Some collaborations are so natural and sound so perfect together, that it's hard to imagine them not happening. That's definitely the case for Texan musicians Khruangbin and Leon Bridges, who released their second collab EP, Texas Moon, on Feb. 18.

Moon follows 2020’s Texas Sun, an EP which the quartet of musicians had hoped would be a full album. Two years later, listeners get to finally experience the full range of songs from the Khruangbin-Bridges original first sessions — including Bridges' moving tribute to his grandma, "Doris," as well as newer creations, like "Mariella."

Khruangbin (consisting of bassist Laura Lee, guitarist Mark Speer and drummer Donald "DJ" Johnson) and Bridges first connected in 2018, when the mostly instrumental Houston band toured with the soulful Fort Worth singer/songwriter as an opening act. Bridges was already a fan of Khruangbin’s atmospheric, global sound, and would sing lyrics over their music whenever he listened — including on the side of the stage while they performed. Lee noticed and sent Bridges a demo, and the rest was history.

As the singer tells GRAMMY.com, their collab was "honestly just seamless. There was nothing hard about it…. Everything about working with Khruangbin was just liberating."

Read on for a lively conversation between Bridges and Johnson about Texas Moon and Texas Sun, their love for the music of their home state, and more.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Leon Bridges: I first heard Khruangbin's music on a video shoot. I was just totally enamored with their sound. And like so many other singers, you have no other choice but to sing lyrics over [the music], so even before I met them, I would write little melodies and lyrics to their songs. I think it's amazing we were able to do a collaboration.

In 2018, I embarked on a Good Thing tour, and management was like, "Have you heard of Khruangbin? We've been thinking about having them open." And I was like, "Hell yeah!" It was the perfect tour. If I could co-headline with them for the rest of my career, then I would be totally fine. There was a night in Montana, when Laura Lee sent me a tune that they had been working on. Right before I got on stage, I went in GarageBand and wrote a couple of lyrics over it, sent it back and that's kind of what sparked our collab.

GRAMMY.com: What has it felt like when y'all collaborate together?

Bridges: It's honestly just seamless. There was nothing hard about it. When I'm in other sessions, the ones I have to do for “the machine,” it's a little rough because you have so many ideas being tossed around and a little bit of ego — totally understandable. Everything about working with Khruangbin was just liberating, to not have to adhere to a certain type of formula, to just to get in and just do what we do. And Texas Sun, Texas Moon, are a result of that.

Donald "DJ" Johnson: For me, working with Leon is a treat. I put him in a special category of artists that have a very unique voice. When you hear Leon, you know it's Leon; no one else sounds like him and he doesn't sound like anyone else. And as a producer myself, that opportunity [to work with a singer like that] doesn't come around very often. I think the last time I was afforded that opportunity was when I worked with Slim, the lead singer of 112.

It's really something special that happens when you sit down in the studio and you see an artist like Leon get behind the mic….It's magic immediately. There's not a lot that can go wrong with a special voice like that.

Bridges: That's love, man. Initially when we went in, we worked on the song that sparked the whole thing. And I think during that time we did "B-Side" and, after that session, I grabbed a guitar because I was trying to impress Mark Speer. [Chuckles.] I started playing a couple tunes and it was just really rad how you reacted to what I was playing — the minor chord progression of [Christian hymn] "At the Cross." I remember you going straight to the piano and playing out the chords and pulling out the mic. Man, it was just magical how everything unfolded [to create the Texas Sun closer, "Conversion"].

Johnson: I remember that. I grew up in a very small Missionary Baptist Church on the north side of Houston, which I still attend every Sunday when I'm home; I play organ there. But every second Sunday we have communion, and usually we sing that song. To hear it coming from Leon's voice...playing it flipped in a minor harmonization — it's true, I literally tripped over my feet to get to the piano to play along.  Hearing it in that way, in an entirely new approach was crazy.

Bridges: Wow. It's wild because, when I went on my songwriting path, "Conversion" was the first one that I wrote. I'm happy that it finally found a home. It's funny, I wrote that before I started playing guitar. I used to go to Bandcamp and download random beats. Right before I went in to work, I was in the car and turned on the beat and just started flowing. The initial way it sounded was totally different from what it turned into.

Johnson: Yeah, that turn around too, "And now I'm happy all the day." Whoa, chills. There's a thing that happens when you're singing in church and a particular line can just kind of go by. And it's something special that happens when you repeat it over and over again, it gives you a chance for the words to really impact you and hit home. The fact that it's being repeated makes you really think about what you're saying.

When you sang "Now I'm happy all the day," after saying everything else you said up to that point, to repeat that over and over, it creates a sense of joy in your heart. It's a really, really uplifting thing that happened at the end of that record. It's one of the most, if not the most proud, I am of a record I've been a part of.

Bridges: "Conversion" is such a poignant tune, that's definitely my favorite. But the fans gravitate towards the more pop tunes.

Johnson: I knew what it was going in. I was like, "This is gonna be one of those sleeper cuts, they'll get it later." We will be old and gray and someone's going to pull that out and be like, "Wow, this happened."

GRAMMY.com: Do either of you think about how future generations will think of your music? Like, when we listen to Stevie Wonder's albums from the '70s.

Johnson: I'm always thinking about that. Life is fleeting; you don't know when your last time to make music or when your last day on this earth will be. I think if everyone made music like that, music would sound a bit different. Not everything is that serious song where you have to pour out all your feelings; sometimes you just want to party and have a good time. And if that's also the last thing people hear from you, that's a good thing. But yeah, I'm always forward-thinking.

It's funny you said Stevie; I was listening back to Songs in the Key of Life recently. Lyrically and musically, what Stevie was on back then, for it to last and still be effective 50 years later, that says it all. When you're doing something real from the heart, it'll last. Especially now, if you want things to stick around and you're honest with what you're making, I think you can achieve that.

