It’s that time of the year again – countdowns, roundups, lists. This year BBC Music have brought together 170 international industry professionals to predict what 2017 will sound like be, and if they’re anything to by, it’s looking more urban than ever. The majority of the longlist is revealed to be grime emcees and rappers, alogside R&B singers, shortly followed after by soul singers, and electronic producers.
The list, which includes 15 rising acts, spotlights grime and hip-hop artists: AJ Tracey, Dave, Nadia Rose and Stefflon Don, R&B artist Ray BLK, alongside soulful singers Rag N Bone Man, Tom Grennan, Jorja Smith. Additionally, pop artists The Japanese House, Raye, Declan McKenna and Maggie Rogers feature alongside rockers The Amazons and the post-punk heroes Cabbage. The most interesting addition to the list is a man you should be extremely familiar with, Anderson .Paak who has gone on to dominate this year with his endless stream of features, albums and collaboration projects.
BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ MistaJam commented that he was pleased to see such diverse artists, especially from the UK. “Next year is already shaping up to be a big one filled with amazing music from homegrown talent…From the driving rock of The Amazons to Dave’s 18-year-old inner city street tales via Maggie Rogers’ folk meets electronic soundscapes, the list shows the breadth and quality of what we can expect next year.”
Previous Longlisted artists have included Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, Jack Garratt and Adele, all massive artists in their own respects who have since gone on to garner huge worldwide attention for their sounds. Have a listen to this year’s selections below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYvqntSbIV8
Image: The Guardian
PARTYNEXTDOOR – PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 (P3)
The third of his self-titled serious of releases and highly anticipated sophomore album, PARTNEXTDOOR 3 contains Jahron Anthony Brathwaite’s most engaging and personal material yet. PARTY bares his soul on P3 as he croons about failed relationships and lost love over murky, sparse production that’s become a trademark of his sound.
Taking cues from his mentor Drake, P3 opens with the seven and-a-half epic High Hopes. PARTY’s seductive vocals tell the tale of wanting to get back with an old flame over a menacing beat – including an interloping of Blackstreet’s No Diggity – setting the scene for what is to come. Nothing Easy To Please is a sultry number about how hard it is for PARTY to fall in love, You’ve Been Missed finds him wallowing in self pity when his girl is gone and Problems & Selfless delves into issues PARTY’s encountered in past relationships and how it affected him.
While his early work is heavily autotuned, PARTY strips it back a little on P3, allowing his natural vocals to shine on tracks like Temptations and the atmospheric Spiteful, a track that includes a glorious 80s guitar solo. It’s these moments where PARTY’s unaffected voice gives an added layer of emotion to his lyrics and showcases his diversity.
1942 takes a break from the heartache, with PARTY toasting Don Juilo 1942 tequila, in what is one of the albums more commercial sounding tracks. PARTY also changes things up on a number of other songs, mimicking fellow Toronto native Ramriddlz’s flow on Don’t Run and trying his hand at dancehall on the Controlla-esque Not Nice, and to a lesser-extent on the reggae vibe of Only U. Of course it would’d be a PARTY album without a Drake cameo, with the OVO boss jumping on a classic Noah “40” Shebib beat for the booty call sleeper Come And See Me.
Verdict: One for those late lonely nights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ockhq8E2FrA
iLoveMakonnen – Red Trap Dragon
Having left Drake’s OVO Sound label and announced his retirement, iLoveMakonnen has decided he’s not done just yet, returning with the Danny Wolf produced Red Trap Dragon. As the title suggests, the mixtape’s production is heavy with deep 808s and stinging hi-hats, with Makonnen singing and rapping in his unique, stilted style.
As he declares on No Features, Makkonen doesn’t need any help with his career (a possible dig at Drake?), setting the tone for the tape. Makonnen spends the majority of the album talking himself up and how successful he really is. The Atlanta rapper takes shots at everyone biting his flow on Sound Like Who?, raps about his riches and trading his Hummer for a BMW on Always Countin’, and how he started from the bottom on Came From Nothin.
Of course it’s not all sunshine and lollipops, with Makonnen losing his girl on She Don’t Call No More and rapping about how the drugs help him late at night on Get Me Back Up. Man of the moment Lil Yachty and fellow Atlanta artist Skippa Da Flippa are the tape’s only guests, turning up on final track Loaded Up.
Red Trap Dragon is nothing new from Makonnen, and while I enjoy his voice, I can understand why he’s a divisive figure. The real star of the mixtape is Wolf, who has quickly built a reputation for crafting enticing beats capturing the Atlanta sound and providing a solid platform for Makonnen to showcase his stuff.
