More about: Matt Corby
The end of the year is nigh, and tis the season of lists - looking back on what's been, and getting excited about what 2016 may hold. So many promising predictions are being made about what music will give us next year, if you want to bank one dead cert - it's that Matt Corby will become a household name.
We sat down with Corby in London, where he told us about his the highs and lows of his musical journey thus far.
He began his musical career at the age of 16 on Australian Idol, where he finished runner up. Since then, he’s developed his own musical style that's so human and universal, releasing EPs. After two years of silence, Corby has announced that his debut album, Telluric, which will be released in March 2016. Until then, he has been touring internationally, teasing his new material as well as performing songs from his older EPs.
Here are 14 things we learned from talking with the future star of 2016:
1. He has only just mastered his instruments
“I just spent the last two years figuring out how to play a bunch of instruments. Now I feel that I’ve finally got to a point where I can complete a composition from start to finish just completely independently.”
2. He sees us all as ‘Tellurians’
“Telluric is a word to describe precious metals but as a bigger overreaching metaphor, it’s about the terrestrial of the earth. We’re all tellurians, we’re all things that have grown out of the earth’s intelligence over time and the biological evolution of things. We’re nothing more than the plant life or animal that’s on this earth. We just think that we’re more intelligent.”
Listen to 'Sooth Lady Wine' from Telluric, below.
3. He takes around one month to complete a song
“Most of these songs were written within a month. Most of the time it starts with a rhythm or chord progression.”
4. The biggest inspiration for his music is his friends
“I’m inspired by a lot of people I know. I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by a lot of people with a lot of time on their hands. Being from a country like Australia, you have a shit load of time on your hands. Everyone is trying to do something musically good in my friendship circle. There’s a band that was called the Middle East who were fucking cool. They were a nine-piece band with three lead singers and I ended up living with one of them for a while. We had a lot of similar ideas and music tastes. About a year and a half ago we really pushed each other to a place where we were happy to produce what we’d call a song.”
5. It’s his dream for Lauren Hill to swear at him.
“I really love people like Charles Bradley and Lauren Hill, who’s a beast. You can’t fuck about with that chick, she’s a total badass. It’d be my dream for her to swear at me.”
6. He listens to contemporary music analytically
"I listen to contemporary music now analytically to have a rough idea about how the industry is presenting music. People are hedging bets and trying to make money off some sort of formula. The public are outsmarting the industry by going 'that’s boring, I recognise that formula, I know that’s trying to make money'. I try to tailor my music to avoid that. My songs have their own thing going on individually. I need people to understand my songs but I need to push my boundaries of what I think is acceptable in order to push theirs.”
7. He’s finally overcome his Australian Idol stigma.
“The negative energy surround my Australian idol days has dispersed. There are still hints of it but now its something I can laugh at. It was definitely a battle for a few years, more so in Australia though. If people really want to find that out, they’ll find it out. In Australia I was ‘that dude from the TV’. People were like 'why the fuck should I give him the time of day'. I’ve released enough music to counteract that stigma. For a while I had to keep reminding people that I was super young and I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing. Anyone else that age would’ve done the same as me. I took it with a grain of salt, but no one else understood that. The show is edited in such a way that it’s not ‘you’. It’s a rough approximation of who you are, but a more marketable version of your personality. It’s all for ratings, it’s not reality TV at all.”
Check out a very young Matt Corby singing Coldplay's 'The Scientist' on Australian Idol below:
9. He doesn’t give a f*** if his music goes to no.1
“I’m always having second thoughts about continuing with music. I mainly do it because it’s the only thing I can do. I just want to make good music at the end of the day. I couldn’t give a fuck if it went to number one, that’s all pointless. There’s so much music nowadays that people just want to hear something honest. Look at Father John Misty, that motherfucker is so honest. He’s almost sarcastic in his honesty and it’s really resonating with people because finally they’re not being spoken down to. They aren’t as dumb as everyone assumes them to be. It’s liberating. I want to be part of that. I want to help people understand themselves and to get in touch with what they are fundamentally.”
10. He despises the way the music industry works
“There’s a lot of shit that’s weird about being a musician in this day and age. The whole marketing side of it is obscure. I think it’s ostentatious because it’s so ego driven. I struggle with ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’ when the cooks have never had a cooking lesson. I had a hard day today with people trying to revise the track listing with this record. I spent all day in my hotel room listening to the songs that I put to bed that I don’t need to listen to again because I’ve already made all of these decisions. It just so happens that you have to indulge whoever and their little suggestions and the way they want things to be.”
