With its diverse and open-ended nature, London is definitely a melting point of cultures so it’s no surprise there is currently a multitude of great music emerging from the capital.
Among the talent creating such music is an extensive list of female artists who are proudly representing London and Rebecca Judd uses her radio show on Apple Music’s Beats 1 radio show – The New London – to not only bring Apple Music’s playlist of the same name to life but also shine a spotlight on the emerging female talent.
With the sunny season fast approaching, and the new episode of The New London airing tomorrow (30 April), Rebecca Judd has compiled a list of female artists to watch during summer – artists we can expect to hear on her radio show in the near future.
Check out Rebecca’s list below.
Br3nya
Rebecca says: “She dropped her debut single “Good Food” last August, which is on over a quarter of a million views on GRM. Since then she has been consistent and is smashing it! I’m proper, proper excited to hear a debut project from the west Londoner.
“I’m excited to hear some collaborations too, I can see her merking loads of remixes. She’s bawsy, doing her thing and winning; making music that she wants to make and she’s having loads of fun doing it. Also recently announced, is her headline show at O2 Academy Islington in May! She’s also performing at Merky Festival this year! Big up buff Br3nya.”
Alicai Harley
Rebecca says: “Alicai Harley, you know, she’s smashing UK dancehall! I first heard of Alicai when she dropped her tune “Gold” in late 2017, and boy, since then she’s sky rocketed – she’s even collaborated with dancehall legends Tony Matterhorn and Cham. Every so often on Instagram she will drop a freestyle and they’ll always be sooooo cold. I can really see Alicai taking her music worldwide. So much success and recognition already, and she’s yet to even release a project, it’s a really exciting time for her. After supporting Kojo Funds & Shakka on tour, she’ll play Glastonbury this summer.”
Miraa May
Rebecca says: “How can someone be so waveyyyy?! I’ve been a big fan of Miraa May for a while now, she’s from north London, N15 to be exact. She dropped an EP called Care Package late last year and I’m still rinsing the EP now. She’s such a boss and like Br3nya, Miraa is making music that she wants and it’s so sick. She makes it look so effortless.
“I recently saw her perform live and she performed an unreleased tune which had a old-school garage vibe to it and I already know when that tune drops, it’s gonna pop off! She recently tweeted “5 EPS THEN AN ALBUM” so we know loads of new music is on the way – yay! She’s playing Glastonbury this summer and The Ends festival in London. Never change Miraa, you’re the waviest!”
Hamzaa
Rebecca says: “Hamzaa currently has one of my favourite EPs out! First Signs of Me is her debut EP – seven tracks of nothing but greatness. I’ve spent hours singing my heart out to these tunes and sitting in front of my TV watching the official music videos getting emotional because she is that amazing. She’s a 20-year-old singer/songwriter and has previously worked with Shakka and New Machine.
“She recently dropped a remix to her song “Breathing” with Wretch 32 and Ghetts. She’s already merked two sold-out headline shows in London, I had the privilege of going to the second show and she was truly amazing, she had the whole crowd captured and hearing her music live was even more magical than I could have imagined. She performed on Jools Holland last year and she’s also due to perform at Glastonbury this year – how sick! *Claps*”
JGrrey
Rebecca says: I love this woman! I first discovered JGrrey from her COLORS Berlin in late 2017, which is currently on over two millions views – sick! She dropped her five track EP Grreydaze last month which is truly amazing. She had a listening party for the EP and I missed it, still gutted about that. She also had a headline show last month in Hackney and she too is playing Glastonbury – I can already picture it; the sun shining and JGrrey is performing my favourite from the EP, “Pretty Insane”, and I’ve got a cold beer in my hand. IT’S LITTTTT!”
Listen to the next episode of The New London on Apple Music’s Beats 1 tomorrow (30 April) at 6pm at apple.co/B1_TheNewLive. Listen to the show’s playlist here and on-demand at apple.co/B1_TheNew