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New Wave's 10 Artists To Watch In 2026
Each year, New Wave Magazine’s 10 Artists to Watch list highlights the rising talent that’s set to define the sound of tomorrow.
Drake and PartyNextdoor Ignite Manchester at Co-op Live Arena on Day One Of A Four-Night Show
One thing that Drake has been criticised for over the last few years is his quality control over productivity in terms of albums and music releases. His strategy over his career has been to flood the market, pivot to what sounds current and popular, and embrace culture and the younger generation that are coming up to appeal to a wide and ever-growing audience.
Drake’s Role as the Toronto Raptors’ Global Ambassador
Appointed as the franchise’s Global Ambassador in 2013, the Toronto-born rapper has reshaped the team’s image, supercharged its branding, and elevated the Raptors into a globally recognized NBA franchise.
Top Dawg Entertainment: The Rise and Evolution Of Hip Hop's Talent Powerhouse
TDE’s true strength lies in its commitment to artistic evolution. As the label continues to push boundaries, we look forward to seeing
TRENDING GET TO KNOW FEATURES
RAYE Drops Empowering New Single “Click Clack Symphony” Featuring Hans Zimmer
RAYE returns with her highly anticipated single “Click Clack Symphony,” a collaboration with legendary composer Hans Zimmer.
Get To Know: NO11
With his breakout song ‘HOW FAR’ hot on the charts since its release on the last day of 2025, “bangers, straight bangers” is what to expect from NO11. Still on the come-up, the Nigerian musician is determined to reach the top. Born Nnamdi Odom in Houston, Texas, and raised predominantly in Abuja, Nigeria, alongside his twin brother and six older sisters, NO11 is on a path of redefining the music scene in the capital city he calls home. New Wave sits with the rising artiste t
Get To Know: KWN
KWN (pronounced Kay-wuhn) is someone who has already been recognised as someone with undeniable talent as she has been featured on several c
Get To Know: Sienna Spiro
The SZA-approved singer Sienna Spiro is a breath of fresh air breaking into London’s jazz and pop realm in her own way.
LIVE SHOWS WITH NEW WAVE
Lexa Gates Makes Intimacy Feel Like a Luxury
There’s something almost ironic about seeing Lexa Gates live. She’s an artist whose music already feels like you’ve accidentally opened someone’s diary. So naturally, I expected the live show to be bigger, louder, maybe even a little detached. Instead, she somehow made the room feel even smaller. The stage was stripped back to almost nothing. A white platform sat in front of soft pink drapes, washed in deep reds and purples throughout the night. No elaborate visuals. No dan
Ms. Lauryn Hill’s Diaspora Calling completes UK line-up with Erykah Badu, Giggs and Fireboy DML
Diaspora Calling arrives in the UK this August, with its full line-up now confirmed ahead of its takeover of Milton Keynes National Bowl on 7 August 2026. Originally conceived by Ms. Lauryn Hill as a space to celebrate the creativity and shared stories of the African diaspora, the concept has grown into a broader cultural gathering that reflects her ongoing influence. This year’s edition arrives at a time when her legacy has once again been in focus following her appearance a
Asake Conducts an Orchestral Celebration of M$NEY at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Held as a special invite-only experience, the evening welcomed Asake's closest friends, family and hundreds of his top one percent listeners on Spotify
Field Day Remains As One Of London's Best Electronic Music Festivals
Field Day 2026 once again cemented its reputation as one of London's premier electronic music festivals, delivering an eclectic day of energy and community in the heart of Brockwell Park. Since its launch in 2007, Field Day has established itself as a key fixture in London's music landscape, bringing together innovative artists, forward-thinking sounds, and passionate audiences. Renowned for its carefully curated lineups, the festival consistently blends emerging talent with
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Red Bull Midsummer Brought It's Electronic Global Community Together Simultaniously Across Time Zones
Red Bull transformed one of London's most striking rooftop spaces into the beating heart of a worldwide celebration of electronic music as Red Bull Midsummer arrived at Wagtail for an unforgettable day-to-night experience.
Pop Music and The Fan Experience: How Harry Styles Is Shaping Modern Concert Culture
Pop music’s energy thrives not only on sound but on the way fans connect with their favorite artists. In the 2020s
The Soft-Edged Sentiment of Saam Sultan
Music Editor Shenead speaks with one of UK underground's best kept secrets, Saam Sultan on his new EP 'Seraphim' fresh off the stage from a milestone moment in his career.
