Sir Sly aren't just a bunch of kids paddling in the shallow end of the river - they're the ones making the new waves in indie music.
An LA trio; which are shrouded by a cloak of a lazy summers days excitement and hold the key to the mystery surrounding the shoe-gazing scene are the latest band to really make you believe 2013 is going to be the year.
Since Sir Sly crept onto the scene last summer, they've been quietly working behind the scenes to bring three songs to the table; which feelings can only be described as feeling "vertigo". On their YouTube channel (SirSlyMusic) three songs have been posted in the past week, and all three of them bringing completely different chills of synth.
Ghost // Gold // Where I'm Going
Ghost // The delicate lyrics that speak of sadness and leaving have dramatic under-tones of hidden meanings and tell stories of love. The soft voice echoes throughout the track and is complimented by the sparkly booming of the synthesised beats. "Ghost" has the powerful emotion of a Maccabees song but with gut-punching power to make you double-take.
Gold // An electrifying song which is full of hazy emotions. The striking lyrics hit you hard and fast - with the catchy chorus playing, the tune will be left in your mind for days on end. But on "Gold" it isn't the lyrics that make this something for your ears to prick up to; it's the pungent and sharp piano riffs that leave you feeling speachless and full.
Where I'm Going // From the three new songs published on YouTube - "Where I'm Going" is the game-changer. Elongated emotion-filled strings of lyrics with hidden meanings arise from the sinister tone of the synthesiser. "All of my love/was wasted on you" mixed together with the adverse beats, really create a song worth the second glance.
The 1975 are four piece from Manchester,who've made casual sex with an average in hi-tops, sound like a naive, love-sick lullaby about a princess on her high horse - a comparison not for the faint hearted and that not many bands can pull off.
Their latest song "Sex", single from their EP entitled the same name is one of them songs that grab you by the gut and make you double-take and think in the words of Manchester legends The Stone Roses "this is the one we've waited for".
The lead single off the new EP is an explosion of haunting brilliance. The woozy lyrics sung by the mysterious Matthew Healy, entwine electrifying quick-wit with a relaxed feeling of comfort. If you were this girl who "has a boyfriend anyway", you wouldn't really have to think twice.
The 1975 infuse rousing guitar riffs with explosions of passion and pain from the drum kit - creating the atmosphere of a sweaty mosh gig - right in your ears.
Oozing with excitement and dripping with fantastic imagery - the four piece's four song-long EP "Sex" really hits home. The band is one of those you tend to find in the early hours of the morning by accident, when you're scowering that side of YouTube you've never come across, from just clicking on a Swim Deep video.
The "Sex EP", their second EP, was released on 19th of November 2012; and for only £2.49 you can't be going wrong. The four songs on the EP all have an amazingly dynamic sound which seriously but the 1975 up for one of the bands to stick to in 2013.
Intro / Set 3 //
Undo //
Sex //
You //
Creating a flare of preppy electric pop, it's no question to how big mysterious Scottish ban Chvrches (pronounced "Churches") are going to be in 2013
Chvrches have been announced as 5th place live on the morning Radio 1 Breakfast show: and 5 out of 12 has no shame; Enter Shikari, The Drums and La Roux all bagged 5th place also.
So who are Chvrches? With there abnormal name tying in with their abnormal sounds; basically they're one of the bands to watch rise and gain strength in numbers this year. With catchy chorus's lyrics boomed from the haunting lyricist of Lauren Mayberry; Chvrches sound stands out head and shoulders above the rest of pop.
2012 has been a slump in the music scene; seeing factory made groups such as One Direction and JLS rise to be "the best", but could 2013 have a shining golden pathway for Chvrches to waltz up?
The Glaswegian trio mix an electronic quickening of the heart, using shoe gazing tones, to a soft and subtle emotion-fulled-sun-shining feeling. Influenced by the likes of Kate Bush, Prince and Eliot Smith; waves of old and new can be heard entwined through their music.
If Chvrches are anything; they're the game changer the critics and lovers of all things music have been sat on the edge of their boom-boxes for. Chvrches was formed by Martin Doherty and Ian Cooke; and after weeks of brainstorming a name: they came up with the original "Chvrches" so that when their name became instantly famous; they wouldn't be confused with Churches.
One of the main songs that have aroused the hidden music lovers, scouring the Internet for something fresh is from a new, un-heard of band is, "The Mother We Share". Taking less that 48 hours to write and record; Chvrches have specifically gave it a hard packing punch which has sent the song soaring! Mayberrys lyrics sing of sweet happiness but are jerked up and jolted into oblivion with the simple aid of a synthesiser.
Chvrches deserve their place in the top 5 sound of 2013; watch this space. By this time next year; you won't understand how you even managed through the days without them.
The infamous list of your to-be-famous-artists is back; and it's bigger and more brilliant than ever.
It's the end of another fantastic year in music; and just like every year, music critics compile a long-list of bands and solo-artists that they believe are really going to be somebody next year. For the past ten years, the BBC Sound of long-list has produced the names of some of the biggest stars on the planet. White Lies, Ellie Goulding, Skrillex, Lady Gaga and Bloc Party to name a few.
The 2013 Long-list:
AlunaGeorge
A*M*E
Angel Haze
Arlissa
Chvrches
Haim
King Krule
Kodaline
Laura Mvula
Little Green Cars
Palma Violets
Peace
Savages
The Weeknd
Tom Odell
Music critics, music journalists, editors and music gurus have put forth these fifteen names as the ones to watch in 2013. Fizzy, exciting and most of all: new.
The winner of the 2013 sound of award will be announced on the Radio 1 breakfast show with DJ Huw Stephens; a lover of all things new and under the radar. The recipient will be announced on the 4th of January.
The Vaccines, one of the most influential and rising indie-rock bands of the moment. Their second big-sellout headline tour; their third time playing the O2 Academy in Newcastle... And what a night it was!
The night started with three very different, very varied support acts tailor picked by The Vaccines themselves, Pale, Deap Vally and DIIV. Throughout the three virtually unknown support acts, the crowd were very polite, quiet and un-attached. They listened rather than moved
The first act to grace us was Pale - a two piece opening the gig with rigid politeness, strong synthesised beats and quiet humming down the mic, you could tell that these two were nervous as hell!
The second act was Deap Vally, two country-influenced rock chick's presenting themselves in a way not many men rockers, let alone ladies can. With a strong presence on stage, despite some technical difficulties, the two Americans swept and swooned through their set of powerful guitar riffs, a banging drum beat accompanied with raunchy vocals; heightening the mood of the un-aware crowd ever so slightly. Siren songs.
The third support was from American syntho-pop band DIIV. Combined woozy guitars and indie boy haircuts; the band swooped through their longer-than-necessary set. With breathless vocals and an odd stage presence, you could tell that it was about time the act everyone had came to see to appear.
And appear they did. Justin Young with his "messy hair" and double denim rocketed on stage to deafening screams from girls and boys. Rolling straight in with "No Hope". A chorus of "No Hope!" was screamed throughout the academy as the electrifying quartet preformed a mind-blowing set of extraordinary brilliance.
From rolling into the new album "Coming Of Age" and flipping between their award-winning debut "What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?", The Vaccines put on a show of shining energy; steam could really be seen coming from Young's scraggy hair.
Finishing on a high of single "Norgaard", the crowd of the Newcastle Academy were treated to a fast action fist pumping hard-hitting jolt of reality. A musical high was a strong mutual feeling that night. You could see the bright twinkle in every ones eyes and the only words that were uttered were a "WOW".
The Vaccines are really something else
