When it comes to new music in Australia we’re spoilt for choice. We’re currently in a golden period where there are a bunch of boundary-pushing youngsters doing really exciting things. Four acts in particular that are really killing it right now are Dylan Joel, E^ST, Kilter and UV boi who also happen to all be coming together for an all ages tour around the country very appropriately titled Tomorrow’s People.
While they may be tomorrow’s people, they’ve already done some very impressive things in 2015 setting them up for a golden tomorrow. With that in mind, we’ve looked back on each of their years and also attempted to predict what the future has in store with them. We’ll let you know at the end of next year whether or not we’re going to continue our careers as psychics.
Dylan Joel
2015: Dylan Joel arrived on the Australian hip-hop scene in a big way this year with his debut album Authentic Lemonade. It’s a record that fuses together hip-hop with elements of soul and gospel providing a positive, sunshine-soaked soundtrack for summer. The Australian hip-hop elite including Hilltop Hoods, Seth Sentry and Illy have always been difficult to penetrate but Dylan provided some serious competition with an album that sounded like Chance The Rapper had been taught by Hilltop Hoods.
It’s the same guy who delivered charismatic verses on early releases like Kid Illin but he’s learnt how to craft genuine bangers. Blank is a seriously good chance for this year’s Hottest 100 and that’s because it effortlessly marries together a soulful hook and a verse that you couldn’t help but sing along too after repeat listens. It’s without a doubt a summer anthem and we wouldn’t be surprised if you sip more than a few lemonades with this as the soundtrack.
Beyond: Blank will land a place in the Hottest 100 and it will automatically become the soundtrack to summer. It will be a highlight of Tomorrow’s People and also make those going to see Illy falls in love with Joel while he supports him on his 2016 headline tour. That in turn will make people want to drop dosh to see Joel on his own and he’ll embark on his own headline tour. People will sip lemonade while watching and when they get home they’ll put the cup on their shelf and allow it to grow mould because it reminds them of a night with Joel.
E^ST
2015: E^ST has one of those voices that makes you fall in love within seconds. In 2014 when she released Old it was if everyone was convinced before even hearing the song out. The problem with that is that you can also turn people away if your follow-up isn’t as good. Thankfully, her second EP The Alley was excellent - a dusky collection of anxious pop tunes placing her in the zone of Troye Sivan and Lorde.
The Alley was an instant favourite on triple j which lead her to Like A Version where she created one of the year’s highlights with a haunting rendition of The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony. The country collectively lost their shit when she ventured into Massive Attack at the tail end of the cover. She further impressed on her national headline tour and on festivals like The Plot. Recently, she’s been in Europe crafting future bangers.
Beyond: Those future bangers will eventuate as E^ST literally heads east (depending which way she flies) and impresses not just locally but overseas as well. Taylor Swift will tweet out one of her songs and next minute we’ll be treated to an Instagram where E^ST is holding Lorde’s foot while Swifty smiles in the background. Away from Swift’s squad she’ll treat us to another EP or even an album if we’re lucky which will help to fill festival tents (Splendour In The Grass 2016 anyone?).
Kilter
2015: While we’re on the subject of bangers, let’s talk about multi-instrumentalist and producer Kilter. Kilter’s 2014 EP Shades was one of the best local electronic releases of the year but he didn’t release a lot of original music in 2015. It was a case of quality not quantity for Kilter as he released an absolute pearler teaming up with Porsches for the infectious Want 2. Of course, he wasn’t completely silent apart from that. He also dropped fire remixes for ODESZA, Hermitude, Autograf and also gave us another Like A Version highlight with his cover of Muscles Ice Cream with Ngaiire.
The Kilter live show was a highlight of the year too as he seemingly played a million instruments at once to bring his summer-infused sound to life on stage. He supported Hermitude, played festivals like This That and Mountain Sounds and won over many at his own headline shows.
Beyond: Kilter has been all over the USA writing tunes which will no doubt be ready to drop next year. From Porsches to Ngaiire, he’s shown to have a talent in picking the finest local newcomers so expect to hear some more vocalists that you didn’t know you loved until you heard them on a Kilter song. Tomorrow’s People may be one of the last chances to see Kilter in an intimate venue because he’s one banger away from exploding.
UV boi
2015: Like Kilter, Brisbane producer UV boi has been relatively quiet on the release front this year but what he has released has been absolute gold. His single Luv with Fionn Richards and Basstracks quickly became a triple j favourite and demonstrated a more accessible uv boi pairing his usual pulsating production with a luscious vocal hook. He followed that up with the woozy If She, If He with WeDidIt member EASTGHOST. It sounded like nothing else coming out of the Australian electronic scene right now and that’s what makes UV boi so exciting.
While the original releases have been few and far between, he’s been busy on live circuit playing Splendour In The Grass and a heap of headline shows bringing his distinct style to the clubs. He’s literally everywhere right now including in the windows of David Jones. He took an unexpected turn into modelling for DJ’s Watch This Space campaign highlighting the best new talent.
Beyond: UV boi is actually looks at home modelling but in 2016 he’ll be on stage more than on shop windows. He’s supporting one of his idols and the ultimate sadboy Yung Lean on tour while he’s here for Beyond The Valley and the pair will no doubt strike up a friendship which will hopefully lead to a track that will make us both cry and smile. He’ll also be hitting the stage at FOMO with Jamie xx, RL Grime and more where he’ll prove himself among heavy-hitting internationals. He’ll also be releasing his LUV EP early next year which will only further his rise to the top of not only the local but international electronic scene.
For more info on all things Tomorrow's People including dates and ticket info peep the flyer below or head HERE.