Breaking And Entering’s Five To Watch: March 2018
As a Milwaukee-based music website, it is our obligation to not only bring Milwaukee to the world, but bring the world to Milwaukee, as well. Five To Watch submissions are handled exclusively through ReverbNation.
After a couple of months off, we’re returning to bring you five more artists to watch for March 2018! Over 1600 artists have already sent in music to us, and we’ve had the daunting task of narrowing that down to just five artists. Here are your Five to Watch for March 2018:
Jerry Williams (Portsmouth, England)
At only 21 years old, British pop singer Jerry Williams has already accomplished a lot. With three EPs under her belt, and accolades including the BBC and MTV affiliates, many people have already recognized her talents both vocally and as a songwriter. Williams has been playing music since she was 12 years old, and it’s clear that she is constantly progressing and developing her style. Her single, “Grab Life” is a pure pop song; a simple premise, yet delivered with a catchiness that could put it into any radio station’s rotation and it would be fitting. Check out the song below:
Sias (Detroit, MI)
Childhood friends Josias Yglesias, Haley Grant, and Scott Posada formed Sias in 2011 after finishing high school together. The band were all accepted into Berklee College of Music, with two attending, and that level of musical expertise can be heard as soon as you listen to one song from the band. Sias has released a debut EP, but have also expanded past releasing music, into more complex projects like custom instrument design. The band have a larger-than-life sound, and songs like “Heirloom” have a sound that feels tailor-made for a major motion picture soundtrack. Check it out and hear for yourself:
Nikki Pope (Cardiff, Wales)
We have another pop singer from the UK, although of a different flavor altogether. Nikki Pope recently spent several years in New York City to make a career of her music, but returned to the UK in 2017. Pope is working on releasing her third EP in the beginning of this year, and one listen to her strong voice is all the persuasion you’ll need to see why she’s an artist to watch this month. She’s sold out venues in both New York City and Leicester, and performed sessions for Sirius XM, as well as being listed as a BBC Introducing Artist. Check out “Champagne Taste” below and hear what they’ve already heard:
Bikini Islands (Pittsburgh, PA)
Formed in 2014, Pittsburgh’s Bikini Islands spent two years writing and developing songs before recording their debut album. However, in that time, they definitely perfected how to write catchy, jangly indie pop tracks. It’s the kind of music that you want to play on repeat, because each song has parts that you want to hear back and sing along with. The band is already working on their next album, and their master class in indie will likely continue with that release. Check out “Chasing Your Tail” below:
Eliza Novella (Port St. Lucie, FL)
The beach is definitely a major influence on Florida-by-way-of-New York singer/songwriter Eliza Novella. With just an acoustic guitar and her jazzy voice, Novella can captivate you with her sound. She manages to blend indie, jazz, pop, and more with her songwriting, and it just feels like the room warms up hearing her sing. At only 25, Eliza has a lot more ahead of her musically, and it’s evident that she’ll be progressing even more from here. Check out “Manta Ray” below to get your introduction to her work: