My Top 5 Indie Artist This Month - December 2014

Hi Folks,
As you may or may not know I do an hour on Hospital Radio Chelmsford that I call 'Indie Hour' which features some up and coming indie musicians and singer/songwriters that need just a little bit of play time on the station each week. I thought I would share my favourite 5 this month with you and maybe try and do this every month (I won't promise because I am USELESS at regular blogging). These musicians are not rated with no.1 being my most favourite as I'm extremely indecisive and could NEVER pick between musicians. So let me introduce you to some gorgeous music:

1. George Ezra

Firstly I do need to say that I have developed a bit of a thing for George over the last few weeks but that is completely unimportant...maybe. I found George after the release of his album Wanted On Voyage in June 2014 when his song Budapest exploded onto our radio devices. It's crazy to see how far George has come in such a short period of time. In June 2013, George played the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury festival, since then he has gone on to play bigger stages at festivals across the country.

After hearing Budapest 8 million times I was determined that I had to see him live and was lucky enough to see him at V Festival this year, and he was just as wonderful live as he is recorded. It's still a little hard to believe that he's only 21 years old! George has a gorgeous deep comforting voice that at first I was a bit shocked by and not really sure if I liked but after listening to Budapest a few more times (believe it or not), I was won over by that beautiful voice of his. I dragged my poor mum and younger brother to see George with me at V and needless to say they pretty much now love him too!

So I thought long and hard about which song I should put a link too here and I've decided on this one:

I have really only just discovered this music video and I think it is possibly the most adorable thing I have seen. Firstly: SIR IAN MCKELLEN (need I say more?) Secondly: The end part of the video is just so CUTE (no spoilers, you have go watch it). George has an incredibly unique voice and I cannot wait to see where he goes over the next year! LOVE YOU GEORGE (Shut up fangirl Becky!!!) 

You can find the rest of George Ezra's music HERE!

2. Hudson Taylor

Should I say that I love these boys too or does that look a little strange??? To be fair these boys have been my loves since I was fifteen years old and are still going strong in my heart. These two are a little irish duo called Hudson Taylor, formerly Harry and Alfie (Harry on the left and Alfie on the right). Before I address they're incredible singing, I need to ask how they have a wikipedia page that I didn't know about?!?! Listening to these boys (and knowing them for a while) has given me a very motherly pride over them (regardless of the fact that they are both older than me).

I cried when the boys were on BBC Three at Reading and Leads because I was slightly proud of these two, it wasn't made any easier when Greg James stated that Bastille had done the same a few years previous and now look where they are! These two have a folky-pop sound that I just can't get enough of and I can't help but squeal a little when they are played on Radio 1 every now and again. Now to attempt the task of picking my favourite song to display for you, this one is rather tricky: 

I did it, it took me half an hour but I chose the boys latest single Chasing Rubies, this song has been a favourite of mine for a while but the official recorded version is incredible! These two are just amazing and their recorded songs do not do them justice to just how gorgeous they sound live (yes I've seen these two perform as well and it was magical). There's not much more praise I can give these boys so I'll leave this bit with how amazing Harry is at hugs (are you jealous???). 

Hudson Taylor can be found HERE!

3. Hozier

I hadn't actually seen a picture of Hozier until I just looked him up to find one and woah, that is all I will say. So i've just done my research on him and he is 24 years old and from Bray, County Wicklow in Ireland. I recently discovered this man whilst I was doing my planning for 'Indie Hour' and I fell in love with the voice that I heard. He's recently become rather well known with his song Take Me To Church which reached no.5 in the official uk charts and I believe got to no.1 on the singer/songwriter charts on iTunes (important too!) 

Andrew Hozier-Byrne (his full name) is currently nominated for a Grammy, which is just crazy! Also before you ask, no I have not seen Hozier live (YET!). I've gradually been listening to more and more of Hozier's music over the past few weeks when I decided there's only so many times I can play Take Me To Church on my radio show before I have to play something else. I have recently fallen in love with the song Someone New and thought I would share that one with you all: 

It has that gorgeously upbeat singer/songwriter style that I love and was completely unique to what I had previously heard from Hozier. Things are just starting to take off for him as well as he has recently performed for Saturday Night Live and Ellen and even performed at The Victoria Secret Fashion Show this year alongside the likes of Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande. 

All of Hozier's music can be found HERE!

4. James Bay

I discovered James when he was played on the Michalak Family Videos and instantly was shocked by his wonderful voice. His voice is beautifully soft and calming and I really could spend hours and hours listening to him. He was added to the BBC Introducing playlist in August 2014 and since has had so much recognition. I have also just seen that he has a new album coming in March 2015. I'm actually listening to him whilst typing this and his has been the only one where I have gotten distracted and had to have a bit of a sing along with him.

James is also only 24 and only at the start of his career with his first EP only being released last year. James Bay has also just been awarded this years Critics Choice 2015 by the Brit Awards panel, and I can see why. He has just the most gorgeous voice that is one of those that you can plug in your headphones too and just submerse yourself in his music. I decided to go with his song Hold Back The River: 

I have to refrain from playing this song on a constant when I am on the radio because I just love it so much. Weirdly this song just makes me want to give him a big cuddle, I don't know why, maybe it makes good cuddling music??? James is another musician that I am excited to watch grow over the next year!

Have a bit of a cuddle to James Bay's music HERE!

5. Ben Howard

Another unique voice for you from the lovely Ben Howard. He's the oldest of our bunch, being the ripe old age of just 27 (WOAH!). I've been listening to Ben for about 3-4 years now and love his voice so much. I first heard Only Love, which at the time was played so much on radio and was a little unsure whether or not I actually liked him but then I discovered Keep Your Head Up which was one of those confidence boosting songs that had me walking to college every morning like I was some sort of super-hero/ rockstar hybrid. 

Ben took home last years Brit Awards for Best Breakthrough Artist and Best Solo Male artist and also played on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury! Ben is my go to indie artist when I want to snuggle up and feel all cosy with a nice mug of tea, his voice just fits that so beautifully. I'm going to go with his latest song: 

This is I Forget Where We Were from his album of the same name and I am obsessed with playing this song on my show on a monday. We finally have it on our computer system too which makes me incredibly happy that I don't have to worry about the internet going down before I can play this to my listeners. 

You can find more of Ben Howard HERE!

So there you have my top 5 Indie artists this month, please do go check them out as they are all amazing!

Lot's of Love,

Rebecca

xxx