Music

Inspired by cyphers, sound systems and local music heroes, these cutting-edge artists are keeping folk tradition alive.

Rated by THE FACE: a playlist featuring Eartheater, Burna Boy, John Glacier and Omar Apollo.

THE FACE speaks to British-Somalian artists about stigma, solidarity and the future of the scene.

100%: The North London musician has largely remained behind the scenes over the last few years. Now he’s stepping out on his own, with a synthy, electronica-dipped sound in tow.

On this week's episode of THE FACE Podcast, we chart the unstoppable rise of the West London rapper.

After 2023, PC Music will stop releasing new music, while cutting-edge artists at the forefront of the sound are switching up their style. Does hyperpop have a life beyond the label that birthed it?

THE FACE has teamed up with Beyond The Music to throw a party in a Northern Quarter car park.

100%: With three EPs and a few viral TikTok tracks under his belt, the 20-year-old is cooking up a distorted, breakbeat-influenced flavour of R&B. We asked him all about Lorde, Mexican food and the perils of indecision.

On this week’s episode, we discuss the sinister concept of dynamic pricing in pubs.

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the Wu-Tang Clan leader has designed a Crosley record player in collaboration with the Scotch whisky brand. Cheers!

Rated by THE FACE: a playlist featuring Olivia Rodrigo, Yeat, Noname and Black Sherif.

Doja Cat is beefing with her own stans and no star is safe from being pelted with random objects during their live performances. Is this the year that music fandom fandom got out of control?

100%: Davina Adeosun-Bright’s debut EP, align with Nature’s Intelligence, is as cool as an ocean head-dunk on a sweltering day. And she’s got the charisma to match.

We discuss the late, great artist’s most radical and inspiring moments.

Rated by THE FACE: a playlist featuring Kwengface, Travis Scott, Burna Boy and Offset & Cardi B.

100%: After more than a decade in the music ​“biz”, one of London’s greatest drummers is finally releasing his debut album, Black Classical Music.

The angry Irish girl – the Sinéad of the savage crop and mouth to match – is a thing of the past. At 22, Sinéad is discovering the joys of marriage, motherhood and, not least, mysticism. You can hear this in the softer, more spiritual songs written for her new LP. It is, says Sinéad, like being visited by the Holy Ghost…

Frederick John Philip Gibson hasn’t exactly built his career from the ground up, but his tunes are huge, he has a mega fanbase and he's just been nominated for the Mercury Prize. So, Clive Martin asks, is it really fair to paint him as the enemy of dance music?

Rated by THE FACE: a playlist featuring Harmony, Travis Scott, Llainwire and Paris Texas.

100%: In the run up to her Dekmantel debut, we ask the Aussie DJ about weird voice notes, Filipino delicacies and how she went from DJing house parties to festivals.

Rated by THE FACE: a playlist featuring J Hus, PinkPantheress and Destroy Lonely, Hannah Diamond and Erick the Architect.

As more and more groups launch with ever-evolving back stories, a digital cottage industry of analysis has sprung up, with fandoms seeking to decode the hidden messages in each release.