The New Jersey Musicians Who Got Us Through 2020

NEW JERSEY — There's no real way to sugarcoat this, so let's just get it out there: 2020 sucked.

The coronavirus pandemic upended normal life in the state for almost the entirety of the year. Luckily, New Jersey's musicians persevered through closed venues, canceled tours and lost revenue streams to produce music to brighten the dullest of days, and comfort the darkest of them.

With a diverse group of new faces — and, yes, one familiar one — the Garden State provided the soundtrack to a year we'd all rather forget.

Whether seeking out comfort in your solitude, or motivating yourself to keep going, these were the songs we turned to in 2020.

Cookie Kawaii — Vibe (If I Back It Up)

Hailing from Irvington, Cookiee Kawaii is one of music's brightest up and coming stars. Recently, Vogue named her one of their "6 Musicians About To Blow Up," and they're probably right.

"Vibe", particularly this version, featuring Tyga, is a bubbly dance music record that got a big assist from TikTok this year, where, according to Vogue, it's been used in 1.9 million videos.

Chase Fetti — Own Pots featuring Benny the Butcher

The Cliffwood rapper Chase Fetti released "Top of the Red", a collaborative project with the producer 38 Spesh, in October. On it, he positions himself as an artist with classicist capabilities and a modern sensibility, much like Benny the Butcher — featured here — and the rest of the Griselda records line up.

Quietly swaggering, "Own Pots" is an exercise in vivid storytelling which fits just as well in 1998 as it does in 2020.

Real Estate — Paper Cup

The video for "Paper Cup", the lead single off the Real Estate's fifth album, 'The Main Thing', was released in January, but plays out much like the year that followed. A demented robot-bear short circuits, and things get weirder from there, all in front of a sign which reads "Party Time!"

Though there's little chance the band — originally hailing from Ridgewood — knew what 2020 would have in store, their latest record deals with the heaviest themes to date while maintaining the usual quiet-dude-in-the-corner malaise. The record is both calming and contemplative, a balance we can all strive for heading into another uncertain year.

070 Shake — Guilty Conscience

070 Shake was one of the most anticipated voices in the hip-hop space after appearing on Kanye West's album "'Ye". Modus Vivideni, the debut album from the North Bergen native, delivered on the hype.

"Guilty Conscience" is subdued, thoughtful, and, most likely, just a sign of things to come.

Mr. Chicken — 4EV3R

The Jersey City rapper-singer hybrid Mr. Chicken creates infectious, melodic frameworks. Lyrically it's simple and relatable, worthy of a couple consecutive playbacks.

His best effort in 2020, the earworm 4EV3r, is an ode to those who stayed loyal now that a modest accession has begun. Let's see what 2021 brings.

Little Hag — Tetris

Released on Bandcamp in September, Little Hag's "Whatever Happened To Avery Jane" features one of the best indie songs of the year in "Tetris".

Little Hag, born Avery Mandeville, is funny, sharp and relatable. In 2020, who among us didn't consider playing our game of choice until our eyes fell out?

Bruce Springsteen — Ghosts

Springsteen hasn't lost his fastball, delivering more of what fans across the years have come to know and love.

There's only so much to say about him at this point, really. He's The Boss.