Another ten tracks we recommend! Adam Lanceley - Those Rose Tinted Days 'Those Rose Tinted Days' is a driving indie-number with a positive vibe that lifts it up, creating a strong indie feel to the piece. (6.5/10) Chromatone - Fever With a funky seventies vibe, 'Fever' boasts a catchy chorus and a great electro-synth vibe. Great. (7/10) The Everly Pregnant Brothers - Chip Pan
There's a bit of a karaoke feel to this record that makes it less appealing but in terms of witty lyrics and a retro throwback it's hard not to laugh and enjoy the parody of Kings of Leon. (6/10) Fancy Cars - Set Me On Fire
'Set Me On Fire' is a soaring indie-club number that builds up and avoids some of the expected tropes as it gets a little more dance-focussed. (6/10) Hayley McKay - Unspoken
McKay boasts some great vocal chords and when combined with this touching, well written stripped back pop ballad it shines. (7/10) The Imagineers - Utopian Dreams (Radio Edit)
There's a bit of a Muse feel to this dark sounding record, before it gets into more of a sixties-indie feel. Great and different. (6.5/10) Janet Devlin & Jason Nevins - Outernet Song (Remix)
Here is a great bouncy remix of one of our favourite songs of the year, keeping the message whilst adding a more club-friendly feeling. (7.5/10) The Lancashire Hotpots - Hotpot Funk (Don't Forget The Red Sauce)
We don't really need another Uptown Funk parody, especially one year on, but the Hotpots have recorded a cracking little parody, and though the music is more karaoke backing track than their usual offerings this is very funny and even boasts a sing-a-long section. (7/10) Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson - Just Hold On
It's perhaps a little generic but there's something upbeat and likeable about the record that keeps you listening. A good one for the clubs. (6/10) Tony Shaw - Take Me Away (Karrades Club Mix) 'Take Me Away', in its remix form, is a catchy, fast club track that grows with each listen. Well worth a punt. (6/10)
Each year the BBC do their 'Sound of' poll where they ask numerous music bloggers, journalists and more who they think will be the upcoming stars of 2017, and you can find their 2017 longlist online. Each year we also do a similar thing and reveal our top fifteen tips for the top. We really shoot blindly with this list as we are just one magazine with our own thoughts but even if these artists don't chart next year at least you will have discovered fifteen new brilliant acts to enjoy. Betsy https://www.facebook.com/betsymusic/
This Welsh artist has a very distinctive voice, a bit like a more operatic Cher. Her single 'Wanted More' got played on BBC Radio 2 so expect to hear more from her in 2017. Everywhere https://www.facebook.com/everywheretheband/
With new single 'Heroine' on promotion now, it was their breakthrough song 'Some Other Dude' that first grabbed our attention in 2016. Poppy, catchy and very radio friendly, both songs have been great and this band from London deserve bigger exposure in 2017. Florrie https://www.facebook.com/florrie.music/
Florrie last released a single about nine months ago ("Real Love", above) which was played on mainstream radio following a couple of years releasing EPs of very high quality. She's disappeared a little from social media recently but there are few others on this list that deserve big success based on her ability to write a great pop tune. Glass Animals https://www.facebook.com/glassanimals/
Based in Oxford, Glass Animals released the incredible 'Life Itself' back in June as well as a follow-up single and album. You'll be hard pressed to find a catchier indie-pop song from 2016 with such a bouncy chorus. Hannah Trigwell https://www.facebook.com/hannahtrigwellmusic/
Regularly broadcasting live performances to her increasing number of social media follows, Yorkshire-based Hannah Trigwell has a great clutch of her own songs and a voice that can tackle lots of covers. Throw in a very strong promotional strategy from the singer and 2017 should be huge for her. Janet Devlin https://www.facebook.com/thejanetdevlin
Ranking highly back in 2011's X-Factor competition since then young singer-songwriter Janet Devlin has built up a fanbase through her distinctive covers of songs from all ages. Recently she released her original tune 'Outernet Song' which is one of the catchiest pop songs of the year, plus a beautiful EP of original Christmas songs and chosen covers. A unique voice and a keen ear for her fans, Janet Devlin deserves a big 2017. Jazz Mino https://www.facebook.com/JazzMinoUK