Bridges: Yeah. For me, making music is therapeutic. And in that, I hope to make timeless music and music that transcends, and I just keep my head down about it. I think it's beautiful that my demographic is a wide spectrum of ages and that my music, our music, speaks to people [in] that way. I hope that it will last forever.

Johnson: That's another thing I appreciate about Leon; I don't think a lot of people know how well rounded he is or how cultured Leon is as an artist. I discovered that he listens to a lot of the same stuff that I listen to. There's a lot of questions I want to ask Leon:

What was it like in the DFW area when [Dorrough Music’s 2009 single] "Ice Cream Paint Job" hit?

Bridges: Man. I was so disconnected from it in a way. It was one of those records where if you were immersed in the nightlife, you was lit. I couldn't go to a club, really. [Laughs.] And then I got saved and was super Christian, so you for sure wouldn't catch me in a club. I did catch the tail end of that whole movement when I was pursuing dance in college, when some of my homies put me on to the music.

It's the same way that Memphis and New Orleans have their own sound and dance culture, that's a piece of Dallas. That whole style, I incorporate it live. It's wild because a lot of the heads don't know where it comes from. [Laughs.]

Johnson: He did for me, for Texas. When I watched him perform and in the middle of a song he stopped singing and hit some D-Town Boogie onstage in Seattle. I think it's really special that he's able to take those things about where he's from and take it all around the world. All overseas, doing the D-Town Boogie, I never thought I would see that. I really salute you for taking Dallas-Fort Worth and putting it on the map in that way, and taking the culture with you.

Bridges: We all get homesick when we're on the road. I'm still processing even having success in music. So it's those little bits of nostalgia that I can cling to and that's all it is really. I think that's why we work together so well, our love for chopped and screwed music and R&B. There was a time I only wanted to hear the chopped and screwed version of an R&B song. [Now], if you gave me a guitar and you held a gun to my head and said, "Write a fast song or you're out of here," I'm just gonna die. I'm out. [Chuckles.] I can't do it! You look at Texas Moon and man, "Doris," "Father, Father," that's that slow and low-end type music.

Johnson: "Doris" almost sounds like it could have been a song that was faster and we slowed it down. It almost sounds like that because it's so slow and intentional. There's so much space.

Bridges: There's so many nuances in there, but "Doris" is like "Diamonds & Wood," UGK; I hear Pimp C.

Johnson: It's so slow. And it leaves so much space. The listener is waiting for the next thing to happen within the song. I think that's something that you can really take advantage of, being from Texas and from the South and understanding chopped and screwed culture and that it's okay for things to be slow. It's okay to wait for stuff. I think it goes with the whole Southern way of life, how people slow cook food down here. When my people barbecue, they start the day before. And I take all of that mindset into the music. It's all art; music, food, it's all connected.

GRAMMY.com: Leon, did you grow up singing?

Bridges: Kind of. I found one of my journals from when I was in elementary, and I don't know why I don't remember any of this, but I wrote "When I grow up, I want to be a singer." When I was 3, my dad taught me and he's good at singing. I never really sang in church or anything, but I always sang along to the music. I never really thought I had a good voice until I got to college and in my downtime, I would get together with some friends on campus and do these little jam sessions. We'd all take turns freestyle singing, and when I would do my thing, some of the people would tell me like, “You kind of got something there.” So that kind of gave me the fuel to keep going.

I actually wanted to be a dancer, to pursue choreography. I had aspirations to hopefully be dancing with Usher or something like that. [Chuckles.] But I found music.

GRAMMY.com: What about you DJ, when did you start drumming?

Johnson: I started drums when I was 2 or 3 years old. My uncle John Foster plays drums. He played at my grandmother's church back in the '80s. He's a flashy drummer, which is what attracted me to them as a kid. I actually quit drums later in life, because there's so many dope drummers in Houston that there's just really no point playing.

And Khruangbin was my full circle moment, to come back to my original instrument. I had hung it up; I started playing keys and bass. I was getting more work in Houston doing gigs on keys and bass. No one ever called me for drums because no one really knew I played. When Mark and Laura decided to start Khruangbin, we were hanging out every week. Mark knew I played because he played at church with me and I would hop on drums every now and then to just mess around. It was his idea to say, "Hey, let's get DJ to play drums" and that was my red carpet back to the drum set. I'm grateful for it.

Life has a funny way of sometimes leading you back to where you started. I never thought I'd be a drummer touring the world in a band making records with Leon Bridges.

GRAMMY.com: What did you each learn from working together on Texas Moon and Texas Sun?

Johnson: Working with Leon makes you appreciate things happening in the moment. It made me be more attentive and sensitive, listening to what's going on around you. Because if you're not listening, or if you're not always tuned in, you may miss it.

A lot of these songs in the Texas Sun, Texas Moon sessions were birthed from Leon sitting with our engineer Steve Christensen and bouncing files or creating stems, and Leon just has a guitar and starts singing. And whenever Leon would start noodling around on the guitar, Steve would put a microphone in front of the guitar and Leon to make sure he's capturing all of these little moments that were happening. If it had been any other studio session I've been in the past, those moments probably just would have flown by; no one's capturing it, no one's hearing the genius within that moment or the possibilities.

But for us, they were like concerts. Leon Bridges picks up a guitar, with this beautiful vocal tone, with these amazing lyrics. So, we're all just sitting back, captivated and listening. It really made me keep my ears open, and listen to the possibilities of what could be. A lot of those moments are what inevitably turned into songs on this project.

Bridges: I was a fan before meeting y'all, so the moment when we got to sit down and jam was super special. And I learned from all of this that honest music is always going to thrive. Initially, the powers that be felt it wasn't a strong enough album. And it's nuts that, "Texas Sun," next to "River," one of my biggest songs. Each album [of mine] is a different character and sound, but working with Khruangbin, I wanted to take everything back to the basics and let the focal point be the songs and to surround those songs with minimal instrumentation. So, I gained family and good music.

GRAMMY.com: I wanted to talk a little bit more about "Doris," the song itself, and, Leon, if you'd like to speak about your grandmother and creating the sonic tribute to her?

