A BLUFFERS GUIDE

i really like the sound chalk makes

london constantly surprises me. it's only really been within the last six months that i've been able to explore the city properly. hadn't been to fabric in yonks, but i recently found myself back there for sophia stel's headline show. had totally forgotten the layout. once i was in, it all fell into place. i've made no secret of the fact i love sophia stel's music, but that night, i left mesmerised by the sound chalk makes. consider my interest piqued.

in many ways, there couldn't have been a better setting for me to discover the sound chalk makes. dark room, flashing lights, a rabid crowd. scenes. it's hard to nail down where the sound chalk makes, real name kabir's music sits. the london-based, mumbai-raised artist is a law unto himself. tracks like 4wheelpharmacy real exemplify what makes him special. what starts as an indie ballad slowly morphs into a head-banging, manic ode to club nights spent heartbroken, sampling the chainsmokers' (undeniable) banger closer. manmade manmaid also sticks in the memory. its mix of hyperpop, indie, and electronic has me throwing shapes. it is experimentation and imagination running wild in all the best ways. it's exciting. it's fun. it's new. it's the sound.

truth be told, i was always going to be a fan when i found out kabir originally wanted to call himself hiraeth, a welsh word for a nostalgia that never happened. my guy. cymru am fyth. expect to hear so much more about the sound chalk makes very soon. opening for the hellp and sophia stel should be all the evidence you need that this lad has something special. i-d profile makes for great reading. we need more of the sound chalk makes in the club. until then, i'll be banging the drum for him.

good night.

i don't want to yuck anyone's yum, but if the wind isn't your least favourite type of weather, i can never fully trust you. wind sucks. what do you mean my hairline's exposed? what do you mean my fit has been compromised? shambles. hate it. despite all that, i always feel a sense of relief when it calms. those interludes are to be savoured. anjeli's music fills that space beautifully.

i'm so intrigued by anjeli's music. it's early doors, but i'm captivated by her sound. her's is a true 'child of the internet' smorgasbord of influences, ranging from drum and bass, to rap, to r&b, to bedroom pop. to compare anjeli to other artists would be to do her a disservice, because right now, no one sounds like her. at the moment, i'm loving life i never had. the softly sung vocals over those keys and that beat is beautiful. much like her sister's music, there's an implacable quality to it that i absolutely love. not eerie-ness. but a tension. it's wonderful.

the stage is set for anjeli. eyes are on her right now. if you're heading to her sister ledbyher's show this evening, there's a strong chance you'll be seeing her. their songs together are the stuff of dreams. quality. her latest single, so sick, is a treat. featured on bbc introducing recently. go on. i'm so excited to see what anjeli does next. i'll be there.

go support her.

moses ideka's music breaks and heals my heart all at once

i miss wales a lot. i go home fairly regularly, and i'm never shy about pointing out its shortcomings, but it's always in my mind and in my heart. the rolling hills, the rivers, the remnants of the mining industry, the endless rows of terraced houses dappled across the valleys. it's home. there are lots of artists that feel like home, but at the moment, nobody is topping moses ideka.

if you're familiar with his work, that shouldn't be surprising. a quick recap. moses ideka is a south london-based artist who, over the past few years, has cemented himself as one of the most promising musicians in the uk. lad is ludicrously talent. i don't have the technical nous to articulate why he's such a fantastic vocalist, but the proof is in the pudding. just listen to him. powerful. he's been working with some of the artist's laying the ground work for generational greatness. we'll be telling our kids about them-level artists. dexter in the newsagent. kwes e. sahn. sampled by untiljapan. candlelit set for always do what you should do. moving me.

moses ideka's music is soul crushing in the most life affirming way possible. as i mentioned, i associate a lot of his music with the complicated relationship i have with wales, which, given that his recent ep was inspired by his memories of cornwall, is unsurprising. what is consistently surprising is the breadth of emotions i feel when i listen to him. take beast of bodmin moor. the first two minutes of the song are serene. they are the rolling hills. they are the rushing rivers. as the song develops and the vocals build, it overwhelms the senses. i want home. bless my heart indeed. it's a lot on little old me. i put myself through it daily. very few songs have touched me like that.

i could make similar cases for most of moses' discography. but i leave that to you. go find the song that breaks and heals you. moses ideka is one of the greats in waiting. well played.

go support him.

i'm feeling jovial today. wore shorts outside for the first time this year. brand new pair of 95s on. the pink foams, if anyone's interested. my second pair in that colourway. sun shining. took myself off to a coffee shop with a book in my hand and a song in my heart. what was that song, i hear you ask? well, it was skiifuego's eirebby. what a tune.

skiifuego's potential is mind-boggling. every artist that bursts onto the scene has a lot of potential. but in this case, it's hard to envision a timeline where skiifuego's isn't at the forefront of the next generation. his sound is so addictive, in large part due to its cacophony of influences. it draws from elements of bubblegum pop, hyperpop, rap, and pluggnb, which, coupled with his melodic vocals, make for exceptional listening. skiifuego's music is for sunshine and a canned cocktail.

this is unrelated to his output, but i'm also incredibly impressed by how articulate skiifuego is. he was recently interviewed by upper nostril, and the confidence and knowledge with which he discussed his influences and his journey as an artist really shone through to me. as a journalist, it's always so refreshing to hear an artist talk about their craft with such conviction. skiifuego knows his stuff. i'm very excited about him. gonna spin eirebby again, i'll chat to you later.

nice one.

i like to drink pepsi max and listen to bloody shield

i feel like i'm so late to bloody shield. picture the scene. i'm sat in the office, pepsi max in hand. discovery playlist on. lots of great music playing. then 3 by bloody shield comes on. lads. when i tell you i had to stop what i was doing. took a minute. went on a walk. what is he cooking, and why is it one of the best songs i've heard in ages?

the deeper i dove into his discography, the more my intrigue grew. bloody shield has something special. i spoke yesterday about the uk being fertile ground for new stars, and bloody shield feels as if he's at the cusp of that stardom. his sound is so current, stylistically similar to the cloud-influenced sound that shot esdeekid and rico ace to the top of the musical world, yet distinct enough to stand entirely separately. the drums. the monstrous production. the energy. it's all there. another colourful addition to the growing tapestry of trailblazing artists dotted across the country. beautiful to see scottish artists continuing to blossom on the world stage.

bloody shield is a star in waiting. he was recently part of the nike x victory lap tour, opening for jawnino. featured on vlap too. shelled it. been performing with post party. these are all beautiful things. glasgow's next star is upon us. i'm so excited. i might've been late, but i'm onboard now. bloody shield made my week. go on son.

go support him.