We're over halfway through 2024, and since the beginning of the year, several new artists have stepped into the spotlight. From Lizzie Morgan to Bay Turner, our editorial team is highlighting ten new Christian contemporary and pop artists you'll want to keep an eye on.
Are there any artists we're missing? Join the conversation on Facebook!
Anna Sailors
Anna Sailors is the first artist signed to Gospel Music legend Israel Houghton's new record label. She already has deep roots in Christian music as a worship leader at Elevation Church and touring with the GRAMMY-winning worship collective Elevation Worship.
Sailors' voice is pure yet soulful, and I could hear hints of folk, pop, gospel, and contemporary worship influence in her vocal delivery. That vocal performance is layered over top of the familiar anthemic drum sounds, melodies, and chord progressions of modern worship that immediately pull you in, not only to listen to a song but to engage with it. It's a combination I believe will show her forth as both a great storyteller and worship leader. I look forward to hearing more from her and seeing how this unique combination of gifts and styles shapes her artistry. Her new single "Seen" is out now.
- Jasmin Patterson
Megan Woods
Megan Woods is from a small town in Northern Massachusetts where God planted a love for music in her at a young age. Even though she grew up in a Christian home with an amazing Christian family, she didn't have a personal relationship with God. Throughout her life, Megan had always struggled with her self-worth and believing she was worthy of love.
For ten years of her life, one of the closest people to her verbally and emotionally abused her badly and it left her broken. At her lowest point, she was finding ways she could end her life. In that very moment, she got a phone call from one of the closest people in her life, and they had just had a near-death experience. And they said to her word for word, "Megan, Jesus Christ is real." In her lowest, most desperate moment Jesus saved her life.
In 2022, Megan signed a record deal with Fair Trade Services. Megan's debut single "The Truth," a driving piano ballad that showcases her powerhouse alto vocals, is a deeply personal proclamation.
- Fair Trade Services
Kevin Quinn
Have you ever seen the latest iteration of Disney's The Adventures of Babysitting? How about Netflix's feel-good musical, A Week Away? My introduction to Kevin Quinn was in one of his movies (I don't remember which one). But I was surprised when I discovered he was also a Christian artist. At first, I thought he was just an actor who sang Christian music. I thought he didn't take music seriously outside his acting credits--I assumed he was another pretty boy who wanted to make a name for himself in Hollywood. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong.
In 2022, he released a single, "More of You." His recent album, Real Me, proves Kevin is very serious about his Christian music career. Go to his YouTube channel or website to hear the artist's songs "Learning to Let Go" and "I'm Not There Yet." Kevin is an artist to watch--and listen to--so listen to his music now.
- Paul Phillips
Lizzie Morgan
Lizzie Morgan's professional music career quickly launched in 2017 when she began singing background vocals for Lauren Daigle. It was between tours that Morgan began honing in on her musical skills, performing with and writing for a variety of artists and projects, including Matt Maher, Maverick City Music, Seasons Collective, Red Worship, and WILDER, a duo she formed with songwriter Stefan Cashwell. Their song, "Heaven's Secrets," achieved over 1M cumulative streams in its first year of release.
Yet it was growing up in Tennessee and being part of the church her grandparents started, Celebration of Life outside of Nashville, where Lizzie Morgan learned to sing and lead worship. Today, she continues to lead worship there while also splitting her time in San Jose, CA, as part of the worship team at Redemption Church, the home of Red Worship.
- Merge PR
Seph Schlueter
Seph Schlueter burst into the Christian music scene in 2023 with the release of his debut single with Provident Entertainment, "Counting My Blessings." The song rose to popularity on social media and gained the attention of radio stations worldwide.
Following the success of "Counting My Blessings," Seph released his first EP under the same title. The eight-track EP includes new songs like "Running Back To You" and "Stay," along with an acoustic version of "Counting My Blessings" and a collaborative version featuring Matt Maher. It's clear that this is only the beginning of great things for Seph, and I can't wait to see what's next for him and his career.
