Just before we get stuck into the Albums of the Year list, I always find it particularly important to highlight the plethora of stand-out EPs that we receive each year. I feel like I've listened to almost as many EPs in 2018 as I have LPs, and so it's been pretty difficult to narrow down my most memorable. Even then, to now narrow them down further was a serious challenge but just as with 2017, I've curated a playlist of the longlist, before shouting out the particularly golden nuggets.

RAY BLK - Empress
This glorious body of work walks the tightrope of full length album and EP both in run-time and in quality. Ray BLK has one of the most distinctive vocals coming from the UK at the moment and her positive and empowering lyricism works to set her apart from the pack for all of the right reasons. No doubts that I will have this spinning consistently until next year's list.



SIPPRELL - I Could Be Loved
Since the release of her debut EP Letter D in 2015, Sipprell's musicianship has truly gone from strength to strength. "Journey" was the first song to capture me and so to have it on an EP where each and every song rivals it, and for different reasons - talk about spoilt. This EP will lift your spirits and meld with your emotions in even the murkiest of times.



MOSES SUMNEY - Black In Deep Red, 2014
Just three tracks in less than 10 minutes and we have one of the most original EPs of the Year. I wish that I wrote every single one of the songs on this. It took me a while to even realise that "Call-To-Arms" had no lyrics in it. The instrumentation and production on this album is special and something entirely unique to Moses.




AUSTEL - Unfold 
After discovering Austel earlier this year I've caught a couple of their live performances since and with each one I was just more and more excited for their debut EP to come out. Unfold is a well thought out yet experimental body of work. Their ability to manipulate rare sounds to tell as much of a story as the vocals do is admirable to say the least.


MAYPINE - Bend/Break
MAYPINE have come a long way from last year's EP In The Back Of My Mind - moving in the direction of a moodier, more mature sound. "Kodokushi" was a clear stand-out for me on first listen, drawing me back to the music I'd mostly associate with labels like No Sleep Records (and we all know how much I love them). MAYPINE are continuously growing and shaping their sound and I don't foresee this changing come 2019.


YAZMIN LACEY - When The Sun Dips 90 Degrees
One of my favourite new vocal discoveries from 2018 and this EP is a large testament to that. Yazmin's silky, soulful tones will stick in your mind long after the tracks come to an upsettingly swift end. She's had an amazing year selling out shows around the country and after her collaborations and work with names like Brownswood Recordings and Skinny Pelembe, I know I'll be hearing her jazzy croon again soon.


AMBER MARK - Conexão
The title track opens up with a spacious, sexy instrumental; which then leads to one of my favourite singles of the year "Love Me Right". This song has potentially the best execution of a key change that I've heard this year. Amber's voice has been the strong carrying force in her work for a long time now and I can hear the instrumentals and lyrics now rising up to match that.


ROBERT GLASPER X KAYTRANADA - The ArtScience Remixes
The collaboration I didn't know that I needed until I saw it in writing. Two of my favourite producers have finally come together to create jazzy, R&B gold. I sincerely hope that this isn't the last time we'll see these two names on a piece of work together. I only wish that this was an entire album.



RAYVN LENAE - Crush 
One of the most recognisable female vocals to come out of the US in the past two years. Ravyn's touch on a track - be it her own, or another artist's - is always memorable and original. Her work with Steve Lacy (of The Internet) both this year and last has pushed her towards the limelight and her unique soprano and steady tone has keep her firmly in it.


BOYGENIUS - boygenius  
Another fantastic collaboration that I didn't realise I was desperate for until it was shown to me. Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Pheobe Bridgers together make up boygenius. Rarely have three separate artists, each with quite distinctive voices been able to unite and compliment each other so well. Their harmonies flow like they've been singing as one for years and their melancholic lyrics leave a lasting taste in your mouth after every listen.




Check out the Spotify playlist including songs from these EPs and more memorable gems here.

Whilst I'm sure that large number of the internet would still be in agreement that Anderson .Paak holds the trophy for the greatest Tiny Desk Concert of all time; I must say that there have been a fair few contenders for the title this past year.


