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Natalie Duncan
Soulful singer who brings the bass
The market for soulful female vocalists is pretty crowded, but if you have the backing of Goldie then people need to make room. The drum ’n’ bass don trusted 23-year-old Natalie to croon over ‘Freedom’, release number 100 on Metalheadz. She’s also hooked up with Magnetic Man, while single ‘Sky Is Falling’ has received the remix treatment from Lenzman. But it’s as a solo artist that the Nottingham born singer continues to impress, with her album ‘Devil In Me’ showcasing her powerful lungs and ear for a vocal hook.
‘Devil In Me’ is out now on Verve
Clockwork
22-year-old with a big-room sound
The last year has seen Clockwork produce some venomous tunes, impressing Steve Angello and Laidback Luke with his colossal remix of Avicii’s ‘Levels’. The LA producer intertwines tough beats and melody with danceable ease, sounding like Congorock during an earthquake. His track ‘Big Squad’ is a festival weapon for DJs worldwide and he was promptly signed by Steve Aoki. He’s also remixed Kanye West under the alias RL Grime, notching up huge SoundCloud listens. Clockwork’s time is certainly coming.
The ‘Titan’ EP is out now on Mad Decent
Thomas Gold
Big, bold house from a rising star
Berlin’s Thomas Gold has been blazing a trail through big room house, his masterfull productions and legendary sets earning support from Tiësto, Guetta and The Swedes, as well as that most important area called the internet, where his emphatic remix of Adele’s ‘Set Fire to The Rain’ has clocked up over 13 million views. Tight production and punchy drums provide the background to massive, hands-in-the-air chord progressions and emotive vocals, with a toughness to his sound to please those that want a good thumping.
‘Axtone presents Thomas Gold’ is out now
Tube & Berger
Ex-punks making quirky house
An early incarnation as a punk band has given German duo Tube & Berger a DIY approach. A new album for their label Kittball Records eschews the stilted ‘by numbers’ house format for a record that draws upon years of experience and influence, merging live instrumentation with 4x4 rhythms. Horns, vocals and guitars lend an eclectic feel to a successful format. With some fans disenchanted by the homogenisation of the genre, Tube & Berger’s leftfield approach is an essential escape route for house.
‘Introlution’ is out now on Kittball Records
Shadow Child
Roughneck house from an old favourite
Releasing on Claude VonStroke’s label was the perfect way to kick-start Shadow Child’s career and it’s easy to hear what the Dirtybird boss found so appealing about ‘String Thing’. Blending classic house and UK bassline, it drew remix requests from the likes of Riva Starr and Simon ‘Bassline’ Smith. What’s surprising is that Shadow Child is actually Simon Neale, the man behind 2006 electro anthem ‘At Night’ (as Dave Spoon). Whatever he’s called expect more bassline-driven house from this master of his craft.
Shadow Child’s ‘String Thing’ is out now on Dirtybird
Jakkin Rabbit
Spreading house like myxomatosis
Marc Spence and Danny Kane are Jakkin Rabbit. They both have accomplished musical histories: Danny has worked with UB40, Massive Attack and Chaka Khan. Marc has spun alongside Kenny Dope and Jamie Jones. Together they’re unstoppable, which is why Hot Creations and Art Department’s No.19 Label have signed them. ‘Pushing’ highlights their deep, jacking, soulful sound and ‘Blame’ is nasty house at its finest, but they also do slower modern disco. If you get the chance to see Jakkin Rabbit, hop to it.
‘Pushing’ featuring Robert Owens is out now
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