Second part of our tips for the new year: Under the radar pt 1 suggests other seven acts to watch. Enjoy their music!
The creator of ‘HIJINXX’, Nia Archives champions the DIY spirit. A producer, singer, songwriter and visual artist: Nia Archives distinct aesthetic and versatile style is influenced by a mixture o genres such as Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz, Samba & Old Skool Jungle. (From Spotify bio)
Noisy is what Noisy does: a three-piece hybrid of hooks, beats and escapism. Formed on the south coast of England in Worthing, they take the spin-the-bottle sensibility of the playlist generation and make something new entirely: the sound of hip hop, D&B, and the eternal swagger of the Happy Mondays rolled into one intoxicating whole. Comprised of singer/rapper Cody, guitarist Connor and producer-guitarist Spencer, the band is the culmination of several years of skate park-induced friendship. They’ve played in groups together before, sure, but, as Cody puts it: “That was the staging area. Now we’re doing it for real.” They’ve been Noisy for the past year and a half, an 18-month period that’s seen them build a makeshift studio in Spencer’s house and put it to good use: coming up with a name, and then a suitably clamorous sound to follow.
Two-piece made up of Joe (sax) and Tash (drums). Starting deep in the pandemic lockdowns. O’s second ever gig was supporting black midi at a sold-out Brixton Windmill, before being snapped up to join BM on their Euro/UK tour. (From Spotify bio)
A quarrtet from Nottingham, Uk. Their “post-something” is so fascinating and Porcelain is their last single, out for Exag’ Records.
Hallan are a Portsmouth-based four piece who write and rehearse in an 18th-century fortification built into the side of a hill and surrounded by a forest. It’s within these dramatic surroundings that frontman, Conor Clements channels the frustrations, insecurities and events of early adulthood into his lyrics. Which are littered with observational poetry and messages of reassurance that you’re not alone in this overwhelming world. With the band drawing influences from the people they cross every day – in the supermarket aisles, on your Facebook feed, next door neighbours. Hallan observe and commentate on British life via an Orwell-influenced bleak vision of the future and the cut-up style of Burroughs and other beat generationers.
Tutankhamun is the solo project of young British multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Olly Toomey. He draws influences from a wide range of instrumental music from the 60s and 70s, things like Zig Zag, Hugh Masekala, Lloyd Miller, George Duke, Tony Allen, The Fetback band, and The Gautiers. After making music from his bedroom, he was discovered by BBC Introducing, and is about to release his first album with the Nice Guys family. Inspired by soul, jazz and psychedelic music, his first LP is a successful attempt at combining those genres together. All tracks were written, performed, produced and mixed by Olly and was joined by his brother James on the drums for NYR, Sinnerman & Heart of Gold.
Originating from Southampton but now located in Brighton – Caity Baser combines honest, no-holds-barred lyrics with lilting, catchy melodies resulting in uplifting pop songs with a real bite. Her lyrics are filled with British slang, often aimed squarely at those who have wronged her in her past.
This Is Pop? 