5. Clairo

Clairo became known as bedroom-pop’s poster girl. Singles like “Pretty Girl” and “Flaming Hot Cheetos” were her staple — crooning in her room in front of a MacBook webcam. But this year she unveiled her creative voice. Her debut album Immunity features her at her most vulnerable — she sings about themes like exploring her bisexuality and sinking into depression. With her breakthrough single “Bags,” she shifted her sound from a computerized pop to emotional indie. Her songwriting shines through in every track — a skill that is well beyond her 21 years. Clairo is far from over — her talent for telling stories through intensely raw lyrics is needed in today’s less honest world.