Bishop Briggs/L.I.F.T.

With a tough as nails, unwaveringly soulful voice, London native Bishop Briggs raised eyebrows with her impressive debut, Church of Scars. It produced four Billboard Top 40 Alternative singles. “Wild Horses” opens with an unexpected acoustic intro that leads into a haunting, production-heavy chorus. “Dream” sounds like more of an indie pop song but still maintains her signature flare. “White Flag” is Briggs’ darkest and edgiest track yet; she masters her sound while leading a full choir of backup singers in a chorus that will give you chills. “River,” however, is the clear standout of the four hits. Displaying Briggs’ voice in its rawest form, it pulls influence from both African-American spirituals and R&B, accompanied by hard-hitting bass and percussion that successfully avoid overshadowing Briggs’ stunning vocal. Alternative gurus Cold War Kids recruited the crooner for last year’s “So Tied Up,” which also enjoyed a stay on the Billboard Top 40 Alternative chart. Briggs will be joined by L.I.F.T, newcomers who have found a way to blend indie rock, EDM and rap without overwhelming the listener. The cryptic, melodic “Wanna Die” is the highlight from their 2018 EP, AUTOP$Y. (Halle Weber)