Category: Recommendations

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Alternative Rapper JoeJas Impresses with Eccentric New Single ‘WTF’

JoeJas’ bold new track conveys flair and originality with its distinctive and artistic cloud-rap style. Once again, JoeJas is bringing a fresh sound to the hip-hop genre.

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‘WTF’ is JoeJas’ first single release since his 2022 album, ‘Gaps & Normads’. This track, despite being equally as experimental, feels more authoritative with fresh dynamic lyrics to match.

JoeJas described the new song as “a scream for all the people doing things their own way, wanting to make it work no matter what”.

The track begins with a striking beat that immediately grabs the listeners attention with harsh drums and strong vocals. JoeJas used instrumental inspiration from early 2000’s R&B groove from artists such as The Neptunes and Timberland with an imaginative Tyler the Creator-like flow.

The multi-talented artist not only rapped this song, but he also produced it along with shooting and editing the music video, adding his own distinct and colourful videography style.

‘WTF’ is one of those songs that makes you want to grab your friends and simply just jump. It’s a song that without doubt requires full volume if played on the aux.

The record has already impressed fans, as well as getting praised by perhaps the internet’s toughest music critic, Anothony Fantano himself! The infamous reviewer said: “It’s got this very wild eccentric, early 2000’s, odd future-esque kind of vibe to it but not so edgy that it makes you wince. I’ve been liking it quite a bit. Solid single all round.” From the man who called Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy “overrated” and “super weak” – that is quite the statement.

So, make sure you check it out if you haven’t already!

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The O.O release charming new indie single ‘Sometimes I See You Look’

The one-man-indie-band that goes by the name of ‘The O.O’, delivers a beautifully written, upbeat and well-produced record.

With this charismatic acoustic song, the indie singer-songwriter from the Isle of Wight takes you straight to the seaside on a summer’s day, toes in the sand and guitar in hand. The O.O also known as Ollie, channels his inner Luke Pritchard with his vocals and melody reminding me of The Kooks’ old material.

The song titled, Sometimes, follows the artists pursuit of a new co-worker that he felt an instant connection with. Despite her having a boyfriend, the two of them would share occasional moments and often catch each other’s eye, leaving the artist hopeful yet confused.

The 4-minute track explodes with colour as Ollie’s soothing raw vocals take centre stage commanding the listener to join him on the heartfelt musical journey. The authentic and unpolished style is inspired by the iconic British indie bands of the 2000s such as the Arctic Monkeys, the Fratellis and the Libertines. The young singer loved the truth in their early albums, he added: “They were just making music that they loved and having a great time without worrying about what anyone thought”.

Interestingly, it was his challenging early school years that led The O.O to fall in love with music, as he was often removed from lessons for ‘disruptive behaviour’; instead, his headteacher taught him how to play instruments, lighting the spark to his passion for music.

The talented solo artist wrote and recorded the song using his home studio equipment, he shared: “It’s very simple and basic really, but for me if I overcomplicate it, the songs end up getting messy, whereas when I keep it simple I end up getting the sounds I want for my music”.

The O.O has big plans for this year, hoping to release some more singles including creative music videos as well as a new album. In the next few years, he wants to be gigging as much as he can, he said: “I just have such a passion for music and want to keep creating and sharing with everyone!”

So if you haven’t already, give it a listen, comment your thoughts and please share any other underrated UK artists!

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Click here to see the music video: https://youtu.be/nDX5QtyS01I?si=GxfhU0f6fxj0kWcU

By 25782697 on Recommendations tagged , , , , with 3 Comments

Top 10 British Albums of 2023

As the year is coming to a close, it’s a great time to recap on the best albums of 2023!

These are the albums I couldn’t turn off, the albums with few skips, the albums that I will remember in 5 years time. In all honesty, I found it quite difficult to pick a top ten as there were few albums that came to mind straight away. A lot of my favourite albums came from overseas, for example: SZA’s SOS, Boygenius’ The Record, Noah Kahan’s Stick Season and even Lil Yachty’s Let’s Start Here. Moreover, most of Britain’s big names (The Arctic Monkeys, Harry Styles, The 1975, Stormzy and Fred Again..) released their albums last year, making room for exciting new breakthrough artists to make a name for themselves this year. But of course, we have some old favourites returning.