ERYKAH BADU 
The Queen of Neo-Soul back with a pretty rare performance. I have never seen Erykah play either "Rimshot" or "Green Eyes" live but to see them both back-to-back in such an intimate setting and hearing them fit together so seamlessly was quite emotional for me. She's always had a penchant for strong, emotive performances that come across relatively effortless, and this time was no different in that respect. However, something in her TDC broke through to me in a way that I find rarely happens via video alone. This stuck in my memory immediately when thinking of TDCs to choose.



DANIEL CAESAR
After listening to Freudian last year I could not get enough of Daniel Caesar's voice. Such a distinctive and soulful sound, and similarly to Erykah Badu he always makes it look so effortless. As he leans nonchalantly over the piano, singing a story that you can only assume is his own, however could speak towards generations, you can't help but be swallowed up by Daniel's presence. I'm yet to see him live but after this little snippet I can only imagine what a unique experience it must be.



GOLDLINK 
At What Cost was one of my Top 10 favourite albums last year and I absolutely loved what Goldlink's done with it here with a live band accompanying. A lot of the time with Tiny Desk Concerts, artists will opt to perform more stripped down versions of what they bring to their live shows. However, in this instance Goldlink has amped it up a little bit using a mixture of live instruments and backing vocalists, and has reworked the song arrangements to bring a completely new layer of depth to the album tracks. it gave the songs that I already love a new lease of life and it felt like one of the more original TDCs I've seen this year.





PJ MORTON
Okay well immediately when anybody brings a 10-piece string section with them to play a 3 song set in an office, you have to take notice. Now to have them play together as flawlessly and organically as they do; there's where they earn the accolades. This performance made me want to listen to his latest album Gumbo even before the first song was over. It's a crying shame that it took until this year for me to listen to PJ's brilliance but I'm here now and boy am I listening. It has a classic yet relevant feel to it, one that I know will resonate for years to come.




Having leaned more towards soulful concerts, special shoutouts must go to Dermot Kennedy, Julien Baker, August Greene, Haley Heynderickx, Jamila Woods, Lo Moon, Jorja Smith and Superorganism for their concerts. It's so clear that there is a staggering amount of talent that we have access to right now and it's growing by the minute.

In 2019, I would absolutely LOVE to see TDCs from Janelle Monaé, PVRIS, Maribou State, Skinny Pelembe and Ezra Collective. I suspect that we may see TDCs from Blood Orange/Dev Hynes, BROCKHAMPTON, Nao, Childish Gambino, RAY BLK and Florence + The Machine. Either way, if any one of these names was to pop up on my YouTube Recommendations list in the coming months, I will happily continue vouch that NPR's music curator is doing an absolutely stellar job. Alongside COLORS, NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts have been making it very easy for me to fall into the deepest holes of YouTube browsing. I pray that next year will be no different.

Ray BLK. I feel like I've waited a long time to see her get all the credit that she's due and if I'm honest - particularly after seeing this latest video - I'm still waiting. Ray's voice, whilst smooth and silky, is still one of the most recognisable voices in the mainstream at the moment. Managing to break away from what is currently a very "same-same-but-different" radio time period. Even after winning BBC Sound Of in 2017, I still don't think we're quite hearing just how good she is.



Firstly, Ray BLK has not put out one bad or even mediocre video since she's started releasing, and sad to say it but this is definitely something to be acknowledged right now. Director Tom Green has one very well with this. Following the recent spike in street-violence around the UK (London in particular), the premise of this song comes at a necessary and relevant time. Green depicts the message of "Run Run" in a way that left scenes embedded in my head for days - the closing scene specifically. As a song, I'd say it's a bit instrumentally simple but it clearly relies on the words and the vocals to lift it up. I'm really looking forward to this new album. It will be a mixed bag but the standout tracks will hold a lasting shine no doubt. Ray BLK will be playing the o2 Forum in London on the 3rd of October - if what we've seen so far is anything to go by; it will be a show to remember.

Continuing on with my thoughts on the BBC Sound of 2017 longlist. First up...

NADIA ROSE
Another one that you may know from her viral video for "Skwod". This was circulating on social media for quite a while so of course I went on to check her out - I reckon she could be very big! It's got me very excited for the future of female rap, better yet UK female rap. Artists like Nadia, Lady Leshurr and Little Simz are really just the beginning really.