As February approaches, we are so excited to highlight some of our favorite up and coming Black creatives. From the soulful and sultry R&B stylings of artists like Fana Hues and THEY., to the clean and modern aesthetic of those like Noname and Tora-i, to the super fresh (and overwhelmingly viral) Philly sound from pioneers like D4M $loan, to rising global icons like Hak Baker and Genesis Owusu, AWAL is honored to represent a wide breadth of Black creativity from across the world. Check out our highlights playlist and find your newest obsession!

Blake Rose

“Blake's pop-rock flips the script on self-empowerment anthems.” - Billboard

Backed by over 305 million all time streams and over 1 billion radio impacts, including support from international outlets like BBC Radio 1 and triple j Australia, Blake Rose's bright star is undeniable. His sophomore EP, You'll Get It When You're Older (out February 24th), is a heart-felt and deeply personal project about growing up, facing harsh realities, and letting the rosy tint of youth fade away. With prior mentions by publications like Ones to Watch, V Man, Beyond the Stage, and more, Blake is well on the way to a successful sophomore presentation!

Alice Longyu Gao

"No one else sounds like Alice Longyu Gao, period." -MTV

"Hëłlœ Kįttÿ" is a circus of sound -- a frantic, discordant reflection of the new ALG era for the head-bangers. Of her recent exploration into the punk genre space, Alice says: "when I don’t know what to feel or when others think that I 'feel too much,' with this music, I can just physically and emotionally go hard straight up, from the first beat to the end, no questions asked." Catching attention from major publications like NME where she was named an artists to watch in 2023, Clash Magazine, and Alt Press, and cosigns from legends like Alice Glass and Oli Sykes of Bring Me the Horizon, along with frequent collaborator and hyperpop staple Dylan Brady, Alice has more than established herself as a genre-bending force to be reckoned with.

khai dreams

"There’s something idiosyncratic about writing a song called “Panic Attack” and making it sound as calm and collected as khai dreams’ new single does — or at least that’s what you might think for the first few moments of the track..." -Billboard

23-year-old artist and producer khai dreams (she/they) is seeing the fruits of her dedication with "Panic Attack" -- the leading single off her brand new album ABSOLUTE HEARTBREAK (out today!). Featured already on Billboard's Queer Jams of the Week roundup alongside the heavy-hitters boygenius, Arlo Parks, Kelela, Kim Petras and Sam Smith, the track has also been included on The Honey Pop's Artists on the Rise playlist. The press coverage doesn't stop there -- Ones To Watch has included the single on their Now Watching playlist and CoupDeMain teased khai's involvement in their latest zine. Amassing over 800 million career streams and a social audience of nearly 1 million dedicated followers, "Panic Attack" is yet another colorful window into khai's newest era.