Now and Next: Stereoboard's Ones to Watch for 2022
Thursday, 13 January 2022
Written by Stereoboard
Every new year brings new chances to find that one song, that one record, that one artist or band, who matter to you more than anything. This year, the deck is stacked. Head below to check out a few picks from the Stereoboard team, and get listening.
PinkPantheress
The winner of this year’s BBC Sound of… poll, PinkPantheress is a none-more-modern sort of success story, with a backstory that balances breakout TikTok fame with getting covered by Coldplay in the Live Lounge. Her music takes a magpie’s-eye view of recent pop history, fusing a bedroom DIY aesthetic with garage samples and hooks that stick around long beyond the grabs of a viral clip. - Huw Baines
Wet Leg
Breakout indie-sensations Wet Leg whipped up a storm during the summer of 2021. The fresh-faced duo are rapidly amassing a cult-like following through their bold lyrics and unapologetically cool demeanour. Attracting attention from giants such as BBC Radio 1, Wet Leg have rippled across the airwaves in the wake of their runaway hit single Chaise Longue. This sudden surge in popularity is only set to intensify as we enter 2022, with their debut album announced for release in April. - Rebecca Llewellyn
Pinkshift
The new wave of pop-punk that’s emerged in the last year or two has been welcomed with noisy excitement. It’s no longer a genre boxed in by three chords and memeable cliches about getting out of your crappy town—in 2022, it’s got far more to say, and greater musical open-mindedness to boot. Hailing from Baltimore, USA, Pinkshift are poised to lead the charge with their grungy, noisy take on the genre and acerbic lyricism that will have newcomers to the band wanting a piece of vocalist Ashrita Kumar’s sass for themselves. Calling the shots has never sounded this fun. - Emma Wilkes
Anxious
This Connecticut quintet, featuring One Step Closer’s Grady Allen and Ryan Savitski, are poised to start 2022 off by releasing a bracing, supremely exciting punk record in the form of their debut ‘Little Green House’. Fusing Allen’s emo croon with cascading post-hardcore noise, serrated guitars and the pop nous of Sugar, there is gold here for anyone who’s ever had their head turned by something loud and obnoxious. - Huw Baines
Phoebe Green
If you long for unflinching lyrics, sugar-coated in whimsical delivery, then pay attention to Phoebe Green. The Manchester-based artist burst onto our radar with flame orange curls after re-inventing herself during a brief hiatus. Returning with gritty determination, the singer-songwriter waves goodbye to a past identity and the ghost of self-released 2016 debut album ‘02:00 AM’. Harnessing inspiration from a new perspective, Green’s lyrics encapsulate the pitfalls of modern relationships, which she delivers through a coolly callous disposition and catchy indie songs. - Rebecca Llewellyn
Cassyette
Frank Carter’s got an eye for talent, and Rattlesnakes fans may well be familiar with this genre-splicing singer-songwriter, who delivered a hair-raising guest performance on his recent single Off With His Head. Her slew of solo singles stamp sticky pop hooks onto an eclectic, fiery mix of genres she herself dubs ‘grit pop and wrot’, with an independent spirit any DIY punk would be proud of. Having also grown a rabid following on TikTok and a close-knit Discord community, Cassyette’s music is what the future sounds like, and it sounds bright. - Emma Wilkes
Central Cee
If you’re after a tip for 2022 who’s already shown hit-making pedigree, look no further than west London rapper Central Cee. His hook-heavy, woozy style of drill has already made him a chart fixture and a high-wattage collaborator, and with his latest mixtape ‘23’ due to land on February 25 there’s plenty more where tracks like Obsessed with You came from. - Huw Baines
Matilda Mann
Matilda Mann’s music reverberates on an achingly honest level. Meandering through lyrical storylines that are both confessional and conversational, this young musician draws inspiration from her own experiences as well as those of the people around her, and has racked up millions of streams as a result. Having written her single Stranger (for now) while enthralled with popular US sitcom The Office, there is a sense of familiarity to her music that makes her instantly likeable and strikingly relatable. Mann’s vocals are blunt yet sweet, creating a unique quality that has already landed the artist a support slot for Beabadoobee. Here’s hoping that a debut album isn’t too far away. - Rebecca Llewellyn
Slow Crush
Some music is capable of being so expansive and ethereal that you want to sink into it, and Belgium’s Slow Crush are capable of evoking this feeling despite their newness. If the softer direction of Deafheaven’s ‘Infinite Granite’ left you feeling soothed rather than nauseous, this band’s watery soundscapes and ghostly melodies will hold a lot of appeal. Having recently toured the UK in support of Loathe, their penchant for building delicate, swelling atmospheres made them a gorgeously complementary opening act and will hopefully secure them a foothold in the music world on this side of the Channel. - Emma Wilkes
Berwyn
No pressure, but Berwyn is out to follow up a Mercury Prize nom for his ‘Demotape/Vega’ mixtape in 2022. Fortunately, in his intoxicating blend of late night R&B jams and hazy, scratchy production he has all the raw materials he needs to make a breakthrough founded on charisma, instrumental nous and perceptive writing. - Huw Baines
Maisie Peters
Say hello to Maisie Peters, one of the first artists to join Ed Sheeran’s label Gingerbread Man Records. As if that was not achievement enough, Peters’ first album ‘You Signed Up For This’ went on to debut at Number 2 in the UK charts last year. Through her self-proclaimed blend of emo-pop, Peters has grown a fanbase boasting celebrities such as Niall Horan, Taylor Swift and Lewis Capaldi. With all signs clearly pointing towards a rising star, this pint-sized powerhouse is undoubtedly planning to aim for the stratosphere in 2022. - Rebecca Llewellyn
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