Ones To Watch 2020
As always, to make a list of the Ones To Watch is quite difficult and I struggled to keep a list of 10 artists (this time 11), from new ones to established ones, and I am proud and honoured to have been able to share music from these artists, and many others, with you guys.
Savannah Sgro
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Savannah Sgro first caught my attention in late 2018 with her lovely single Phobia, but it was in 2019 that Savannah fully won me over with her dulcet, ethereal-like vocals and infectious pop tracks. She started the year with the smooth electro-pop gem Love Me Like You Used To (my favourite song of hers), to her latest single Friends With Your Girlfriend, which came out in November. These songs were taken from her beautiful 6-track EP, Phobia, packed with lush melodies, hauntingly beautiful harmonies and an overall magical, dream-like atmosphere with heartfelt, meaningful lyrics. Savannah has proven to be quite a gifted storyteller with her dulcet vocals sealing the deal for me and making me very excited to listen what she has in store for us in the new year.
LIEZA
Also from Nashville, this singer and songwriter first sparked my interest in the Summer of 2018 with a laid-back indie-pop gem titled Yellow Roses, but it was her powerful and emotive single Need Love that made me fall in love with her music. Need Love is the result of LIEZA's time off last year to get back to her roots and develop her sound and the result is a stunning piece of honest raw emotion combined with lush piano keys. It's the vulnerability and emotion that comes from her vocals and her impeccable, and relatable, storytelling that won me over and I can't wait to hear what she has for us in 2020.
Winnie Raeder
In April I was blown away with London-based, 23-year-old Danish singer-songwriter Winnie Raeder as she released her captivating emotional debut single Don’t You Dare, via AE Records. On Don’t You Dare, Winnie showcases her incredible voice which soars over the beautiful piano melody and is then infused with sweeping beds of harmonies and backing vocals with organic instrumentation. Listening to her music I got vibes of Anouk and her rich deep vocals are definitely something I adore. A month later Winnie released the heartfelt gem I Wear A Ghost and that's when I truly became a fan of hers. Winnie's rich, powerful vocals give me the chills every single time I listen to this track, filling my heart with love and a feeling like someone is giving me a warm embrace. Winnie followed these tracks with the release of her debut 4-track EP From Here, a collection of songs that deal with feelings of loss, separation and the clinging on to whatever little hope you have, in the trying and numbing moments of life. Winnie delivers music for the soul and I am hoping that in 2020 we are gifted with a full-length studio album that is guaranteed to be the soundtrack of most of my days.
Ben Lubeck
Winnie Raeder
In April I was blown away with London-based, 23-year-old Danish singer-songwriter Winnie Raeder as she released her captivating emotional debut single Don’t You Dare, via AE Records. On Don’t You Dare, Winnie showcases her incredible voice which soars over the beautiful piano melody and is then infused with sweeping beds of harmonies and backing vocals with organic instrumentation. Listening to her music I got vibes of Anouk and her rich deep vocals are definitely something I adore. A month later Winnie released the heartfelt gem I Wear A Ghost and that's when I truly became a fan of hers. Winnie's rich, powerful vocals give me the chills every single time I listen to this track, filling my heart with love and a feeling like someone is giving me a warm embrace. Winnie followed these tracks with the release of her debut 4-track EP From Here, a collection of songs that deal with feelings of loss, separation and the clinging on to whatever little hope you have, in the trying and numbing moments of life. Winnie delivers music for the soul and I am hoping that in 2020 we are gifted with a full-length studio album that is guaranteed to be the soundtrack of most of my days.
Ben Lubeck
Farewell Milwaukee's lead vocalist and guitarist Ben Lubeck won be over with his powerful song Mrs. Bluebird. Ben's vocals are imbued with so much emotion that makes it impossible not to feel each and every single word he sings. Listening to Mrs. Bluebird I get vibes of Ryan Adams and I am loving the raw touch in the song which just enhances its emotion. The song's delicate piano keys intertwined with the emotive strings are the perfect backdrop to his powerful vocals, making Mrs. Bluebird one of my favourite songs of 2019. Later this Summer Ben released his 10-track album For You Again which cemented the reasons why I love his music so much. This project is packed with heartfelt songs accompanied by organic instrumentation packed with lush acoustic guitar melodies, emotive piano keys and dreamy strings. Highlights of this album include title track For You Again, Mrs. Bluebird, What Am I To Do, and Winter Moon. Ben's honest and relatable storytelling is beautifully enhanced by his powerful vocals which are packed with so much raw emotion that is impossible to stay indifferent to his music. I am hoping that in 2020 we get to hear more new music from Ben as I think he is here to stay and take his place in the Indie-Folk/Rock world.
