When I talked to R.LUM.R last year, he described Nashville’s pop scene as a place where artists can pave their own lane outside the regional conventions of L.A., NYC and other cities. One artist who’s definitely forging her own path is Jesse Ott, stage name Whoa Dakota, whose combination of soul balladeering and electro pop infuses old sounds with a vital, gleeful energy. Whoa Dakota’s “Patterns,” the title track of a stellar album she released in August, is a unique gem that proves local pop means business. LANCE CONZETT
Best Pop Artist
Whoa Dakota
Photo: Lance Conzett