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10. Chase and Status – 2 RUFF, Vol 1

Unlike the other entries coming up on this list, this album is simply something I could not overlook in terms of the singles it produced. Baddadan, Liquor and Cigarettes, and Tough Talk – Chase and Status are unstoppable. The duo are veterans of the drum and bass scene and have been for quite some time, but this album proves that they are still at the top of their game! The D&B King’s collaborated with next generation producers to form an energetic and well-mixed album straight out of a 90s rave.

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9. Barry Can’t swim – When Will We Land

Barry’s much-awaited debut album is quirky and colourful and really scratches an itch in my brain in a way that not many other albums this year have. The Scottish-born DJ blends a variety of dance music sub-genres with gospel and jazz samples to create an emotive, high-energy and well-produced project. The album flows seamlessly and works well collectively but the standout tracks for me are Sonder, How It Feels and Dance of the Crab. I truly cannot wait to hear these tracks be performed live in 2024.

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8. Bakar – Halo

Somehow, Bakar is still one of the most underrated UK talents, apart from his viral hit Hell N Back. As an artists it is difficult to describe his genre as he blurs the lines between a few. Halo can be best described as indie-pop record with a collection of stripped back soulful tracks that focus in on Bakar’s remarkable vocals. The single Alive is still my favourite, setting the overall tone for the album, with its nostalgic and warm feel. Overall, it is a joyous and mature follow up to last year’s outstanding album The Mission.

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7. Nia Archives – Sunrise Bang Your Head Against Tha Wall

Although it’s technically an EP, Nia impressively delivers the chaos of jungle music finished with smooth production. It is a great listen from start to end. The rising DJ manages to capture the atmosphere inside a rave with the album’s fusion of superb samples and jungle breaks. The album really is the sound of the summer with singles Biana and title track Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall that will forever remind me of 2023 summer.

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6. Sampha – Lahai

Extremely well written, wonderfully creative, and overwhelmingly real. Sampha’s deeply personal new album marks his first release in over 6 years, making it highly anticipated. Lahai feels complex yet light as a feather as he combines airy vocals and beautiful melodies with serious subject matters.

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5. RAYE – My 21st Century Blues

RAYE had a frustrating journey to releasing her debut album, battling with record label, Polydor, for almost a decade, but this project is worth the wait. RAYE took a new approach, away from the house tracks she was previously known for, blending soulful jazz, R&B and hip-hop. The singer-songwriter from South London takes listeners on an emotional and powerful journey with the album, and it seriously paid off! The now independent artist combines her thrilling storytelling with impeccable vocals to make an impressive, hard-hitting, and unapologetic first album.

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4. The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds

Hackney Diamonds is an album I did not expect to enjoy so much. The Rock legends return with original material for the first time in 18 years with a vibrant, engaging, and purposeful 12-track album. Frontman Mick Jagger sings with conviction and enthusiasm to create a modern take on classic rock. The standout songs: Angry, Mess It Up and Live By The Sword each have a strong chorus’ paired with strong guitar-led melodies.

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3. AntsLive – Just A Matter of Time

AntsLive is an artist that is innovating the UK rap scene, taking it in a different direction. The EP mixes a combination of genres, from alternative hip-hop to grime, tapping into a variety of the listeners emotions. The London rapper shares similarities with heavyweights of the rap game, Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$ and Skepta with his cold delivery, exceptional delivery and overall creativity. This album is a must listen if you are a hip hop fan!

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2. Blur – The Ballad of Darren

The Britpop icons certainly did not disappoint, giving us a reunion album to remember. The come-back album felt well-polished with beautiful harmonies and elegant songwriting. We got to see a softer side to the band, but it still managed to keep an essence of that charming 90s spirit. Each track had great character with my favourites being St Charles Square, The Narcissist and Avalon.

There are many honourable mentions in terms of the UK scene that didn’t quite make the Top 10. Perhaps albums that I loved parts of but not the whole thing or albums that I loved at the beginning of the year but not at the end. These include: Overmono’s energy-packed Good Lies, Slowdives’ dreamy everything is alive and I have to mention Arlo parks’ beautiful My Soft Machine.

