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Bubbling beneath the surface of the last few months, there have been plenty of brilliant acts from across all-genres impressing us as they cut their teeth and stake a claim on the future. Make no mistake, 2014 is shaping up to be a pretty incredible year for new music.
If you're looking for a guide to what the year ahead really should sound like, here are our 12 tips for ones to watch in 2014 (with a handy playlist at the bottom).
Thumpers
Sub-Pop signings and stars of tomorrow Thumpers recently supported Chvrches on their UK tour - leaving a lasting impression on thousands across the nation. Although a duo, they pack one hell of a punch on record and when it comes to playing live the London newcomers offer a multi-instrumental onslaught of sweet five-way harmonies, relentless rhythms, brass, handclaps and searing rhythms that brings to mind the shameless pop lunacy of The Go Team and Los Campesinos. They've got everything it takes to follow in Chvrches footsteps and go on to great things next year.
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Only Real
Imagine a chilled out, hipster version of Plan B. Sounds awful, doesn't it? And yet Londoner Only Real is one of the most exciting new urban-influenced stars on the scene in 2014. Mixing laid back rap with psychedelic, sun-drenched indie sounds, Only Real's Days In The City EP was the perfect soundtrack to the UK summer, with just enough attitude packed into his beats to reflect his streetwise edge. Expect to see Only Real on countless festival line-ups - in London and beyond.
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Say Lou Lou
Sweden has a history of perfect pop music, but the country may have hit its peak with Say Lou Lou - twin sisters Miranda and Elektra Kilbey. The duo released their Julian EP in early 2013, with the lead track ('Julian') proving one of the year's more perfect pop singles. Subtle and restrained, yet deftly reaching for a touch of the epic in its electropop glory. However, many listeners instead sung the praises of b-side, Chet Faker duet, 'Fool Of Me'. An incredible, bleak break-up ballad, the sisters and the Aussie star flipping verses as they pieced through a failed relatonship. It was no one-off either.
Say Lou Lou returned at the end of 2013 with second EP, Better In The Dark. It was every inch as brilliant as the first, and since then they have showcased more new material at their live shows. Their effortlessly classy pop sounds have thus far thrilled the blog world, but sounds as good as these are too perfect not to hit the mainstream. Expect big things.
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Sisters
Sisters are a raucous but awesome three piece from Limerick, Ireland. Bringing a DIY attitude back to the fore, when you're told they're 'ones to watch', it's for all the right reasons. There's no style over substance, just phat and beefy fuzz-rock done properly. You're going to hear a lot of 1990s references, but Sisters kick shoegaze up the arse and bring the halcyon sounds of yesteryear racing into the future.
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Mø
Robyn had better hurry up with her new album, because Mø is out to steal her crown. The comparisons are easy, it's true, but Mø is the first pop female to flip pop sounds to such incredible effect since the days of Robyn's 'Handle Me' or 'Be Mine'. There's a similar sense of swagger, attitude and crotch-grabbing sexual empowerment about Mø's music, and having caught her incredible performance at Latitude festival in the summer of 2013, this girl can seriously cut it live. There are a number of female newcomers making a bid for success in 2014, and while there's no reason they can't all be megastars, Mø is leading the pack, with her debut album confirmed for release on 24 February.
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Arthur Beatrice
They've been compared to everyone from The Smiths, The xx and Prefrab Sprout to Ellie Goulding and Calvin Harris. Pretty confusing eh? Well, ignore that - they sound only like Arthur Beatrice. They're a band that have very staunchly trodden their own path. There's been a buzz about them as a 'new band' since 2011. The long wait comes from taking their time to bypass hype and self-produce their hotly-anticipated debut album. It's safe to say that the spirit of independence is very much alive in this articulate and charming young foursome.
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Skaters
These three NYC rockers describe their sound as 'humblecore'. They may not have big egos, but their potential knows no bounds. With a free and easy garage rock sound, they've been compared to The Strokes - but that's nonsense really. Ignore all other points of reference and just have yourself a bloody good time.
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RAC
RAC's Don't Talk To EP slipped under the radar slightly in 2013, but in this day and age, that doesn't make the blindest bit of difference. Lead track 'Let Go' featured Kele Okereke of Bloc Party and picked up national radio support, but it was Penguin Prison collaboration which really shone. The bass guitar-led, snarling attack on both an ex-lover and the trappings of fame and celebrity is a future hit in the making, with an incredible chorus that is sure to dominate airwaves in 2014.
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Banks
LA native Jillian Banks' debut EP London was an impressive and accomplished piece of work even on first listen, with the tracks instantly becoming stone cold modern electronic pop classics. The futuristic R&B wagon is admittedly full to bursting right now, but Banks' songs actually have properly catchy choruses, earworming hooks and lyrics that really make you feel something. We predict massive collaborations and an equally gratifying full length album in 2014.
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Sophie
It's not widely known WHO Sophie actually is, although Skream hinted on his Radio 1 show that Sophie is a dude called Sam from Scotland [apparently the new breeding ground for exciting electronic music]. But quite frankly, who cares when the music is this mind bogglingly great? Cheesy as it sounds, Sophie obviously wants us to focus on the product rather than the person, and we have no qualms doing so when he's creating almost wonderfully indescribable slices of squelchy electronica. Double single Bipp/Elle, released earlier this year, is absolute corker, all chunky basslines and dizzying layers merged with hyperactive, cheerleader-chanting vocals (Bipp) or grime inspired synths and mind melting effects (Elle). Sophie aims to "make music which is fun to dance to – that should be the loudest voice talking." Job done.
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FKA twigs
London vocalist FKA twigs sounds and looks amazing and is the pop star we all need and deserve for 2014. We feel the stunning, sparse [almost industrial] EP2 only touched the surface of her candid, yearning lyricism and the four incredible tracks slapped us in the face in the nicest possible way, leaving us blinking and impressed. Twigs clearly has good taste, selecting super-cool Yeezus co producer Arca to craft the grinding, hollow instrumentals that echo twigs' sentiments beautifully.
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Phoria
Have you ever wondered what an English Sigur Ros would sound like? Wonder no more. Of course it's fantastically lazy (and a bit rude) to simply compare a new band with another band but it's the best way to describe this Brighton five piece, and it's a compliment. Their twisting, haunting, melodic indie pop is sure to break into the public consciousness next year, if there's any justice.
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Listen to all these bands and artists, and more brilliant new bands set for big things in 2014, below.
