STOP EVERYTHING: Pleas- Moses Sumney

Moses Sumney is a fascinating individual; on one hand he’s blessed with a clearly extraordinary talent, producing consistently stellar cuts of music that defy categorization. He bumps shoulders with the creme de la creme of the indie world and counts creative luminaries such as Solange (check out their incredible rendition of Young, Gifted and Black here) and Lianne La Havas among his best friends. Yet his Twitter feed is filled with stories and statements that are relatable to your average, run-of-the-mill 25 year old; a lack of funds, a disappointing love life, Ubers that take an eternity. It’s an interesting juxtaposition and one that makes you root for Sumney further- he’s surprisingly grounded for someone who’s scheduled to play the Hollywood Bowl with Erykah Badu and St Vincent this Sunday. Don’t be fooled by his self-effacement though- latest drop Pleas soon reminds you of why he’s destined for soaring success. Layered arpeggios float alongside trembling, tilting vocals, delicate as spun sugar. Sumney possess a instantly identifiable voice that lends gravity to anything he sings and the result is a re-imagining of what modern folk can be. Stunning.

Follow @MosesSumney on Twitter now. 

STOP EVERYTHING: Acquaint Yourself With Phony Ppl

If you’ve had the pleasure of coming across Jordan Rakei, my favourite musician of the first quarter of 2015 (he recently recieved a shout out from Sam Smith, an act that has forced me rethink my entire position on The Bland One), you’ll know he’s one of the new crop of artists who put creativity and quality above the quest for fame. Therefore, any recommendation he makes is gonna be pretty damn special.

And so it is with Phony Ppl a collective from Brooklyn who are the purveyors of some of the most individual and multi-faceted soundscapes I’ve heard in a good few years. Think what Andre 3000 was trying to achieve on The Love Below but with about 5 more splashes of innovation. Tracks range from melancholy jazz inflected musings upon the passage of time to throbbing electronic odes that exult the beauty of romance, interjected with twisting rap verses.

Think of a influence and it’s there: Latin, funk, soul, afrofuturistic grooves that spirit you away to another plane through sublime artistry. Phony Ppl are the band that make the endless searching clicks on Soundcloud worth it; even their Wonderful Christmas Time cover transforms the song into a soulful anthem, achieving the impossible and making a cheesy Xmas hit into a chilled cut to play on your downtime with bae. Download latest album Yesterday’s Tomorrow now to satisfy a need you didn’t even know you had.

Follow @PhonyPpl on Twitter now.

FRESH NEW KICKS: How Far- Ego Ella May

Ego Ella May has already drawn extensive comparisons to Queen Badu for her distinctive fluttering vocals and latest track How Far does nothing to dispel these. Yet Ella May’s sonic stylings still feel enjoyably fresh as she directs her sugary sweet tones to solving the riddle of relationships. Over a breezy beat that begs to be blasted from a boombox in the middle of a sweltering midsummer’s day, the South London soul singer lays out the situation, explaining ‘He wants me/I want him/It could be simple‘ before launching into a infectiously smooth chorus, cooing her desire to be able to foresee the future prospects for her romance. ‘It’s a really, really, really, really, really, really, tricky situation‘ she concludes, with a frustrated desperation that’s familiar to anyone who’s ever tried to ‘put a label on it’ without wrecking the good thing they’ve got going. ‘We talk about socio-economics, race, poverty, and stuff/But it’s not enough‘ Ella May offers sadly. Since last year’s Breathing Underwater EP, Ella May’s been steadily building buzz for her exciting brand of future soul and How Far confirms that, thank god, she’s still set on exceeding expectations. Her EP, Zero drops on the 6th of April- sleep on it at your peril.

Follow @EgoEllaMay on Twitter now.