New York City band Manic Pixi reflects the very example of what it means to take varied musical influences, place them in a blender and stir them together, with the outcome being a true collage of styles married in perfect union. This is also a testament to their family-like environment that has been instrumental in the group’s groundwork rising and progression. Comprised of vocalist Kat Hamilton, Marshall Biever, Emmett Ceglia and Drew Bastian, Manic Pixi is everything great and hopeful about the new sound of alternative and pop punk.
Stockholm's Ängie may boast a physical beauty synonymous with her country, but as a music artist she is far from the typical lighthearted pop songstress. Equipped with a bad girl swagger, the tattooed, marijuana-loving vocalist has already begun to shake things up with her debut single 'Smoke Weed Eat Pussy'. The rumbling drum & bass meets trap bit is practically an anthem for stoners and cunnilingus connoisseurs, and at the very least, those who simply love a party-starter of a track. Already tipped to be a fire-starter this year, Ängie currently has us lifted in her hazy, smoke-filled aura.
NYC band High Waisted is probably having more fun than you...fact. With a sound that blends surf, pop and garage rock, the foursome is everything that one would dream a rock and roll band to be. Releasing their album 'On Ludlow' in March of this year, the group have astonished fans and critics alike, racking up praises in various publications including NME, Nylon, Vice's Noisey and more. The truth is, whilst there are the visuals which depict a bold wildness, High Waisted are a band that know music, and know it incredibly well. With Jessica Louise Dye delivering masterfully controlling vocals with entertaining and at times edgy content, the band's sound is stylistically lustrous, gripping the attention of the listener from beginning to end. In terms of live shows, the bring energy to the umpteenth degree, which is why they are presently one of the bands that is on everyone's radar.
Adian Coker is what one would call the perfectly balanced emcee. With the ability to let-off bars for days with clever metaphors and punch lines, he also possesses an in-depth skill of storytelling which allows the listener to form vivid pictures whilst being musically transported throughout the journey. There is also the element of accessibility. Coker's songs cross both the underground and mainstream with sheer dignity and a quality level that blows everything else out of the water. With his latest EP 'Connect' poised to be one of the best releases of 2016, Adian Coker is clearly out to dominate not only the Hip-Hop landscape but music as a whole.
To modify anything is to simply make changes. It would then make sense for well-respected musicians Adam Scrimshire and Dave Koor to come together to alter the current state of music, powered by sophisticated instrumentation and the idea of futurism. This concept of pushing sound forward also comes from firmly planted roots steeped deep in jazz, soul, funk, afrobeat, rock, electronica and more. These are genres that both Scrimshire and Koor know well with keen expertise. This is also why their ‘Modifications Set 1’ album under the guise of Modified Man will undoubtedly go down as one of the most entertaining and important releases of the year.
Words by Art Jefferson
Photography by Richard Staw, Alex Lambrechts and courtesy of Bloom Twins…
It's almost unfair when you think about the blessed attributes that some people have. When referencing Cocovan, certain qualities and characteristics are blatantly evident - insanely talented as a music artist (which includes production and vocals), a natural flair for fashion and a striking beauty that can instantly grab the attention of everyone in a room. Her sound is described as glam pop, which is accurately fitting. In a sense, it is a soundtrack to all things beautiful.
Shakka is the guy right now. The The MOBO Award-winning singer, emcee, songwriter, producer and performer is a classic example of what one would describe as a renaissance man. His live shows are second to none, with the cheeky artist possessing the ability to capture a crowd with bare wit if he chose. Aside from storming the UK Charts with Wretch 32 for the 2013 hit single 'Blackout', his single 'Say Nada' featuring JME was an instant radio smash with Shakka supported by BBC Radio 1xtra. Multi-faceted in every sense of the word, he is a part of that specific heritage of well-rounded artists who only come around so many years in music.
Cheney may be new to the music industry but she is getting ready to make a splash harder than a tropical tsunami. The London bombshell creates a dark and uber-sexy helping of electronica and future r&b that radiates with a strong confidence of attitude and a security in her evident sexiness. First emerging on the scene with her track with Toronto producer OBESØN titled 'Say My Name' in 2015, Cheney went on to record the song 'Sex' with Spain's Choclock, not to mention her sultry cuts 'Dirty Secrets' and 'All About You'.
Punk will never die...the authentic punk that is, especially when bands like London's Dream Nails exist. The group's music is like an awakening alarm of urgency speaking out against the ills of society with a sonic rage as the palette. Appropriately titling their debut EP 'DIY', that spirit runs deep in the four members as they even released a zine to coincide with the record. Their sound is loud, fast and hits with a punch like an uppercut to the face. Singing messages of empowerment, the self-proclaimed 'feminist punk witches from hell' are as core as they come, raw and uncut, and you can best believe they are utterly proud of it.
