News

Ones To Watch

• 24th Dec 2010

Rather than reminisce about the year that is currently drawing to a close I thought I'd look ahead to the new year and the exciting acts that are sure to be big in 2011.

Bruno Mars
His debut single ‘Just The Way You Are’ has sold over 600,000 copies in the UK, and the other 2 singles he wrote & guest featured on – B.o.B ‘Nothin On You’ & Travie McCoy’s ‘Billionaire’ have both sold over 400,000 copies each! He also wrote Cee-Lo’s no.1 ‘F**k You’ single.

Bruno’s debut album ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’ confirmed for January 24th release. This will be preceded by single number two ‘Grenade’ on 10th January.

The Joy Formidable
Welsh 3 piece rock band, signed by Steve Ralbovsky (who signed The Strokes, the White Stripes etc)
Epic ‘that-is-going-to-sound-amazing-in-a-stadium’ rock sound.
Their first single since signing to us was the recent Radio 1 endorsed ‘I Don’t Want To See You Like This'. They have just finished headlining the sold out NME Radar tour, supported by Chapel Club.

Their debut album ‘The Big Roar’ will be released on 24th January, with new single Austere out on 10th January.

We Are Enfant Terrible
Nominated in the ‘Next 100 Big Things’ by URB Magazine and with a buzz building on blogs the band’s previous self-released single ‘Eagles Don’t Sparkle’ was picked up via word of mouth as ‘Single Of The Week’ on Drowned In Sound. Compared to CSS, Kap Bambino, Crystal Castles, and The Kills for their sense of sexiness, energy and wild performance We Are Enfant Terrible blur the distinction between rock band and electro pop addiction.

Look out for their EP in January and a single coming in February.

The Narcoleptic Dancers
French half brother and sister duo combining the whimsical neo-folk of Slow Club with the chilled-out lounge-core of Nouvelle Vague. If the Juno soundtrack was to be re-written in France, this band would have a foot in the door!

A new EP will be out next year followed by their debut album.

Foreign Office
Just announced for the NME tour, the Hackney based quartet draw influences from 60’s and 70’s soul and funk, whilst incorporating 80’s post-punk elements, bloggers and critics have since compared them with bands such as A Certain Ratio, Roxy Music and Talking Heads.

The Wonder Years
These guys are the opening act on the Kerrang! Tour next year and their relentless hard work coupled with modern pop-punk classics is set to propel them to further heights in the world of rock next year following a couple of trips to these shores already. There’s a new album on the way too.

fun.
Having just opened up for Paramore on their UK arena tour, fun. are already well on their way to earning a legion of fans in the UK and with a new album and further trips to the UK next year, we’re sure their indie-pop goodness will continue to reach the masses.

So there we have it, my ones to watch for next year. Here's hoping for even more quality music bursting through too.

Although, there are two acts set to return next year that I'm excited about too.

Noah and The Whale
They are set to return with a new album in 2011. The band’s third album, Last Night On Earth, will be released on Young and lost Club / Mercury in March.

Last Night On Earth was recorded between a synagogue in Bethnal Green and studios in and around Los Angeles. The album was co produced by Charlie Fink and Jason Lader.

Patrick Wolf
The amazing Patrick Wolf returned on December 6 with a brand new single “Time Of My Life”, released on a brand new label, Hideout Recordings.
“Time Of My Life” is available in a very limited edition 7” vinyl, a precursor to the full CD/download release of a second single in March 2011, followed by Patrick’s brand new album in May.

Lots of things to look forward to there. So here's wishing goodbye to 2010 and welcoming 2011 with open arms.