“I find it really difficult. I’ve come this far and done it all on my own. I’ve got it to the point where it’s mixed and mastered but still there are things that are being questioned about the things I am making. Now I have to go and revise stuff and then things will get pushed back a week or a month. It makes my blood boil. It sounds bad but its really hard not to feel personally attacked. Even by your team and the people who care about what you’re doing, when they question you, I don’t know what their incentives are.”
“I sent the record label my album and the first thing they said was ‘oh there aren’t any singles on it’.”
11. He likes Brighton, but is a bit intimidated by London
“Brighton is pretty cool. People are chill there. I always get a bit nervous playing in London. I moved here when was 18, made a lot of mistakes and the more serious part of my musical journey began here. I was at the same time under threat here. There are so many talented people here and so many people trying to do good shit, it just becomes a bit overwhelming when I come back here. I feel the weight of this city, which is heavy. I don’t know how to describe it. It gets the better of me.”
“I’m Australian. I live in a tiny community of a few thousand people and everyone knows everyone. No one does anything quickly and you come here and everyone’s like “fuck off, fuck off, you’re a cunt, you’re a cunt” it’s crazy!”
12. He doesn’t like big venues
“If you have a bigger venue that is still capable of creating an intimate setting, that’s awesome. But a big venue that seems massive, there’s a level of detachment there that I find hard to deal with. If I wound up on the pyramid stage on Glastonbury, I would eat shit. The more people ther are, the less emotional connection you have. A lot of my music is emotionally based. It’s harder to communicate that.”
13. He’s big mates with the man who created Neil Young’s artwork
“My management sent Gary Burden an interview of mine. We ended up having this conversation on the phone. He is a legend. We had a huge conversation about the state of the world and creativity. He’s on such a similar level to me in so many ways. When he asked what to make for this album, he said do you have any direction for the artwork, I just said ‘telluric’, I know you’ll be inspired. He said that he had a transcending experience when listening to Monday.”
Listen to 'Monday' below:
14. He’s excited to visit Canada
“I’m excited to go to Canada but I don’t know why. I feel like all the Canadians I met are similar to Australians: chill and sarcastic. The Hoser Canadian mentality is similar to the Australian larrikin mentality.”
15. He reckons there’s brain tissue in your gut.
“If you have a feeling in your gut, go with it. There’s brain tissue there that may defy the logic centres in your brain but it may be the right decision. If you trust yourself through the process, you won’t have anyone else to blame. You don’t want to be pointing fingers at people. The more honest you can be, the better.”
Corby's UK upcoming tour dates are below. Tickets for the new tour will be available for pre-sale on Tuesday 15th December at 9am, and on general sale on Wednesday 16th at 9am. For tickets and information, visit here.
MARCH 2016
2 March - Glasgow, O2 ABC 1
4 March - Leeds, Stylus
5 March - Manchester, Albert Hall
7 March - Liverpool, Arts Club
8 March - Birmingham, O2 Institute
9 March - Bristol, Anson Rooms
12 March - Southampton, Engine Rooms
14 March - Worthing, Pavilion Theatre
15 March - London, Roundhouse
APRIL 2016
2 April - Belfast, Limelight 2
3 April - Dublin, Academy
Get Inuit: Kent based indie-rockers who understand the raw power of simplicity. Signed to Alcopop! records, home of Johnny Foreigner, Brawlers and Tellison, Get Inuit have the fresh choruses and enough trebled hits to frequent indie discos for many years to come.
Gilligan Moss: Making waves since 2013, this Chicago producer has only started to get the attention he deserves recently. An dizzying blend of organic samples, synth-pop and memorable house beats, Moss will undoubtedly grow on you.
Hinds: Last summer may have been when the buzz began to gather, but now is when the Spanish Hinds (fka Deers) turn into real, widespread, worldwide love. We have no doubt that their warped, punky, youthful exuberance will be soundtracking those mental afteroons will into summer 2016 when their debut finally drops and they conquer the world.
Blossoms: : An aching cool from an age gone by, matched with a universally loveable blend of psychedelia played within the realm of classic pop, rock and mod sounds. We fell in love when they stormed our Stylus stage at Live At Leeds, and now that they've signed to a major label, the rest of the world will follow.
Georgia: Having just released her debut all written, recorded and produced in her bedroom over a two-year period, Georgia's urban cocktail of pop, electronic and grime has enough flavour and kick to satisfy even the most critical of palettes.