Bridges: I just wanted to honor my grandmother. And honestly, I never got to really spend too much time with her, but I saw my father experience her passing. I'm constantly searching for new song ideas, and I came into the studio and had this bare bones baseline vibe on a guitar. And it was just, wow, to hear how Khruangbin interpreted that tune. I was just totally impressed how it all came together.

Johnson: When I heard what was going on lyrically — and knowing that Leon was writing the song from his father's perspective of watching his mother transition — it's just one of those things where, musically, I just wanted to stay out of the way. It's how much can we pull back and make it as much about this very sensitive moment, and hopefully we did that.

GRAMMY.com: What does Texas sound like to you? And how do you sort of relate to that, or incorporate that in your projects?

Bridges: Texas music is a wide spectrum of sounds, but there's some specific elements that I associate with Texas. And for me, it's the song, it's the twang. It's blues. You know, R&B is blues. And so, in a world where every sound has been exhausted, I just try to find that uncharted territory within R&B. There's a lot of R&B musicians that live in Texas, but some artists don't see the importance of incorporating some of those country and blues elements in the music. Juxtaposing that with a more modern sound is something that you rarely see, so I feel like we're representing Texas well.

Johnson: You can't really nail Texas music down. Texas is Steve Escobar Jordan, the Tejano artist. It's Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Lil' Keke, Zero, Yella Beezy. Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Scott, Kruangbin, Vanilla Ice — I could go on. You can't really put Texas music in a box.

A lot of times, when you say Texas music, people automatically zero in to what's happening more or less in Austin, what you would hear on Sixth Street — Texas blues artists or singer/songwriters. Artists like Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson, that's what people usually associate with Texas, but it's just as much that as it is ZZ Top. I think all of those people in some way, shape, form or fashion influence you just by being here. Being from the state influences how you approach things and how you make music, even culturally.

One of the biggest questions that Khruangbin would get in interviews early on, from people that were not from Houston or Texas, was "How did you guys meet?" That's a thinly veiled way of asking, "How the hell did you end up with this Black guy in your band? You don't look like you belong together." We travel around a lot, and the three of us will walk into a restaurant, and it'll be like "Table for two?"

It's funny because we don't look like we roll together. I think that's the biggest part about Texas is we all roll together. And that's how we ended up in the same band making music together. We all hang out. I don't think we get as much credit as we should for being as culturally diverse as we are down here, especially in this part of the South.

GRAMMY.com: Is there anything else that you want to ask each other?

Johnson: Leon, what are you listening to right now, what are you jamming to?

I love Gunna by the way. We've been doing interviews all week, and Leon brought up JAY[-Z] and Gunna. It did surprise me that you listen to Gunna.

Bridges: Man. I’ve been digging that cat Dijon. He's dope, a dope songwriter. His music kind of has that kind of minimal approach we've been talking, that marriage of twang and folk and R&B.

Johnson: I was listening to him back with the older stuff he came out with, like "Speed It Up." I just like the approach. His cadence on that record was rhythmic in a way, it's very creative to me.

Bridges: His delivery and his sound are so soulful to me. He's another one that uses that space.

Bridges: What's your favorite food spot in Houston?

Johnson: That's tough. It depends what I'm in the mood for, honestly. Did you go to Nancy's when you were here?

Bridges: Bro, I was about to say Nancy's Hustle! When I go to Houston, I'm either kickin' it with y'all, or I'm at The Flat, or I'm at Nancy's or I'm at Mr. Rogers.

Johnson: I think you went to Xochi too.

Bridges: Yes! I love that place. I always run into Mark and Laura over there.

GRAMMY.com: Leon, what does it mean to you for Gold-Diggers Sound to be nominated for the Best R&B Album GRAMMY this year?

Bridges: It's humbling. Specifically within the R&B realm, there's so many people making music, so for my album to even be included in all that is wild. I take none of this for granted. I think the beautiful thing about Gold-Digger Sound is it definitely gave me more visibility within the Black space. That's one of the things I understand that you have to put in the work to get into that world, and [I did it] making something that was honest.

Watch: Leon Bridges On Recording “Coming Home”

Editor's note: This article was updated to include the latest information about Kendrick Lamar's 2024 album release 'GNX,' and up-to-date GRAMMY wins and nominations with additional reporting by Nina Frazier.

When the world crowns you the king of a genre as competitive as rap, your presence — and lack thereof — is palpable. After a five-year hiatus, Kendrick Lamar declaratively stomped back on stage with his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, to explain why the crown no longer fits him.

Two years later, Lamar circles back to celebrate the west on 2024's GNX, a 12-track release that revels in the root of his love for hip-hop and California culture, from the lowriders to the rappers that laid claim to the golden state.

“My baby boo, you either heal n—s or you kill n—s/ Both is true, it take some tough skin just to deal with you” Lamar raps on "gloria" featuring SZA, a track that opines on his relationship with the genre.

The Compton-born rapper (who was born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth) wasn't always championed as King Kendrick. In hip-hop, artists have to earn that moniker, and Lamar's enthroning occurred in 2013 when he delivered a now-infamous verse on Big Sean's "Control."

"I'm Makaveli's offspring, I'm the King of New York, King of the Coast; one hand I juggle 'em both," Lamar raps before name-dropping some of the top rappers of the time, from Drake to J.Cole.

Whether you've been a fan of Lamar since before his crown-snatching verse or you find yourself in need of a crash course on the 37-year-old rapper's illustrious career, GRAMMY.com answers nine questions that will paint the picture of Lamar's more than decade-long reign.

Who Discovered Kendrick Lamar?

Due to the breakthrough success of his Aftermath Entertainment debut (good kid, m.A.A.d city), most people attribute Kendrick Lamar's discovery to fellow Compton legend Dr. Dre. But seven years before Dre's label came calling, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith saw potential in a 16-year-old rapper by the name of K.Dot.

