Music Week’s celebration of the new music set to define 2018 continues apace, with the second part our collection of the industry’s top new talent tips for the year ahead.
Pale Waves, Catherine McGrath and Mabel star on the cover of our latest issue, and are joined inside by IAMDDB, Superorganism, Matt Maltese, Lovebites, Tom Walker, Young T & Bugsey and Kojo Funds.
The 10 artists we’ve selected are all out to make their own indelible impact on 2018, but they’re not the only ones planning on making an impression this year. With the BBC Sound Of poll and the BRITS Critics’ Choice Award already decided, industry focus remains firmly fixed on new music.
Music Week has gathered the great and to good of the business and asked for their new music tips. Catch up with part one here and read on for part 2…
Jane Third, global chief creative officer, PIAS
MT Hadley. An amazing songwriter, check out [his song] Janet.
Julian Palmer, A&R director, Columbia Records
Rex Orange County. Self-assuredly forging a path all of his own.
Moe Bah, 2K Management
Young T & Bugsey, Lotto Boyzz and Not3s.
DJ Semtex, director of artist development, Sony Music UK
IAMDDB. She is the future.
Annabella Coldrick, chief executive, MMF
Girl Ray are great – I saw them at By The Sea last year. I also love the energy of Shame, their audience is so into it.
Kanya King, founder and CEO, MOBO Awards
Stefflon Don, who won a MOBO for Best Female Act, is tipped for big things and is one of the most exciting new female artists to come out of this country with the potential to break in the US.
David Joseph, chairman & CEO Universal Music UK
Just one? Impossible. Sigrid, Mabel, Loyle Carner, Jessie Reyez and Stefflon Don are all headed for bigger things next year. Look out for Dermot Kennedy and Grace Carter, and the debut album from 18-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
Martin Bandier, chairman and CEO, Sony/ATV
I have to mention Khalid and Alessia Cara who have both been nominated Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards. And it’s great that Khalid has also been included in the BBC Sound Of 2018 poll as he is a major new talent.
Ted Cockle, president, Virgin EMI
Isaac Gracie - beautiful crafted and emotive music, with an album now produced and readied by Marcus Dravs. With no hint of exaggeration, it's Buckley-esque.
John Woolf, co-founder, A-list Management
Jessie Reyez is incredible. She’s so unique, she knows who she is. I love people with distinctive voices. She has a style and tone I really like. SZA is amazing too. And Dave, I love the fact he plays a piano and brings musicality. Dave is in his own lane, there’s no one coming out playing the piano, singing, rapping. That to me is really exciting. Dave could be the UK Drake.
Caroline Elleray, Universal Music Publishing Group
Mabel – a great 2017 with her breakthrough single Finders Keepers. A star.
Neil Hughes, MD, RCA UK
Avelino. He’s already getting so much enthusiasm and goodwill from urban media and from other artists. He brings a different sort of depth and emotion to the urban genre. He’s going to be an important artist.
David Ventura, Sony/ATV
Jorja Smith – simply because she is the truth!
Mike Pickering, A&R consultant, Columbia
Having heard Samm Henshaw’s new tracks for 2018 it’s got to be him. Absolute bangers and the guy has a voice so soulful.
Kilo Jalloh, 2K Management
Has to be Young T & Bugsey 100%
Amy Wheatley, general manager, Ministry Of Sound
Massively excited about getting more music out there for Sigala. His music brings such joy and can’t wait to share it. Asides from our own, looking forward to hearing more from Jorja Smith!
Jeremy Lascelles, CEO, Blue Raincoat Music and Chrysalis Records
William The Conqueror. Awesomely good songs, killer vocals, brilliant three piece band. What’s not to love? (And can I also mention Cigarettes After Sex?)
Andrew Parsons, MD, Ticketmaster UK
IAMDBB - amazing range and hear exciting things about the live shows, which I can’t wait to get to next year.
Christian D’Acuna, head of programming, The O2
Demob Happy…. the new material sounds huge! Can’t wait to hear the new album in 2018.
Michael Dugher, UK Music
The Big Moon. I thought they were great when I heard them at the Mercury Awards and then again at BBC Introducing. Their debut album is excellent. It'll be interesting to see how they progress. They play my kind of music and show people that there’s still nothing better than a set of drums, two guitars, a bass and some singing.
Robert Ashcroft, chief executive of PRS for Music
Josephine And The Artizans – they played at a PRS staff gig at Under the Bridge on 30 October this year and I thought they were great.
Frances Moore, IFPI CEO
Jain. French born singer songwriter with great African rhythms mixed with the best of French pop. My bet is on her becoming big internationally.
Helen Smith, executive chair, Impala
Mario Batkovic, a Bosnian artist living in Switzerland, signed to a UK label (Invada Records UK), acclaimed all over Europe, amazing – this one was picked by the whole IMPALA office.
Roxanne de Bastion, artist + FAC Board director
I recently released an album, Heirlooms & Hearsay, that's received a lot of BBC 6 Music support and gained major press in Germany. I'm recording a new album next year and am touring in the US, so looking forward to that! I'm also excited for She Makes War's new album, set for release in the new year.
Paul Pacifico, CEO, AIM
SOPHIE – Ridiculous!
Jon Gisby, Head of Europe, Vevo
Sigrid. She lit up our stage at the Great Escape, then Glastonbury, and we’re looking forward to working with her as part of dscvr in 2018.
Drew Hill, MD, Proper Music Group
Tom Misch – great new British soulful singer/songwriter talent or Ady Suleiman for his uninhibited songs about mental health, relationships and family.
Emmanuel de Buretel, founder, Because Music
Superorganism, Parcels, Sons of Raphael, Mr Eazi.
Richard Davies, Founder, Twickets
Shame.
Rebecca Ayres, COO, Sound City and Modern Sky UK
The Blinders - terrifying and mesmerising in equal measure, we are so excited to be working with them through Modern Sky.
Simon Pursehouse, director of music services, Sentric Music
Keir. This gent is currently ticking all the boxes: an outrageously good performer, an incredible voice, bucket loads of stage presence and genuinely fantastic songs. I’d apologise for the hyperbole, but I honestly think he’s worth every gushing sentence I’ve said about him to date.
Jon Barlow, founder, 3 Beat
Callum Beattie. We signed him almost 18 months ago. He’s such a pleasure to work with. Young, talented, energetic, inspiring. He’s written a glorious LP. Itching for all to hear it.”
Jason Rackham, MD, [PIAS]
Nilufer Yanya, a bright young star with true talent beyond her 21 years. An important and vibrant artist for the future with a strong social conscience. Great to see her recognised in this years BBC Sound Poll list.
David Bianchi, CEO, Various Artists
Millie Go Lightly’ She’s from the UK but lives in Atlanta and whilst definitely not a rapper she’s collaborating with some amazing people over there starting with her recent 2 track collaboration with Young Thug
Catch up with our exec questionnaires relating to the best thing (part one and two) and the worst thing (part one and two) that happened to the biz in 2017. We’ve also discovered their eclectic line-up of favourite albums (here and here), top tracks of last year and hopes for the year ahead (part one and part two).
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