Haim - Don't Save Me

It's that time of year, so just brace yourselves, 'cause everyone and their mama is gonna be talking about what up-and-coming acts you should watch out for in 2013. I'm going to throw my support behind the three LA born and bred sisters that make up Haim. I first discovered Alana, Danielle, and Este's music this summer as I traveled through Europe and was immediately captivated by their debut EP, particularly the track Go Slow, which just simmers with retro goodness. I imagine that their debut album, which should be out in '13, will be filled with similarly remarkable cuts like the aforementioned and new single, Don't Save Me.

Mika - Underwater

Underwtaer is the 2nd single taken from Mika's new and third album The Origin of Love which is out now. I love the way the song builds up to that really powerful chorus. The video find Mika on top of and underwater, so I'd say that they've remained true to the song's title.

Icona Pop - We Got The World [SWE]

Swedish duo Icona Pop caused a stir last year when they released their debaucherous anthem I Love It. Caroline & Aino, the two talented ladies who compose the band, have jusrt released their self-titled debut album in their native land. Like their name suggests, their music is Pop with a capital 'P', but still very clever. Songs like We Got The World are absolutely ready for radio.

Non Tiq - Love Machine [SWE]

Sweden's legacy as the home of stellar pop music continues with this new track and video from singer, Non Tiq (stage name of Nora Lindkvist). It's oozing with cool sex appeal and the video features some remarkable gesticulations.

Ansiktet - För Stor [SWE]

Last winter I fell head over heels for the song Äckligt by newcomers, Ansiktet. The duo are inspired by 80/90's pop boybands in their lyrics and overall sound, but visually they completely veer from the bubblegum mold. They released their latest single För Stor (Too Big) late this summer and I've been listening to it constantly. The video, like their last, will leave you guessing.

Mutine - Pose tes mains [FRA]

Mutine are a French duo who have a penchant for pop. Their 2nd single Pose tes mains (lay your hands) is a romantic and simple track that goes from mild to just a little bit wild.

Olly Murs feat. Flo Rida - Troublemaker

Borrowing from the musical stylings of Maroon 5, Olly looks to return to the UK charts with his single Troublemaker. It also serves as another attempt by the successful X Factor alum to score a hit Stateside with help of marmite rapper Flo Rida.

Girls Aloud - Something New

Once upon a time there were five little girls who won a TV talent contest and went on to have six years of consecutive top 10 singles in a magical kingdom called Britain. But then the Dark Days came, and the girls decided that they had to go their separate ways. Three of the girls tried solo efforts, one went to rehab, and the other presented on telly. Then they realized that it was 10 years since they first came together and a proper reunion was necessary. The people of the kingdom cheered and the flame was reignited that no man could extinguish. The End.

Ashley Walters feat. Alesha Dixon - Your Love [UK]

Ashley Walters, formerly of the UK's So Solid Crew, has teamed up with chanteuse Alesha Dixon for Your Love which is both a sweet and particularly catchy piece of radio pop. It's out November 11th.

Lisa Mitchell - Bless This Mess [AUS]

When Lisa Mitchell decides to make a video, she and her crew seek to make a strong visual impact each and every time (see: Coin Laundry & Spiritus). Bless This Mess is the title track from Lisa's upcoming sophomore album which is a follow-up to her debut Wonder, a work of art that received heavy play on my iPod back in 2009-2010.

Marina And The Diamonds - How To Be A Heartbreaker

Heartbreaker is the fourth single from Marina's Electra Heart era. What I consistently enjoy about Marina is that she makes "smart pop". One can tell that she engages critically with the world of popular culture and is comfortable being both pensive and cheeky in a highly appealing way. The video, which was shot in Scandinavia, features a bevvy of drenched male model types who fall prey to Marina's feminine wiles. It's unfortunate that she has still yet to manage to score a radio hit here in the States, while her single Primadonna made waves across other global music charts.

