Amber Run is a name that’s cropped up time and time again across all things TMRW over the past year or so. With three EP’s under their belt and an album due for release early next year, the five-piece band formed by a group of friends from Nottingham University look set destined for big things.
Source: TMRW
Hudson Taylor
Starting out by busking in Dublin for some extra pocket money, the Hudson Taylor brothers Harry and Alfie have been playing music together from a young age. The duo have already published a wealth of EP’s and singles that have given them a vast and loyal following ahead of their debut album that’s due for release in February.
Source: TMRW
Rae Morris
Today the use of Myspace seems a distant memory that has faded into the archives of the music industry. However, for a young singer-songwriter from Blackpool, the now dated website provided a crucial outlet for her music, which ultimately resulted in her signing a deal with Atlantic Records in 2011.
Another BBC Sound of 2015 tip and another artist we've been championing on The ShortListen, next year should finally see the release of Rae Morris' debut album. She's been releasing songs for over two years now, but it seems like the time is right, with her tracks becoming stronger and stronger up to the latest, great Kate Bush-esque track Under The Shadows. Expect her to take her place alongside Ellie Goulding, Foxes and Florence (but a bit more interesting than all of them) in the Brit A-listers once this record is out.
Today the use of Myspace seems a distant memory that has faded into the archives of the music industry. However, for a young singer-songwriter from Blackpool, the now dated website provided a crucial outlet for her music, which ultimately resulted in her signing a deal with Atlantic Records in 2011.
Source: TMRW
Another BBC Sound of 2015 tip and another artist we've been championing on The ShortListen, next year should finally see the release of Rae Morris' debut album. She's been releasing songs for over two years now, but it seems like the time is right, with her tracks becoming stronger and stronger up to the latest, great Kate Bush-esque track Under The Shadows. Expect her to take her place alongside Ellie Goulding, Foxes and Florence (but a bit more interesting than all of them) in the Brit A-listers once this record is out.
Source: Shortlist
She believes it’s ok to ask questions and it’s absolutely essential to sometimes just take the plunge, having faith that you will land somewhere, somehow
Rae Morris started learning the piano at an early age, and tentatively sent her first songs to BBC Introducing in Lancashire in 2011. That year, she made her debut on the BBC Introducing stage at the Reading & Leeds festivals, aged 18.
She’s built up a raft of like-minded British songwriters as fans – from Lucy Rose and Tom Odell to Laura Mvula and Jack Steadman. Her idol, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, even came to meet her at the LA studio where she was recording.
In early 2014, she featured on Bombay Bicycle Club’s single Luna, which kickstarted a busy year of performance and promotion: she performed at Glastonbury for the first time with Bombay Bicycle Club and Clean Bandit, and staged solo sets at Reading & Leeds.
Her songs are inspired by PJ Harvey, Kate Bush and Feist. She describes her forthcoming debut solo record Unguarded as “a coming-of-age tale – a series of diary entries documenting those important years of growing up and learning”.
Rae Morris started learning the piano at an early age, and tentatively sent her first songs to BBC Introducing in Lancashire in 2011. That year, she made her debut on the BBC Introducing stage at the Reading & Leeds festivals, aged 18.
She’s built up a raft of like-minded British songwriters as fans – from Lucy Rose and Tom Odell to Laura Mvula and Jack Steadman. Her idol, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, even came to meet her at the LA studio where she was recording.
In early 2014, she featured on Bombay Bicycle Club’s single Luna, which kickstarted a busy year of performance and promotion: she performed at Glastonbury for the first time with Bombay Bicycle Club and Clean Bandit, and staged solo sets at Reading & Leeds.
Her songs are inspired by PJ Harvey, Kate Bush and Feist. She describes her forthcoming debut solo record Unguarded as “a coming-of-age tale – a series of diary entries documenting those important years of growing up and learning”.
Source: Sound of 2015
Source: MTV Prediction on BBC Sound of 2015
Saint Raymond
As an up and coming singer-songwriter originating from Nottingham, Callum Burrows aka Saint Raymond is often compared and associated with Jake Bugg. However, if his birthplace is reason enough to familiarise him with other famous individuals, one might similarly draw links between this 19-year old and Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men. Burrows’ music couldn’t be more different to Bugg’s retro rock and roll style. His up beat melodies and soft voice combine to create a spacious and tender sound.
The past few years have seen Callum progress as an artist, playing Reading and Leeds Festival, a headline tour in the UK and Ireland and support Haim on their UK and European tour. Zane Lowe featured Young Blood, the title track of SR’s first EP as his Hottest Record in The World, and subsequently invited Callum to perform at Maida Vale Studios for Radio 1.
Source: TMRW
Rising star James Bay has been crafting his trade for a few years now but it is only recently his incredible talents have reached the audience he deserves. Boasting a gorgeous voice delivered with the perfect blend of soft, emotion and grit, Bay found himself playing Radio 1’s Live Lounge, winning a Brit Critics’ Choice Award and more recently, place 2nd on BBC Sound of 2015 list. It’s fair to say we’re not the only ones who have been keeping a close eye on the Hitchin-born musician.
From what we saw James achieve in a somewhat introductory year for him was incredible and we have no qualms in saying that we believe 2015 will be an even bigger one for him. Make sure you check out his debut album coming in the early stages of this year.
Source: TMRW
This British singer songwriter is already being talked about as the next Ed Sheeran. His songs have been hugely reactive from minimal radio play- most notable from a few early spins on Radio One in the UK.
Source: Shazam
A rich vocal, giving us luscious melodies and that all important sing-along vibe delivered with a hint of cool and pure style.
Source: Georgina Stone, Music Content Manager, Blinkbox Music
"A beautiful voice working perfectly in tandem with his effortlessly sculpted tales.”
