2020 may have been a write off, but here’s to 2021 bringing us some more good music, (fingers crossed!) actual live music! Here’s a list of some of the artists we’re most excited about going into this new year.
- Who: Askies
- Location: Leeds, UK
- Sounds like: Dark indie rock anthems, melding burning riffs with power-driven vocals and big choruses. FFO: The Night Cafe, King No-One, Peace.
- Top track: ‘Easy’
- Who: Bored At My Grandma’s House
- Location: Leeds, UK
- Sounds like: Beautifully melancholic, hazy vocals waltzing amongst lo-fi instrumentals. FFO: Rosehip Teahouse, Slowdive, Mild High Club.
- Top track: ‘Skin’
- Who: Borth
- Location: Wirral, UK
- Sounds like: Dreamy melodies encased in rippling synths and mellowed vocals. FFO: Temporex, Vansire, Gus Dapperton.
- Top track: ‘Wake Up’
- Who: Cap’n Marble
- Location: California, USA
- Sounds like: Trance-inducing harmonies, swaying guitars, and breezy melodies. FFO: Hockey Dad, The Lemon Twigs, Sunflower Bean.
- Top track: ‘When the Sun’
- Who: Charlie Gamache
- Location: Massachusetts
- Sounds like: Glittering pop tracks filled with touches of funk and blues. FFO: Rex Orange County, Yellow Days, Wallows.
- Top track: ‘Feelin Fine’
- Who: Distance Learning
- Location: London, UK
- Sounds like: Kaleidoscope of groovy instrumentals, humorous lyrical hooks, and sparkling sound-bites. FFO: Easy Life, Bad Sounds, Glass Animals.
- Top track: ‘Life Is Meant To Be Enjoyed’
- Who: Eades
- Location: Leeds, UK
- Sounds like: Roaring harmonies, slick rhythms, and addictive guitar hooks. FFO: Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, The Strokes, Pavement.
- Top track: ‘Forgive My Mind’
- Who: Elephant Castle
- Location: Los Angeles, USA
- Sounds like: Fusing funk and psychedelia with bright vintage tones, dreamy harmonies, and groove-laden basslines. FFO: Pond, Tame Impala, Babe Rainbow.
- Top track: ‘I’m A Loser’
- Who: English Teacher
- Location: Leeds, UK
- Sounds like: Hazy psychedelic soundscapes, spilling with rich vocals and cool guitar tones. FFO: The Orielles, Slowdive, Talkboy.
- Top track: ‘The Treacle Trap Door’
- Who: golda may
- Location: Los Angeles, USA
- Sounds like: Authentic lyricism portrayed via compelling vocals, layered with subtle, stripped back instrumentation. FFO: London Grammar, Olivia Broadfield, Tom Odell.
- Top track: ‘Dear Los Angeles’
- Who: honeywhip
- Location: Los Angeles, USA
- Sounds like: Woozy pop dreamscapes with tranquil lo-fi instrumentals and swirling vocal tones. FFO: Frank Ocean, The Marias, Sunset Rollercoaster.
- Top track: ‘Feels Good To Laugh’
- Who: Josh Fudge
- Location: Oklahoma City, USA
- Sounds like: Mellow vocals layered against glittering synths and subtle beats, oozing laidback sunny vibes. FFO: JWestern, Alfie Templeman, Far Caspian.
- Top track: ‘When She’s Gone’
- Who: Lucid State
- Location: Oxford, UK
- Sounds like: Exciting mix of R&B and neo-soul, packed with jazz-infused guitar lines, raw vocals and infectious choruses. FFO: Omar Apollo, Arlo Parks, Easy Life.
- Top track: ‘Company’
- Who: Mollie Coddled
- Location: Leeds, UK
- Sounds like: Soulful pop with hints of lo-fi R&B, crafting a perfect balance of breezy vocal tones and swirling instrumentation. FFO: Matilda Mann, Temporex, Thea.
- Top track: ‘One More Day’
- Who: Nana Adjoa
- Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Sounds like: Filled with layers of twinkling synths, and bringing relatable lyricism into vibrant melodies as evocative vocals travel through choral harmonies. FFO: Pip Blom, The Orielles, Solange.
- Top track: ‘No Room’
- Who: parking lot
- Location: Los Angeles, USA
- Sounds like: Gentle synths layered with clouded vocals, pairing hints of soul with soft, chillwave instrumentation. FFO: Vansire, Jaguar Sun, JW Francis.
- Top track: ‘Early’
- Who: Priya Francis
- Location: UK
- Sounds like: A gorgeous blend of R&B and acoustic pop, filled with rich vocal tones and sailing melodies. FFO: Jorja Smith, Tom Misch, Jordan Rakei.
- Top track: ‘Jeans’
- Who: Shania
- Location: London, UK
- Sounds like: Emotive instrumentals, sailing around rich vocals and vibrant, synth-filled soundscapes. FFO: Georgia, HAIM, The Japanese House.
- Top track: ‘Pear’
- Who: Sam Wilde
- Location: Leeds, UK
- Sounds like: Sparkling riffs and anthemic choruses, contrasting with bluesy rhythms and gritty vocals. FFO: Sam Fender, Glass Caves, Marsicans.
- Top track: ‘Time Will Tell’
- Who: Yard Act
- Location: Leeds, UK
- Sounds like: Humorous post punk with zipping riffs and familiar lyricism. FFO: Home Counties, Squid, Do Nothing.
- Top track: ‘Fixer Upper’
- Who: The Yves
- Location: Los Angeles, USA
- Sounds like: Melancholic pop soundscapes, evocative of late night city driving. FFO: Wolf Alice, Brother., Whitney.
- Top track: ‘The Blvd’
LDOI 