Shannon Hemmett is the epitome of what it means to be a multifacted artist. Not only is she a musician and singer in one of the most revered post-punk bands in the scene, ACTORS, but also operating in the field as a creative director, graphic designer, photographer and filmmaker, she has become an industry mainstay. As a painter, her work has sold in multiple countries, and now she can add tattooer to her list of credentials. Factor in her effortless style and what you get is an overall powerhouse who reigns at every discipline.
Chlöe Howl knows what she wants and isn’t scared to speak her truth. Raised in Berkshire, she was one of those musical prodigies who, blessed with an outstanding voice along with charisma, literally signed a major label record deal at the age of 16. By 2013, she exploded on the scene not only dropping big pop songs like ‘Rumour’ and ‘No Strings’ but also found herself nominated for a 2014 BRIT Award. The then pixie-cut beauty graced various magazines from Marie Claire to Vogue Russia. Whilst this would be a dream come true for most artists, Howl decided to part ways with Sony Music opting to take full creative control of her music and destiny.
London-based artist HEZEN became known to the world with her vocal feature on Icicle’s Drum & Bass smash ‘Will You Be Mine’. Delivery a smoky and enticing performance, that was only a small window into what she had to offer.
Veiga Sanchez, known by her moniker Salt Ashes, has been carving out her lane in the music industry with a steamy combination of dark pop and seductive club. Raised in Brighton and currently based in London, she embodies the very definition of fierce with an uncanny sex appeal that is clearly projected in her songs, firmly standing with a mountainous planting.
Madison is bold, daring and definitely plays by her own rules. Championed by the mainstream press, the New York City-based artist creates imaginative and vibrant music that encompasses pop, electronica, indie rock, Hip-Hop and more. Having released a slew of singles over the past 7 years along with dropping her 2014 'In The Bright Light' EP and her 'Wonderland' EP back in 2015, Madison's cuts have been featured in various television series and commercials including her 2018 track 'Baller' which landed in the television show 'Good Girls'.
With a background originally in science, Madison was studying neuroscience before having been bitten by the music bug. She went on to record spirited songs that boast a bubbling appeal across the board.
Watching a live show of New York band Mother Feather feels like you're engaging in rock & roll performance art. Aside from the obvious visual presentations of front woman Ann Courtney and singer/keyboardist Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Carena - which include stark make-up combined with a bold fashion flair, their performances are wild, energetic and ultimately free. Musically the group, which also features guitarist Chris Foley, bassist Seth Ondracek and drummer Gunnar Olsen, has been dubbed by the press as purveyors of the classic New York City rock sound whilst effortlessly giving it their own modern stamping.
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.
