Artists I'd Like To Think Will Do Well In 2015

Welcome to 2015 everybody, I'm glad we all made it!

This week on WIIHAMB Daily I've featured eight artists (well, six bands, one guy and one duo) who I'd like to think are going to storm 2015. If you missed any of those, you'll find them below. Before I recap those eight, I'd like to discuss two more acts who are probably going to do pretty alright this year. 2014 was the first time I'd ever really had to think about artists I thought were going to be big in the near future so I didn't really know where to start. However, seeing the results of the BBC Sound and Blog Sound polls, as well as those who narrowly missed out on the Blog Sound longlist, has been quite reassuring that I am mildly on the right track. The trickiest thing about this for me is the sheer range of genres and artists I feature on What If I Had A Music Blog.

EDIT: Whilst writing this post I came across this really cool little programme thing that the BBC have done about their Sound of nominees which you can watch here for the next month. It's hard to explain how I felt after watching this, but it's really cool that I have a platform to be able to share artists of this calibre that are at this level. Like, really cool.

Firstly, you may (or may not) remember that last year I took part in The Blog Sound 2015 (my post about the longlist is here). Just a reminder, each blogger nominated three acts they think are destined for greatness in 2015. Their first vote receiving three points, the second two and the third getting one point. These were all then tallied up into a nice little list by Breaking More Waves. This week the winner was announced as Lapsley! Now here's the thing, I've tried my utmost to "get in to" Lapsley but she's just not my cup of tea. (Although after watching that BBC thing just now she's extremely likeable as a human.) But what do I know because this eighteen year old Liverpudlian received more than double the votes of any other nominated artist in this poll. So my opinion on this matter has been rendered fairly useless. Lapsley releases her new EP 'Understudy' tomorrow, so that's all quite exciting really and with the support she's gained in #theindustry so far I think she'll be well on her way to stardom in no time.

Most Likely To Clean Bandit 2015: Years & Years

I really like that title, I might use it every year. So London based 'soulful electronic pop' trio have had quite the 2014. They released three singles, Real back in February, 'Take Shelter' with a bonus cover of Sean Paul and Blu Cantrell's 'Breathe', and their first real UK top 40 single 'Desire'. Last year also saw Years & Years tour with the likes of Clean Bandit, MØ and Sam Smith, and then round off 2014 being nominated for the Critics Choice award at The Brits and appearing on the BBC's Sound of 2015 poll. Heading into 2015 the trio will embark on an eight date sold out UK tour, for which there was such huge demand, four venues were upgraded and an extra London date was added. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that Years & Years will be well on their way to world domination by the time we reach 2016.


So here are the eight other artists I think are going to have a pretty great ride in 2015:

Coasts
Coasts seem to be one of the bands most people are tipping for big things in 2015. They were the band I nominated first for the Blog Sound Poll, and they made it onto the longlist! This band seem to tour relentlessly; last year they headlined two UK runs amongst plenty of other shows and festivals, and they already have a US tour planned for 2015 as well as their largest headline show to date in London at the end of March. After appearing on Made In Chelsea and having one of Zane Lowe’s Hottest Records at the tail end of 2014 there’s no doubt that there are big things in store for this Bristol based five piece.


Blonde
Bristolian dance duo Blonde have spent the last two years gearing up for 2015. 2014 saw them release three great singles, the third of which, ‘I Loved You’, scored them their first UK top ten single. Already announced for 2015, Blonde will be playing their first ever full live show at the end of February. With more new music to come this year as well, 2015 is looking very promising for this duo indeed. Blonde were the second "act" I nominated for the Blog Sound poll and I believe they weren't far off making it onto the longlist.


PVRIS
PVRIS have now featured on WIIHAMB three times in the last two weeks, but they deserve it. They're also the third and final band I nominated for the Blog Sound. The latter half of 2014 was a whirlwind for the Massachusetts based trio with the release of their debut album ‘White Noise’ and it looks like they’re only just getting started. With their two UK headline shows selling out in a matter of hours and a couple of tours planned either side of the Atlantic, 2015 could turn that whirlwind into a tsunami for PVRIS.


Prides
Prides had a pretty insane year in 2014. The last twelve months have seen this Scottish trio release three great singles, play multiple festivals across the globe, and support the likes of Foxes on her UK tour and Bink 182 at a sold out Brixton Academy. Prides due to kick off 2015 in style as they head out on a seven date UK tour at the beginning of February. If last year was anything to go by, these guys will have very little to worry about throughout the course of the next one.


Jack Garratt
I can’t really fathom how Jack Garratt didn’t make it onto the longlists for either the BBC or Blog Sound polls for 2015. I don’t think I know a blogger who hasn’t posted at least one of his tracks. Maker of music/singer of songs Jack Garratt seemed to spring from absolutely nowhere in 2014 with debut song ‘Water’. His debut EP, four-track long ‘Remnants’ was released later in 2014, followed by incredible single ‘The Love Your Given’. Now signed to Island, I’m sure there’s plenty in store for Garratt in 2015.


Sunset Sons 
Imagine Kings Of Leon on surfboards and that’s sort of what you get with Sunset Sons. With members from both the UK and Australia but based in France, these guys have got summer surf indie rock covered. 2014 saw the four-piece release two EPs, ‘Le Surfing’ and ‘No Bad Days’ as well as being featured on the BBC’s Sound of 2015 longlist. With a UK tour planned for March and no doubt more new music, this band are definitely one to keep an eye on in 2015.


Light You Up
January 2015 will finally see Birmingham based pop punk quintet Light You Up release their debut album ‘All We’ve Ever Known’. Light You Up’s previous EP ‘Broken Jaw’ was released way back in October 2012 so the wait for this album, recorded over the summer of 2013 has been agonising. 2015 will also see Light You Up head out on the Pure Noise Records tour supporting Four Year Strong, Hit The Lights and Forever Came Calling. Their future is definitely looking bright.


High Tyde
High Tyde are a bit of a wild card choice, a band that won’t be as familiar as others in this feature, but I’ve chosen to feature them anyway. 2014 has been good to the Brighton based indie four piece, with multiple festival appearances and supporting the likes of Peace, Little Comets, and Eliza and the Bear. Heading into 2015, High Tyde’s track ‘Feel It’ will be BBC Radio 1’s Introducing track of the week. The band have also just announced the release of new EP ‘Fuzz’ for March. If 2014 was good to High Tyde, 2015 will only be better.


I'd love to hear your thoughts on the artists I've picked and who your ones to watch for 2015 are. If you fancy it, feel free to comment below.

---

WIIHAMB Daily / BLOGLOVIN / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM / PINTEREST