A*M*E - Play The Game Boy [UK]

After teasing us with several buzz tracks this past year, A*M*E is poised to release her official debut Play The Game Boy on November 5th. The video with its colorful, bright, and energetic look compliments the electronic beats of the track, exhibiting a video game feel worthy of the Nintendo device.

Dragonette - Live In This City

Decked in denim and taking a stroll through the wild streets of Toronto, Ontario, we find Canada's finest Dragonette in their new video for single Live In This City. I've gotten a chance to check out their third album Bodyparts which is out next week worldwide and it's another outstanding work of quality pop from beginning to end.

Kristina Miltiadou - Heartstrings [AUS]

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Melbourne singer Kristina Miltiadou has seemingly dropped out of nowhere today to greet the world with her delectable single Heartstrings. It's a simple song and video, but it's the kind of stuff that will have folks wanting more once they have a listen and themselves a gander.

Jez Dior - Candles

Take some hip-hop rhymes and let them simmer with some indie vocals and you've got Candles by LA based rapper Jez Dior. Using a sample from the band Daughter, (who I thankfully discovered last year thanks to Grey's Anatomy) Dior manages to create a rather outstanding track. It will be featured on his upcoming Scarlett Sage mixtape.

Lianne La Havas - Forget [UK]

Lianne La Havas is one of the UK's most successful new acts. Her debut album Is Your Love Big Enough peaked at number four in the charts and has garnered tons of critical acclaim. The twenty-three year old London singer packs an emotional punch with her songs even though her vocals are often subtle. Forget was originally on one of Lianne's EPs and the guitar riffs and tempo should propel you to do more than just sit and listen.

Evermore - Follow The Sun [AUS]

Coming to us from the Pacific is a band I've never heard of before, even though they've been on the scene for more than a decade. Evermore more hail from New Zealand but are based in Australia where they have managed to garner praise and acclaim on both sides of the Tasman Sea. Their latest single Follow The Sun includes a snare drum, an instrument that I've always been a sucker for and a dash of synth, another favorite. It's uplifting and would do well in the States where "indie" is becoming increasingly part of the mainstream.

Ed Drewett - Summer [UK]

For those of you not in the know, Ed Drewett is a talented songwriter who has penned a number of tunes for artists across the pond. He's the wordsmith behind Glad You Came, the single that shot boyband The Wanted to global levels of success this year. Drewett has attempted to forge a career as a performer, but it hasn't quite gotten off the ground [see: Champagne Lemonade]. But Summer is with it's effervescent, almost Afro-pop influence may just be what need to get through these last few weeks of the season and get folks interested in the man behind the hits.

Jenifer - Sur le fil [FRA]

 
Sur le fil is the return single from Jenifer, one of my favorite French artists for almost a decade. It's an infectious pop track with a disco flair that's gone top 40 in France and Belgium this summer. 

The Other Tribe - Skirts [UK]

I was really pleased to stumble upon this video for new band The Other Tribe. The group is made up of six young guys who met in Bristol, England and based on the single Skirts, which is out next month for download, I think they may have a bright future ahead of them. If you're a fan of the uptempo, rhythmic nature of Friendly Fires, this should be right up your alley.

Tinchy Stryder - Help Me

Tinchy Stryder, who just three short years ago was one of Britain's best selling acts, has arguably stumbled in the last couple years in regards to commercial and critical success. His new single Help Me [how ironic] which has a sense of urgency to it, could be just what the rapper needs to get back onto the top of the UK charts.

Mika feat. Pharrell - Celebrate

Celebrate is the first single from Mika's upcoming third album The Origin of Love, which is out in September. With a new haircut and collaborations to speak of, Mika is positioning himself for a remarkable comeback. I'll be watching to see if he can return to some of that glory we experienced with the first album.

Jessie and The Toy Boys - On With My Bad Self

Jessie and The Toy Boys burst onto the pop scene last year courtesy of the Show Me Your Tanlines. Like the title suggest, Jessie has a penchant for cheeky, sexy tracks. On With My Bad Self continues in the that vein. I was fortunate enough to see her open for Britney Spears on the Femme Fatale tour last summer and hope to see her star rise and an album release in the near future.