Ben Khan: Jai Paul with more consistency, Ben Khan's glitch infused electro-pop is a vibrant and fevered rework of the typical neo-soul 2015 has heard far too much of and, with an EP already under his belt, Ben Khan seems to have every intention to stick around.
Lion Babe: US pop duo Lion Babe have been cropping up here and there since 2012 but next year looks to their most lucrative yet. Having worked with Childish Gambino and Pharrell, superstar status is just round the corner for Lion Babe.
Nai Harvest: Sheffield duo that don't compromise melody or grit with their brand of garage-rock. Somehow finding the perfect marriage of the two, listening to Nai Harvest is a fun and somewhat irresponsible experience that's best shared with friends.
Oscar: Equal parts Damon Albarn and Steve Malkmus, the melancholic fuzz of Oscar Scheller is blissful enough to warm even the most frigid of heartstrings. Tracks like 'Sometimes' and 'Beautiful Words' aren't going to reinvent sound for 2016 but are aural remedies for the disheartened and that's more than good enough.
Honne: Seductive rhythms that resonate on record, but are effortlessly accentuated in a live environment, the best way we can describe them is 'sex music'. Adding a tinge of lust to pop and electronica, let them woo you as all of the behind the scenes industry hype blooms into making them a household name in 2016.
Jay Prince: Having appeared on the latest Mura Masa EP, Jay Prince is turning heads by curating a new London hip-hop scene that breaks off the grid of the Grime label. Chilled beats akin to Tribe or, more recently, Kaytranada and effortless flow, this 21 year old rapper has got the talent to match his ambition.
Alex G: By no means a new artist, Alex Giannascoli has uploaded hundreds of songs onto the internet but not for us, for him. His wordplay and DIY charm has been gaining traction for years but, if everything falls in place, 2016 could be the year Alex G breaks through the Bandcamp barrier.
Hippo Campus: Since SXSW the Minneapolis indie-rockers have been on the radar for all the biggest Indie blogs and websites. Their intricate riffs and spritely lyrics will ring especially sweet for any fans of Dutch Uncles, Vampire Weekend or Wu Lyf.
Slutface: We must admit, we first went to see this band based purely on the name alone. What we discovered may well just be the best new band we've heard in a long, long time. With the riot-grrrl attitude of Sleater-Kinney met with the pure rush of Blood Red Shoes, the emerging Norwegian quartet Slutface throw out infectious pop punk riffs and irresistible choruses that demand every moment of your attention. Check out 'Bad Party', 'Shave My Head', 'Angst' and 'Call To Arms' if you don't believe us. We have seen the future, and its name is Slutface.
Kero Kero Bonito: Video games, house and bubble-gum pop is the secret to Kero Kero Bonito's one-of-a-kind sound. Featuring multi-lingual rapping and a production duo including rising star Kane West, KKB are fast becoming an iconic name in new dance music.
Nao: Breaking through with the sleek hit 'Zillionaire', London songwriter Nao is harnessing the power of late 90s RnB and pointing it in the direction of a digitised future.
Hannah Lou Clark: Not your average singer-songwriter, the obtuse and emotional whirlwind of 'Silent Type' is evidence of that. With jittering guitar lines and resonating pines, this London songwriter has bags of determination and a visceral honesty.
Kateboy: Swedish pop trio, Kateboy, have been staggering their hype over a few years now. They finally dropped debut album One in 2015 after a terrific self-titled EP, their tactile blend of dance-pop is sure to frequent sound systems of 2016 both at home and in the club.
Oceaan:The internet has been caught in an undertow of adoration over this Manchester based producer for a number of months now. His emotional and yet distant soundscapes are craft atmospheres not of this terrestrial realm.
Formation: Bouncy dance vibes taking a page out of Hot Chip's or LCD Soundsystem's book. The speaky-sing vocals and effervescent drive of 'Hangin' is more than enough fun to tantalise, not to mention that Formation make use heavy use of cowbell - enough said.
Ho99o9: Despite appearing hellbent on destruction, Ho99o9 (pronounced HORROR) are an unmissable live prospect. Hailing from New Jersey and blending elements of hip hop, punk and blistering white noise, the duo are currently adding the finishing touches to their debut album, with their live shows as unpredictable as their recorded output - just don't blame us if you don't make it out alive.
The Big Moon: Formally The Moon, The Big Moon's name-change came just at the right time. Their sweet and sour songwriting and wired instrumentals throwback to Runaways style rebellion but with a distinctly London bite.