Verdict: A decent return from Makonnen but nothing to get overly excited about.
https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/277532458
Raye – SECOND
The debut major label release from South London’s Raye, SECOND is a modern take on R&B that justifies the hype surrounding the 18 year old. The five track EP incorporates a number of styles, from the synth-driven, Charli XCX co-written opener I,U, Us to the downtempo 808 slow burner Tell Me, with Raye’s soothing vocals ever present.
To be honest, every song on SECOND is a winner. The electro-meets-pop Shhh has hit written all over it, with Raye telling her former partner, “You can leave, you can leave, I don’t want you to wait,” over a beat that reminds me of 90s R&B. This theme of escaping negative people continues on the spacey, finger-clicking production of Distraction, a track originally released earlier this year as part of her two track Back 2 The Winter EP. Then there’s album closer, Ambition, featuring one of grimes biggest stars in Stormzy. The beat combines elements of hip-hop and electronica and is the perfect foil for Raye’s soulful vocals, with Stormzy reigning in his rapid flow for a more subtle approach.
Verdict: Get around Raye before she blows up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSQF416kUVc
The Get Down – Soundtrack
Over the weekend Baz Luhrmann’s new Netflix series, The Get Down, finally premiered to mixed reviews. Centering on the origins of hip-hop and a group of rag-tag kids caught up in the hysteria, the show appears to be a classic Luhrmann production; visually stunning but with a narrative that often loses its way and makes for complicated viewing. Be that the case, similar to the Suicide Squad soundtrack, this compilation is top notch, featuring a wide array of artists and genres influenced by the sounds of the late 70s.
At 24 tracks long, The Get Down has all bases covered when it comes to highlighting the different musical trends during the shows setting. Miguel and Janelle Monáe bring the funk respectively on Cadillac and Hum Along And Dance (Gotta Get Down), C.J. & Co. flirt with disco on Devil’s Gun while disco legend Nile Rodgers lends his skills to the soaring Set Me Free and dance floor thumper Telepathy, a song featuring Christina Aguilera on vocals. Along with Aguilera, there are a number of notable modern performers featured, with Leon Bridges reworking The Temptations Ball Of Confusion, former One Direction star Zayn Malik hooking up with Teddy Pendergrass and Grandmaster Flash on the smooth You Can’t Hide/You Can’t Hide From Yourself (Touch of Class GMF Remix)”, and Michael Kiwanuka pairing with one of the show’s producers, Nas for a couple of old school hip-hop themed tracks.
Along with the big name musicians, the stars of the show also get the chance to flex their voices, with the most recognised being Jaden Smith. He opens the soundtrack with the blistering Welcome To The Get Down and collaborates with Raury on the folk-meets-hip-hop Losing Your Mind. Justice Smith, who plays the show’s lead Ezekiel, has some of his rhymes and poetry included from the show, but it’s Herizen F. Guardolia, who plays female lead and Ezekiel’s love interest Mylene Cruz, whose singing matches her acting. Be That As It May is a high hitting ballad and the aforementioned Nile Rodgers track Set Me Free is something you’d expect to hear when in the famed Studio 54.Verdict: Quality collection of 70s inspired tracks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzEUL_vg56U
Image: HipHopDX
Here we go again! A weekly playlist of the best new songs I’ve heard all week. We start off today with a couple of headier rock tracks before toning it down into some serious smooth electro-soul. We’ll hang there for a while before ending on a serious bang.
- Art of Sleeping, Crazy
One of the best bluesy rock tracks I’ve heard in ages, this Brisbane five-piece know exactly how to get you going. Gorgeous vocals, incredible riffs, billowing builds. You don’t get better than this. - Bernaccia, Darkness Walks
Opening with feedback and growly guitars, this is one for the doom-y grunge lovers out there. Catchy riffs and a great voice. What it lacks in excitement, it makes up for in the satisfying crunch of distortion. - North Arm, Sometimes New
Let’s tone it down a tad. Sydney’s North Arm have a new single out, and it’s a jingly, fuzzed out semi-psychedelic beauty. The melody is simple yet enchanting, with the guitar and vocals dancing around each other throughout. - Samm Henshaw, Only Wanna Be With You
Samm Henshaw has a really wonderful voice and this song, simple as it may be, is one of those songs that just make me really happy. Catchy, clap-along and fantastically soulful. Not electro-soul, not future-soul, just good ol’ fashioned soul. - Snoh Aalegra, Bad Things (ft. Common)
Another favourite discovery of mine. Snoh’s beautiful voice really stands out among other upcoming soul/R&B singers – it’s rich but crisp, demanding yet dulcet. Plus a bonus riff from Common. So. Good. - Alta, Hold Your Fire
Subtle and seductive, this track by the Melbourne duo has me drawing instant Little Dragon comparisons. A gorgeous flow and a huge range of musical layers, there’s so much going on behind the melody. - Raye, Bet U Wish
17-year-old Raye’s new single has an intriguing electronic basis, topped off with a great pop/R&B melody. It really kicks off in the chorus – big beats, big vocals, interesting samples and catchy as hell. - Adria, Pull Me Under
Ohhh, that syncopation. This is one sexy track. Follows on from the Raye track, only brimming with sensuality. I love how intricate the percussion rhythms here, and the contrast between the driving bass and those occasional piano notes. - Natalie McCool, Wind Blows Harder (THUMPERS rework)
We go further once again – heavy beats, choir-sounding vocals, flittering beats lead the way to a passionate melody. Some brilliant synth action at play here. It’s basically a combination of psychedelic haze with biiig trappy beats. - Slumberjack, Horus
You’ve probably heard Horus by now, considering it’s already topped Hype Machine. The Perth duo go all out with the new single. That rhythm, man. Reminds me of Tipper. I just want to play this one over and over and over again!
That’s it for this week! Here’s ya playlist:
Welcome to Howl & Echoes’ first ever ‘Best New Tracks of the Week’ playlist, brought to you by me, your loving editor. I have carefully handpicked each track out of the many, many songs I hear every week, so I really recommend having a listen to the little playlist below – I can personally assure you will not be disappointed.
- Redder, Let Us Get Out
Ooooh, let’s start with something icy. Finnish trio Redder have just released Let Us Get Out, and it’s sludgy, spooky and even features a growling clarinet. It’s so eerie and unnerving, particularly with the temperate beats and the top-heavy, increasingly distorted vocals. - Raye, Hotbox
Raye is a 17-year-old UK singer, but her new single Hotbox shows a maturity and musical depth far beyond her years. The R&B vibe and a sensual groove really stand out, particularly with her soulful vocals and beautiful piano chords driving the rhythm. - Human Heat, Fever (ft. Tei Shi)
Brooklyn beatmaker Human Heat has teamed up with Tei Shi on Fever, a track with a wickedly broody vibe and a totally ethereal rhythm and melody. The simple rhythm allows the male and female vocals to ring out with such richness and clarity. - Tei Shi, See Me
Yep, two Tei Shi entries today! While her newest single See Me isn’t quite as explosive as Bassically, it’s beautiful, catchy and really something special. I love the contrast between the deep, dark bass, and her blissfully dulcet vocals. - SteLouse x DiamondEyes, Times Square
The main thing I like about this track is the truly stunning vocal melody and the blissfully soulful piano and organs. The heavy beats and glitched-up synths are weak points IMO, but the vocals and those funky organs make it so worth your while. - Mont Oliver,19
I was instantly hooked by the deep hip hop beat and beautiful vocals from the Danish trio. the vocals kicked in. An intricate and powerful melody combined with a huge piano bass and glistening synth trickles, I adore everything about this track. - Colourspacecolour, Ocean Floor
Sydney duo Colouspacecolour’s new single is Ocean Floor is a cool blend of totally on-trend modern synth-pop with overblown, crunchy ‘80s nostalgia. Airy, ambient sounds move into an ’80s beat, with a simple yet haunting melody. - Grace, Pluto
This song is strange. I love it. kind of somewhere in between St Vincent, The Knife and Souxsie and the Banshees. Starting with a tinny beat and husky vocals, there’s all sorts of weird, wonderful sounds combining to create a truly unique new track. - Wulf, Fire
At first, Wulf’s new track Firereminded me of a Jack White songs. So I kept listening and I’m glad I did. Great contrasts between minimal vocal verses with huge, HUGE jam moments. Endless grooves, this is bluesy, sexy and really interesting. - Georgia Fair, Break
Georgia Fair have just dropped their broody, deep first single from their upcoming album, out next year. Shuffling percussion, ominous guitars and plucky riffs, suggestive melodies and catchy beats make for a seriously enticing track. - 44thSunset, The Hills
44thSunset are a Perth group that have just released the video for recent single The Hills. This is a really interesting track, led by slow, deliberate guitars, rich vocals, explosive choruses and a driving bass. You can stream the video right here! - Jack Steadman, From Eden (Hozier edit)
I’ve recently been introduced to Irish musician Hozier, and was super curious to hear this reworking. I was not disappointed. Steadman has made an already wonderful song absolutely glorious. A BLISSFUL marriage of guitar music and electronic.