Hot Chip - How Do You Do

I'm going to blame being out of the States and on holiday for sleeping on the new Hot Chip album In Our Heads which was released in June. The electro band continue to pump out dance worthy tracks like new single How Do You Do? which is full of eighties flavor.

Cover Drive - Explode (BAR)

Explode is the 4th single from the debut album Bajan Style by Barbados based band (alliteration!) Cover Drive. King Dappy joins the foursome for this re-working and it actually works. They have scored hits on the UK charts with their tracks and I'm growing impatient that they have yet to try their luck in the States. Yanks would eat up Cover Drive's sound!

Le1f - Wut

I'm disappointed that I'm just hearing about Le1f today, but thanks to my pal Charlie for catching me up. The rapper/producer is going to gain so many fans with Wut, which is off of his Dark York mixtape. Le1f made me instantly recall Zebra Katz and Azealia Banks, NYC based rappers who are also black and have a queer hipster sensibility. I don't think this is going to to be a new genre or anything, but I am all for innovation and diversity of images.

Paloma Faith - 30 Minute Love Affair

Three years after releasing her debut album, Paloma Faith is back on the scene and finding success with her sophomore effort Fall to Grace. I really like the new single because unlike the last single it's got a more instant pop sound that should really attract listeners to Faith's latest material.

Santigold - The Keepers

I've had Santigold's new album Master of My Make Believe on repeat this summer. Every track is wonderfully written and produced, in particular, the very catchy new single The Keepers. In the video, Santi takes an almost literal interpretation of the song as she presents a parody of some classic images of post war American culture.

Florrie - Shot You Down [UK]

Florrie is a quadruple threat - singer, songwriter, drummer, and model. And in the video for the song Shot You Down off her Late EP, she effortlessly demonstrates all those roles. I love how the chorus gradually increases in its intensity to the point of a power pop explosion. After two years of giving us a sampling of her talent, I think it's time for Florrie to take the next step with a full on album.

First Aid Kit - Blue [SWE]

The Swedish sisters are back with the third single from their album The Lion's Roar. Blue is a wistful tune that has an engaging melody and tells an all too common story. Like with their past videos, First Aid Kit have provided else with a compelling visual to go with the new release.

Ivy Quainoo - You Got Me (GER)

Ivy Quainoo - You Got Me von universalmusicdeutschland
I'm spending a month here in Deutschland exposing myself to the wonderful German language and people, so it's only fitting I feature another German act here on the blog. Ivy Quainoo won the inaugural season of The Voice here in Germany and her single You Got Me is a finger-snapping morsel of delicious soul pop.

Mika - Make You Happy

It's been three years since Mika released the fantastic, but undersold and overlooked album The Boy Who Knew Too Much. Since then, he released the highly successful French language single Elle Me Dit and has begun prepping his full return to the music scene. Make You Happy is just a glimpse of what's to come. And as a longtime Mika fan, I'm thoroughly excited.

YADi - Guillotine (UK)

In the summer of 2010, I stumbled upon the song Guillotine by British singer songwriter YADi. I found myself totally enchanted and it became one of my most played songs on my iTunes. In the nearly two years since that initial discovery, YADi has been orchestrating her launch and I believe if executed properly, YADi has the potential to have the level of success that Florence Welch and and Marina Diamandis have enjoyed.

Hervé feat. Ronika - How Can I Live Without You

Ronika and Hervé are two artists who have made their rounds around the pop blogosphere for the past year and for good reason. They have a penchant for uptempo, catchy tracks as evidence by new single How Can I Live Without You.

Kate Miller-Heidke - I'll Change Your Mind (AUS)

Kate Miller-Heidke became one of Australia's most celebrated artists when she burst onto the scene in 2007 with her debut album Curiouser. The chanteuse from Down Under manages to tell very personal stories with enchanting, melodic vocals. Kate is back with her new album Nightflight and the first single I'll Change Your Mind. The video is quite a sight... just wait 'til the end.

