FutureSounds Spring 2014

Details: Published: December 7, 2015

Article Index

Photo by Shelby Duncan

Our Spring 2014 FutureSounds are a select group of artists, in our opinion, whose talents deem them worthy of increasing success and a spot on your playlist. They're either on the rise or they definitely should be.

The latest selections are CLAIRE, Caught a Ghost, WATERS and Samsaya.

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in its original format in the new issue of Variance. Click here for the full version.

Photo by Shelby Duncan

Caught a Ghost, the brainchild of Los Angeles native Jesse Nolan, is quickly becoming a music-licensing gem, with prime placements on musically-savvy television series such as ABC's Grey's Anatomy, HBO's Boardwalk Empire, USA’s Suits and the CW's The Vampire Diaries. But the neo-soul outfit isn’t just some novelty act.

There has been no shortage of retro-everything in music over the past few years. And Caught a Ghost certainly has a vintage R&B aura, recalling influence from Motown to the Rolling Stones. The band isn’t a Smokey Robinson wannabe, but rather a testament of the greatness of past music eras while progressively pushing the art forward.

Caught a Ghost Featured in Spring Playlist

It’s a crowded field, the genre of modern retro. But part of what makes Caught a Ghost an exception is how effortlessly they cross genres, thus creating a magical fusion of pop, soul and electronic.

Fans of Mayer Hawthorne, Fitz and the Tantrums and LCD Soundsystem should find a lot to love about this collective, which also includes singer/percussionist Tessa Thompson. Additionally, their must-see live shows typically consist of a large ensemble of various musicians and dancers. Sure, it’s somewhat crowded for the stages they’re playing right now. But rest assured, stage size won’t be much of an issue for long as Nolan and Co. continue to rise.

Caught a Ghost is currently on tour through May, with upcoming dates supporting Wild Belle. The debut full-length, Human Nature, is out now.

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Editor's Note: This story first appeared in its original format in the new issue of Variance. Click here for the full version.

Photo by Christoph Schaller

Germany’s self-described “neon pop” five-piece CLAIRE is ready to make the jump to North America. After an impeccable string of performances at SXSW, the Munich-based outfit is destined to be one of this year’s breakout acts.

Although their debut album, The Great Escape, isn’t set to release in the U.S. until this summer, they’ve developed a loyal following back home and they’re anxious to spend much more time across the pond.

Working in their favor is the fact that they’ve already nabbed support from some familiar names. Their single “Games” received a blissful remix from Passion Pit last fall, which came on the heels of CLAIRE’s tour opening for CHVRCHES and Bastille overseas.

CLAIRE Featured in Spring Playlist

With a handful of viral tracks already under their belt through Hype Machine, CLAIRE brings a certain kind of intelligent pop to a market flooded with sugarcoated drivel. And their extraordinary arrangements and breathtaking production are further brought to life by singer Josie Claire Bürkle’s lush vocals.

Another major strength—and likely the one that foretells the band’s longevity—is CLAIRE’s ability to deliver an intoxicating live performance. Unlike many of the Web-savvy acts in today’s auto-tune friendly music culture, their flawlessness isn’t limited to post-production. And it’s one of many reasons CLAIRE is one to watch right now.

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Editor's Note: This story first appeared in its original format in the new issue of Variance. Click here for the full version.

Not long after West Coast outfit Port O'Brien disbanded in 2011, singer-songwriter Van Pierszalowski quickly released a new full-length under the moniker WATERS.

Pierszalowski has laid low for the past couple of years, but he made a rousing return in February with an incredibly addictive new single, which is appropriately titled “Got to My Head.” And as the title not-so-subtly implies, it’s an earworm.

WATERS Featured in Spring Playlist

It should come as no surprise WATERS is heading in a more hi-fi, melodic direction this time around. But it’s a welcome change. Pierszalowski has always had a knack for catchy hooks, but he recently revealed he’s been working with Ryan Rabin of GROUPLOVE and Chris Chu of POP ETC. In fact, they actually recorded on the new album, which is expected to be done sometime this spring.

While WATERS is hardly a “new” band, the new material is promising this is the beginning of a new and much more interesting chapter in Pierszalowski’s career as he’s likely about to go from that small fish in a big pond to flat-out ruling the ocean.

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in its original format in the new issue of Variance. Click here for the full version.

Norway’s Sampda Sharma (better known as Samsaya) has been defying music genres since the start of her career, but as she prepares for the release of her U.S. debut full-length, Bombay Calling, the Indian-native singer is fusing modern pop with a slew of international sounds and hip-hop vibes, evidenced by her new, club-worthy single “Stereotype.”

Fans of M.I.A., Amy Winehouse and some of St. Vincent’s newer material will love the song’s bubbly, funkpop sound that seems to leave listeners anxious for more.

Sharma has said she longs to make music that comes from an emotional place, “and sometimes, that may not sound pretty.” But she’s never been one to conform to outsiders’ views of beauty anyway. When major labels approached her, asking her to fix a noticeable, three-millimeter gap between her teeth, she turned them down and launched her own label, 3 Millimeter Records.

The singer has carried that perspective into her live shows, including her stunning stateside debut at SXSW, with a heart painted over her left eye, as a reminder to look at things with her heart and with an open mind.

Inspired by the likes of Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige and OutKast, her unique brand of pop is just itching to make its way to top 40 radio. And that’s a very good thing.

Look for her new album out this summer.

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