Maverick Sabre
Recommended track: ‘Sometimes’
Imagine early Plan B learns to play blues guitar riffs whilst growing up on a council estate whilst learning rhetoric from the school of Epicurus. Most recognisable for his work on Professor Green’s track “Jungle”; Maverick’s singer-come-rapper style, c arsely truthful, is contrasted enough by catchy verses and upbeat rhythm to make it big. His gritty, philosophical approach is refreshing in a painfully shallow industry.
Dream Mclean
Recommended track: ‘I Am Music’
Grime is a genre that has had a rebirth over the past year with several of its children, Tinchy, Tinie and Pro Green, making it big commercially. A style of music that speaks in such a raw manner to it’s fans has yet to have the chart recognition it so deserves. However with Dream, an Essex lad not even twenty years old, that could all change. He has proven his ability to rap over, not just grime beats but, hip-hop, dubstep and indie. He is versatile, funny, intelligent, well-spoken and sometimes heart-breakingly emotional and Chase and Status have already worked with him. I sense big things for Mr.Mclean in 2011.
The Great Boat Salvage
Recommended track: ‘Hurricane’
Little known outside of the Midlands and Yorkshire, mainly because of their tendency to constantly re-invent the band both in line-up and name, the Great Boat Salvage are relevant for three huge reasons. First, they bridge the gap between folk and twee without, curcially, being Mumford and Sons. Secondly, they sound wonderfully like Sigur Ros meeting Fionn Regan. And lastly; they’re alright, y’know? If they can hold down one name, I sense a real growth in recognition and in fanbase.
Skream
Recommended track: ‘Layby’
The year that dubstep made it big; subsequently tiring itself as having any originality, has passed. Famed for being one of the fathers of dubstep, Skream is not confined to a single genre. Working, concurrently, on: The Magnetic Man live-show; collaborations with Example and a self-confessed “addiction” to making music proves that 2011 could be his biggest year yet. Forays into future garage and RnB coupled with his constant supply of free music on the internet, are only expanding his fan base.
Ed Sheeran
Recommended track: Cover of ‘Way faring Stranger’
Sheeran is an anomaly. His ginger hair, nervy disposition and love of corduroy trousers should make him the target of the playground bully. However his disturbingly brilliant voice and relaxed guitar playing style have got some massive names courting him for studio time. His collaborations album, already climbing the iTunes chart, is amazing but it is his solo work that I believe he will finally be recognised this year.