Lamar's first mixtape in 2004 was enough for Tiffith's Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) to offer the aspiring rapper a deal with the label in 2005. However, Lamar would later learn that Tiffith's impact on his life dates back to multiple encounters between his father and the TDE founder, which Lamar raps about in his 2017 track "DUCKWORTH."

How Many Albums Has Kendrick Lamar Released?

Kendrick Lamar has released six studio albums: Section.80 (2011), Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City (2012), To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) DAMN. (2017),Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), and GNX (2024). Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, To Pimp a Butterfly and DAMN. received both Rap Album Of The Year and Album Of The Year GRAMMY nominations. 

What Is Kendrick Lamar's Most Popular Song?

Across the board, it's "HUMBLE." The 2017 track is Lamar's only solo No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (he also reached No. 1 status with Taylor Swift on their remix of her 1989 hit "Bad Blood"), and as of press time, "HUMBLE." is also his most-streamed song on Spotify and YouTube.

How Many GRAMMYs Has Kendrick Lamar Won?

As of November 2024, Kendrick Lamar has won 17 GRAMMYs and has received 57 GRAMMY nominations overall, solidifying his place as one of the most nominated artists in GRAMMY history and the second-most nominated rapper of all time, behind Jay-Z. Five of Lamar's 17 GRAMMY wins are tied to DAMN., which also earned Lamar the status of becoming the first rapper ever to win a Pulitzer Prize.

His most recent wins include three awards at the 2023 GRAMMYs, which included two for his album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, and Best Rap Performance for "The Hillbillies" with Baby Keem. 

Does Kendrick Lamar Have Any Famous Relatives?

He has two: Rapper Baby Keem and former Los Angeles Lakers star Nick Young are both cousins of his.

Lamar appeared on three tracks — "family ties," "range brothers" and "vent" — from Keem's debut album, The Melodic Blue. Keem then returned the favor for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, featuring on "Savior (Interlude)" and "Savior" as well as receiving production and writing credits on "N95" and "Die Hard."

Read More: Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Baby Keem On Inspiring Rap's Next Generation, Why "Producer Artists" Are The Best & The Likelihood Of A Kendrick Lamar Collab Album

Why Did Kendrick Lamar Wear A Crown Of Thorns?

Lamar can be seen sporting a crown of thorns on the Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers album cover. He has sported the look for multiple performances since the project's release.

Dave Free described the striking headgear as, "a godly representation of hood philosophies told from a digestible youthful lens."

Holy symbolism and the blurred line between kings and gods are themes Lamar revisits often on Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. He uses lines like "Kendrick made you think about it, but he is not your savior" and songs like "Mirror" to reject the unforeseen, God-like expectations that came with his King of Hip-Hop status.

According to Vogue, the Tiffany & Co. designed crown features 8,000 cobblestone micro pave diamonds and took over 1,300 hours of work by four craftsmen to construct.

Why Did Kendrick Lamar Leave TDE?

After five albums, four mixtapes, one compilation project, an EP, and a GRAMMY-nominated Black Panther: The Album, Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) confirmed that Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers was the Compton rapper's last project under the iconic West Coast label. 

According to Lamar, his departure was about growth as opposed to any internal troubles. "May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life's calling," Lamar wrote on his website in August 2021. "There's beauty in completion."

TDE president Punch expressed a similar sentiment in an interview with Mic. "We watched him grow from a teenager up into an established grown man, a businessman, and one of the greatest artists of all time," he said. "So it's time to move on and try new things and venture out."

Before Lamar's official exit from TDE, he launched a new venture called pgLang — a multi-disciplinary service company for creators, co-founded with longtime collaborator Dave Free — in 2020. The young company has already collaborated with Cash App, Converse and Louis Vuitton.

Has Kendrick Lamar Ever Performed at The Super Bowl?

Yes, Kendrick Lamar performed in the halftime show for Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles in 2022, alongside fellow rap legends Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem, as well as R&B icon Mary J. Blige. Anderson .Paak and 50 Cent also made special appearances during the star-studded performance. As if performing at the Super Bowl in your home city wasn't enough, the Compton rapper also got to watch his home team, the Los Angeles Rams, hoist the Lombardi trophy at the end of the night.

Three years after his first Super Bowl halftime performance, Lamar will return to headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show on Feb. 9, 2025 — just one week after the 2025 GRAMMYs — at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. 

Is Kendrick Lamar On Tour?

Yes. Kendrick Lamar is currently scheduled to hit the road with SZA on the Grand National Tour beginning in May 2025. Lamar concluded The Big Steppers Tour in 2022, where he was joined by pgLang artists Baby Keem and Tanna Leone. The tour included a four-show homecoming at L.A.'s Crypto.com Arena in September 2022, followed by performances in Europe,Australia, and New Zealand through late 2022. 

Currently, there are no upcoming tour dates scheduled, but fans should check back for updates following the release of GNX.

Every year, the GRAMMYs' Best New Artist category acknowledges rising stars who are shaping the future of music through their own artistry. 

Little does it matter if they have just a few singles or 10 studio albums under their belts. The Best New Artist Category is all about highlighting how an act pushes creative boundaries and challenges a saturated industry with outstanding — and sometimes surprising — music.

The Best New Artist nominees for the 2025 GRAMMYs are Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims. Though only one of them will claim the golden gramophone on Feb. 2, 2025, each of these artists are forging bold, inspiring careers ahead. With this well-deserved nomination, the Recording Academy recognizes their efforts and celebrates their success.

Check out the nominees below and read the full 2025 GRAMMYs nominations list ahead of Music's Biggest Night on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. 

Benson Boone

"I feel like things have taken off for me like a firework tied to a rollerblade, all very quickly," Benson Boone told GRAMMY.com upon releasing his debut LP, aptly titled Fireworks & Rollerblades, in April. While it may be a metaphor for his career in 2024, Boone's swift ascent is the result of a promising last few years.

Hailing from Monroe, Washington, he first caught the public's attention during a short stint on season 19 of "American Idol" in 2021. As the 22-year-old built momentum via TikTok, Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds also saw his potential, and promptly signed Benson to his label, Night Street Records, in partnership with Warner Records.