Neon Waltz: "Dreamy, ethereal, melodic, explosive" is how the rising Scottish upstarts described their sound to Gigwise, damn right. They may only have a handful of tracks online, but the momentum has gathered with an incredible pace around these lads - get swept up in their glorious wave of sound before everyone else does.
Miya Folick: LA delivers plenty on the electro-pop]fronts but very little in the wheelhouse of folk. Miya Folick finds a mid-point between the former and latter channeling Cat Power through the lens of a writer raised in a Buddhist household.
Alessia Cara: Starting up doing acoustic covers on Yotube, Cara has far outgrown those humble beginnings with her confident and striking RnB. With a knack for sampling and wordplay, Cara is a jack-of-all-trades destined for a meteoric rise.
April Towers: "Party in the hot sun, no care, all fun," declare April Towers in the rousing call to arms of their huge single, 'A Little Bit Of Fear' - emphasised even further on the massive follow-up 'Modern Psyche'. A million miles from what you'd expect of Nottingham, but the the ultimate escapist summer. Notts duo Alex Noble and Charlie Burley conjure up the true decadent and free spirit of the season with a number that takes the tropical electro of the likes of Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem with the brooding anthemics of Interpol and send them racing ever skywards. There's no two ways about it, if April Towers aren't massive in 2016, then there is no justice in the world.
Dua Lipa: A guaranteed hit machine, this 19 year old London singer has just signed to Lana Del Rey's management team. Blissed out and sunburst tinted, Lipa's intoxicating songwriting has all the ingredients for future smash hits, just give it some time.
Rat Boy: Much has been made of Rat Boy's knack for comical realism, waxing lyrical about the pitfalls of searching for a job and scuffling with the law, but he's so much more than Jamie T's little, louder brother. Newly backed by a snotty nosed live band, Jordan Cardy is already broadening his sound through subtle ambition - without losing any of the wacky grit that made him so charming in the first place.
Black Honey: They might have initially kept their identities shrouded in mystery, but Black Honey were evidently confident in allowing their singles to speak for themselves. And they did, their unique strain of woozy dream pop proving utterly seductive, particularly on the remarkable 'Teenager'. Expect to swoon.
Youth Man: Youth Man may want to rattle brains and shatter bones but there's much fun to be had among the ferocity. Boasting the accolade of one of Rolling Stone's '10 New Artists You Need To Know' and the awful lot of hype that follows it, the three piece don't appear fazed. Like they said themselves, they want to be the loudest band in Britain and, with the likes of 'Heavy Rain' and 'SKIN', they're getting very close.
VANT: There's not much to dislike about VANT. Often clocking in at around two minutes, their clutch of songs are arresting despite being so slight and Mattie Vant's lyrics are surely destined to be screamed back at him by bulging festival crowds. Not ones to outstay their welcome, expect a breezy set with buckets of attitude.
Mura Masa: 19 year old Alex Crossan is on track to be the hugest producer of next year. With an incredible Sometime Somewhere EP his subterranean soundscapes make use of distinct timbre and samples amalgamating a sound that will sound become a synonymous to the Masa name.
Aurora: Part of the incredible Viking invasion conquering our airwaves from Norway, the teenage Aurora has an angelic sweetness to her synth-pop sound - but it's a Trojan horse for the matured wisdom and pummelling melodrama within. She's making pop feel like it matters, and we can't wait for her to dominate 2016. There's a lot more to her than just doing that John Lewis ad.
Clean Cut Kid: Having just smashed CMJ, Liverpool's Clean Cut Kit is on track to break into the big leagues of indie-stardom. The band combine the preppy harmonies of Vampire Weekend and the melodic mastery of Paul Simon. With their limited discography it still feels like they haven't even begun to delve into the vast depths of potential this band are capable of.
Du Blonde: Beth Jeans Houghton knows the importance of balance. As well as operating under the Du Blonde moniker, Houghton also works an office job in West London to tide her over. We can't comment on the quality of her admin but her psychedelic cum hardcore sound is the result of the empowering nature of balance and the creativity that stems from it.
Kacy Hill: A model turned back-up dancer turned G.O.O.D Music star, Kacy Hill was picked up by Kanye's label after Ye himself heard her material while she danced for his Yeezus tour. Despite nestling in with Kanye and Travis Scott, Kacy Hill's idiosyncratic glitch-pop speaks for itself without endorsement.
Kiko Bun: Reggae is an underrated and underexposed branch of London music. Having already supported The Wailers, this London singer songwriter encapsulates good vibes, lazy rhythms and urban flair into one fresh and universally adored sound.