Alex Kennedy, Head Of Music Licensing, Sky TV
Allegedly discovered after a fan uploaded a video of him performing in a Kentish Town pub, James Bay has gained attention for his gravelled voice and uplifting, gospel-tinged choruses.
An acoustic performer, born in Hitchin Hertfordshire, Bay has gained a loyal fanbase thanks to stints at Communion's monthly night at Notting Hill Arts Club in London. He also opened for the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park in 2013.
The BBC Introducing artist wowed Radio 1 listeners when he stepped in at the last minute to play a Live Lounge set, after US superstar Lana Del Rey pulled out.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
“I love the warm timbre of his voice and the emotion he conveys whether through those whispery moments or the vulnerable crescendos.”
Dean Jackson, Presenter, BBC Introducing in the East Midlands.
VEVO DSCVR - One's To Watch 2015
iTunes New Artist for 2015
Source: iTunes
Martin Luke Brown
His debut single Nostalgia has received an unsurprising wealth of support from several Radio 1 broadcasters. It’s toe-thumping beat and breezy soul-inspired vocals connect harmoniously to evoke a pleasant pining for reminiscence.
Source: TMRW
After forming in 2013, Years and Years are quickly making a name for themselves. After signing to Polydor, 2014 saw 3 singles ‘ Real’, ‘Take Shelter’ and ‘Desire’ rake up Youtube views in the millions.
Combined of Olly (vocals), Emre (synth and beats) and Mikey (synth and bass) – their unique sound could be described as ‘soulful electronic pop’ – but hey, you have a listen and decide for yourself, all we know is that love them.
Source: TMRW
This English act could be the next big pop act. They were featured on ‘Sunlight’ by The Magician, a big radio hit in Europe. Their debut album is expected sometime in 2015.
Source: Shazam
Nominated for Brit Critics’ Choice Award
This London-based electro-pop group fuses elements gathered from a variety of ’90s sounds — like New Jack Swing, house and boy band pop — while still managing to sound fresh and innovative. I could do without the orientalist fetishizing in the “Desire” video, but I’m otherwise totally excited to see what frontman/keyboard player Olly Alexander, bassist Mikey Goldsworthy and synth player Emre Turkmen do next.
Source: MTV Prediction on BBC Sound of 2015
VEVO DSCVR - One's To Watch 2015
iTunes New Artist for 2015
London boys Olly, Michael and Emre originally founded ‘Years & Years’ in 2010. The band currently specialises in creating addictive, “soulful” electronic pop.
Source: iTunes
Recently we've used more and more electronic. We're trying to make dance music, but then keep a kind of heart to it
But the band couldn’t sound any more different to the Scottish chamber pop collective, putting an emphasis on futuristic synths, lithesome grooves and hard-hitting hooks.
The band are rooted in 90s R&B – they cite TLC and and Aaliyah as influences, and play a cover of Blu Cantrell’s Breathe in concert.
Formed in London, the trio consist of bassist Mikey Goldsworthy, keyboard player Emre Turkmen and vocalist Alexander, who joined the band when Mikey heard him singing in the shower after a party at his house.
The group have enjoyed a run of successful performances at UK festivals in 2014 including Bestival, Latitude, and The Great Escape before playing coveted support slots with Clean Bandit and Sound of 2014 winner Sam Smith.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
This feel-good electropop anthem from the U.K. group boasts sleek production and a strong tenor vocal from singer Olly Alexander. The track starts with a futuristic drum set and a chant of “oohs” before Alexander slides in with his effortless delivery. As he described, the track was inspired by ‘90s house music, “So we wanted to keep that same energy and pace throughout.” The band delivers on that goal, leaping into the catchy chorus, “Is it desire / or is it love that I’m feeling for you? I want desire / cause your love only gets me abused” that’s easy to get stuck in your head. Listeners clearly desired the song, as conversation surrounding the track generated enough Twitter activity to trigger a No. 30 debut on the Emerging Artists chart. The group is currently on the road with Clean Bandit, and has their first headlining tour of the U.K. slated for early 2015.
Source: Billboard
When bassist Mikey Goldsworthy and synth player Emre Turkmen first started what would eventually become elegant dance-pop practitioners Years & Years, they were missing a vocalist. As chance would have it Goldsworthy overheard the dulcet tones of actor Olly Alexander (you’ll recognise him from Skins and Stuart Murdoch’s film God Help the Girl) warbling his way through the Fugees’ Killing Me Softly in a friend’s shower and asked him to join the band. The earwigging paid off because it’s Alexander’s gorgeous, featherlight vocals that have dominated their output so far; from the keening Traps and clap-heavy Real (both released via respected French label Kitsuné) to the yearning, Disclosure-esque swirl of this summer’s bouncy Take Shelter and 90s house-indebted new single Desire. Now signed to Polydor, and with a nomination for the Brits Critics’ Choice under their belts, catchy, soulful dance pop with an undercurrent of melancholia is in very safe hands indeed. MC
Source: Guardian
Port Isla
Meeting at the University of East Anglia, Port Isla are a quartet that have been simmering on the UK music scene since 2011. Choosing to wait till their graduation to fully commit to the band, these four twenty something’s are just beginning to take their first steps on the long road that lies ahead of them.
Nevertheless, despite stalling their progression for studies, the guys have already played Glastonbury twice, supported George Ezra on tour and released a debut EP that received praise from XFM and BBC’s Zane Lowe and Greg James.
Source: TMRW
Kwabs
Graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, south Londoner KWABS is a modern soul singer capable of creating extraordinarily captivating and moving music, whether accompanied by piano or his heavier electric synthesizers.
