Five artists to watch in 2012
January 15, 2012 Leave a Comment
There’s no denying that 2011 was a bumper year for music. Quickly forgetting the fact we saw the birth of yet another TV group made up of highly ‘talented’ individuals, and an influx of boy bands who apparently made wearing skinny chinos and deep v neck tops ‘cool’, beneath the surface of the mainstream pop radar there were some genuine gems that snuck their way onto our speakers.
French electro outfit M83 quite literally defined what ‘epic music’ should sound like, ginger dream boy Ed Sheeran kicked off his mainstream career (yes, I’m aware he was doing his thing for years before this) and rapper Common only recently released one of the years’ best albums – quickly burying his previous effort that was, frankly, terrible. The list could go on and on.
As another new year reigns in, here are some of the artists that I feel are worth keeping an eye on this year.
Young Guns.
The British rock scene had an absolutely storming last year; Mallory Knox, Bury Tomorrow and Deaf Havana all waved the flag with pride whilst fan favourites We Are The Ocean hammered their way onto the scene with great gusto. Hoping to follow in their footsteps are Buckinghamshire’s latest, and probably only exports Young Guns. The five piece’s debut album All Our Kings Are Dead set the ball rolling recieiving considerable attention, and the boys enjoyed a summer of touring and playing some of the UK’s biggest festivals. Follow up production Bones is set for release this month and expectations are high.
Ben Howard.
With humble beginnings spent surfing in quiet Devon, Ben Howard has managed to accrue quite the fan base through sheer word of mouth; he’s one of those artists you’ll tell your friends about – the kind that fans of most genres can enjoy. With good reason too, packing a blend of soft folk rock infused with jazz elements, Howard’s tracks serve as the perfect reminder of summer during these chilly months. His passion for the great outdoors clearly shines through and on tracks like Old Pine you almost feel as if you’re stood there with him. A string of tour dates across the UK and Europe this month ensure he’ll get even more recognition this year, keep your eyes peeled.
LIGHTS.
This Canadian born electro-rock starlet started to make some serious waves in the U.S last year, and 2012 could be the year she starts to conquer the U.K. The attractive youngster’s catchy, melodic synth driven tracks are complimented by her punchy voice, offering a real alternative to the majority of female artists we’ve seen as of late. Citing some of her key influences as Björk, Phil Collins and ABBA – you might be a little thrown, but believe me, she makes it work. The only downside is actually getting hold of her music, because as expected, ‘Lights’ brings up a wealth of search results about things that illuminate your lounge and certainly don’t sing to you.
Michael Kiwanuka.
Having just topped the BBC’s Sound of 2012 list (and who are we to argue with the BBC), soul singer Michael Kiwanuka has already started to establish himself as a house hold name. Having already supported Adele on tour and possessing a voice that’s been compared to Bill Withers, it’s no surprise that the 24 year old tipped the odds. What you probably didn’t know is that Kiwanuka isn’t a new face to the music scene, having worked as Labrinth’s session guitarist for a year before finally stepping in front of the microphone himself. I won’t pretend for one second to be a soul connoisseur, but Kiwanuka’s music is something even I can enjoy.
Twin Atlantic.
Now this is a slightly controversial choice as it could be argued that Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic have already made a considerable name for themselves, true, but 2012 could be the year they really propel themselves forward and sit themselves alongside fellow Scottish band Biffy Clyro. With two solid full length albums under their belt and a string of tours to their name, all the ingredients are there for true success. Fronted by lead vocalist Sam McTrusty, the band have released a number of b-sides that could have been singles in their own right, upbeat track Cherry Slut is filled with Feeder-esque riffs that will get your head nodding, enjoy.
