With a new year comes a new set of musical speculations, as lists such as the BBC Sound of 2017 and the NME 100 help those of us with a penchant for being ‘in the know’ to impress or annoy our friends, flatmates and lab partners with comments like ‘oh, you haven’t heard this song before? It’s been on my Spotify playlist for two months now.’ Whether you’re one of these knowledge-seekers or genuinely interested in discovering some new talent, here are five artists tipped for big things in 2017:

The Japanese House

What I remember most clearly from The 1975’s show at Brixton Academy last March is not their exhilarating guitar solos, wild light show, or even Matt Healy’s outrageous dancing. Instead, it was the haunting support set from Buckinghamshire-based Amber Bain that truly caught my attention. Her eerie lyrics, combined with sensational electronic bass drops and minimalist staging, gave the stars of the show a real run for their money. Since then, Bain (under the moniker The Japanese House) has released a new EP, Swim Against the Tide, featuring the Radio One playlisted single ‘Face Like Thunder’. Although it’s easy to compare her music to the likes of The xx and London Grammar, Bain stands out from the crowded synthpop genre as a particularly meditative but refreshingly listenable artist. The Japanese House is yet to announce a debut album, but will be touring the UK in May. Having been featured on the BBC’s Sound of 2017 long list, we can expect to hear a lot more from her over the next twelve months.

Key tracks: Clean, Still, Face Like Thunder

Bonzai

Fans of FKA Twigs, M.I.A, Rihanna and old school Missy Elliot should be excited for what Londoner Bonzai has to offer in 2017. Having made a name for herself singing backing vocals for NAO and featuring on Mura Masa’s track ‘Know Me Better’, she is now working on a debut album following the success of her latest EP, Lunacy. Her indignant lyrics and noisy electronica will not be for everyone, but songs such as ‘2B’ are cleverly crafted to be unpredictable throughout, maintaining their energy until the final chord. Her irresistibly 90s R&B voice works wonderfully alongside some very modern production to create insistent singles that are impossible to ignore.

Key tracks: Noise, I Did, Nikka

Ray BLK

For some chilled out social commentary, look no further than Ray BLK, a rising star in the British R&B scene who has already been dubbed “the Lauryn Hill of the UK”[1]. She first caught my attention collaborating with SG Lewis on the single ‘Chill Out’, and her addictively soulful voice led me to her debut mini-album, Durt, which was released in October. Its seven tracks form an ode to her hometown of south London, most notably on ‘My Hood’, a wonderfully catchy song featuring Stormzy. Ray BLK’s unique vocals and relatable lyrics should put her at the forefront of the explosion of British urban music predicted for 2017, and she will no doubt have much more to offer over the course of the year.

Key tracks: Chill Out, My Hood, Gone

Cabbage

There’s there’s no better way to take out the anti-establishment frustrations of 2016 than by listening to postpunk boy band Cabbage. The joyously angry ‘Free Steven Avery (Wrong America)’ wishes death upon Donald Trump, while their latest offering, ‘Terrorist Synthesizer’, is a rebellious protest song directed towards David Cameron which wouldn’t have sounded out of place in punk’s 70s heyday. If their upcoming album is anything like the outrageous but brilliantly energetic EPs they’ve already released, NME may be proved right in their assertion that 2017 will be Cabbage’s year (the magazine puts them at number 2 on its 100 list).

Key tracks: Tell Me Lies About Manchester, Terrorist Synthesizer, Dinner Lady

Fickle Friends

Fulfilling what has become something of an institution in the British music industry, there’s another new indie band on the horizon for the coming year. Sundara Karma were last year’s offering, and previous holders have included Wolf Alice and Two Door Cinema Club. This time the role has been taken by Fickle Friends, a five piece from Brighton trading in an uplifting blend of synthpop and rock. Their biggest tracks of 2016, ‘Swim’ and ‘Brooklyn’, scream summer road trips, barbecues and festivals, offering a carefree alternative to the more serious artists on this list. That’s not to say that Fickle Friends are musically inferior; in fact their mixture of traditional guitar riffs and simples harmonies with electro-pop hooks promises to be a recipe for chart success in the coming months.

Key tracks: Cry Baby, Swim, Brooklyn

If none of these suggestions tickle your fancy, fear not. We’re set to hear from several old favourites in 2017, with new releases promised by Royal Blood, Drake, Tinie Tempah, Nelly Furtado and even 50 Cent. We really are in for a treat