Underrated artists to watch during “Something in the Water”

Brandi Hutchinson | Staff Writer

Instagram User @somethinginthewater

Virginia native Pharrell Williams’ three-day festival “Something in the Water” is only a week away. Big-name performers such as Jhene Aiko, Lil Uzi Vert, Sza, Travis Scott, Pharrell Williams and Missy Elliott are just a few of artists hitting the stage in Virginia Beach. Luckily, those aren’t the only artists ready to put on a show. If you love listening to alternative, jazz, rhythm and blues/ soul and hip-hop music, then the artists listed below are who you should be on the lookout for.

Masego

Micah Davis, better known as Masego, has a creative combination to him. He’s a self-taught saxophonist, singer and producer with a soulful demeanor. The Norfolk native makes electronic, hip-hop and jazz music, but refers to his form of art as “TrapHouseJazz” or Emotion. The 25- year-old Jamaican-American is very well known for his voice, but especially known for jams he produces with his brass instrument. Masego has collaborated with artists such as FKJ, SiR, Goldlink, Xavier Omar and Medasin. His debut album Lady Lady can be found on all streaming platforms. Enjoy some of his hits on the first day of the festival, Friday, April 26.

Anderson .Paak
& The Free Nationals

Anderson .Paak and his backing band, The Free Nationals, are what some would define as eclectic. Anderson .Paak is an American musician and record producer from Oxnard, California. Listening to his music will bring nothing but positive vibes. The artist makes hip-hop, contemporary, rhythm and blues music with a spice of funk to it. His voice has an old soul touch to it, complementing tracks that he made with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, J. Cole and BJ the Chicago Kid. His band, The Free Nationals, recently worked with Canadian neo-soul singer and songwriter Daniel Caesar. You can catch Anderson .Paak and The Free Nationals on the last day of the festival, Sunday, April 28.

Maggie Rogers

Maggie Rogers is an American musician, singer/songwriter and producer from Easton, Maryland. She grew up along the rural banks as a banjo player, where her favorite pastime was making folk music outside. While studying abroad in France, she came to a better understanding of herself and discovered her love for dance music. Rogers rose to fame when she was introduced to Pharrell Williams during a master class at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Her single Alaska was played for Pharrell, and things took off from there. You can hear live performances from her new debut album Heard It In A Past Life, and she’ll be joining other artists like Masego on April 26.

Radiant Children

The London-based trio of Tyler Acord, Marco Bernardis and Fabienne Holloway’s fanbase grew when two of their songs were featured on Issa Rae’s show, Insecure. All three members of this group come from different backgrounds, and together they make creative, diverse music. Separately, each of these artists had experience in the industry prior to linking together, working with big names like Janelle Monae and Gallant.

Radiant Children makes music that spans jazz, funk, rock, classical, soul and pop. Their soul-infused rhythm and blues music instills positivity and inspiration. The name of their band is the perfect way to describe their music. So, if you want to hear radiant music that will uplift the soul, come to the kick-off day of the festival April 26, when they will perform live.