6 Philly Bands and Musicians to Listen to Right Now

Philly's music scene is on fire. Don't believe us? Keep reading.

6 Philly Bands and Musicians to Listen to Right Now

Photos in numerical order provided by: Robb Cohen/Invision/ASSOCIATED PRESS; Todd Cooper; Chris Sikich; Ebru Yildiz; Yvng Drew; Radlow and Katz: Natalie Piserchio.

Ethereal chamber pop, growling indie rock, flowing left-of-center hip-hop: Philly’s music scene is bursting with buzz-worthy music. Meet the rising stars and adventuresome veterans producing today’s must-hear tracks.

1. Rickie Mazzotta of mewithoutYou

Drummer Mazzotta’s profound manic genius behind the kit injects an incredible energy into scene stalwart mewithoutYou, a band that’s progressed from post-hardcore to experimental/indie but remains legendary live. Listen to: “Red Cow” and “Nice & Blue (Pt. Two).”

2. Son Little (Aaron Livingston)

Livingston delivers a fresh take on rhythm and blues with an echoing, soulful voice that finds room for his blues-inflected guitar and haunting beats. Listen to: “Cross My Heart” and “The River.”

3. Frances Quinlan of Hop Along

Equal parts howl, raspy whisper and sweet croon, Quinlan’s voice is the most powerful instrument in the considerable arsenal of punchy indie rockers Hop Along. Listen to: “Tibetan Pop Stars” and “Horseshoe Crabs.”

4. Lushlife

Philly rapper and producer Raj Haldar turns his diverse musical background — including 12 years of piano lessons — into singular, multi-dimensional, experimental hip-hop. Listen to: “Totally Mutual Feeling” and “Strawberry Mansion.”

5. Miles Chancellor

West Philly native Chancellor’s debut, No Man’s Island, dropped this past February — an impressive, flawlessly produced album with smartly crafted lyrics that pour over deep, low-key grooves. Listen to: “Heaven” and “No Man’s Island.”

6. Rebecca Katz and Jessie Radlow of Tutlie

The serene harmonies of dual vocalists Katz and Radlow give Tutlie’s songs an airy, dreamlike transcendence. The indie/baroque pop sextet was dubbed “one of Philly’s most imaginative bands” by WXPN. Listen to: “Sky In Your Bones” and “Pulselet.”