Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014 – The 12 Best Acts & A Look Back

Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014 – the place where the music industry meets and new stars are born

Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) is the place where the music industry meets and new stars are born. With 3275 delegates from the industry, 38500 festival visitors and 307 journalists, the festival has a huge impact on what happens in Europe in terms of music. NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION visited Groningen, the Netherlands to find out about the newest trends and of course the hottest musical acts.

Besides the European Border Breaker Awards (EBBA) and the European Festival Awards (EFA), tons of panels and conferences about the future of the music industry were held at ESNS. Festivals are more and more reliant on foreign visitors, was one of the things that was talked about. Also that maintaining careers for artists gets more and more a big problem and since music is everywhere it gets worthleess. A lot of discussions about how to handle problems and how to direct things into a good direction, a direction that is good for bands, artists, agencies, labels and everyone involved in the music industry.

Besides that 337 bands and artists played ESNS – not to talk about the countless off-festival shows that took place at small bars during the same days. Each year new talents get discovered and new stars are born. Acts like CHVRCHES, JAMES BLAKE and THE XX had their break-through at Eurosonic. Also this year the delegates checked out tons of artists to find out who might be the next big thing. On the next pages NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION has a list of the 12 best and most buzzed acts at ESNS 2014 for you.

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

BALLET SCHOOL. The fact that Germany’s capital Berlin became some sort of melting pot for different forms of culture is old news. Coming from Berlin doesn’t necessarily require German roots anymore. It’s way more about that. BALLET SCHOOL might be one of the most talked newcomers of the city – and of ESNS 2014.

Shortly NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION talked to the band’s charismatic lead singer Rosie Blair about adopted home, the style of BALLET SCHOOL and Mariah Carey (read the full interview). Furthermore the band members shared their seven favourite songs with NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION.

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

BENJAMIN CLEMENTINE might be one of the biggest hypes these days. He got a lot attention from the blogosphere when he released his first song Cornerstone last year. Now his first EP, also called Cornerstone, is out. NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION is curious about the English man who lives in Paris, France and named the EP one of the ten most anticipated records of 2014. Furthermore BENJAMIN CLEMENTINE was included in NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION ESNS list of musical recommendations. And yes, he proved to be exactly what people say: the next big thing.

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

Swedish artist ELLIPHANT sounds like the twisted illegitimate offspring of M.I.A. and DIPLO – as deliciously fierce as the former but as intelligently playful as the latter – ELLIPHANT pulls the balls of this dancehall slayer through its own throat and ties them in a cherry knot the other side. At ESNS 2014 Ellinor Olovsdotter aka ELLIPHANT proved that she has everything to totally hit-off. All eyes on ELLIPHANT!

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

British singer songwriter GEORGE EZRA was one of the most buzzed acts at ESNS 2014. His music has clearly a mature sounding tone and is influenced by acts like BOB DYLAN and WOODY GUTHRIE. With his bluesy sound and exceptional voice, GEORGE EZRA takes the listeners into a ban that simply no one can escape from. Can there be any doubt about his coming success? Surely not. In 2013 his debut EP Did You Here The Rain was released. Now GEORGE is ready for the total take over. Expect GEORGE EZRA at a lot of festivals line up announcements soon.

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

JULIEN MIER‘s latest album Jane’s Junkyard was already named as one of the eight almost overlooked albums of 2013, and the video to his track Super Tropic Tramp was named “Vimeo Staff Pick”. Any more questions? This Dutch guy seems to be special. In fact he is special and and exceptional electronic music act, as he proved at ESNS 2014.

JULIEN MIER is known for his eclectic and washed out collision of musical genres. His signature is this width approach of fragmented melodies, packed in a palette of, sometimes almost waterfall kind of textures and dreamy, melancholic stories. Everyone who is into electronic music should have the young composer and producer from the Netherlands on his list.

