JESSIE J
Urban-styled and sassy, 22 year old Essex girl Jessie J recently shot into the mainstream with ‘Do It Like A Dude’, a commercial hip-hop track with a British reggae twist. Dubbed the ‘best singer in the world right now’ by Justin Timberlake she is also a proficient songwriter, having penned hits for Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus. Winner of the 2011 BRITS Critics’ Choice award, Jessie claims to have written ‘Do It Like A Dude’ for Rihanna to record, before deciding that she’d damn well do it herself. With a powerful voice and attitude to match, Jessie is essentially everything that Cher Lloyd wishes she could be.
Recommended track: ‘Nobody’s Perfect’
MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS
Despite being hotly tipped to follow in the folksy footsteps of Mumford & Sons (they are signed to ‘son’ Ben Lovett’s Communion label), Matthew and the Atlas recent 'Kingdom of Your Own' EP is far from a mere copycat effort. Matt Hegarty’s honest, earthy vocals combine with female harmonies, hand-clapping and banjos to create a captivatingly original sound. As hearty and warming as a bowl of homemade soup.
Recommended track: ‘I Will Remain’
JAMES BLAKE
With his debut self-titled album due at the beginning of February, Londoner James Blake’s fusion of moody dubstep and soulful electronica creates an intriguing vibe not dissimilar to the icy cool of The xx. A classical pianist since his early teenage years, Blake recently graduated from Goldsmiths College in London where he studied Popular Music. His edgy and experimental cover of Feist’s ‘Limit To Your Love’ demonstrates a refreshing confidence in the power of ‘less is more’. What Blake cleverly chooses to leave out renders his music all the more hauntingly futuristic and bewitching.
Recommended Track: ‘CMYK’
JONSI
Best known for fronting the band of Icelandic angels more commonly recognised as Sigur Rós, Jónsi released his first solo album ‘Go’ last April. Ethereal synths and resonating guitars combine with delicate Icelandic and English vocals to create an auditory potion of elegiac musical loveliness that is simply impossible to imitate. The music world’s meditative tonic of choice.
Recommended Track: ‘Boy Lilikoi’
MONA
Ambitious four-piece Mona hail from Nashville, Tennessee (home to Kings of Leon) and are intent upon raising hell with their aggressively energetic brand of youthful rock’n’roll. Having already incited a tangible buzz amongst critics, the boys are unrelenting in their quest for stardom. Recently named Record of the Week by Fearne Cotton on Radio One, latest release ‘Trouble On The Way’ is a driving hurricane of grandiose passion and sexy, grinding rhythms.
Recommended Track: ‘Trouble On The Way’
THE VACCINES
Arguably generic indie in many ways, you can still have a good old drunken dance to these four London boys and their guitars. Debut album ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?’, out in March, promises to be a short but sweet woozy retro-pop delight with eleven songs that last under thirty-five minutes in total. ‘Post Break-Up Sex’ is one track that is guaranteed to make you, in their own words, ‘forget your ex’. They’ll undoubtedly be a firm favourite with festival organisers next summer.
Recommended Track: ‘Wreckin’ Bar’ (Ra Ra Ra)
CLARE MAGUIRE
Fresh from opening for Plan B and Hurts, the gothic and empowered Clare Maguire has been the record industry’s best kept secret for the past two years. Her seemingly effortless talent and vampy style suggest that she wouldn’t be out of place in Phantom of the Opera, with a theatrical voice that will enchant and enthral. Shades of Annie Lennox and Stevie Nicks permeate her gorgeously controlled yet mystically emotive vocals on ‘Ain’t Nobody’. Album ‘Light After Dark’ will be available to download from February.
Recommended Track: ‘Ain’t Nobody’