The Ghanaian-born baritone was nominated as Best Newcomer at the 2014 MOBO awards, seeing him rival the likes of MNEK, Jess Glynne and Ella Eyre.
Source: TMRW
We featured the London-based singer Kwabs twice on The ShortListen last year and his star has continued to rise since, being named on the BBC Sound of 2015 list. It's fully deserved, as his luxurious, soulful vocals and some seriously strong tracks make us think that his album should be very good indeed. Expect it towards the end of the summer, just in time for the Mercury nominations.
Source: Shortlist
Kwabs is absolutely astoundingly good. He’s the truth.
Source: BBC Radio DJ MistaJam
Born and raised in Bermondsey, Kwabena Adjepong's musical education was a wide-ranging one. He studied blues at school and listened to everything from classic soul (Aretha Franklin, Donnie Hathaway) to alternative rock (The Strokes) and innovative electro-pop (Hot Chip). But it was the rhythms and improvisational scope of jazz that Kwabs gravitated towards.
Remarkably for a kid from a South London comprehensive whose childhood had been spent in and out of state care, he won a place at the Royal Academy of Music, one of the most prestigious hothouses of young musical talent in the world.
His soulful take on “synth&B” has seen him christened “the new Seal” by The Guardian; while singles like Walk and Last Stand have gained a legion of fans, including Jessie Ware, Plan B and BBC DJs MistaJam, Annie Mac and Zane Lowe.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
Tipped by Hayden Thorpe, Wild Beasts: “Kwabs is amazing. His voice is incredible – very deep, soulful and beautiful – and he’s had some production done by Dave [Okumu] from The Invisible. It’s really good.”
Source: NME
In the era of the big-lunged male, Ghanaian-born Kwabs, real name Kwabena Adjepong, has a voice to rattle the banisters – cavernous and emotional like a boy Nina Simone. He also has a rags-to-riches tale that takes him from a difficult start in care to studying jazz at the Royal Academy, to a TV series with mentor/guardian angel Goldie (Goldie’s Band: By Royal Appointment), which had him gigging at Buckingham Palace. None of which detracts from the pervasive atmospherics of his songs – self-contained dramas, all of them, dark and glacially cool, their spare settings (courtesy of producer and soul-technician Sohn) recalling Haddaway, Seal and other evocative sounds from the early 1990s. Which incidentally is when Kwabs was born. KM
Source: Guardian
Sunset Sons
2014 was influential for Sunset Sons, a relatively young band whose interests and culture are steeped within the European surf and ski scenes. 2014 has seen the four-piece release two well-received EPs, play their own UK tour, and travel to Nashville Tennessee to work on their debut album.
Source: TMRW
Having played nine two-hour shows a week in the Alps, we’d become incredibly tight
Sunset Sons are a band brought together by a love of music, surfing and snowboarding.
They formed when Bournemouth-born singer Rory was singing cover songs on the piano at a bar in the French surfing resort of Soorts-Hossegor, where he worked washing dishes. His repertoire – everything from Coldplay to D12 to Queens Of The Stone Age – intrigued Newcastle native Jed. Along with two other friends the pair formed a touring covers band, roaming the Alps and playing to winter holidaymakers.
The band then started writing songs themselves, and found themselves in a flurry of record label hype. Music industry bosses were coming to Val d'Isère to watch them play. “We were told they rarely leave London,” says Australian bassist Pete, “but there they were, up in the mountains with the snowboarding crowd, who can get pretty wild.”
Two years later, sitting outside the very same beach bar and with a collection of their own original material, they signed their deal with Polydor Records. The plan now is to take the songs on the road, both in Britain and abroad. And, of course, to find time to squeeze in some surfing.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
Låpsley
A one-woman xx or London Grammar.
It's a gamble, but we think that if there's one artist who could rival Lorde next year, it's Southport 18-year-old Holly Fletcher, aka Låpsley. All the signs are there: she's signed to XL, home of Adele and the rest; Radio 1 are fully on board and she's in the BBC Sound of 2015 list - yet her debut EP is only coming out in January. However, it's such a strong, distinctive piece of work - minimal, yet big, cool yet commercial - that you can see an album coming together relatively quickly. She could be huge before we know it.
Source: Shortlist
A one-woman xx or London Grammar.
Source: The Guardian
Låpsley’s minimalist electro pop radiates an intimate warmth, fuelled by her heartfelt lyrics.
Born Holly Lapsley Fletcher in Southport, the 18-year-old is a multi-instrumentalist with a classical background, playing the oboe, piano and guitar.
Her ethereal songs were discovered by the most organic of processes - a handful of people engaging so closely with it they couldn’t help but pass them on, write about them or play them. Cue up support from the likes of BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, mentions in the NME and online support from the likes of Disco Naivete and Pigeons & Planes.
Her achingly beautiful voice wowed the BBC Introducing crowd at Glastonbury 2014 and over the course of 2014 she has become one of the most hotly-tipped new UK artists around.
Born Holly Lapsley Fletcher in Southport, the 18-year-old is a multi-instrumentalist with a classical background, playing the oboe, piano and guitar.
Her ethereal songs were discovered by the most organic of processes - a handful of people engaging so closely with it they couldn’t help but pass them on, write about them or play them. Cue up support from the likes of BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, mentions in the NME and online support from the likes of Disco Naivete and Pigeons & Planes.
Her achingly beautiful voice wowed the BBC Introducing crowd at Glastonbury 2014 and over the course of 2014 she has become one of the most hotly-tipped new UK artists around.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
Source: NME
Young Thug
Every track Young Thug has touched in 2014 has been massive. The next 12 months look bright for this 22 year old rapper.
