Brisbane’s Conrad Sewell obviously has good pop genes.
Both he and his sister, who trades as Grace, have had number one singles in Australia. Maybe they’re the new Daniel and Natasha Bedingfield, if you can handle that concept, with one foot in dance music and the other in fizzy pop.
He’s already had a hit over here too, as the voice and co-writer of Norwegian DJ Kygo’s massive single, Firestone. Now he’s on his way as a solo artist, having recently supported Ed Sheeran around Austalia and next month, Jess Glynne over here.
You can already buy his singles online – the lively synthpop of Hold Me Up and the emotional slowie Start Again – though the latter will get a proper push as a new song on UK radio next month. A debut album is coming next year, featuring work with Clean Bandit and Naughty Boy, and 2016 tips list action is a certainty. As Start Again’s minimal backdrop proves, his startling voice doesn’t need much adornment to be shown at its best. We’ll be hearing a lot more of it (and his sister’s) very soon.
Nov 3, Cargo, EC2 (020 7613 7731, cargo-london.com); Nov 4 (with Jess Glynne), Roundhouse, NW1 (0870 389 1846, roundhouse.org.uk)
Listen on Soundcloud