With this project, we are able to capture a lot of creativity from all over the world. In order to start a new with a lot of a new creativity with a clear overview, I start this year with the ‘The 15 to watch in 2021’. In this article you’ll find a list of 15 musicians (in random order) who (in my opinion) will kick-ass during 2021.
Robin kester
In a studio located in a vacant, former psychiatric institution, the Dutch Robin Kester and her producer Marien Dorleijn (Moss) experimented with retro guitars, vintage synthesizers and an antique vibraphonette to create dreamy luscious productions drawing inspiration from 70’s pop, her beguiling voice and distinct guitar playing as finishing touch. Gone is the indie folk sound I’ve know Kester for, but her dreamy voice and wonderful guitar sound (she is, by far, the best female guitar player I’ve ever witnessed) have remained intact. Robin Kester’s mini-album This Is Not A Democracy is out now.
LOUS AND THE YAKUZA
With her global point of view and cross-genre flow, Brussels-based Congolese singer/songwriter Lous and the Yakuza delivers speedy rap verses and smoothly sung vocals over hypnotic, trap-influenced production. Born Marie-Pierra Kakoma in Lubumbashi, she was influenced by her parents and their love of classical, traditional Congolese, and Rwandan music. Later, she balanced those early inspirations with her own love of acts like Britney Spears and James Blake. For a time, she experienced a number of hardships, living on the streets and sleeping in recording studios. Lous’ songs caught the attention of Sony and she signed with the label in 2019.
SG LEWIS
Britain’s SG Lewis is an in-demand producer, songwriter, and DJ with an atmospheric approach to dance-oriented, electronic-based music. A native of Reading, England, Lewis first became interested in music in his teens and played in several bands before he started experimenting with remixing tracks. Influenced by the introspective pop of Bon Iver and James Blake, as well as the club-ready hip-hop of artists like Common, Timbaland, and the Neptunes, Lewis began posting his own evocative, moody tracks online. He quickly built a loyal following, and eventually nabbed a residency DJ’ing at London’s Chibuku Club. Building up the hype since 2014 (with a couple of EP’s) and lots of collaborations (Dua Lipa, Dave, Ray BLK) 2021 will be the year SG Lewis and his retro and funky productions will continue reaching a worldwide audience.
LUKA
Born in Cape Town, raised and based in the Netherlands; singer-songwriter Lisa Lukaszczyk forms the creative foundation for her band Luka. Inspired by artists such as Feist, Sylvan Esso and Bon Iver, Luka exhibits a sound with touches of dreamy electro-pop, folk and soul. After having released ‘Welcome, Generation Everything’ in 2018, her debut album ‘First Steps of Letting Go’ is out now.
The ten songs that form debut album ‘First Steps Of Letting Go’, take Luka enormous steps forward, while the process towards the album was dominated by consciously taking a few steps back. In that process Luka created an open, honest, adventurous and above all very authentic sound. Produced by Wannes Salomé (Klangstof), this album navigates from hushed electronics to catchy indie pop and takes all the exciting musical back roads in between. As I’ve already found out during my interview with Luka in 2018 this woman is here to stay: unique, and with a lot op patience, she crafted her own style that finally receives the recognition it deserves.
KUZKO
Rotterdam based synth-pop duo KUZKO can’t wait to take you on an epic journey through their playful indie songs. The duo tells their stories about high school drama and cliché love-adventures by means of 80’s synth hooks and catchy vocal melodies. They’ve started 2020 with a buzz, extended it with some awesome live-sessions (BIRD / DNL) and limited streaming releases. All because 2020 wasn’t ready for a KUZKO party, but I know 2021 will be. However: keep in mind that in both duo setting (Danique van der Vlugt and Sam Ouwehand) and with their extra tour du force ( Margi Sinniah) this act will be sexy as hell.
THE MARIAS
An indie pop combo known for their smooth cocktail of psych, jazz, Latin, and lounge influences, the Marías came out of the Los Angeles club circuit in 2017, quickly establishing themselves with a classy, sophisticated sound. Led by charismatic frontwoman and namesake María, and drummer/producer Josh Conway, they debuted with 2017’s Superclean, Vol. 1 EP, later building on its success with a 2018 sequel, Superclean, Vol. 2. Taking their time to extend in setting as a band, the Marías developed an intricate sound that incorporated breezy bossa nova rhythms, light funk, psych, and dreamy pop. During 2020, they’ve teased the first steps of what I assume to be their debut album. To be continued …
ARLO PARKS
In her words, the London based Arlo Parks spent most of school feeling like that black kid who couldn’t dance for shit, listening to too much emo music and crushing on some girl in her Spanish class. Her songs are confessional and tender, mainly inspired by Portishead and Earl Sweatshirt. Parks performed her first-ever gig at The Great Escape in Brighton in May 2019, and has gone on to perform on the BBC Music Introducing stage at Glastonbury Festival in late June 2019 and embarked on her first tour supporting Jordan Rakei on the UK leg of his tour in September 2019. The first teasers of her talent were released in 2020, including a wonderful Radiohead cover. Her LP (January 2021) is expected to be the start of her world domination.
ALFIE TEMPLEMAN
British singer/songwriter Alfie Templeman taps into youthful sincerity while displaying a talent and songwriting ability beyond his years. Born in 2003 to a musical family in Bedfordshire, it wasn’t long before Templeman began playing himself. He started with drum lessons at age seven but gravitated toward guitar, teaching himself how to use recording software by the time he was 13. Initially he recorded only instrumentals, but his mother persuaded him to take singing lessons, opening him up to writing full compositions. At the age of 17, Templeman has already released four EP’s and worked with musicians such as Nick Hodgson (Kaiser Chiefs) and Justin Young (the Vaccines).