Chloe Lilac
Earlier this year, Brooklyn singer and songwriter Chloe Lilac surprised me with the release of Manic Pixie Dream, a smooth piece of indie-pop music with hypnotic bass and delicate piano keys. I listened to this song a billion times this year, especially thanks to her smooth vocals, infectious hook and overall melancholic atmosphere. Her latest singles, Special and High School, beautifully contrast Manic Pixie Dream as both have an uplifting, feel-good atmosphere and a chorus perfect to sing along to. Even though I am a melancholia-loving man, I am really excited to hear this more upbeat side of hers and I am looking forward to hearing more from her this new year.
SHY Martin
Swedish pop singer-songwriter SHY Martin, the moniker of Sara Hjellström, caught my attention back in 2018 with her heartfelt ballad Lose You Too showcasing her smooth and dulcet vocals over a laid-back electro-pop production. This year SHY Martin completely won me over with her moving single Out of My Hands, which was followed by the bittersweet Same Old and her most recent single Make Us Never Happen. I am a HUGE fan of her honeyed vocals and ethereal-like harmonies that flow effortlessly over smooth electro-pop productions. SHY Martin is set to release a brand new EP in 2020 and I can't wait to share it with you guys!
Lauren Sanderson
Indiana native singer and songwriter Lauren Sanderson's lush, distinctive vocals won me over as soon as I heard her fiery single Hotel Room, a gorgeous piece of alt-pop music with an overall carefree atmosphere that is perfect for summer road trips. Lauren followed this song with the laid-back indie-electronic Upset and my favourite To The People I Hurt, a guitar-driven heartfelt apologetic track. Lauren's relatable songwriting is packed with raw emotion that is beautifully conveyed via her powerful and distinctive vocals. In 2020 Lauren is set to release her debut album Midwest Kids Can Make It Big and I can't wait to hear what other gems she has for us.
Dan Crossley
This January British 23-year-old singer/songwriter Dan Crossley surprised me with his soulful R&B sound when he released his captivating single Call Back. I was completely in love with his passionate and soulful vocal delivery and he was instantly on my radar throughout the year. It was with Heal that Dan fully won me over thanks to the song's groovy guitar riffs beautifully backing his powerful vocals. I really like the way he sings and how much emotion he conveys through his lush vocals. 2019 also saw the release of his gorgeous 5-track EP Closure which perfectly showcases what a talented songwriter and singer Dan is. I am hoping that in 2020 Dan can gift us with more soulful R&B gems!
Crimson Apple
Los Angeles-based alt-pop band, Crimson Apple, consisting of Colby Benson (vocals) and her three sisters Shelby (guitar), Carthi (bass), and Faith (drums), filled a gap in the alt-pop genre with their unique blend of American pop and Japanese rock-influenced sounds. Their song Somebody was what got me hooked to their music, thanks to Colby's powerhouse vocals and the song's energetic production and infectious hook. The sisters then followed with a 6-track EP, titled Somebody, on which they deliver a dark-pop atmosphere by incorporating rock, pop and even J-rock style to comprise their captivating sound. Aside from the gorgeous title track, the EP included the songs Who Knows and Sorry Now, which have the potential to become big singles for this band thanks to their infectious choruses and memorable melodies. I am really excited to hear more from them this new year and share it with you guys.
Dua Lipa
Grammy Award-winning songstress Dua Lipa blew me away with the Disco-infused Don't Start Now that marked the beginning of a new phase in her music. Dua Lipa's self-titled debut album, released back in 2017, was a global hit but I've got to say that I am loving this new sound of hers even more. The British singer's upcoming album, Future Nostalgia, will incorporate genres of disco and pop, reviving the highly infectious elements of late 70's and 80's music into a fun new album that shows a more confident side of Dua Lipa as a singer and performer (her performance on this year's MTV EMAs was her best live performance ever!).
Ella Henderson
Following a 4-year break, British songstress Ella Henderson returned this year with her empowering single Glorious, an anthem to all of us that struggle with issues of body image and self-doubt to embrace and celebrate our flaws, and truly accept and love ourselves. Ella followed this gorgeous song with yet another anthemic track titled Young which shares the message to be true to oneself and not be afraid to express our opinions. Earlier in November, she released her 4-track EP Glorious which shows how much Ella has grown during her hiatus. Aside from her solo music, Ella teamed up Sigala on the song We Got Love and with Jax Jones to release one of my favourite songs of the year, This Is Real. I believe 2019 was just a taste of what Ella has in store for us in 2020 and I can't wait to share her new music with you guys.
Ella Henderson
Following a 4-year break, British songstress Ella Henderson returned this year with her empowering single Glorious, an anthem to all of us that struggle with issues of body image and self-doubt to embrace and celebrate our flaws, and truly accept and love ourselves. Ella followed this gorgeous song with yet another anthemic track titled Young which shares the message to be true to oneself and not be afraid to express our opinions. Earlier in November, she released her 4-track EP Glorious which shows how much Ella has grown during her hiatus. Aside from her solo music, Ella teamed up Sigala on the song We Got Love and with Jax Jones to release one of my favourite songs of the year, This Is Real. I believe 2019 was just a taste of what Ella has in store for us in 2020 and I can't wait to share her new music with you guys.