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.Jungle – Volcano

1. Jungle – Volcano

Taking the top spot for British album of the year is electronic music project, jungle, with their superb album – Volcano. It feels like they erupted out of nowhere with their euphoric disco-like dance mixes. In terms of production the album is unreliably rich, sleek and well- refined. This album evokes pure joy and emotion with every song lifting your spirits making you want to dance. Weather it was listening whilst on walks in the blazing sun, or listening on the way to a festival surrounded by my favourite people – these tracks will forever remind me of my happiest times in 2023. Volcano is what 2023 NEEDED and that’s why it deserves this number 1 spot!

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Looking back at this list proves that this year has been a weird one for British music and more specifically my music taste. Although I love all the albums I’ve listed, none of them have gripped me like they did last year, knowing every word to every song. Although, I am grateful I have been able to expand my taste and listen to new genres and found people I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Please let me know if you agree or disagree and let me know your Top 3!

By 25782697 on EDM, Recommendations tagged , , , , - Leave a comment

Barry can’t swim, but he’s flying to the top!

The vibrant new EDM producer has gone from strength to strength providing so many of us with this summer’s soundtrack.

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The London-based DJ Barry Can’t Swim (real name Joshua Mannie) is without doubt one to watch in the electronic scene. Barry‘s groovy samples and jazz-infused melodic house tracks have already built him a sea of fans desperate to see his sets and I am certain this is just the beginning.

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The Scottish born producer blends a variety of dance music sub-genres, including disco, garage and jungle. Barry‘s sound has a unique feel, as he is heavily inspired by traditional jazz music. Interestingly, his appreciation for jazz music started from an early age, as he learnt to play the piano at age 9 and then worked in various jazz bars during his teenage years, purposely surrounding himself with the more traditional style of music.

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Barry Cant Swim started creating his own dance hits in 2020, working hard to produce a number of extended projects and singles and he has been unstoppable ever since. His newest EP ‘How it feels‘ is currently on repeat for me with it’s emotive feel, colourful samples and refreshing energy.

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2023 has already been an incredibly successful year for Barry Can’t Swim. This year, the producer has massively increased his exposure, attending a number of festivals as well being invited to do a set with the notorious Boiler Room in his hometown of Edinburgh.

Barry can’t Swim – Boiler Room – Edinburgh (2023)

Despite his newfound fame, Barry seems to be remaining humble, telling 10magazine that the greatest highlight of his career so far is simply “seeing people you’ve never met before in places you’ve never been before singing along” telling them “it’s still so surreal”.

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Barry‘s rise in popularity is not surprising due to the EDM scene in the UK booming in the last couple of years. A report by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) revealed that electronic music is the most popular genre at UK festivals overtaking rock – which has dominated for decades. In the last year, similar British EDM artists have had wider global success for example Fred Aagin.. and Fourtet have quickly risen to the top even headlining the iconic Coachella with fellow producer Skrillex.

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Barry is set to release his debut album ‘When Will We land?‘ on the 20th of October.

“it’s a huge personal milestone for me, after 10 months of solid writing plus a whole 20+ years of dreaming about it. I’ve poured every thing I have into it, and really hope yous like it”

– Barry via Instagram on his upcoming album

Personally, I’m very intrigued about the new album as the young DJ has recently taken his sound in a new direction by releasing more chilled, melodic downtempo tracks for example ‘Sonder‘ and ‘God is the space between us‘. So, I’m excited to see what it will be like and how it will be received.

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Check out his music below and please comment any other underrated similar artists.

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Five Indie Artists You Need to Listen to This Summer!

The last decade has shown a decline in the popularity of the British indie scene in comparison to the love that Britpop music received in the 90s and early naughtiest. But that does not mean their is a lack of talent in modern day indie-rock music – it’s just harder to spot. I handpicked these five artists as I believe they are all underrated and deserve more appreciation and exposure. Let me know what you think in the comments!

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Cucamaras

The fourtet that formed in 2019 has since tried their best to grow Nottingham’s indie scene one gig at a time. This year they released their first EP, ‘Buck Rogers Time’, consisting of five singles, with the strongest in my opinion being ‘Cotton Wool’ and opener, ‘Porcelain’. Lead vocalist, Bowley, told NME that the band’s sound developed as a result of the pandemic, “We couldn’t actually do ‘band stuff’, so we just talked about and shared music instead”.

