia to the hometown of some of today and yesterday's hottest artists: Atlanta.

I go on to ask her about the musical greats that may have been inspiration to her. As such a young artist, singing since she was 3 years young, she's had her share of musical greats that have been inspiration for her. From the likes of artists such as Diana Ross & Janet Jackson to Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, and Erykah Badu. She stated, "overall Aaliyah, Chante Moore, and anything that Dino from H-Town sings". She also pulls musical inspiration from her brother, Ness Lee. She states, "The way he has mastered his craft is amazing, and to witness it was even more awesome.  I strive to have his work ethic when it comes to music." 

When she was around 7, she wrote her first song for her mother: "Ride that Train to Heaven". She stated, "I knew she was chasing a rainbow that conflicted with her faith, and I wrote it for her." Which moves us right into the question, what's the top 3 inspirations for your music? She states, "pain, love and life in general". I can't agree on a better trio. 

I asked Sarai, what makes you different from all other artists that we hear or have heard? She goes on to say, "I only write and sing what I know.  I won’t ever do a song for myself just to sell records.  If I record it, it will be something that applies to me or my life in some aspect." She goes on to state that if she does write a song that 'isn't her', she'd 'sell it or let someone else sing it' because she only makes music that 'makes sense' to her life. 

Continuing the interview, I go on to ask her: what would be some advice you'd give to younger generations that may want to get into the music industry?

"Get all the vocal training you can get. I haven’t had any and the voice I had when I was younger is no longer there.  You can absolutely lose it if you don’t train it.  Learn the business side of it. Always create the music you want to represent you, even if you’re the only one who likes it, because you’ll always be able to explain who you are and the purpose of your music.  If it’s not true to you, it won’t be true to who’s listening to it." And she lives by that. One of her mottos’ is "The best person you can ever be is you", and that is nothing but the truth. Going on to say she lives by 2 other mottos’: "I never lose: either I win or I learn" and "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear".

I can honestly say this has been one of the most inspirational interviews I've done to date. Her music moves you. Her lyrics speak to you. What more can you ask for in an artist? She has a long career ahead of her.

If you'd like to contact Sarai Juelz for booking, you can call (404) 942-9270 or you can email saraijuelzmusic@gmail.com. Her website will be available soon, but for now you can preview and purchase her album, Sarai vs Love, on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, and CD Baby. You can also visit her on Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation, and SoundCloud. Just search for her name: Sarai Juelz. Or, you can click on the links herein.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my interview with this amazing artist and songwriter. Be sure to check out her links and share when you get there.

As always, thanks for reading and be sure to follow The Underground Artistry because more updates are coming. You won't want to miss those. Interviews from artist, Thi Hays and small business owner, Lavish Fad coming up over the weekend, so be sure you follow if you want the updates!

As always, it's great to bring you awesome content. Please be sure to share this post and others alike; I'll be glad that you did! :)

Sincerely,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry
Another site...not just another blog.