BY: Alexis Eichelberger

A group of rising stars from the UK is making moves and standing out. They come from a range of genres, and they’re some of the most exciting new musical acts in the world. Allow us to introduce you to a few.

Here are five acts from across the pond that you need to know about:

Alfie Templeman

Alfie Templeman is just 17 years old, but he can do it all. He sings, writes music, plays four instruments, and produces tracks. Templeman started releasing demos at just 13, and the hard work paid off. He released his first official single in 2018, and his self-described “indie R&B” vibe immediately resonated with fans. This year, he released a six-song EP and is his most successful single to date.

We recommend listening to: “Happiness in Liquid Form”

 

Grace Carter

Grace Carter is a 23-year-old London native who got her start as a professional musician in 2017. Since then, she’s been stealing hearts with her groovy blend of R&B. Carter was Dua Lipa’s opening act on her 2017 self-titled tour and headlined two tours of her own since then. She dropped her first EP in 2018, a moving seven-song collection that’s both an easy yet emotional listen. This year, she released a new single called “Blame.”

We recommend listening to: “Fired Up”

 

Sam Fender

Sam Fender is a star in Great Britain, and we foresee him becoming well-loved in the United States, too. He got his start as an actor, then moved into music-making and hustled to become a successful singer-songwriter. His career has taken off in the past two years. His debut album Hypersonic Missiles reached number one on the UK chart, and he was an opening act for Bob Dylan and Neil Young concert in London.

We recommend listening to: “Will We Talk?”

 

Pale Waves

The indie-pop band Pale Waves made its debut in 2018 and has a dedicated fan base. The four members from Manchester joined forces after meeting in college and quickly landed a record deal. Their 2018 debut album reached number eight on the UK chart, and they’ve enjoyed globe-trotting and performing as an opening act for The 1975 and Halsey.

We recommend listening to: “Television Romance”

 

Celeste

Last year, the stunning and soulful Celeste was crowned one of the UK’s brightest rising stars by BBC Music and the Brit Awards. Before she rose to fame, she self-published songs on SoundCloud and was a featured vocalist for EDM artists like Avicii. Hopes were high for her in 2020, and she delivered. She recorded a song for the Netflix film The Trial of the Chicago 7 and released four more singles, including her most successful track to date, “Stop This Flame.” Celeste’s debut album should drop in early 2021.

We recommend listening to: “Little Runaway”