HOT FOR 2017: International acts looking to break through this year

THE ACES

Utah isn’t known as a rock stronghold – heck, even those rocking Mormons The Killers had the good sense to make Las Vegas home – but this all-female quartet are well-placed to change all that. A teenage outfit who are half-beach party, half-dance act, comparisons to HAIM will no doubt be ubiquitous, but such praise may not be unwarranted. The ink is still drying on a Red Bull Records deal signed at the tail end of 2016, so details on a first official release are still unknown. When they arrive, though, expect a stampede of tastemakers eager to jump on a bandwagon that seems to have all the requisite elements to speed all the way to the top.
HEAR: Their terrifyingly catchy debut ‘Stuck’ on YouTube
SEE: theacesofficial.com for much-anticipated news on forthcoming releases

AJ TRACEY

Leaving his studies in criminology behind, the young Londoner is marked out as one of the rising talents of the burgeoning grime scene. Fast and aggressive on the mic, his eclectic lyrics can cover everything from Pokemon – as on ‘Spirit Bomb’ – to football, as seen on ‘Thiago Silva’, perhaps the finest song about a soccer star since The Sultans Of Ping’s ‘Give Him A Ball’. The key to his success, though, may be his incessant work on the London radio circuit, which has seen him win favour with both fans and industry figures alike. After two EPs in 2015, including the excellent Alex Moran, he has logged considerable studio time over the last 12 months, suggesting an avalanche of new material may be just around the corner.
HEAR: A truckload of tunes – EPs included – at soundcloud.com/ajtracey
SEE: The ode to Brazil’s centre-half get the video treatment on YouTube

THE AWAY DAYS

As any football fan who’s followed their side to Galatasaray or Fenerbahçe will tell you, Istanbul away days aren’t always a pleasure. These guys, though, are an important exception. A handsome mix of shoegaze and dream pop, they’ve spent the past five years making a name for themselves at home with a string of impressive singles – but with their debut album due for release in February, international notoriety beckons sooner rather than later. Early cuts from the LP, ‘World Horizon’ and ‘Places To Go’, epitomise their ability to combine lush arrangements with soaring melodies and indie-pop sensibilities. If there’s any justice, a busy festival season awaits the young Turks.
HEAR: Their eagerly awaited debut album Dreamed At Dawn, out in February
SEE: The video for ‘Calm Your Eyes’ on YouTube

BE CHARLOTTE

The titular Ms Brimner possesses both serious songwriting ability and a CV way beyond what could be expected of a 19-year-old, and has already sent the transatlantic hype machine into overdrive. Indeed, such was her precociousness that she was part of an acclaimed installation at SXSW in 2015 – which she wasn’t even allowed to see come to fruition due to pesky rules regarding minors in licensed premises. Her shape-shifting vocals see rap, beatboxing, syrupy pop and lofty chirrups woven together seamlessly, with her sonic approach a similarly complementary combination of analogue and digital sounds. A three-piece live set-up has also begun the live assault, with a trip to Eurosonic the first stop of a year that’s looking busier by the minute.
HEAR: Outstanding new single ‘One Drop’ at soundcloud.com/becharlotte
SEE: The video for ‘Machines That Breathe’ on YouTube

BLACK HONEY

The Brighton four-piece once claimed they wished they were a secret. In that case they’ve made an almighty mess of things, for rather than quietly grafting away and not drawing attention to themselves, they’ve instead made some of the catchiest and most appealing indie tracks around. For a back-of-a-postage-stamp description, noise-pop might fit the bill; sunny melodies sit atop reverb-heavy shoegaze guitars, with the spiky vocals of frontwoman Izzy Baxter reminding more than a few listeners of Shirley Manson. Last year saw them hit the road with our own Ash, who hopefully convinced the quartet that a hop across the Irish Sea would be a rewarding venture. A much-anticipated debut album should surface this year – the smart money is on it being worth the wait.
HEAR: Them in all their glory at soundcloud.com/blackhoneyuk
SEE: The video for ‘Hello Today’ on YouTube