Esquire's 2013 Music Picks

Open your ears to the following…

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THE LONG-HAIRED LADY BAND: HAIM (above)
They’re sisters! They wear sunglasses! (Like, all the time.) But r’n’b swagger and folksy harmonies still make a pretty cute combo.

This year’s: Warpaint

THE DETERMINEDLY MYSTERIOUS GIRL-BOY DUO: MS MR
Little is known about this smoky, spectral electro band. Pretty soon we’ll have their genomes mapped. Let’s enjoy the suspense.

This year’s: Cults

THE SEXUALLY AMBIGUOUS LADY RAPPER: ANGEL HAZE
This 21-year-old rapper, real name Raykeea Wilson [or Raee’n Wahya, depending on who you ask), has a tough background and an exceptionally smooth flow (as grandma would say).

This year’s: Azealia Banks

THE SECRETLY CEREBRAL HIP-HOP CLAN: RATKING
So current, the lead rapper’s called Wiki, as in “Wiki leaks rhymes like a controversial website run by an alleged sex pest”. Perhaps.

This year’s: Odd Future

THE BADLY-DRESSED BLOKE BAND: PALMA VIOLETS
London four-piece who sound raw and boisterous and say they’re here to re-reinvent rock’n’roll (thanks guys!).

This year’s: The Vaccines