The dust seems to be settling on the annual start-of-year buzz, captured by the likes of the BBC Sound Of and Blog Sound Of polls. In our experience, many music fans turn their noses up at those type of polls, and while we don't, we also understand the ambivalence. Hopefully this list will be more appealing, and regardless, our offerings our acts that we really hope will deliver big things both critically and commercially.
Augustines
They may have already released an album as We Are Augustines but 2013 was something of a rebirth for the band, as they dropped two-thirds of their name. At the same time, they delivered one of their finest songs yet in the effervescent 'Cruel City', and their recent album is similarly exciting.
BANKS
Arguably the most well-known and hyped member of our tips for 2014, R&B songstress BANKS came third in the BBC Sound Of 2014 and was joint winner of the Blog Sound Of 2014 - which we were again part of. Working with everyone from TEED to SOHN has provided a wealth of experience on which to draw from on her debut album, due out later this year.
Circa Waves
We generally end up tipping some bands a year too early and this breezy Liverpudlian indie outfit could well fit that bill. But with their debut single coming out late last year, and us missing out on talking about it, here's a chance to make amends.
Marika Hackman
Joining the aforementioned BANKS atop the Blog Sound Of 2014, we've followed this folk musician for a while now. Her dark, hypnotic sound contrast her relatively unassuming nature, as we found out at Bushstock 2013. We suspect she'll be going about her business again quietly this year, albeit with a deservedly larger audience.
MØ
One to watch for a while now, MØ has been heralded as Denmark's answer to Grimes. 2014 should see her stand on her own two feet however, with debut album 'No Mythologies To Follow' coming next month. Well worth catching live too.
The Orwells
An incendiary live band, The Orwells were so well received while performing on a recent episode of 'Late With Letterman' that they were unexpectedly asked to perform an encore. They didn't heed the request but the minor splash they made suggests their compelling live performances could well translate to wider success.
RAC
A well-established name in the remix world, Andre Allen Anjos, is making big moves as an artist in his own right. Crafting laidback electro-pop mini-masterpieces, and recruiting the likes of MNDR and Kele Okereke of Bloc Party to join him, his forthcoming two-part debut album is one of our most hotly anticipated releases of 2014.
Sampha
Well-known for his collaborations with the likes of SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Katy B, and Drake, we suspect that 2014 might be the year that this striking voice makes his name as a solo artist.
Sons & Lovers
A band whose sound encompasses the stadium-pop ambitions of the likes of BASTILLE, and could well replicate the impressive success of that band. We were certainly impressed with their live performance at Southsea Fest, and we reckon they'll be one of this year's big festival favourites.
Thumpers
Signing to Sub Pop makes Thumpers a fairly safe bet but we've supported them for quite some time - since we heard the wonderfully free-spirited 'Sound Of Screams' back in August 2012. Fingers crossed they'll succeed where previous outfit Pull Tiger Tail sadly failed.
SOME OTHER TIPS:
Drenge (Emily Solan)Decoy Jet, Sheen, and more (Glen Byford)
Hockeysmith, Jack Garett, Jungle, Royal Blood, The Wolf (Jack Thomson)
Drowners, Rosie Lowe, Radkey, Jaako Eino Kalevi (Rajan Lakhani)
Bears Den, Chet Faker, Tinashe (Raman K)
Foxes, George Ezra, Matt Corby, Rae Morris (Saam Das)
We're a collaborative British music, film and TV blog. "Trying to find the perfect match between pretentious and pop."
