Artist Awards 2024

Introducing the national phenomenon of BRAT Summer, Charli XCX captured the hearts and dancefloors of hundreds of millions of music listeners through bombastic Electropop and undeniable flair. Stylish and confident, BRAT and its verbosely titled remix album unveiled an infectious balance between reflection, honesty, and reckless fun. These records and a global tour have pushed the addictingly fun message of BRAT to astronomical levels, solidifying Charli XCX as one of the world's biggest Pop stars and 2024's Mainstream Artist of the Year.

Avant-Folk and Post-Rock self-starter, samlrc has set a distinct sound through their March LP, A Lonely Sinner, and a follow-up EP in June. Tender naturalistic atmospheres and fuzzy Rock breakdowns communicate bittersweet confrontations with identity, swelling amid light strings and stellar sample work. With just over 12,000 monthly Spotify listeners, samlrc's delicately crafted and emotionally potent 2024 output easily garners this year's Esoteric Artist of the Year award.

In a year of diverse and exciting producers, Synthpop duo, Matt Lewin and Mica Tenenbaum dazzled in every way with their 2024 full-length release, Imaginal Disk. Taking synthetics to the absolute limits, the two producers expertly blended an abundance of Electronica, Dance, Indie, and Psychedelia. From bouncing leads to blipping atmospherics and disintegrating bass, traditional and alternative influences alike enjoyed a rush of brilliance as Imaginal Disk glides through a balanced decoration of electronic vibrations. With their contributions to building a tightly-composed, yet vastly detailed and fresh Pop mixture, Magdalena Bay skyrockets to 2024's Producer of the Year.

In a long-awaited return to music, Singer-Songwriter Beth Gibbons shows the maturation of her iconic voice on her debut solo album, Lives Outgrown. Gibbons' voice is nothing but incredible. Smooth, yet worn lungs yearn for love, never quite escaping morose undertones. Clearly, a tired heart spilling its reminiscence as wisdom; grieving whilst appreciating what once was. Through impressive dynamics, the singer matches strange instrumentals, floating in tactical melodies with grace and aptitude. The gripping comfort that is the voice of Beth Gibbons levitates high above, making her 2024's Best Vocalist.

Following the legendary Trip-Hip trio Portishead's final record in 2008, lead singer Beth Gibbons has worked scatteringly over a decade on her debut solo album, Lives Outgrown. Released in May of this year, Lives Outgrown chronicles a séance with impermanence found in a rich and diverse Chamber Folk sound. At her most vulnerable and vespertine moods, Gibbons' weaves a web of beauty, reaching out to what may lay beyond the Sun and capturing 2024's Comeback Artist of the Year in the process.

Cambridge-born producer, singer, songwriter, and fashionista, Charli XCX had a year to remember in 2024. Beginning the year with a bold set of singles and music videos, the stage was set for a musical breakthrough. With the release of her 7th studio LP in June, Charli XCX showed an evolution of high-energy EDM and technical Electropop and ignited a cultural movement. "BRAT Summer," as it would become known, shifted music listeners' attention from traditional mainstream music to Charli's irresistible brand of exuberant raving and unabashed self-expression. BRAT's effortless buoyancy, assertive Electronica, and deep honesty made the album and its message a cathartic party for the ages. 

But the party didn't stop there. A series of singles featuring popular acts such as Lorde, Billie Eilish, Troye Sivan, and many more grew into a remix album released in October. These remixes diversified the essence of BRAT and allowed the industry as a whole to latch on to a movement of diverting Pop music and genuine creativity. Alongside a highly successful and well-received global tour, Charli XCX is still dancing as 2024's Artist of the Year.