The end of the year is looming and we’re bored of even the most inventive playlists on our iPods. What better time to take a peek at what we have to look forward to in 2009. Here’s a sneaky look at the first five of our top ten artists (in no particular order) that may well make some buzz of the musical kind in the coming year.
Micachu and the Shapes: Micachu aka. 21 year Londoner Mica Levi is, in simple terms, a definite talent to watch out for. With her quirky pop sensibility, Micachu has it well within her power to become the next darling of the London underground in 2009.
The Tallest Man On Earth: He may not actually be the tallest man on earth (I believe that that award has recently been snatched by a Ukrainian chap from the clutches of that Mongolian chap), but don’t let this blatant lie put you off, as Kristian Matsson has already been heralded by those in the know as the Swedish answer to Bob Dylan. With his whimsical lyrical ability and clear talent with guitar clutched in hand, after a listen of his debut album Shallow Grave, you’ll be willing to believe any lie that the Swedish wailer is willing to throw at you.
Mumford and Sons: These London based hillbillies only formed in December of 2007, but word has sure traveled fast with their Americana inflected sound garnering a fair bit of attention of late. If you’re a fan of Noah and the Whale and Beirut, then look out for these guys in 09.
The Very Best: Consisting of Malawi born singer used furniture salesman Esau Mwamwaya and the London based Parisian dj tag-team Radioclit, this truly is a match made in heaven. Taking advantage of the rise in world music influences on bands like Vampire Weekend and Foals, The Very Best essentially take it from the horse’s mouth with Mwamwaya singing entirely in his native dialect. Be sure to check out their free downloadable mixtape on their myspace site.
Dan Black: Former singer of London indie kids The Servant (best known for scoring the Sin City song), Dan has gone out on his very own. First making waves both sides of the Atlantic with his brilliant cover of Notorious B.I.G’s classic “Hypnotize’, he currently resides in Paris, is being bigged up by Zane Lowe (take from that what you will) and has a new single out entitled ‘Yours’. With a debut album out sometime in the New Year, he is a sure bet to make a name for himself.
Forecasted by Ben Cohen – next installment coming soon!
