I invite you to pause your busy schedule and take a moment to listen to these artists you've probably never heard of, and if you pride yourself as a "hipster," you'll wonder how you ever lived without them.

Alvvays

Keep a look out for this Toronto-based indie-pop group, as they are definitely on the rise. Their eponymous debut album features lead singer Molly Rankin's chill vocals over catchy concert hall quality spunk pop, adding elements of U.K. post-punk. Essentially, this is a band try-hard hipsters brag about listening to. "Archie, Marry Me" is an obvious favorite; however, there are surprising lyrical devices all throughout their album as well. 

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Head and the Heart 

This Seattle-based band offers the perfectly tuned groove of indie folk laced with flares of Americana and personally-affecting lyrics. With their eponymous debut album, THATH released some of their most popular songs and my favorites: "Rivers and Roads," "Down in the Valley," "Lost in My Mind," and "Winter Song." 

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Ben Howard

Ben Howard, a UK artist of the singer-songwriter genre, has been writing music since he was 11 years old. Now, he has won multiple awards in the UK, and his albums have ranked in the top five in several countries throughout Europe. But do not let this fame fool you, he has a hard time accepting all of the attention. "... The more attention I got, the less I wanted it...," he told London Evening Standard Magazine. Inspiring millions of fans, his lyrics are at once beautifully philosophical and at other times hauntingly exact, while his musical sound has matured into a deeper background vehicle for his solemn croons. I Forget Where We Were is a huge success. 

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.