New Jersey musicians you need to know

We think 2022 will be a very big year for Jersey musicians.

There’s a new breed of talent in the state that looks set to do great things. Specifically, there are plenty of female talents in the state including Lady London, Coi Leray, Sahara Moon, Ryver Bey, and Miss Meme who are ripe for stardom.

Of course, the Garden State has a track record of greatness: Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Whitney Houston and Bruce Springsteen are all from Jersey towns. In recent years, Charlie Puth from Rumson, Fetty Wap from Paterson, Halsey from Warren County and SZA from Maplewood have been added to the list of local Jersey talent.

Sometimes, however, it takes a bit of research to find promising musicians, singers and performers. We can help. Here’s our list of 10 Jersey artists you need to know, in alphabetical order:

Ryver Bey, Asbury Park

We are Ryver Bey fans. We previously voted her single “Lesson Plan (Get to the Bag)” as one of the best New Jersey indie songs of 2021. Why is she one of the Jersey artists you need to know?

She’s 8 years old and her videos rack up over a quarter of a million views each. She is also one of the biggest lights representing hip-hop on Jersey Shore stages.

Coming soon are three new songs by April, a big birthday party in March with her classmates at Lakehouse Music Academy in Asbury Park, and two more flavors for her “Luxury Lemonade” line, available at grocery stores. fines and bodegas of Asbury Park and Neptune.

information: instagram.com/ryverbey

Halogens, Asbury Park

Who’s weird?

Fortunately, Asbury Park halogens are. They don’t hesitate to give free rein to their idiosyncrasies. The band’s debut album “You’re Being Weird” strikes the sweet spot between Weezer and Joe Walsh, with a nice dollop of Front Bottoms to set things off.

Listen and it will trigger the right kind of chemical reaction.

A record release show on January 7 at the House of Independents in Asbury Park has been postponed due to the recent surge in COVID-19. But the group will be there on March 12. Latewaves, A Boy Named John and Sentient Moss will also be performing.

information: linktr.ee/halogensNJ

The Haunting, Asbury Park

Ever wish Asbury Park’s rock scene was a little more dangerous?

Enter the Haunting, formerly Ghosthaus and, before that, the Shoobies. These guys have gone to the dark side and we love it. Recent tracks lean towards a gothic, shoegaze vibe with guitars awash in reverb and black, the go-to color.

Remember : Meat Loaf’s colorful New Jersey connections: Balloon Fest, E Street, Bon Jovi, and more.

Following: New Jersey’s 13 Best Indie Songs of 2021 and What’s Coming in 2022

The vibe is “centered around frontman Casey Marley’s obsession with all things scary,” said a spokesperson for the band, which includes Brandon “Beef” Page, Brandon Cruz, Steve Whitt and Brittany Byrne. “The boys wrapped their art, both sonically and visually, in enigma, while maintaining an ‘indie pop’ vibe.

Coming up is a live event for new feature ‘Ghostape2’ on February 12, a record release show on March 19 at the House of Independents in Asbury Park, more music and a monthly digital horror magazine filled with behind -the- content of the scenes, upcoming art and “random propaganda”.

information: retrohorror.net

Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and Neptune

Now for something different.

Kuf Knotz of Bryn Mawr, PA, and Christine Elise of Neptune rock the region’s stages with a fusion of hip-hop and soul with classical and New Age music. You can tell something different is afoot when you see Elise on stage with her harp. She also sings the hooks while Knotz lays down the rhymes.

“Give thanks to the spirits of the sun, we need it,” Knotz raps on their “Spirit Walk.”

So far they’ve opened for Wyclef Jean, Yellowman, Slick Rick, G. Love and more. Upcoming performances at the February 5 What a Wonderful Year show at Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, March 5 at the Trinity Church Concert Series in Asbury Park, April 30 at the New Jersey Folk Festival in New Brunswick and May 21 at the Jawnaroo Festival in Mullica Hill.

A new album, “Hypnagogia”, is expected this summer.

information: kufknotz.com

Coi Leray, Hackensack

The party will continue for Coi Leray in 2022.

Leray’s 2021 single “No More Parties” featuring Lil Durk went platinum and has over 75 million views on YouTube. The following tracks “Big Purr (Prrdd)” and “Twinnem” also scored big. Get ready now for his debut album.