Loyle Carner: UK hip-hop needs a leader and Loyle Carner might just be it. Stepping away from the Grime explosion, Carner focuses on the lyrical and appreciates the significance of barchitecture above all things. His music traces the thematics of adolescent development more articulately than thought possible.
Marlon Williams: Rebelling against his punk upbringing, Williams involved himself into the world of country music and songwriting. Taking the sharp tongue of Bob Dylan and peppering it with the clandestine brood of Johnny Cash - the legacy of Marlon Williams is already traced, it just hasn't become realised yet.
Petite Meller: The future of pop you would have never seen coming, Petite Meller's china-doll aesthetic is disarming to be sure but her music has the inclusivity of a group hug. Curating the best of 80s anthems for the dancefloor audiences of 2015, Petite Meller traces the boundary between the overblown and the authentic but, either way you look at it, is a welcome and undeniable fun addition to the pop sphere.
Pixx: The 19-year-old Londoner was given a supportive nudge by Grimes a few months ago, when she posted the brilliant 'A Way To Say Goodbye' on her Tumblr: "u should listen 2 this on decent speakers or headphones cuz the way the vocal interacts w the bass isnt't super obvious on laptop speakers and its rly changes the vibe when u can hear the bass - interesting production, kinda time stretchy piano and shit." We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
PWR BTTM: No-one makes better jagged, queer guitar pop than this New York duo, whose playfully subversive lyrics blend with catchy melodies to often joyous, sometimes poignant, effect.
Tiggs Da Author: Embracing the deep roots of soul, Tiggs takes from the likes of Nina Simone, the dedication to the craft and James Brown, an exuberance and energy that pours out of Tiggs entire being. Check out 'Georgia' for the uplifting crossroads where Mississippi soul meets East London positivism.
WSTRN: A RnB trio that channel the talents of The Weeknd into a vibrant, less morose fusion of pop and hip-hop. Their melodies are reminiscent of The Fugees and their bars tap into the sentimental realism that has rocketed Drake to the peak of the musical Olympus.
Sundara Karma: A name that rolls off the tongue, their indie-pop bangers are as fluid as their nomenclature. Their stylistic route is a combination of spritely and infectious but often casts a shadow of something more telling, a feeling that exudes from frontman Oscar Lulu's dynamic baritone.
Vitamin: Definitely one for fans of The 1975, this Leeds quartet take as much from Superfood and Peace as much as they do Justin Timberlake. Tightly tuned choruses and delightful guitar lines, Vitamin is the sound of the optimistic youth.
Zibra: Percussion is what keeps the heart ticking, between the galvanizing synth drops and jarring use of sampling, Zibra's use of rhythm and percussion is what sets them apart from every other synth-pop duo coming out of London right now. If you've ever wondered what a HEALTH and Years & Years mash-up album would sound like, check out Zibra
HAELOS: There's an air of mystery surrounding the members of this electronic trio from London, they've opted for ambiguity to allow their music to speak on their behalf. A seducing descent into dimly lit city streets soundtracked by melodic trip-hop and visceral synthesisers.
Diet Cig: The loud to soft plunge is not a revolutionary technique in garage rock, but every now and then a band will come along who explore the limits of the structure, Diet Cig might just be that band. Compensating for the lack of instrumentation with expert pop songwriting and an electric live show, their music has a caustic defiance to it that too many 'garage-punk' band's today don't have the conviction to effectively pass as genuine.
Nimmo: Incorporating the neon-lit, synth stylings of La Roux with the global scope of Jungle, Nimmo's sound belies the fact that there was never a training period for this five piece. It's doubtful that there are any cracked demo tapes that sound anything less than fleshed out and polished - it's well rounded and frequently sought after dance music.
Astrid S: She may have come fifth in the Norwegian version of Pop Idol, but the truth is that her FKA Twigs-esque brand of artful pop-noir set her leagues apart from anything you'd expect to see churned out by any kind of cynical hit machine. A true individual, who carves a world of her very own.
Emma Blackery: This young Essex sensation found fame by becoming a Youtube star - dabbling in comedy, reading and vlogging as well as amazing music. She's pretty awesome, having risen to a star on her own terms. Now, expect her to take 2016 with more new music too - totally by surprise.
Bright Young People: Having supported The Offspring at Brixton Academy, Bright Young People have already proved they can hack it at the top stages. They released their first proper singles this year through Gary Powell of The Libertines’ label 25 Hour Convenience Store. If you like your rock to be pure, hard and heavy, then get yourself some Bright Young People.
