There is something hypnotic about the voice of Leena Ojala. With a beautiful tone that is lifting, her power over the listener is like sonic voodoo. Musically varied, Ojala effortlessly glides over palettes of seductive electronica, alternative and deep pop like the strokes of a painter's brush.
Raised in Hong Kong and Essex, then making the trek to London in her late teens, Ojala dropped her 'EP1' record in late 2015 via 51Den Music. To describe it as marvelously gorgeous would be an understatement as the media instantly began top ranking her with popular artists such as Låpsley and more. Leena Ojala also proved that she was just as talented as a producer as she is a singer.
Ikes is a man of his own. Emerging in the Hip-Hop scene during a time period when many emcees around London were tapping into grime, he remained steadfast with his sound and craft, dropping projects like ‘The Intermission’ mixtape back in 2011 and 2012’s ‘The Intermission: Last Call’, which spawned the single ‘Girl Talk’ featuring Scorcher and Jermain Riley. Ambitious from the start, Ikes delivered music with the production quality of big dogs such as Jay Z or Rick Ross, with lyrical content that was utterly clever and relatable to the listener. His videos were equally as sharp, looking like mini-movies at times. Clearly Ikes is not out to just “make” music, but be the best at it.
On the surface it's easy to comprehend why Prince was one of the greatest artists in music history. The Minneapolis-born singer, songwriter, musician, composer, dancer and actor embodied every heightened ability and skill it took to truly rise above the flock. His skills as a musician were top tier, his vocal range was uncanny, his penmanship was on genius levels and on stage, his power to entertain crowds were second to none. Yet with all these attributes, one of the things that undoubtedly set Prince apart from many acts was his fearlessness when it came to challenging the norm.
Ella On The Run isn’t your typical ‘pop singer’, rather a well-rounded artist whose vocal versatility and musicianship work with a vast selection of styles. It wouldn’t be hard to understand why she has been on the radar of media entities around the globe including The Huffington Post, Wonderland Magazine and the list goes on.
Liza Owen can be considered an artist who has been blessed all across the board when it comes to having superstar qualities. Beautiful, naturally stylish and possessing a voice that rings off with the utmost of soul and power, it's almost a no-brainer to think that she will reign supreme in the world of music.
The British-born stunner of Cambodian heritage who is constantly evolving in terms of sound, has not only established a global audience but also caught the attention of the one and only Kanye West. Ye quickly put her in the booth, resulting in a recorded track with himself and Tyga.
Words by Art Jefferson
Photography by Kae Kitzler and courtesy of Batz
Melbourne band Batz …
The gap between Sweden and the rest of the world in terms of pop music is getting wider by the day. Whilst it feels as if the country pumps out acts whose weekly, stadium-style pop chants dominate the landscape, there is something different about singer Rebecca Bergcrantz better known as Raindear. With a voice that cuts through the noise, there is a bold confidence in her delivery as her musical production incorporates huskier electro rhythms into the mix.
Oslo, Norway
Mari Nordén aka Maja Skillz can be classified into many categories but at …
Singer, musician and composer Sofia Härdig is considered to be one of the leading acts coming out of Sweden with a sound organic and raw, explosively bursting out of the seams with energy. No stranger to the music industry, Härdig has worked with the likes of Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon and Julia Crafitz of Pussy Galore, not to mention Grammy Award winning group The Hellacopters and more. In a sense the Swedish artist reflects the very idea of what a true rock star looks, feels and sounds like. Whilst her native country has maintained a tradition of pumping out pop acts, Härdig's music is experimental, racing, unafraid and unapologetic. Her visuals are performance art, something that was a staple in New York's East Village punk and new wave scene or West Berlin in the 70s and 80s.
Cocovan represents everything that is sexy about pop music. The ever so stylish French stunner, who also divides her time in Los Angeles, creates a form of glam pop that is sensual and sparkling, making it the ultimate soundtrack for the beautiful and fashionable.
Having already built her brand a few years ago in her hometown of Paris, 2016 began the re-transformation of Cocovan, establishing a bolder and brighter sound, alluring and infectious. Sharing her latest track 'Mirage Of Us', the seductive pop bit topped with an 80s sprinkling, proved that Cocovan is also a force to be reckoned with on the production front. The song could also be considered the perfect bridging of Parisian chic and Los Angeles glamour, ultimately culminating into one solid delivery.
