Music

Another year, another twelve months of popular music for you to hear. Here are some new and already established artists to look out for in the pop music world this year.

By Brian Sheil

Ed Sheeran

I’m really looking forward to hearing more from Ed Sheeran this year. With his huge breakthrough hit last year in the UK, ‘The A-Team’, I feel he certainly has what it takes to be a regular on daytime radio.

Also, if I was an avid Sheeran fan, I would be watching his producer, Jake Gosling, and the new arrivals to his production stable, some of which are not known to the music world yet.

Lana Del Rey

This lady probably seems like an obvious choice for somebody to look out for in 2012. I will be honest here, when I first heard ‘Video Games’, those three words ‘one hit wonder’ did cross my mind.

However, I feel that with her latest release, ‘Born to Die’, that she has definitely found her groove. I would love if she collaborated with Christina Perri on a record. Considering the financial state of the world at the moment, the sentiment of her lyrics resonate with a huge demographic.

Porcelain Black

Signed to RedOne’s record label, 2101 Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music, Porcelain released two records last year, both of which I felt were excellent. They didn’t make the breakthrough that I would have expected, but I still feel that she has something huge to offer pop music this year.

Chart-wise, her second single ‘Naughty Naughty’ featured in the Top 20 Dance Billboard Chart last year. She describes her sound as ‘Britney Spears meeting Marilyn Manson’, and you definitely get a sense of that both visually and aurally!

Mohombi

While we’re talking about 2101 Records, Swedish-Congolese singer/ songwriter Mohombi – another RedOne protégé – is another artist to lookout for. His most memorable track last year was ‘Bumpy Ride’.

He also did a track last year with former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, entitled ‘Coconut Tree’. It finished at an impressive number eight in the Swedish chart, but once again, I feel that this year could be his year to break the US!

Adele

Yes, Adele! I’m very intrigued as to what Adele will produce in 2012. Will we hear from her at all? She has stated in the past that she doesn’t like touring much and has also stated that she would like to record her next album herself. Interesting, eh?

Anyway, I really hope she releases at least two singles this year. What do I think her sound will be? Well, I think maybe even a more stripped back production might work. Don’t forget ‘Someone Like You’ was the number one single on BBC Radio One in 2011. That track, to the listener, featured just a piano and a vocal. It’s hard to be simple though!