The Best New Artist category is perhaps one of the GRAMMYs’ most exciting. Each year honors artists from all genres who have the potential to become timeless legends in the future.
Whether the nominees have been in the game for decades or are fresh debutantes, the Best New Artist honor highlights the moment they are living now, and how they are breaking through the noise with distinctive voices, visions, and sounds.
The Best New Artist nominees for the 2024 GRAMMYs are Gracie Abrams, Fred again.., Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Coco Jones, Noah Kahan, Victoria Monét, and The War And Treaty. Though only one of them will win the golden gramophone, their nominations speak to their excellence, and foreshadow exciting journeys ahead.
Below, get to know the nominees for Best New Artist at the 2024 GRAMMYs.
Gracie Abrams
Since her 2019 debut single “Mean It,” Gracie Abrams has been making every listener feel like her closest friend. Through confessional lyrics and a soft, raspy voice, she’s caught the attention of fans, media and even other singers alike.
On her list of admirers are names like Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift — both of whom invited Abrams to be an opening act for their respective tours. Amid those prestigious gigs, Abrams still found the time to release her debut studio album, Good Riddance, in February.
Co-written by her and The National‘s Aaron Dessner (who also produced the album), Good Riddance was recorded at Dessner’s famous Long Pond Studios, which added to the record’s intimate atmosphere. “I think working with Aaron allowed for so much to come up that I don’t think would have for me otherwise. So much of that is because of the trust that he and I share,,” Abrams told GRAMMY.com earlier this year.
The 24-year-old grew up surrounded by art (she’s the daughter of Hollywood director J.J Abrams and producer Katie McGrath), but that only made her talents bloom further. In a generation filled with remarkable female songwriters, Abrams’ delicacy leaves a deep, gripping mark.
Fred again..
Fred Gibson, better known as the viral producer and DJ Fred again.., rose to popularity during the pandemic. When people couldn’t go to clubs or even leave their homes, his mix-and-match dance tracks brought us just the right amount of nostalgia and euphoria.
His Actual Life album series started as an EP in 2020, but quickly expanded into three studio albums — the latest of which, Actual Life 3, arrived in October 2022. In each project, the trivialities of the world find a new veneer: voice notes from friends, clips from social media, and even the restlessness of public transport all become main characters, surrounded by Fred again..’s larger-than-life synths.
But before diving into his own complex creations, Gibson was already lauded as one of the UK’s most prominent producers. He co-wrote and/or produced hits for a number of artists, from Ed Sheeran to Rita Ora, and was mentored by Brian Eno — who was his family’s neighbor growing up. In 2020, he won Producer of the Year at the Brit Awards, becoming the youngest producer to do so at 26 years old.
Though Gibson has admitted that he’s “not really fussed” by the glitz and the glamor, he’s undeniably become the dance scene’s hottest new star. And as the only dance act in the Best New Artist category, that may be evident at the 2024 GRAMMYs, too.
Ice Spice
Who hasn’t heard of Ice Spice? The rapper’s chill bars and fiery curls dominated the world this year, whether it was on TikTok’s latest viral hit or the Met Gala red carpet.
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York City, the 23-year-old had a breakthrough with 2022’s “Munch (Feelin’ U),” followed by the equally popular “Bikini Bottom” and “In Ha Mood.” The singles led up to her January debut EP, Like..?, and propelled Ice Spice — whose birth name is Isis Gaston — even higher.
In less than a year, she released collaborations with PinkPantheress (“Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2”), Nicki Minaj (“Princess Diana” and “Barbie World,” featuring Aqua), and Taylor Swift (“Karma”), becoming the first artist to land four top 10 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart in 2023.
While Ice Spice hasn’t even released a debut studio album yet, she’s an undeniable phenomenon who is pushing the drill scene far and beyond. Her style and bravado have made a mark on the music industry, and will likely continue to do so.
Jelly Roll
“I want to write a conceptual album that kind of outlines my journey of religion, my journey of spirituality, my journey of redemption, my journey of wrongdoings,” Jelly Roll explained to GRAMMY.com earlier this year.
That album is his first country LP, 2023’s Whitsitt Chapel. It was named after Whitsitt Chapel Baptist Church in his hometown of Antioch, Tennessee, where he was baptized at 14 years old.
Jelly Roll had a turbulent journey before becoming one of country music’s most exciting new artists. After breaking a cycle of felonies, he still spent almost two decades treading the waters of the music industry. Born Jason DeFord, the 38-year-old star spent a good amount of the early 2000s selling rap mixtapes out of his car. But the hard work paid off — he has since developed a unique mix of hip-hop, rock and country, which led him to a Grand Ole Opry debut in 2021, and to last year’s smash hit “Son of a Sinner,” off his 2021 album, Ballads of the Broken.
