Over four nights in March, Rolling Stone’s Future of Music showcase at SXSW brought the stars of tomorrow to Austin’s famed ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Each night, the 2,750-seat venue was packed — not just inside, but outside, too. Ahead of the second night’s bill, which was topped …
Read More »Le Sserafim's World-Conquering Moment Is Almost Here
When you witness the confidence, composure, and professionalism that Le Sserafim bring to every performance, it can be hard to believe that they’re only in their second year as a group. In fact, several members have “past lives” that helped get them where they are today — from Kim Chaewon …
Read More »Hong Kong Boy Band Mirror Have 12 Members and One Big Goal: Taking Cantopop Worldwide
Growing up in Hong Kong, the future members of the 12-member boy band Mirror had all kinds of jobs — from personal trainers to dancers and martial arts instructors. “The 12 of us did not debut from a training program,” says Edan (who, like the other members, typically goes by …
Read More »How Fashion, Metal, and Rebellion Made Black Sherif
Preceded by a crew of gymnasts who shot fire — and themselves — high in the air, Black Sherif earned a hero’s welcome when he took the stage at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra, Ghana, to headline the AfroFuture festival last December. The event, which has become one of the …
Read More »Young Nudy Is Having Fun With His Mainstream Moment
Young Nudy has been a rotation mainstay for diehard fans of Atlanta rap for years. But he’s on the verge of crossover stardom after the ascent of “Peaches & Eggplants,” a delectably titled single with his cousin 21 Savage that peaked at Number Seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs …
Read More »Veeze's Greatness Speaks for Itself — One Croaky Bar at a Time
Veeze has joked that 2022 was his “rap internship” as he prepped his debut LP, Ganger, and spent time around rap stars like Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, and Babyface Ray, observing them and learning rap-star decorum. Now, with the album out to much acclaim, the 28-year-old Detroit native is on …
Read More »Saiko Is Making a Concept Album About a Galaxy. He Says Fame Was Written in the Stars
A couple of years ago, the Spanish reggaetón star Saiko was talking with his friend’s stepdad, Walter, known for his spiritual wisdom and for being in touch with the metaphysical. “He told me, ‘You have to name a song ‘San Walter,’ and I told him, ‘What are you talking about?’” …
Read More »Omah Lay: Afrobeats' Brooding New Visionary
Omah Lay recoils hard when he sees the snow piling up outside of my window over Zoom. “I cannot deal with snow,” says the 26 year-old Nigerian star. “Bro, I can’t even deal with the weather in London.” Lately, when he’s not in Lagos, he’s been spending a lot of …
Read More »Scowl Are Playing To Win
When Scowl toured the country last year, they were obsessed with a simple game: Take a die, roll it, and whoever gets a six can chuck it at the nearest band member. “There were dice flying everywhere!” frontperson Kat Moss says. “It was the most obnoxious game,” adds guitarist Mikey …
Read More »From Street Busking to International Stardom: The Rise of Ryan Castro
Ryan Castro has always been a go-getter. When the Colombian reggaeton singer was 17, he started busking in the streets and on the buses in Medellín. He’d carry a small stereo and jointhe throngs of vendors and performers that lined the tourist hub. A charismatic teenager with a bold timbre …
Read More »