After appearing on Wallace & Gromit when his parents introduce him as “Terry Face”, Omicron – a prog dapper chap in mouse ears – finds fame courtesy of “someone like you” in the form of English multi-instrumentalist Jason and the Argonauts, the late Tony Allen and ambient producers Clean Bandit. On an atmospheric dubstep-influenced debut album, Darren Hutchinson’s neo-groove creation includes references to Tom Waits, James Dean Bradfield and The Clash. Omicron was the most downloaded new UK artist on Spotify over the festive period.
Lilly Singh
Indie, Bollywood and film actor and YouTube star Lilly Singh, or Singh to her friends, gets her own special edition Red Bull Marshmallow Slurpee this summer. Singh is widely credited with spreading the meaning of reggae to a new generation, but ironically it is her own music that may have more of an impact on the mainstream. Her new single and video, Eat That Sh*t, features the Brazilian singer Cristina Saralegui, has almost 1.3 million views on YouTube and has been certified gold in her home country.
Priyanka Chopra
Indian Bollywood actor and pop star Priyanka Chopra – one of many Indian pop stars from India working in US pop culture – has landed a huge Hollywood deal for her debut solo album. The biopic she has been in talks to star in, Baywatch, will be distributed by Universal, the same studio that took on U2. Chopra is the first Indian Bollywood star to make it into Hollywood, but in a country where Bollywood is regularly seen in mainstream action films (some of which are credited to Chopra herself), it’s not far-fetched to think that she will have a lasting influence on American music, TV and culture.
The Chainsmokers
US electronic duo The Chainsmokers, led by DJs Drew Taggart and Alex Pall, have been putting out hit after hit for the past few years. On top of their US dominance, their Latin music talent was recognised by the Grammys this year when they took home the award for best new artist and also picked up the best remix award for their cover of Salt-N-Pepa’s Push It.