Carito Plaza, singer/songwriter/one-woman discotheque: “Easy: Ella Fitzgerald. Apart from the fact that she had the most amazing voice I have ever heard, you can see in her videos and interviews how much fun she had with music; she never sang a song in the same way twice, and she was always laughing and enjoying herself, like me.”
Sultry latin grooves spread like hot butter over the funky disco-lite beats of Carito Plaza. A favourite from last year’s youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival, she’s sure to impress across the Atlantic in Dublin. Order an exotic cocktail and loosen up your hips for shaking. Carito’s coming to town! For fans of: Janet Jackson, J*DaVeY, NDambi
Darragh Mc Grane, lead vox & guitar, Penrose: “I would love to be Paul McCartney in the 60s, simply because he was in the best band in the world, he wrote some of the most beautiful pop-tastic songs that will be listened to hundreds of years from now, and he lived through a period any musician could ever dream about.”
Taking the best elements from legends of 60s AM radio, Penrose craft a jubilant sound laden with orchestral arrangements, jangling guitars, and well-considered lyrical melodies. Their style will impress fans of retro-inspired indie from the US and UK alike. For fans of: Oasis, Stereophonics, ELO
Toya, vox, performance, Toya Delazy: “Bob Marley! He lived in his music and was a critical thinker who marched to the beat of his own drum. He cared for the world, and did it for the benefit of people.”
Zulu royal (yes, you read that right), jazz pianist, producer and singer-songwriter Latoya Buthelezi spends her days crafting jazz-electro-hip-hop dancefloor fillers that have received critical acclaim in her native South Africa as well as abroad. It’s crisp, smart music with depth and groove. For fans of: Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz, Young Money
Ruth McCartney, backing vox, Great White Lies: “It’s possibly a predictable answer but given my recent heartache over his death, if I could be any musician it would have to be Bowie! His amazing chameleon-like abilities, his artistic vision, the breadth and span of his musical career – it’s all just staggering. Also, imagine waking up and being that beautiful every morning.”
Great White Lies blend jazz, 60s soul, and singer-songwriter styles so seamlessly it’s hard to tell what genre you’re helplessly bobbing your head to. Addictively groovy, captivating and skillful tunes. A true surprise. For fans of: Natalie Merchant, Stevie Wonder, Minnie Riperton
What about you guys? If you woke up tomorrow as a famous artist, whose face would you want to see staring back at you from the bathroom mirror? Let us know in the comments below! 