STUDENT GUIDE 2017
MUSIC
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
ON THE HORIZON
You might already be familiar with many of Scotland’s fi ne musical exports. But in a country with so many exciting bands and musicians making innovative and interesting music, there are always new discoveries to be made. To give you a head start on your own journey through Scottish music, we've assembled a crack team of writers to offer their insights into the acts you should be listening out for in the next year
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D A V D B O Y S O N C O O P E R
CUCINA POVERA ELECTRONIC / EXPERIMENTAL
SIOBHAN WILSON INDIE POP
One of the most striking new voices from Glasgow’s vibrant underground scene, Cucina Povera is the solo project of musician and artist Maria Rossi. Named after the Italian culinary concept which emphasises the use of a few simple ingredients,
Cucina Povera conjures gorgeous, otherworldly songs from layered vocals and electronics. Live, her music unfolds beautifully, as beguiling melodies emerge
from harmonic drones and looped phrases. Her debut album is out this autumn on Glasgow’s Night School Records, and there are plans to issue a tape through GLARC (Greater Lanarkshire Auricular Research Council), the pseudo-academic body releasing some of Glasgow’s most inspired young acts. (Stewart Smith)
soundcloud.com/rossiriot
Siobhan Wilson is hardly a newcomer on the scene, but her signing this year to Song, by Toad – a label renowned for being generally interested in thought-
provoking and high-quality acts – has brought her back to the forefront of Scottish indie folk. Her new album, There are no Saints was released in July: a Gallic-inspired exploration of faith and love that’s vulnerable and deeply emotional. She needs to be seen to be believed, however: her voice – live – is so beautifully pitch-perfect, it feels
ethereal. Wilson is such an honest performer, unafraid to broach difficult subjects like mental health and the actual realities of heartbreak, and she’s got so much more
to give. (Kirstyn Smith) siobhan-wilson.com
KOBI ONYAME HIP HOP
OUT LINES INDIE FOLK
Though involved in the Scottish music scene for some time, Kobi Onyame is carving a new space for himself with the release of Gold (see review, page 72).
The Ghanaian-born Glasgow-based rapper offers an alternative take on the genre, blending his West African upbringing with contemporary hip hop stylings to create a buoyant, confident and highly engaging sound. The characteristics of Ghanaian
highlife are clear in the brassy instrumentation and diverse rhythms, but what makes Onyame truly special is his ability to pen intelligent lyrics and combine ideas, sounds and influences from past and present. Scotland’s hip hop and grime scenes are
Scottish supergroups tend to be fairly low-key affairs, but the wealth of talent
and styles of music in the country means that all manner of exciting and unlikely collaborations can happen. Here’s one of them; a new trio on Mogwai’s Rock
Action label comprising the elemental vocals of 2015’s Scottish Album of the Year Award winner Kathryn Joseph and James Graham of post-rock monoliths (and
the Cure’s support band of choice), The Twilight Sad, marshalled by producer and musician Marcus Mackey. The first single ‘Buried Guns’ reveals a kind of post-folk sound, with a keening accordion complementing both voices perfectly; October’s
gaining prominence but Onyame sets himself apart with this release. (Arusa Qureshi) debut album Conflats (see review, page 72) will tell us more. (David Pollock)
kobionyame.com outlinesmusic.com
114 THE LIST 1 Sep–31 Oct 2017