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RIOT’s Ones to Watch 2020 – Part Three

Rounding off our search for some of the most exciting rising through the ranks at the moment, we take a final look at our ones to watch for 2020. Missed our previous instalments? Catch part one featuring Arlo Parks and JNR Williams here, and part two featuring Biig Piig and Boy Pablo here.


 Inhaler

Dublin’s quartet Inhaler are one of the latest in a wave of Irish acts bursting onto the music scene at the moment. Already experts in creating catchy indie bangers – like The Stone Roses, Echo and The Bunnymen or early U2 with an element of pop.

The good thing about the band – consisting by Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, Josh Jenkinson, and Ryan McMahon – is that they made four tracks we keep shuffling. The bad thing about the band is that, as of yet, they have made only four tracks we keep shuffling.

2020 will likely find Inhaler dominating the world. With a full UK tour and a brief stint over in Japan all on the cards already. They’re also working on their debut album (finally, more than four tracks), and the future does look bright for these lads.

Sounds Like: Echo and The Bunnymen, The Stone Roses, old school U2 and a touch of Joy Division.

Check Out: Ice Cream Sundae

Where To Find Them: Inhaler will begin their UK tour in February.

Words by Nikos Papanikolaou


Everyone You Know

Brothers Rhys Kirkby-Cox Harvey Kirkby, who perform under the name Everyone You Know, are one of those rare acts that drench the listener in familiarity from the very first listen.

EYK document youth in suburban England with such a fine level of natural observation that they themselves may not even realise it. Whether it’s celebrating immaturity among your mates, or documenting dancefloor happenings in your hometown nightclub, Everyone You Know are the mouthpiece for a specific moment in youth culture.

Sounds Like: Somewhere between Mike Skinner and Easy Life, with a little more static in the background.

Check Out: The Drive, a track with a flow and narrative that’ll lock you in from the early moments.

Where to find them: EYK are playing in both Brixton & Shoreditch in March 2020.

Words by Matt Ganfield


Rina Sawayama

Recently signed to Dirty Hit, Rina Sawayama has spent the last few months preparing for the launch of her eponymous debut, Sawayama. Announced last week alongside her latest banger, ‘Comme Des Garçons (Like The Boys)’, the album will hit the shelves on April 17th. With tour dates planned from this April, kicking off with a series of dates in the US, this will be the year of Rina.

Sounds like: A good blend of Sophie and Girli, mixed in with just a light sprinkling of Poppy

Check out: ‘Comme Des Garçons (Like The Boys)’

Where to find her: Jetting across the US and UK this spring


beabadoobee

London-based Filipino artist Bea Kristi is only 19 years old, yet she has taken the bedroom pop scene by storm. Starting in 2017, beabadobee – who is signed to Dirty Hit – has toured with the likes of Clairo and The 1975, growing a dedicated Gen Z fanbase with no sign of stopping.

Sounds like: A warm hug. Soft girl indie. Bedroom soft pop.

Check out: She Plays Bass.

Where to find her: Sharing the stage with none other than The 1975 across the world

Words by Chloe Spinks


Millie Turner

Having penned her first song at fifteen, nineteen-year-old Millie Turner rounded off 2019 by dropping her sophomore EP Hide+Seek. Filled with elegantly crafted bops with flicks of Scandi-pop, the EP is a the perfect benchmark of what Turner is capable of. Preparing to support Tove Lo as she takes on Europe this march, we’re sure we’ll be hearing more from the East-London singer-songwriter too.

Sounds Like: MØ blended with Shura

Check Out: Ride This Train

Where to find her: On the road with Tove Lo across Europe

 Don’t forget to catch parts ONE and TWO of our ones to watch 
Author avatar
Matt Ganfield

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