Music
Fresh for 2019: 9 UK acts to watch out for in the year ahead
From smooth and soulful R&B to club music's experimental edge, get to know the artists you'll be streaming in 2019.
New year, new sounds to get in your ears. Read on to learn about nine UK acts who are going to be making big waves in 2019.
1. Ama Lou
Ama Lou
© Harrison Grazier
RIYL: Mahalia, Jorja Smith
Ama Lou is on the rise. Since the release of her debut single TBC two years ago – a powerful testament to the Black Lives Matter movement – the North Londoner’s soft-yet-strong voice and earnest, wise lyrics have been touching hearts through headphones here, there and everywhere. Her 2018 EP DDD was the sound of the sweltering summer, which she transformed into a stunning short film that has racked up over a million plays on YouTube. It’s little wonder, then, that the biggest stars are also paying attention; she recently wrapped up a tour with Jorja Smith, and was credited by Drake himself as the inspiration behind his latest record Scorpion. Hers is a voice we’ll be hearing a lot more of in 2019.
Watch Ama Lou's DDD video below
2. Alicai Harley
Alicai Harley backstage at Red Bull Music Sound System
© David M. Benett / Contributor
RIYL: Trillary Banks, Spice
In 2018, Alicai Harley had a summer to remember – her single Naah Done did impressive YouTube numbers, 67 rapper LD remixed her tune Gold and she performed on the Red Bull Music Sound System at Notting Hill Carnival alongside the likes of LisaMercedez and Jamaican dancehall artist Konshens. Harley’s single Proper Paper premiered on JulieAdenuga’s Beats 1 show, indicating that the Kingston-born, South London-raised vocalist has a good chance of rising over the course of 2019.
Watch Alicai Harley's Naah Done below
3. Giant Swan
Giant Swan
© Lua Ribeira Loui
RIYL: Vessels, JASSS
Bristol duo Giant Swan have amassed a dedicated following over the past few years, having brought their high-octane, improvisational live sets to sweatboxes across the country. They channel the ferocious, uninhibited energy of hardcore and punk into their own mishmash of ‘techno-not-techno’, pioneering an amorphous club sound that is impossible to categorise but exhilarating to experience. Take their recent release on the cutting-edge imprint Whities, for example – a three-track pummel-to-the-gut of growling basslines, explosive drums and gnarly, distorted vocals. No doubt destined for bigger stages, now is as good as time as ever to catch them as up close and personal as possible.
Listen to Giant Swan's Ianah below
4. J Rick
J Rick
© Campbell Addy
RIYL: Octavian, Mura Masa
A producer in Octavian’s Essie Gang collective, J Rick has been integral to creating some of the most distinctive UK rap music of recent times. Alongside Octavian he co-produced anthems like Party Here and Hands, establishing a sound that blends contemporary rap with club music and is drenched in emotive melody. Fans of J Rick’s style will be excited to know that he’s releasing his own mixtape entitled No Retreat, No Surrender in 2019.
Watch Octavian and J Rick's Hands below
5. Lava La Rue
Lava La Rue
© Press
RIYL: Noname, Tirzah
The DIY grind of Lava La Rue is paying off. The West London rapper, singer, producer and clothing designer is the leader of the NINE8 collective, who in 2018 were enlisted by the British Fashion Council invited to create a menswear runway collection and have hosted an event at the Tate. La Rue’s distinctive vibe glows on her debut EP Letra, which sees her float between singing and evocative raps (before making hip-hop, she performed spoken word poetry) over laid-back, soulful production. Keep an eye out for the forthcoming NINE8 mixtape.
Watch Lava La Rue's Widdit below
6. object blue
Object Blue
© Oliver Vanes
RIYL: Lanark Artefax, Karen Gwyer
object blue may be a relative newcomer, but she’s helped push club music to its experimental edge over the past couple of years. In 2018, she released her first two EPs on London’s Tobago Tracks and Lets Go Swimming respectively, a pair of boundary-pushing techno records which encapsulated the corporeal nature of her formidable live sets. A master of compelling sound design which shape-shifts between fierce, angular rhythms and supple synth shapes, the future of club music sounds like object blue.
Listen to object blue's REX below
7. Puma Blue
Puma Blue
© Olivia Hamilton
RIYL: King Krule, Biig Piig
After quietly releasing lo-fi bedroom recordings on Bandcamp, Jacob Allen’s Puma Blue project has blossomed beautifully. In October 2018, he released the Blood Loss EP, a collection smoky, sepia-toned songs with subtle hints of hip-hop and jazz. Allen’s songs recall the tipsy romance of King Krule, while his silky falsetto draws comparisons to Jeff Buckley. The live incarnation of Puma Blue has included musicians from Ezra Collective, Vels Trio and Nilüfer Yanya’s band and a sell-out show at London’s Scala venue proved the project’s widespread appeal. Expect Puma Blue to win many more hearts over the course of 2019.
Watch Puma Blue's Lust below
8. Rai-Elle
Rai-Elle is making waves in UK R&B
© Vicky Grout
RIYL: Mahalia, H.E.R.
After making it as a finalist on 2017’s X Factor, towards the end of 2018 Croydon artist Rai-Elle confidently struck out with her four track KSB EP. The excellent lead single KSB (Always on My Mind) glowed with warmth, channeling Rai-Elle's ‘90s R&B influences, while All About U proves her ability to knock out a massive pop tune. Already possessing knowledge of the industry, 2019 is hers for the taking.
Watch Rai-Elle's KSB (Always On My Mind) below
9. Solid Blake
Solid Blake @ RBMA20, Prince Charles, Berlin
© Fabian Brennecke / Red Bull Content Pool
RIYL: Courtesy, rRoxymore
Copenhagen’s techno scene is buzzing right now, and Solid Blake has been at its epicentre. A founding member of the now-disbanded Apeiron Crew, the Glasgow-born DJ and producer cut her teeth playing hard-and-fast techno at the city's venues like Culture Box. Nowadays, you can catch the RBMA alumnus all over Europe, diving further into the leftfield and heavy-hitting realms of electronic music. And she’s a force to reckon with in the studio, too – her 2018 release on Berlin’s SSPB was a heady rush of shadowy, off-kilter tracks for the peak time club. Don't sleep on her next year.
Listen to Solid Blake's Warp Room below