2020 was a year of exponential growth within the underground’s talent pool. This list of artists responds to their work as much as it does their cultural impact, recognising strong individuals and unstoppable collaborators. There’s an array of sounds in these artist’s , from brutal dark trap to ethereal ambient pop, the perfect set for a year of unpredictability. It was a year of upheaval in terms of trends, platforms, and life itself – these artists created colourful resonances that kept us going in 2020.
10: d0llywood1
Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram
d0llywood1 – or just d0lly – is one of the underground’s ambassadors to the surface world, and her efforts seem equally divided between rallying the underground’s hyperactive autotune noise-makers and pushing the mainstream into that same artistic tempest. Her feature on Dorian Electra’s new album should be seen as groundbreaking, a crucial bridge between the established alt-pop world and the one she lives within. This is but one appearance of many in 2020 though – d0lly has been everywhere. On the mammoth “gang+” remix, alongside a platoon of her peers, she cries triumphantly “Gang in a brand new whip, we swerving shit”, claiming the new wave with certainty. – Jamie
9: GYPTXVN
Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram
The UK underground scene has never been in a stronger place. London-based rapper and producer Gyptxvn has worked tirelessly this year to prove himself as one of the versatile and interesting artists in his field, delivering not only one of the top songs of the year in ‘Flight’ but also a myriad of stunningly diverse instrumental work. His incredibly underrated Glacial Dynasty tape featured seven towering beats, each packing the chilling cybernetic menace commonly associated with his brand. His production credits for this year, which include rappers as disparate as Cowboykillerr, Herme$, Ouee 2 Times and Big Nate, have gone a long way towards strengthening existing working relationships while also forging brand new ones. And this is without even considering his work under the Flexo Kobain alias, a project that has provided the underground with quality music on a seemingly endless basis since it began. Whether or not we see the release of his long awaited Deluxe Origin album next year, Gyptxvn will be going into it as an undisputed legend of his time. – Chris
8: Min.a
Min.a’s placement reflects a year of creative control. Her output is on the restrained side, but this evidently gives each track she drops room to grow, to flourish, to bloom. “Tape It Back Together” followed her “Hi-Fi” EP, with both works full of spacious melody, raw sonic material, and vocals that put discipline and grandiosity to war. On “Close” (from “Hi-Fi”), the singer switches languages and moods on a dime, on the more recent “Hour 24” Min.a turns a summery vibe into its own universe. Her year has been remarkably resourceful and inspiringly clever. – Jamie
7: ZEROXXUIT
Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram
Despite only dropping his first vocal track in November of last year, Zero has had one of the biggest impacts on 2020’s musical landscape. As a member of rising dark trap collective Jewelxxet, he has collaborated with some of the most distinctive and recognizable names in the underground and established himself amongst the greats of the scene. In total Zero released well over twenty projects this year, and the sheer range of sound that he explored on these releases is nothing short of astounding. Some of these were fully fleshed-out mixtapes (Metal, Fucked), but the vast majority were bite-sized installments in his discography that utilised production from a core group of largely BMB-affiliated artists. He’s always been a fantastic producer, but he’s also exponentially improved as a rapper over the past twelve months. Compare the fairly rudimentary sounds of February’s No Life EP to the abrasive chaos of July’s Broken and you will find that no other artist in the underground has spent this year perfecting their craft in quite the same way. – Chris
6: Photon Tide
Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram
Artists like Photon Tide have an almost otherworldly ability to be in two places at once, but not many can claim to continuously improve in both settings. In 2020 Photon has risen, rapidly, to the rank of mainstay in the underground’s music and visual design communities, with a rough digital voice speaking through both mediums. Photon’s work is powerfully thought provoking, and challenges audiences to see the artistic opportunity in the world around them. – Jamie
If I’m being honest, I wasn’t caught by surprise by an artist in 2020 as much as Photon. The rapper’s journey from churning out merely solid projects to delivering an album as mature and emotionally complex as Afterimage obviously didn’t happen overnight (even if the speed with which Photon garnered a loyal fanbase suggests that it did), and I have no doubt that that he is one of the most hardworking members of the underground community. Indeed, very few artists gave us as raw and unedited a glimpse into their psyche like he did on the gloomy Autumn EP, and all I can really hope for Photon in the new year is that he finds a level of personal happiness akin to his newfound musical success. – Chris
5: Kid Trash
Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram
