Top 89 of 2022: Best new artists

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Top 89 of 2022: Best new artists

Left to right: Jean Dawson, Rosa Linn, and Raffaella — Left to right: Jean Dawson, Rosa Linn, and RaffaellaArtwork by Natalia Toledo | MPR; Jean Dawson: Nico Dawson; Rosa Linn: Nvak Collective; Raffaella: Zoe Prinds-Flash for MPR

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December 29, 2022

Rosa Linn

A woman sings onstage among spotlights and fog effects — Rosa Linn attends the dress reharsals ahead of the 66th Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final at Reggia di Venaria Reale on May 13, 2022 in Turin, Italy.
Giorgio Perottino/Getty Images

Rosa Linn: interview with Jill Riley

Bartees Strange

Person plays an electric guitar on stage — Bartees Strange performed at the Turf Club on Monday, November 7, 2022. He was joined by openers They Hate Change and Smidley.
Sara Fish for MPR

Bartees Strange performs in The Current studio

Bartees Strange shines wholeheartedly at sold-out Turf Club

Album of the Week: Bartees Strange, 'Farm to Table'

Bartees Strange explores his journey from 'Farm to Table'

Miloe

A musician performs on an outdoor stage — Miloe. Planet Afropunk Live brought out more than a dozen performers for a music festival at Sheridan Memorial Park in Minneapolis on Sunday, June 19, 2022.
Awa Mally for MPR

Watch Miloe's full performance from MPR Day at the Minnesota State Fair

Watch Miloe's full set for The Current's 17th Anniversary Show at First Avenue

Fresh off touring with Beach Bunny, Miloe has finished his next EP

Photos: Miloe, Papa Mbye, and bugsy light up the 7th St Entry

Jean Dawson

Jean Dawson at 7th St Entry 3 — Jean Dawson. Jean Dawson and Junior Varsity at 7th St Entry on Sunday, November 6.
Isaiah Stillwell

Jean Dawson talks Prince “Chaos Now*,” Music Videos, and More With Carbon Sound

Jean Dawson Remains Undefined at 7th St Entry

The Heavy Heavy

Two people standing in front of a thick hedge — Will Turner and Georgie Fuller of the band The Heavy Heavy.
Ryan Cox

The Heavy Heavy perform in The Current studio

Grace Cummings

Grace Cummings in studio at The Current — Grace Cummings performs in The Current studio.
Eric Romani | MPR

Grace Cummings plays songs from 'Storm Queen,' and discusses band rituals

Durry

Mid West Music Fest 2022 — Durry perform on Saturday, April 30, at Mid West Music Fest in Winona, Minnesota.
Darin Kamnetz for MPR

LineCheck: How Minnesota musicians are thriving on TikTok

The best burgers, according to Minnesota musicians

Live highlights from Mid West Music Fest 2022

Minnesota Sessions: Durry perform songs from 'Suburban Legend' at Flowers Studio

'You're singing my life': Durry on their meteoric rise

Danielle Ponder

A woman poses for a studio portrait — Danielle Ponder is a soul singer from Rochester, N.Y.
courtesy the artist

Hear new songs by The Killers; Moby and Serpentwithfeet; Beach Weather; Danielle Ponder; Yeah Yeah Yeahs; and BdotCroc

Yard Act

Four men standing outside an auto-service garage — Yard Act have a biting, acerbic post-punk sound.
courtesy the artists

25 albums to listen to this winter

Listen to new songs by Billie Eilish; Cuco; U.S. Girls; Yard Act; Guytano; and Channel Tres

Raffaella

A blonde person in her 20s adjusts her necklace, which reads "Raffaella." — Raffaella adjusts her necklace.
Zoe Prinds-Flash for MPR

Interview and session: Raffaella performs at The Current

Raffaella’s debut album is a labor of love

Momma

Momma band press photo — Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten of the Brooklyn-based band Momma.
Sophie Hur

Buffalo Nichols

A man in a beanie and sweatshirt sits on a vinyl sofa — Buffalo Nichols is a Houston-born, Milwaukee-raised musician and songwriter.
Jackie Lee Young

Celebrating Low, plus new music from Phoenix, SZA, Lee Fields, Miss Grit and Buffalo Nichols

Buffalo Nichols: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

Stephen Sanchez

Stephen Sanchez poses on a chair — Stephen Sanchez
Meredith Truax

Dijon

Dijon press photo — Dijon is the artist name for Baltimore-raised, Los Angeles-based musician Dijon Duenas
courtesy Warner Records

Papa Mbye

Papa Mbye at 7th St Entry 4 — Papa Mbye. Papa Mbye, Mike Kota, and Riotgrrrldarko performed at 7th St Entry in Minneapolis on Friday, Oct. 21.
Zoe Challenger

Papa Mbye can’t stop creating, drops mournful EP ‘Mang Fi’

Photos: First Avenue's Best New Bands of 2021

Friday Five: Minnesota music videos to spark your autumn groove

Hear new music from Genesis Owusu, Yo La Tengo, AfroGeode, Samia (feat. Papa Mbye), Hozier and Yves Tumor

The Current's Top 89 Songs of 2022 will air on Sunday, Jan. 1. At 10 a.m. CT, we'll look back on past Top 89 winners. Then, around 12 p.m., we'll start this year's countdown, which wraps at 6 p.m. Hear it again starting at 8 a.m. on Jan. 2.