The band are now making waves further than hometown, Nottingham, and in fact across the continent, as they’re being invited to play at smaller festivals across Europe. Additionally, the band has been named in NME’s Top 100 Essential Artists for 2023, highlighting the respect and belief the band already has from mainstream music media.

Cucamaras on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Zy8a1P2tEwHdQK56s0v8T?si=3vabIZD7SgC_nVoVpssVSg

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Danny Mellin

The Oxfordshire-based singer songwriter has released a total of ten singles so far, with themes including the importance of good mates, girl trouble and everyday life struggles. Danny told ‘The Bucket Playlist’ blog that he plans to keep releasing singles because he believes it’s a better way to distribute music. In lockdown, Danny developed his sound from mostly acoustic guitar songs to indie rock, with the help of newly formed band. Danny became influenced by heavyweights of the modern indie rock scene, Sam Fender and Arctic Monkeys – inspiring him to make a “bigger sound”.

Using TikTok to promote his singles and reply to fans, with his great vocals and hard hitting lyrics, Danny is slowly but surely building his own fanbase. The recent single, ‘Ordinary Day’ is already a personal favourite, with its high tempo, classic indie rock guitar rifts as well as perfectly unrefined vocals. This year Danny and his band completed a headline UK tour – I think this is just the start!

Danny Mellin on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kmWqI1anuHvgq589NVsAr?si=C1dGRlaXTT-OspcYYSzl_w

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Ora Violet

Ora Violet are a band trying to break barriers within the indie rock scene. The band that formed in 2019, consists of five members, each with a different nationality, allowing them to create a culturally diverse sound drawn from their different backgrounds. Everything from their music to their song cover art is ambiguous, unique and artistic.

This year, the band released their first full project with EP, ‘Have You Met Me’ consisting of five guitar heavy tracks. Ora Violet said on Instagram: “We are so proud of this, so much work went into it, this is us now”. The standout tracks for me are ‘Feel the Same’ and ‘Last dance’ with the second being about frontman, Tommy’s struggle with addiction and coming to terms with his sexuality.

Despite being so new, the group have already had some success, as they were chosen to support Duran Duran at Hyde Park in London last year as well as having upcoming headline shows in the UK.

Ora Violet on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/649PbKfSwqkPEsos9mHuUJ?si=69SJB_20R_axTKMM6fp-Ww

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BERRIES

This London-based garage rock trio are an exciting group and you should give them a listen! The all female line-up and intricate yet rocky beats gives them a new and individual sound. In terms of their songs influences, they told ‘Gigrader’ that: “it can totally vary sometimes we write songs about different moods or a feeling rather than an actual topic”.

BERRIES return with their first release since their debut album last year, with new track. “Control”. The new track is certainly one of my favourite of their songs, with it’s grungy guitar and layered melodic vocals it stands out as a great single all round. The band is currently going from strength to strength as they have just successfully completed a headline UK tour and announced a string of smaller UK festivals that they will be playing at this summer.

BERRIES on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3S3lyrc9kKx4EPWCduLKi5?si=eAQBLXf0Ssqhrg6kNnZRxg

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CVC

CVC also known as Church Village Collective are a Welsh psych-rock band that are working hard to showcase their music not just across South Wales but worldwide. The band have gained popularity with their debut album ‘Get Real’ as they received a very decent review from NME (one of the Uk’s leading music magazines) as well as having over 63,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. The album sounds well put together and all the songs fit together excellently whilst having a variety of subgenres. For me, the standout tracks were the beautifully melodic and effortless ‘Sophie’ along with the catchy and authentic ‘Docking The Pay’.

The band have just finished a North American tour, including massive festivals and the fun doesn’t stop there as they will be completing a UK headline tour with many venues already sold out in the next few weeks.

CVC on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UVp2DRjYXq2ZWQwA5QLuD?si=ZouTa1KxRo6JIF8QeAXaUw

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Fred Again.. From lowkey background producer to king of electronic music!

“I’m happy as long as I’m making something honest”. 