“As I get older and progress and improve as an artist, I see myself deepening my music with my emotions,” Leray said in a statement. “There is twerk music, bread music, R&B and trap music. I just want to give them something that matches my full potential. I want to take them to a place they’ve never been before. It’s now or never, and the time has come.

Leray is the whole package as she writes, dances, tunes and is big on social media. Oh, there’s also the family drama. Dad is rapper Raymond “Benzino” Scott of The Source fame. He says he’s still the biggest rapper in the family.

Not for long, dad.

information: coileray.com

Lady London, East Orange

London is calling – Lady London, that is.

The buzz is very strong for London, aka Zaire Stewart. She just released ‘Lady Like: The Boss Tape,’ which features 13 of her famous freestyles, and the video for her single, ‘Lisa’s Story,’ featuring Dub Aura, exploded onto YouTube after its release last week.

Fans love the old school flow and cinematic delivery of London.

“It’s not talent, it’s a gift,” one fan commented on YouTube. “She wasn’t taught to do this, she was born to do this. There is a difference.

An official single for 2022 will be released “sooner than people think,” her rep said, and there’s also something else on the way.

“I am not one-dimensional,” London said in a statement. “I really take my job seriously. I consider rap to be an art form, not a trend.

information: www.bossladylonson.com

Miss Meme, Franklinville

The rhymes, chimes and verbal parries come fast and furious from Miss Meme, aka Jeriel Anderson. The Suburban Baddie has built quite a resume so far, opening shows for PNB Rock, Jadakiss, King Von, Trina and Stunna 4 Vegas, and she released a single with Jadakiss, “5 Days”, in 2016.

Last year, Meme released their debut album, “True Life of a Lit (Blank),” with more on the way in 2022.

“I’m currently finishing up a joint project that I’m really excited about,” Meme said via email. “No release date yet but it’s a vibe and I can’t wait to share it. In the meantime, I’ve released singles and feature films…I appreciate every opportunity I get.

His latest is the very ribald single “Photoshop”.

information: linktr.ee/Iammissmeme

Sahara Moon, Little Egg Harbor

Sahara Moon are rising to the music scene in South Jersey and beyond too. She also rides in Nashville. Moon, a singer-songwriter who plays jazzy ballads and contemplative folk, has been taking her share of shows at Music City lately.

She’s hitting the festival circuit big with sets at the Mayday Music Festival in Yaphank, NY on May 14 and the Let’s Go Music Festival in Annapolis, Md. on June 4.

Closer to home, Moon opens for Josh Rouse on June 23 at the Long Beach Island Art Foundation, and on August 22 she performs in the Stafford Historical Society’s Summer Concert Series at Manahawkin Lake Park.

Do you like what you hear ? Support her on Patreon via www.patreon.com/saharamoonmusic.

information: saharamoonmusic.com

Don’t Quit Sober, Asbury Park

Let’s raise a toast to Not Leaving Sober – it looks like 2022 will be a big year for the country rock band from Asbury Park.

In 2021, the guys had over 200,000 streams on Spotify, played the big Barefoot Country Music Fest in Wildwood, and ended the year with a seasonal hit, “Leave Santa a Beer.”

No milk and cookies here.

Coming this year is a new single, “On the Rocks,” on March 11, and tickets to Barefoot Country Music Fest and the new Tidalwave Music Festival in Atlantic City in August. If you like your country music accompanied by a smirk, you’ve found your new drinking buddies.

information: facebook.com/NotLeavingSober

Space Panther, Red Bank

When it comes to the band’s pedigrees, it’s hard to beat Space Panther.

Members of the glamorous new Jersey Shore-based group have starred in Monster Magnet, the Dictators, the New York Dolls reboot and more. It’s Keith Roth, Bob Pantella and Bobby Kennedy, and they’ve strapped on their platform boots – and they’re ready to take off.

Early songs from their debut album, the theme name “Glamdemic”, have been played on Little Steven’s Underground Garage, WRAT, 90.5 The Night and more. They dig the applause, hooks, crunchy chords, and free-spirited abandon that’s ready for a good time.

“Glamdemic” is due out February 25 on Red Bank’s Main Man Records.

information: mainmanrecords.com

Subscribe to app.com for the latest news on the New Jersey music scene.

Jersey Shore native Chris Jordan covers entertainment and reporting for USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.