MJF Spotlight introduces you to new artists year-round! Today, we highlight 20 exciting up-and-coming talent who we expect to make a lot of noise in 2021. Enjoy this sampling of tomorrow’s sounds, across all music genres.
PRIYA RAGU
The Swiss artist who infuses R&B with her Tamil roots
- Our bookers love her because… “Her single “Good Love 2.0” is a real hit. Together with her brother (producer Japhna Gold), Priya Ragu has shaped a cosmopolitan R&B sound, both old school and very modern, with touches of their Sri Lankan heritage. We can’t wait to see what happens next!”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… Sri Lankan-influenced R&B.
- To listen to when… in fear of missing out on the new Swiss phenomenon spotted by the BBC and the New York Times.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Kali Uchis and Kaytranada at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
SAULT
The mysterious London soundtrack of the Black Lives Matter movement
- Our bookers love them because… “This quasi-anonymous collective is shrouded in mystery. All we know is that the producer Inflo (Michael Kiwanuka, Little Simz) is at the origin of the project. Their latest album, released last year during the Black Lives Matter protests, is a gem from start to finish, politically aware, dark and upbeat at the same time.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… neo-soul with a touch of dance music.
- To listen to when… you feel like shouting, dancing, expressing your indignation, all at once.
- We can picture them at the MJF with… Joesef and Parcels at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
NATHY PELUSO
The Argentinian shockwave who is revolutionising Latin music
- Our bookers love her because… “She is a fearless artist who is constantly evolving in her quest for the avant-garde. She is able to take jazz, trap and salsa sounds and make them her own. All delivered with fierce individuality, crazy energy and unique attitude, whether on stage or in her videos.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it…urban Latin music with multiple influences (Nathy Peluso, basically).
- To listen to when… coffee no longer has any effect and you need a shot of pure energy.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Bad Bunny at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
PA SALIEU
On the frontline for his people, from The Gambia to the suburbs of Coventry
- Our bookers love him because… “With his mix of afro-beats, drill and grime, Pa Salieu’s sound is powerful, sometimes dark, but always lively. From his childhood in The Gambia to a Coventry housing estate in England, his engaging narratives are strikingly realistic.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it…rap tinted with afrobeat and afroswing.
- To listen to when… you can’t wait for the next hip-hop party at the Lab.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Dave and Kano at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
YSEULT
Unarmoured singer of disarming lyrics
- Our bookers love her because… “She is perhaps the most moving French artist of her generation. How can you not get goosebumps when listening to “Corps”? Yseult is a blast of raw sincerity, sung without artifice, between the lyricism of French song and the urban phrasing of trap.
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… Yseult-style French chanson. It even has a name: the Y-Trap.
- To listen to when… you need to inject yourself with a good dose of raw emotion.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Lana Del Rey at the Stravinski Hall.
THE LATHUMS
The new heroes of British indie rock
- Our bookers love them because… “It’s a real English rock band just the way we like them, who cut their teeth playing in their local pub in Wigan before building up a large fanbase on social networks. They’ve even been hailed by British indie rock legends like The Verve and The Coral.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… a clever mix of indie rock and britpop.
- To listen to when… you are in need of fish’n’chips and concerts that smell like pale ale.
- We can picture them at the MJF with… Arctic Monkeys at the Stravinski Hall.
ASHNIKKO
TikTok star and pop provocateuse
- Our bookers love her because… “She sets herself no limits, either in her musical inspirations or in her shocking lyrics. The American made her breakthrough on TikTok with a crazy new universe straight out of a video game, a manga or a horror movie. As evidenced in the video clip of the feminist anthem Stupid!”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… “angry, punk, hip hop, sad-girl-feminist, bubblegum, poo-poo music” (in her own words!).
- To listen to when… you need murderous punchlines for your fight against the patriarchy.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Shy Girl and Doja Cat at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
FOUSHEÉ
The magnetic voice of Afro-feminist empowerment
- Our bookers love her because… “She has one of those voices that intrigues from the very first notes, with its slightly hoarse pitch. Her song “Deep End” talks about the need to assert herself as a black woman in the United States. Released during the Black Lives Matter protests, it has become a hymn to empowerment and one of the biggest R&B hits of 2020.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… modern R&B.
- To listen to when… you’ve already heard “Deep End” over a hundred times but you can’t stop playing it over and over again.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Lolo Zouaï and SZA at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
GODFORD
The anonymous craftsman of a melancholy rave
- Our bookers love him because… “He is one of those electronic artists who do not compose directly for the club. There is a melancholy and vulnerability in his compositions mixing synthesizer vibes and haunted voices. There is a degree of mystery in his anonymity (which he shares with a number of French electronic producers).”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… indie rave.
- To listen to when… you are yearning for the melancholic sensation of a sunrise as you leave the club.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Caribou and Bicep at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
OMAH LAY
Nigeria’s new Afro-fusion gem
- Our bookers love him because… “For some time now we have been monitoring the emerging Nigerian scene, which is becoming increasingly prominent in the contemporary music landscape. After Burna Boy and Rema, Omah Lay could be the country’s next sensation. The young singer produces his own music and has already collaborated with the American rapper 6LACK.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… afro-fusion.
