Here is our second list of twelve ones to watch in 2024 from our staff. Read the first part here, this is another eclectic list of artists from around the globe, that make up our ones to watch this year. Read below.
HotWax
HotWax are causing a commotion with their insidious sound that sees punky spasms collide with spiky Riot Grrrl riffs laced with attitude riven, insatiably hollered vocal earworms. They are the Hastings trio of singer/guitarist Tallulah Sim-Savage, bassist Lola Sam and drummer Alfie SayersRaw. The lead track from their first EP A Thousand Times, ‘Treasure‘ was a cracker, a whirling dervish of chunky riffs, vocals that buzz with bittersweet glory, the feeling that you have to treasure every moment because things could very well fall apart at any moment. The dynamic is fantastic with a cavalcade of bounding drums, screeching guitars and hollered crescendos the line between pain and pleasure is a fine one. Frankly fantastic.
They followed it with an explosive EP Invite, Me Kindly featuring the thunderous ‘Phone Machine’ with its sinuous licks and almighty drumming and the excellent ‘Drop’ with its monster riffing that reels you in then delivers a caustic chorus of spitting vocals and abrasive bar chords. They topped it off with a much talked about support slot with Royal Blood on the UK tour. HotWax will be impossible to ignore in 2024!
Heartworms
South London auteur Heartworms – aka Jojo Orme – is a compelling artist from her intense live performances that eschew any notions of smallness crafting larger than life movements and magnetic stage presence to her fascination of military history (she has a volunteering role at The Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon) and the poetry of Pound, Thomas, and Keats. She crafts a dystopic, compelling, goth pop world you want to explore.
From her debut EP the awesome Retributions of An Awful Life’ was a pummelling goth pop exploration of unsettling visions. Scampering across rough terrain of post punk, goth and no-wave whatever but retaining the visceral spark of her independent spirit. Retributions of an awful life is scattered with Orme’s unique vocals, from stretched yelps to hushed chanted refrains like she’s casting a spell and throbs with anxious artful poetry, whilst ominous synths chunter and scalpel like guitars scrape above insidiously clambering percussion it burrows deep through the darkness of the muddy, watery depths of nightmares. You want to follow her into battle but you don’t know where it will lead.
“The song itself lyrically is deeply unsettling, I wanted it to come alive in action. I had an idea of being kitted up in full militaria of no specific regiments, in black and white, putting my body through cold water and wet mud. This was stepping outside my comfort zone because I’m not a skilled swimmer; deep water frightens me immensely, especially when cold and in full military gear.”
‘May I Comply’ arrived at the tail end of last year produced by Speedy Wunderground head Dan Carey a more minimal, sleek offering like a direct like a heat seeking missile rippling with collision of sinuous guitar licks, propelling bass lines and the menace of Orme’s fascinating vocal that explores the juxtaposition of dystopic scenes, the tension between obedience and compliance, cascading and slithering somewhere between the subtitle of PiL and early Gary Numan. Heartworms just played a much talked about set at Rockaway Beach last weekend and is has also announced a US tour with The Kills for 2024. This year, you won’t be able to take your eyes off Heartworms. (Bill Cummings)
Donna Blue
Donna Blue, a Dutch duo comprising Danique van Kesteren and Bart van Dalen, craft chic English/French 60’s pop tinged with a smoky psychedelic haze. Reminiscent of Nancy & Lee, Serge Gainsbourg, and composers like Ennio Morricone, they are all about the nostalgia of beat poets, dreamers, and 60’s spy movies. Forthcoming album, Into the Realm of Love (out 8th March 2024 via Snowstar Records), follows their acclaimed debut Dark Roses. They’ve attracted attention from Elton John and Gilles Peterson, toured internationally, and featured in festivals like SXSW. The new album blends vintage romanticism with esoteric themes, exploring mythology, modern love, and reimagining classic tales. Look out for their mesmerizing next single ‘Aphrodite’ dropping in February, a technicolour duet “about a man trying to prove his worth to a woman only interested in what he can do for her”. (Trev Elkin)
Fat Dog
Fat Dog are one of the most exciting and original bands on the scene right now as long as you expect the unexpected you will love them. Manic, thrilling, wild unhinged and utterly unique. At The Great Escape Festival the entire venue melded into a mosh pit with no corner left unturned, whilst at Rockaway Beach they owned the Centre Stage with an Alsatian playing the drums, the grim reaper MCing half way through, dog masks jumping in the crowd and the frenetic mosh pit, bruising the air with flailing limbs as the lead singer led the beautifully rabid fans from within the pit like a melodic shaman. Think techno, punk and ska fused riffs with the ghost of Jim Morrison on vocals and mesmerising middle-eastern hooks. They are a must-see live band. Such a juxtaposing cocktail of influences shouldn’t really work but it 100% does. It’s that wild clash of contexts that creates the magic. They are pure joy. Only one or two people left the gigs in abject fear the last few times I saw them, but I bet some people did the same when they first saw the Sex Pistols.
