July: Six artists you need to check out this month

Golden Teacher’s Cass Ezeji and Sue Zuki of Organs Of Love, real name Alicia Matthews, are the Ladies As Pimps splicing dancehall’s darker edges with the grit of Glasgow’s under-belly. Their 2017 EP ‘Who Me?’ set piercing kicks and claps drenched in cosmic delay against the organic soul of Sue Zuki’s vocal. With recent shows with Young Fathers and SOPHIE, and a debut album in the works, LAPS could well become one of the UK’s most vital voices.

‘Who Me?’ will be reissued via DFA this summer

[Photo credit: Matthew Arthur Williams]

In both Afrodeutsche’s DJing and production work she pulls together sounds that draw from classic electro producers such as Drexciya and Claro Intelecto. The Russian/British/Ghanaian artist lives in Manchester where she hosts a radio show on NTS. Her simmering electro cut ‘I Know Not What I Do’ featured on ‘NON Worldwide Compilation Trilogy Vol 2’ and her debut album ‘Break Before Make’ is out on Skam.

Afrodeutsche plays Ibiza’s Cosmic Pineapple on July 26

[Photo credit: Fe Pagani]

Since switching up his style from d’n’b to house a few years ago, Eli Brown has never looked back. In 2017 alone he released a string of infectious house heaters on Of Unsound Mind, Repopulate Mars, ViVA Music and even collaborated with his mentor, Skream. This year he teamed up with Mason Maynard on the ‘Jungle Cry’ EP and debuted on Solardo’s Sola Records with earworm ‘Kingston Crunch’. Continuing his ascent, he’s secured a slot at Hideout, and a remix for Elrow is on the way.

Eli Brown plays Hideout in Croatia (June 25–29)

[Photo credit: Chelone Wolf]

Fresh out of school, in 2014 Omar Guedar, Blair Suarez and Mase Milo met at Sankeys. Soon they were throwing parties as MVSON, focusing on production values over big names and selling out the city’s warehouses. As DJs and producers they specialise in fiery basslines and jittery percussion, notably on Beatport chart-topping EP ‘Whippin’. Invites to Rousch, HotTrax and Solardo’s Sola Records have followed.

MVSON Collective host their debut London party at Dalston Roof Park on June 30

Despite still being in school, Megan Bülow has over 20m streams to her name. Since starting out busking in London aged 11, the German-Canadian artist has played shows across Europe, including in The Netherlands where she lives. Last year’s debut EP ‘Damaged Vol 1’ included three r’n’b-tinged, synth-led earworms, and led her to be tipped as the new Lorde. Having played her first London headline gig, wowed Brighton’s Great Escape and worked with LA rapper Duckwrth, Bülow could be about to go global.

‘Sad & Bored’ (feat Duckwrth) is out now

Toronto group BadBadNotGood brought jazz to a new audience with a run of superb albums and work alongside Kendrick and Kaytranada. Now, co-founder Matty looks to do the same for Beach Boys-esque melodies and dreamy psychedelic atmospherics. The 27-year-old’s album was produced by Frank Dukes, who’s been behind the controls for Drake, Frank Ocean and The Weeknd, and recalls everything from Tame Impala to Alexis Taylor’s ‘Piano’ LP. Catch him when he heads to Europe next month.

‘Déjàvu’ by Matty is out now

[Photo credit: Eric Lachance]