Boone's first hit single, 2021's "Ghost Town," foreshadowed his talent for vulnerable songwriting and catchy piano lines, followed by the release of two EPs in 2022 and 2023. However, his bonafide breakthrough came only in January of this year, with the soaring "Beautiful Things" — a global smash that peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and surpassed 1.5 billion streams on Spotify as of press time. Second single "Slow It Down" went similarly viral in March, followed by a sold-out global tour and opening for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in London.

Hence, the release of Fireworks & Rollerblades only cemented what many already knew: Boone is one 2024's definite stars. 

Read more: Benson Boone Declares "Beautiful Things" Is No Fluke: "I've Tapped Into How I'll Write For The Rest Of My Life"

Sabrina Carpenter

"I never had the plan B, and it wasn't even a thought in my mind that it wouldn't work out," Sabrina Carpenter told Rolling Stone back in June. "I just always knew it was about not if it would happen but when it would happen."

The 25-year-old singer was right. 2024 was the year that took Carpenter to the superstardom stratosphere, with three chart-smashing, defining hits — "Espresso," "Please, Please, Please," and "Taste" — a dazzling debut at Coachella, and a tenure opening Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Latin America, Australia and Asia.

But Carpenter's success is hard-earned. A former Disney star, she spent the last decade relentlessly developing her singing and songwriting style. It wasn't until her fifth studio album, 2022's emails i can't send, that she took full creative control over her work and, in turn, found her own artistry; with standout singles "Nonsense" and "Feather," she displayed the witty lyricism and catchy hooks that would become her signature.

When Carpenter's sixth LP, Short n' Sweet, arrived in August, she solidified her status as pop's newest queen. Co-produced by pop savant Jack Antonoff, the album bursts with confidence and charisma, channeling her sassy persona and velvety vocals into timeless earworms.

The album went on to become Carpenter's first No. 1 project in the U.S., and also earned her first Platinum certification. And now, she adds her first GRAMMY nominations to her 2024 feats, and seven at that — hinting that her pop reign will be anything but short n' sweet.

Read more: How Sabrina Carpenter Became A Pop Queen: Tracing Her Journey To 'Short N' Sweet'

Doechii

"Overly cocky, I'm hyper-ambitious/ Me, me, me, me, bitch I'm narcin-assistic/ I am a Black girl who beat the statistics," says Doechii on her first viral single, 2020's "Yucky Blucky Fruitcake." It's a banging introduction to the rapper, who has since signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (home to Isaiah Rashad, SZA and more), released two EPs and three mixtapes, collaborated with the likes of Kodak Black and Katy Perry, supported Doja Cat on tour, and has now earned her first GRAMMY nominations.

Born Jaylah Hickmon in Tampa, Florida, Doechii was a theater kid who wrote poetry before adding beats to her bars. Her music is confessional, irreverent and unapologetic, sourcing her experiences as a Black woman and transmuting them into provocative, empowering anthems — see 2022's "Crazy," whose music video was banned from trending on YouTube due to its violence and nudity content.

But it didn't faze her. The scenes were not for shock value, but to express the hardships that women go through, and to challenge the sexualized gaze over them. After all, as she said in a since-deleted Instagram post, "'Crazy' is about uncontained power, creativity and confidence. People call you crazy when they fear you or they don't understand you. So when I use it in the song, I'm reflecting that energy back on them to show them themselves." 

Doechii has yet to release a debut studio album, but her latest mixtape, August's Alligator Bites Never Heal, is a strong display of her brilliant storytelling and quirky uniqueness. Coupled with the success of her previous releases, Alligator Bites's critical acclaim suggests that the "Swamp Princess" is bound to fly even higher.

Read more: 5 Emerging Artists Pushing Electronic Music Forward: Moore Kismet, TSHA, Doechii & Others

Khruangbin

Khruangbin means airplane in Thai, and there couldn't be a better word to describe the Texan trio. From Middle Eastern scales to Peruvian cumbia, the intercontinental influences within their sound transport listeners around the world. 

Formed by bassist Laura Lee Ochoa, guitarist Mark Speer, and drummer Donald "DJ" Johnson Jr., they first took inspiration in Thai funk from the '60s and '70s, and in 2015 released their debut LP, The Universe Smiles Upon You. Now four albums in, the band has crafted a lush soundscape that can be both nostalgic and avant-garde, familiar and strange. They've entranced fans from Barack Obama to Jay-Z, played at festivals like Coachella and sold out several tours (including two nights at New York's Radio City Music Hall), and collaborated with icons such as Paul McCartney.

For the past four years, Khruangbin focused on their aggregating nature: they put out two EPs with soul singer Leon Bridges (2020's Texas Sun and 2022's Texas Moon), 2022's Ali with Vieux Farka Touré, and a series of 2023 live recordings in partnership with Toro y Moi, Nubya Garcia, and Men I Trust. It was time the trio turned down outside noise, and focused on their own synergy. Khruangbin's latest album, A La Sala ("to the room," in Spanish), arrived in April as a core example of their essence — for the first time, they had no additional collaborators, resulting in a rebirth of their original magic. 

With this return to their roots and their rising popularity, a GRAMMY nomination for Best New Artist stands as an invite for even more people to dive into their ethereal, exceptional work.

Read more: 5 Songs To Get Into Khruangbin Ahead Of Their New Album 'A La Sala'

RAYE

For seven years, South London singer/songwriter RAYE was kept in the talent basement of Polydor Records, unable to release her debut LP. During that time, she co-penned songs for acts like Beyoncé and Rihanna, released five EPs and a handful of singles, including collaborations with David Guetta and Martin Solveig, but she knew it wasn't half of what she had to offer.

"Imagine this pain. I have been signed to a major label since 2014...and I have had albums on albums of music sat in folders collecting dust," she shared on Twitter back in 2021, reflecting on her situation. "Songs I am now giving away to A-list artists because I am still awaiting confirmation that I am good enough to release an album."

