The NME 100: Essential emerging artists for 2021
The definitive annual list that shines a spotlight on emerging artists that should be on your radar in 2021
Courting
Rousing indie capturing the brutal realities of a divided nation
From: Liverpool, UK
For fans of: Sports Team, The Coral
USP: Courting sum up deep-rooted national insecurities by way of their own vivid social observations.
Why you’re going to love them: There’s a Bukowski-level of social realism going on with
every topic this Merseyside four-piece turn their hand to: be it masculinity and the pressures of fitting in with the
football lads, industry sell-outs, casual pub racism or the anxieties of the wider
political landscape in Little England. It’s thrilling guitar music of the now, driven home in truly chaotic fashion.
Key track: ‘David Byrne’s Badside’ (RB)
Malady
Topical bangers that’ll sit right at the top of your house party playlist
From: London, UK
For fans of: Shame, King Krule
USP: They’ve given indie the dub/IDM makeover you never knew it needed.
Why you’re going to love them: Think that after chamber-psych and melodic metalcore that we’ve exhausted genre tags by now?
No chance: welcome to post-rave IDM indie. Malady’s debut single ‘London,
I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down’ pays homage to the love/hate relationship many hold for the
Big Smoke while wrapping together shoegaze-y synths with hard-lined
percussion – it’s a refreshing take on what the capital usually delivers.
Key track: ‘London, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down’ (BR)
Sprints
Dublin’s next snarling guitar heroes refusing to take any shit
From: Dublin, Ireland
For fans of: Shame, Fontaines DC
USP: Sprints’ singer Karla Chubb sounds like she’s about to give someone a
black eye on thunderous anthem ‘The Cheek’ – this is venomous and versatile rock’n’roll.
Why you’re going to love them: Much like their fellow Dubliners Girl Band and
Silverbacks, Sprints are also fully committed to their craft through their blood, sweat and tears approach.
‘The Cheek’ attacks dated attitudes around sexuality while ‘Drones’ looks inwardly at feelings of imposter syndrome.
The constant is that they continue to deliver pure and riveting statements, setting them
well on course towards future raucous, beer-soaked headline festival sets.
Key track: ‘The Cheek’ (RB)