A 'style don' and an innovator are a couple of descriptions that have been attributed to Smiso Zwane better known as Okmalumkoolkat. The emcee, DJ and designer helped to capture global attention to the modern, ascending sounds and vibrant lifestyles that were blossoming throughout South African cities such as Johannesburg and Durban.
Over the past couple of years Bucharest, Romania has been a hot bed of cutting edge electronic acts. Temple Invisible are a part of the new wave of maverick artists who are blurring the lines of genre, mixing a stew of musical influences to create a particular sound of dark electronica. Consisting of Irina Bucescu, Costas Ivanov and Daniel Olteanu, their track "Disappearance" was an introduction of the trio to the world with the song hauntingly springing elements of trip-hop, industrial and goth. Their recently unveiled tracks "Collide" and "Sudden Acts" incorporated post-punk, as well as synth-wave, adding guitars amidst the dreamy vocals of Irina Bucescu to spawn a nocturnal, yet sensual feel.
It's rare to see many music groups or bands stay together after creating something special - creative differences often ensue or egos simply barricade future endeavors. It's even more rare to witness musical giants who have already established a successful career come together as a power unit with the intent on simply making the best music that they can. Junior Giscombe, Don-E, Omar, Noel McKoy and Leee John are practically UK royalty, having sold millions of records globally. So when all five artists, who have contributed immensely to the soul and R&B scenes not only in England but internationally, decided to form a one of a kind collaboration project call The British Collective, there was undoubtedly something monumental about to take place.
If one were to take notes on the expansive career of Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber, specifically their work as Tosca, what would be transparent is the refinement, taste and continued progression that their music has reflected. Part of a wave of producers who helped to spearhead in an electronic movement throughout the 90s that took on various titles such as acid jazz, trip-hop and in the 2000s, future jazz, Tosca's sound could be appropriately called simply...timeless, forward-thinking music, opposed to any infliction of tags. It is that process of transcending any one label that has kept the two musicians consistently relevant for two decades.
Street soul, a combination of Hip-Hop, soul and R&B, is the sound being created by the Netherlands-based duo Lucid. Formed in 2012 and comprised of vocalists Janice and Juliet, the sexy Dutch duo originally met in university while both studying media before switching to music and each getting accepted into the Herman Brood Academie in Utrecht. After a trip to the U.S. that same year, Lucid went full force with their career, returning to America in 2013 to perform live at various venues and forming collaborations. In the works to release their debut album "Poisoned Pawns", Juliet and Janice dropped a video for the hypnotic song "Stranger To Me" earlier this year, followed by their recent video "Celebration", which documents the ladies' recent voyage in Brussels. The LP will straddle the sounds of Hip-Hop, soul, R&B and trap. With sultry vocals backed by rich, soulful production, Lucid are a pair of talented beauties that you should definitely get to know.
Irish-born and currently based in Brighton, I.AM.L's debut single "Lionheart" is a triumphant ode to her late grandmother Kitty. Backed by epic tribal drums, her shining voice rings out like a passionate deliverance coming down from the heights. Produced by Tim Larcombe (Lana Del Rey, Saint Etienne, Sugababes etc.), the monumental song is the herald of a future classic. With the record already earning critical praises, I.AM.L has firmly risen like the phoenix from the ashes presenting the world a timeless work of art, and this is only the beginning.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, Liverpool has had more music artists with number one records than any other city in the world. Dubbed the 'City of Pop', Liverpool's history of pumping out hit acts extends beyond those infamous four lads responsible for helping to change the landscape of music. It's also no surprise that Liverpool is the city that singer/songwriter Jennifer Davies calls home. Sonically polished with a multifaceted style of pop nirvana, Davies is set to shoot to the stars with a sound that contains an irresistible charm and flair.
Consisting of poet, songwriter and vocalist Joshua Idehen, producer Andy Highmore, guitarist Martin 'Tino' Kolarides and singer Izzy Brooks, there is an emotive blanket that lays atop the music of Hugh, perfectly sewn together by each member's thread of eclecticism. Their current EP titled "I Can't Figure You Out" is an elegant intermix of electronica, soul, r&b, pop and alternative - all topped with an air of romanticism, easily making this record one of the highlights of the year. With the title track of the EP getting rave reviews including play from BBC Radio 6 presenter Tom Ravenscroft, this may only be the fine brush strokes leading to ultimately a debut full-length masterpiece.
London's East End has built a reputation of spawning limit-testing producers whose twisting and re-shaping of sound have at times, birthed an entire new genre on to itself. Maybe in a way it makes perfect sense for production duo Tommaso Wallwork and Ady Razor, known as Wallwork & RZR, to call East London their home. Based in Hackney Wick, the two who dub their sound as 'forward thinking bass music', actually made a name for themselves as ghost producers working on everything from Hip-Hop to rock. Eventually Wallwork & RZR decided to delve more into the edgier sounds of electronica, producing DnB, garage and experimental UK bass. With their EP "Mad Techno Invasion" released through the Canadian label Infinite Machine, the duo are expanding the possibilities of how far bass music can indeed stretch out sonically.
Kelsy Karter describes herself as a "weirdo", but to many she is the next talent kicking down the doors of stardom with a musical combination of soul, rock and pop, as well as an intriguingly distinct voice that demands your attention. The absolutely gorgeous Australia-raised singer and musician, whose facial features resemble a younger Angelina Jolie, approaches her craft like a seasoned performer whose presence one certainly won't forget.
