We just recently finished raving about Irish newcomer, Talos, in our last Best New Artists of the Month post, but already, there's another new face who looks to be in it for the long haul and steal some of that thunder. Like his other well-prepped contemporaries, Australian artist, Hopium, has emerged fully equipped with a strong brand identity, a well-made music video, and, of course, a breakout single that will blow you away. Not lacking for drama, "Cut" hits hard right at the top, settling thereafter into a dark, echoey slow-jam reminiscent of something Gems would put out, but with more edge. The lyrics are a bit morbid depending on who you ask, but in all honesty, they fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the song, and we wouldn't have it any other way. They're well-crafted, anyway, not coming off as flippant, or ill-advised. So, with such a strong start, you can bet this is just the beginning for Hopium, and despite the rather dark nature of the work here, the guy has a very bright future indeed.
Hopium