Source: Shazam
Echosmith
This teenage band has slowly built over the last 16 months to become one of the most Shazamed acts in the US. Echomsith enters 2015 on a crest of a wave with “Cool Kids” having caught on and a successful summer headlining the Warped Tour.
Source: Shazam
Rae Sremmurd
Rae Sremmurd have had two of the biggest rap singles of the past six months. They’ve worked with Nicki Minaj and are currently being mentored by the in demand producer, Mike Will Made It.
Source: Shazam
Oliver Heldens
This Dutch 19 year old is already a massive DJ and a huge draw at festivals but 2015 could see him go to the next level of dance music stardom. His new track, ‘Koala’, is currently one of the most reactive dance records on Shazam.
Source: Shazam
DeJ Loaf
This Detroit rapper has had one of the breakthrough songs of the year with ‘Try Me’. She’s now been signed to Columbia and Drake’s a noted fan. Her new mixtape is already receiving a great reaction on Shazam.
Source: Shazam
Sam Hunt
Sam Hunt is set up to be one of the next big country music stars. His song ‘Leave The Night On’ was the second most Shazamed Country song of 2014 and his album is already receiving a massive reaction with Shazam users.
Source: Shazam
Maddie & Tae
This act has been number one in Shazam’s Country charts for over 8 weeks. The Texan duo may be headed for cross-over success when their album drops sometime next year.
Source: Shazam
Tchami
This French producer is one of the few acts that have broken into the Shazam charts with only specialist radio and club playing his music. His song, ‘Promesses’, is going to be a big cross over hit early next year.
Source: Shazam
Raury
This 18 year old Atlanta born singer has a sound influenced by Andre 3000, Bon Iver and Frank Ocean. He’s drawn comparisons to Lorde and is featured on the new Huger Games soundtrack – incidentally curated by Lorde herself.
Source: Shazam
In Raury you have a raw honesty that you don't usually find in American artists his age from the scene he's come from. For once, he's an artist that more than justifies the hype around him
MistaJam, Presenter, BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra
“It's not just his songwriting and sonic versatility that sets Raury apart from the rest, he also has enough charisma to propel him into the superstar bracket.”
Tom Cotton, Head Of Music, Amazing Radio
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, rapper, producer: Raury is a musical prodigy, who wrote his first song - Oh Little Fishy - at the age of three.
Born Raury Tullis in the suburb of Stone Mountain, East Atlanta, he taught himself to play guitar at the age of 11 using YouTube videos, and schooled himself in the history of popular music – from Phil Collins to Kanye West.
His empowering, adventurous lyrics and musical wanderlust have caught the attention of his peers, with fellow Atlanta band OutKast giving him their seal of approval, and Lorde inviting him to contribute to the Hunger Games: Mockingjay soundtrack.
His empowering, adventurous lyrics and musical wanderlust have caught the attention of his peers, with fellow Atlanta band OutKast giving him their seal of approval, and Lorde inviting him to contribute to the Hunger Games: Mockingjay soundtrack.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
“Raury has an authentic, conscious and open approach that really shines through in his music. He refuses to conform to one particular style or genre - his perspective is so refreshing. A real artist and inspiration for today’s generation.”
Mark Lampo, Content Programmer, MixRadio, Microsoft
Source: BET
George the Poet
Nominated for Brit Critics’ Choice Award
George The Poet is one of the most agile lyricists in the UK, and a captivating storyteller. I love everything about him, and I believe he will soar in 2015.
Mary Anne Hobbs, Presenter, BBC Radio 6 Music
Anna Karatziva, Head Of Talent & Music, MTV
George Mpanga grew up on the Stonebridge Park estate, one of the roughest areas of Harlesden in North West London. He listened to a lot of hip-hop and grime, but also discovered the poetry of Black Ice, Maya Angelou and George Watsky – people who understood that struggle was overcome by talking about it.
He’s already much-sought-after by artists wanting to add his unique sparkle of street-savvy verse and thoughtful wordplay to their work. Emeli Sande, Paulo Nutini, Labrinth, Naughty Boy & Wretch 32 have all given him guest spots, and he’s supported Nas on tour and performed on the BBC’s Later… with Jools Holland.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
“There’s no-one doing what George is doing at the moment; a passionately articulate wordsmith for a young generation, now with some incredible production behind him from Bodhi.”
Matt Fincham, Producer, The Radio 1 Breakfast Show, BBC Radio
Novelist
Representative of a generation that has had Grime around them for the entire time. That’s really exciting, because that’s a first.
Source: DJ Logan Sama
Producer and MC Novelist hails from Lewisham, South London, where he works to perfect his lyrical and production skills with his crew The Square.
The 17-year-old, whose real name is Kojo Kankam, grew up immersed in the grime scene, and built a following through appearances on underground radio stations such as Flex, NTS and Rinse – where he played solo for an hour.
His collaboration with Mumdance, Take Time became one of 2014’s biggest Grime tracks and he recently signed to XL records – home to Adele and Radiohead – where he has already recorded a collaboration with Jamie xx.
A former candidate to be Lewisham’s young mayor (he came second), the teenage prodigy has been widely praised for his skilful delivery and ear for musical innovations.
Grime lynchpin DJ Logan Sama said Novelist was “representative of a generation that has had Grime around them for the entire time they have been aware of the existence of music. That’s really exciting, because that’s a first. He’s a product of Grime, musically.”
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
The teenage Lewisham rapper – real name Kojo Kankam – is currently being hailed as grime’s next big thing. Having just signed to XL, could we be looking at the next Dizzee Rascal?
Source: NME
Shamir
Growing up across the road from a pig farm in Las Vegas, music was a lifeline for teenage R&B singer Shamir Bailey.
