On Wednesday (Nov. 28), Vevo DSCVR dropped the latest two installments of its 2019 Artists To Watch series with performances by soul-pop singer-songwriter Amber Mark and East Coast rapper Nebu Kiniza.
New York-based Mark has impressed since the arrival of her 2017 debut EP 3:33am. The singer demonstrates a lyrical wisdom and creative sensibility far beyond her years that is informed by her time traveling the globe. These experiences contribute heavily to her melting pot sound, which combines a unique alternative form of R&B, pop and soul. Her latest EP, May’s Conexão, expanded this experimentation by leaning heavily on Mark’s passion for Brazilian bossa nova music.
Trending on Billboard
In a prepared statement Vevo Head of Music and Talent Jordan Glickson says, “Amber Mark is the real deal; she brings something truly special to this list. Her eclectic background has inspired her sound in so many ways and I am really looking forward to seeing what 2019 has in store for her.”
Watch Mark perform “Way Back” off of her 3:33am EP below.
The second featured Artist To Watch also hails from New York City, with a dash of Atlanta adolescence. Rapper Nebu Kiniza, 24, was born in Queens before moving to the hip-hop hotbed of Atlanta when he was 10. Influenced by the rap scene at school, the young M.C. quickly set himself apart from others in competitions, followed by major media buzz starting in 2016.
The “Gassed Up” artist continued to develop his sound on 2018’s From Me 2 U, the dreamy late-summer project that honed in on Nebu’s twist of New York’s headiness and Atlanta’s trap production. His sound follows in-line with the most popular rap aesthetics of the day, but with an added burst of youth; Nebu gives a peek into the next generation of post-Soundcloud rap and shows promising signs of the direction it’s going.
“Nebu Kiniza has had an amazing career to date, making a name for himself from his mixtapes, however as his work has evolved, he really caught our eye,” Glickson tells Billboard. “When you are getting features with likes of TK Kravitz and Lil Yachty you can expect an exciting year ahead.”
Watch Nebu perform “Pressure” below.