The Maroon Cafe

Maroon Cafes Fresh Faces For 2010……..

// January 7th, 2010 // News

As we come to another decade and another 10 years of music awaits us, our doors on ’09 have officially closed. While we had a solid year for a newbie, we can guarantee that 2010 will be an even bigger year for us at the Cafe. Although some of our picks for Fresh Faces last year took a sabbatical or just plain fell off the face of the planet (literally,) we’ve been on a hot streak of who to watch and what to expect in the new year. Predicting half of BBC and NME sounds list well before it was announced should give you an inclination on how serious we take our positions here. Now with that being said, here’s our picks for artists who’ll be making a splash over the next twelve months.

Surfer Blood- We got our first peep of this bunch at CMJ and our expectations for this Floridian fivesome are huge. How huge? well being named “Little Brothers of Vampire Weekend” should give you an inclination. Part Weezer, part Shins is not a bad mixture either.

Track to check out: Swim

Mimicking Birds- They’ve been featured on a few posts throughout last year and if there insanely beautiful “The Loop” is any indication of what’s to come from the Modest Mouse protegees, then say hello to this years Mumford & Sons.

Track to check out: The Loop

Rox- This songbird is set to be one of the brighter stars in the Soul R&B department, her performance on Jools Holland was all the proof needed to label her as having a breakout year. A beautiful entry into a genre needing an uplift.

Track to check out: My Baby Left Me

Local Natives- Another favorite of ours at CMJ last year, this harmonic quintet has created a ton of hype over the last few months and we must say they’re well deserving of it! you need proof? two options, check there live show or listen to “In Glorious Manor” when it hits stateside, then get back to us.

Track to check out: Warning Signs

Nneka- Although she’s been around for a few years (outside the states) this will be her first introduction on U.S. soil and a major impact is inevitable. Whether it’s spitting it lyrically or laying down smooth vocals, a modernized Lauryn Hill is surely needed.

Track to check out: Uncomfortable Truth

Marina and the Diamonds- One half of the female duo who will be a major player in 2010. For our loyal readers who’ve been there from the beginning you know we’ve been with our favorite welsh girl since day one. So us being one of her first interviews was an honor. Prepare for Ms. Diamonds to sparkle and shine up your year.

Track to check out: Hollywood

Ellie Goulding- The second part of our female duo mentioned above who will slay most of the contenders this year. Already a Brit Critics Choice award winner, Ellie Goulding has been a Cafe staple since she was unsigned. To be honest her and Marina deserve every accolade they receive this year, why? because they’re that damn good! so we’ll go out and say it before we get site jacked, “2010= Diamonds and Gould” you heard it hear first.

Track to check out: Under The Sheets

Theophilus London – You know the name if you have been a regular reader of this site. Plain and simple, this man is the future of music. There we said it. His ability to blur line between hip-hop/electro/pop/soul is incredible. If his genre creating ways continue expect to be hearing a lot from this man in the next few years.

Track to check out: Humdrum Town

Monarchy – As we pull into 2010 we know there is no way this mysterious act can stay hidden for much longer. All we know about Monarchy is that they are a duo and their tracks have a hint of soul mixed into disco beats, which surge as the track goes on and on. Gold in The Fires is out on Neon Gold, February 1.

Track to check out: Gold in The Fire

Kyte - This four piece band hails from Leicester. They are a force to be reckoned with in what is knows as the shoegaze genre. Think Death Cab Cutie, with the same haunting sounds, but a little edger, and you have Kyte. If they are as big around the rest of the world as they are in Japan, then remember where you heard about them first. Kyte’s album, Science For The Living, is due sometime in 2010.

Track to check out: Boundaries

The Boxer Rebellion- Yeah we know they been out for close to a decade and they have two albums under their belt but are they really known? American Nathan Nicholson, Australian Todd Howe and Englishmen Adam Harrison and Piers Hewitt; together deliver a mixture of earthy tones mixed with heavy sounding tunes.

Track to check out: Semi Automatic

Stornoway- One of our safe bets to make it in 2010 and for the next ten years, this band from Oxford have found the right formula to make folk-pop music mixed undeniable acoustic riffs.

Track to check out: Zorbing

Paperplain – 19 year old, Helen Page hails from Berkshire. Her music feels like she picks up her guitar and sings right into your ears. It’s something about her voice that draws the listener in. Page’s music can be best describe as a indie folk singer that might remind the listener of Laura Mauling, only a lot rawer.

Track to check out: Go Go NY

Honorable mentions:

Clare Maguire - No press, myspace is shut down and no new material in ’09, all that changes this year! Massive voice.

Lisse - Dark horse but so was Ellie Goulding and looked how that turned out!

Tinashe – Urban Pop at it’s best.

Cashier No 9 – A band from Belfast, that will make in huge.

Related:

• Maroon Cafe’s Best Tracks Of 2009 So Far…………….
• Maroon Cafes Fresh Faces For 2009…..
• Maroon Cafe Interview With Emika
• El Perro Del Mar| At Your Best You Are Love
• Clare Maguire- Strangest Thing (Album Version) [Audio]