After years of taking a backseat with behind-the-scenes producing, the London-born producer is now driving rapidly to solo success! Fred Gibson helped to create some of the most iconic chart-topping hits from the last decade, including: ‘Shotgun’ by George Ezra, ‘Take me back to London’ by Stormzy as well as cowriting and producing Ed Sheeran’s last 2 albums that went to number 1!

At only 16 years old, the young Fred Gibson met heavyweight of the producing game Brian Eno at an a cappella singing class in London. Fred told NME magazine that the super producer Eno became his mentor, “he took me under his wing after seeing my production work, he’s always in touch and giving me advice”. Fred also revealed that Eno was the person who sparked the idea to experiment with solo producing. One day, he received a text from the established musician saying “Enough Fred! Time to get back to your own stuff!” and from that point on he has never looked back!

Fred Again.. has developed a distinctive and futuristic style with his own music. His trilogy of albums named ‘Actual life’, with the third release coming out on the 28th of October, each use storytelling to create depth. The albums operate almost as a diary of his life, Fred said “it’s like the makeup of my camera roll made into songs” highlighting how personal, emotive, and intimate these projects are.

Fred Again’s sound mirrors the fast-paced life he lives in Central London; he uses his local area to generate more ideas, sitting with his laptop in modern art galleries, the busy South Bank and even the tube as they are all filled with an abundance of people and sounds.

The sampling genius innovatively creates his high-speed electronic remixes by seeking inspiration from anyone and anything around him. One of the original samples on the first ‘Actual life’ came from a video of a conversation Fred had with American construction worker Carlos, who shared the encouraging words “We gone make it through” which features as the centre piece of the album. Fred magically created ‘Faisal (envelops me)’ after stumbling across a video of talented vocalist Faisal Salah walking down the streets of London singing before chopping up the sound and adding his own vocals over the top.

The hype surrounding Fred Again is ridiculous especially after he dropped an electrifying Boiler Room set that’s already being called the best yet by listeners across the world. The London performance has received over 6.5 million views on YouTube in just 2 months. The standout moment of the thrilling 70-minute set was when he dropped the collaboration with Swedish House Mafia and Future, ‘Turn On The Lights Again’ as the energy of the crowd increased to a new level. It’s no surprise that he has an enormous dedicated fanbase with some even claiming “he could mix oil and water”!

Fred Again.. is starting a new wave of dance music that is more creative and spontaneous than ever! He has quickly become a fan favourite due to his passion for creating, emphasized by his infectious energy when live performing and of course his quirky random samples.

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Eccentric rapper and self-producer JoeJas is a force to be reckoned with!

With the recent release of his 4th self-produced album ‘Gaps&Normads‘ I spoke to American rapper ‘JoeJas’ about the new album, his musical influences and more…

The 21-minute album really packs a punch, it’s a unique blend of genres, although predominantly hip-hop, it’s also heavily inspired by punk, R&B and jazz. It is multi-instrumental and every song is musically distinctive; The London-based rapper himself said “this album will keep you on your toes” and he was not wrong.

The lyrical themes of ‘Gaps&Normads’ explore self-acceptance and the struggle of navigating the world as someone who defies stereotypes and doesn’t exactly ‘fit in’ in today’s society. This is highlighted by the lyrics “you’re told to straighten up when your path seems different” and “I’ve seen the cliché, tryna break that mould”.

The standout track was the single, ‘Sally’s Last Dance,’ it has an infectious chorus paired with a strong hip-hop beat and the lyrics although not extremely meaningful flow incredibly well. ‘Suedeflips!’ feels like the perfect song to play on aux to a party, it is a high energy hype song, that I bet is incredible live. In the last chorus Joe sings in a higher pitch, over the top of the original chorus creating a great atmosphere to end the song. The song also helps to close the album as it’s the last with lyrics, it talks about overcoming feeling different and being yourself. This perfectly complements the final song ‘Planet The Band’ as the jazzy uplifting instrumental piece implies Joe’s final self-acceptance.

The element of the album that was most impressive was the producing, as the quality is professional sounding despite being self-made and even the simplest of the tracks are creative and multi-instrumental.