Shortly after that confession, RAYE (whose birth name is Rachel Keen) parted ways with Polydor and became an independent artist. Slowly, she pieced together the riveting songs that formed her hard-fought 2023 debut, My 21st Century Blues. Her resonant voice and raw lyricism earned raving reviews, and the album's lead single, "Escapism" took off — going viral on TikTok, topping the UK Singles Chart, and becoming her first Billboard Hot 100 entry. 

It was a pivotal moment for the now 27-year-old, proving that her intuition and belief in herself paid off. Since then, RAYE has continued to flourish as an artist in her own right, supporting world tours by SZA, Kali Uchis, and Lewis Capaldi, opening for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, and performing at Coachella and Lollapalooza. In March 2024, she made history at the BRIT Awards by securing six trophies — the most for any artist in a single year.

RAYE's latest single, June's "Genesis.," is a seven-minute epic that she described in a statement as "a prayer and a plea and a cry for help." Its three-act structure and straightforward, relatable lyrics suggest a newfound confidence — and with RAYE's first GRAMMY nomination for Best New Artist in tow, the sky's the limit for her next chapter.

Read more: Watch RAYE Open Up About Her Prized Songwriting Notebook | It Goes To 11

Chappell Roan

Credited by many for infusing pop music with a much-needed dose of fun, Missouri-born singer Chappell Roan laced 2024 with her enthusiasm, flair and unabashed sexuality. However, the path to this moment wasn't easy — and is reflected in her 2023 debut album's title, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.

Roan first signed with Atlantic Records in 2015 at just 17, but the label didn't find her profitable enough; by 2020, she was dropped from their roster. Coupled with the breakup of a four-year relationship and a brief return to her parents' house, Roan found herself in a slump. Yet, she pulled herself up, moved to Los Angeles, and finally started working independently on music that she was proud of.

Born Kayleigh Amstutz, the singer describes Chappell Roan as a "larger-than-life, drag queen version of myself," who allows her to embrace her queer identity and sexuality, as well as dealing with the hardships of being a woman. Her glittery, campy world is DIY by design, all-inclusive and genuine, prompting a devoted cult fan base that was eager to spread her truth to the mainstream.

It was only a matter of time until that happened. She signed with Island and Amusement Records in early 2023 to release the effervescent Midwest Princess, but refused to compromise her artistic vision or creative control — and her commitment to authenticity resonated.

After starting 2024 by opening for Olivia Rodrigo on the sold-out GUTS World Tour, Roan went on to draw mind-blowing (if not record-breaking) crowds at Coachella, Governors Ball, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits festivals thanks to her rapidly increasing allure. Roan's follow-up single, "Good Luck, Babe!," bolstered her to even greater heights (including 2025 GRAMMY nods for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Pop Solo Performance) and helped Midwest Princess reach its biggest sales week a full year after its release — ultimately securing her place as one of pop's most promising stars.

Read more: Chappell Roan's Big Year: The 'Midwest Princess' Examines How She Became A Pop "Feminomenon"

Shaboozey

"They say it takes 10 years to have an overnight success, and it's true," Shaboozey told GRAMMY.com in May. The 29-year-old Nigerian-American born Collins Chibueze knows it firsthand: his first single, "Jeff Gordon," came out in 2014, but he's only now seeing the fruits of his hard work a full decade later.

It all started in March, with Beyoncé's trailblazing COWBOY CARTER, where Shaboozey's two guest features — "SPAGHETTII" and "SWEET HONEY BUCKIIN" — left listeners craving for more. Fortunately, there was plenty to discover. Since "Jeff Gordon," Shaboozey signed to Republic Records and released his 2018 debut, Lady Wrangler, followed by 2022's Cowboys Live Forever, Outlaws Never Die, via EMPIRE. (According to Spotify, Shaboozey's catalog streams increased by 1,350 percent after the release of COWBOY CARTER.)

Just six weeks later, Shaboozey had another breakthrough moment. His single "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" dethroned Beyoncé's "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" for the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hot Country chart. But that was far from where the song's success stopped. Along with topping charts around the world and helping Shaboozey become the first male Black artist to be No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts simultaneously, "A Bar Song" has notched 16 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 as of press time — just one week away from breaking the record for the longest run this decade.

Though "A Bar Song" undoubtedly put Shaboozey on the map as an artist in his own right, his third album Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going showed he's more than a smash hit. With his distinctive mix of country, Americana, and hip-hop, as well as lyrics that lay bare a journey through heartbreak and depression, he snagged a No. 5 debut on the Billboard 200 album chart. Now, with a GRAMMY nomination for Best New Artist, Shaboozey is poised to reach even wider audiences.

Read more: Shaboozey On His New Album, Beyoncé & Why He'll Never Be A "Stereotypical" Artist

Teddy Swims

"I don't want to swallow my insecurities. I don't have to wait until I feel like I'm worthy of love to put myself out there," Teddy Swims told GRAMMY.com upon the release of his 2023 debut, I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1). It's rare to find a man so emotionally open, but that's one of the factors that makes the Georgia native so special — that, and his arrestingly powerful, soulful voice.

After starting out on YouTube in 2019, Swims (born Jaten Dimsdale) signed with Warner Records and put out four EPs, gradually emerging as one of the most compelling vocalists of his generation. His true breakthrough came in June 2023 with the bellowing hit "Lose Control," which earned him a first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and a swarm of new fans who were entranced by his music.

The track featured on I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1), which expanded on the lyrical vulnerability and stirring sounds of "Lose Control" and spawned another pop hit with "The Door." Keeping his promise of a Part 2, Swims dropped a sneak peek with I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1.5) in April, and just announced that Part 2 will arrive on Jan. 24, 2025.

Will Teddy Swims be celebrating a GRAMMY win just after celebrating his next album release? Tune into the 2025 GRAMMYs on Feb. 2 to find out!