This is me, on the regular, so you know
“It was boring,” he says. “Not much to do. We would literally drive around and look at dirt.”
He was surrounded by musicians from a young age – his aunt was a songwriter – and received his first guitar at the age of nine.
Like many people his age, the 19-year-old listens to all kinds of music, and sees no difference between Rihanna and Mac DeMarco. He played in a punk band called Anorexia, and taught himself guitar by learning old country songs.
His own music combines cheeky 80s pop vibes, simplistic drum machines, discordant synths and colourful harmonies – recalling Prince in his androgynous heyday.
This is me, on the regular, so you know
“It was boring,” he says. “Not much to do. We would literally drive around and look at dirt.”
He was surrounded by musicians from a young age – his aunt was a songwriter – and received his first guitar at the age of nine.
Like many people his age, the 19-year-old listens to all kinds of music, and sees no difference between Rihanna and Mac DeMarco. He played in a punk band called Anorexia, and taught himself guitar by learning old country songs.
His own music combines cheeky 80s pop vibes, simplistic drum machines, discordant synths and colourful harmonies – recalling Prince in his androgynous heyday.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
Source: MTV Prediction on BBC Sound of 2015
Source: NME
Source: Guardian
Shura
Shura is a singer, producer, remixer and video editor from Shepherd’s Bush in West London. She was born in Moscow to a Russian actress and an English documentary filmmaker.Not afraid to attack pop, and make it my own thing
Her passion for music came from her brother, who would DJ drum-and-bass at the weekends. Shura began building her own songs, immersing herself in the textured sounds of Janet Jackson, Blood Orange and early Madonna.
After her studies, Shura spent some time in South America, where her songwriting found its focus through contemplation of past relationships, future music, and walking pumas round The Amazon.
The first taste of music from Shura was Touch, a post-break-up anthem with a DIY video of her close friends kissing on camera, which hit the internet in February 2014 to wide acclaim.
With fans ranging from Jungle and Jessie Ware (who Shura recently remixed) to actress Chloe Moretz and Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, attention now turns eagerly to the release of Shura’s forthcoming debut album on Polydor Records.
The first taste of music from Shura was Touch, a post-break-up anthem with a DIY video of her close friends kissing on camera, which hit the internet in February 2014 to wide acclaim.
With fans ranging from Jungle and Jessie Ware (who Shura recently remixed) to actress Chloe Moretz and Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, attention now turns eagerly to the release of Shura’s forthcoming debut album on Polydor Records.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
Fans of Blood Orange, How To Dress Well and Solange — hell, even Nick Jonas’ recent output — should try to get an invite to this 23-year-old Brit’s lo-fi makeout party. Shura’s synth-driven R&B material has that gentle touch that makes you wanna find the nearest bed and just liiiiiiiiiiiiie on it. (And maybe some other stuff, too.) Her debut LP is on its way.
Source: MTV Prediction on BBC Sound of 2015
Slaves
Slaves' Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent are not afraid of hard graft. They might now be signed to a major label and appearing on the 2015 NME Awards tour, but they earned their chops dragging themselves around the dingy venues of the British toilet circuit, booking their own tours after sending hundreds of emails every night, then heading out onto the road.
What's the point of playing a show if you're not going to make an imprint in a person's life
Like this year’s breakout rock band, Royal Blood, Slaves are a duo. And like the Brighton band they make a lot of noise for just two people.
Precision targeted at the mosh pit, their music is a mixture of rockabilly and tight, un-scruffy grunge, combining the forthright hooks of The Jam with the cadence of British geezer hip hop.
Vincent says that their songs, few of which exceed three minutes, are deliberately sparse "I don't think you should be afraid to just be really simple". This directness extends to Slaves' lyrics, too.
"The more we do it the more we realise that our band is based around the mundane," says Holman. "People mistake it for political, but it's not, its social observation and personal. It’s all about what you can do with yourself."
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
This Kent duo are already all over music TV and mainstream radio, which is refreshing considering their punk credentials (stand-up drumming, lyrics about running people over, Oi! tendencies). Dapper, jokey and uniquely British in a way that would impress anyone who knows their Billy Childish from Billy Fury, they’re only gonna get bigger…
Source: NME
Source: Guardian
SOAK
A vivid portrait of teenage deep-thinking.
Source: The Guardian
Bridie Monds-Watson's delicate tales of adolescence, family and friendship have won widespread praise since she started performing aged 14.
As a student she’d split her time between studying, the local skate park, and her burgeoning songwriting career - touring in the school holidays, and launching Derry’s City of Culture hours before sitting for a GCSE exam.
“I’m not the typical singer-songwriter who gets on stage and explains every heartfelt word,” she says. “I just get up and play the song as I wrote it, and in between I talk about something completely off-topic.”
“Sometimes I dig a massive hole for myself and I spend the rest of the show trying to get out of it.”
She played live on the BBC Introducing stage when Radio 1’s Big Weekend came to her hometown in 2013. It was at this point that she caught the attention of CHVRCHES, who heard her music on Radio 1 and then signed her as the first act on their singles label Goodbye Records.
The BBC invited her back to play at Glastonbury 2014, and since then she’s toured with George Ezra and Tegan & Sara, and signed a deal to release her debut album via Rough Trade Records.
“I’m not the typical singer-songwriter who gets on stage and explains every heartfelt word,” she says. “I just get up and play the song as I wrote it, and in between I talk about something completely off-topic.”
“Sometimes I dig a massive hole for myself and I spend the rest of the show trying to get out of it.”
She played live on the BBC Introducing stage when Radio 1’s Big Weekend came to her hometown in 2013. It was at this point that she caught the attention of CHVRCHES, who heard her music on Radio 1 and then signed her as the first act on their singles label Goodbye Records.
