For young music fans, online music-sharing service SoundCloud has become the go-to place for discovering new independent artists, far more than old-fashioned radio or even major music-streaming outlets. Hip-hop artists especially have benefited from the immediacy and direct access of SoundCloud, giving rise to a whole movement dubbed “SoundCloud rap.” But it’s not only rappers: In just a few years, pop-R&B singer Sabrina Claudio has gone from posting cover songs on SoundCloud to posting her own original music, scoring chart hits and a major-label record deal.
Claudio built her popularity with singles including “Unravel Me,” “Belong to You” and “Don’t Let Me Down” (featuring fellow R&B singer Khalid), and she recently released her second full-length album, Truth Is, which includes a duet with One Direction superstar Zayn on “Rumors.” “The process of this album has helped me not only grow as a woman, but also as a human being as well,” Claudio said in a statement announcing the new album. At 23, she’s still just getting started, finding her voice and developing her sound, and launching her career by reaching listeners directly online has allowed her to remain authentic, even as she approaches pop stardom.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7, starting at $29.50 plus tax and fee. 702.632.7600
