Neo-soul singer and songwriter Y'akoto's sophisticated take on contemporary R&B fuses elements of jazz, Afrobeat, pop, and more. Her major-label debut, Babyblues, drew her comparisons to singers such as Macy Gray, Erykah Badu, and Billie Holiday, particularly for her interpretive vocal ability. Her second album, 2014's Moody Blues, went all the way to number 11 on the album chart in her native Germany. ~ Marcy Donelson