There is a soul-stirring magic to the music of Swedish singer Cajsa Siik. However, after releasing organically rich soundscapes for the past six years, with her critically acclaimed third album 'Domino' having dropped in 2017, she began to feel a block inside, coming to odds with the ideas that she wanted to convey, all the while feeling silenced by surrounding noise. Whilst fans have always been immersed in her poetic delivery, Siik began struggling to write. Although this can be an utter nightmare for most artists, she did what many would be afraid to do - simply submit to silence. Within that quietness and stillness, she swam deeper in her thoughts, almost re-examining the person she used to be and the person she is now, creating a meeting ground for the two.
Dorothy is rock and roll; the kind of rock and roll that was once a soundtrack the hedonistic streets of Sunset Blvd. This is that gritty and raw rock that oozed from the roads of Detroit, the Lower East Side of Manhattan and the historic city of Nashville; that in your face rock that pumps with sheer attitude. Fronted by Budapest-born, San Diego-raised Dorothy Martin, the group is one of the most dynamic bands to emerge in the past four years. They have not only managed to land in the mainstream charts but they did it on their own terms.
When I first heard tracks like ‘Similar Familiar’ and ’Out Is In’ by Berlin-based Lea Porcelain, I was completely blown away. Taking the modern sounds of electronic music and fusing it with a culmination of styles including post-punk, indie and more, I was completely addicted to their recordings. Imagery of dark music venues, performance art and late night studio sessions would pop up in my head as the music completely took over me. So when I read that Lea Porcelain was performing at O’Meara in South East London, I jumped on the train and headed over. Like the pictures in my head, their performance filled with flashing lights flying among the dark silhouettes of the band whilst their practically perfect to the recordings sound pulsed through the venue, was everything that I needed and more.
YouTube has become a platform that has not only launched a slew of entertainers' careers but has also become a virtual place where artists have become lost in the vast sea of seemingly endless videos of complete randomness. California-born singer and musician Tiffany Alvord is one of the acts who cut through the noise, showcasing her immense talents by recording a number of cover versions of some of the biggest names in music. Uploading her first video back in 2008 at the age of 15, a rework of OneRepublic's track 'Stop and Stare', Alvord went on to become one of YouTube's biggest stars amassing millions followers on the platform.
There are some artists who were simply blessed with overall star-like qualities. Singer, songwriter and musician Madilyn Bailey happens to be one of those beings. Possessing not only an amazing voice with a gorgeous look to coincide, there is a warming humbleness that feels like she can be your best friend. Factor in her years of hard work combined with quality producing music as well as videos, and what you have is a winning combination of someone larger than life who has the world at her fingertips.
Stina Stjern defines the very idea of versatility. The Norwegian-born singer and musician creates cinematic and dreamy soundscapes that is lifted with imaginative songwriting all carried through her tender vocals.
Whilst Stina Stjern's music can be described as an intersection of pop and indie, her rich background includes her classically trained jazz education, her tenure in the experimental Norwegian rock band Quintrophenia, as well as being a member of the all-female punk meets riot rock band Supervixen. Having pushed boundaries with both groups, Stjern' amalgamation of sound as solo artist was born after a move to Copenhagen where she recorded her self-titled EP, a blend of intricate pop, folk and rock.
Chloë Rona is a name that you will get to know rather quickly. The London-based singer who effortlessly weaves between the sounds of dark pop, electronica and RnB is definitely ready to skyrocket to the top, sharing her song 'Games' back in 2016. She went on to drop stellar tracks such as 'F.I.A', the seductive cut 'Muse', as well as featured on the Casio McCombs single 'Bad Things'. Having studied Popular Music Performance Vocals, she stylistically brings a sexy edge whilst armed with mountainous amounts of vocal talent that fit together like a hand in glove. It's this overall package that makes her target for stardom a bullseye aim with the arrow already in motion.
Throughout the UK the sound of jazz music has been an integral part of inspiring some of the country’s most rooted and forward-thinking scenes. Whether it be DJs like Gilles Peterson and Chris Bangs laying down a foundation for the acid jazz movement in the late 80s that would go on to also encompass soul and Hip-Hop or the likes of 4Hero, Goldie and LTJ Bukem who fused jazz into drum and bass, charging with a Herbie Hancock aim of futurism, the music has flowed into various sub-genres even at times when it wasn’t the most fashionable in its traditional state. The broken beat community would go on to use the music as a backbone for a universe leaping style of production dripping with sophistication with artists such as 4Hero, Bugs In The Attic, IG Culture and a slew of others meshing that which is complex yet grooving. With the current state of music being dominated by trap-oriented sonics and synth-piercing pop, South London’s The Expansions are continuing to push the legacy of jazz and funk-stirred rhythms that are not only core but boundary pushing in the same breath.
There is no denying the sonic distinction of modern pop music coming out of Sweden. With a reputation that includes sharp synth work and stadium style choruses, the Scandi-pop sound is a magnet for chart success. Whilst it could be easy for a Swedish artist to get caught up in a formulaic web, Stockholm-based singer and producer Bishat is definitely not afraid of trekking down alternate routes. From dark pop to soul, she has proven on numerous occasions that she is as versatile as they come with a power packing voice that can practically carry any rhythm.
Hero Fisher is not just an artist whose memorable birth name implies a destiny of greatness, yet rather one that has already begun to show the world her majestic creativity through music, as well as visuals. Her voice is beyond gorgeous with a vivid and imaginative songwriting ability that has been compared to the likes of giants such as Leonard Cohen. Based in London, the Parisian-raised act confidently defies the idea of music genres, creating more of a soundscape that is fitting to the mood of her story. The package is a weaving journey that is powerfully driven, and one where the listener comfortably submits to Fisher's command of the destination.