The BBC invited her back to play at Glastonbury 2014, and since then she’s toured with George Ezra and Tegan & Sara, and signed a deal to release her debut album via Rough Trade Records.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
Source: NME
iTunes New Artist for 2015
Last on the list of new artists Apple believes you should watch out for in 2015, is SOAK.
With three studio albums: Flywatt, Soak and 2179 – already under his belt, Bridie Monds-Watson is described as a super-cool musician who “writes songs about creatures from the sea.”
Source: iTunes
Wolf Alice
The lovechild of folk and grunge.
The lovechild of folk and grunge.
Source: Clash Magazine
Their name was taken from Angela Carter’s short story, in which Ellie saw a likeness in “my big teeth, and Joff’s innocent curiosity – he was the Alice to my Wolf and I the Wolf to his Alice.”
Their sound has been compared to The Joy Formidable and Hole, and was described by Clash Magazine as “the lovechild of folk and grunge”. They also have fans in Radio 1, XFM, NME & iTunes.
After signing to Dirty Hit (the label responsible for launching The 1975), Wolf Alice went to Belgium to record their debut EP Creature Songs, which was unleashed in May 2014.
“We want to see people jump around and have fun,” says Ellie. “We all went to heavy gigs when we were younger and it’s just so nice to know people are doing that to your music.”
In January, Wolf Alice will play their biggest show to date, supporting Alt-J at London’s O2 Arena.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
VEVO DSCVR - One's To Watch 2015
Source: MTV Prediction on BBC Sound of 2015
VEVO DSCVR - One's To Watch 2015
Ibeyi
VEVO DSCVR - One's To Watch 2015
iTunes New Artist for 2015
Source: iTunes
Pedigree only goes so far in explaining the allure of 19-year-old Franco-Cuban twins Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Díaz. Their late father was feted conga player Miguel “Anga” Díaz, who recorded with the Afro-Cuban Allstars and Buena Vista Social Club. But Ibeyi – Yoruba for “twins” – sound entirely like themselves: 21st-century operators with an ear for digital production as well as the chants that came to the new world in the African diaspora. You could label their songs “soul” for lack of a better umbrella term, because tracks such as Mama Says, River andOya deal with yearning, suffering and spirituality. But they nag like pop music, and don’t sound out of place on a label such as XL. KE
Source: Guardian
Jack Garratt
VEVO DSCVR - One's To Watch 2015 The success of 23-year-old Jack Garratt seems something of a safe bet. Since dropping ‘Worry’ last year (700,000 streams and counting) his star has continued to rise. His sound is a mix of James Blake’s swerving electronics, Pharrell’s falsetto choruses and, occasionally, Future Islands’ growl.
Source: NME
Little Simz
VEVO DSCVR - One's To Watch 2015
Prides
VEVO DSCVR - One's To Watch 2015
Seinabo Sey
VEVO DSCVR - One's To Watch 2015
Shift K3y
Kiesza
Wilkinson
British DJ Wilkinson issues another EDM gem with “Dirty Love,” which enlists countryman Talay Riley to provide vocals. Though the song offers little variety in lyrics, with one verse and a chorus repeated three times, both artists more than compensate with their respective roles -- not unlike “We Found Love,” the monster single from Rihanna and Calvin Harris. Wilkinson’s production is nearly a textbook example of EDM: it adopts a fast, futuristic feel for most of the song before abandoning the instruments midway through, only to revive them for one final, invigorated rush toward the finish line. For Riley’s part, the R&B singer tests his vocal range on the track, drifting in and out of falsetto and hitting a number of piercing high notes. Fans certainly approved of the collaboration, which burst onto the Emerging Artists chart with a No. 29 debut. Originally set to preview a re-release of Wilkinson’s 2013 album, Lazers Not Included, “Dirty Love” now serves as the lead single from Wilkinson’s upcoming second album, scheduled to be released sometime in 2015.
Stormzy
“Stormzy not only has incredible heat for his grime bars, but also possesses the ability to ride different styles and tempos effortlessly. This versatility sets him apart from the pack. 2015 looks very bright for him.”
VEVO DSCVR - One's To Watch 2015
Kiesza literally doesn’t let one second slip before showcasing her vocal prowess. As if replicating a classic Donna Summer tune, Kiesza powers through the chorus with minimal instrumentation before the production boosts to meet the singer’s chops -- and what chops they are. Kiesza shines as she swoops through runs and octaves atop the infectious beat, which peaks during an overdub that exhibits both the singer’s sensitivity and skill. One listen isn’t enough -- prepare to reach for the repeat button. Listeners certainly felt love for the track, as their discussions on Twitter prompted a No. 46 debut on the Emerging Artists chart. “The Love” marks the Canadian singer-songwriter's second entry on this week’s chart, joining “Hideaway”, which climbs to No. 2 this week. Both tracks are on the singer’s new album, Sound of a Woman, which will reach U.S. retailers on Tuesday (Oct. 21.)
Source: Billboard
British DJ Wilkinson issues another EDM gem with “Dirty Love,” which enlists countryman Talay Riley to provide vocals. Though the song offers little variety in lyrics, with one verse and a chorus repeated three times, both artists more than compensate with their respective roles -- not unlike “We Found Love,” the monster single from Rihanna and Calvin Harris. Wilkinson’s production is nearly a textbook example of EDM: it adopts a fast, futuristic feel for most of the song before abandoning the instruments midway through, only to revive them for one final, invigorated rush toward the finish line. For Riley’s part, the R&B singer tests his vocal range on the track, drifting in and out of falsetto and hitting a number of piercing high notes. Fans certainly approved of the collaboration, which burst onto the Emerging Artists chart with a No. 29 debut. Originally set to preview a re-release of Wilkinson’s 2013 album, Lazers Not Included, “Dirty Love” now serves as the lead single from Wilkinson’s upcoming second album, scheduled to be released sometime in 2015.
