Many of the emerging artists I have selected exactly this time last year for a list celebrating Top 10 Hottest Newcomers of 2017 continued to inspire and impress us throughout 2018. Miink, Ellen Milgrau, Sink Ya Teeth, Nathy Peluso or Kwaye all remained creatively prolific throughout this year. It is always exhilarating to discover up-and-coming artists at the very beginning of their artistic journeys. Here's my selection of the most promising new artists of 2018, the first of my year-end rankings I am delighted to share with you until the end of December.
How about a double portion of Kaytranada magic? The ever so prolific Haitian-Canadian producer is back with his brand new EP including another collaborative gem featuring one of my favourite vocalists right now - Shay Lia. "Chances" is a mid-tempo oldskool-flavoured groove which serves as a delicious warm-up to the house-meets-afro-beat banger that is "Another Lover" which the beat wizard has recently arranged for a Nigerian-American sister act VanJess. The single is accompanied by one of this year's most vibrant music videos directed by Mahaneela.
Kaytranada seems to be absolutely unstoppable right now between his own releases, guest appearances and production duties. And long may it last.
Onuka are back with a brand new single. The high-powered "Xashi" is such an unanticipated treat considering the Ukrainian electro-folk band have only just released their latest album "MOZAЇKA" back in spring. "ХАЩІ" is an energy-dripping aural concoction of electronica, synths, Kraftwerkian vibes, trombones and the compulsory Ukrainian folk instruments. Onuka is strengthening their established position among the most original acts of the European continent with a devoted following going beyond Central and Eastern Europe at this stage. Attracting audiences with their sleek image paired with the instantly recognisable visual aesthetics of their music videos and live shows, their signature sound fusing various genres, styles and influences and finally with what seems like an unstoppable stream of excellent releases, Onuka are on top of their game!
If you are nostalgic about 1980's vibes, the rare grooves, those smooth and slick soul anthems à la 1985 you are pretty much guaranteed to fall for this oldskool-flavoured absolute gem of a song. Lynda Dawn is a London based vocalist whose "Move" could trick us into believing it was some previously undiscovered lost gem of the era... The track comes from the latest edition in Gilles Peterson's cult series of compilations "Brownswood Bubblers". A lucky 13th volume! Think Mtume, The Fatback Band, Loose Ends, René & Angela and Gwen Guthrie... I am so looking forward to hearing more from this talented young songstress.
The enigmatic Galleriet - California based Swedish interdisciplinary artist and electronic musician, has recently self-released one of this year's most distinctive EPs "Send Me Your Daughter". Katharina Stenbeck, the visual artist behind the project, channels her work through soundscapes of synth-pop, experimental pop and electronica which happen to be right up my musical alley. "Senga" and "Signorelli" - two stand-out tracks among this captivating selection, float aurally between the cold synth waves of early Eurythmics and the avant-pop excursions of Róisín Murphy's "Hairless Toys" era. Pop Art à la 2018.
Dinamo Azari aka Azari from the prominent Canadian ensemble AZARI & III (who scored Track of the Year here for 2 consecutive years with "Reckless (With Your Love)" in 2010 and "Manic" in 2011) is back with a solo project heralded by one of the most addictive club tracks we've heard thus far in 2018. The pulsating "Gotasoul", featuring the electrifying vocals of James Baley, is an acid-house flavoured excursion into underground house clubs dripping with raw energy, sonic hedonism, mystery and sensuality. An immediate anthem which leaves me gasping for Azari's full album scheduled to drop later on this year.
The official press release describes Azari's new project most accurately:
"This project is a reaction to perfection and predictability, a reminder that you don’t have to fit in to function. It’s a return to the raw, expressive and rule breaking days of punk and acid house. It embodies forward thinking music, art and visuals that have the power to incite shock and awe. It’s for a generation that looks beyond labels. It’s a project that places equal power with all genders, sexualities and races, and draws in outsiders at odds with the world’s current categories."
The mysterious Miink beguiled us last autumn with his hypnotising debut single "Who Are You?" which landed him a secure spot among the Top 10 Hottest Newcomers of 2017. Now the fascinating London-based vocalist returns with "Scorched Moth". Floating effortlessly between genres, styles and sounds, it creates a unique sonic hybrid which leaves us gasping for more at its modest yet aurally abundant 2.41min. The artistic future is bright for this multi-talented, curious and inventive young gentleman.
I am reviving my "Newbies But To-Be's" thread today with the arrival of the enigmatic Otha. Otha follows Smerz, Sassy 009, Lekende Lett, or ARY in the recent invasion of independent Norwegian female artists. Norway has enjoyed a really prolific club and electronica scene for way over 2 decades at this stage, yet each one of these new talents is bringing something fresh to the table. Othalie Husøy's self-released "One of the Girls" has it all. The seductive collage of ambient and deep house, that uncannily crisp Scandinavian synth-pop production, haunting melody and flawless vocal harmonies. It is an instantly captivating composition, complete in every respect. I have lost the play count of "One of the Girls" at this stage as I remain completely mesmerised by the song.
I am extremely honoured to have this planet's number 1 disco collective - the inimitable Midnight Magic premiering their brand new video here on my carousel of tunes! The seductive slow-motion synth disco moment "Down Delay" is taken from their epic disco funk odyssey of an album "Free From Your Spell" which landed at the podium of my Top 20 Best Records of 2016. Very impressed with "Free From Your Spell" I have written up this saucy love letter to the band around the same time. The aptly sensual video stars Midnight Magic's phenomenal vocalist Tiffany Roth and was directed by the singer's long term friend and collaborator Dawn Carol Garcia.
Midnight Magic are playing Rough Trade NYC this Saturday. Get your tickets HERE.
Lisa Stansfield's euphoric new single "Everything" is here! The track heralds the release of her brand new studio album "Deeper" and brings us on a somewhat sentimental journey to the "Affection" days with its slick kaleidoscope of British soul, funk and dance pop. To celebrate the release of the song I am taking you back through the ever so luscious back-catalogue of tunes from the Manchester diva with my very subjective selection of her 20 greatest tracks to date.
Top 20 Greatest Lisa Stansfield Gems
20 "Down In The Depths" - from "Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute To Cole Porter" (1990)
19 "Symptoms of Loneliness & Heartache" - from "Real Love" (1991)
18 "So Natural" (1993)
17 "Set Your Loving Free (Mellow Mix)" (1992)
16 "The Line" (1997)
15 "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" (1992)
14 "Never Gonna Fall" (1997)
13 "Marvellous & Mine" - from "So Natural" (1993)
12 "The Love In Me (12" Remix)" - from "People Hold On... The Remix Anthology" (2014)
