Once again it's that time of year when record labels invest all their hopes and dreams launching their gently-boiling, building up new acts for the forthcoming year. A flurry of hype that they, ultimately, cannot live up to.

 

What names are making waves on the sly now? What is the name of the act on every music journalist, critic, commentator, DJ's mind?

 

Predictions/suggestions ahoy here please.

Skrillex, Nick & the Dove, Josh Kumra, Fixers, Lucy Rose and The Weeknd all spring to mind as potentials at this stage...

Skrillex needs a massive hit ASAP. He's very well known on the internet (SMANS has around 40m views) but doesn't have a hit single yet :(

The only way I can see Skrillex not at least being longlisted on this is if they think he's too well-known already.

 

Not sure about others. I guess I'd agree with most of Jake's list, I haven't heard of Lucy Rose though.

Josh Kumra would be vetoed off the back of Don't Go, surely? Niki & The Dove are possibilities...

 

I think we might get low level entries for Neon Hitch and Amanda Mair, but they both seem quite unlikely given how left-field last year's list was. At this point there really isn't a stand-out name at all as there was with previous years with Duffy/Adele, Mika, Little Boots/Florence/La Roux, Ellie/Marina...

Maybe Azealia Banks?

Actually wait, what on EARTH am I on about? Azealia Banks, Skrillex, Spector and MNEK are the EASY stand-outs at this point.

 

(Provided MNEK's making going solo a proper thing, but judging by his work and reputation to date staying in production like Starsmith could be even better for him. He's 17 in two days and he's already got tracks like All Fired Up and production work with pretty much EVERY big new potential artist under his belt!)

 

I'll also throw out a couple of curveball predictions like A*M*E and Aleks Josh, but they really depend on whether they can transfer from bubbling online hype to mainstream like Ed Sheeran did last year. A*M*E at least is working in Sweden, but she doesn't have much hype around her at the moment...

 

Also chuck in War of Words. They probably won't do a THING chartwise but they've got the producer half of La Roux (Ben Langmaid) behind them and they're getting a fair bit of online hype now their position is clarified, so they could get a longlisting.

I would actual lol if "212" was this years "Do It Like A Dude" :lol: Azealia Banks should be in this list :)

Two Wounded Birds might sneak on as a token Indie act. I'd love it if Younghusband were able to get on there.

Wu Lyf?

Wu Lyf?

 

They don't usually include bands with an album already out, non?

Edited November 7, 201113 yr by ▲▲▲

Not sure about others. I guess I'd agree with most of Jake's list, I haven't heard of Lucy Rose though.

She is a GODDESS.

 

The only other three that I would enjoy seeing up there at the moment are Azealia Banks, Spector and The Weeknd. (Possibly Fixers as well, although they have already been playlisted before haven't they?) Can't see Wu Lyf happening unfortunately.

Edited November 7, 201113 yr by 152chris

They don't usually include bands with an album already out, non?

They don't tend to, but I think they have before. I'm sure the only criteria is that they've never had a top 20 in either chart before.

 

I was going to say Fixers, Lucy Rose and Two Wounded Birds who've all already been mentioned. Hopefully they'll be on it.

URGH I HATE SKRILLEX. Surely he's too well known?

 

Neon Hitch and The Weeknd are the only ones that I can think of at the moment.

Azealia Banks must be one to watch. The Good Natured should hopefully make a long overdue appearance, Katzenjammer are also pushing their new album here early next year after having success in Germany.

 

Saint Saviour and Bright Light Bright Light may appear, along with Queen Of Hearts, Woo Woos, St Lucia and Ronika. We can always hope Loreen crosses over to the UK next year too.

SaintSaviour seems quite likely. Beyond that I have little interest in anyone else either.

Friends

Luke Bingham

Jess Mills

 

Just guessing of course.

Based on tracks that are getting sent to our station, being labelled as 'new hopes for 2012', I would hazard a guess that Tribes, Fixers, Various Cruelties, Cave Paintings & Dog Is Dead will be amongst the longlist contenders. I'd also like to see Lucy Rose and Two Wounded Birds on the list.

Not sure exactly how this works, but surely Lana Del Ray's got to be in with a chance, after the success of Video Games?

Not sure exactly how this works, but surely Lana Del Ray's got to be in with a chance, after the success of Video Games?

She's ineligible. One of the rules basically is the act must have not reach the UK Top 20 before the list.

Edited November 7, 201113 yr by FM11