Black Foxxes: For fans of Biffy Clyro and Arcane Roots, Black Foxxes are a band who play like they feel every single chord. A cliche-free journey of cliche-free hard-rock driven ever-skyward by melodramatic and dynamic vocals, expect their next releases to find them a fame that matches their much-deserved critical acclaim.
Dead!: After a year of heavy touring and destroying any festival they step foot in, Dead!'s blend of emo poetry, heartfelt sincerity and arena-ready choruses mean that they can't really fail. They've a sound of their own, but here's hoping they can fill that My Chemical Romance-shaped hole.
Broken Hands: There's no one quite like these guys at the moment. Their single 'Meteor’ is catchy and 'real' enough to make Noel Gallagher approve the songwriting, but feral enough to capture the imagination of even the hardest rock fans.
Cold Ocean Lies: It’s very early days for this Birmingham four-piece and they haven’t publicly revealed too much about the industry support they’ve got so based on the sound alone, which has brilliant balance of catchy choruses and heavy guitar - it’s easy to tell that Cold Ocean Lies will be a much more prominent name next year.
Tigercub: After breaking through into the music industry's consciousness in 2014 thanks to a support tour with Royal Blood, Tigercub have had a brilliant 2015. The release of their EP Repressed Semantics has buoyed them out of the confines of being predominantly a support band and a ‘Brighton band’. Last month they set out on a full UK tour and sold out the Barfly in Camden. Hopefully 2016 will also see the release of their debut album that’ll be the start of even bigger things - we certain think so.
Jack Garratt: With the BRITs critic choice award under his belt, this Buckinghamshire producer-songwriting is destined to be massive; with or without The 'Sound Of' title. His songs are what Ed Sheeran's would sound like produced by Bombay Bicycle Club's Jack Steadman, if you haven't already heard Garratt on record.
Billie Marten: To say that Marten has been making waves wouldn't fit the case, it's a far too forceful cliche to assign her. Barely 17 but her voice has been transfused with a history of mature and affecting vocals. Citing Nick Drake has one of her main influences, we could believe it - the simplicity and conviction of Marten's songwriting is timeless.
Frances: The flowing red hair of Frances will soon be considered the trademark aesthetic for her beautiful piano ballads. Finding a fireside home on Communion records, 21 year old Frances' honest and soulful songwriting deserves all the love it can be afforded.
Izzy Bizu: Possibly the most photogenic human on the planet, Bizu is also one of the leading young voices in the UK. A self-proclaimed fan of "jazz-fusion mixes and a lover of squat parties and warehouse raves", the 21 year old has already supported the likes of Foxes, Rudimental and previous Sound Of winner, Sam Smith.
J Hus: A genuine hustler, when J Hus is spitting rhymes about acquiring wealth he's digging into the disappointing realism of navigating the self-involved nature of 2015 relationships. Cooking up some controversy after throwing gang signs following his stabbing. For all his talent, it'd be fair to say it's going to be a few years until we see J Hus jump on a Frances track.
Section Boyz: The most notorious artists on the longlist, for sure, this South London group are the real deal, full-body essence of UK hip-hop. Section Boyz are on a six man crusade to convince the world that 'Trappin' Ain't Dead' - whatever 'trappin' actually is.
Mabel: Having Neneh Cherry has a mum can't hurt your chances of getting into music, but what Mabel possesses surpasses commercial connections - her voice is an unique instrument. Blowing away the cobwebs of a neo-soul framework that has lurked the charts for far too long, Mabel is bringing hard-hitting production and a Lauryn Hill essence back to pop.
Barns Courtney: Aching, genuine, and human - piano-led soul for fans of Hozier, George Ezra and Benjamin Clementine.
Bonkaz: Rhythm and poetry in equal measure - a shining light in a new generation of grime.
Trampolene: Earthy rock n' roll met with Pete Doherty approved John Cooper Clarke-esque poetry about the pitfalls of rock n' roll and finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Indie has a new poster boy.
Pretty Vicious: A fitting name for a rising act with the choral anthemics and adrenaline rush of early Oasis, albeit with a much more razor sharp edge and acid tongue.
SG Lewis: You may have heard 'Warm' on HBO's Ballers, but expect his sound to reach the wider world next year. It's like the pure pop pleasure of Years & Years but with the sensual subtlety of James Blake. Lovely stuff.
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More about: Matt Corby