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

JUNGLE. Suddenly everybody was talking about this London collective at ESNS. Their first track Platoon (feat. B-Girl Terra) was released in June 2013 and since then the track immediately made casualties of various DJ’s, bloggers and music journalist. Obviosly everyone who heard the track was mesmerized by it’s subtle, neo-soul production, pop hooks and enchanting grooves. JUNGLE‘s second single, The Heat was released in late October and instantly picked up by BBC Radio 1, Guardian, Vice and KCRW. Still no one really knows who’s behind the JUNGLE moniker, but at Eurosonic these guys played their first international live show, the first of many that will follow soon.

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

KADEBOSTANY, one of NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION tips for Eurosonic 2014. The band’s new album Pop Collection was rated with 4,5/5 and the band included in the ESNS musical recommendations. With their combination of electronic pop music, rapped and sung parts and trumpets, KADEBOSTANY simply blew the festival crowd away.

KADEBOSTANY are the new colonists of the pop empire that have swiftly catapulted themselves into the spotlight with their irresistible blend of pop music devouring unlikely influences to create a singular yet terribly catchy universe of its own. A striking visual identity and their infamously powerful live performances backed by an exclusive visual show perfect the experience. Bearing both a solid artistic credibility and an evident potential for broad appeal, KADEBOSTANY are set to stand as undisputed heralds of a renewal in the pop music world. Be prepared to hear the band’s name and music regularly in the near future.

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

LULU JAMES‘ emotive 21st century soul sound makes waves across the world. Also at Eurosonic 2014 all eyes were on the young singer from the North East of England.

Ambient, atmospheric vocals with electronic, dubstep and tribal beats – this is LULU JAMES‘s 21st century soul music. The Newcastle-based musician was born in Tanzania and moved to England when she was six years old. With 19 years she started performing locally and met her producer and co-writer Domzilla. After the huge success of her single Sweetest Thing, which even charted in Denmark, LULU JAMES is currently recording her debut album. Any questions? LULU JAMES can surely be heard everywhere soon.

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

MØ is Karen Marie Ørsted, a 24-year-old self-possessed and unashamedly happy musician who is being hailed as the Danish GRIMES. While every country had a BOB DYLAN in the sixties and seventies, nowadays obviously has its own GRIMES. The Danish one, MØ, was definitely on the the biggest sensations at ESNS 2014. Not surprising, since even DIPLO worked with her. MØ‘s single XXX 88 features him.

Shortly NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION had a talk with Karen Marie Ørsted aka MØ. She really wants the universe to be a full package (read the interview) – and she will surely manage this!

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

ROYAL BLOOD is a solid noise rock duo from Brighton, UK. With their straight sound they bear the echoes of acts like MUSE and SHELLAC. ROYAL BLOOD‘s music comes out of the eighties tuned up with a contemporary edge. Their debut single, Out Of The Black is heavy but melodic, simply a sweaty affair of pounding drums, shouts and guitar walls. No wonder that ROYAL BLOOD were picked by the ARCTIC MONKEYS to support them on their upcoming tour. Be prepared for a lot of ROYAL BLOOD this festival summer!

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

SAM SMITH made his mark when he provided guest vocals on one of the biggest tracks of 2012, DISCLOSURE‘s Latch. Lay Me Down was SAM SMITH‘s debut single, a heartfelt and poignant track that underlines his completely unique and powerful vocal. At Eurosonic SAM SMITH was one of the most buzzed artists, so it can be taken for granted that his debut album, In The Lonely Hour (out May 26th), will be a huge success. His new single Money On My Mind definitely proves that.

The 12 best acts at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2014

Marco Niemerski aka TENSNAKE is a German electronic music artist. A musician whose for the finer side of house and boogie has led him to a recently inked major record deal with Virgin/Astralwerks. From his breakthrough hit Coma Cat to the current single See Right Through, his music oozes soul and disco. At Eurosonic 2014 TENSNAKE showed who is the boss in the field of electronic music: TENSNAKE! His debut album Glow will be released on March 7th (UK March 10th / USA March 11th) and will definitely break records.