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

This time around, it's slinky funkster Sinkane who's in the recommendation chair. Inspired by sub-Saharan African melodies as much as he is the more Westernised R'n'B and soul he wears on his sleeve, Ahmed Gallab recently celebrated the release of Life & Livin' It, his second full-length, out now via City Slang.

Keeping one ear in the modern world and another on its more traditional influences, Sinkane's ethos is perfectly suited to play the hat-tipper - below, he takes us through three of his favourite newbies, in the run-up to a massive UK tour and a whole heap of 2017 festival dates.

***

sir Was is the project of Joel Wästberg. A Swedish multi-instrumentalist who used to play drums for José Gonzalez. His latest album Digging a Tunnel is a landscape of lush sounds grounded by thick grooves. It will audibly quench your thirst with pleasing, ambient synth pads, ear candy samples and Joel's weird, wonky and charming voice.

Joel is a rare bird. He can do it all: play every instrument and sing VERY WELL. But it's his taste that'll really blow you away. He never gives it all away. Rather he'll lure you in and let you get comfortable before he slips out the back door without you noticing. You'll get so transfixed by this music that you'll lose yourself. You'll close your eyes and forget where you are. When you open them back up you'll find yourself in the middle of Times Square in your underwear at 3 AM nodding your head to his beats while everybody is staring at you. The music will seriously make you do that. Trust me.



Noga Erez is from outer space. I'm convinced. Part human being. Part something else. She wears her influences on her sleeve. M.I.A., Flying Lotus, FKA Twigs. Yeah, we could talk about that. All great artists. But Noga, tho. She is continuing this conversation that these artists have started. Beats are meticulously crafted. Every single detail, every speck, click, clang, *fsshh* sound, clap, all purposefully placed and thoughtful. Her voice hovers above them. Hanging ten. Sounding and feeling super confident. And then you see her perform. Her energy is magnetic, hypnotic and oh so tantric. The music comes to life as drummer Ran Jacobovitz plays all the beats in real time and producer Ori Rousso dubs out the music from the sound desk. It's an experience that has to be seen to believe. It gives warmth to electronic music. Heart and soul. It's very far out but still grounded and rooted in a tangible, digestible package.



Oddisee is truly one of a kind. He's the best rapper and producer in the world. There. I said it. Y'all can think different. That's totally cool with me. But I don't think that I have seen or heard a hip hop artist that I've liked so much. Hip Hop is the most prolific music ever. Artists and producers in this genre make more music in a month than the rest of us in years. The problem with prolific artists is that they often sacrifice quality for quantity. Oddisee defies this rule. He's incredibly prolific and ALL of his shit is dope. Not just some. ALL OF IT. His music sounds familiar. Like listening to a lost '45. It sounds and feels classic. But it modern all the same. His fusion of modern sounds, technology with classic boom bap beats and samples is genius. There isn't anybody making music like this. His words? Forget about it. It's not even fair. He's an absolute poet. He talks about the world. What's going on and how all of these things influence his life and yours. He's personal with his words and it draws you into the music. It sounds like he's having a conversation with you. It's no wonder his fans can't wait to speak with him at shows. I've seen it for myself. He's speaking to you about everything you've ever wanted to talk about! Oddisee is the realest artist on Earth.



Catch Sinkane on tour now.

-Tom Connick