Here are 23 Houston acts we’re excited to hear in 2020

Houston is still a largely undiscovered treasure trove of music. We’ve got it all, from rap to synth-pop to R&B.

Now all they need is for you to listen. Local doesn’t mean amateur, y’all. And in several cases, Houston artists are making music on par or better than all of your superstar faves.

Several acts are on track to release exciting, adventurous music this year. There’s prime pop from John Allen Stephens. A fusion of sounds from King Baby Familia. Female-fronted rock from Release the Reign and Rozy.

Here are 23 albums or singles we can’t wait to hear this year.

1. “Return to Form,” John Allen Stephens

Genre: Pop with R&B, jazz and soul

Stephens, the go-to guy for locals who want great-sounding records, returns with his own project. The autobiographical record “details the process of finding peace through spirituality after near death and the death of my best friend,” Stephens says. It also reveals a coming to terms with addiction.

Release date: First half of 2020

2. Rozy

Genre: Rock

Sisters Zoe and Molly Flores front this scrappy rock band, which has come a long way in just a few years. Their originals have a riot grrl spirit with a modern twist.

Release date: March

3. “Clothing Optional,” Swimwear Department

Genre: Dance/post punk

Another tune about identity from the wickedly witty group. The song turns malls and pools into entities to whom we preach about personal metamorphosis. The band also has two more singles on the way, both odes to shopping malls. Hey, they’re consistent.

Release date: Spring 2020

4. “Loveletter,” DJ Sun

Genre: Lo-fi sentiments.

DJ Sun’s love letter to people and places he loves. And, he says, “to this world, desperately in need of a love letter.” Two videos are in the works.

Release date: March 17

5. “Done Being Humble,” Lil JSean

Genre: Rap

The young rapper boasts a harder edge on this five-song EP and was inspired by ‘90s hip-hop and Southern bass. It’s preceded by the single “Perfect Vision/Spike Lee.”

Release date: Jan. 17

6. “Love You Better,” Haunter

Genre: Pop/synthwave

Former emo kids and one metalhead ditch the loud guitars for big hooks and pop sensibilities, citing such influences as Chvrches, Ellie Goulding and Tove Lo. First single producer by Grammy nominee Tyler Smyth, with more throughout the year.

Release date: Feb. 14

7. “You Feel Like Home,” Will Carter

Genre: Country

New music recorded in Nashville. The title track is already climbing Texas music charts.

Release date: April

8. “Mad Love in a Mad World,” King Baby Familia

Genre: Hip-hop/reggae fusion

This collective features musicians from Cuba, India and the Dominican Republic. Frontman King Baby dubs the album “hip-hop in its purest form,” with real-life lyrics and live instrumentation. It features contributions fron Bushwick Bill, K-Rino and more. The album drops just before a spring tour with Hed Pe, Saliva and Kottonmouth Kings.

Release date: March 15

9. “Escape from Houston, Texas,” D-Risha

Genre: Hip-hop

The rapper’s final album is a chronicle of his life, starting from the day his father passed away to the day his daughter was born. It’s a coming-of-age story that’s laced, of course, with Houston culture and will be preceded by the single “Mechanix (The Slab).”

Release date: June 27

10. “Diagnosis,” Inner Image

Genre: Rock

More hard rock following the band’s cover of Duran Duran hit “Come Undone” (which clocked more than 20,000 YouTube views in three weeks).

Release date: Second quarter of 2020

11. “Let it Reign,” Release the Reign

Genre: Rock

Snarling, original rock tunes from a trio fronted by sisters Kat Olivia and Naty Nat.

Release Date: February

12. “Flow,” Attxla

Genre: Pop and R&B

“Flow” is about facing fears, recognizing issues and triggers, rediscovering fun, establishing boundaries and limits and realizing that time is fleeting. It’s all part of Attxla’s path to self-love.

Release date: Third quarter of 2020

13. “Live,” MC2 Monico Cortez

Genre: Tejano/conjunto

This live album was recorded in Houston on Thanksgiving weekend.

Release date: Early 2020

14. Via Linda

Genre: Alternative

A more diverse direction following the group’s “Apollo” EP. This time, they promise “a song for everyone” on the self-produced album.

Release Date: Summer

15. “#TheComeback,” Kennidi Monroe

Genre: Dance/pop/electronic

The trans diva returns to music after a decade with songs that are both fun and political. First single “Fembot” is out now. New song “Kings & Queens” is due soon.

Release date: 2020

16. “ME?” Dende

Genre: R&B/hip-hop/alternative

Self-produced effort featuring pairings with Houston, Austin and L.A. artists. Dende calls it “an album all about me, my life, obstacles, love, hate, apprehensions and everything in between.”

Release date: Feb. 21

17. “Red Giant,” SoM

DC Crain describes the music as “sadder and more texturally modern Depeche Mode and Duran Duran.” The songs are about lamentation, survival, starting over and rebuilding from scratch after a suicide attempt. Despite that, it’s a fairly melodic pop-rock album.

Genre: Indie-alt electronic

Release date: January

18. “She,” Vanilla Sugar

Genre: Electronic

The first full-length album from long-running act Vanilla Sugar features ten originals with vocals by the ever-reliable Jessica Stewart.

Release date: January

19. L. Wayne Ashley

Genre: Inspirational/dance

The big-voiced singer says his debut project was inspired by “the sounds of my African ancestors and those on the continent today.”

Release date: Mid-2020

20. “Sanctuary,” Switch Martinez

Genre: Hip-hop

Martinez was inspired to create his first “clean” hip-hop album by his two children. But he promises not to compromise his vision. He says he’s “keeping it clean so other people with kids like me who love good, lyrical, conscientious hip-hop can listen in the car without rotting a child’s brain.

Release date: February

21. “Under The Influence,” Guy Schwartz

Genre: “New” classic rock

Schwartz, a Houston institution, pays tribute to his early influences with a series of originals using the sounds and rhythms of many classic artists.

Release date: April 17

22. “Tiffany’s Tape: A.B.G.U.” Suavè Li

Genre: Hip-hop

The rapper’s fourth album focuses on his evolution and love for Houston. It’s self-produced, down to the cover art. And he graduates high school in June. “A.B.G.U.” stands for “All Boys Grow Up.”

23. “Roocycle,” AndyRoo & the AndyRooniverse

Genre: Children’s music

Andyroo’s third album invites listeners to explore, imagine and make a better world with songs about taking care of the planet and ourselves. It features sounds recorded from recycled materials and found objects discovered around Houston. In conjunction with the album’s release, Andrew Karnavas is launching the Houston Sound Library, funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.

Release date: April 4

ALSO RELEASING NEW MUSIC IN 2020:

The Wiggins

Ashley Toman

Morena Roas

National Pleasure

Second Lovers

Kenner Wells

Alyssa May