Ones To Watch - August 20

TMN’s charts team predict the hottest new music breaking over the next quarter. From emerging acts to established artists, we’ll give you our industry tips, based on forthcoming album releases, past performance, inside info and a myriad of charts data.

Neck Deep

Life's Not Out To Get You

(HOPELESS/UNFD) Out August 14

Wrexham, North Wales pop punk band Neck Deep are fast establishing themselves as drawcards in the genre, and their latest album ought to cement that. Originally grabbing attention with their Rain In July EP in 2012, the band followed it up with 2014’s debut album Wishful Thinking, firmly putting them on the top of the list of hype contemporary pop punk acts. In this time, the group toured Australia twice, once in 2013 and one in 2014 with sellout dates, proving they have a well-established fan base in Australia.

The group announced their latest album dropping the single Can’t Kick Up The Roots on YouTube early in May this year. It’s since amassed just under a million views and 1.6 million streams on Spotify. Following that, the track was premiered on BBC Radio 1, as was follow-up single Gold Steps. It also received a premiere on none other than Mark Hoppus’ podcast Hi My Name Is Mark. Hoppus (of Blink-182) is a vocal supporter of the band on Twitter.

Though the new album is officially out this week, and first week album sales figures aren’t due in till this Saturday, the band is looking to enter in the Top 30 in what is set to be their debut ARIA chart appearance. A return tour to Australia to support the album is no doubt on the cards for the band, but in the meantime they’ll no doubt ride out on the success this album will and already has received.

Alessia Cara
Four Pink Walls EP
(DEFJAM/UMA) Out August 28

19-year-old R&B/hip hop newcomer Alessia Cara has her debut EP Four Pink Walls set for release on August 28 via Def Jam Recordings. Cara only recently entered public consciousness with her memorable hit Here. The track was premiered by The Fader in April, earning well over half a million streams in its first week. Here is finally getting some traction on Australian commercial radio, having just this week earned additions to NXFM, 104.7 FM in Canberra as well as the entire Regional Hit network. Four Pink Walls may not make any major ripples in the charts, despite early praises from critics; and with major label backing beind her, it's only a matter of time before she's selling out arenas.