Was 2016 The Most Iconic Year in Black Music?: Seven Albums That Changed The Game
From Rihanna's ANTI to Beyoncé's Lemonade to Frank Ocean's Blonde, 2016 was a landmark year in Black music. Let’s put 2016 on repeat and dive into the iconic albums that still strike chords deep within us. The advent of 2026 was quickly doused in yearning, misty-eyed 2016 core. Millions online reached back with nostalgia, and every tap, swipe and scroll through social media saw the resurrection of trends and pop culture moments born ten years ago. Who could blame us? 2016 wa
![It's Not Over for Debbie [Interview]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4ea1_e92b8ff7f4c6477eb84d15c8f91e57d3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1338,h_1000,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/0d4ea1_e92b8ff7f4c6477eb84d15c8f91e57d3~mv2.jpg)
![It's Not Over for Debbie [Interview]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0d4ea1_e92b8ff7f4c6477eb84d15c8f91e57d3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1268,h_948,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/0d4ea1_e92b8ff7f4c6477eb84d15c8f91e57d3~mv2.jpg)
It's Not Over for Debbie [Interview]
Her music feels like a safe haven where fans seeking a breather have somewhere to lean in and feel understood.
The Impact of Motion Graphics on Live Music Performances
Motion graphics have become a pivotal element in the evolution of live music performances. This trend is increasingly significant as artists strive to create unique and immersive experiences for their audiences.
Will 2026 Be The Year That Grime Music Truly Returns?
If you are like me, you would have been an avid fan of grime music back in the early 2000’s. Unfortunately, you would have slowly watched the scene be filtered down in the early 2010’s and subsequently seen many offshoots of the genre reappear but not contain the same flare you once knew and loved.
The New Generation of Festivals: Where Music Meets Innovation
Festivals once felt pretty basic – a flyer full of names, a big open space, and a handful of sets that stayed in people’s group chats for weeks.
New Wave's 10 Artists To Watch In 2026
Each year, New Wave Magazine’s 10 Artists to Watch list highlights the rising talent that’s set to define the sound of tomorrow.
10 Years Since Jorja Smith’s 'Blue Lights' Sparked UK R&B and Cultural Consciousness
Jorja Smith’s Blue Lights stands as one of the most influential debut singles in modern UK R&B, marking the arrival of an artist whose voice would come to define a generation.
Freedom, Love and New Beginnings: Inside ELIZA’s New Era And Single 'Anyone Else'
When ELIZA joins New Wave Magazine for a chat, she’s sitting in the studio, with her “creative hat” firmly on, with her writing partner only a few feet away, lost in his headphones. She lowers her voice playfully, unsure whether he can hear her, offering a fitting image for the moment she’s in: the quiet pause between creation and the anticipated upcoming release for her latest offering, 'Anyone Else'. After holding the track close to her heart for years, through finishing a
New Noise For A Restless Year: Garage, Punk And New Wave In 2025
If the great post-punk boom of the late 2010s felt like a wave, 2025 is the undertow. The fashion-cycle tourists have moved on; what is left are bands for whom distortion
SONIC EVOLUTION SERIES
Redemption time: An interview with French Underground Rapper Retro X
Who is the French underground king? For the first time in years, Retro X reveals his deepest thoughts on the French rap scene and which UK rapper he wishes to collaborate with. Known as one of the pioneers of both French underground ‘street’ and ‘hype’ rap, Retro X is the most versatile artist to this date. With what seems like a career that was always destined for him, he first appeared on the scene with his French hit ‘Etho’ and quickly took the world by storm. At some poin
Sonic Evolution: Lord of The Northern Dance
Sonic Evolution uncovers Northern Soul: a short-lived movement in the late 60s/70s that grounds much of today's contemporary subcultures.
Pirate Radio: Navigating The Frequency Waves
The era of digital radio hijacking may be a 90s phenomenon, but the pirate radio scene is still hustling from tower blocks across the UK.
Sonic Evolution: Justice for Dubstep
The 90s produced a lot of things: Tamagotchi’s, Blockbuster, tattoo chokers and lest we forget the unrivalled music scene, especially in...
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