Ones To Watch!

Here at The Beat (Uni Project) we’ve handpicked the artists who we think will be making a grand impression in 2012. Welcome to the sounds of Foe, Eugene McGuiness, Jamie N Commons and Alt-J.

Foe

‘Are you ready for the next big thing?’ sings Hannah Louise Clark during thrashy guitar led ‘Tyrant Song.’ Well, are you? Underrated so far, at The Beat we hope her lyrics of choice prove to be a sort of self fulfilling prophecy. Performing under the moniker of Foe and with a penchant for wigs, Clark cites her influences as ranging from PJ Harvey to Nirvana and The Pixies . Debut ‘Bad Dream Hotline’ was released in January, it’s grungy rock in most parts with a soft soothing vocal and a subtlety that can be found in her next single ‘A Handsome Stranger Called Death.’

Eugene McGuiness

Where has Eugene McGuiness suddenly appeared from? Former session guitarist, tour member and bredrin of Miles Kane, McGuiness has already released 3 albums. His back catalogue proves that there’s no need to be standing side stage to Kane as he has the ability to go it alone. With a new image overhaul, he’s now channelling the look of a gentleman, properly suited and booted possibly inspired by Kane himself. McGuiness specialises in predominantly fast paced songs which rush you through the vocals quicker than an F1 race. His newer material is undoubtedly that bit more infectious, departing from the acoustic sound of earlier tracks such as ‘Monsters Under My Bed.’ ‘Lion’ and ‘Shotgun’ are slices of perfection transporting you back to the dancehalls of the swinging sixties.  

Jamie N Commons

On first listen to Jamie N Commons an image formulates in your mind of what he may look like; a middle aged man supping on a whisky in the corner of a bar working his way through a packet of cigarettes and crooning about the trials and tribulations of his life springs to mind. If you thought this too, you’d be wrong. The 22 year old certainly sounds mature beyond his years; his latest offering comes in the form of ‘Devil In Me’ with copious amounts of soul and a raspy vocal. Not surprisingly but most impressively of all was that he was shortlisted for the BBC Sound of 2012 poll, all this and he still remains an unsigned act. Someone give this boy a record deal!

Alt-J

There are many artists who are synonymous for riding on the thrill of obscuring their identity: take Wu Lyf, Yaaks and Is Tropical, from either barely giving interviews to the former performing in balaclavas to conceal their looks. Alt-J are another one of those bands with very few images of them floating around but that has an intriguing factor to it. There’s an element of chaos about their sound yet that makes it so captivating. These Leeds based lads have created a storm by releasing their latest single ‘Fitzpleasure.’ Even though the lyrics are barely decipherable, it’s the amalgamation of all sorts of genres in their songs that make you hit the replay button. You can hear a bit of Folk, Electro, Indie, Dubstep in their songs and probably a bit of Country if you listen hard enough (unlikely, but I did say probably). It isn’t because they don’t know who they are or are just trying to find their feet. It just works.