What a year it has been for dance music fans. No festivals mean no real-time opportunities to see music up-close-and-personal. While we have struggled to see the music we know and love, dance music has pivoted to live-streaming events from every corner of dance music. River Beats also joined the live streaming efforts this year, hosting over 100+ artists and raising over $50,000 for independent music venues and artists.
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Typically at the end of the year, we release an entire list of Artists to Look Out for, a Breakout Artist from the Year, and Our Artist of the Year. Last year, Subtronics took home our Artist of the Year award after having one of the biggest years in dance music.
This year, things are a tad different. We have been reluctant to name a true Artist of the Year as there are so many who have worked their butt off to bring livestream tunes to our living room every weekend.
With this year’s roundup, our goal was to highlight a few names who had a truly remarkable 2020 despite the circumstance.
Our top two selections for 2020 are none other than WRECKNO and OTR.
After releasing his hit collaborative single “Medusa” with GRiZ, WRECKNO saw his popularity and listeners continue to grow in the bass music world. Wreckno’s budding project has seen massive success and support from bass tastemakers including G-Space, Peekaboo, iLL Gates, and GRiZ.
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Did anyone see such a rise in total streams and music released than OTR?
The 25-year-old artist/producer Ryan Chadwick, better known as OTR, released his first full-length album in 2020; and boy, it did not disappoint.
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You may have caught onto the name in 2019 when he debuted the single “Heart” with another amazing name on the rise, Shallou. With over 25 million streams in 2020 alone, OTR has proved his brand of music is here to stay. A collaboration with Lane 8 among others in his discography have cemented 2020 as a monstrous year for OTR.
Fan Selection For Top Breakout Artist of 2020: Phyphr
Through an interactive vote on the River Beats Facebook and Instagram, we asked our fans and the electronic music community who they would nominate as 2020’s breakout artists. Electro-soul and funk connoisseur Phyphr was the winner out of 150+ votes, and racking up over 75% of the votes on both Facebook and Instagram.
Phyphr is a rising name in the soulful funk circles, and easily pulled over 1,000 live viewers during our recent New Year’s Eve livestream with Manic Science, Michal Menert, Chris Karns, and more. His sound is unique; his production and live shows are special; to top it all of, his music is groovy as hell.
Not only is Phyphr a name to keep on your radar in 2021, but he is also one of our top selections for Breakout Artists in 2020.
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Names to Keep On Your Radar for 2021 ctd…
Andrew Lux | Blurrd Vzn | Channel Tres | Comisar | ElderBass | illanthropy | Jeanie | Juelz | Klutch | Knock2 | Last Heroes | Lizzy Jane | MIZE | Moore Kismet | NotLo Bass | OMAS | Poizd | Quiet Bison | Ship Wreck | Super Future | Tony Romera | TVBOO