The success of “Son of a Sinner” inspired a full pivot to country, and his decision has proven right with the success of singles “Need a Favor” and “Save Me,” the latter of which earned him a nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance this year for his duet version with Lainey Wilson. Along with coming full circle musically, Jelly Roll mends his past while becoming a new artist — and we’re lucky to witness his becoming.
Coco Jones
You might remember Coco Jones from the 2012 Disney Channel film Let It Shine. In it, she played the prodigious teenage singer Roxie — and offered a glimpse of her dazzling talents.
Although Let It Shine was the most watched movie of the year for kids and tweens in 2012, it took a whole decade for Jones to truly gain the recognition she deserves. The South Carolina-born, Tennessee-raised star spent the majority of the past years as an independent singer and actress, dropping four EPs and scoring roles in films like 2018’s Flock of Four and in the 2022 television series Bel-Air.
It was only last year, after she signed a contract with High Standardz and Def Jam Recordings, that her efforts started to pay off. She released her first major label EP, What I Didn’t Tell You, featured on Babyface‘s GRAMMY-nominated Girls Night Out (“Simple”), and earned her first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart with the sultry “ICU.”
Now, she attests to her potential as R&B’s next soulful diva with her first GRAMMY nomination.
Noah Kahan
When Noah Kahan named one of his songs “Stick Season” — the Vermont-specific term to describe the dreary, gray days between Halloween and the first snow — he didn’t know that this period of time would be more bountiful to him than any blossoming spring.
First teased on TikTok in 2020, “Stick Season” went viral in the next two years, culminating with its official release as the lead track off Kahan’s 2022 LP of the same name. The album followed suit as a smashing success, earning the top spot on five Billboard charts upon its release (including Top Rock & Alternative Albums) and prompting collaborations with Kacey Musgraves, Hozier and Post Malone.
The 26-year-old folk-pop singer is still adjusting to all the prestige, which will only grow as he starts 2024 with a stadium/arena tour that includes dates at L.A.’s Hollywood Bowl and New York’s Madison Square Garden. “It’s f—ing unbelievable,” he told GRAMMY.com in October. “It feels so fake that it’s almost like, the more time I spend thinking about it, the more abstract it becomes.”
Kahan’s main strength is this unflinching honesty — he talks openly about his struggles with depression and anxiety, and his lyrics resonate because of their sharp vulnerability. His openness as well as his charming wit have helped him continue to reach bigger audiences, and have now helped him earn his first GRAMMY nomination.
Victoria Monét
While Victoria Monét has been releasing solo music since 2014 with her debut EP Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1, she used to be best known for her work behind the scenes. Her expertise was writing hits for many of today’s biggest pop stars, including Ariana Grande, Chloe x Halle, BLACKPINK, and more.
She has even been nominated for three GRAMMYs thanks to her songwriting prowess: two in 2020 for her work with Grande (Album of the Year for Thank U, Next and Record of the Year for “7 Rings”) and one in 2021 for her work with Chloe x Halle (Best R&B Song for “Do It.”)
Gradually, people started to notice the 34-year-old songwriter for her own singing as Monét came into her artistry more and more. Her 2020 independently released EP, Jaguar marked a breakthrough in her career and was critically acclaimed for its luxurious R&B melodies and classy undertones.
Following suit came her debut solo album, 2023’s Jaguar II, through RCA Records. The album was equally acclaimed, and its supporting tour sold out minutes after being announced. Add to that seven nominations at the 2024 GRAMMYs — including Best New Artist and Record Of The Year for “On My Mama” — it’s more than clear that Monét is already a superstar to be reckoned with.
The War and Treaty
Tanya and Michael Trotter Jr. found each other in 2010, when they both played at Maryland’s Spirit of Love festival. The name was a good omen, as the couple soon began a lasting partnership — both in love and in music.
The War and Treaty is their way to let us peek into their rich universe. While originally formed in 2014 under the name Trotter & Blount, they changed it in 2017 after several discussions. “Michael, calm down,” Tanya said one day, as retold by Michael on BobbyCast. “This is not a war, we need to come to some sort of treaty about this.”
Since then, they have been stirring hearts with emotional anthems inspired by soul, country, and gospel music. However, it was only in 2022 that they signed with UMG Nashville, already carrying one EP and three studio albums under their belt. In March 2023 came the devotional Lover’s Game, their first major label LP, with production credits by GRAMMY winner Dave Cobb.
“This album isn’t about whether you like the music or not,” Michael said in an interview with NPR. “This album is about, ‘Do you understand what we’re trying to say? Can you get with this? Do you feel the inclusion in our voices? Do you feel the resilience? Do you feel the overcoming? And if you feel it, do you have a heart for the War and Treaty?”
As one of only eight artists with a Best New Artist GRAMMY nomination for 2024, it seems at least their peers do..
The 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards, returns to Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, and will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+ at 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT.
The Recording Academy and GRAMMY.com do not endorse any particular artist, submission or nominee over another. The results of the GRAMMY Awards, including winners and nominees, are solely dependent on the Recording Academy’s Voting Membership.
