Technically, Niia hasn’t made any records yet (as far as I’m aware). She featured in a track by Wyclef called ‘Sweetest Girl’ a while back, but her voice and style are in a league of their own. Sexy voice and sleek piano music production that hasn’t been touched by the big record labels… yet… Check out here.
If Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson had a kid – this would be it. Check out here.
I really don’t know much about this guy, other than he’s supporting Ellie Goulding at this summer’s iTunes festival in London. He’s got a smooth, haunting, soulful voice about him. His Myspace is a little empty, but his first single is on Youtube. Be sure to give ‘Spirits a listen too. Check out here.
It takes a few minutes of listening to Pearly Gate before you really get in to it. Their sound makes me think of The Zombies, or a hazy sunny day in the 60’s on a pink cadillac driving down a dusty road somewhere in California. I really like. Check out here.
Before I ran this blog, I shared one with my ex-wifey called Baby Sonic Trap. It didn’t last very long. Anyway, Mnek was one of the artists I featured on that old blog, and I kind of forgot about it for a while but his song, ‘If Truth Be Told’ came on my iTouch yesterday and I remembered just how fun this guy is. He’s only a teenager- something like 15 or 16 maybe? But so so good! Check out here.
I said last week I would mention more about this Swedish lady. I didn’t really know who she was until I saw her live last week at Penguin Prison’s London gig, and I didn’t expect that I would enjoy her stuff as much as I did (her pictures make her look moodier than she actually is). She seems to be more established in Europe than she is in the UK. I guess it’s cool pop- and it’s easy to listen to. Check out here.
I only heard of Alan Pownall last week, so I thought it would be cool to check him out at the Borderline in London last night. It felt like there was a big buzz around the venue, and it was pretty much a packed house (too packed- and I I’m not a big fan of the Borderline), but he was really really good! Chasing Time will be huge. Above is a clip from the night. Go see him if you can!
I heard ‘Chasing Time’ ages ago and never got round to finding out who was behind it, then tonight on the way home from the gym I saw a really cool poster for Alan Pownall on a derelict wall and thought I’d google him. I love when stuff like this happens. Check out here.
Definitely one for the future – Jenna Andrews has a lush voice and some beautiful melodies. Check out here.
Florrie is from the British Xenomania camp of hit makers- Girls Aloud are probably their biggest success yet (and Alex Gardner later in the year I reckon!). I don’t know much about Florrie, so I’ve stolen her bio from Last.fm…
Florrie Arnold (b. 1988) is a drummer, singer and songwriter. As the drummer in Xenomania house band JFK, she has performed drums on Girls Aloud’s “The Promise” and Alesha Dixon’s “The Boy Does Nothing”.
Give ‘Panic Attack’ a listen. Check out here.
Sometimes you stumble across an artist who’s still so new that you wonder how amazing they would sound with a bit of extra production. Francheska is one of those artists! Hailing from New York (I think). My fave track is ‘Luv Sux’. Check out here.
Signed to Dizzee Rascal’s label- grime at it’s best. He won’t be releasing anything huge until the summer. Check out here.
This Swedish duo make the most beautiful bits of music. Makes you imagine you’re up in a forest cabin on a spring dawn smelling pine trees… Anyway, they’ve just released their second album but it’s only stating to make an impact now. They don’t have a website, Myspace or Facebook- so the only place you can sample their tracks is on their record label’s site. Check out here.
Fancy some cheesy Turkish electro? Beduk is your man. It’s not amazing (if you listen to his album sampler, some of it is pretty terrible), but it’s really fun. And I admire how far Turkey’s gone with it’s pop scene. Check out here.
From NW London (where all the coolest people come from… ahem…), her Myspace calls her the ‘UK’s number one Dancehall Queen’. Look out for ‘Sticky Situation’. Works best with a dose of English sunshine and an ice cream. Check out here.
Currently unsigned it seems, reminiscent of Human League a little. I like ‘I Need It All’. Pretty good. Check out here.
I don’t know much about this guy, other than the fact that he’s signed to the same label as Same Difference. But don’t let that put you of- ‘My Lonely Valentine’ is a slice of happy funky pop. Check out here.
She makes me feel soooo old (she’s only 18), but it’s good music! Bloodshy is producing her stuff, along with Paul Epworth so album should be good! Check out here.
Just been signed to Motown. Will be massive. ‘When She Turns 18’ is perfection. Love! Check out here or click here for a free download.
OK, so not very ‘new’ (he’s been causing havoc on the blogs for a good few months now) but I’ve just realised that I haven’t bigged him up, and he’s one of my most listened to artists in the last 3 months according to my Last.fm
Anyway, this is nothing more than fresh, forward looking electro that’s a bit too cool to be pop but is easy to fall in love with at the same time. He’s coming to London later in the month which is nice as it seems he’s been stuck in his native New York for ages! Check out here.