Source: Billboard
Stormzy
DJ Swerve, Presenter, Kiss
Enea Tanku, Co-Founder, Link Up TV
Raised in Croydon, Stormzy calls himself “a child of grime” who rejected slick US hip-hop for Britain’s harder, grittier scene. At the age of 11, he was winning rap battles at his local Youth Club, Rap Academy, and his charismatic freestyles have earned him a huge following on YouTube.
The first unsigned rapper to play Jools Holland, he also won a MOBO award this year on the strength of a solitary EP – The Dreamer’s Disease.
The first unsigned rapper to play Jools Holland, he also won a MOBO award this year on the strength of a solitary EP – The Dreamer’s Disease.
Source: BBC Sound of 2015
“Lyrically on the top of his game and a real music man at heart; as he manages to be accessible without having to dumb down his content I believe Stormzy will help take Grime culture to a bigger audience without compromise.”
MistaJam, Presenter, BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra
Public Access TV
Had Stiff Records just formed in 2015, it’s highly likely that this New York fourpiece would have become their first signing. Tracks like ‘Monaco’ and ‘In The Mirror’ recall the angsty, pinpointed brilliance of new wave giants like Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe. Led by John Eatherly, they're loved by Weezer, Ex Hex and fellow 2015 hopefuls Deers to name a few.
Source: NME
Becky Hill
iTunes New Artist for 2015
Source: iTunes
Ben Khan
iTunes New Artist for 2015
iTunes New Artist for 2015
Khan makes dark electronic music, mixing neo-soul and R&B, and is currently signed to Blessed Vice. Unlike most artists of his ilk, Khan’s primary instrument is guitar, and he claims listening to “mostly old-school” artists like B.B. King, Fleetwood Mac, and, Nirvana helped him develop his bluesy chops.
Source: iTunes
Circa Waves
iTunes New Artist for 2015
The indie-rock band released their debut double A side – Get Away/Good For Me – last December, before releasing their first extended play, “Young Chasers,” back in June of this year.
Source: iTunes
Josef Salvat
iTunes New Artist for 2015
Source: iTunes
MNEK
iTunes New Artist for 2015
Uzo Emenike, professionally known as MNEK, is a Grammy-nominated British singer-songwriter and record producer, and is currently signed to Virgin EMI Records.
The Nigerian artist generally tends to float between a variety of different music genres, including; pop, dance-pop, R&B, house, UK garage – and more.
The Nigerian artist generally tends to float between a variety of different music genres, including; pop, dance-pop, R&B, house, UK garage – and more.
Source: iTunes
Nothing But Thieves
iTunes New Artist for 2015
Source: iTunes
Vince Staples
Until recently Vince Staples was just one of many affiliates of LA’s sprawling Odd Future crew, best known as a wingman for the crew’s most gifted rapper Earl Sweatshirt. He’s been releasing mixtapes of his own over the past few years but it wasn't until his first EP dropped on Def Jam last month that people sat up and took proper notice. The cover of Hell Can Wait – a child’s-eye-view of a suburban LA house on fire, with gangsters on the stoop and a chopper in the sky – sets the scene. This is a dark vision of black American life, blighted by drugs, police brutality and gang violence, but the 21-year-old delivers it with acuity and the confidence of a rapper who knows he’s hitting his stride. The production is great too. Inevitable comparisons have been made with Kendrick Lamar; it’ll be interesting to see how far they stretch when Staples releases his debut album in the first half of 2015. KF
Source: Guardian
Natalie Prass
Lush with horns and keys, Natalie Prass’s self-titled debut album is a classy and deeply retro take on heartbreak. But rather than use Memphis players, like Cat Power did for her landmark 2006 album The Greatest, or even her own Nashville neighbours, Prass holed up in Richmond, Virginia, seeking out Spacebomb, the house big band-cum-studio of country soul wizard Matthew E White. Prass’s assured voice, one that packs both flutter and muscle, is caressed and challenged by the arrangements, which are never short on groove. Last seen playing keyboards for Jenny Lewis and supporting Angel Olsen, the 28-year-old Prass sounds nothing like a debutante, and everything like the finished article; her album is released on 26 January, accompanied by her first-ever London show the following night. KE
Lush with horns and keys, Natalie Prass’s self-titled debut album is a classy and deeply retro take on heartbreak. But rather than use Memphis players, like Cat Power did for her landmark 2006 album The Greatest, or even her own Nashville neighbours, Prass holed up in Richmond, Virginia, seeking out Spacebomb, the house big band-cum-studio of country soul wizard Matthew E White. Prass’s assured voice, one that packs both flutter and muscle, is caressed and challenged by the arrangements, which are never short on groove. Last seen playing keyboards for Jenny Lewis and supporting Angel Olsen, the 28-year-old Prass sounds nothing like a debutante, and everything like the finished article; her album is released on 26 January, accompanied by her first-ever London show the following night. KE
Source: Guardian
Vancouver native Tobias Jesso Jr moved to LA some years ago to try to make it as a songwriter. It didn’t go well. Failure, a breakup, a traffic accident and his mother’s cancer diagnosis sent him home, his tail between his legs. Paradoxically, success found him there, when Jesso Jr’s piano-and-voice compositions began to take shape, and he began collaborating with Chet “JR” White, formerly of the band Girls. Fast-forward several months, and Jesso Jr’s debut album finds people such as producer-du-jour Ariel Rechtshaid (Vampire Weekend, Haim, Sky Ferreira) and the Black Keys’ Patrick Carney on board. Every sad boy unsure of his voice recalls Nick Drake in some way, but Jesso Jr gravitates more towards the literate American 1960s of Harry Nilsson. Songs such as Hollywood translate Jesso Jr’s experiences in the entertainment industry into succinct takes on a classic sound. KE
