The new year has begun. We say goodbye to a gruelling 2020 and hello to a hopeful 2021. Here are six artists that we at LDN think you should keep your eyes on this year…

shame

Having already received much vaunted reviews from publications including NME, Paste and Clash, it looks like there is an exciting year in store for the South London band. Shame have been rallying up and accelerating London’s post-punk revival scene since their debut single ‘Gold Hole’ in 2016. With a new EP ‘Nigel Hitter’ out last week and their second album out on Friday (January 15) the shouty boys from the south want to show 2021 who’s in charge from the outset. 

For fans of: Black Country New Road, Fat White Family, Black Midi

Johnny Fry

Bree Runway

2020 was a wild ride for Bree Runway, from bagging a feature on Rina Sawayama’s ‘XS’, to releasing her first EP ‘2000AND4EVA’. Her hyperpop style draws on punk influences, as well as clear R’n’B and hip-hop references. Besides a signature sound Bree Runway also designs and styles her own looks, and creative-directs her music videos. She truly is the total package. 

First up for 2021 is the release of her new music video for ‘ATM’ featuring Missy Elliott. We can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

For fans of: Alex Mali, Junglepussy, Sega Bodega

Nina de Sanders

Blab

Hailing from Essex, Blab – aka Frances Murray – is a force to be reckoned with. Taking the key concepts of punk and turning them on their head, with her empowering lyrics and IDGAF attitude it doesn’t come as a surprise Blab has been playlisted by BBC Essex and found a comfortable spot in their Sounds 2021 list. You can check out her song ‘R.I.P’ on all streaming platforms to ready yourself for her next single ‘Casual Sex’ out on the January 15. 

For fans of: Kate Nash, Marmozets, Drenge

Oliver Childs

Porij

The young and zestful four-piece fusing feel-good aspects from various music genres – matching funk bass lines with trouble-free R&B vocals or electronica bubbles with jazzy percussion –  providing poptastic bedroom bangers. If you heard their catchy little number ‘Dirty Love’ on the BBC 6 Music Playlist you will know how difficult it is to get out of your head. Porij are set to tour the UK in spring, or when they can, to hopefully showcase their debut mixtape ‘Breakfast’ that was released in November last year.

For fans of: SAULT, Necktr, Moses Boyd, Tom Misch

Johnny Fry

Desta French

Sick of the lack of representation of the Latinx community, London based Columbian/Italian artist Desta French has come to blend her culture with ours and spread it across the world like marmite infused peanut butter. Mashing the sounds of salsa, cumbia and Latin pop with the our city’s idiosyncratic grime noise hip-hop influences, Desta French is blossoming into a musically diverse artist whose unique tone stands out from the crowd.

For fans of: Greentea Peng, Ella Frank, Miraa May

Johnny Fry

CORPSE

The deepest voice on the internet known as the faceless YouTuber Corpse (Corpse Husband) has been blowing up during the last few months. Conquering the hearts of e-girls on TikTok, his ‘E-Girls Are Ruining My Life’ has become an anthem for all the badass bitches. He has decided to focus on what he loves the most – music. Already teasing his fans with a Machine Gun Kelly collab, Corpse is still at the beginning of his peak.

For fans of: $uicideBoy$, Ghostemane, BONES, YUNGBLUD.

Anna Runa