They are dark, mesmerising wild, skilled, fun and utterly in control of the chaos that they create and it’s a joy to behold. It feels like they are the ground zero of a whole new youth movement. After releasing their debut single in August, the band have just unveiled their second single ‘All The Same.‘ Propulsive and galvanising it’s is underpinned by orchestra hits and eagle noises. Dark and spellbinding, the band say, “What if you could turn the clock back and make a change? Just a single, well-placed kick….could change the whole course of your life. Perhaps the party never has to stop?” It’s wild and it’s beautiful- so join the cult of the Fat Dog! (Carmel Walsh)
Sterling Press
If Britpop was ever make a return in any shape or form in 2024, then the role of Blur would be played by Sterling Press, with their clever pop-tinged tunes. They’ve just announced an EP that’s out at the end of February and they are self-proclaiming 2024 as the year of the Press, and I’d be inclined to strongly agree. (Stephen Doherty)
In Waves
In Waves first came to my attention during their astoundingly confident set at last years Sound City festival. They’ve a handful of tracks already out there with more promised for this year. If you like catchy, punchy singalongs then this could be the band to brighten your year. (Stephen Doherty)
Debbie
Debbie’s prodigious talent and wisdom are in contrast to her young years. Her track ‘No Way’; it’s a defiant and powerful message to an unfaithful ex-lover firmly stating that they will never find another love like hers. Delivering her message scattering her fantastic, multifaceted soulful vocals, across this gleaming track, Debbie shows vividly why she is a fast emerging artist. She grace her vocals across 5 tracks on Stormzy’s critically-acclaimed #1 album, ‘This is What I Mean’.
Her new single ‘Rain’; holds onto the importance of weathering the storm during difficult times. – “Let it roll down your face” she sings “[It’s] nothing but a bit of rain…” She sings amidst the sway of intoxicating dance pop that has a calypso flavour.
Produced by Ross Monro and Max Wolfgang, Debbie’s ability to ally soulful power to tip toeing bars and immersive sounds, shows her dynamism as an emerging artist and songwriter. (Bill Cummings)
Youth Sector
Brighton art-rock quintet, Youth Sector, have been building up a cult following with their whip-smart tracks, fizzing with kinetic energy. Each song feels like a ready-made hit, rich with sing-along anthems from the funk-laden riffs of ‘The Ball’ reflecting recent political scandals, to ‘A Definitive Guide to Easy Living,’ giving a social commentary on anti-homeless architecture. The track juxtaposes the themes with a high-octane energy that could easily fit in a Talking Heads or DEVO album. Like a coiled spring, their lyrics offer “a sense of catharsis for the confusion of modern adult life.”
Tinged with new wave, retro charm, their electric anthems have had audiences enthralled. woven with wit and showmanship at their live shows are flawless, propulsive, professional and technically dazzling, creating a high-voltage circuitry between the audience and the band that could light up a stadium. After releasing their debut EP, Quarrels in 2023, their star will continue to rise in 2024 as they tour with Kaiser Chiefs, starting off the year as guests on BBC Radio 5. (Carmel Walsh)
Joyeria
Joyeria’s name deserves to be held in as high esteem as John Grant and Father John Misty. There’s no one else quite like him. From Canada via London, Joyeria has charted his career in invisible ink. Always a shape shifter, never a genre chaser, he’s quit bands when their buzz was the buzziest and insisted on building his backstory entirely with gaps in the narrative. His sets are smart, dark, edgy, wild, raw, lavish bursting with warmth, pathos and bursts of frenetic energy. With witty existential tracks pondering the absurdity of life, every track demands a replay. With cathartic, vampiric screams and baritone vocals, his 360 degree sonic range is laced with grunge, Americana and free jazz.
