Spain’s Primavera Sound is back on 31st May for its 17th glorious year. The festival, held in Barcelona, is world-renowned for being able to pull in both mega headliners and pick, seer-like, the very cream of tomorrow’s sonic heroes. This year is no different with Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, The xx and Frank Ocean illustriously topping the bill – but Music Crowns is much more excited by this year’s pick of emerging stars. Here, we take you through what we think is the haut monde of this year’s Primavera Sound ones to watch.
Cigarettes After Sex
First out of the traps is moody Brooklyn ambi-pop saucepots, Cigarettes After Sex. Blessed with a sound that renders smooching a reflex, their hypnotic, dreamy soundscapes has seen them through a debut EP – 2012’s K, and two follow-up singles in 2015 and 2016 respectively. This year may well be the time for the band to release an eagerly-anticipated first album – and what better place to celebrate it than sunny Barca in front of 200,000 people?
S U R V I V E
The time could well be now for this Austin electronic duo, having found recent burgeoning success as aural mood-setters for the Stranger Things series. Both volumes of the Stranger Things OST were nominated for this year’s Grammys, suggesting the crest of the wave S U R V I V E are currently riding may well be yet to swell to its peak. A triumphant set at Primavera could prove to be the tipping point.
Whitney
Chicago indie-rockers Whitney have been causing a stir for quite some time now, juxtaposing sensitive, introspective lyrics with a dedicated hedonistic party sensibility that seems to be sending the US doolally. Last year’s Light Upon The Lake album feels like it was born to be listened to in the blazing sunshine, next to the sea. Primavera, then: these boys are going to kill it.
Hamilton Leithauser
Remember The Walkmen – NYC/Philly indie rockers who exploded onto the scene in the wake of The Strokes tsunami-like smothering of the guitar world? Hamilton Leithauser was the frontman. He released his second solo LP I Had A Dream That You Were Mine last year, upon which he collaborated with Vampire Weekend‘s Rostam Batmanglij. Live, he’s a mesmerising performer and one absolutely not to miss.
Julia Jacklin
Australian Julia Jacklin exploded onto the music scene last year with debut LP Don’t Let The Kids Win – released via Transgressive (Dry the River, Foals, Johnny Flynn) and championed by the likes of BBC 6Music. She’s also toured with this year’s fellow Primaverans Whitney… could it be time to shine for both of them? We wouldn’t rule it out.
Primavera Sound 2017 is selling out rapidly, so head to their website and grab yourself a ticket before it’s too late.
