Best Breakthrough Alternative Artists of 2019

Written by Schae Beaudoin 

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In 2019, we saw My Chemical Romance reunite, Bring Me the Horizon debut a new sound, and Warped Tour have its final send off. Needless to say, it was a massive year for this scene. With new singles from mainstays like A Day To Remember and The Used dropping this year, no one would blame you for letting some smaller releases fly under the radar. Yet, plenty of emo and alternative artists had their most successful year to date. Here are some of the most notable breakthrough alternative artists of 2019.

Yungblud

Hip-hop-punk-rocker Yungblud made an impact on the scene last year with his debut album 21st Century Liability, and he’s only continued to rise since. 2019 brought collaborations with Halsey, Travis Barker, Machine Gun Kelly, and blackbear, all of which landed in the top 10 on Billboard’s rock charts. Between collabs, the South Yorkshire artist released an EP, a live album, and a graphic novel. Yungblud is proving himself a champion of the youth and reminding everyone success doesn’t hinge on compromising individuality.

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Grayscale

When a rock band embraces pop influence, it can be a controversial move; yet, Grayscale was able to reach a whole new audience this year with Nella Vita. 2019 saw the band’s first U.S. headlining tour and they’re hitting the road again in the spring of 2020 for the Nella Vita Part II tour. From the dance-pop track “Baby Blue” to the anthemic “In Violet,” Grayscale are truly rising stars in the scene. Rest assured they haven’t sacrificed any honesty to their songwriting either. “Tommy’s Song” closes out the album on a somber note, contemplating grief and the tragic loss of a loved one. 

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Oso Oso

Oso Oso’s basking in the glow sits somewhere between optimism and uncertainty. The hope for something better coming just on the horizon underscores any questioning or discomfort from Oso Oso mastermind Jade Lilitri. The album’s title track encapsulates that duality in its chorus: “These days, it feels like all I know is this phase/I hope I’m basking in the glow.” The indie-emo band embarked on their first North American headlining tour this year and before year’s end, they announced another for spring 2020. If you haven’t already, there’s no excuse not to check out Oso Oso.

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dying in designer

Emo-rapper dying in designer burst onto the scene in 2019 wearing his influences on his sleeve, with singles like “Gerard Way” and “Lately.” Hopeless Records took notice and signed the rapper, aiding in the release of Nobody’s Happy just a few months later. designer’s debut is deeply personal, touching on his struggles with suicidal thoughts, a toxic relationship, and addiction. The rapper will kick off his first U.S. headlining tour in January of 2020. It’s clear dying in designer is making a name for himself in the scene. 

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The Regrettes

The Regrettes put out an album about falling in and out of love, and while they’re certainly not the first band to do so, they spot-on capture the feelings associated with it. On How Do You Love, 18-year-old Lydia Night describes the ecstatic highs and blistering frustration of being young and in love. She swaps between singing a sugary-sweet love song to giving the dismissive command “You can’t love me, so go love you,” without a second thought. Between fuzzed-out power chords and doo-wop harmonies, the power-pop punks carved out a headstrong path of their own in 2019. 

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Lingua Ignota

Lingua Ignota dropped one of the darkest albums of the year in Caligula. Ignota (real name Kristin Hayter) draws on her own experience as an abuse survivor, giving a detailed look into the emotional and mental fallout of abuse. Hayter shrieks, wails, and chants her way through an album sounding sorrowful yet enraged, and elegant while disturbing. Hayter’s first release through metal label Profound Lore sounds like it fits in with the metal and noise music crowd, while also pulling several elements from folk and world music, as well as opera. Caligula is a difficult listen-far outside of what many would consider palatable-but it’s powerful and moving.

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White Reaper

White Reaper is carrying the torch for righteous riffs and classic rock grooves into 2019. This Louisville-based band released their third album You Deserve Love this year, full of headbang-worthy jams. You Deserve Love showcases a White Reaper with cleaner production and stepped-up songwriting. They made their late-night debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live this year and announced a headlining club tour set for early 2020. While White Reaper isn’t necessarily a new band to the scene, many people certainly took notice this year.

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Jetty Bones

Jetty Bones, the artistic alias of Kelc Galluzzo, is known for her raw lyrics and pop-indie riffs. Galluzzo’s processing of her pain becomes her fuel for songwriting, and her honesty pays off as Jetty Bones signed to Rise Records this year. Her EP ‘-‘ also dropped this year, full of cathartic songs about healing and coming into your skin. Jetty Bones then took to the road to support New Found Glory and Mat Kerekes of Citizen on tour, as well as landed a spot on Sad Summer Fest, meaning the scene is paying attention to what she has to offer.

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Heart Attack Man

“Feel my wrath and clear a path, you motherfucker.” If there’s one lyric to encapsulate garage rock punks Heart Attack Man, that’s it. The Cleveland-based band dropped their second album Fake Blood this spring, full of pissed-off lyrics and catchy sing-along choruses. Frontman Eric Egan’s lyrics stress the importance of standing up for yourself in the face of people who want to bring you down. Heart Attack Man supported Seaway and Boston Manor this year and will kick off 2020 supporting Knuckle Puck, so don’t expect them to slow down anytime soon. 

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Mannequin Pussy

Feminist punk is alive and well in Mannequin Pussy. Their third full-length Patience is leaps and bounds forward progression for the band in terms of production and hooks. Frontwoman Marisa Dabice admitted she’s still learning how to use her singing voice after yelling her way through the band’s earlier releases, while the guitar work on Patience takes on a cleaner, more refined, tone. Mannequin Pussy have always had something to say, but now it seems they are truly demanding to be heard.

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