A cornerstone of the style we know now as Hyperpop, Kid Trash needs their flowers for playing an extremely unappreciated role in one of this year’s biggest musical phenomenons. Not only did they deliver some of 2020’s most beautiful music, but their influence can also be felt in the works of countless artists to spring up during one of the most tumultuous times in human history. As an individual artist Trash is constantly evolving and no drop has ever really been similar to the last, which is unsurprising given the massive list of musical influences that can be traced throughout their discography. As inspired by rave music as they are by namesake and equally underrated SoundCloud legend Trassh Vampire, the UK artist is far more than just the artist that brought us ‘Exotic’ (as amazing as that song obviously is). They’ve been going hard in the scene for years, and I’m glad that thanks to the success of ‘Exotic’ a massive new audience is being exposed to one of the scene’s most unique and fascinating presences. – Chris
4: Sixtythree666
Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram
Sixtythree666 is the conductor of a hidden scene, one formed from unexpected international links, insane amounts of decorated anonymity, and a prioritisation of art. His personal style – cybertrap infused with dark masses of volume – is so instantly recognisable it might as well be its own genre. For Sixty, 2020 was a series of understated victories; his album with Cybernetic Snake tested him as executive producer, he became a go-to for artists looking for corrupted engineering, and got into the business of making extended and personalised DJ mixes. Between all of this he also found time to drop a handful of raucous beats and production credits – he deserves all possible celebration. – Jamie
3: Blackwinterwells
Soundcloud | Matter | Twitter | Instagram
Blackwinterwells understanding of melody is incomparably deep. Her two albums, “Seraph” and “Stone Ocean“, released this year, and each took a different approach to utilising the creator’s well of knowledge regarding musical texture and harmony – And that’s not even mentioning a tsunami of introspective singles and ambitious vocal performances. Seeing Wells’ name is, without fail, an assurance of quality, a guarantee that what follows will merge the otherworldly and simplistic into something both phantomic and reassuring. On top of this, Wells remains a key connector in the underground’s matrix of talent; as director of helix tears and an associate of bloodhounds she’s instrumental in the movement of the scene’s avant-garde. – Jamie
2: Bleachh
Soundcloud | Matter| Twitter | Instagram
It’s no secret that we at 108mics love Bleachh’s music, we’ve supported him ever since his StyxCityCult/Drinkbleachh days. However, it was only in the last half a year that Bleachh began to make steps towards changing his sound and really pushing his musical talents, beginning with the massive single ‘Ball Like HighSchool’. This song deservedly brought him a boatload of attention, ultimately leading him to join the ranks of the pop-focused Hurenpop collective. His existing relationships with the Canadian underground scene were only strengthened by this evolution, and he has subsequently become an in demand feature artist and producer in the broader scope of the genre. Equipped with some of the best songwriting skills in pop music and a charming personality to boot, Bleachh’s journey towards true stardom has only just begun. – Chris
Bleachh’s take on hyperpop activates every sense, years of production experience give his beats a unique strength, and his voice has become less aggressive, instead imbued with passion and finesse. As an engineer and producer he’s working closely with artists like Wulfpunk and Salemgasmask to elevate their sounds, and his own music finds room for twists and turns within his signature – some of his best work this year has been in loosies and quick drops; “myspace”, “catfish”, “r4nsom”. With a solid EP (“01”) under his belt and a massive community of collaborators and supporters, it’s hard to see how Bleachh can do better in 2021. Chances are he’ll find a way. – Jamie
1: Osquinn
Soundcloud | Matter | Twitter | Instagram
Osquinn’s cross-scene appeal and ludicrously huge blow-up is secondary to her undying commitment to artistic vision and supremely sharp pen game. Her songwriting has evolved continuously across the whole year; it’s incredible to watch the punkish pride of “bad idea” fall away as its hook is interpolated into “oblivion”, whereas the emptiness of “sum1 tht i knew” descends into darker anxieties on “ok i’m cool”. Genuine realism sweeps through Osquinn’s catalogue, from the exhausted “a night in virginia” EP to the brackish waters of “clairvoyant”, and, like many from her scene, her output has been absolutely prolific to boot, which has contributed immensely to the crushing pressure she exerts on the music game right now. On a track her flow is recognisable in seconds, and with each song she’s blended impact and accessibility better than any artist this year. She is a profoundly talented and important figure within the culture; she’s practically shaped it in her image at the epicentre of an entirely new genre. To be real, though, the chances are that we’ve only seen a fraction of what Osquinn is capable of. Her creative growth shows no signs of slowing, and we’ve yet to hear a full length project from the artist. Whatever 2021 holds, as it stands Osquinn is constantly impressive, abundantly stylish, and totally unsuppressed; artist of the year. – Jamie
By 108MICS Staff: Chris (@108seraph), Jamie (@youngjade1216), Arctic (@907arctic)
108 MICS 