“I was in what should have been this huge celebratory moment, I’m 24, 25, my album has not only sold but sold well, globally, the tours were selling out, I was getting all these accolades and awards – I should have felt comfortable, at the very least. And instead I was scared and alone, and desperate for affection. I’d realised that a lot of the pillars of affection were hollow; they weren’t real.”
Well this has come as no surprise! Jack Garratt has won the BBC Sound of 2016 poll – one of pop’s most accurate predictors of who’s to become huge over the coming year.
I love Jack Garratt, so I’m quite pleased to see him top the poll. Overall it seems that 2016 will see a resurgence in soul-pop.
Oh and just a brag… I featured Jack back in February 2014!
As has become tradition, here’s this year’s Random List. A collection of music highlights that have caught my attention in the last year. I spend the whole year featuring new and edgy stuff, so it’s nice to put up the last post of the year as a little fun. For previous years, head here.
Kwabs has been a dilemma in 2015. He’s so good, so talented, and the songs are so on-point. But he’s still not tapping the mainstream the way he deserves to be. Maybe it’ll change in the next twelve months.
Just before the world was introduced to MNEK’s work with Zara Larsson (one of pop’s biggest successes in 2015 in my view), Sweden took an unexpected liking to MNEK’s ‘The Rhythm’ to the point where the track picked up Gold sales. Which is nice since it hardly made impact in the UK. And let’s face it, Sweden knows good pop.
Dua Lipa. Emerging from the same team behind Lana Del Rey only less of the weirdness. This is a fresh slice of pop.
Lucas Nord’s work is already well noted through this record with Tove Lo, but this track that was released in November took me by surprise. It’s just SO GOOD.
HONNE are a staple on this blog. This year I managed to catch them live and not only was the gig sold out but it was packed with Abercrombie model look-a-likes. Fancy yourselves a hot boyfriend / girlfriend? Catch HONNE live…
Norway. What with Aurora (and that John Lewis advert), Astrid S and Loveless all making impact this year in some shape or form, Norway’s shown that it’s the country to watch in 2016.
Justin Bieber… Where did that come from? Seriously- everyone seems to be on Justin’s side this year with the release of ‘Purpose’ and the random pop gems that are contained within that record. Just goes to show that kid stars can make good as they grow.
Years & Years, as predicted in last year’s Random List. More importantly though, these kids have shown that you can have a lead singer be out, gay and comfortable with himself and have no one care.
Jack Garratt. No one’s even pretending that Jack won’t take over the next twelve months. It’s great though; he’s showing off a new style of dark soul-pop that’s touching people in a way I wouldn’t have expected.
So this is a big deal; previous winners have included…
It’s no surprise though… Jack Garratt looks set to be 2016’s breakout star.
MTV Brand New 2016 shortlist:
After two months of battling it out to find the winner, MTV Brand New 2016 with Emporio Armani Diamonds, will host two showcase gigs early next year before the winner is announced.
Until then, you can catch playlists for each of the artists in the lead up to the January shows on MTV TRAX.
Jack Garratt’s releases continue to get stronger with each release.
Jack Garratt’s upcoming ‘Synesthesiac’ EP is released on 13th April through Island Records. He’s also released tickets for a second night at London’s Village Underground for May, alongside a full UK headline tour.
Sultry, soulful blues in the form of this new song from Jack Garratt.
Subdued RnB sound. Check out here.
