FEATURE: Sounds Alright to Me! BBC’s Sound of 2019: Diverse Sounds and Female Dominance  

FEATURE:

 

 

Sounds Alright to Me!

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IN THIS PHOTO: Ella Mai/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images 

BBC’s Sound of 2019: Diverse Sounds and Female Dominance  

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ONE can struggle to take in all the polls and lists that...

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 IN THIS PHOTO: Octavian/PHOTO CREDIT: Ollie Adegboye

recommend us to watch very artists next year. There are a lot of lists out right now - myself included – and it can be tough honing down to a few names that are truly marked for success. It is time for the BBC to present the runners/long-list for their Sound of 2019. It is an interesting selection that has more female artists included than men. Sexism and gender inequality still rules in music but, with the BBC making their picks of 2019 female-heavy; it is a big step and an important one. There is a good spread of genres and sounds and, in terms of sonic diversity, we have quite a lot of interesting directions and choices. The Guardian have proved details of the nominees and figures for the latest BBC recommendations:

Women dominate the BBC’s list of rising artists tipped for success in its annual tastemaker poll. Flamenco star Rosalía, south London rapper Flohio and British R&B success Ella Mai appear on the BBC Sound of 2019 longlist.

Six of the 10 nominees are female. London songwriter Grace Carter is signed to the same management company as Dua Lipa and Lana Del Rey. King Princess, AKA Mikaela Straus, is a 19-year-old queer pop songwriter from New York City with a fan in Harry Styles.

Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy has been compared to Rag’n’Bone Man, while all-male London four-piece Sea Girls are the only band on the list...

The top five artists will be revealed from 7 January, with the winner revealed on 11 January. The 10-strong long list has shrunk from 15 in previous years.

The prize celebrates musicians who have not been the lead artist on a UK Top 10 single or album by 22 October 2018. Artists who have appeared on TV talent shows within the last three years are also ineligible”.

It is a good cross-section of artists and I like the fact that there are more women in the list than men. Pop has not got much of a shout and it seems, in terms of BBC and their tastes, they are going in new directions. Because we have a few more weeks until we know who will be crowned BBC’s ‘Sound of 2019’; I have included all the artists and their social media channels; a sample of their material and, in the words of the BBC, what they are like/what their sound is. Have a look and listen at the prestigious ten because it seems, between them, these artists are going to make 2019’s music scene...

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IN THIS PHOTO: King Princess/PHOTO CREDIT: Adam Benn/Mushroom Promotions  

A very interesting place.

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Grace Carter

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PHOTO CREDIT: Next Management 

Bio:Searingly personal, piano-led pop

Location: London

Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsgracecarter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsgracecarter/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2LuHL7im4aCEmfOlD4rxBC?si=t9tD0xaKRGSJl_yscjJ-Kw

Standout Cut: Saving Grace

Flohio

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PHOTO CREDIT: Hanna Moon for DAZED 

Bio:Raw, punchy, poetic rap

Location: London

Twitter: https://twitter.com/flohio16

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flohio/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qffELscxpltKCso3ByH67?si=BGAJY1uHS5KmD0KdtlHXTQ

Standout Cut: 10 More Rounds

 

Dermot Kennedy

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PHOTO CREDIT: Christian Tierney

Bio:Folk roots with a hip-hop influence

Location: Dublin

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DermotKennedy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dermotkennedymusic/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5KNNVgR6LBIABRIomyCwKJ?si=EoqKpw9FRpyf4aI9rMO3dw

Standout Cut: Power Over Me

 

King Princess

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PHOTO CREDIT: Ryan McGinley for Interview 

Bio:Queer pop queen-in-waiting

Location: N.Y.C./L.A.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KingPrincess69

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingPrincess69/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6beUvFUlKliUYJdLOXNj9C?si=DJH8XS0OQkO9L08mqo4RNw

Standout Cut: 1950

 

Mahalia

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PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images 

Bio:Casual, effortless soul anthems

Location: Leicestershire/Birmingham

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mahalia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mahaliamusic/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/16rCzZOMQX7P8Kmn5YKexI?si=H3hyoBK7S56jIjyhQj8DdA

Standout Cut: Surprise Me

Ella Mai

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PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images 

Bio:Platinum-certified retro R&B

Location: London

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellamai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellamai/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7HkdQ0gt53LP4zmHsL0nap?si=iK5xRg3uRvqH3GNKu7vbFw

Standout Cut: Trip

 

Octavian

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PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images  

Bio:Genre-defying London MC

Location: London

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OctavianEssie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Octavianog22/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5zfEatKLDdRkgbw6sdLBAQ?si=Au6ov0pUQk-4rG8I6nSXMA

Standout Cut: Little

 

Rosalía

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PHOTO CREDIT: Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images  

Bio:Catalan star who's revitalising flamenco

Location: Barcelona

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosaliavt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicarosaliabarcelona/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7ltDVBr6mKbRvohxheJ9h1?si=gSjpYPExTPuG7MBxBC2Now

Standout Cut: BAGDAD (Cap. 7: Liturgia)

 

Sea Girls

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PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images   

Bio:Fired-up indie anthems

Location:  Lincolnshire/Rutland/Leicestershire/Kent

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sonicseagirls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonicseagirls/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/45FqwUG4hTT6d39r2HUsUe?si=DNM1Xf1KQVm137U8few7DQ

Standout Cut: Lost

 

slowthai

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PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images   

Bio:Truth-telling outsider rap

Location:  Northampton

Twitter: https://twitter.com/slowthai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nospacenocaps/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3r1XkJ7vCs8kHBSzGvPLdP?si=OHw-U8_ETt2TLt5AxH8l2A

Standout Cut: Rainbow