Part I / Part II //// Spotify Playlist
Loyle Carner – A Little Late
Emotionally charged six tracks from London rapper Loyle Carner, culminating in track of the year contender, Cantona. Free download
Majid Jordan – A Place Like This
Previous Drake collaborators stepped out from the shadows on their daringly slick EP release. iTunes
Marika Hackman – Deaf Heat
Her most complete, confident release to date and a fitting precursor to a forthcoming debut album. iTunes
Movement – EP
Extra slick R&B vibes from Australian trio Movement, drawing from D’Angelo and Jai Paul. iTunes
Oceaan – The Grip
His second EP release of 2014 proved his most ambitious, stepping away from the Ben Khan and Jai Paul grove into a sound entirely his own. iTunes / Vinyl
Osca – Blood
Stadium ready indie-pop from this young London quartet. Chris Martin, watch your back. iTunes
Oyinda – Before The Fall
One of my favourite tracks of the year (below), featuring on Oyinda’s emotionally fraught, sensual debut release. iTunes
Palace – Lost In The Night
Future indie kings Palace deservedly gained plaudits for their fantastic five track release. Some of the finest songwriting of the year. iTunes
Panama Wedding – Parallel Play
The absolute best pop songs of the year. Sing your heart out. iTunes
REID – Fractures
Another worthy contender for EP of the year. Switching effortlessly from upbeat dance numbers, to more foreboding, intimidating beats; an essential listen. iTunes
Ryn Weaver – Promises
Pop’s newest star, fresh from writing with Charli XCX, Ryn Weaver’s Promises proved one of 2014’s most talked about releases. iTunes
SALES – s/t
A collection of tracks released over the course of the last year, SALES proved their songwriting abilities on their delightful self-titled EP. iTunes
TALA – Alchemy
The second of two EPs released by TALA in 2014, hinting at a more pop-orientated direction, whilst maintaining her unique, diverse style. iTunes
Tenterhook – s/t
Radio ready songwriting from the London teenager, expect even bigger singalongs in 2015. iTunes
To The Wedding – Silver Currents
The most underrated release on this list, To The Wedding’s elegant, swirling, shoegaze inspired numbers more than earned her a place amongst the best. Bandcamp
Vaults – Vultures
Fulfilling early expectations with their most recent release, Vultures is a majestic triumph. iTunes
VERITE – Echo
Impressed by the diversity of sound on Echo, the startlingly EP from NY’s pop starlet VERITE. iTunes
Vancouver Sleep Clinic – Winter
Although making his name in 2013, VSC’s collection of Bon Iver inspired, ambient numbers appeared at the start of the year. iTunes
Wolf Alice – Creature Songs
A storming Glastonbury performance and several tours under their belts in 2014, their May EP showcased just why they’re all set to release one of 2015’s essential albums. iTunes
X Priest X – Samurai
Florida duo X Priest X’s Samurai followed up 2013’s promising demos, and didn’t disappoint, with some of the most addictive pop songwriting around. iTunes