- Grace Chaves
Emerson Day
For soulful singer-songwriter Emerson Day, storytelling came naturally from a young age. Writing songs as early as eight years old, she was influenced by the sounds of a Southern rock guitar and an old church piano. Growing up on her family's farm in Southern Maryland, she would sit outside playing guitar and singing for hours. God put a song in her heart long before she ever realized it.
Emerson was recently featured on Micah Tyler's priority track "People Like Us" but is making her debut with three tracks. "God Ain't Finished Yet" is the priority single for streaming and Christian radio. It shows the upbeat, pop side of her coming project.
- Fair Trade Services
Bay Turner
One of the most talented and soulful new voices in Christian music is none other than Bay Turner. After first catching listener's ears on Season 17 of America's Got Talent and Season 10 of BET's Sunday Best, Bay won the hearts of thousands of fans, leading to a record deal with Centricity Music.
Just in time for summer, Bay released his debut upbeat record single, "Brand New," which is already making waves with listeners and is a favorite of mine with its infectious soulful energy. I've known Bay for over a year now, and have loved seeing him grow. His powerful voice is one of the most gifted I've heard and that's only scratching the surface. Bay's heart for the Lord and desire to be an open vessel to reach others with God's truth is inspiring to me.
- Bradden Ford
bodie
Growing up in Los Angeles surrounded by talented parents and artistic influences who instilled a love for art at a young age, bodie is no stranger to the stage. He captivated the attention of millions with his soulful vocals and magnetic stage presence on The Voice, sharing his musical influences from rock to hip-hop to create a fresh new sound that is as unique and inviting as he is.
bodie's music reflects his experiences, capturing the emotions of love, loss, and the human condition with raw honesty and authenticity, along with his openness about his love for Jesus and his pride in being a family man.
- Merge PR
RENEE
I had the chance to meet and interview Riley and Rachel Peyton, the sister duo that makes up the Gotee Christian artist, RENEE. They both share the middle name Renee and were originally discovered as the Peyton sisters singing with the Gaithers. They switched over from singing Southern Gospel music to CCM and appeared on Winter Jam in 2023, singing some of their songs, including "I Want Out" and "No Limit."
RENEE has a song they released in 2024 called "Nothing But Jesus," and the lyrics are striking, as they address mental health in the song when they sing, "Nothing but Jesus can lift us out of depression and anxiety." Amen to that!
- Kevin Davis
Chris Ekiss
Chris Ekiss is the latest addition to the Provident Entertainment family and a new face in the Christian/worship music scene. Hailing from Tupelo, MS, Chris' passion for music and the significance of worship is deeply rooted in his role as a worship leader at his church, The Orchard.
As a dedicated artist, Chris is set to turn heads in 2024 with the release of his new EP, Ain't That Like Jesus, released June 21. After writing with prominent worship leaders and songwriters like David Leonard, Jonathan Smith, Mia Fieldes, Jacob Sooter, and Hank Bentley, Chris found himself with a body of songs that reflects where his heart is and what he wants to proclaim about Jesus. The EP features previously released tracks "Save My Soul," "Christ For Everyone," and "Nothing To Me" and adds in three new tracks, including "Ain't That Like Jesus (feat. David Leonard)". These songs not only showcase his profound lyrical depth but also his ability to create soul-stirring melodies that resonate with audiences to ultimately bring them closer to God.
- Merge PR
Assembled from the four corners of North America and many other corners in between, the NRTeam comprises staffers whose energy is equally dispersed towards loving and writing about the music they love.
NEW!BEHIND THE SONG
#1236 - Brandon Heath
Transforming wounds into stories of redemption in this powerful song
ADVERTISEMENT
NEW!NRT EDITORIAL
Skillet
We explores some of the band's best songs outside their hits
NEW!NRT LISTS
Jordan Merritt
A real conversation around the artist's new track, "Human"
NEW!HEARTSPEAK
Jordan Feliz
The artist's must-listen-to songs about faith, family, and redemption
NEW!AN NRT EXCLUSIVE
Rock Meets Worship
Seven gritty cover songs of popular worship music and hymns
