Our 2015 Watch Report
Artists to Watch
Mercury Award winning Edinburgh trio – they play kind-hearted hip-hop spiced with African nuance.
Expect:
Dusty, buzzing scratch-filled backgrounds. The percussion is laden with school-desk slamming, bottle rattles and pumpkin-pea confusedness.
For Example:
On ‘Soon Come Soon’ we have soft, subtle rap, with velvety sheens and the kind of superb compositional style you might expect from prog-rock not hip-hop.
Eloquent sadness, a feeling of emptiness in the heart of yearning. Delicate and emotional.
Members: Kayus Bankole, Graham Hastings, Alloysious Massaquoi.
Reminds us of: LCD soundsystem
Check:
https://soundcloud.com/bigdadasound/young-fathers-soon-come-soon-3
2: Jagwar Ma
Jagwar Ma is an Australian psychedelic/dance band formed in Sydney in 2011
Expect:
Pinky-plonky boutique synths, ratty rhythms and cool, efficient sky-high vocals
For Example:
On Uncertainty is groovy, with a whizzing stars of synth sound that hurtle around a confined space whilst super-high vocals lace the piece together.
Not unlike Pete Gabriel after a good slug of nitrous oxide.
Check:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azFW4bZY5EY
Members: Gabriel Winterfield (lead vocalist/guitarist), Jono Ma (guitar, beats, synths, production), and bass guitarist Jack Freeman
Reminds us of: The xx
3: DeWolff
DeWolff are a psychedelic rock band from the Netherlands
Expect:
Heavy Deep Purple type organ nores slammed out. Tight corkscrews of wild-west riffage.
For Example:
Evil Mothergrabber is essentially 1970’s blues and rock – the riff catches you unawares and causes your head to bob uncontrollably.
The sugary guitar helps this to slide down like maple syrup but, when then the end comes, this is unstoppable and roguish.
Check:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Dq4y4lKW8
Members: Pablo van de Poel Luka van de Poel Robin Piso
Reminds us of: Very early Purple
London based multi-faceted reggae-punk-ska band
Expect:
Stunning, breathless vocals. With danceable beats and intricate compositions.
Example:
On Trustworthy Rock we experience a saddened harmonica.
The vocal is startling in it’s complexity. Kinda rattlesome, with a reggae beat and a supa sub-tropical heat to it.
Check:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ1nc-Vl38Y
Members: WIll Rendle Jim Ralphs Jamie Rendle Charlie Harman
Reminds us of: The Specials
5: Emma Stevens
Surrey (UK) based singer-songwriter
Expect:
Sky-high chanting that sounds as free as a kite on a wash-day
It’s been over a year since Emma Stevens released her enchanting and touching Enchanted L.P.
Example:
Make My Day is sunny, eye-lined, curly-lipped and cheerfully clappy pop-fresh.
With a cheesy grin on its salt-licked lips and plucky banjos down the sides of its baggies (plus big slugs of rhythm guitar in the sleeves) this is a clown-suit of happiness.
Check:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc5G5LPh-84
Reminds us of: 1980’s Wilson Phillips
Members: Emma Stevens
Benjamin Sainte-Clementine is a charismatic singer-poet, pianist, composer from Edmonton Green, London.
Expect:
Angelic vocals and sophisticated soundscapes. Strong, life-giving soul. Beauty in music.
Example:
Condolence from EP ‘Glorious You’ has purring keys, trilling atmosphere and a voice that soaks into your skin like wiped-over lotion.
The drama mounts…. Creamy, edgy and desperate in its emotional.
Check:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DU6lDPs-AQ
Reminds us of: Labi Siffre
Members: Benjamin Clementine
7: The Jezabels
Intense Sydney indie band The Jezabels won the Rolling Stone Awards ‘Single Of The Year’ and their second album ‘The Brink’ is out now.
Expect:
Driving, powerful anthems that will lift the lid off of a stadium. Lucid and soulful arias that dance somewhere within gigantically proportioned rock architecture.
Example:
Time To Dance has all the space it needs to flourish before it bursts out like a mushroom-cloud of heat – with emotional verve.
This is a fast-paced, greedy-for-your-ears anthem for our struggling times.
Check:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gASz57eWIY
Reminds us of: 1988 Shakespears Sister
Members: Nik Kaloper – Drums, Samuel Lockwood – Guitars, Hayley Mary – Vocals, Heather Shannon – Keys
8: Darlia
Power-hungry Blackpool (UK) rock outfit.
Expect:
Powerful thrusts of explosive rock guitar. With cocksure, sneering vocals and arrogant, majestic, anthemic intentions.
Example:
Stars Are Aligned is lustful and strutting … with an unusually peppery riff, combustible percussion and fierce guitars. Fully fiery with attitude.
Check:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=httVhI_9PTw
Reminds us of: Early Nirvana
Members: Natan Day, Dave Williams, Jack Bentham.
KEEP CHECKING RAW RAMP IN 2015 – The Freshest & Hottest Talent Around
Words: @neilmach 2014 ©
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