The album is a completely self-made project – with no collaborations! Joe told me he didn’t feel like the album needed any collaborations, and that it he would of added some if he thought it was needed. Originally , as a listener, I thought a soft R&B female voice would compliment Joe’s rapping exceptionally well, however, I agree with Joe’s creative decision and see that the project is complete on its own.

Despite JoeJas having a unique sound and persona, the one artist that comes to mind is Tyler the Creator. Due to the ‘outside of the box’ outlook on music and similar mix of genres with his punk-rap style as well as his quirky personality and fashion style. This makes sense as when I asked Joe’s music inspirations, he mentioned Tyler amongst others including Pharrell, Timbaland, Earl sweatshirt, Chad Hugo, and Missy Elliot.

I am confident that the future for JoeJas is bright, in 5 years he sees himself with a “fire discography”, at festivals, shooting short films, as well as helping kids be themselves.

Links to ‘Gaps&Normads’

Physical CD’s: https://www.fatllama.co.uk/gapsandnomads

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0seHRmg77LmTv6w6EHMlg3

Apple music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/gaps-nomads/1637752975

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5 Underrated British Indie bands you need to add to your playlist!

My Top 5 picks of promising indie bands that deserve more love and recognition! The indie scene is one of the most difficult to break through as it is so saturated already by great talents- especially in Britain – making it highly competitive. Therefore, I wanted to choose some bands that have only just started and others that are somewhat established although they all come under the same category of underrated.

 

The K’s 

The K’s are an unsigned 4 piece from Earlestown, (west Manchester), they’re definitely a band to keep your eye on as personally I think they’re soon to blow! Incredibly their discography consists of just 8 singles, despite this they already have 68 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify.

In 2021 The K’s supported the DMAs on their UK tour as well as performing many festivals this summer such as: Lollapalooza in Stockholm and isle of White festival. Although their biggest gig yet will be taking to the main stage of Reading and Leeds, this same stage will be hosting indie heavyweights’ Arctic monkeys and Fontaines DC in the same weekend.

I think the release of their debut album will really show if they have what it takes to be an established name in the indie scene. My favourite songs include Sarajevo, picture, hometown, and TV. Many of the tracks are punk inspired with fast drums and heavy guitars but with great softer vocals; the K’s said themselves they are influenced by iconic Manchester bands Oasis and Stone Roses.

The K’s on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6DlKk9ibc9dCgvyNPGNXdH?si=mzQ7JjYhSEuG7JONeEt1qQ

 

Bilk

The next pick deserving WAY more recognition is Essex-based trio Bilk! Their unique sound is inspired by a variety of genres, such as pop-punk, rock, rap, grime and of course classic indie. Personally, I see most similarities with singer-songwriter Jamie T along with alternative rap artists such as Slowthai or Easy Life.

Bilk said they originally found it difficult to grow in hometown of Chelmsford as there is “no music scene whatsoever”. Despite this they have continued to achieve getting booked for huge UK festivals such as YNOT and Reading and Leeds this summer as well as receiving over 107k Spotify monthly listeners. Their tour this year included a gig at the iconic London venue of the 100 club that has hosted some of the biggest punk/rock bands, like The Sex Pistols and The Clash. Bilk have released several great singles such as: Spiked, Bad News and Day Dreamer. The refreshing trio’s lyrics perfectly describe British youth culture, being reckless teens and the reality of working-class Britain.

Bilk on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ryYQaYPltS7u7tjByRM3K?si=69bGADg1R16NAgaf2hdeUw

 

The Royston Club

The Royston club are an exciting band from Wrexham (north Wales), and as said so themselves are “just four lads making music”. The band’s success is rising as they recently played Isle of White and Neighbourhood Weekender festival and supported The Snuts in a sold-out Manchester gig. On top of that, the Welsh 4 piece just completed an 18 show UK tour that was very well received, highlighting their nationwide fanbase.

I think the best singles include Mrs Narcissistic, Coasting, Marina, the backburner. I would compare their sound to the likes of classic vocal indie bands such as The Kooks and 2 Door Cinema Club with their similarly strong emotive vocals, catchy well-written chorus’s with the addition of their distinct Welsh accents.

