Every year Red Pages release their list of who’s destined to make it big in the upcoming year. Last year they told us about Wretch 32, Joan Smalls and Nicki Minaj – and what a year they’ve had.
Amal Fashanu
Amal is the 23-year-old daughter of footballer John Fashanu and former model Marisol Acuna. She is fronting her first documentary for the BBC which tackles the issue of homophobia in football; a campaign she started in support of her footballer uncle Justin who committed suicide in 1988. She has more UK broadcasting and fashion projects in the pipeline for 2012.
AnGel
London born and bred singer-songwriter who has written tracks for Roll Deep, Pixie Lott and Jason Derulo. He released the EP 7 Minutes Before Time in Summer 2011 which featured Sneakbo and Wiley and he has toured with Keri Hilson and Wretch 32. In November he was announced as one of the nominees for MTV’s Brand New for 2012 and has been named as a UK talent to watch next year.
Azeaelia Banks
We first spotted her earlier this month (link) at the top of NME magazine’s Cool List. The 20 year old female rapper from New York has drawn comparisons to last year’s Hot 100 pick Nicki Minaj and has gathered the interest of fans across all musical genres with her hip hop lyrics and online covers of indie songs such as Interpol’s Slow Hands. She has already played two sell-out shows in London and she joins the NME Awards Tour in February.
China Anne McClain
China stars in Disney’s A.N.T. Farm which rolled out worldwide in October this year. The series became Disney Channel UK’s best ever series launch – outperforming debuts of Wizards Of Waverly Place (Selena Gomez) and Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus). China is signed to Hollywood Records, a label that has launched the worldwide music careers of Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff and Vanessa Hudgens. As Disney’s priority artist for 2012 she is expected to break into the US music scene next year with the UK to follow.
DaVinChe
London based singer, rapper and songwriter who has penned tunes for Tinie Tempah, Kano, Tinchy Stryder, Wretch 32, Shola Ama and Estelle. In 2011 he released his first track Ready To Go and was tipped as a ‘talent to watch’ by Wire Magazine. His debut album Open Minded, expected in early 2012, features collaborations with Wretch 32 and Kano.
Frank Ocean
Founding member of US rap collective Odd Future (OFWGKTA), has written songs for John Legend, Brandy and Beyoncé and worked with Jay-Z and Kanye West on their collaborative album, Watch the Throne. In October 2011 he was nominated for the Q Next Big Thing Award and played his first UK gig to a sold-out audience in London in November. Famous fans include Mr Hudson and Emeli Sande. His debut album is released through Def Jam in March.
John Boyega
British actor who was included in Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow. In 2011 he had a role in Attack the Block and has been cast as the lead in the pilot for new HBO series Da Brick, which tells the story of the life of boxing legend Mike Tyson. In October he was nominated for Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards for his part in Attack the Block.
Lianne La Havas
22-year-old soul singer from London who was tipped as ‘one to watch’ by the Guardian. Gary Barlow and Fearne Cotton are among her famous fans and she was named in MTV’s Brand New For 2012. She has a string of sold-out shows lined up for January and February and her debut album is due for release in early 2012.
Michael Kiwanuka
British soul artist who previously worked as a session guitarist for Labrinth. In 2011 he supported Adele on her tour as well as her iTunes Festival gig and embarked on his own tour across the UK and US in October. He is managed by the same team behind The Kooks and his highly anticipated debut album is slated for release on March 26.
MNEK
17-year-old singer-songwriter and producer from London who recently wrote The Saturday’s smash hit All Fired Up. NME has praised him as one of the ’20 hottest producers in music right now’ and his debut single If Truth Be Told was released on Moshi Moshi Records on November 7. He releases his debut album in 2012.
Tanya Lacey
Originally from Bristol, she moved to London and recorded demos with then-unknown artist Labrinth which led to her landing a deal with RCA Records. She teamed up with Loick Essien to write and rap on his number two single How We Roll and has been working on her upcoming debut album with Dallas Austin (TLC, Madonna and Kelis). Her first singles, Born To Fly and Letter To My Ex were released on December 4.
Let’s see what the new year brings for this talented bunch.
