I don't know about you, but I am so done with 2011. I've read the "best of" lists, but now it's to time to look ahead to 2012! Joining me to peer into the future is James Keast, Editor In Chief of Exclaim!.
WHO ARE SOME ACTS YOU THINK MIGHT MAKE IT BIG NEXT YEAR?
So look into the future and think big. You blog comments will be forever, so if it all works out, you can be smug if/when your predictions come true. Here are our picks...
10 ACTS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2012 (in no particular order):
THE ELWINS – D.I.Y. pop band from Keswick, Ont. Fun, catchy & cool
DOLDRUMS – Airick Woodhead from Spiral Beach’s new project. Arty, weird, catchy, danceable, very cool!
CHAINS OF LOVE – Phil Spector-ish garage rockers who just signed a deal with Dine Alone, single out now, ep coming soon in 2012
EIGHT AND A HALF – New supergroup featuring Dave Hamelin and Liam O’Neil from The Stills and Justin Peroff from Broken Social Scene
KEYS N KRATES - Electronic/hip hop trio from Toronto who take it to the dance floor in a big way. New ep titled "Blackout" is out now (and downloadable for free)
GOLD & YOUTH – They put out a fun album when they were based in Victoria, B.C. and known as The Racoons. They ditched the Racoons name for Jakarta before officially changing their name to Gold & Youth. They are now signed to Arts & Crafts and will have a new album out in 2012.
PURITY RING – Electro-pop Halifax/Montreal based duo with a new album titled "Soulja Boy" out in the new year
THE MATINEE – Vancouver based roots rockers, single “Sweet Water” out now, album coming soon
TRUST – Side project from the drummer for Austra. Beautiful haunting synthpop
AZARI & III – Funky, soulful dance music, the next Chromeo?
LISTEN to our BREAK OUT BANDS of 2012 playlist: