True musical virtuosity is a combination of vivid songwriting combined with instrumentation and production that allows emotions to simply and uncontrollably run free. Melbourne band Husky are masters of mood, using a gentle warmth of folk and alternative to form what could be called sonic art at its purist.
Consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Husky Gawenda and keyboardist/vocalist Gideon Preiss,
Keep Shelly in Athens are one of the most important bands to emerge from Greece in the past five years. Founded by producer RΠЯ in 2010, KSiA gained an international following with their atmospheric melting pot of downtempo, pop, indie, experimental electronica and more which ultimately morphed into their distinct dreamy sound. Although an air of mystique brewed around the band from day one, with only the singer even being fully displayed in imagery and RΠЯ remaining slightly illusive, the impact of the music has remained at the forefront causing music lovers and critics alike to be engulfed in their tidal wave of sublime rhythms.
If there were one band to place all of your chips on, in terms of being the next big thing, it would be safe to place your bet on The Sherlocks. Comprised of two pairs of brothers, Kiaran and Brandon Crook, as well as Josh and Andy Davidson, the Sheffield band is not only burning down stages with a slew of electric performances, but their debut single 'Live For The Moment' landed in the Official UK Singles Charts and upon first listen, it's easy to understand why. The energetic and massive sounding indie track proved that the four could rock with the best, as if they were born to play. Having sold out hundreds of venues across the UK, their latest single 'Heart Of Gold' is another weighty piece of indie magic that shines with brilliant instrumentation and catchy lyricism. With support from BBC Radio 1, The Sherlocks a band that will rock the industry...hard.
Leo Abrahams is the musician’s musician. The guitarist, pianist, producer, arranger and composer has not only worked with some of top tier acts in the music business, but has released cutting edge solo albums that are more like sonic paintings, creative and vivid.
Having played piano and guitar from the time of a youth, Abrahams was a member of various bands as a teenager, later attending London’s Royal Academy of Music. Initially concentrating on a career as a classical composer, he was presented with an opportunity to play with Imogen Heap, and from there it was off to the races.
One doesn't often associate stage diving and super-hyper performances with the sounds of deep and melodic house. However Berlin-based duo Nod One's Head isn't your average house group. In fact, house only represents a portion of their overall sound. Whilst the chilled, soulful bits are present in various songs, there are also the elements of tech, Hip-Hop, indie and pop vividly reflected, making the duo comprised of Charlotte Bühler and Moritz Bommert, one of the most interesting and exciting groups emerging out of the Berlin music scene.
Ellie James has a bright future, the kind of luminous beam that typically transfers into certified stardom. This assessment would appear to be a mere understatement, considering that the Welsh singer, songwriter and guitarist, who records under the moniker of Ellie Makes Music, has already been awarded the title of Artist of the Week on BBC Radio Wales, not to mention has garnished airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6. With an organic sound that combines folk, pop and alternative, the sincerity of her music maintains a certain value built for the long haul rather than the 'hot act of the minute'.
Having played in the biggest venues around the world and released records on some of the most respected labels in the house and techno scene, you can say that East Yorkshire-raised DJ and producer wAFF has done quite alright for himself since truly storming the industry in 2012. With a solid reputation for unleashing bona fide dance floor scorchers, wAFF has rapidly become one of the top artists of choice in the business.
If the key to success is hard work, then producer Joe Ashworth shall be rewarded tenfold. Whilst having built a reputation for pumping out release after release, the Londoner defies the quality over quantity rule, rather incorporating both with each single being an incredible and unforgettable piece of music.
Ashworth's brand of house and techno oozes with refinement and sophistication yet doesn't alienate dance floor patrons, which makes it highly understandable why he has been championed by the likes of Pete Tong, Maya Jane Coles and Laurent Garnier, just to name a short few. With tracks released on various labels including Native City, Ajunadeep, Arkhive, NeedWant, Sneaky and more, within a couple of years Ashworth's name has spread throughout the UK and into international territory.
If it was one word to describe the Australian band The Griswolds, it would be fun. Comprised of Christopher Whitehall, Daniel Duque-Perez, Tim John and Lachlan West, the Sydney-based group have built a worldwide following, all absorbed in their upbeat and energetic hybrid of pop, indie and electronica, wrapped in a jovial package of musical goodness.
Although semi-new in the scene, Bristol's Motz Workman, known under the moniker of Marcel Lune, composes tracks with the skills of a well-seasoned producer with a tenure of two decades under his or her belt. Crafting foward-thinking rhythms encompassing soul, broken beat, 2-step, jazz, house and Hip-Hop, his music has enticed the ears of Gilles Peterson, Rustie and Addison Groove, just to name a few. Having released EPs on labels such as Studio Rockers and Audio Dougnuts, his songs are true audible voyages, ripe with change-ups and intricate arrangements.
