For the 13th time the music industry experts have gathered to give us a hint at who to keep an eye for 2016. BBC Music Sound Of 2016 has launched the careers of many artists and in early Jan, someone else will top the list following in the footsteps of Sam Smith, Adele and Haim to name a few. Being shortlisted can really put a stamp on your career – just look at the last year’s winner Years and Years who topped the charts with their debut album Communion and last year’s runner-up James Bay whose debut album Chaos and Calm was thebiggest-selling debut album in 2015. So, the future of music looks like this:
Izzy Bizu
Blossoms
Alessia Cara
Loyle Carner
Frances
Jack Garratt
J Hus
Dua Lipa
Mabel
Billie Marten
Mura Masa
NAO
Rat Boy
Section Boyz
WSTRN
Here are some of our picks….
Izzy Bizu
Despite her young age Izzy Bizu has already toured with Sam Smith, Foxes and Rudimental. Even though her heroes are fellow soul divas Amy Winehouse and Ella Fitzgerald, the songstress puts her own spin on her songs mixing soul with digital distortion. Although at first she says she was too shy to so sing in the public, Izzy Bizu is now a brilliant live performer!
Izzy Bizu – ‘White Tiger’
Blossoms
With the likes of Temples and Tame Impala, people are quickly returning back to psychedelia and Blossoms are making sure that psychedelia is more than a passing trend. Drawing influences from the likes of The Beatles the Stockport five piece are sure to take 2016 by storm; the band is already selling out gigs for next year, including a show at Manchester’s Albert Hall. For those dreamers who want to build a time machine and go back to 60s and 70s, Blossoms is the band for you.
Blossoms – ‘Charlemagne’
Jack Garratt
Jack Garratt is one of the favourites to win The Sound Of 2016 and no wonder. The multi-instrumentalist has been compared to artists like Ed Sheeran and hails from the same soundscape as the previous winner Years and Years. Being adored by the BBC veterans Zane Lowe and Huw Stephens Jack Garratt is definitely the one to watch for next year.
Jack Garratt – ‘Breathe Life’
Loyle Carner
Loyle Carner is breaking the stereotypes of rap for those who thought rap can’t be slow and fast paced at the same time. Unraveling his own past the rapper’s intimate lyrics are often accompanied with a jazzy, laid-back sound. Loyle Carner’s flow is refreshingly chilled, if you want to sleep or dance you can do both while listening to his music.
Loyle Carner – ‘Ain’t Nothing Changed’
NAO
Hackney based NAO is taking the limelight after working as a backing singer for Pulp and Jarvis Cocker. The media has been raving about the singer since she started putting her music online; ‘So Good’ rose to number one on Zane Lowe’s Hype Machine and Annie Mac chose ‘Zillionaire’ as her Hottest Record. It looks like 2016 is going to be NAO’s year!
NAO – ‘Bad Blood’
Rat Boy
‘Sign On’, the brilliant debut song from Rat Boy put the media on a frenzy and the hurricane around him is not about to settle any time soon. Remember the time when Alex Turner’s lyrics were full of charming arrogance and he wouldn’t apologise for pissing people off? Well, that’s Rat Boy! The singer dubbed as the new Jamie T is one the most exciting acts at the moment and he’ll leave you thirsty for more.
Rat Boy – ‘Sign On’