Kiiara

Slightly left-of-center pop artist Kiiara is a breathy vocalist whose output falls somewhere between that of Jhene Aiko and Lorde. The Illinois native previously recorded as Kiara Saulters and independently issued the homey acoustic pop song "Bring Me Back" in 2013.

Eventually signed to major-label Atlantic, she worked with the Cataracs' Niles Hollowell-Dhar and David Singer-Vine, as well as Brenton Duvall and Felix Snow, and recorded Low Kii Savage. The EP, which alternated between downcast electronic pop and bass-heavy, trap-style rap production, was a radical change in direction. Preceded by the breakout single "Gold," it was released in March 2016.