• MAHALIA •
At 12 years old – the age most of us are aimlessly riding bikes or trying to avoid homework – Mahalia was cradling her guitar and penning love songs. With her entrancing, soulful tones, wise-yet-relatable wordplay and intuitive sense of melody, it quickly became clear that she had an innate musicality and that she’d be doing this for the rest of her life.
Now 19 and based in Leicester, Mahalia is ready to fully unleash what she’s been brewing for so many years into the world. In the time since she first picked up that guitar she’s dropped a scattering of releases – from 2012’s indie-flecked acoustic dream “Head Space” to 2015’s gorgeously understated 4-track EP “Never Change” – and 2016’s genre-flipping mixtape “Diary of Me”.
Mahalia released the single “Sober” last summer which to date has amassed over 13 million streams and seen her social media following swell to over 100k. The release of “Sober” led to a performance on the Berlin online platform COLORS, which has accumulated over 7 million views.
She has a tour of her own currently underway (with many sold out dates, including back to back shows in London), which comes after joining BRIT’s Critics Choice winner Jorja Smith on her sold out UK tour in February. We can’t wait to see her performances at D2D this year!
Check out her latest single “Proud of Me” which features the incredibly talented London based rapper, Little Simz.
• SPORTS TEAM•
Hailing from various parts of the country, six-piece Sports Team met whilst studying at Cambridge. They’re now based in Harlesden (west London), tucked “between the McVities biscuit factory and an evangelical church.”
With influences ranging from indie pioneers Pavement, through to 90s post punk also-rans The Family Cat, Sports Team have spent the last year cutting through the ranks of London’s live scene: supporting bands including Childhood and Happyness, playing festivals including Green Man Festival and Swn, and headlining packed shows at the Sebright Arms, Shacklewell and Birthdays.
Channeling a lyrical cynicism that touches on suburban clichés, young-professionals and the bleakness of the commuter belt – recent released track Beverly Rose came out of the British suburbs. Britain in Bloom displays on roundabouts. Mock-Tudor semis. Flower beds. The horse-meat scandal. Tired European stereotypes. Paul Dacre. The red-top trope of talking about how hot it is compared to foreign capitals. Give it a listen below.
• HAIKU HANDS•
Haiku Hands, an elusive crew of artists whose influence can be felt across live performance, visual art and production have exploded onto the scene with their irresistibly danceable single “Not About You.”
The unapologetic trio have quickly earnt a fierce reputation for themselves from their formidable and rambunctious live performances that lead audience after audience into utter pandemonium
A tongue in cheek, rave-inspired introduction to the some of Australia’s coolest creatives, “Not About You” is four to the floor, pop till you drop.