Read more: Teddy Swims Is Letting Himself Be Brutally Honest On 'I've Tried Everything But Therapy'

Leon Bridges has long paid homage to his native Fort Worth, Texas. From being the backbone for stories he's told since his 2015 debut Coming Home to providing backdrops for his music videos like 2020's "Sweeter," the singer's hometown has always had a presence in his work. But on his fourth album Leon, Bridges puts his Fort Worth upbringing at the forefront — taking the listener on a personalized tour of the streets, people and landmarks that have made him the man that he is today.

An excavation of his roots, the album harks back to the original classic soul of Bridges' 2015 debut, Coming Home, while imbuing it with moments of rich psychedelia, dusty R&B and the occasional twang of pedal steel country for good measure. At the core of it are the people who started it all. 

"There are a lot of stories about my family running through it," Bridges tells GRAMMY.com. "It's really about the things that I value most in life and what is meaningful to me, which is home and family."

There's a level of detail regarding Fort Worth that fans haven't seen from Bridges before on Leon. Whether that be the local community center or simply playing on the Nintendo 64, as mentioned on "Panther City," or springtime on the Trinity River, as he references on the nostalgic ode "That's What I Love," the singer's specificity transports you straight to the heart of his childhood memories.

With Texas at the heart of the album, naturally several other influences from Bridges' upbringing played into the making of Leon. Below, the GRAMMY-winning singer details five of the key inspirations behind his latest album.

One of the places that gets more than one mention is the Trinity River, a spot that reminds him of memories from growing up in Fort Worth. As heard on tracks "Simplify" and "That's What I Love," it holds particularly fond memories for time spent with his family. The former describes the area as a place of burgeoning curiosity, from hopping between stepping stones to falling in young love for the first time.

"[Trinity River] was a place where I used to spend a lot of time with my father as a kid. One of the memories I remember [most] was just kicking it at the river with my dad and my brother. We would walk across the rocks. It's one of those landmarks in Fort Worth that once people hear it, especially being from Fort Worth, you get really excited about it."

While Bridges' sound has always been influenced by soul music, for Leon, he took inspiration from "my pantheon of great '70s soul records." But with such a large Texas influence, he also strived for some country nuances. "I was really adamant about having pedal steel guitar and for it to be guitar-heavy, just a lot of organic sounds."

When it came to the autobiographical story of the album, though, Bridges looked to the early work of a beloved Irish musician for lyrical inspiration. 

"One album that I really tried to pull from was Astral Weeks by Van Morrison," he says. "I've always loved how he wrote about those geographical places that were unique to Ireland and were a part of his story. This really played a big part in the writing and some of the storytelling on Leon."

Upon the release of Gold-Diggers Sound in 2021, Bridges told The Guardian that he wanted to "inch my way towards more transparency about some of my relationships and some of my struggles." Though Leon is largely full of autobiographical tales, its opening track, "When A Man Cries," is where he dove into his vulnerable side — and it's arguably the most exposed Bridges has been in his music to date.

Over harrowing, echoed production, Bridges battles overwhelming feelings of anxiety, but ultimately embraces them in order to move forward. "Turn my pain into power, my fear to desire, fall apart when I try to be strong, gotta learn how to cry, can you hear me cry?" he exclaims in the fiery second half of the song. 

"Turn my pain into power, my fear to desire, fall apart when I try to be strong, gotta learn how to cry, can you hear me cry?" he exclaims in the fiery second half of the song. 

"I felt like no one talks about mental health in music. It kind of comes from the Black community — one of my experiences is that we don't really have a space to express our emotions out of fear of being deemed as weak," Bridges asserts. "I wanted to tell that in my own way, with the tears falling being a metaphor of letting go and showing that there's bravery in the inner vulnerability.

"I suppose writing the song was my moment of healing, and by the time the song was finished, I'd already moved on," he adds. "But, I wanted to dig into that more because I feel like being vulnerable in my music will help the listener be vulnerable and make it more relatable."

The album closer, "God Loves Everyone," is a ballad of compassion that preaches equality between all at a human level, regardless of your demographic. For Bridges, it was a chance to explore his relationship with his Christian faith, which has had highs and lows throughout his life.

"Growing up, I went to church pretty much every Sunday. That song came from reflecting on my upbringing in the church and its impact on my music. My relationship with God at this point has diminished a bit, and I wanted to remind myself that God's love is unconditional. I think that's a message that is right for today's climate.

"Going to church, it was the thing that you did, especially as part of Black culture, and especially in Texas, which is considered the Bible Belt," he continues. "When I got older, I had somewhat of a spiritual awakening and started to pursue God for myself, which really influenced a lot of my writing, even on the first album."

Naturally, Leon is filled with nostalgic imagery. Perhaps the most vivid track, though, is album highlight "Panther City," which explores the core of Bridges' roots. The song embodies a wide cast of characters — some close, some distant — that play a role in his perspective of the city he loves.

"Panther City is Fort Worth's moniker, and it's about the summers when I was spending time with my father on the Southside of Fort Worth," he says. "In the '90s, it was a very dangerous place. I wanted to paint a picture of the beautiful aspects of the area in the midst of all the chaos. It's not only about my story, but it's about the people who shaped those experiences."

As the lyrics of "Panther City" suggest, reflecting on times spent with family and friends has only become more valuable to Bridges with age — and may become even more prevalent in his music moving forward.  

"When life gets complicated, it's always nice to reflect on those moments that are really beautiful for me. I love watching cartoons that I grew up on from the '90s and I love those little portals to nostalgia that keep me grounded," he says. "The more I climb the ladder, the more this journey pushes me to just cling onto some of those memories. A lot of the time I desire to get back to what life was like before I transitioned into what I'm doing now."

Houston-based psych rock trio Khruangbin — which means airplane in Thai — are beloved for their globally flavored, luxuriously spacious brand of psych rock. Much of Khruangbin's music is instrumental, laden with funky-yet-chill bass licks, reverb-drenched guitar, calm yet precise drumming and plenty of room to breathe; you could certainly take flight with a spin of any of their four albums.