The Royston Club on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5N5jf98OOEf3uAIJpi1deD?si=w98VVLu1TxGDkGDH5Oz4pQ

 

The Skinner Brothers 

The Skinner Brothers are from London, made up of 4 members, their music is a blend of genres such as jazz, rock, and alternative rap. Their top songs include: Nothing but an Actor, Stupid Much? and Away Days. I think what sets them apart is having slower melodies paired with strong cockney vocals and their overwhelming passion that can be heard through songs such as away days that was inspired by British football culture and the emotions that comes with it.

They formed in 2018 and without a label The Skinner Brothers gained instant recognition by supporting the iconic Libertines followed by Kasabian (two of the biggest indie bands in the Uk). The London based quartet will continue to thrive as they have an upcoming tour across the country and will appear at several festivals before the summer ends.

The Skinner Brothers on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4PY51S3HuOMhnZA0Sx8FRN?si=Nz8enyhlT0-qu5M1w_af2Q

 

The Aftercare

I was shocked to see that this London-based trio had just 3000 monthly Spotify listeners and I think they deserve to be on your playlist! Aftercare currently only has 5 songs, the standout tracks for me are Spaceman, Samviktor and Sunday Comes around. With all 3 boys playing guitars they create softer sounding melodies that resemble more alternative bands such as Weezer and The Strokes.

The band gained some popularity through TikTok when they covered Declan Mckenna’s hit ‘Brazil’ while they sat in the bathtub playing guitars and it received over 2.6 million views! Aftercare are only at the beginning of their journey as they started at the beginning of this year, currently they’re playing intimate shows around London and their new release  ‘Adult Fiction’ is coming out soon. I have no doubt that they will grow as they release more consistently great music- the sky is the limit for this band!

The Aftercare on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0s0TqMn1hly1r3mcFDRN4m?si=n5-wZJ8rRw-bLtZ5wKzW_g 

 

PUBLISHED AUGUST 17th

By 25782697 on Recommendations tagged , , , , with 1 Comment

The Rise of the Alternative British Rap Scene – Why you should be listening!

The alternative UK rap scene is booming as artists such as Loyle Carner, Bakar and Slowthai are reinventing UK rap.

Often called ‘chill’, ‘jazz’ or ‘lo-fi’ rap, the sub-genre feels refreshing as it moves away from the well-known UK Hip-Hop Drill and Grime scene pioneered by Heavy weights such as Stormzy, Skepta and Giggs. Instead, the aggressive beats and fast lyrics are swapped for easy-going jazz-inspired beats paired with a conversational tone and often London accent.

In the last 5 years, the genre has taken off, I believe it’s because each artist has individual creativity, and because they focus less on charting and marketability. I think this music category will continue to thrive due to the relatability of the storytelling as it strays away from gang culture and violence found in grime that not many can relate to. This new wave of rappers use everyday life experiences and personal anecdotes to speak to an impressionable young generation.

Many start off on the platform SoundCloud, the interactivity features are why I think it’s so widely loved, artists can communicate with fans on each individual track. Also, artists can upload music without help, allowing them to be completely experimental and free of restrictions. Lausse The Cat first grew on this platform and despite not releasing music since 2018, he remains influential as he is one of the best storytellers. His ability to create vivid imagery through natural sound bites of real life coupled with his very real but poetic lyrics, allows listeners to go on a journey through his projects.

Another way songs take off is through the power of TikTok for example SL’s ‘Tropical’ and Bakar’s ‘Hell N Back’ that both ended up charting. This is not surprising as the songs are both aesthetic and catchy, making them perfect for short TikTok clips, allowing the artists to gain free recognition.

Although this genre is relatively new, I would suggest it has taken inspiration from old classic British artists from the early 2010’s. I strongly believe that Rizzle Kicks walked so that Loyle Carner could run, as they share a similar conversational tone and jazzy samples despite the difference in maturity of lyrics.

Here is my list of underrated alternative UK rappers that you need to check out and put on your playlist:

  • Knucks
  • Bennadict
  • Spencer Elmer
  • Collistar
  • Sainte 
  • Ashbeck
  • Ayrtn

Check out this playlist to explore the genre more: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7mWA6GhmwAHJypuSnc5mWS?si=1a6d11e7ed3941ef

Personal email for enquiries - maddy.pigott6@gmail.com Based in Lincoln (Lincolnshire) and Kingston Upon Thames (London)
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