Loyle Carner
While most rappers sing about bling women and sex Croydon born actor and songwriter Ben Coyle Larner is the exception to the rule with his own confessional take on hip hop.
His flow is a different kettle of fish with a downtempo feel and authentic lyrics he even includes his mum on his album who recites a poem to him, not your usual hip hop record. Sometimes its hard to buy in to the whole hard knock lives that rappers portray with all the bling they surround themselves Loyle Carner is as real as they come happy to wear his emotions on his sleeve combining street cred with a laid back soul/jazzy backing. 'Aint nothing Changed' with its intermittent sax is intoxicating and relevant and 'Isle of Aran' even features a gospel choir he is all about family values and soothing soul moods.
Rag 'n' Bone Man
Another new act unafraid to bare his soul is East Sussex Singer Songwriter Rory Graham aka Rag n Bone man. Cutting his teeth in hip hop and producing remixes critics award winner Rag and Bone is the genuine article with his bluesy vocal and hearfelt songwriting.He is comfortable gong from bluesy drawl as in 'Human[ to something quite soulful and beautiful.He may have won the breakthrough award at the Brits but he is doing things his way.He is the exception to the norm doesn't look like your average pop star with his numerous piercings and tattoos but undeneath this hard exterior lies a tortured soul you just need to take a listen to former single 'Bitter End' to realise how uniquely talented he is. As long as he doesn't let oncoming stardom get in the way he is set for long music career.
SBTRKT
With a sound that’s been defined as future-garage, SBTRKT is the hot act that is getting the blogosphere all excited. He is Aaron Jerome, a South London producer who chooses to remain anonymous wearing a tribal mask whilst performing preferring to let his music do the talking.
He’s worked with the likes of Drake and MIA amongst other heavyweights but the big track doing the rounds at the moment is ‘Wildfire’ which is collaboration with Yukimi Nagano from Swedish electro pop band Little Dragon. His squelchy beats and electronic textures perfectly compliment her sweet vocal to produce something fresh and exciting. Elsewhere Sampha’s soulful vocals are utilised over a sparse electronica backing as on the stunning ‘Hold On’, or over a bass heavy sound and programmed beats.
He was a key performer in this year’s Dot to Dot festival where he played a blinding after hours set at Manchester’s Sound Control. He is also playing Bestival in the Isle of Wight this year so festival goers are in for a treat.
Signed to the same label as the XX, Young Turks, his self-titled debut album was released on 27th June so to get an idea of why BBC is calling this mystery man the new Timbaland check him out.
Recommended Tracks: Wildfire, Hold On and Pharoahs
For more info check out his myspace.
Just when you thought female artists had taken their vocals as far as they could go with Zola Jesus’s dark synth pop and Florence’s baroque pop along come Canada’s Austra to reinvent the wheel yet again combining synth pop, industrial and electronic textures to create something that’s creepy yet captivating.
Austra are from Toronto who has already been making waves at South by Southwest with their blindingly atmospheric set. Undoubtedly though, the star of this outfit is Katy Stelmanis who has the capability to switch from an austere vocal to operatic within a song, showcasing a haunting and sweet nature.
Key track ‘Lose It’ is a great introduction with its wavering vocals over a keyboard motif which showcases Katy’s diverse vocal range from glacial to operatic,with its hooky chorus and OhOhOhs refrain its poppy but also manages to stay outside the box with its beat heavy production.
‘Beat and the Pulse’ is another dark number with its big beats and synths and haunting vocal from Katie,its an unsettling number but also quite alluring.
Oh and did I mention they are on Domino, the label that brought you Arctic Monkeys,Wild Beasts and Anna Calvi.
Austra are shaping up to be one of year’s best acts,so make sure you catch them live soon.
Kyla La Grange
Kyla La Grange
n a year set to be dominated by big female voices it would be worthwhile to include Kyla La Grange in that shortlist.
Kyla is a singer songwriter from London whose vocals resemble a mixture of Cindy Lauper at her most playful and at times the sultry soul of Cat Power.
She has recently toured with the equally brilliant I Blame Coco, and, although currently unsigned, has received enough airplay to make her mark.
She has recently toured with the equally brilliant I Blame Coco, and, although currently unsigned, has received enough airplay to make her mark.
Debut track ‘Walk Through Walls’ combines a huge anthemic production not unlike Snow Patrol but before you deter from this, what gives this track indie credibility is her precocious vocal style which gradually leads the track into an absolute dream of a chorus, sure to banish any lingering winter blues with its positive lyrics ‘Get Up, Get Up’, My Heart is Heavy’ and boundless energy.
It’s an absolute belter of a track and sure to be a live favourite.
What is striking about Kyla though, is her versatility, vocally as an artist switching from a big vocal range to smooth just check out the quietly sinister’ Vampire Smile’ currently available on her site as a free download as well as the slowbuilding epic that is ‘Courage’ complete with its echoey backing vocals not unlike Zola Jesus if she dispensed with the doom and gloom and took on a more brighter outlook.
With a distinctive voice and her musical acumen Kyla is sure to be one of the leading lights of the new batch of female vocalists.
With a distinctive voice and her musical acumen Kyla is sure to be one of the leading lights of the new batch of female vocalists.
Recommended tracks: 'Walk Through Walls', 'Vampire Smile