A dedicated performer live both in traditional venues and on the busking circuit 2016 saw Jazz Mino release a succession of great singles such as 'Superwoman', 'Suffocate' and 'Hurt' and if the quality of these records continues into an album we're sure the bright-haired singer from London will score highly. Kerri Watt https://www.facebook.com/KerriWattMusic
Recently touring to much acclaim, Kerri Watt has had success with her songs on national radio and it's difficult not to be impressed by her continuously quality singles. A great voice, strong songs and a fun live act, we'd love to hear more releases from Watt in 2017. Lady Lykez https://www.facebook.com/LadyLykezArtist/
It's impossible to ignore the rise of urban and grime music and one of my favourites is the slightly more tongue-in-cheek Lady Lykez, who is great musically whilst also doing something more interesting than falling back on the tired tropes wheeled out from some other artists in the field. MIAMIGO https://www.facebook.com/miamigomusic/
Catchy dance tracks are the order of the day from MIAMIGO as showcased on the track above. A great duo, we look forward to more from them. Ms. Henrik https://www.facebook.com/MsHenrik/
Hailing from Sweden we had the pleasure of listening to their full album and it's choc-full of radio-friendly pop tracks. Quirky, poppy, electronic, the music is great and should burst through in 2017. Rat Boy https://www.facebook.com/RatBoyRatBoy/
Rat Boy may not have quite hit the heights of breakthrough Beastie Boys-esque single 'Move' but an energetic Glastonbury performance and several singles throughout 2016 suggest big things are just around the corner. The Strumbellas https://www.facebook.com/thestrumbellas/
Based in Toronto, breakthrough single 'Spirits' is one of the catchiest songs of 2016 so far, taken from an album. Hopefully 2017 will be big for them on this side of the pond. Throttle https://www.facebook.com/throttleofficial/
Young producer Throttle teemed up with Lunchmoney Lewis and Aston Merryhold on this cheeky, funky, seventies throwback. If there's more where this came from then send it our way!
Singer-songwriter Janet Devlin returns with a festive-themed six-track EP called 'Little Lights' that matches her beautiful, note-perfect, distinctive vocals with a simple piano-led arrangements as shown by the subdued and gentle opener 'Wake Up It's Christmas' that is a touching, delightfully produced festive ballad with hints at some heart-breaking lyrics.
Following this is a cover of Slade's perennial favourite 'Merry Xmas Everybody'. I don't think anyone is really calling for another cover of possibly the most over-played Christmas song but in stripping it back to a piano ballad with strings at least gives its a new, more downbeat feel, and it's possibly the best cover version of the classic in the long time. with a slightly sombre feeling to the delivery and some more accomplished breakdowns, plus a neat little carol-interpolation at the end.
'Merry Christmas Mum and Dad', the lyrics for which appear as part of the deliciously designed physical package, is the centre piece of the record, a very moving ode to Devlin's family and upringing, and though the style of the piece is very similar to the tracks that procede it it's all done in such a nicely warming way.
The second cover on the record is 'White Christmas' and though rather similar to previous versions is a great listen.
The EP wraps up with two more original tunes, the Eye Spy and 'Night Before Christmas' referencing 'Something Beginning with Christmas' and 'Christmas Kiss'. Track five is the only really upbeat number on the piece and offers something a little different and though the lyrical structure is a bit freer and more scattergun its all delivered with such love. The closer 'Christmas Kiss' is arguably my favourite on the EP, the best written of the original material numbers and like a more subdued antidote to 'Santa Baby' mixed with the feelings behind 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'.
Overall 'Little Lights' is a delight of an EP, the perfect stripped-back warming festive collection that feels like the perfect soundtrack to a festive night in front of a fire with a hot chocolate. Or mulled wine of course. (8/10)
