Los Angeles by way of Sacramento artist zayALLCAPS is a singular voice among California zillenials. The singer-rapper-producer’s music emphasizes his everyman quality with rich color and distinct quirks. This year’s art Pop * pop Art, his third album, captures Zay at his catchiest, with the throbbing yearner “MTV’s Pimp My Ride” notching him Best New Track from Pitchfork, and garnering co-signs from the likes of Polo Perks and Michael Uzowuru. His inspiration from producers like Pi’erre Bourne, Kanye West and the Neptunes comes through in his instrumentals, which combine diverse sample sources from Bryson Tiller to Björk with tasteful synth and drum sounds. Despite often dealing with heavy topics, Zay’s music is consistently fun and uplifting: a mark of a great artist. With outstanding live performance skills and glowing features in Pitchfork, The FADER, Vice, Rolling Stone, and more, zayALLCAPS is a star in the making.