Source: Guardian
If the future involves talented producers from disparate parts of the globe uniting to fuse hip-hop and dancehall with alien-noir soundscapes, this quartet is aptly named. It consists of buzzed-about Los Angeles duo Nguzunguzu, New York DJ/producer J-Cush and Kuwaiti-born Fatima Al Qadiri who lives in London but whose music sounds like it’s being beamed at us from 25th-century Shenzhen. They surfaced a year ago with a splendidly chilly grime track called World’s Mine and signed to Warp Records in September. Their self-titled debut album, due out in the spring, delivers on the promise of their early material, with guests including Kelela and rising Chicago rapper Tink flowing over dislocated beats and weird tubular synths. Considering the diverse influences feeding into their music, the album is a remarkably cohesive piece of work – and one that repays eager anticipation. KF
Source: Guardian
Chet Faker, owner of the most moustache-twiddling moniker since Kurt Vile, is already an award-winning producer and engineer in his native Australia and last year his loose-limbed take on Blackstreet’s No Diggity became the soundtrack to a Super Bowl ad. Faker’s electro-soul could take off in any direction so it’s worth watching this space: he wears his learning lightly, the sense of the studio nerd always taking second place to the groove, and his croaky, lived-in vocal offsets his hipster posturing (many songs are about getting it on). At times he’s like a beach-bum James Blake (see What About Us, a duet with Flume), and there’s an easy but intricate feel to his arrangements that suggests he listens to artists such as Lewis Taylor. Above all Faker has supreme confidence, as evidenced by the pace of his debut Built on Glass, which never rises above a swagger. KM
Source: Guardian
Twenty-two-year-old self-proclaimed “abstract folk” artist Marika Hackman’s first ever gig was eight years ago, playing drums in a ramshackle duo tackling cover versions. The other member? School friend Cara Delevingne. In fact Hackman – who’s of Finnish descent but was born in Hampshire – briefly followed in Delevingne’s footsteps, modelling for Burberry before returning to her true passion of music. Having played some of her scratchy early demos to fellow nu-folk troubadour Johnny Flynn, she signed to Transgressive, releasing three EPs of intricate acoustic-led fables that have drawn comparison to previous touring partner Laura Marling. Keen to ditch the “twee” label that invariably gets attached to any young female singer with an acoustic guitar, her forthcoming debut album,We Slept at Last (produced by Alt-J collaborator Charlie Andrew), has been preceded by Drown, a deliciously unsettling swirl of treated vocals, off-kilter melodies and the sort of doom-laden atmospherics that mark her out as something far more interesting. MC
Source: Guardian
Having gathered some traction online as long ago as last year, when they were still known as Nimmo and the Gauntletts, Londoners Sarah Nimmo and Reva Gauntlett are now slimmed down to a duo and signed to a major label, Columbia. From moment one – the xx-like Change, which model Agyness Deyn championed – Nimmo have stood out from the club-pop pack for the depth of their lyrics as well as the authoritative combination of their voices, wounded but unbowed.Others, also from back in 2013, was a heartfelt plea to a faithless lover, while Jaded, from last February, turned up the sounds of the dancefloor without sacrificing brains or heart. A new EP is on its way. KE
Source: Guardian
Source
TMRW: http://www.tmrwmagazine.com/listen/tmrw-ones-watch-2015/
Shortlist: http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/music/the-15-albums-you-need-to-hear-in-2015#
Shortlist (with regular update): http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/music/the-shortlisten
Shazam: http://www.shazamers.com/2014/12/03/soundsof2014/
BBC Sound of 2015: http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ebh6v2
Billboard (Years and Years, Kiesza and Wilkinson): http://www.billboard.com/articles/real-time-charts/6289166/kiesza-wilkinson-years-and-years-billboard-twitter-emerging-picks
MTV Prediction on BBC Sound of 2015: http://www.mtv.com/news/2012142/bbc-sound-of-2015-longlist/
NME: nmem.ag/GWsNv
iTunes: http://razorianfly.com/2014/12/16/apple-names-the-itunes-stores-new-artists-for-2015/
BET: http://www.bet.com/music/photos/2014/12/15-new-artists-to-watch-in-2015.html#!123014-Music-15-New-Artists-to-Watch-in-2015-Tink-Vince-Staples-Dej-Loaf
Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/30/-sp-music-new-talent-for-2015
Shortlist: http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/music/the-15-albums-you-need-to-hear-in-2015#
Shortlist (with regular update): http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/music/the-shortlisten
Shazam: http://www.shazamers.com/2014/12/03/soundsof2014/
BBC Sound of 2015: http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ebh6v2
Billboard (Years and Years, Kiesza and Wilkinson): http://www.billboard.com/articles/real-time-charts/6289166/kiesza-wilkinson-years-and-years-billboard-twitter-emerging-picks
MTV Prediction on BBC Sound of 2015: http://www.mtv.com/news/2012142/bbc-sound-of-2015-longlist/
NME: nmem.ag/GWsNv
iTunes: http://razorianfly.com/2014/12/16/apple-names-the-itunes-stores-new-artists-for-2015/
BET: http://www.bet.com/music/photos/2014/12/15-new-artists-to-watch-in-2015.html#!123014-Music-15-New-Artists-to-Watch-in-2015-Tink-Vince-Staples-Dej-Loaf
Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/30/-sp-music-new-talent-for-2015
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