FEATURE:
Sounds Alright to Me!
IN THIS PHOTO: Ella Mai/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
BBC’s Sound of 2019: Diverse Sounds and Female Dominance
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ONE can struggle to take in all the polls and lists that...
IN THIS PHOTO: Octavian/PHOTO CREDIT: Ollie Adegboye
recommend us to watch very artists next year. There are a lot of lists out right now - myself included – and it can be tough honing down to a few names that are truly marked for success. It is time for the BBC to present the runners/long-list for their Sound of 2019. It is an interesting selection that has more female artists included than men. Sexism and gender inequality still rules in music but, with the BBC making their picks of 2019 female-heavy; it is a big step and an important one. There is a good spread of genres and sounds and, in terms of sonic diversity, we have quite a lot of interesting directions and choices. The Guardian have proved details of the nominees and figures for the latest BBC recommendations:
“Women dominate the BBC’s list of rising artists tipped for success in its annual tastemaker poll. Flamenco star Rosalía, south London rapper Flohio and British R&B success Ella Mai appear on the BBC Sound of 2019 longlist.
Six of the 10 nominees are female. London songwriter Grace Carter is signed to the same management company as Dua Lipa and Lana Del Rey. King Princess, AKA Mikaela Straus, is a 19-year-old queer pop songwriter from New York City with a fan in Harry Styles.
Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy has been compared to Rag’n’Bone Man, while all-male London four-piece Sea Girls are the only band on the list...
The top five artists will be revealed from 7 January, with the winner revealed on 11 January. The 10-strong long list has shrunk from 15 in previous years.
The prize celebrates musicians who have not been the lead artist on a UK Top 10 single or album by 22 October 2018. Artists who have appeared on TV talent shows within the last three years are also ineligible”.
It is a good cross-section of artists and I like the fact that there are more women in the list than men. Pop has not got much of a shout and it seems, in terms of BBC and their tastes, they are going in new directions. Because we have a few more weeks until we know who will be crowned BBC’s ‘Sound of 2019’; I have included all the artists and their social media channels; a sample of their material and, in the words of the BBC, what they are like/what their sound is. Have a look and listen at the prestigious ten because it seems, between them, these artists are going to make 2019’s music scene...
IN THIS PHOTO: King Princess/PHOTO CREDIT: Adam Benn/Mushroom Promotions
A very interesting place.
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Grace Carter
PHOTO CREDIT: Next Management
Bio: “Searingly personal, piano-led pop”
Location: London
Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsgracecarter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsgracecarter/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2LuHL7im4aCEmfOlD4rxBC?si=t9tD0xaKRGSJl_yscjJ-Kw
Standout Cut: Saving Grace
Flohio
PHOTO CREDIT: Hanna Moon for DAZED
Bio: “Raw, punchy, poetic rap”
Location: London
Twitter: https://twitter.com/flohio16
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flohio/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qffELscxpltKCso3ByH67?si=BGAJY1uHS5KmD0KdtlHXTQ
Standout Cut: 10 More Rounds
Dermot Kennedy
PHOTO CREDIT: Christian Tierney
Bio: “Folk roots with a hip-hop influence”
Location: Dublin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DermotKennedy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dermotkennedymusic/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5KNNVgR6LBIABRIomyCwKJ?si=EoqKpw9FRpyf4aI9rMO3dw
Standout Cut: Power Over Me
King Princess
PHOTO CREDIT: Ryan McGinley for Interview
Bio: “Queer pop queen-in-waiting”
Location: N.Y.C./L.A.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KingPrincess69
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingPrincess69/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6beUvFUlKliUYJdLOXNj9C?si=DJH8XS0OQkO9L08mqo4RNw
Standout Cut: 1950
Mahalia
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
Bio: “Casual, effortless soul anthems”
Location: Leicestershire/Birmingham
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mahalia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mahaliamusic/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/16rCzZOMQX7P8Kmn5YKexI?si=H3hyoBK7S56jIjyhQj8DdA
Standout Cut: Surprise Me
Ella Mai
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
Bio: “Platinum-certified retro R&B”
Location: London
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellamai
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellamai/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7HkdQ0gt53LP4zmHsL0nap?si=iK5xRg3uRvqH3GNKu7vbFw
Standout Cut: Trip
Octavian
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
Bio: “Genre-defying London MC”
Location: London
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OctavianEssie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Octavianog22/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5zfEatKLDdRkgbw6sdLBAQ?si=Au6ov0pUQk-4rG8I6nSXMA
Standout Cut: Little
Rosalía
PHOTO CREDIT: Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images
Bio: “Catalan star who's revitalising flamenco”
Location: Barcelona
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosaliavt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicarosaliabarcelona/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7ltDVBr6mKbRvohxheJ9h1?si=gSjpYPExTPuG7MBxBC2Now
Standout Cut: BAGDAD (Cap. 7: Liturgia)
Sea Girls
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
Bio: “Fired-up indie anthems”
Location: Lincolnshire/Rutland/Leicestershire/Kent
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sonicseagirls
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonicseagirls/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/45FqwUG4hTT6d39r2HUsUe?si=DNM1Xf1KQVm137U8few7DQ
Standout Cut: Lost
slowthai
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
Bio: “Truth-telling outsider rap”
Location: Northampton
Twitter: https://twitter.com/slowthai
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nospacenocaps/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3r1XkJ7vCs8kHBSzGvPLdP?si=OHw-U8_ETt2TLt5AxH8l2A
Standout Cut: Rainbow