Dear Deli Readers,
We have finally reached the end of the road for The Deli’s Best Emerging LA Artists Poll. As usual, it’s been a lengthy, exhausting, painstaking journey through an abundance of numbers, band names, and some seriously rad tunes. Now, before we get to our list of this year’s Top Performers, we would like to thank our wonderful, knowledgeable jury of local music experts/enthusiasts (which you can view below), dedicated Deli writers and all those who took the time to check out our nominees and cast their votes. You’re the best, and we wouldn’t be able to do this without you!
The Deli LA Jurors:
Janette Ayub (Girl Underground), Brandon (The Burning Ear), David Evanko (Minivan Photography), Grant Owen (We Found New Music), Deborah Farnault, Dan Frazier (Free Bike Valet), Brandon (SUPERGOODMUSIC), Matt Draper, LA Weekly, The Regent Theater, The Hi-Hat, Liz Garo (The Echo), Juan Rodríguez (The Deli LA), Paolo de Gregorio (The Deli NYC).
BEST OF LA POLL – The FINAL RESULTS
1. THE TRACKS
The East L.A. quartet is giving indie rock a new face with their brash guitar dynamics, contributing a big sound that operates on a grander scale. But as they tackle themes that range from race to social class, these garage rockers punctuate their rising anthems with plenty of smarts, too.
2. LAEL NEALE
The evocative singer-songwriter writes stripped-down, spacious ballads that gain potency with her fragile croon.
3. MIND MONOGRAM
The trippy quartet creates rapturous soundscapes that have a classic songwriting mold even when they’re at their most experimental.
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OVERALL TOP 20
Here’s the top 20 of the Best of LA Poll for Emerging Artists!
1. The Tracks
2. Lael Neale
3. Mind Monogram
4. Test
5. Death Valley Girls
6. Shannon Lay
7. Feels
8. Doe Paoro
9. Starcrawler
10. DYAN
11. Numb.er
12. Sky Chefs
13. Andrew Kehogan
14. Weyes Blood
15. Gallant
16. Spencer Ludwig
17. EXES
18. Mating Ritual
19. Mind Meld
20. Ramonda Hammer
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BEST OF LA ELECTRONIC CATEGORY
Overall Winner: Doe Paoro
Readers’ Poll Winner: Satchmode
BEST OF LA GARAGE/PSYCH/ POST PUNK CATEGORY
Overall Winner: Test
Readers’ Poll Winner: Melted Bodies
BEST OF LA INDIE ROCK CATEGORY
Overall Winner: The Tracks + Readers’ Poll Winner: The Tracks
BEST OF LA SOUL/HIP HOP CATEGORY
Overall Winner: Weyes Blood
Readers’ Poll Winner: Stalgia
BEST OF LA INDIE POP CATEGORY
Overall Winner + Readers’ Poll Winner: Mind Monogram
BEST OF LA FOLK/AMERICANA CATEGORY
Overall Winner: Lael Neale
Readers’ Poll Winner: Shannon Lay
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See you next year, best of LA Poll!
The Folks at The Deli