Lisa Mitchell - Spiritus

In the summer of 2009 while browsing the world wide web, I stumbled upon the video for Coin Laundry by Aussie chanteuse Lisa Mitchell. I was immediately captivated by the song and video which lead to me discovering her debut album Wonder. The LP went platinum in Australia and three years later we have Lisa's new single Spiritus, which is like sonic sunshine.

Ed Sheeran - Small Bump

Small Bump is the fifth single from the best selling and critically acclaimed debut album + by Ed Sheeran. This train just keeps on chugging along. This is actually one of my favorites from the LP. The video is a simple affair and takes place completely in a hospital waiting room.

Dragonette - Let It Go

This time last year Hello by Martin Solveig featuring Dragonette was one of the biggest tracks all over the world. It became almost inescapable. I was happy to see Dragonette get some popular recognition after being a fan of their brand of catchy and original pop for three years. Let It Go is the first single from their upcoming album.

Cheryl - Call My Name

It's been about a year and a half since Britain's sweetheart Cheryl Cole released her last single, The Flood. In that time, she's been hired and fired from U.S. X Factor, carried on an alleged love affair with producer Will.I.Am, joined Twitter, and dropped her surname. She's a busy lady this one. Call My Name is written and produced by hitmaker Calvin Harris and is destined for big things. In the video, Cheryl sports a pair of MC Hammer style pants, and if you're familiar with her first solo video for Fight For This Love, you'll know she's a fan of the questionable garments.

Little Boots - Every Night I Say A Prayer

I love Little Boots and her debut 2009 album Hands, but three years later and with no definite date set for the next album release, many like myself are left demanding, "get on with it already!". Before she drops anything official, Boots is teasing us with gems like Every Night I Say A Prayer and its voguetastic accompanying music video. It's a nice homage to the documentary film Paris Is Burning.

Professor Green feat. Ruth Anne - Remedy (UK)

I have to admit that I have not been crazy about the first two singles released from Pro Green's latest album At Your Inconvenience. So I was thrilled when I got my first listen of the next single Remedy and the new video. It's an upbeat party jam that you can really sink your teeth into.

Alexandra Burke - Let It Go (UK)

Alexandra Burke - Let It Go (Official Music Video) from CLIppREMIER on Vimeo.
The British public was quite divided on Alexandra's return single Elephant and it came in at #3 in the charts. I have a sneaking suspicion that this new cut Let It Go will be a stronger contender for #1. It has a throwback 90's sound that solidifies Burke as a dance floor diva and lays the groundwork for the release of her sophomore LP Heartbreak on Hold, which is out this summer. I have had it on repeat since its debut. #Obsessed

The Wanted - Chasing The Sun

Just six short months ago, most Americans had never heard of The Wanted, even though they had scored number ones in their native UK and had a huge following across the pond. That all changed with Glad You Came, which has turned into a huge success for them here, making The Wanted the highest charting British boyband since Take That in 1995. Chasing The Sun is their latest single which I'm sure the guys and their label hope will be a summertime hit.

Little Nikki - Intro Intro (UK)

Soundgirl were a UK girlband that were on the brink of big things last year, but unfortunately fizzled and have recently parted ways. Little Nikki is one of the members and she has wasted no time in releasing her own solo material and Intro Intro is an absolute corker. It's the kind of track I could imagine high school kids and twenty-something hipsters absolutely loving. I do hope though that Nikki and her pal immediately went and brushed their teeth after shooting the video.

Starboy Nathan - Who Am I (UK)

I'm a sucker for a feel good, inspirational track and that's what Starboy Nathan delivers with his new single Who Am I taken from his album 3D. The one critique I have for this track is that it sounds a little too much like Dappy's uplifting single from last year.

Alphabeat - Vacation

Denmark's favorite pop sextet are back on the scene, two year's after the release of their sophomore album The Spell. That album was one of my absolute faves back in 2009 and was the definition of pop perfection. Alphabeat understand the genre so well and play around with sounds to make some of the catchiest tracks around. Their latest single Vacation has had a bit of a shaky start chartwise, but I hope things will pick up with the next one and the album release. The video is pure Alphabeat. Bright, bubbly, fun!