FLEUR
Fleur (Floor Elman) is a modern chansonnière avant la lettre. She has the ‘looks’, the ‘moves’ and a voice like a cool breeze on a blistering hot summer day. She comes from Les Pays-Bas, but sings in French. Together with her band (consisting of members of Mooon, The Small Breed and The Tambles) she has her debut album FLEUR. Twelve catchy pop songs that are brimming with energy, detachment, fun and youthfulness.
HOLLY HUMBERSTONE
In her teens, the British Holly Humberstone played violin in the Lincolnshire Youth Symphony Orchestra and eventually gravitated towards pop music. Drawing inspiration from artists like Damien Rice, Lorde, Bon Iver, and others, she began writing her own songs, experimenting with recording on her father’s computer. Humberstone eventually befriended songwriter/producer Rob Milton, and together they began collaborating and developing her sound. Her vulnerable and dusky indie pop music falls somewhere in-between Lorde and Phoebe Bridgers, giving her a level of versatility and relatability that’s hard to come by in pop music. After a support tour for Lewis Capaldi, this woman is on her own way to stardom.
DRAGONFRUIT
For the first time I’ve created a ‘to watch list’, a person is included for two times in the same list. Danique van der Vlugt (earlier mentioned as a member of KUZKO) is also part of the Rotterdam-based band Dragonfruit. With influences that span from Flying Lotusand J Dilla to Mahalia and Sabrina Claudio, the sound of Dragonfruit is characterized by a mix of soundscapes, old-school samples and electronics that create a chilled but very danceable atmosphere. They’re already part of Super-Sonic Jazz Records and with new releases promised, this group is ready to make your 2021 danceable and likeable.
French-Caribbean singer, bassist and producer Adeline spent most of 2020 gaining my attention with a constant stream of soulful singles, 2 EPs and numerous other collaborations. Her unique blend of funk, R&B and soul, which hits that sweet spot between the past and the future, makes me curious about what she’ll release next. After touring globally (with acts such as the earlier mentioned .Paak and Chromeo), it is finally time for this talented musician to definitively claim her own spotlight.
FROUKJE
Language is precious. Words are a means to put what is in your head out there in the world, and that is what 19 year-old Froukje is all about. The Rotterdam singer is young, but she definitely has something to say. Debut single ‘Groter Dan Ik’, about the climate crisis, spread rapidly in the Netherlands. So Froukje became the talk of the town. Getting all the attention while making you debut and playing at one of the prettiest venues so early (Carré Amsterdam) is not effecting the singer and her awesome band. If 2020 marks the standard for this lady, then 2021 promises to be one hell of a year for her.
FAYE WEBSTER
As both an artist and a person, Faye Webster is made up of contradictions. Like the way she takes the traditional instrumentation of Americana and flips it into something else, she uses her own calm, laid-back demeanor to assert that you can be confidently and unapologetically yourself in a quiet way, too.
Webster was writing her own songs by age fourteen, but expanded her musical horizons in high school when she joined a tight-knit creative collective of friends, a rap group called PSA, which marked the first time she started experimenting outside of her own songwriting and sang on other people’s tracks. Then, she happened upon her own voice: while recording on a track for Awful Records rapper Ethereal late one night, she sang quietly under her covers, trying to avoid waking her sleeping parents. That type of singing felt effortless to her; Webster decided it was the right fit. By the age of 21, Webster has already released her third LP, and is ready to gain the international attention she deserves.
JOYA MOOI
Joya Mooi has many musical faces, all characterised by her background as a conservatory-trained musician. The Amsterdam singer has been strongly influenced by jazz, hiphop and R&B, genres she combines fluidly. With roots in Soweto, South African Joya gives insight into the experiences of a new generation from the African diaspora, with relationships, identity and belonging being reoccurring themes in her music. On her recent, well-received EP Blossom Carefully, she works with producers Sim Fane, Blazehoven and SIROJ spinning her stories around freedom, heritage and hope.
Wait: you think this was the last act I was going to discuss? When you’re able to count to 15: you are absolutely right. But, for the first time ever I am going to extend this list by including some ‘honorable mentions’:
JOSEPHINE ODHIL
The Psychedelic Dream Pop, as created by Josephine Odhil, is the perfect music score for every David Lynch movie: music for the daydreamers and listeners who are looking for something ‘unique and different’. With the characteristic vocals by Josephine van Schaik (The Mysterons) and an all star band (that includes Timon Persoon of The Visual) is this Dutch band (who only released two live sessions: 1 / 2) the perfect soundtrack for everyone who wants to escape reality.
MEIS
Back in the days (2018), I’ve met Aysha de Groot and was immediately charmed by her down to earth and humble attitude. Under the alias Meis, she had just released her first song which directly caught my attention: Dutch at its finest with the right melodic and dreamy vibes. However, we did lose track and no further releases arrived as a follow-up. During 2020, I found out way: Aysha became a part of of Eefje de Vissers’ band (as both backing vocalist and dancer) but was also secretly crafting her Meis-songs in such way they became even more perfect and likeable. I’m not sure how or where the story ends for this extremely talented woman, but I assure you that she will rock your 2021.
Text: Mike Warrink / Capturing Creativity
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