Mapei

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud 

-29-year-old born in Rhode Island and raised in Stockholm
-Loves Kendrick Lamar
-'Mapei brings palpable soul and sonic versatility to a world where genre matters less and less.' - From her Facebook
-'Mapei brings palpable soul and sonic versatility to a world where genre matters less and less. The Stockholm native soaks up influences – from hip-hop to dance-pop and Swedish club to gospel – and the results feel organic, timeless and positively exuberant. It’s music of experience – well-traveled and alive.' - From her SoundCloud
-“Don’t Wait” is a song about friendship, and love, and letting the ones you care about know what they mean to you, before it’s too late." - Interview with Buzzfeed
-'Born to a Liberian mother and an American father, Mapei moved to Sweden with her mother when she was 10, and later spent time in Brazil, Tunisia, and Portugal. These influences all come through in her music, as do the club sounds of Sweden, where she got her start in the underground hip-hop scene.' - BuzzFeed interview

Songs to listen to: Don't Wait (below)



Conclusion: Because she hasn't been out very long, there isn't much to comment on except that I'm very  excited to hear more from her! She has a wicked sound and her music is a lot of fun to sing. They're totally 'anthem' songs if you can understand what I mean by that. But anyways, I need more from her! Till then I'll just wait. Here's what we can expect from her album once it's released, taken from an interview she did featured on BuzzFeed.

What is the vibe of your upcoming album like, then?

 The vibe’s really eclectic, and I just want it to be accepting [of it] because it’s a mixture of everything. I hope every style hits home with different people. There’s a lot of rock riffs, guitar riffs, 808s — a mixture, how like “Don’t Wait” is a mixture between everything. All the songs have that mix.

Superhumanoids

Twitter | Facebook | Website | SoundCloud 

[Max, Cameron, Sarah]
-Officially began May 2011
-Toured with Local Natives, Cold War Kids,
-Mustard field - Sarah's favourite breakfast place in California
-Their album Exhibitionists is self produced
-balance shimmering ‘80s new wave with sharp-elbowed observations about doubt, love and longing." - Billboard
-"I hope our music is something that people can put on at a party, but also when they're alone and feeling introspective," says Parkins. "I think it's really important for us to hit that broad emotional pallet."

Songs to listen to: So Strange (below)

 
Superhumanoids - "So Strange" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Conclusion: Ok, I had to write this part before anything because honestly couldn't. I love the music, her voice, his voice, the simplicity of the lyrics and just about everything about them at this very moment. His voice is totally like Dan Whitford from Cut Copy. The music is similar too actually... just with a girl. The 'Yours Truly' session is what brought me in and I'm very very happy I came across it. It's so 80's. Yeee!

Thomas Jack

Twitter | Facebook | SoundCloud | Website 

-20 year old
-From Bemboka, Australia
-Taken from his website, "Like the oceans surrounding Thomas’ backyard his music ebbs and flows, sometimes unpredictably but always beautifully."
-Thomas brings in the jazz orchestra for a unique style suitable for the masses.
-Download his mix tape, it's what's missing in your life. Click here.


Songs/Remixes to listen to: The Final Speech (Original Mix) - Thomas Jack ft. Adrian Symes, Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks (Thomas Jack Remix), Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Atlas Hands (Thomas Jack Remix), Thomas Jack - Symphony (Original Mix) (below)

 

Conclusion: Just, wow. Be right back, I need to pour myself a drink this is so good. I honestly cannot deal. This is perfect day music for when you're just happy with the world and you're not satisfied with day to day music. This music makes me so happy. Pretty sure I'm officially obsessed.

Hozier

Twitter | Facebook | Bandcamp

-aka Andrew
-From Dublin, Ireland
-Described as 'alternative, acoustic, blues, folk and soul'
-Has a 4 track E.P. called 'Take Me To Church' which is available on Bandcamp
-Joined 'Other Voices'  festival this year to perform alongside artists such as Florence and the Machine, Owen Pallett, Cold Specks, Mogwai and more
-His music video for 'Take Me To Church' was directed by Brendan Canty and deals with the repression of gay people in Russia.
-Hozier says, “Listen to any song, from any era; and you're looking through a keyhole into the artist's world as seen through their eyes. Art is, in its simplest form, the reproduction of the world around us. All artists reproduce their vision of the world and, in doing so, create a document that reflects the times they live in.”

Songs to listen to: Take Me To Church (Below) and Like Real People Do



Conclusion: His single 'Take Me To Church' is definitely a song you can sing in the shower. It's so powerful its meaning and yet so damn catchy. His voice is so soothing I can hear him sing all day.  Keep the hits comin sir, I like what I hear!

Kygo

SoundCloud | Twitter | Facebook 

-aka Kyrre Gorvell-Dahll
-22 year old
-Music producer
-From Norway
-Constantly #1 on Hype Machine
-Remixed Snow Patrol, Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding, Passenger and more.
-Currently studying in Edinburgh


Songs to listen: Lana Del Rey - Born To Die (Kygo Remix), Passenger - Let Her Go (Kygo Remix) and Ellie Goulding - High For This (Kygo Remix) || The Weeknd Cover


 Conclusion: There's not a lot on him yet but I swear he's going to be big. His Facebook page alone already has 48,000 likes. His remix are pretty wicked. They're chill but at the same time still a dance party. I'm thinking they will be great for my next long car ride. I also really like the songs he chooses to remix. Looking forward to seeing what else this guy has in store for us.

In The Valley Below

Twitter | Facebook | Website 

[Photo: Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob  / Not in photo: Jeremy Grant - Keyboards and Joshua Clair - Drums]

-Founded 2011
-Arts & Crafts - Canada, Oskar Recordings- Paris, France
-On tour with White Lies and went on tour with the Cold War Kids
-Went on tour with David Letterman
- Taken from their Facebook: "In The Valley Below is hushed swirls of male and female vocals forged with dark stories of brooding riddles and romance. Currently based in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles, Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob have crafted a sultry collection of melodic duets in a bed of rumbling drums, synth machines, gritty, wailing guitars, and layers of strange and dreamy keys."

Songs to listen to: Peaches (below) and Neverminders 




Conclusion: I want to see them play with White Lies. This song above is so chill. I need it. They're going to be big if they play their cards right.