Keane - Silenced By The Night

Keane always manage to make me feel all emotional with their songs and I personally I'm glad to see them back and in fighting form. Silenced By The Night is the first single off the band's fourth studio album Strangeland, which sees release on May 8th.

Timomatic - If Looks Could Kill (AUS)

Timomatic - If Looks Could Kill from PulseMusicAU on Vimeo.
Timomatic is the stage name of Australian dancer and singer Tim Omaji. After competing on Aussie versions of Got Talent and So You Think You can Dance, he went into the studio and released his debut single Set It Off which was a smash in Australia and New Zealand this winter (or summer if you're south of the Equator). If Looks Could Kill is his second single and follows in the dance pop sound of Set It Off. Timomatic proves that there are indeed black folks in Australia and it's great to see him achieve the kind of success he has.

Tulisa - We Are Young (UK)

This video and song come to us at a very interesting time in the life of N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos. A sex tape featuring her and an ex-boyfriend is making the rounds and she and her legal/PR team are in the midst of dealing with the shitstorm surrounding it. Tulisa even went as far as to release a YouTube video addressing the controversy. Interesting that just a couple days later we have the clip of her debut solo single We Are Young. PR stunt? Coincidence? You decide. What I do know is that I'm enjoying the song and it could be the beginning of good things for Tulisa. Funny that it's coming out in May around the same time fun.'s smash hit of the same name is coming out in UK.

Cover Drive - Sparks (BAR)

Coming off of a UK #1 with their hit Twilight, Bajan quartet Cover Drive deliver their third single from the debut album Bajan Style, out on April 30th. Sparks is slower than their more high energy releases and showcases their ability to mix things up a bit. Cove Drive have such an effervescent, bubbly quality about them  that is very likable and I think would do well here in the States.

B.Traits feat. Elisabeth Troy - Fever (UK)

The 90's revival keeps chugging along with London DJ's upcoming single Fever. It feels like a tune that would have been an absolute smash circa 1992. With the old school dance piano, D&B rhythm, and Elisabeth Troy's remarkable vocals, Fever deserves a spot on any pre-game playlist.

Conor Maynard - Can't Say No (UK)

Infectious pop music, it's kind of what I live for, and that's exactly what I'm getting from Conor Maynard's debut single Can't Say No. The 19-year-old came to prominence and a record deal after posting YouTube videos of his performance of cover songs. Very Bieberesque, but a lot less grating. If I now anything about the UK charts, Can't Say No will be top 5 if not #1 this spring.

Gotye - Easy Way Out

I could never have imagined when I posted the video for Somebody That I Used to Know way back in July, that the song would have the life that it has had. Basically, it has gone top 10 (in some cases #1) in pretty much every nation that has a musical chart. Gotye's album Making Mirrors is selling quite well here in the States and Easy Way Out is the LP's second single. I do hope that he manages another hit otherwise he's positioning himself as one of this decade's biggest one hit wonders.

Veronica Maggio - Mitt Hjärta Blöder (SWE)

Satan i Gatan was one of my favorite albums of 2011. I do not speak any Swedish, but it was another example of how a singer's vocal performance can transcend language barriers. It's one of the reasons why I call this blog Parlez-vous Musique. Veronica Maggio is a stellar singer-songwriter who has enchanted her homeland with her body of work over the last couple of years.  I am a little upset that it took her over six months to come out with a second video from the album, but I'm thrilled none the less that she did. Mitt Hjärta Blöder, by the way, means "my heart is bleeding".

Freedom Fry - Earthquake

I quite like songs called Earthquake (e.g. Labrinth & Little Boots) and this song and video will fit nicely into that catalog of seismic tunes. Freedom Fry are the duo of Bruce and Marie. He's from the States and she hails from France. They make delicious indie-pop that you can catch on their five song EP.

