In this feature, we ask darlings of the indie establishment who they think will be the next big act to break. 

This time, it’s Happyness who are our new music selectors. The lackadaisical indie bunch have made a name on their wry charm and tour-happy lifestyle thus far, roaming the length and breadth of Europe in their search for escape.

New album Write In, released earlier this year, saw their scope expand hugely. Self-produced in their beloved own studio – which is sadly earmarked for redevelopment before the year is out – the three-piece looked outside the all-American alt-rock influences of their previous work, finding a timeless British songwriting nous hidden in their creative minds.

As they gear up for a huge London show at The Garage tomorrow (October 27), Happyness look out on the scene they’ve become such an integral part of, picking their three favourite emerging artists for us - and giving a great big shout out to Art Is Hard Records in the process.

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MUSH

These guys are my bandenvy (noun – when a musician really wants to be in a band) and I’m quietly plotting a musocide (noun – the killing of musicians) to make the switch. This shouldn’t be too tricky because you can usually find them at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. I have one of those walls that plots all the connections between Mush and my life, like in the movies. So they just released a new single on Art Is Hard Records (listen below) which is run by the mighty Richard Walsh who also looks after us on tour. It’s all very convenient. I highly recommend you go see them and chat to them because they are really lovely. We can’t wait for the album.



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PENELOPE ISLES

On the theme of bandenvy, I’m convinced these guys tried to commit musocide at Three Wheel Drive Festival. Lily pushed me really hard into mud while I was otherwise incapacitated. That’s the extent to which bandenvy can go. It’s killer – literally. In a phrase I guess you would say dreamy-poppy-atmospheric-guitar-something but probably easier to catch their vibe as musicians and people in this video (which was also released by Art Is Hard Records).



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YAKIMA

Benji and Jonny have been working with these guys on a new record up in the Scottish seaside resort of Lars. The studio has an immersive garden which has speakers set up in a round so you can pace and listen and actually spend some time outside during recording. These guys sound somewhere between Eliott Smith and Teenage Fanclub, which is just about everything I want from a band. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting them yet, but probably best I kept away because I suffer from bandenvy. Who knows, they will most likely be on Art Is Hard…



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-Tom Connick