Within the endless current of new music, it’s difficult for anyone to keep up with all that’s coming out. To combat this ongoing influx of sound, we publish our “Best New Artists of the Month” articles in the hopes that you never miss out on the outstanding new artists emerging in recent times. (written by Chad Hillard) [do action="sub-heading" title="F U R N S"/] Alright, we try not to get too excited about new artists, and that's because we never know if they're just going to fade away into internet obscurity a year after a solid initial effort or not. But when it comes to the music from Danish duo F U R N S, your intuition kicks in immediately and shakes its head at you if you even question that F U R N S isn't the real deal. On the scale of how we appreciate music, it goes from like to infatuation, and ultimately, to love. And when it comes to F U R N S and their undeniably pristine music, we only have one choice for them: and that's love. Of course this didn't happen overnight. It first started with "Haunt Me", and then with "Sparks", which basically forced us to sow back up a hole in our hearts after having it ripped out by the duo. We equate the music from F U R N S to that of a picturesque scene where a calm lake comes to the edge of the mounting and reflects it perfectly. All you can do is sit and marvel in its beauty. So when you listen to F U R N S, think of the same scenario: close your eyes and enter into a realm of pure bliss. [do action="big-player-soundcloud" thepostid="35587" artist="F U R N S" title="Sparks" id="116907856" link="http://soundcloud.com/furns/sparks"/] [do action="big-player-soundcloud" thepostid="34589" artist="F U R N S" title="Haunt Me" id="114832949" link="http://soundcloud.com/furns/haunt-me"/] [do action="sub-heading" title="Mapei"/] Although Mapei has been around since 2005, up until now the Stockholm-born singer has been known solely for her rapping. However, after taking a hiatus after her 2009 EP, Cocoa Butter Diaries, Mapei returned on October 3rd with her new single, "Don't Wait", which would turn out to be a massive statement. And while we have no indication that Mapei will drop the rapping entirely, with "Don't Wait", it's clear that the future is very bright if she sticks to making music like this. (written by Chad Hillard) [do action="big-player-soundcloud" thepostid="33991" artist="Mapei" title="Don't Wait" id="113421117" link="http://soundcloud.com/mapei/dont-wait "/] [do action="sub-heading" title="_wet"/] Wet is one of the many new groups gaining popularity by building music out of what would seem like unlikely components. The lighter-than-air vocals feel as if they were pulled from some sort of soft-edged singer-songwriter album, but the band has paired them with a sound very much influenced by the hip-hop world which reigns supreme in their Brooklyn, NY hometown. And while the combo isn’t particularly groundbreaking, what distinguishes them from the rest is that they manage this balancing act, really, really, well. Their debut, self-titled EP is a triumph of subtle production work, and it squeezes every last drop of potential from the various influences they’ve used to make their sound one not easily ignored. (written by Chris Danks) [do action="big-player-soundcloud" thepostid="33925" artist="_wet" title="Dreams" id="109900818" link="http://soundcloud.com/wetnyc/dreams"/] [do action="sub-heading" title="On Planets & Scoop"/] On Planets and Scoop are two perfect examples of how the music industry has undergone huge structural changes in the past decade, and how you, the connoisseurs, are most definitely the beneficiaries. On Planets (producer) and Scoop (vocalist) have never actually met in person, but, through the magic of technology, they’ve collaborated on an EP that takes a truly sophisticated angle on the indie-electronic genre. By pulling together influences ranging from jazz to soul, and by making use of some clever production techniques, On Planets has created the perfect backdrop for Scoops to do her thing on the mic, and the final product belies its rather grassroots origin. Give their work a listen, and be impressed that it didn’t take a massive studio and multiple producers to put together such a quality three-track offering. (written by Chris Danks) [do action="big-player-soundcloud" thepostid="34220" artist="On Planets & Scoop" title="Too" id="114304430" link="http://soundcloud.com/drawingonplanets/scoop-x-on-planets-too"/] [do action="sub-heading" title="BROODS"/] If you mention music and New Zealand right now, chances are very good that Lorde's name will follow — this is pretty much a given and unavoidable for the time being. However, for those of you who like to show your friends new acts, you best add BROODS into the tail end of that conversation, because as far as we're concerned, they're on their way to butting into that sentence. Sure, the public may not know it yet, but once you become a part of that demographic that's heard 'Bridges", you gain a quick understanding that BROODS is destined for big things. (written by Chad Hillard) [do action="big-player-soundcloud" thepostid="34380" artist="BROODS" title="Bridges" id="114501757" link="http://soundcloud.com/broods/bridges-1"/] [do action="sub-heading" title="KOWL"/] Hobart-local Cal Young started his burgeoning career in the ensemble known as "The Scientists of Modern Music" before moving on to behind-the-scenes work producing new Australian talent, Asta, and both endeavors which kept him from the spotlight. He won't be out of the spotlight for long with the release of his new independent musical endeavour, KOWL, however. On his four-track EP, KOWL borrows elements from his previous works to forge a succinct and accomplished body of work. It is full of captivating electronic-house, playful pop sensibilities and a production value so impeccable that it is hard to believe it's a debut effort from the young producer. With such gems as "Who Am I" and "Sending You My Heart", the latter of which is personally one of my favourite tunes this year, it's easy to see why we've chosen to include him as part of this feature. 2014 is going to be a huge year for KOWL and we can't wait to see what other incredible music he can come up with. (written by Luke Widmer) [do action="big-player-soundcloud" thepostid="34956" artist="KOWL" title="Who Am I" id="113294256" link="http://soundcloud.com/kowl/kowl-who-am-i"/]
F U R N S