Ready To Pop: 5 Acts Headed Straight To The Mainstream

July 30, 2014 - 2:10 pm by Sarah Polonsky

In the year 2014, the true definition of a pop star has all but eviscerated with major stars on the outskirts of their once prevalent careers and reality television blurring the lines between talent and cheap tricks.

This leaves us with only one thing to hang on to, honesty from an artist and our own visceral reactions to the sound. Fans want to see artists writing their own music, taking chances and not always paying a flack to shove it down our collective throats. After weighing in on myriad raw talent, here’s five artists we think are about to blow up.

Move over Justin Bieber...If you’re not yet familiar, it’s time to meet the next generation of pop stars. >>>>>>>>>>>>

- Evan Candelmo & Sarah Polonsky

1. Banks Sounds Like: A darker female version of The Weeknd Age: 26 Why she's poppin': Banks is already on every music lover’s lips when someone mentions up and coming. The singer/songwriter is a huge success on Soundcloud, which we think will propel her career into bigger and brighter things. Her latest single, “Beggin’ For Thread,” shows how versatile a female artist can really be, combining pop, R&B and maybe even traces of hip-hop. No wonder the song landed in the iTunes Top 10 on the day it came out. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

2. Sheppard Sounds Like: The lovechild of OneRepublic and Grouplove Why they're poppin': From a young age, the Brisbane-based band has been hustling the music game. Sheppard was originally formed with siblings Amy, Emma and George Sheppard but they eventually added three more members, completing the sugary-sweet sound they have perfected today. Their debut single, “Geronimo,” knocked Pharrell’s “Happy” off the #1 spot in Australia and eventually went three times platinum in their home country. We also are sort of in love with Amy Sheppard’s turquoise hair. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

3. Ella Henderson Sounds Like: A lighter, happier Adele Age: 18 Why she's poppin': Landing in sixth place on The X Factor UK in 2012, the songstress won over the British public two years later with her smash hit, “Ghost,” which was co-written by OneRepublic’s frontman Ryan Tedder. Not only did she gain a #1 debut single in her home country, but it also came in at #1 in all of Europe. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

4. George Ezra Sounds Like: A grittier Ed Sheeran Age: 21 Why he's poppin': Is Ed Sheeran a little too quiet for you? Look to George Ezra for a grungier, rustic sound paired with still-ethereal vocals. Placing fifth in BBC’s Sound of 2014 competition, Ezra’s song, “Budapest,” charted at #3 in the UK and could be Lorde’s sonic sister meets Bob Dylan’s son [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]

5. Fifth Harmony Sounds Like: Destiny’s Child working with an electronic producer Ages: 17-21 Why they're poppin': After being formed on music mastermind Simon Cowell’s US version of The X Factor, these girls have made their way into the hearts of thousands with their new song, “BO$$.” Their image is getting more urban and we’re all over that. Further more, let’s face it, we need a new girl band in our lives. [videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]