Will Young - Losing Myself (UK)

It's the third week of February and I've discovered my favorite music video of 2012... so far, that is. The clip for Will's latest single is beautifully shot, contains captivating choreography, and does a terrific job of evoking the emotions of the song. It does its job as a video and then some. Losing Myself is the third single from the original Pop Idol winner's album Echoes, which has already gone to #1 in Britain.

Cassie - King Of Hearts

Five years is pretty much a decade in the world of pop when you consider the short break that artists take between albums. Well pop 'n B crooner Cassie has taken just that amount of time between LPs and I think the wait was definitely worth it. King Of Hearts is a sleek and uptempo track that has potential to be a chart contender if given the right amount of radio play.

Oh Land - Speak Out Now (DEN)

I had the pleasure of seeing Danish singer Oh Land in concert last fall, and let me tell you, she is just as enchanting live. She has this wistful, wood nymph quality and the ability to perform impressive vocal tricks. Speak Out Now will be used as the theme song for the new Danish TV drama Rita, which follows the life of a single mother and schoolteacher.

Alexandra Burke feat. Erick Morillo - Elephant (UK)

ALEXANDRA BURKE - 'ELEPHANT' (Sony Records) from AMIT & NAROOP on Vimeo.
I must admit that I was a little taken aback when I learned of the the title to this Alexandra Burke return single. Like, how could you make that word work effectively in a pop song? As you'll see, it applies to the "elephant in the room" metaphor and how there's often an unspoken topic causing tension within relationships. After scoring several hits with her debut album Overcome, Ms. Burke is positioning herself to be quite the dancefloor diva with this new era.

Brianna Perry - Marilyn Monroe

Newcomer Brianna Perry may have struck gold with the song Marilyn Monroe. Chock full of pop culture references, an easy flow, and an infectious hip-hop beat. I would love to see more female MC's get mainstream notoriety other than Miss Minaj. I mean we're already anticipating more from Azealia Banks so there's definitely plenty of room for more than one lady rapper in the game.

Ed Sheeran - Drunk (UK)

Drunk is the fourth single from Ed's very successful debut album +. Another strong video from the English ginger, this time featuring his cat in the role of wingman following a particularly difficult breakup with s young lady. Americans can catch Ed on tour supporting Snow Patrol here in the States this spring.

Jakwob feat. Jetta - Electrify

The Brits love their dubstep/drum & bass and tracks of those genres have been known to go straight to the top ten over there. That could be the fate of Jakwob's Electrify. It's quite the stunner this one. The prolific DJ and producer first came to my attention three years ago courtesy of his terrific remix of Ellie Goulding's Starry Eyed.

Brådis - Sockerbagare (SWE)

This debut single from Swedish singer-songwriter Brådis really struck a chord with me. It's a relatively simple, but emotional track. Sockerbagare is the only Swedish word in the song and it translates as "confectioner", i.e. someone who makes sweets.

Rachel A - Club Lights (UK)

I am truly shocked at how expensive this video looks considering Rachel is not signed to a major label. Rachel A (the "A" is fpr Adedeji) is well known to folks in the UK because she competed in the 2009 season of The X Factor. Like most contestants who don't finish in the top 3, Rachel hasn't really had any commercial success since her time on the show. It's a shame becauase Club Lights is a real stomper that I could envision being a big hit.

Nabiha - Never Played The Bass (DEN)

Danish singer-songwriter Nabiha first caught my attention back in 2009 with her single Deep Sleep. Her latest release Never Played The Bass is a continued demonstration of her penchant for soulful pop laced tunes. I'm going to have this one on repeat for many weeks to come.

Ansiktet - Äckligt (SWE)

Happy 2012 y'all! I feel like this year is going to top everything that went on musically in 2011. I mean it should. If the world is going to end come December, I wanna go down with a bunch of amazing new tunes. Let's start '12 off with a visit to one of my favorite pop locales, Sweden. Ansiktet are currently rising up the top 40 over there with the song Äckligt (which translates to "disgusting" or "repulsive"). The video is inspired by Christian iconography and 90's R&B and pop boybands. It's sure to offend a few, but this is of course being released in a nation where most people are atheist/agnostic.