Up and Coming London Artists to Keep An Eye On

London is considered one of the best places to be for a hopeful up and coming musician; many move to the capital city to pursue a career in music and fame. Having produced classic artists like Amy Winehouse, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie (to name just a few), the city’s iconic reputation speaks for itself. Let’s take a look at a selection of rising artists who we think you should keep an eye on – all of these musicians are London born and bred, showcasing the city’s impressive hub of never-ending creative talent…

Enny

Enitan Adepitan, who goes by the alias Enny, is a singer and rapper from South East London. She is best known for her single “Peng Black Girls” featuring British-Nigerian artist Amia Brave, which gained impressive traction following a remix with R&B singer songwriter Jorja Smith that was performed live on Colors x Studios. Colors is a German music platform that aims to showcase new talent, and to get on to this platform is a pretty solid achievement in itself, let alone performing with global music star Jorja Smith. Following this collaboration, Enny became the first signing  on Jorja Smith’s label, FAMM. Enny’s music is a blend of old school grime with smooth jazz to create her own form of new-school soul and rap.

Lola Young

BRIT school alumna Lola Young is a South London singer-songwriter who is making waves with her velvety vocals across electro jazz ballads, sometimes with hints of hip hop.  Young tells moving stories through her music, from family life to relationships to even political affairs. She is currently managed by Nick Huggett and Nick Shymansky – the former signed fellow BRIT School alumna Adele when she was first starting out, and the latter managed another fellow BRIT School alumna Amy Winehouse. Young’s overlap with great talent connections like these is a monumental foreshadow of her exciting career to come. Have a listen to her newest single, “So Sorry” below…

dexter

If you’re a fan of singer and guitarist Tom Misch, then you’ll fall in love with dexter. The singer blends indie-pop, alternative and R&B together to create this fantastic cocktail of a unique fizzy electronica sound. Following the success of her EP with the relatable title, “I Do Love A Good Sandwich”, dexter went on to release single “Paper Cup”. The stripped-back dance tune was produced by the singer herself, and went on to receive an overwhelmingly positive response from listeners. dexter wrote this track about how a negative mindset can sometimes take over your motivation to do simple things for yourself, like getting a cup of water. Check out “Paper Cup” for yourself below…

Aziya

Starting singing from the age of only 10 years old, East Londoner Aziya was first plucked out from the crowd when filming and posting covers to Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was aged 21 – iconic R&B artist H.E.R. noticed her talent potential and Aziya was entered into a gruelling online competition for female guitarists. Her success in the contest led to her signing with internationally renowned label Warner Brothers Records. Aziya’s sound is inspired by the NYC garage rock band scene, which shines in particular on her track “Blood”. This self-produced rock single is a passionate cry about tough relations she has faced with a family member, something the singer felt many would be able to relate to. Check out this single below…

caroline  

Unusual eight-piece rock band caroline from London create unreal atmospheric music that sends listeners into a dreamlike state. Signed to Rough Trade Records, the band was formed by members Jasper Llewellyn, Mike O'Malley and Casper Hughes in 2017. The band grew with added members Oliver Hamilton, Magdalena McLean, Freddy Wordsworth, Alex McKenzie and Hugh Aynsley. caroline takes influence from Appalachian folk music and midwest emo, and their songs feature deep cello notes interspersed with broken down guitar, creating a sound like you’ve never heard before. The band first started out with weekly improvisation sessions: privately working to establish the group’s style, caroline played their first public debut show in 2018.

Blue Bendy

Blue Bendy are an art-rock sextet from South East London. Their music falls under wildly experimental, with irregular rhythms, charismatic flute motifs and boundless guitar chords. The genre they most associate with juggles with indie and alternative – its experimental nature is more up to interpretation by the listener. Frontman Arthur Nolan brings a charisma to the band with his attention-grabbing presence. Following the success of the band’s self-released debut single “Suspension” in 2019, they were noticed by respected producer Margo Broom who saw great potential in their music and original style. Working with Broom, they went on to release successful tracks “International” and “Glosso Babel”. Take a listen to "Glosso Babel" below…

emir taha

South-Londer emir taha is a rising musician with a sole purpose: to get Turkish music on the global music map. The singer’s crisp R&B tracks are mixed with signature lo-fi beats; his roots are important to him and provide influence to his sound. Having surpassed 50 millions streams on Spotify with only two EPs released, emir taha is an artist to watch. Check out his latest release from this year, “Lades”, below…

Bree Runway

Singer-songwriter Brenda Wireko Mensah, who goes by the alias Bree Runway, was born and raised in Hackney, East London. She signed to EMI Records back in 2018. Bree’s fresh vocals hit the ear just right, and many big names seem to think the same: her debut mixtape catapulted her career into the limelight and got her noticed, leading to a collaboration with Missy Elliot who featured on Bree’s single “ATM”. She was also spotted by Rico Nasty and Khalid, who each approached the young singer for collaborations. Bree’s music is full of quick witted verses and rhythms that will keep you dancing non-stop. Check out her single “ATM” featuring Missy Elliot below…

Have we missed any of your favourite London artists on the rise? Let us know on social media - find us everywhere at @auxdotapp.