The PopCrush Fan Choice Awards: Best New Artist

Being the new kid is never easy: true of high school students and definitely true of burgeoning pop stars. Still, we've got reason to believe 2015's freshman class has got some real potential.

As part of the ongoing, year-end PopCrush Fan Choice Awards, we've been asking readers to help nail down 2015's best acting performances, radio hits and even demonstrations of celeb-on-celeb shade. And while entertainment's veterans continue to battle it out, we're take a second to acknowledge music's rookies, and deem one ready for the big leagues.

Could it be Kelsea Ballerini, who bravely entered Carrie Underwood's and Miranda Lambert's arena as country's newest crooner, or has Halsey proven in a short time that proud alt girls are a force to be reckoned with? Maybe Hailee Steinfeld's dreamy-but-stern sound has got 'em both beat—she certainly loves herself.

Still, Shawn Mendes' "Stiches" is clear evidence the young singer-songwriter has already got commercial chops, and Alessia Cara's anti-popularity stance has quickly caught on—"Here" was Spotify's top viral track globally, beating out Drake's "Hotline Bling" in the process.

Then, there's Troye Sivan, who's already got a built-in, ferocious YouTube audience ready to go to bat for the electropop artist, but he's facing direct competition with Years & Years, the Brit trio whose singles "Shine" and "King" both did damage in the United Kingdom. Still, with Chris Brown and Tyga already on her side, Pia Mia's already got some powerful support within the industry, and she's picking up steam with hip-hop and pop audiences.

Look at our list of some of 2015's most promising new artists, sound off on who you think made the biggest splash and be sure to cast your vote for this category before the poll closes on December 15 at 5 PM ET.

Kelsea Ballerini, "Love Me Like You Mean It":

Troye Sivan, "Wild":

Halsey, "Ghost":

Hailee Steinfeld, "Love Myself":

Alessia Cara, "Here":

Pia Mia, "Do It Again":

Years & Years, "Shine":

Shawn Mendes, "Stitches":

See what these artists looked like when their first albums were released: