The UK’s Alternative Artists Unearthed
Musical influences can come from a myriad of different things. The background and culture of an artist can come out in unexpected bursts, sometimes subtly edging into a song and at other times striking you hard in the chest.
Looking at the British music industry today you might not think that there are a great deal of black and ethnic minority people on the rock and indie scene. You wouldn’t be entirely wrong. However, amongst the main players are some hidden gems from different backgrounds.
I remember Bloc Party from the 2000s. The lead singer and guitarist Kele Okereke had a distinctive voice, unmistakably British and though they were an indie band, his voice seemed smooth and soulful at times. The mixture of sounds made them stand out from the crowd even more. No longer with the band, Kele has been releasing new music as a solo artist. He takes influence from different spaces, not just other music. I found it interesting that he puts his curiosity down to his English Literature degree, I studied English Lit too. I can see how being exposed to so many subjects can make you a musical “magpie” as Kele calls himself. He points to William Blake as an inspiration, a famous English poet, painter and writer around in the 19th Century.
Below one of the music videos of the next artist is the comment “Michael Kiwanuka breaks your heart and then heals it at the same time.” It’s beautiful, almost like poetry. I personally hadn’t heard much of his music but my brother, told me about him. The single “Home Again” from his first album in 2012 by the same title sounds wistful and melancholic. His voice is deep yet light at times and works perfectly with the folk like guitar he plays. When talking about his biggest influences he says it’s no “curve ball” that he grew up listening to Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix. “Heart Shaped Box” by Nirvana was a big influence and “had a lot of emotion” for him.
As I looked up some background on Beabadoobee, real name Beatrice Kristi, I happened to be listening to the Juno soundtrack. Uncannily Beabadoobee was inspired by the same soundtrack. It’s quirky, often moving and relatable which are words I would use for Beabadoobee’s music too. Her huge hit “Coffee” was circulating around the song covers I watched and when I heard the original, I knew why. It’s a song that seems like it’s about going through the motions of life without really seeing the point of it all, you know that feeling where you plod along because it’s all you can do? Her lyrics “I promise that one day I’ll be fine” are almost like she’s talking to herself and the listener, like she is still functioning but is maybe not getting much happiness or enjoyment out of life.
Beabadoobee, who was born in Manila in the Philippines, says that her influences come not only from western rock and folk artists such as The Beatles and Elliot Smith but also that her music is “low key similar” to “some of my mum’s OPM music... old Fiilpino music”.
The whole that makes us is a huge mixture of different influences. These influences have had an effect on us either by accident or as a chosen interest or passion. The things we experience through different senses can sometimes plant themselves within us and grow as we do.
Article by Andrea Lewis