- To listen to when… you need some boxing tunes (according to one of our bookers).
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Rema and Burna Boy at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
TATE MCRAE
The Canadian teenager for whom Billie Eilish wrote a song
- Our bookers love her because… “The 17-year-old Canadian girl has what it takes to be the next teenage pop star. Following in Billie Eilish’s footsteps, her songs often have a shady, intimate quality that makes them all the more addictive. As evidenced by her hit “you broke me first”.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… alternative pop.
- To listen to when… you want to rediscover your tortured teenage soul.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Conan Gray and Troye Sivan at the Montreux Jazz Lab
YEBBA
The soulful jazz collaborator of Stormzy and Sam Smith
- Our bookers love her because… “She still has few singles to her name, but she already skilfully navigates between nu-jazz delicacies and mainstream collaborations. We’ve been following her for quite a while and we were very happy to see her song “Distance” on Barack Obama’s latest playlist. We can’t wait to find out what paths she will explore this year…”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… nu-jazz imbued with R&B, soul and gospel.
- To listen to when… you believe in the therapeutic virtues of a soft and comforting voice.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… John Legend at the Stravinski Hall.
CHANNEL TRES
The rapper who is his own DJ (or vice versa)
- Our bookers love him because… “Channel Tres unleashes the emotions of hip-hop and electro fans alike. As a rapper, singer and producer, he fuses Detroit techno, Chicago house and west coast hip-hop into an ultra-suave groove. He has collaborated with Tyler, The Creator, among others.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… as much hip-hop as it is techno and house.
- To listen to when… you want to reconcile your rapper and your electro friends.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Honey Dijon and Disclosure at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
GIVEON
The R&B crooner who wowed Drake & Snoh Aalegra
- Our bookers love him because… “His deep, suave voice is rare in today’s musical landscape. Failing to embrace his baritone as a teenager, he finally found his way by listening to 20th century crooners. Full of retro inspiration and modern sounds, his latest album confirms his place as the crooner of our generation.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… modern R&B.
- To listen to when… you want to feel that atmosphere of an old jazz club once more but with a modern sound.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Sam Smith at the Stravinski Hall.
LILA IKÉ
The striking voice of multi–facetted reggae
- Our bookers love her because… “She has a very personal way of bringing different influences into the mix, while remaining true to the fundamentals of reggae. From one track to the next, you can feel elements of soul, hip-hop, dancehall and pop. In the middle of it all, her voice moves between edgy flows and soaring melodies.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… modern reggae.
- To listen to when… you want to chill, party, or both.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Koffee and Daniel Caesar at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
STEAM DOWN
The collective that is setting the London jazz scene on fire
- Our bookers love them because… “Steam Down was originally the name of a night that electrified South East London every week. Gradually, the buzz the collective created formed a following. Led by multi-instrumentalist Ahnansé, they should release their first EP this year, after a handful of singles combining jazz, soul and hip-hop.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… nu-jazz.
- To listen to when… you like jazz when it is explosive and tuned to today’s sounds.
- We can picture them at the MJF with… Ezra Collective and Vulfpeck at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
JC STEWART
The future star of British pop
- Our bookers love him because… “Most of his songs are released in two versions, one being purely acoustic. And with good reason: all he needs is his voice, his guitar and his heartfelt lyrics to woo. Together with his buddy Lewis Capaldi, they share a madcap wit, very popular on Instagram, and a knack for composing devilishly effective tunes.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… pop with a bit of folk in it.
- To listen to when… you enjoy the comfort of music so familiar you feel as if you’ve always known it.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… with Harry Styles at the Stravinski Hall.
THE HU
The heavy metal UFO from Mongolia
- Our bookers love them because… “It’s refreshing to listen to such an original concept. With their mix of Western metal influences, Mongolian instruments and khöömii (a traditional diphonic throat singing), they sound like no one else.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… Mongolian folk-inspired metal.
- To listen to when… you are tired of air guitar and want to try the air morin khuur.
- We can picture them at the MJF with… Myrkur and Heilung at the Montreux Jazz Lab.
THE KID LAROI
The American dream of a young Australian rapper
- Our bookers love him because… “He’s only 17 years old and he’s wildly talented. A fan of US hip-hop since childhood, the Australian rapper is living his dream by collaborating with American heavyweights such as Machine Gun Kelly and Juice WRLD. By alternating rap and pop singing, he appeals to a wide audience, including Elton John, who has already predicted a great career for him.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it…hip-hop laced with trap, emo rap and pop.
- To listen to when… you are in a mood that is simultaneously joyful and melancholy.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Machine Gun Kellly and Yungblud at the Montreux Jazz Lab
TSHA
The rising star of the UK electronic scene
- Our bookers love her because… “She is one of the most promising artists on the London indie electronic scene. She has a rather singular style and she really has a knack for finding catchy tunes. In addition to her own tracks, she has already made remixes for Lianne La Havas and Foals, among others.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it…electronic music.
- To listen to when… you want to transform your flat into a trendy club, during a crazy night… in lockdown.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Nicolas Jaar at the Montreux Jazz Lab