FRUKT's FRESH SOUNDS - 12 Acts for 24
The Last Dinner Party
Easily the most hyped UK act right now after winning BBC Sound Of 2024 but it’s easy to see why once you catch them live. FRUKT caught an early show at The Great Escape festival in Brighton, where they rammed out their venue with many more queuing outside. Their debut single ‘Nothing Matters’ already has 18m Spotify plays and the debut album drops next month.
Elkka
Elkka has been a hugely-respected DJ/producer in the London scene for the last few years and had an epic 2023 with shows at Arcadia in Glastonbury and Berghain in Berlin, as well as playing numerous festivals around the world. Signed to the influential Ninja Tunes label, she’s going to become a superstar in 2024!
Angélica Garcia
This exciting New York artist weaves her Mexican and Salvadoran roots with a punk-pop aesthetic to create a unique and utterly beguiling sound that’s been compared to Rosalia, Karen O (from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs), and FKA Twigs. She’s already winning support from Radio 1 and 6Music and has just signed to the well-eared label Partisan (Fontaines DC, Ezra Collective) to release an album this summer.
Elmiene
A sprinkle of releases over the last two years was followed by a much more productive 2023 for this hotly-tipped soul artist with a stunning voice. He recently dropped his superb EP ‘Marking My Time’, which has nearly 7m Spotify plays, and one of the tracks was just re-worked by jazz/funk legends BADBADNOTGOOD. He’s just been tipped in VEVO’s DSCRV predictions for 2024, as well as the BBC Sound Of 2024.
Royel Otis
With a scuzzy indie-pop sound that will connect with Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Strokes and Phoenix fans, Australian act Royel Otis look set to follow up huge streaming hit ‘Oysters In My Pocket’ (which has quietly soared past 35m Spotify plays) with a debut album in February. When performing live they’ve an energy that’s winning over audiences the globe over - FRUKT caught them several times last year and we can see them bursting into the mainstream over the next 12 months.
Lea Sen
Hailing from France but now based in London, multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Lea Sen closed up 2023 with a collaboration on Sampha’s exquisite ‘Lahai’ album, following her beautiful solo EP ‘You Of Now Pt 2’ released earlier in the year. She was invited to play the Pitchfork Music Festival in London in November, and also played as part of the Speakers Corner Quartet live band across the summer, including a Glastonbury performance.
Mickey Callisto
Within seconds of Liverpool’s Mickey Callisto taking the stage at the Spanish leg of ibis MUSIC’s Global Tour, (which FRUKT programmed across 2023) the crowd was in rapture, for this is a performer who can instantly lift the roof off any room! Mixing bombastic pop and synth elements of Queen and Tame Impala, Callisto can charm even the most hostile audience.
O.
Blending the energy of jazz acts like The Comet Is Coming and Melt Yourself Down with the ferocious leftfield post-rock of Black Midi and Squid, O. are the latest band to emerge from the fantastic Speedy Wunderground record label, run by superproducer Dan Carey. We can fully recommend catching them up close and personal in 2024 - see you down the front!
English Teacher
A recent performance on ‘Later with Jools Holland’ on BBC has raised the profile of this buzzy new indie-pop band from Leeds, who signed to Universal Records during 2023. Latest single ‘Nearly Daffodils’ is on the A-list at 6Music, but live is where they really go up a level. Their October UK tour was completely sold out and they’ve already announced shows for next year, including London’s Electric in Brixton.
Storm Mollison
FRUKT worked with Storm Mollison during the summer of 2023 and it was clear she’s a DJ on the fast-track to big things. Able to bounce between classic cuts and the freshest new sounds, she’s a party-starter with impeccable taste. Mollison has just been announced as a resident on Rinse FM, and last summer she played Glastonbury and Junction 2 festivals as well as respected clubs like Fabric.
Divorce
FRUKT watched this Nottingham indie act with country influences throughout 2024, including a fine show at End of the Road Festival, and they’re just getting better and better. They have become a regular fixture on 6Music's playlist and already have a collection of great songs to cross over to a wider pop audience this year.
Kaeto
This Scottish artist has bounced into the view in recent weeks with new single ‘Good Morning’, a 00s-inspired mix of The Gossip, Roisin Murphy and Kelis that’s become a fixture on radio starions. If you’re keen to see her live - and she really brings the energy - she’s playing a London date supporting Antony Szmierek for DIY Magazine in the coming weeks, check her out!