TIPPER OF THE WEEK – ALICE MORTIMER

We continue to shine the spotlight the biggest and best emerging acts from across the UK. Each Monday, we ask one of our esteemed tippers to select five of their hottest tips to be featured on the site throughout the week.

Next up we have Alice Mortimer, writer for The Line Of Best Fit, London In Stereo, Clash and Dork. With a love for the fearless, check out her genre-bending tips below…

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Makeness

A Scottish Caribou with a lingering shadow, Makeness is the solo project of Kyle Molleson, an artist who’s brilliantly hard to pin down. Combining the 4/4 rhythms of house music with psychedelic melodies and dexterous songwriting sensibilities, Molleson creates experimental pop infused with loose-limbed EBM. Much of his music features gloriously dark production recalling house party comedowns with heavenly distortion and a scramble of alluring sonics. Other tracks triumph as club-inclined, upbeat funk-pop, boasting beaming synth and bustling rhythms. I’m calling next month for Makeness’ greatness, set to drop his debut LP ‘Loud Patterns’ and perform support slots for psych-rock outfit Unknown Mortal Orchestra on their European and North American tour. Check out latest track ‘Stepping Out of Sync’ for a perfect portion of overcast dance-pop.

 

Zilo

I am so here for downtempo right now, with the likes of Tom Misch helping to pave the way for sweet jams and delicious grooves to make ya move your body in ways you never thought you could. London singer-songwriter Zilo is my next big thing in this sphere; influenced by old skool hip-hop production, she’s bringing back that effortless R&B soul to the forefront of new music. Her hushed tone and blissful vocal delivery drives a care-free spirit, refreshingly self-assertive with absolutely no need for your validation, ‘Keep Up Wimmi’ consolidates this alongside simply being a general bop to make you crave summer in the city really quite severely.

 

Thyla

Hailing from Brighton, this dynamic alt-rock four-piece are following the footsteps of fellow female-fronted Brightonian’s Yonaka and Dream Wife, producing exciting yet ethereal melodies with blistering energy. Thyla’s sublime combination of glossy 90s pop hooks and dazzling shoegaze distortion is a true winner. Their latest single ‘I Was Biting’ showcases their vintage sound with lyricism of dystopia, while ’Pristine Dream’ – a mighty hunk of brooding dark pop –  proves new wave and post-punk as timeless in sound. The band have gained huge support from press and radio, including from the NME (RIP), but let’s just pretend you heard them here first, yeah?

 

Me and The Moon

Guildford group Me and The Moon are set to be your summer favourites with their breezy brand of indie-pop. With a fast-growing fan base and support slots for the likes of fellow faves Marika Hackman and Marsicans already under their belt, it’s only a matter of time before this trio make the big time on the indie scene. The stunning vocal of front-woman Tamara Grzegorzek captures the endless optimism of youth, while infectious guitar melodies forge a beautifully dreamy aesthetic fit for the dazed commuter. Have a cheeky spin of their latest single ‘It’s Alright’ for charming, folk-tinged euphoria.

 

Mellow Gang

Midnight psych-pop from East London. Mellow Gang cultivate an ethereal energy like no other, graceful yet with real rockability. Kaleidoscopic guitar lines bend underneath the silky, sultry vocal of front-woman Harriet Joseph, drawing comparisons to a Lana Del Ray fronted Tame Impala (with more of the mellow!). ‘Vendetta’ is their big tune, glistening with dreamy shoegaze; wonderful minor synth and cinematic guitar work. The four-piece create music which combines calming sensuality with pop thrills, festival-ready with their organically free-feeling attitude. Introducing your next psych-pop phenomenon, Mellow Gang.