He is signed to cult label Speedy Wunderground, co-founded by multi award winning producer Dan Carey who produced and performed on his debut EP,FIM. He was handpicked and shortlisted for the Green Man Rising competition and smashed his sets at the Great Escape and Rockaway beach festivals and many more. Lyrics like “I take everything personally, especially the weather,” could easily come from an Oscar Wilde play. His lyrics reflect every aspect of the modern human condition with high energy soundscapes, capturing lightening in a bottle. It’s exactly what the world needs right now- a sonic (black) mirror. Big up Joyeria. (Carmel Walsh)
STONE
Take all the best bits of every rock or indie or punk band you’ve ever loved and combine it to make STONE. Liverpool’s next great guitar hopefuls should be massive in 2024. They have the talent, the charm the stage craft and a must- see at any festival. Rich with propulsive energy and mesmerising live skill and stage presence they raise the roof wherever they play. With with the kinetic, visceral verve of their live gigs, lead singer Finn Power has been honest about his vulnerabilities and there is something deeply liberating about such honesty; the kind that seems to build trust and kinship with their hundreds of devoted fans as they throw themselves into the mosh pit with wild abandon while the band play back to back bangers in pure cathartic joy.
After releasing EP Punkadonk 2, they have proven themselves to be the underground voice of lost youth with their well crafted anthemic tracks that have the power to fuel the masses. They toured with Sam Fender and Yungblud, before they were even signed. Just try listening to the addictive ‘Waste’, ‘Dance to the Real Thing’ or ‘Left Right Forward’ without dancing. They have honed their craft and skill to such a level that they should be next to reach stadium heights. (Carmel Walsh)
Polite Bureaux
Vital, skilled, talented, and whip smart. Polite Bureaux are definitely one to watch. Formed by Joe Smith and joined on stage by his blood sister Maya Lili and Raver Viv Maher the band buzz with righteous kinetic energy and razor sharp political commentary. London born and Bradford formed, the broken-beat-maker Joe, uses bass lines and beats with alt-electronic production, reflecting the diabolical truths of John Cooper Clarke.
With a family history of Irish and Filipino Malay roots, the siblings’ youth was spent across the country. Strong family unity is what elevates Polite Bureaux from the crowd, with words that hit home. The offspring of a wordsmith and poet, dyslexic Joe’s poetry is used as power and pride to break stigma through performance. Polite Bureaux have supported Benefits, been played on BBC Introducing as well as at The Great Escape. Expect brutal honesty and a true energy in Joe’s venting on stage and in your ears. It’s always more than just a play on words. Polite Bureaux are touring with Meryl Streak in 2024 and have a debut album due on March 14th 2024. Describing the album the band said it’s about” How a bunch of C words became the subject of our debut album. It’s about how Britain is not only broke, it’s broken.” The prescient voice of our times. (Carmel Walsh)
Late November
The biggest thing to come out of North Queensland since the Great Barrier Reef was formed, Townsville’s finest feast for the ears is indie rock eight piece Late November (yep, eight piece! You read that right!). Melding grungy guitars, dynamic drums, and vigorous vocals, not to mention the addition of goddamn saxophone and trumpet, these rural rascals are taking over Australia and beyond with their enthusiastic live act. Having burst onto the scene with Lost In The Debris in 2018, the band have since released follow up EPs In Your Head Again and No Place For Us Here, plus several successful standalone singles. Now teasing more new music on the way, Late November are certainly ones to keep an eye on, no matter the time of year. (Emily Stark)
WIIGZ
To call Brisbane based dance-pop duo WIIGZ simply ‘musicians’ would be a disservice to their carefully constructed image: two over the top, sexy fashionistas out on the prowl. Hannah Brydon & Zoë Hilditch’s stylish form of satire feeds seamlessly into their songs, with tongue in cheek lyrics that will make you laugh while you’re tearing it up to thick, slick beats. With the recent release of their debut EP Songs To Catwalk To, there’s never been a better time to get wild to WIIGZ. Who said great music had to be serious? (Emily Stark)
