NOVEMBER PICKS: ARTISTS TO LOOK OUT FOR
ETTA BOND
Six years ago, soul singer Etta Bond released her double album He’s Not Mine and He’s Mine (2019), which received widespread praise for exploring the complexities of lustful regrets and the intricacies of meaningful love. The journey concluded with Etta emphasising self-love as the central message. Her strength lies in her ability to recognise her own integrity, mistakes, and vulnerability – making her work self-empowering both lyrically and vocally. Consequently, the albums transition from dark to light, from anger to contentment. On ‘Surface’ with rapper A2, Etta flows seamlessly over the hip-hop, trap-infused production while A2 offers a male perspective and counterpoint. While examining different facets of her experiences with love, Etta celebrates sexuality while also critiquing societal ideals of love, relationships, and identity. Both albums blend laid-back hip-hop, RnB, lo-fi beats, and soul-inspired tracks that teach a valuable lesson. Now, with her return single ‘Sun on My Skin’ (2025), Etta shifts gears, choosing an upbeat electronic track that radiates her natural confidence, empowerment, and renewed self-love, symbolised through the warmth of the sun.
Fave Tracks: ‘Teleport,’ ‘Surface’ ft. A2, ‘More Than a Lover’ ft SiR
JORDY
Consistent, candid and contemplative sum up the Essex-based rapper, Jordy, who’s been sharpening his pen since 2017. As he gears up for his upcoming album, the wordsmith has maintained his unwavering dedication to his craft. This has garnered him co-signs from some of the most respected lyricists in the game, Wretch 32, Ghetts and Youngs Teflon. Jordy invited his peers to tracks that align with his vision: providing introspection, life lessons, social commentary and sharing the stories that have shaped their come-up. His ability to remain true to himself while tackling themes of loss, love, family relationships and success are always handled with exceptional lyricism and care. On ‘Rainy Day’ and ‘Mum Listens,’ Jordy continues that vision over his signature minimalistic, stripped-back production style, where he lets his thoughts and effortless bars command your attention. Jordy is straight to the point, never doing too much or too little but always seeming to get it right.
p.s. Jordy’s concerts are a must-see. The fan engagement, energy, breath control, gratitude and passion were incredible. It’s my favourite concert I’ve been to, I can’t recommend him enough.
Fave Tracks: ‘Special,’ ‘Black Beatles,’ ‘Crinkum Crankum,’ ‘Wonderkid’
MEEKZ
Like Jordy, Meekz has shown a level of consistency that highlights the importance of quality over quantity. The Manchester rapper has a cold, gritty, demanding voice that sets his intentions straight as someone who’s here to stay for the long run. Meekz’s sound toes the line between road rap and UK drill, paired perfectly with his dominating voice. His EP Respect the Come Up (2022) is a testament to his resilience while shining a light on the hardships of his upbringing. Rap heavyweights, Dave and Central Cee, provide further depth and mirror Meekz’ raw rap talent on tracks ‘Fresh Out the Bank’ and ‘Don’t Like Drill.’ His debut album, Tru (2024), continues that vision; it’s a packed road rap album that shows off his lyricism and consistency. The Manchester native's local pride is a reminder that much of the UK’s rap talent extends beyond London’s rap dominance. His recent releases ‘Bk2life’ and ‘Bk2reality’ are a creative push as Meekz samples Soul II Soul’s ‘Back to Life,’ creating a head-bopping, infectious track.
Fave Tracks: ‘Fresh Out the Bank,’ ‘More Money,’ ‘Instagram Caption’
