Generation V: Ama Lou, Destiny Rogers, Deb Never, Lolo Zouaï
For the musical wave of now, authenticity is king. These four emerging musicians each have a distinct sound and voice. Listen up.
Generation V represents many things, three being: an unapologetic uniqueness, a creative presence, and a strong voice. These four emerging artists all have very different sounds but are similar in that their music is an unwavering form of self-expression. Read on to learn about their influences, inspiration and to hear some of their top tracks.
Ama Lou
Spanning from Ella Fitzgerald to Disney Channel movies, Ama Lou’s influences lack a common thread. Still, she’s intent on sharing the essence of her creative process via images and music.“Visuals are a way for people to see what’s inside my head,” says the U.K. singer- songwriter. She released her debut EP, DDD, with a film to introduce her artistic and political perspectives as well as her sound.“Art is the best way some people can contribute,” she says of the project, whose themes range from relationship struggles to the Black Lives Matter movement.“I speak out on issues that are important and personal,” she adds.
TOP TRACK: “TRIED UP”
Destiny Rogers
On the surface, Destiny Rogers’s “Tomboy” is about a young woman who skateboards and hangs with the guys with ease. But with lyrics like“Mama said marry a rich man and I was like, ’Mama I am the rich man,’” the song is just as much about defying expectations.“I want to inspire other girls and women to step out of their comfort zone,” says Rogers, born in California’s Central Valley and raised on church music as well as early Justin Bieber vlogs. Now at work on a debut LP, Rogers has just begun fulfilling her destiny:“Not many people know who I am. But [all I want] is for people to move with the music.”
TOP TRACK: “TOMBOY”
Deb Never
It’s hard to pinpoint Deb Never’s sound; her songs are dreamy indie by way of SoundCloud R&B. Evoking musical idols like Nirvana, Blink-182, and Kid Cudi, her debut EP House on Wheels is also the product of Never’s emotional life.“Happiness, heartbreak, the hours between 2 and 5 a.m., long drives, nights partying and going home alone,” she recaps. Rattling off a long list of influences, the Washington state native distills them into two simple values: devotion to herself and her craft.“Be happy with who you are and be honest with [yourself],” she says.“There’s no reason to make music for anyone else.”
TOP TRACK: “UGLY”
Lolo Zouaï
Lolo Zouaï’s contemporary trap beats draw from the present as well as the past, recalling, for example, her French- Algerian heritage, the ’98 emo-electro hit “Blue (Da Ba Dee),” or mid-2000s hip-hop. “The first song I ever put on SoundCloud was a T-Pain cover,” she says of her varied career, which included stints at restaurants and American Apparel prior to the release of her debut LP. Sung in both French and English, High Highs to Low Lows amounts to Zouaï’s sonic diary. “My music is about a feeling; it’s moody and vulnerable yet confident,” she says. “When you bring your [whole] self to the table, it’s not hard to stand out.”
TOP TRACK: “CAFFEINE”