Jessy Lanza
Hamilton, Ontario native Jessy Lanza has been pairing her ethereal voice with an electronic backdrop that explores everything from footwork to R&B and disco. Her newest album Oh No was released earlier this year on Hyperdub and shows a monumental growth in influence and range since 2013’s Pull My Hair Back which included recognisable bangers Keep Moving and Kathy Lee. You might also recognise Lanza’s breathy vocal style from Second Chance on Caribou’s Our Love. Get started by watching the video for the title track from her second LP, Oh No, and coveting Lanza’s ability to fuse an evening commute with a hallucinogenic light show.
Shura
Listening to Shura’s first album, Nothing’s Real, is an incredibly addictive affair, particularly for those of us known to enjoy the work of Kylie and Madonna. The sense of 1980s throwback is everywhere from the A-Ha Take On Me aesthetic of her covers to the John Hughes references in her video for What’s It Gonna Be. The Manchester native is probably best known for Touch – the brooding ode to wanting to get with someone you absolutely shouldn’t – and the accompanying video of diverse couples having a good old fashioned snog. Do your pre-listening now so you can croon along with her at the gig.
Novelist
This 19-year-old Grime MC has been lauded for being willing to bring overtly political matters into his tracks, an amusing result of which is the David Cameron Riddim. With Grime’s popularity starting to register more in the mainstream – Skepta’s Mercury Prize win for Konnichiwa, on which Novelist is featured, being a key harbinger of things to come – Novelist’s witty refrains look set to position him as a main player of the global movement. His most recent release with Nick Hook, Can’t Tell Me Nothing, which features dialogue from TV broadcasts during the 2011 London riots, is a perfect entry point to getting what he’s all about.
Mall Grab
“Mall Grab”, for those of us who are non-boarding noobs, is a skateboarding term for someone who holds their board the wrong way. The Mall Grab in question at Metropolis, however, is an Australian house DJ who has been making waves with his constant flow of releases since his debut in May 2015. This summer he founded his own label Steel City Dance Discs, with first output, Father, sampling Kanye West and sounding like the perfect addition to any summer day party playlist. Get listening to his Mixmag “Impact Mix” for a taste of what to expect.
Metropolis takes place from Thursday 3rd November to Saturday 5th November. For tickets and more see: www.metropolisfestival.i.e.
