We might be only a few days in the New Year now with heart-pounding to the rhythm of 2021 biggest bangers and head exploding after one too many champagne glasses but it’s about time to enter a new chapter. Even though the music machine seemed to stop over Christmas so we could say last goodbyes to our 2021 darlings, it really goes as fast as ever. Wipe the tears and instead of scribbling a list of resolutions, start taking notes.

Truth is, that if you want to catch the most exciting acts of the next months’ either live or before your always eager friends, it’s now or never. They’re best served sizzling hot. For those scared to get burned when searching for kicks and beats, we handpicked 12 names that will shake, seduce and shock the industry in the nearest future. Sit down, relax and scroll down.

12: Wet Leg

If you haven’t already heard of Wet Leg at this point, you’ve probably been living under a rock. The band have blown up massively, even in the last few weeks the band seem to have doubled in exposure. Wet Leg exploded on to the scene last year with their breakout single ‘Chaise Longue’, a track that feels quintessentially British, sarcastic in it’s delivery and apathetic in it’s politics. With a plethora of summer festival dates and a sold out UK Tour it’s obvious great things are coming to Wet Leg in 2022.

11: The Linda Lindas

There’s nothing more reassuring and fiercer than to see the new generation channelling the energy that once drove our idols to the very edge of excellence. An Asian-American and Latinx all-female punk band LA-based band, The Linda Lindas, embody Bikini Kill’s Riot Grrrl rage with a modern twist that got Hayley Williams, Sonic Youth and Rage Against the Machine fangirling, especially to their went-viral performance of ‘Racist, Sexist Boy’. With a studio release coming soon, we’ll all be screaming ‘The Linda Lindas’ name before the end of the year.

10: dexter

Thinking bedroom pop musician box, you picture lo-fi, soul-soothing beats that you can pour over yourselves whenever it hurts. If we’re talking boxes, Dexters’ would be all that but overfilling with sandwiches, baggy garms and shit-tonne of talent. Bred on Rex Orange County, Tyler, The Creator and Solange, South West London Dexter has started to make music in quarantine. After seeing a first live show, she knew it’s gonna be all about breaking or making it in the music industry. No matter what other crap the outside world is trying to feed her regarding gender expression, career or ambition. In 2022, she’s set to prove them all wrong. After getting out ‘Paper Cups’ a few weeks ago, it’s crystal clear that Dexter is a real gem.

9: girlpuppy

Becca Harvey, once a cashier at East Atlanta bakery, went through a lockdown revolution and became Girlpuppy, a sweet-sounding songwriter, now serving a sublime selection of love-oriented content – from breezy to heartbroken. A would-believe lost sister of Hope Sandoval and Phoebe Bridges, Girlpuppy juggles our emotions in any way she wants. It feels so soft and blissful that all we want is it to surrender and dissolve into her debut EP, ‘Swan’.

8: Luna Li

A multi-instrumentalist from Toronto broke the internet with self-produced 60s beat videos, now released as a compilation on ‘jams EP’. Following sensational fans’ response, she dropped ‘Cherry Pit’ and ‘Alone But Not Lonely’ singles featuring light-hearted, laid-back vocals to melted crunchy peanut butter smooth level beats in a slightly psychedelic realm. They tell stunning tales of self-care and nature-nurture ideals that Luna wants young, especially Asian, girls to hear. She is ready to represent and entertain. High-class.

7: Jessica Winter

Jessica is one of the most dazzling discoveries that shone through London’s alternative arts scene last year. On the scene for a while, producing and songwriting, she cuts us deepest under her own name, proposing music to cry and dance to - ‘crance’. Get destroyed while swirling in ecstasy. It takes real smarts to steal the show when operating on contrasts. Jessica's sad music makes us very happy.

6: Heartworms

Emerging from South London’s underbelly, Heartworms are here to spread their gothic PJ Harvey meets Fiona Apple infectious manifesto. The vocalist Jojo Orme draped in The Vampire Wife’s influenced attire and armed in enchanting voice leads us through the dark highway speeding instrumental of their debut single, ‘What Can I Do’. Jojo is one of the most intriguing characters on the post-pandemic DIY scene so, with a bunch of heartworms up the sleeve, she might be unstoppable. Hole-chested, we’ll all suffocate under the velvet sheets threaded with sheer satisfaction and mystery.

5: Grove

Self-described as a creator of legendary pussy music, Grove is so much more than that. A genre-bender, dancehall slayer, bad bitch and most likely this year’s big hit. Unapologetic in their approach, proudly black and queer, they’re making a powerful statement while not forgetting to have fun. Our ears are still burning hot after devouring their debut EP, ‘SPICE’. There’s not enough water in the tap to make the sensation go away. We’re still thirsty for more Grove.

4: Cosmic Crooner

If Artic Monkey’s Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino left a psych-lounge itch in the back of your mind, Cosmic Crooner is here to scratch that itch. Sharing a string of gorgeous baroque-pop singles in 2021, we can only anticipate great things for Cosmic Crooner in 2022.

3: Los Bitchos

The UK’s answer to King Gizzard? No, better.
Los Bitchos are one of London’s undercover gems. They’ve supported artists like Babe Rainbow and played a killer set last year at London’s Wide Awake Festival. Los Bitchos have built a loyal and devoted following, their live atmosphere is captivating; at times psychedelic, at times danceable and at times borderline demonic. Los Bitchos release their debut album later this year, sure to be one the more interesting psychedelic rock releases of 2022.

2: Yard Act

When Yard Act have released, ‘Fixer Upper’, an out-of-control joke track, followed by ‘Trapper’s Pelt’, both ironic, character-based commentaries on the weird state of current society, the press went mad. Those post-punksters found out that devil lives in their hometown and caught it by their horns, spinning smart-ass lyrics over banging, eclectic instrumental. This year, they’re finally remerging from the depths of lockdown and Leeds scene, to send a debut album, ‘The Overload’ our way.

1: Spill Tab

First on the scene as Gus Dapperton’s collaborator, Spill Tab wanted to carve a little piece of heaven for herself too so a while ago she blessed us with a cool as hell, cotton-candy laced sound, influenced by LA eclectic energy and her French-Korean heritage. Over lockdown, with help of Jawny and Tommy Genesis, she put out a second EP ‘Bonnie’, an invigorating, blood-boiling mix of sleek electro-pop and effortless vocals. If there ever was Clyde, Bonnie killed him. Spill Tab is on a spree. We beg to play witness.

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