Guitarist Mark Speer, bassist Laura Lee Ochoa and drummer Donald "DJ" Johnson Jr. found inspiration in cassettes of '60s and '70s era Thai funk bands who fused surf rock with their native folk songs. They'd listen to these tapes while driving out to the countryside barn where they recorded the first album, 2015's The Universe Smiles Upon You. Leisurely unhurriedness, space to roam and underappreciated global sounds with a Texas lilt — this is Khruangbin

As they've grown, Khruangbin has added more global influences to the mix, yet maintained a clearly identifiable sound — one that invites you in and reminds you to breathe deeper. Sophomore release Con Todo El Mundo brought in deeper funk and soul influences from the Mediterranean and Middle East, including the work of Iranian pop superstar Googoosh.

"To [simply] call us Thai funk is a great disservice to the people who made that music in the first place. We’re going to put whatever influence we like into the music. Otherwise, it’s boring," Speer told Bandcamp in 2018. "Funky drums, dub bass, melodic guitar, those are the only rules.”

Songs from Con Todo El Mundo were heard on popular TV shows including "Barry" and "The Blacklist," exposing Khruangbin to a whole new fanbase. Even Jay-Z and Barack Obama joined the fan club. "Texas Sun" with Leon Bridges, their biggest song to date, earned a coveted spot on the former President Barack Obama's 2020 Summer Playlist.

Khruangbin have been touring nearly nonstop since their debut album, and will perform at Coachella on both Sundays. Their live shows are a colorful sonic quilt, and so beloved that the band sold out three nights in a row at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City.

Their upcoming fourth album, A La Sala, due out April 5 on Dead Oceans, is a return to the band's beginnings: spacious, jammy tunes without any outside collaborators. Lead single "Love International" highlights Khruangbin's talent for expertly crafted, soothing instrumentals that invite listeners into a dreamlike space.

Much like the rare global tunes they found inspiration in, Khruangbin is just waiting to be discovered. And once you do, you're hooked and ready to swim in their calming waters. Ahead of A La Sala, take a listen to five essentials from Khruangbin's extensive catalog to get a taste of their unique, inviting sound.

"White Gloves" (2015)

"White Gloves" is one of the trio's first songs with lyrics. The Universe Smiles Upon You track atop which Lee sings of a deceptively simple-yet-sad story of a queen who wore white gloves and died in a fight.

Speer's dreamy, echoing guitar and Johnson's slow-and-steady drumbeat paired with Lee's delicately funky bass, oohs and ethereal vocals make this track feel heavenly and light. Close your eyes and listen to the song's mournful tones, and imagine that perhaps the band is singing in heaven as the queen wanders the clouds with her clean white gloves.

"Maria También" (2017)

The lead single on Con Todo El Mundo, "Maria También" goes full vintage surf rock with a rollicking bassline that vaguely recalls the Surfaris 1963 hit "Wipe Out." They add flourishes of handclaps, bells and sneaky yeahs. It's perhaps one of the band's most driving, urgent tunes — definitely the most so on this album, which was dedicated to Lee's Mexican-American grandfather. 

One of the band's goals on the album was to channel the energy and sound of the outdoor music festivals they'd been playing. "The kick drum is more present in the mix, it drives people to dance,” Johnson told Bandcamp. On "Maria También," the banging kick and jubilant festival energy are fully present.

And in the music video for "Maria También," the trio nods to the Iranian pop influences on the song and album by featuring the many women artists who thrived in Iran prior to the revolution in 1979 but were pushed out by it.

"Time (You and I)" (2020)

This joyful lead single from 2020's Mordechai offers a taste of Khruangbin's more upbeat and vocal side. On it, Lee poetically muses: "That's life / If we had more time / We could live forever," a fitting anthem for the newly locked-down world it came out in. 

Towards the end of the nearly six-minute track, they repeat "That's life" in a variety of languages, a very Khruangbin statement in itself. There's a little bit of jingly cowbell on "Maria También," and here we're gifted with more cowbell flourishes, touches of synth and a healthy dose of funk.

"Doris" with Leon Bridges (2022)

"Doris" is a tender, heartfelt tune dedicated to Leon Bridges' grandmother, from Khruangbin's second collaborative EP, Texas Moon. It's also a great example of the way the band uses space as a powerful tool within their music. 

Here, minimalist instrumentation and a slow, mellow beat allows Bridges' rich voice to shine. In conversation with GRAMMY.com in 2020, Johnson and Bridges compare "Doris" and "Father Father" — another touching and spacious Texas Moon track — to the chopped and screwed sounds of '90s Houston hip-hop.

"It is so slow. And it leaves so much space. The listener is waiting for the next thing to happen within the song," Johnson said of "Doris." "I think that's something that you can really take advantage of, being from Texas and from the South and understanding chopped and screwed culture and that it's okay for things to be slow. It's okay to wait for stuff. I think it goes with the whole Southern way of life, how people slow cook food down here. When my people barbecue, they start the day before. And I take all of that mindset into the music."

"Lobbo" with Vieux Farka Touré (2022)

On 2022 collaborative album Ali, the Texas trio worked with Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist Vieux Farka Touré for a moving tribute to his late father and legendary GRAMMY-winning West African guitarist, Ali Farka Touré, reimagining his music. Khruangbin's playing fits so perfectly with Vieux's haunting voice, languid guitar and the "desert blues" Ali Farka Touré created, it's almost surprising they didn't write these songs together. On the second track, "Lobbo," we get spacious, bluesy guitars and Lee echoing and amplifying Touré's voice for a beautiful, almost mournful tune.

Ali was Khruangbin's most recent studio album, which was followed with a string of live albums, so A La Sala marks a return to where they began, just the three of them jamming together. Yet with them, they bring the influences of their travels and newly discovered records of the world, adding new flavor, wisdom and flourishes to their sound.

Leon Bridges & Khruangbin's DJ Johnson Talk Magic Of New EP 'Texas Moon,' Bringing The Church & Houston Hip-Hop Into Their Music