Some of the most successful artists of all time have come from our great north. From Avril Lavigne to Drake, our northern talent is globally known and continues to be. As today’s charts heat up, so does our next batch of Canadian musicians to watch in 2023. Whether it’s hip-hop or folk, these six artists are making waves in their chosen genres, and you can expect them to climb the music charts in no time.

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Zeina

Zeina-by-Aidan-MatthewsAidan Matthews

Raised in Montreal, this Lebanese-Canadian songstress will enchant you with her alluring voice. The independent artist has thousands of followers on social media with more than a million streams. Previously, she’s collaborated with Skrillex and producers including Toronto’s FrancisGotHeat and Montreal’s Da-P. Her songs like “Give Me Time” and “Talk Luv” are all written by her and have also amassed a total of more than five million Spotify streams.

Khadijah Lopez

Khadija-Lopez-by-Celeste-CeresCeleste Ceres

This independent singer and songwriter from Toronto has thousands of Spotify streams. As an artist to watch in the R&B music scene, Lopez will entice your earbuds with the warm melodies of her retro and classic R&B sound. But her incredible work hasn’t gone unnoticed—in 2021, she co-wrote a song that was featured on HBO’s Insecure and CTV’s 9-1-1: Lonestar. Taking her love of music outside of the studio, Lopez has been part of several music workshops that help other aspiring artists.

Akintoye

Akintoye-by-Adit-DixitAdit Dixit

After going viral in 2020, life has been anything but ordinary for this Toronto rapper. With over 2 million followers on TikTok, Akintoye has said that creating is now his full-time job. His hit song “Pizzazz” become a popular TikTok sound, gaining him millions of streams. He’s also worked on a song with Idris Elba, and has  found his face on a billboard at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. With three albums, and a handful of singles under his belt, Akintoye is a force to be reckoned with.

Crash Adams

California-Girl-Crash Adams-2-by-Chris-SavageChris Savage

Long-time best friends Rafaele Massarelli (Crash) and Vince Sasso (Adams) from Toronto have achieved so much in the past three years, reaching over one million followers on Instagram and YouTube. They’ve repeatedly gone viral on social media, promoting their music with fun and creative antics that catch everyone’s attention. Case in point, the music video for their song “Give Me A Kiss”, has garnered over 13 million views online. Oh, and they’ve got over 2 million monthly Spotify listeners.

Angelique Francis

Angelique-Francis-by-Kiran-FrancisKiran Francis

From Ottawa, Angelique Francis has been in the music industry since she was seven-years-old. Now, a rising name in the blues genre, her success has continued to climb. On top of being a two-time Canadian Blues Award Winner and four-time nominee, she’s received her first ever JUNO nomination for her album, Long River. Her music is a mix of blues, soul, folk and rock and with her electrifying performances and vocals, it’s no surprise that she’s also had the privilege of performing alongside legendary blues guitarist and vocalist, Gary Clark Jr.

T. Thomason

T. Thomason-by-Katie ClarkeKatie Clarke

Raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, T. Thomason gained popularity after he won the second season of CTV’s The Launch in 2019, where his winning song “Hope” hit the top 40 Canadian radio charts instantly. Since, he has performed at many festivals including Pride Toronto, and has collaborated with Canadian legends like Sarah McLachlan. In 2021, he released his rendition of Bruce Cockburn’s “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” and claimed it a queer anthem for new generations to come. Currently, Thomason is working on a new album and plans to release it sometime this year.

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